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Something off this list?
FWIW we already have a 32" samsung smart which is going into the kids tv room. I've been quite happy with it, so is sort of the default replacement, but there are a couple of other options too.
Any deals anywhere?
Ta
Ideally choose the size to meet the viewing distance
rough guide to help http://www.hdtvtest.co.uk/Article/How-Far-Should-I-Sit.php
Thanks PB - I know I want something 40 ish inches, its the brand/model I'm looking for pointers on.
We bought this one a few months ago
Great image some lip sync problems with the its internal freeview tuner which we rarely use
this one seems to get good reviews. Debating whether to say **** it and get one now or wait until Boxing Day in case it gets reduced further.
I'd say any of the main brands are a good buy. I've got Panasonic 47" great TV.
Can't recommend a specific one, but that Panasonic theotherjonv linked to only has 2 HDMI ports. May or may not be an issue, but worth checking specs in case you need more.
If you're planning on using Spotify check first as Spotify are getting battered ATM because they still haven't released the Tizen compatible app yet.
IIRC H and before models are fine - its the J onwards that are falling foul of Spotify's seemingly stout refusal to either acknowledge the issue or do anything about it.
Their own forum is alive with issues of incompatibility across loads of devices.
Like many - they're taking the money and ignoring any problems.
Those cheap Panasonic TVs are rebadged vestel rubbish (a shame as my.current TV is a Panasonic). I am TV hunting too and it seems it's a pain atm #1stworldproblems
The one I linked to?
Was What HiFi's best sub £500 TV in August. Does that count as cheap? I don't know, I think my wife and kids will still watch the same old shite on it
http://www.whathifi.com/panasonic/tx-40cs520/review
Same telly as ampthill
It's great, fantastic picture, good apps built in. This is my first smart tv so it is a bit of an eye opener. We use Amazon for films a lot, not joined Netflix yet. Redbull tv is great!
I use a free sat box for telly, haven't yet tried a blue ray disc. There's a couple of hdmi sockets, a usb, phono, and scart so most stuff wil connect
The 3D mode isn't great (well I don't like it) there's also a football mode that's rubbish.
The sound is ok, but I got a sound bar with subwoofer I'd really recommend budgeting for one (mines Samsung as well so the telly remote operates it.)
A wifi keyboard for web browsing and YouTube would be useful
MartynS, where is the Redbull TV app? was watching it through my Now TV box before but can't find it on the list of Apps.
Or are you just watching it through the browser?
Recently bought an Android Sony Tele 43" to replace or plasma panny. The ability to install Android apps is great, ditched my droidstick now and saved a remote 🙂 picture is good, not sure if it's better than my old Tele. Have noticed we possibly should have gone bigger, it looks smaller on the wall than the 37".
http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/tv-and-home-entertainment/televisions/televisions/sony-bravia-kd43x8309cbu-smart-ultra-hd-4k-43-led-tv-10126467-pdt.html
Harry too,
The red bull app... Now I think about it I downloaded it via the web browser. It then appears in the smart hub bit of the telly.
I've got a Panasonic 4k smart etc, the TV is great but the newer Vieira versions aren't supported by the smartphone app
Not sure how techno you want to be, if not very and you want it just for watching TV do what I did 2 years ago and buy richer sounds Christmas deal.
http://www.richersounds.com/product/tv---all/samsung/ue40j5100/sams-ue40j5100 - for £279.
That was tempting for £90 less but it's not smart.
Non plasma : Samsung
Plasma : Panasonic (previously Pioneer RIP)
google avforums for the best callibrated settings for whichever model you buy.
My criteria for a TV are
[list]
[*]Does it turn on instantly and be usable instantly?[/*]
[*]Does it have Netflix and Amazon Prime apps?[/*]
[*]Does it have Freeview HD and Freeview Play?[/*]
[*]Does it change channel instantly?[/*]
[*]Does it have 3 or more HDMI connections?[/*]
[/list]
with all those in mind, I bought this on Friday.
[url= http://www.johnlewis.com/panasonic-viera-tx-50cx680b-led-4k-ultra-hd-smart-tv-50-with-freeview-hd-and-built-in-wi-fi/p1961422 ]Panasonic Viera TX-50CX680B[/url]
Very impressed so far. They also do 40in and 55in versions. Only disappointment so far is no Plex app.
That was tempting for £90 less but it's not smart
In my mind there's people that want Facebook on their TV for some bizarre reason, or just to tell people that they can, and there's people that just want to use it for watching TV.
Im in the latter bracket, and bought a 46" Samsung 3 years ago for £360 and very happy with it. It depends what you want tbh.
In my mind there's people that want Facebook on their TV
It's about being able to watch on demand TV without having to plug in another device.
I was going to buy a fancy Samsung from Richer sounds but was persuaded to get an LG and it's been faultless with a better picture than a friends Samsung.
