Thinkin' of buying a new telly

[Paul Hurdsfield - Joint Manchester AO]

I know theres a few technophobes on here so what can you advise?

Currently we have a 32" Lcd Panasonic Viera that we have had for 12 years or so.

We have never had any trouble with it, but It's getting on a bit, and when I see newer telly's the picture seems so much brighter and sharper. Also it's not got a usb port so if I download things to watch I cant allways get them to work on it.

So I'm thinkin' 42" smart tv, thats it really, I cant go mega size, cos it's built into a wall unit, and while I can tweak the opening a bit, I dont want to go into mega alterations.

 I like my Panasonic, but Samsung seem to have a big range nowadays, I'm not bothered about 3D cos for various reasons I dont see in 3D

So what are the pros and cons of the various telly's you see on the market today?

I have looked on a couple of AV forums but unless you a technophobe they might as well be talking in double Dutch

[Andy Banks]

46 inch Samsung LCD 3D Smart TV replaced my Panasonic 42 inch plasma. It takes up the same space, same wall bracket as the panny. The edging is tiny on newer screens so a 46 takes up about the same wall space as an old 42.

[blue ass fly]

+ 1 for samsung

The 6000 or 8000 are nice

Most are 3D now but you dont have to bother with it,however samsung came out very well with 3D reproduction in the ratings

If your using smart,Make sure you internet is good cause mine freezes - being out in the sticks i can only get BTs finest cable and not allowed sky

What i find useful is the inbuilt media player - you can plug a memory stick / hard drive straight into it and play movies,music etc from it

You can also record off the tv to the hard drive if you dont have sky plus

[Paul Hurdsfield - Joint Manchester AO]

Yeah the screen filling almost all the overall size is one of the more obvious features of newer telly's Andy Ta!

 

Steve we've 40 meg download on our broadband so that shouldn't be a problem, plus we've got loads of stuff on

a hard disc than I cant use at the mo.

Upstairs we have a 19" Samsung with a usb port, it wont read my hard disc, but it will read a memory stick, weird innit

The sound is rubbish on our upstairs Samsung, but downstairs it wont matter cos we play through and amp for surround sound.

[Bean]

Interested in this thread as I'm looking into doing the same, replacing our aged 37" Toshiba LCD with a modern 40".

 

Not looking to spend mega bucks and don't care about 3D.

[Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman)]

We used to be staunch advocates of Panasonic. In terms of picture, they do still have the edge with some of their sets, but Jeez, are Panasonic sets hacking me off at the moment, we're having loads of issues with controls for them. Have started recommending Samsung of all but the biggest 50/55" plus models.

[SteveD]

we have a panasonic viera  ,46 or summat inch and its brilliant ,it has a screen and everything

[alexander72]

^ LOL … I was thinking that…..we have panasonic tellies and they are great for falling asleep in front of….

[Greenstreak-Andy D]

Very impressed with our new 47" smart LG. Had samsung before 6 years back but much prefer LG for picture qualiy, speed of internet access, Christ u can even talk to it to change channel or surf net, and yep that function is being used by our 5 year old too!! Still have Samsung mind for spare room!

[Captain Colonial]

Here you go - price includes delivery and installation too   

 

http://www.costco.co.uk/view/product/uk_catalog/cos_1,cos_1.1,cos_1.1.7/142976

[ajpearson]

Samsung all the way in my opinon, they are excellent TVs, at a great price and well specced.

 

Just brought a 3D 42" for £450, with all the gadgets, much better than my brothers Sony at twice the price

[Paul Hurdsfield - Joint Manchester AO]

Here you go - price includes delivery and installation too 

 

http://www.costco.co.uk/view/product/uk_catalog/cos_1,cos_1.1,cos_1.1.7/142976

Damn I aint got a Costco card Capn'

My son mught be interested though, he's got a 50"er at the mo and wants to upgrade

[Rhett Turner - Black Country AO]

The general advice is to go for Panasonic, Samsung or LG. The key we found was to be sure you go for a TV with a refresh rate of at least 100mhz. Father in law bought a reputable make But only 50mhz and you can really see the difference in overall quality.

+1 for costco, well worth getting a card if you are eligible. Though I think you can but from the internet site without being a member, it's just cheaper for members.

Good luck with the hunt

[Mid life crisis]

50/100 mhz

 

 

The latest smart TV's have a refresh rate of 600/800mhz and are quad core.

 

 

Must of been a while since you upgraded, our 8 year old Sony Bravia has a 100mhz refres rate.

 

 

But do try them in the shop, the cheap Tosh tv's we have in our bedrooms take an age to change channels, which is very frustrating if you hit the wrong channel by mistake

[SootySport]

Panasonic, Panasonic, Panasonic,   well I do have 3 of them in the house, wherever you buy one you should get a 3yr. guarantee included in the price.

Had cheapo TV's when I was young and broke but now can afford one of the best. I can remember years ago  when the Samsung brand were cheap and nasty and always failed after 366 days, think they are a little better now.

The sound all on TV's is diabolical these days, try and put some money to a decent sound system as well, the TV broadcasts have better sound production than cinemas these days.