OP
OP
MacB
Lover of things that come in 3's
- Location
- Farnborough, Hampshire
So what's the need for lots of HDMI, what gets hooked up to them?
Buying a New TV
- Thread starter MacB
- Start date
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Lee_M
Guru
i have a samsung LED
It looks great, works well and has a good picture when set up properly (shops boost the brightness and contrast to cope with shop lighting so it will look sh*t at home without changing it).
I also have a so called smart TV version, but never found it anything other than a waste of technology.
It looks great, works well and has a good picture when set up properly (shops boost the brightness and contrast to cope with shop lighting so it will look sh*t at home without changing it).
I also have a so called smart TV version, but never found it anything other than a waste of technology.
Lee_M
Guru
modern DVD players, sky boxes, latest versions of virgin box too - its what supports the high def inputs other than the built in hi def freeview
ColinJ
Puzzle game procrastinator!
- Location
- Todmorden - Yorks/Lancs border
I think the quality of dark scenes is something to be very attentive to. I've seen sets that are pretty good at displaying sunlit scenes, but are awful when characters are moving around in the shadows at night - all you can see is a smudgy dark grey blur!
Check that colours don't change significantly from different viewing angles or the only people who will see a decent picture are those sat directly in front of the set.
Check that colours don't change significantly from different viewing angles or the only people who will see a decent picture are those sat directly in front of the set.
OP
OP
MacB
Lover of things that come in 3's
- Location
- Farnborough, Hampshire
Ah, so right now we'd be hooking up the V+ and the Xbox.
Lee, I know what you mean I'm looking and 3D and smart keep popping up everywhere...neither of which are functions I find remotely tempting. We have a long history of using gadgets at the most basic level and extra functionality tends to be a waste.
Lee, I know what you mean I'm looking and 3D and smart keep popping up everywhere...neither of which are functions I find remotely tempting. We have a long history of using gadgets at the most basic level and extra functionality tends to be a waste.
Crankarm
Guru
- Location
- Nr Cambridge
Yeah, it's crap. I thought new technology HD plasma, LED, LCD whatever were supposed to bring superb quality images. This is so not true. My Phillips CRT screen is pin sharp, no blown out highlights, dense shadows, totally weid colours, blocking or pixelation, deterioration of image near edge of screen. Earlier in the year I spent so long in John Lewis looking at new flat screen TVs Samsung, Phillips, Panasonic etc that my eyes bled. Conclusion - I was seriously disappointed with image quality. A real rip off AFAICS. So I stick with my CRT screen with digital feed from Panasonic DVD/VHS recorder freeview box. Superb image quality.
ColinJ
Puzzle game procrastinator!
- Location
- Todmorden - Yorks/Lancs border
I have seen some pretty crappy modern TVs too, but to be fair I have also seen some stunning ones!
My brother-in-law has a huge (50 inch?) plasma HDTV and bluray films look amazing on it, as do good quality HD broadcasts.
A lot of the crappy pictures are actually due to stupidly inadequate bandwidths used for digital TV to squeeze more channels in. There were hundreds of complaints about ITV4 during the TdF coverage in July, for instance. I am still using (and enjoying) an 11 year old Panasonic SD analogue TV, but after the digital switchover I now have to put up with blocky pixellation on fast-moving objects on many channels.
Andrew_P
In between here and there
Smart TV would be a must for me and I would have to have some decent apps. Do not under estimate the power of an internet and networked TV. Although your xbox will do quite a good job of that if it is hooked up to your network.
Currently I am using WDLIVE box connected to one of my HDMI ports and my kids are forever using Netflix which for £5.99 seems great value thus far.
Currently I am using WDLIVE box connected to one of my HDMI ports and my kids are forever using Netflix which for £5.99 seems great value thus far.
Nearly there
Veteran
- Location
- Cumbria
Flat screen HD tv's are for exactly that HD tv as most tv channels broadcast bandwidths of 576i or did so when broadcast on a panel of 1080p the tv has to fill in all the extra pixels thats why some HD tv's look awful on some programmes however feed it an HD source like blu-ray or Sky/Virgin or even freeview HD and you should get a cracking picture.When looking for a new tv here's my understanding of all the tv techs-
Plasma-
Pro's-Great motion handling
-Generally better contrast(blacks)
-Great viewing angles
-colour
Cons-
-Use more power
-Screen can be reflective in daylight
-Only come in big sizes 37"-65"
LCD-
Pro's-more screen size choice
-Brighter in the day
-lower power consumption
cons-Contrast(blacks)tend to look grey in the dark on lower end models
-Viewing angle can be poor
-Can be poor at fast motion handling sports/movies
LED-
Pro's-low power consumption
-really thin and light
-good colours
Cons-
Viewing angle can be poor
contrast(blacks)can look grey in the dark
can be poor when handling fast motion scenes sport/movies
This is what I understand to be the basic pro's and cons of each tv tech when looking for a new tv,however im no expert and don't judge a tv by how it looks in a show room as they pump up the brightness tend to feed it an HD source and those show room lights don't reflect general home lighting.
Plasma-
Pro's-Great motion handling
-Generally better contrast(blacks)
-Great viewing angles
-colour
Cons-
-Use more power
-Screen can be reflective in daylight
-Only come in big sizes 37"-65"
LCD-
Pro's-more screen size choice
-Brighter in the day
-lower power consumption
cons-Contrast(blacks)tend to look grey in the dark on lower end models
-Viewing angle can be poor
-Can be poor at fast motion handling sports/movies
LED-
Pro's-low power consumption
-really thin and light
-good colours
Cons-
Viewing angle can be poor
contrast(blacks)can look grey in the dark
can be poor when handling fast motion scenes sport/movies
This is what I understand to be the basic pro's and cons of each tv tech when looking for a new tv,however im no expert and don't judge a tv by how it looks in a show room as they pump up the brightness tend to feed it an HD source and those show room lights don't reflect general home lighting.
OP
OP
MacB
Lover of things that come in 3's
- Location
- Farnborough, Hampshire
If it helps anyone we settled on this one:-
http://www.johnlewis.com/Shopping/Product.aspx?Type=SKU&Id=231560690
and I splurged out the bit extra to have them install it fully as well.
http://www.johnlewis.com/Shopping/Product.aspx?Type=SKU&Id=231560690
and I splurged out the bit extra to have them install it fully as well.
I haven't followed this thread but you bought an ipad mini to watch tv on?
OP
OP
MacB
Lover of things that come in 3's
- Location
- Farnborough, Hampshire
that's weird, I think it's because it's sold out now but it was the Samsung UE40ES5500, lets see if this link works:-
http://www.johnlewis.com/Shopping/Product.aspx?Type=SKU&Id=231560690
OP
OP
MacB
Lover of things that come in 3's
- Location
- Farnborough, Hampshire
nope still reverts to an Ipad Mini page....no idea why
Kestevan
Last of the Summer Winos
- Location
- Holmfirth.
We have a 42" Samsung. It's 4 years old and has been a cracking piece of kit. One problem - faulty capacitors meaning the TV took longer and longer to come on was repaired (at home) by Samsung free of charge despite the set being out of warranty.
I'd definately buy another Samsung.
I'd definately buy another Samsung.
