How do YOU choose your next TV?

The_Last_Username

Our 6-yo Sony tv went on the fritz yesterday SO - an ideal time to take advantage of new tech AND increase size methinks.
Or is it?

Because real reviews of many TV's are difficult to find nowadays.
I'm a member on a few HiFi & Audio-Visual sites BUT finding reviews (which are not user reviews; I'm looking more for reviews which include technical testing) are much fewer in number than they used to be.
What HiFi for example in past years tested (it seems) just about every TV sold here in the UK.
This type of review is often useful for knowing calibration options/ colour accuracy etc.
So it sadly seems that I choose a telly which HAS been tested OR I take a chance.

So I'm interested; how would (or do) YOU decide which television to buy?

Because:
I very nearly "pushed the button" on an inexpensive Philips 49" 4k from Argos - until (thankfully?) the price jumped by £100 overnight!:eek:
What stopped me primarily was the lack of reviews.
Being a member on forums as above, I will post my viewing habits/ wants/ needs on those forums to ask for suggestions.
(And then watch out Richer Sounds! )

VisionMan

How do YOU choose your next TV?

By the picture, and picture quality only.

The_Last_Username

VisionMan wrote: »

How do YOU choose your next TV?

By the picture, and picture quality only.

You hit the proverbial nail on the head.:T

Whilst that is quite correct, how am I to know how good the picture really is?
Personally I do not have the time to request and then sit through demo's of (quite possibly) a few dozen TV's which fit my requirements.
And that is apart from the fact that SOME retailers (Argos being one example) simply do not have the facilities to allow this.

Please bear in mind too that I am a good distance (30+ miles) from any AV retailer and 60-odd miles from my nearest Richer Sounds.
Given that a fair amount of time is spent by this household watching that "box", I for one would like to make a wise choice.

How do others choose?

VisionMan

I find reviews all the time. I simply type into Google (many other recommended search engines available) 'XYZ model review'. And up they pop. Though the Yahoo search engine is a lot less commercially biased than Google, these days.

brewerdave

Find a model which appears to fit budget/ spec and is from a "reputable" manufacturer ...then search AV Forums for reviews/posts??...but ultimately you can't remove all risk on purchasing unseen.
Personally haven't bought a new set for over 4 years but spent some time looking at large 4k sets just before Xmas, both online and in store...just too many models now however:(

JJ_Egan

Simple is it bigger than my neighbours new telly and does it have loads of stuff i can show off .

Swipe

I'd look what's on offer at Richer Sounds then read the reviews for them.

SailorSam

I've got two tellies, one in the lounge, the other in the kitchen. Can't remember exactly how old they are but somewhere between 12/15yrs. But while they're working don't see the need to get new ones.