New TV - how big?

[Proto]

43" Digihome (Tesco own brand I think). I sit 8 or 9 feet away and it's plenty big enough. Very cheap set but the picture quality is excellent. The sound is passable but I have it hooked up to a quality amp and speakers so tv speakers are redundant. It is 4k, not that I wanted it but there's not much choice with 1080p only anymore.
The smart features are rubbish, they nearly always crash the system. So I got an Amazon fire tv stick for £25. No visible wires, connects to wifi, faultless operation, voice search if you want, access to all the BBC, Ch4, ITV channels etc and of course Prime, netflix etc.

In my experience, it's very easy now to get a good picture on a cheap set, it's just everything else that suffers (smart features, sound).
In terms of size, you will get used to anything that's in front of you over time. But I wouldn't go beyond 55 inch as you'll see every imperfection when watching SD tv

Thanks. We too have a Firestick, it works very well, but I’ve not found a way of watching Film4 or regional tv broadcasts via it. Am I doing something wrong? We use TV Player app to watch the regular BBC and C4 channels.

 

[Electric_Andy]

Thanks. We too have a Firestick, it works very well, but I’ve not found a way of watching Film4 or regional tv broadcasts via it. Am I doing something wrong? We use TV Player app to watch the regular BBC and C4 channels.

AFAIK you can't watch film4 on demand. CAn you not just watch it live via the aerial?! Regional broadcasts, the same thing.

 

[NorthernDave]

65" LG Smart 4K TV in the living room - has Freeview (Inc Freeview Play), Freesat HD, Netflix, Prime and all the catch up TV apps built in and does everything you could ever need. Streams 4K content from Prime / iPlayer just fine.

Have the 49" model from the same range in the bedroom.

Once you've had them a week or two they don't seem excessively large

 

[wafter]

Personally I think the ideal size for an idiot box is zero inches

 

[derrick]

Personally I think the ideal size for an idiot is zero inches

Sorted that for you.

 

[Proto]

AFAIK you can't watch film4 on demand. CAn you not just watch it live via the aerial?! Regional broadcasts, the same thing.

Haven’t got an aerial but I’ve recently had a Freesat dish installed so can watch via that. Arguably, I could live without Freesat, just stream everything over 4G broadband.

 

[newts]

I've bought several tv's from Richer Sounds over the years. Their prices suit the frugal wallet with a good range available.

 

[Electric_Andy]

Yes I'd echo Richer Sounds (pun intended). Their service is excellent, and they are all very knowledgable and don't try to sell up to you. Most of their TVs come with a 5 year guarantee as well, or at least 3 years.
*Edit - they're all 6 years on their site. Big bonus

 

[Proto]

Ive bought from Richer Sounds in the past. Very good.

Couple of photos of room in question. Excuse mess, we’ve only just moved in. Black sofa is viewing platform!

 

[Smudge]

4K 50" Panny with built in Freeview Play. When i first got it to replace my 40" Samsung, i thought it was too big, but you soon get used to a bigger set and now i coudn't go back to a TV smaller than 50".
I always look for the best deal, then get either Richer Sounds or John Lewis to price match, to take advantage of the 5 or 6 yr warranty they both do.

 

[smokeysmoo]

After looking at new TV's until my eyes bled I more or less stumbled across THIS LG at Costco for a good price. I was actually on my to Richer Sounds to buy the same TV, but as it happened it was cheaper at Costco, so I bit the bullet and bought one.

It's a 55UM7660PLA. I wanted 55', (old one was 42' plasma), and TBH although it's obviously bigger, with the thin bezels of today's sets it doesn't look all that much bigger than the old one.

@Proto Freesat was a requirement of mine as well, and this set has it. TBH I only use Freesat as a back up at the moment, but I am planning to bin VM and switch to Freesat completely.

Anyway, for an inexpensive 55' smart TV with a 5 year guarantee I'm very happy with it

 

[Electric_Andy]

That's a lovely lounge! I would say you couldn't really have too large a TV there, unless it encroaches on the window but you'd have to go huge to do that. You're a fair distance away if you're sitting on the main central sofa, so I don't think a 50 or even a 55 inch wouldn't make viewing too grainy.

May I also suggest a TV unit like this , I had a similar one for £100 and it's solid wood, it hides all the rear cables etc completely (or would do in your corner) and would go very well with your floor

 

[jowwy]

60" Smart LG tv in lounge
42" Sony smart TV - bedroom
42" Smart LG in kitchen
42" Smart TV in the mancave

36" Smart TV out on the decking for the footy

im a tv watching freak.....

 

[Bonefish Blues]

60" Smart LG tv in lounge
42" Sony smart TV - bedroom
42" Smart LG in kitchen
42" Smart TV in the mancave

36" Smart TV out on the decking for the footy

im a tv watching freak.....

...and sometimes you don't watch TV

Sorry, resistance is weak and all that

 

[jowwy]

...and sometimes you don't watch TV

Sorry, resistance is weak and all that

ive been called a lot worse bonefish