want to buy new 40" tv

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seantheman

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We are looking into buying a new 40" full hd tv and wondered if anyone on here has any personal recommendations. I found this one Is it worth paying that bit extra for full hd as opposed to hd ready. Watch a lot of sport and wildlife documentaries. Thanks in advance
 
Hi seantheman, that's an LCD tv, and for the size when you go over about 32" the picture quality on Plasma would be much better than Lcd, so I'd say you're better looking for a plasma. As regards Hd and Hd Ready - I thought they were the same thing, as in either will only work if you have HD coming in, e.g. Sky HD
 
According to those in the know (and from what I have read) you don't really need Full 1080p HD unless you are going for a very big screen (ie 42" and above). Apparently if you plan to go the 55" or 60" route then Full HD is a must.

The only other advice would be to buy a good brand name ie Panasonic, Sony, Toshiba, Samsung, LG. Avoid the cheapies.
 
If you're thinking of buying in Power City, PM me as I have a very good contact there who'll do you a better deal than the website prices...
 
From what I remember from my research last year HD ready has 720 lines.

Full HD is 1,080 lines with the 1080p Progressive Scan) being preferable to 1080i.

I purchased a 1080p last year but was visiting a friend recently who had HD ready and I couldn't dee any difference.

My peepers probably aren't full HD anymore anyway.:)
 
My old Panasonic 19” TV packed in this week after about 20 years service. It owes me nothing. I am now looking for a new LCD flat screen max size 32” and wouldn’t consider moving away from Panasonic (possible exception is Samsung). I know very little about the new technology but visited a few TV shops on Saturday and was given the following advice:


  • Whatever TV you buy make sure it has a MPEG4 tuner or you will have to pay about €150 for a decoder box when the Irish stations (RTE1 & 2, TV3 & TG4) go digital (within 2 years max, I am told). This is because Irish digital will broadcast on a different system than UK digital. Many TVs sold in Ireland are geared for the UK system only. Some brands supply MPEG4 tuners as an addition to the normal UK tuners in TVs destined for the Irish market, but not in all models. Panasonic have a separate section for TVs in Republic of Ireland on their UK website but I think not all models have MPEG4 tuners.


  • Full HD is better than HD ready (more pixels) but this only comes into play when viewing HD broadcasts. What is far more important is the refresh (if that is correct term) rate i.e. 100 Hz v 50 HZ. 100 Hz is far better than 50 HZ in both normal and HD broadcasts. If you are trying to save money you are far better off dropping full HD to HD ready, than dropping 100 Hz to 50 HZ.

Could anybody comment on whether this is good, bad or indifferent advice? Sometimes it is hard to differentiate between sales spoof and good advice.

I do not have Sky TV and never will. I currently get my signal from Chorus/NTL for about €50 per month. It’s a waste of money as for a once off payment of about €250 (ordinary broadcasts) or €450 (HD enabled viewing) I can get much the same channels on a free to air dish supplied and installed. I already have terrestrial aerials for RTE1 & 2, TV3 & TG4.
I intend installing the free to air system soon but am not what tuner/tuners to look for in a TV.

Can anybody advise on the following?

What is the difference between a Freeview tuner (the standard on most UK TVs) and a Freesat tuner (supplied on it’s own or in addition to Freeview) on some TVs?
 
cautious said:
What is the difference between a Freeview tuner (the standard on most UK TVs) and a Freesat tuner (supplied on it’s own or in addition to Freeview) on some TVs?
Click to expand...

Freeview is a digital broadcast you can pick up with a suitable aerial, Freesat is the satellite equivalent.
Leo
 
I wouldn't go below 100hz, recently got a new 40" and went for a 200hz (Samsung)model. All the cheap models seem to be 50hz, waste of money IMHO.
 
As far as I am aware there is nothing broadcasted in 1080p at the moment and in not likely to be for some time.
All freesat/freeview/sky HD is 720p.
So unless you are going to buy a blue-ray 1080p player or watch a lot of DVD's then IMHO there is not much point in paying for 1080p when its not going to be used.