My criteria for a TV start with picture quality...
I can always add boxes with smart features and better upscaling (particularly important if you are buying a Samsung...), allowing me to keep up to date on 'smart' features long after the manufacturer has stopped supporting that TV model.
Got this from john Lewis a few months ago. They price matched sonic direct at £499.
Awesome picture, 4K and has both freesat and freeview (using it with freesat)
Had some lip sync issues initially but latest firmware has fixed it.
We got one of those Samsung UE40H6400s 40" smart TVs that others have posted in the Black Friday sale for £350 (ebuyer.com). Its been fantastic for the price, good picture, smart features and remote work well. Very happy indeed!
I'm just waiting for a bargain price on one of these:-
[url= http://www.johnlewis.com/panasonic-viera-tx-50cx802b-led-4k-ultra-hd-3d-smart-tv-50-with-freeview-hd-freesat-hd-built-in-wi-fi-voice-assistant/p1997717?navAction=jump ]Viera-TX-50-802B[/url]
Can you still get Plasma teles?
It's a good 7 years since I last bought a TV. Are Samsung reliable now? Going back about 4 years I remember a fair few work colleagues having reliability issues with them.
whatever you do don't buy a Hitachi smart tv....absolutely rubbish!!
you need to buy a very specific and near impossible to get hold of dongle for the wireless features to work.
the speakers are shit too.
we got it because it was relatively cheap but it was a mistake. i was glad when my daughter broke it 6 weeks later.
went and bought a £600 42" Panasonic smart tv for £220 from the Currys clearance Store
Can you still get Plasma teles?
I dont think so. Panasonic have stopped making them.
As for smart tv. Get an Android tv box and watch it transform your viewing.
I have a 4 old Samsung with smart and 3d functions. The glasses have never been out of the box and the smart side is not to good. Much prefer to use a Chromecast and transmit content from my tablet.
I'd be taking a look on avforums for some opinions on what to go for, for some specific reviews if you really wanna spend money on it. I currently have a 50inch Samsung which I love but would love to get something updated again, maybe in the January sales.
Are Samsung reliable now? Going back about 4 years I remember a fair few work colleagues having reliability issues with them.
Yes. My 9 year old one is as good as the day I bought it and my 2 year old seems to be happy enough too.
Spent a long time doing my research a couple of years ago and got a Sony 42", absolutely love it, brilliant picture quality and love the Netflix app.
Check out avforums for the latest info on the current models.
I was going to get a Samsung but changed my mind for the Sony as the gaming performance was better and the picture was more natural.
I was going to get a Samsung but changed my mind for the Sony as the gaming performance was better and the picture was more natural.
The gaming part is model dependant. I went for my Samsung as it rated the best for gaming amongst many other things.
Just got this for £379 in the Amazon lightning deal http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00UPCJ6EY/ref=pe_385721_37986871_TE_item
I went with Sony because Google lead me to AV forums - and there was a consensus amongst the telly nerds that they're the best (not all models - but they do models in every size that outperformed other brands respectively) ..
Wouldn't bother with a smart TV. The UI is usually slogans clunky. Apps etc are not updated and new ones rarely added.
I'd spend less money for a better picture and then £30 odd on a Chromestick. Much more flexible.
Bought a low/mid range 50" Panasonic last Christmas...it was bloody awful: terrible epg, light bleed from the corners, didn't cope well with shades of black, picture was very average with SD channels etc. I took it back to a different Richer Sounds than i bought it from and they really couldn't recommend it and said they had trouble selling them. End up with a 42" Sony and so far been very pleased
I'm really happy with the Samsung 40" that we bought last year, and even happier with the 32" Samsung we bought my son last year. No idea what the model number is, but the connectivity is good, and the picture seems very good to me. Have an optical connection to amp/speakers on the 40", but rarely use it as the sound on the TV seems fine.
Has Netflix/Amazon/iPlayer apps that get used all the time.
We've got a few Samsung smart tv's and have been happy with all of them. The higher end ones are excellent.
We have a Panasonic plasma (less than 2 years old) and a new 32" high end Samsung LCD. The smart tv interfaces on both are poor IMO. The Panny doesn't have Amazon for example (annoying as we've just got a month of free Prime). The Samsung isn't bad but iplayer is still relatively clunky.
Buy the best screen you can and plug in something else for smart Tv - probably an Apple TV if you have an apple phone, a chrome cast if you're on Android.
Picture on the Samsung is good but not a patch on the Plasma.
when I bought my sony I spent ages in Sevenoaks HiFi comparing it to a decent Panasonic Plasma, with the advantage that te store manager had spent time setting both sets up to give good pictures. There was very little if anything in it and so I went with the Sony because of the lower pose consumption and the still-present risk of burning an image into a plasma. The sony is one of the triluminous ones, with local dimming which gives good blacks but still has a little bleeding at the edges.