New TV questions

lukeduke · 16-08-2014, 12:08

Looking to buy a new TV as my old Sony Bravia LCD 40" seems to be dying, my two choices are between Panasonic or another Sony, but I do have a couple of questions, Will a 3D TV work just as well as a non 3D TV, as many models seem to be 3D.

What is 3D passive and 3D active?

I want a Smart TV to connect to internet etc etc, what should I be looking for for good performance/playback etc etc.

IS a very high contrast ratio still a sign of a good picture quality ?

Is LCD and PLASMA older tech nowadays, I think I will be looking for an LED set.....

chrisjr · 16-08-2014, 12:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by lukeduke

Looking to buy a new TV as my old Sony Bravia LCD 40" seems to be dying, my two choices are between Panasonic or another Sony, but I do have a couple of questions, Will a 3D TV work just as well as a non 3D TV, as many models seem to be 3D.

What is 3D passive and 3D active?

I want a Smart TV to connect to internet etc etc, what should I be looking for for good performance/playback etc etc.

IS a very high contrast ratio still a sign of a good picture quality ?

Is LCD and PLASMA older tech nowadays, I think I will be looking for an LED set.....

3D will probably be as good bad or indifferent as non 3D. Being 3D or not is not the only factor.A good 2D display can be better than a poor 3D display..

Active and Passive refer to the way the two images are presented to your eyes. Essentially 3D works by presenting separate images to each eye which your brain merges to produce the 3D effect. In active 3D the glasses use shutters to control which eye sees which image. In other words one eyepiece is transparent and the other opaque with the glasses flipping eye to eye in synch with the TV. Passive uses light polarisation effects to separate the images.

Smart TVs should be done under the Trades Description Act as they are rarely "smart"

You certainly should not expect anything remotely approaching the performance of a bottom of the range smartphone much less a PC.

LED is LCD. The LEDs refer to the means by which the display panel is illuminated not to how the image is formed.

Nigel Goodwin · 16-08-2014, 15:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrisjr

LED is LCD. The LEDs refer to the means by which the display panel is illuminated not to how the image is formed.

I would have thought it's pretty well impossible to buy an LCD set that isn't LED lit now?, I haven't seen any CCFL ones for ages.

lukeduke · 16-08-2014, 17:45

Is it also still a fact that SONY and PANASONIC are the better brands.....?

webbie · 16-08-2014, 18:21

In general yes, but read the reviews as all manufacturers are capable of making rubbish tvs.

crofter · 16-08-2014, 19:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by lukeduke

Is it also still a fact that SONY and PANASONIC are the better brands.....?

What size are you looking for??

What is your budget??

What is important to you - black level or viewing angles??

What are you going to mainly be using it for - gaming, general use, sport or movies??

Are you going to rely on the inbuilt speakers??

Smart TV's are never going to give you an internet experience - you can watch the catch-up services and they should be able to play media from a usb stick with varying success.

Nigel Goodwin · 16-08-2014, 20:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by lukeduke

Is it also still a fact that SONY and PANASONIC are the better brands.....?

Yes, which (unfortunately) is why they both lose money on their TV's - making better quality sets using better quality parts.

simon69c · 24-08-2014, 22:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by lukeduke

What is 3D passive and 3D active?

Just to expand a little on the previous reply; with 3D active sets, as the glasses have shutters, they require power - usually in the form of a rechargeable battery. Consequently additional pairs of glasses tend to be quite pricey. On the other hand passive 3D only requires basic "dumb" glasses (like the ones you get at the cinema in fact you can use the same ones), simply with differing polarising filters for each eye, so additional sets are much cheaper. Something to consider if you anticipate having guests round to watch 3D. So why would you bother with active 3D? Well the catch with passive 3D is that you won't get full 1080p resolution as half the lines are polarised for the left eye and the other half for the right. Whether that will be enough to bother you (or if you even watch enough 3D for it to be an issue anyway) is something for you to establish.

