Hi Chaps

My old CRT TV is finally showing its age. I bought it new 19 years ago in November so I've had a pretty good run with it!

Anyway, as I did then, I want to buy the best and most future proofed TV that I can again. The last one cost me £1900 back in '91 so I'm not scared to spend a few quid. Its going in a pretty large room so I'm only interested in a big screen, probably a 50 inch TV!

So, recommendations and where to buy at the best price would be very appreciated!

Writing this post has just jogged my memory as when we moved in, we had to remove the patio doors to get the current TV in it also weighs a ridiculous amount!

BTW - anyone want a free TV??? Collection only!

Ive got a 50" pioneer. Having done the research there is no competition!

have you had a look at those 21:9 cinematic screens, they look stunning, not cheap though at around £4-£5k

[Edited on 17/5/10 by omega0684]

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Originally posted by iiyama
Ive got a 50" pioneer. Having done the research there is no competition!

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Originally posted by omega0684
have you had a look at those 21:9 cinematic screens, they look stunning, not cheap though at around £4-£5k

[Edited on 17/5/10 by omega0684]

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go for something like this
links


I think dixons or someone are doing a good deal on a 50% panasonic, £600 and £10 off for every goal england score in the world cup. id do that and then replace in 5-10 years to be honest.

Imax....comes complete with theatre system attached...

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Originally posted by 55ant
go for something like this
links


I think dixons or someone are doing a good deal on a 50% panasonic, £600 and £10 off for every goal england score in the world cup. id do that and then replace in 5-10 years to be honest.

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Originally posted by 55ant
go for something like this
links


I think dixons or someone are doing a good deal on a 50% panasonic, £600 and £10 off for every goal england score in the world cup. id do that and then replace in 5-10 years to be honest.

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The Panasonic THX certified Viera plasmas are almost impossible to beat. Pricey, but you get what you pay for!

to be honest - I wouldn't.

I've got a 42" Panny and it's ace but I've also got a built in projector, 8 foot screen and 6.1 surround..........I would go for a large screen in a dedicated room with a high quality HD projector and the works

pioneer as said above. by far the best plasmas! go and look at some on a stand in a shop with the same programme on and the pioneer will defo be the best
hd projectors are a different story and it means re routing wires into ceiling!

What about LED TV's any good?

samsung led are great, my mate has a 56 i think and what a picture.

great tv.

i have a lg lcd and it is fantastic as well.

recommend samsung led and lg.

stuart

You can't buy Pioneer anymore except second hand and they draw a premium for people wanting the Kuro blacks.

If you want a good telly for watching movies and sport then you want plasma. Better blacks (black on lcd when lights are dim look grey) and better motion clarity.

Panasonic are arguably the best of the current crop of Plasmas. Samsung make pretty good plasma's too, but they're more prone to image retention (i.e. temporary image burn-in). LG are more prone to this still.

Best modestly priced higher end TV (which I just bought) is that Panasonic G20 (I paid 820 from costco for 42", you'll pay a bit more in shops but they're coming down). If you want to blow a load (errr, money that is!) then the Panasonic VT20 is imminently if not already out too. It's their flagship TV with 3D. It's apparently better as a "normal" TV too though since it has faster phosphurs to cope with the 3D functionality. The 50" of this will set you back around 2K - double that for the 65" which will be out later this year.

Get yourself over to www.avforums.com and have a good read before you decide.

beware the plasmas. not sure whether theyve sorted the issues with them having ingrained redness or patches where screen logos are always on in some corner etc

eg. disney channel has left us with red mickey mouse head visible on all channels

shops i've been to say it was a common problem

i'm told that LED is the new way to go

but then i know noubt about tv production lines or specifications.

just wade through the sales bullshit as they flog you the one with the best markup for the shop.........................

Gingerprince has the most up to date info IMHO . The Pioneer Kuros have legendary status but you wont find a new one now and though they pack the picture quality they will lack the features of a current model.

Pioneer were bought out by panasonic and they are introducing the kuro tech into their high end models now - V20 and VT20. Previous generation was excellent too so you could consider a V10 if you can find one.

Cant go wrong with the above, but if money is really no object you need a trip to the AV section of harrods to see what's on ofer . The ultra-wide screens mentioned above are pretty awesome looking.

I've got mixed feelings about projectors. If you want huge (i.e. 100 odd inches) for a reasonable price, and have a suitable wall they are great for movies. But for everyday viewing they can be a bit of a pain as you need a darkened room.

