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Best 4K TV on a budget


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Old 26-10-2014, 16:47
Widdy
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So I've got a budget of a grand for a 4K TV which seems do-able with a quick look at Currys, but which is the best one to get?

Ideally I'm wanting one with Netflix (not particularly bothered about other smart tv features) so I can watch 4K content.

Any suggestions?
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Old 26-10-2014, 18:37
hardeep
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As far as I can tell you're pretty much stuffed.

I'm pretty certain that the Panasonic AX models at that price/size can't use Netflixs' 4K service due to a firmware issue. (Which is a pity as they have a very nice picture.)

The Samsung 6900 series don't seem to be reviewing that well - issues with motion and lack of 24fps.

The LG 850s are reviewing even worse. (Poor picture quality, blurring etc.)

My advice would be to continue saving
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Old 26-10-2014, 19:02
Matt35
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Pointless buying a 4k tv at this time since its gonna be a few years until there will be enough content by which time the 4k tv you have will be outdated.
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Old 26-10-2014, 19:21
ramraideruk
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Someone was talking about this on another thread. Apparently Currys are pricematching
Pixmania: http://www.pixmania.co.uk/search/4k-tv.html
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Old 26-10-2014, 19:58
Winston_1
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No 4K TVs will receive 4K transmissions when they start as they are not up to date. Spend your money on a decent HD model.
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Old 26-10-2014, 20:54
grahamlthompson
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No 4K TVs will receive 4K transmissions when they start as they are not up to date. Spend your money on a decent HD model.
The OP wants to view the current Netflix 4K streaming service. Afaik all the current models on sale will be capable of using Netflix 4K streaming.

Whether it will be worth it depends entirely on the size of the TV used. the quality of the picture and the distance it's viewed from, which is entirely down to the OP's judgement.
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Old 26-10-2014, 22:21
ney
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If I was the OP I would go for a full HD TV with a Freeview HD tuner rather than a 4k TV.
Although the 4k picture dose look very good after seeing a demo on a 40 inch LED TV in a local electrical store in town. It will be a few years yet before anything is broadcast in 4k and as someone said the TV you buy the now will be almost out of date by then.
Its like when HD TVs first came out most where only HD ready 720i or 720p TVs.
You can see how 5 or 6 years down the line 75% of TVs are now full HD 1080p. Some now even have a Freeview HD tuner in them.
I still don't see why some TVs still seem to also have an old analogue tuner in them.

Darren
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Old 27-10-2014, 01:52
stylo
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If I was the OP I would go for a full HD TV with a Freeview HD tuner rather than a 4k TV.
Although the 4k picture dose look very good after seeing a demo on a 40 inch LED TV in a local electrical store in town. It will be a few years yet before anything is broadcast in 4k and as someone said the TV you buy the now will be almost out of date by then.
Its like when HD TVs first came out most where only HD ready 720i or 720p TVs.
You can see how 5 or 6 years down the line 75% of TVs are now full HD 1080p. Some now even have a Freeview HD tuner in them.
I still don't see why some TVs still seem to also have an old analogue tuner in them.

Darren
Because by having these tuners, it's very useful for distributing CCTV, SAT etc to them!
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Old 27-10-2014, 08:48
Nigel Goodwin
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I still don't see why some TVs still seem to also have an old analogue tuner in them.
Pretty well ALL TV's do - and should - it's a VERY heavily used feature.

It saves nothing dropping analogue off, and loses lot's of useful functionality.
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Old 27-10-2014, 08:50
bobcar
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Because by having these tuners, it's very useful for distributing CCTV, SAT etc to them!
I would doubt that's the main reason, I'd think it's more likely that it's cheaper to have both than make special versions with and without.
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Old 27-10-2014, 18:36
stylo
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I would doubt that's the main reason, I'd think it's more likely that it's cheaper to have both than make special versions with and without.
It would be ridiculous to make special versions of each!.

It's an included 'feature' (much like all the optional sockets / connectors etc you find on the back of TVs) that you may have use for, or not.

Think a lot of folk automatically assume they're now redundant since analogue signals have been switched off. I make full use of them on every TV in the house, and I bet others would too if they realised what they could do
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Old 27-10-2014, 18:45
chenks
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I make full use of them on every TV in the house, and I bet others would too if they realised what they could do
what can they do then?
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Old 27-10-2014, 19:50
Spider Rico
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Glad you asked this, OP; I was going to make a similar thread myself. I was going to ask if it's worthwhile buying one now or waiting until they drop in price further, or waiting even longer for more/some things to actually be broadcast in 4K.

My parents just bought a 55" Samsung 4k curved TV for £1,599 and it's getting delivered on Thursday. I'll be dropping by to have a good look, of course

I was close to buying the 48" Samsung UE48HU7500:-

http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/tv-dvd-...12133-pdt.html

If it drops to under £1k, I'm not sure I'll be able to resist.

Posters mentioning that these early 4k TVs will be out of date - these Samsungs have a Smart Evolution feature where they can apparently keep up with the evolving broadcast technology. I don't know if that comes at any kind of (quality) cost or not.

We have had our 42" full HD & 3D Panasonic for 3-and-a-half years now, and it has been (and still is) absolutely fantastic. One downside is that it only had an early version of the smart features and even updating the firmware didn't make much of a difference (no Netflix etc.) The 4k upscaling offered by these new sets really appeals to me, too.

