32" High-Definition LCD TV, £340 all-in

MSE_Martin

What's the deal?

The price of big, thin, flat hi-tech tellies with detailed screen resolutions is plummeting; it's now possible to get a 32" model for just over £340 - the last time I did this it was a sub-£400 price now that's shrunk further.

What is High Definition (HD) Ready TV?

It's a better resolution picture so you get a more detailed image on your screen. An 'HD ready' TV is one which is capable of displaying this type of image, provided it receives an HD signal; in other words you have a special Sky or cable HD receiver box. These boxes are currently expensive, yet the format is likely to become very common over the next few years, so if you're buying a telly now, you want to future proof it so it'll still work when HD is common place.

The cheapest 32" HD Ready LCD TVs:

• MIRAI DTL-332M200 £341 incl. delivery: PIXmania is offering the MIRAI DTL-332M200 at the cheapest price. It's complete with 1 HDMI, 2 scarts and a high contrast of 1200:1
• Beko 32WLA520HD £350 in-store: Argos has cut the cost of its Beko 32WLA520HD which comes with 1 HDMI, 2 scarts and a contrast ratio of 800:1. It's easy to reserve online, so you can collect in-store, or alternatively it can be delivered for an additional £4.95.
• Techwood £350 in-store: Woolworths has reduced the in-store price of this Techwood model which has practically the same features as the Beko above. This is also available online for an extra £4.95.

A few pointers to look out for when buying an LCD TV

The 'HD Ready' logo: Any TV with the 'HD Ready' logo must be capable of screening either/both 1080i and 720p HDTV formats. It's likely that future HD TV shows will use both types as 1080i offers higher definition for slow moving pictures, while 720p is better for showing fast action, such as sport. More and more manufacturers now produce sets capable of 1080p, (often referred to as 'full' HD) which provides the best of both worlds. It's worth bearing this in mind, as while these sets are still much more expensive at the moment, they may actually represent the standard of HDTV in a few years time.

Read the reviews: The listings above are simply cheap deals; there's no guarantee of quality. Trawl the web for reviews before spending your hard earned cash, or you may end up with the wrong product for you. AVforums is a good place to start.

Try to get one with an 'HDMI' connection: While you can get an HD picture through the same type as leads as current TVs use (known as composite and DVI connections) most future HD boxes will use a special type of connector called an 'HDMI connection', so its worth checking for this. All of the TVs above have an HDMI connector.

For more geeky information on HD Ready TVs, check out www.hdready.org.uk.

Martin


WARNING! Please think very carefully before buying this

While this is very good value, £340 is not a small sum of money; don't be tempted to buy if you can't afford it. TV technology prices tend to drop for the same thing, so saving up and waiting a while can often pay off.

This site is about getting the best deals, but always spending within your means so do....

....Remember the MoneySaving mantras:

IF YOU'RE SKINT

Do I need it?
Can I afford it?
Can I find it cheaper anywhere else

IF YOU'RE NOT SKINT

Will I use it?
Is it worth it?
Can I find it cheaper anywhere else?

IF YOU SPOT A SIMILAR PRODUCT CHEAPER PLEASE CLICK REPLY AND TELL OTHERS

mystified_2

Another Mantra to keep in mind:

Check out the supplier!!
Pixmania looks and sounds like a normal British supplier, but it's French, and everything comes in from France. If anything should go wrong, it's worse than drawing teeth to get any assistance. I speak from experience.
Try googling "Pixmania, problem" Page after page of problems!
Beware!

mark567

You can get the Techwood model for < 340 delivered,
https://www.ebuyer.co.uk, quick find code: 124743

zcaprd7

mark567 wrote: »

You can get the Techwood model for < 340 delivered,
https://www.ebuyer.co.uk, quick find code: 124743

And I guess you can get another £10 off by using Google payment as well as free delivery - so under £330 from ebuyer.

djdave

The Mirai and the Beko both have 768 lines, the bare minimum you'd scrape by calling HD. If you use an Xbox360 or HD-DVD you'll be disappointed. The Techwood doesn't specify, which means it probably has nothing to shout about. The first two also have atrocious contrast ratios.

Nothing wrong with wanting a cheap TV, but you'd get far more satisfaction settling for a slightly smaller screen (26" or 28") but a better quality panel. I shudder to think how cheap and nasty these three sets are.

nordberg

They may be cheap, but you really will get what you pay for.....

Jennifer

All Mirai models now have a 3 Year pick up and return Warranty from the Manufacturer. So it may not matter which retailer you buy from. See:-
http://www.mirai.eu/
Also see:- http://www.practical-home-theater-guide.com/contrast-ratio.html regarding contrast ratios - and eye opener!
Jennifer

DiscworldLibrarian

I've mentioned this deal previously, but I'll chuck it in the mix again.

http://www.intekx.com/product_info.php?products_id=104

That's currently £325 inc. VAT plus £12 delivery... bringing it inside your target price.

The model in question is analogue, not digital, so ideal for sky or virgin media...

6.5 ms Response time
Brightness 500 cd/m2
Contrast ratio 1200:1
Resolution 1366x 768.
Tv tuning by Pal B/G , Nicam /AL Sound
1000 page Teletext
2 x 10w speakers
Input by 2 X Scart ,HDMI (1081i), SVideo , CVBS, Audio L/R, Also can be used as a computer monitor (PIP and POP).
Comes with Table Stand, Wall mount compatible
Weight 18 kgs ,Size 810 w x 603 h x 130 d ( m/m) without stand

See also maufacturer's link http://www.aoc-europe.com/lcdtv_L32W551T.html


Oh yeah, 2 years warranty too

---

Yes, it's a time limited offer while they clear out the stock, but that's why this board is Grabbit While You Can!

johnperkin4

try https://www.maximtvs.com where they are selling a logik 32" lcd for 229.99 pounds

siliconbits

johnperkin4 wrote: »

try https://www.maximtvs.com where they are selling a logik 32" lcd for 229.99 pounds

Site's smells dodgy.... Two links were not working (how to buy and contact us). Prices are too good to be true. Also check the WHOIS for the domain name... http://whois.domaintools.com/maximtvs.com

cowbutt

djdave wrote: »

Nothing wrong with wanting a cheap TV, but you'd get far more satisfaction settling for a slightly smaller screen (26" or 28") but a better quality panel.

...or even a quality (e.g. Panasonic, Sony) used CRT (traditional, non-LCD/plasma) set from eBay or the local free-ads paper. Right now, CRTs give better picture quality than an equivalently-priced LCD set. Also, LCD and plasma sets aren't as good as one would expect on power consumption, and many people put them exactly where their old CRT sets were, so the thinner cabinet often doesn't make any extra space in the living room!

I recently picked up a Panasonic 28" Widescreen/100Hz/Integrated Digital CRT second-hand for about 200 quid. About 12-18 months ago, it was being sold new for 400-600 quid. If I was more patient, I probably could have got something from eBay for about 100-150.