Hi,

Not much help in the recommendation of a screen. But, I swear by Costco for TV`s due to the 5 year warranty they throw in. They really are a superb company to return anything to.

Genuine no questions asked (in my experience).

Panasonic all the way. I have a 42inch plasma with freesat built on. Freesat quality is excellent even on SD, but HD is superb and free! New ones have FreeViewHD too, so no set top boxes and extra remotes and future proof (as much as they can be nowadays)
Manufacturers 5yr warranty too.

http://www.panasonic.co.uk/html/en_GB/Products/VIERA+Plasma+and+LCD+TVs/Overview/VIERA+NeoPDP+C+Leave+motion+blur+behind+with+600Hz+NeoPDP/23239 41/index.html?gclid=CMzOv_Xv2aECFRg-lAodWGVMJA

or if money really is no limit (and space too)
http://www.panasonic.com/consumer_electronics/plasma_central/103plasma/default.asp

[Edited on 17/5/10 by loggyboy]

[Edited on 17/5/10 by loggyboy]

i have a panasonic viera 50" plasma.
excellent picture even at 720p HD. sky HD is stunning through it.
never had any burn on issues with panasonic plasma's, had them for the past 6 years

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Originally posted by carpmart
What about LED TV's any good?

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Originally posted by carpmart

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Originally posted by iiyama
Ive got a 50" pioneer. Having done the research there is no competition!

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Hi - please can you be a bit more specific, model etc!

Thanks!

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Personally I'd be looking at the Samsung LED units, 50" upwards. The contrast ratio is stunning on them.

Chris

I am no expert but my feeling is that technology is changing very quickly at the moment especialy with ings like led and 3D on it's way in that now is not the best moment to buy the most expensive or best of anything.

I know that the above applies to all electronic goods but there are a couple of big changes on the way and a short while will make them mainstream and cause regret that you didn't wait a little longer.

So my advise for what it's worth is (not much in terms of my technical knowledge on these matters) - buy a good second hand 50"er to see how it suits your room and life style and in a year or 18 months time go for the best.

a fifty inch telly? blimey how big is your living room?

Note the so called "LED" TV are simply LCD screens that use LEDs for backlighting instead of cold cathode tubes. The super high contrast ratios are achieved by varying the brightness of the screen according to the picture displayed, but because this isn't a "per pixel" effect, it's a bit of a fudge and you don't necessarily achieve the claimed contrast under real conditions.

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Originally posted by swanny
a fifty inch telly? blimey how big is your living room?

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Originally posted by swanny
a fifty inch telly? blimey how big is your living room?

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2.5m
would that be miles per chance

hi,

i used to work in the electronics department at john lewis and have a mate who still does - so you know you can trust my advice .

Money no object?

you need this

http://www.johnlewis.com/230936722/Product.aspx

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Originally posted by skydivepaul
i have a panasonic viera 50" plasma.

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Thanks for all the replies!

I've just bought one!









Its a Panasonic if anyone is interested!!??

Congratulations! What model?

I have a Panasonic Viera 42" plasma that's now about 6 years old, no burn problems or any picture fade, not had to adjust brightness or contrast levels yet.

It's an old model now but is still fantastic and I don't see any of the new ones having anything extra that will get me to buy a new one.

Yes, its got freeview and only one HDMI input, one pc input etc but picture quality through my Monster AV scart cables is superb. HD looks fantastic through the HDMI at 1080p.

If I was buying now I would just have a Viera in the 50" size or 65" if I had the cash.

i would only buy Panasonic next time. got a 40" Samsung LED and its not good. Its a lower cost version but the quality is poor. I got a panasonic 32" a year ago and its far better than the Samsung.

For a grand you will get a v.good 42" Panasonic. For £2K id guess you will get an awesome 50".

Isnt the std rule to buy LED under 40", 42" and above buy plasma?

Another recommendation for the Panasonic Viera, have a 720p 42" Plasma and absolutely love it, only £550!

Having had a few OLED monitors in at work i'd just wait 6 months and get a decent OLED, much better than anything else at the minute.

If you buy now you'll be gutted when oled monitors hit the streets soon.

we were laughing today because the customer had a large tv in every room, and then another arrived whilst he was out!

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Originally posted by franky
Having had a few OLED monitors in at work i'd just wait 6 months and get a decent OLED, much better than anything else at the minute.

If you buy now you'll be gutted when oled monitors hit the streets soon.

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