16-08-2014, 12:08	#1
lukeduke Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 7	New TV questions Looking to buy a new TV as my old Sony Bravia LCD 40" seems to be dying, my two choices are between Panasonic or another Sony, but I do have a couple of questions, Will a 3D TV work just as well as a non 3D TV, as many models seem to be 3D. What is 3D passive and 3D active? I want a Smart TV to connect to internet etc etc, what should I be looking for for good performance/playback etc etc. IS a very high contrast ratio still a sign of a good picture quality ? Is LCD and PLASMA older tech nowadays, I think I will be looking for an LED set.....

16-08-2014, 12:25	#2
chrisjr Forum Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Reading Posts: 27,916	Quote: Originally Posted by lukeduke Looking to buy a new TV as my old Sony Bravia LCD 40" seems to be dying, my two choices are between Panasonic or another Sony, but I do have a couple of questions, Will a 3D TV work just as well as a non 3D TV, as many models seem to be 3D. What is 3D passive and 3D active? I want a Smart TV to connect to internet etc etc, what should I be looking for for good performance/playback etc etc. IS a very high contrast ratio still a sign of a good picture quality ? Is LCD and PLASMA older tech nowadays, I think I will be looking for an LED set..... 3D will probably be as good bad or indifferent as non 3D. Being 3D or not is not the only factor.A good 2D display can be better than a poor 3D display.. Active and Passive refer to the way the two images are presented to your eyes. Essentially 3D works by presenting separate images to each eye which your brain merges to produce the 3D effect. In active 3D the glasses use shutters to control which eye sees which image. In other words one eyepiece is transparent and the other opaque with the glasses flipping eye to eye in synch with the TV. Passive uses light polarisation effects to separate the images. Smart TVs should be done under the Trades Description Act as they are rarely "smart" You certainly should not expect anything remotely approaching the performance of a bottom of the range smartphone much less a PC. LED is LCD. The LEDs refer to the means by which the display panel is illuminated not to how the image is formed.

16-08-2014, 15:01	#3
Nigel Goodwin Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: North Derbyshire Posts: 41,789	Quote: Originally Posted by chrisjr LED is LCD. The LEDs refer to the means by which the display panel is illuminated not to how the image is formed. I would have thought it's pretty well impossible to buy an LCD set that isn't LED lit now?, I haven't seen any CCFL ones for ages.

16-08-2014, 17:45	#4
lukeduke Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 7	Is it also still a fact that SONY and PANASONIC are the better brands.....?

16-08-2014, 18:21	#5
webbie Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: North Devon Posts: 1,568	In general yes, but read the reviews as all manufacturers are capable of making rubbish tvs.

16-08-2014, 19:11	#6
crofter Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 2,816	Quote: Originally Posted by lukeduke Is it also still a fact that SONY and PANASONIC are the better brands.....? What size are you looking for?? What is your budget?? What is important to you - black level or viewing angles?? What are you going to mainly be using it for - gaming, general use, sport or movies?? Are you going to rely on the inbuilt speakers?? Smart TV's are never going to give you an internet experience - you can watch the catch-up services and they should be able to play media from a usb stick with varying success.

16-08-2014, 20:56	#7
Nigel Goodwin Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: North Derbyshire Posts: 41,789	Quote: Originally Posted by lukeduke Is it also still a fact that SONY and PANASONIC are the better brands.....? Yes, which (unfortunately) is why they both lose money on their TV's - making better quality sets using better quality parts.

24-08-2014, 22:28	#8
simon69c Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Glasgow Posts: 1,415	Quote: Originally Posted by lukeduke What is 3D passive and 3D active? Just to expand a little on the previous reply; with 3D active sets, as the glasses have shutters, they require power - usually in the form of a rechargeable battery. Consequently additional pairs of glasses tend to be quite pricey. On the other hand passive 3D only requires basic "dumb" glasses (like the ones you get at the cinema in fact you can use the same ones), simply with differing polarising filters for each eye, so additional sets are much cheaper. Something to consider if you anticipate having guests round to watch 3D. So why would you bother with active 3D? Well the catch with passive 3D is that you won't get full 1080p resolution as half the lines are polarised for the left eye and the other half for the right. Whether that will be enough to bother you (or if you even watch enough 3D for it to be an issue anyway) is something for you to establish.

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