LCD TV are these any good....

haveagoade

http://www.argos.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Search?storeId=10001&catalogId=1500000701&langId=-1&searchTerms=5292040&x=26&y=8

I have one of the last of these on reservation in Argos in my area....are they any good and also is there a better suggestion.

Thanks

Stompa

It doesnt look as if it has Freeview built in, is that an issue for you?

haveagoade

Not an issue...no.... since I watch the Free channels via a sky box.

Also is the built in freeview box on these LCD's capable of HD anyway?

showman36

Also is the built in freeview box on these LCD's capable of HD anyway?

No its not

haveagoade

showman36 wrote: »

No its not

As I thought....then its pointless getting a HD ready tv with freeview built in cos it can't cope with HD.

Better to get a HD TV ready without Digital tuner.

Stompa

haveagoade wrote: »

As I thought....then its pointless getting a HD ready tv with freeview built in cos it can't cope with HD.

Pointless for you, but not for someone who wants to use it now and who doesn't already have a box.

haveagoade

You can get a freeview box/scart for the difference in price anyway, and the freeviews are sometimes not HD ready for similar price.

I prefer sky's menu system anyway to Freeview.

But is it a good price for what it is?

Stompa

haveagoade wrote: »

You can get a freeview box/scart for the difference in price anyway, and the freeviews are sometimes not HD ready for similar price.

I prefer sky's menu system anyway to Freeview.

But is it a good price for what it is?

There are a few comments about it over on www.avforums.com

Lütz_Pangaloo

Well it's £40 cheaper than the Tevion one Aldi were selling last Sunday, but the panel looks pretty much the same spec (there's a thread about the Tevion on the main Grabbit board somewhere).

The Tevion one had a built-in digital tuner, but the people that reported back on here after buying one said the Freeview reception was rubbish, and though the picture quality from an external box wasn't bad for the price, the sound quality was awful (it was only 3W per channel though).

It also had a HDMI socket instead of DVI, which made it a good partner for the upscaling Tevion DVD player they sold a month earlier - I think if you wanted to connect one of those or a PS3 to this one you'll need a HDMI to DVI adaptor, and a separate cable for the audio.

I almost bought the Aldi one, but was put off by the adverse comments. Then I was on the brink of buying a 32" Hitachi from Richer Sounds for £349, with a much better contrast ratio (1200:1 instead of 450:1). But then I discovered that some LCD tellies have contrast ratios of 10,000:1, albeit for daft money, which makes the Hitachi look pretty rubbish - I don't know what to do now. Just hold onto my cash for the time being I suppose.

haveagoade

So far the Tv seems rather good.....and a bargain.

The picture is really good via the rf aerial and the pc input is a good future proof for the set as a pc monitor.

The lack of freeview is absolutely not an issue as its not HD anyway plus you need external rf leads anyway.

I'd rather omit freeview and connect up to a skybox via rf or composite anyway.

The sky rf extender seems an ideal solution for this set.

Its seems to me LCD HD TVs with built in freeviews are just pointless and not future proof at all.

Stompa

haveagoade wrote: »

Its seems to me LCD HD TVs with built in freeviews are just pointless and not future proof at all.

But presumably, you'll be able to connect a new HD Freeview box to a TV irrespective of whether it has built in Freeview or not - so in terms of future proofing it makes no difference.