However having said the the difference in price is getting narrower all the time.
 
Leo said:
Freeview is a digital broadcast you can pick up with a suitable aerial, Freesat is the satellite equivalent.
Leo
Click to expand...

Leo,
Thanks for the reply. Does this mean that if I want to get the foreign channels free to air from a satellite that I need Freesat? Or will the decoder box that usually comes bundled with the dish take care of that?

Or, if I do buy a TV with Freesat presumably I could save some money by buying a dish only and no decoder box.

Thanks.
 
cautious said:
Leo,
Thanks for the reply. Does this mean that if I want to get the foreign channels free to air from a satellite that I need Freesat? Or will the decoder box that usually comes bundled with the dish take care of that?

Or, if I do buy a TV with Freesat presumably I could save some money by buying a dish only and no decoder box.
Click to expand...

A TV with Freesat means it has the functionality of the decoder box built-in, so no need for a separate unit. That would be a neater solution in avoiding the need for an extra piece of equipment, and may also offer a better user interface than a bundled box. But either approach will do the trick.
Leo
 
The best website for TV reviews is www.avforums.com

If you are using an aerial then be aware of the implications of the Irish digital switchover in Oct 2010. Check out www.boards.ie where they discuss this in detail in the tech sectionl.
If using sky/upc etc then the digital switchover is not relevant to you as signal is already digital.

Decide if you want Plasma/Lcd or LED
Then pick within that section. research research research

Then after buying, keep your old CRT in storage for when the new one gives up within 5 yrs and wish you stayed with a CRT....IMHO the slimline size and screen size is the only advantage, nothing beats a CRT tv in terms of picture quality for what the majority of us watch on a daily basis.

If sports is your thing I think plasma is better than Lcd - check out www.panasonicshop.ie - they had good deals on plasmas recently but I am not sure if Panansonic are fully compliant with even the expected standard for the Irish digital system in October if you are on an aerial system. If on sky/upc/satellite then no problem.
 
JoeRoberts said:
The best website for TV reviews is www.avforums.com

If you are using an aerial then be aware of the implications of the Irish digital switchover in Oct 2010. Check out www.boards.ie where they discuss this in detail in the tech sectionl.
If using sky/upc etc then the digital switchover is not relevant to you as signal is already digital.

Decide if you want Plasma/Lcd or LED
Then pick within that section. research research research

Then after buying, keep your old CRT in storage for when the new one gives up within 5 yrs and wish you stayed with a CRT....IMHO the slimline size and screen size is the only advantage, nothing beats a CRT tv in terms of picture quality for what the majority of us watch on a daily basis.

If sports is your thing I think plasma is better than Lcd - check out www.panasonicshop.ie - they had good deals on plasmas recently but I am not sure if Panansonic are fully compliant with even the expected standard for the Irish digital system in October if you are on an aerial system. If on sky/upc/satellite then no problem.
Click to expand...


Panasonic have MPEG4 Tuners so no problem there
 
Well first hand experience suggests otherwise, but with any brand I'm sure someone can find fault.
 
MrMan said:
Well first hand experience suggests otherwise, but with any brand I'm sure someone can find fault.
Click to expand...

I can certainly find fault in my new Panasonic Viera TX-L32S20L.
As I said earlier, my old Panasonic CRT lasted about 20 years. My new one lasted from Friday to Monday (last night) when the sound went on the AV mode.

Ah well, I suppose they don't make them like they used to.
 
cautious said:
I can certainly find fault in my new Panasonic Viera TX-L32S20L.
As I said earlier, my old Panasonic CRT lasted about 20 years. My new one lasted from Friday to Monday (last night) when the sound went on the AV mode.

Ah well, I suppose they don't make them like they used to.
Click to expand...

Well I guess any brand can have bad luck and there must be corners being cut to allow such price drops, but you would hope to get a week out of it at least! I presume you got a replacement? You should look for one anyways. Did you check out the sources going into the TV?
 
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