I think I'll ideally like to keep a purchase under a grand, like you. If I could get a good 2-3 out of one before needing to upgrade, I think I could deal with that. I'm going to keep an eye on them over the next couple of months. The prices could well drop on some of them prior to, and after Christmas.
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Old 27-10-2014, 19:59
chenks
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My parents just bought a 55" Samsung 4k curved TV for £1,599 and it's getting delivered on Thursday. I'll be dropping by to have a good look, of course
they got sucked into the advertising hype then.
curved screens, what a nonsense gimmick, almost are stupid as in-house 3d.

hope they've got 1 chair sitting in the exact location needed for viewing the curved tv, anyone else sitting elsewhere might as well take a nap.
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Old 27-10-2014, 20:06
Spider Rico
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they got sucked into the advertising hype then.
curved screens, what a nonsense gimmick, almost are stupid as in-house 3d.

hope they've got 1 chair sitting in the exact location needed for viewing the curved tv, anyone else sitting elsewhere might as well take a nap.
Even if it wasn't curved, I think they've spent way too much for their needs. They're still a bit stuck in the 80s/90s; they have Freeview HD and mostly watch the terrestrial channels. They barely use the internet, have no interest in Netflix or any of the other smart features, rarely watch movies....I could go on and on. I knew when they said they were going to Curry's that they'd (my Mum mostly) get sucked in by the hype and 'shiny new object' factor.

To be fair, there's just the two of them now and the way their living room is set up would be pretty ideal for a curved TV. I just hope they try to make use of the myriad of features they have available to them.
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Old 27-10-2014, 20:41
skinj
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As far as I can tell you're pretty much stuffed.

I'm pretty certain that the Panasonic AX models at that price/size can't use Netflixs' 4K service due to a firmware issue. (Which is a pity as they have a very nice picture.)

The Samsung 6900 series don't seem to be reviewing that well - issues with motion and lack of 24fps.

The LG 850s are reviewing even worse. (Poor picture quality, blurring etc.)

My advice would be to continue saving
if they haven't already, the Panasonic AX802's will get an update. They used a higher powered dual core processor that Netflix didn't count on when they started 4K streaming. Will be sorted soon.
Don't know about the AX630's.
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Old 28-10-2014, 08:52
White-Knight
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they got sucked into the advertising hype then.
curved screens, what a nonsense gimmick, almost are stupid as in-house 3d.

hope they've got 1 chair sitting in the exact location needed for viewing the curved tv, anyone else sitting elsewhere might as well take a nap.
Sorry but have you even seen a curved screen tv?

So many armchair posters on here who've never gone out and viewed 4K but claim to be experts.

I have and I was a sceptic. However, I have to admit I was wrong. The curve is very slight, the viewing angle is wider than a normal tv, you absolutely don't have to sit in the centre and get a better picture from all angles and yes the tv is more immersive.

Is it worth the extra money? Well put it this way, I wouldn't pay extra for it as it's a slight gain, but given 2 panels at the same price and quality, one curved, one not, I'd take the curved panel, and 6 months ago I would have never envisaged saying that!
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Old 28-10-2014, 09:20
bobcar
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Sorry but have you even seen a curved screen tv?

So many armchair posters on here who've never gone out and viewed 4K but claim to be experts.

I have and I was a sceptic. However, I have to admit I was wrong. The curve is very slight, the viewing angle is wider than a normal tv, you absolutely don't have to sit in the centre and get a better picture from all angles and yes the tv is more immersive.

Is it worth the extra money? Well put it this way, I wouldn't pay extra for it as it's a slight gain, but given 2 panels at the same price and quality, one curved, one not, I'd take the curved panel, and 6 months ago I would have never envisaged saying that!
How can the viewing angle be greater? For the same angle from the centre the nearside of the TV will be at a more acute angle making that less watchable and the extra problem with reflections will limit the viewing positions even more - that's if you can get somewhere reflection free. Having a slight rather than large curve will only reduce the problems not remove them.

Of course the TV itself may have a good viewing angle but that will be down to the quality of the panel not the curve, it would be even better if flat.
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Old 28-10-2014, 09:20
chenks
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Sorry but have you even seen a curved screen tv?
yes i have
apology accepted.

So many armchair posters on here who've never gone out and viewed 4K but claim to be experts.
note, i was commenting on the curved screen, NOT 4K.
try reading posts properly before you make comment and make yourself look like a fool.
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Old 28-10-2014, 12:46
Nigel Goodwin
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The curve is very slight, the viewing angle is wider than a normal tv.
Sorry, but that's utter nonsense - curving the screen inwards can only REDUCE the viewing angle.
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Old 28-10-2014, 12:58
webbie
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Perhaps they should make one that bows out slightly to increase the viewing angle??? Lol.
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Old 28-10-2014, 13:55
Deacon1972
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Sorry, but that's utter nonsense - curving the screen inwards can only REDUCE the viewing angle.
Does it really make that much difference, especially where LCD is concerned because they have pretty poor viewing angles to start with.

Curved restricts the viewing angle to about 40/50degs, sitting outside that viewing a flat LCD won't be that impressive, take two steps sideways and the picture starts to degrade where the sharpness goes and the colour looks dull, that's been my experience for the various screens I've had/have and seen.
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Old 28-10-2014, 17:25
Nigel Goodwin
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Does it really make that much difference, especially where LCD is concerned because they have pretty poor viewing angles to start with.

Curved restricts the viewing angle to about 40/50degs, sitting outside that viewing a flat LCD won't be that impressive, take two steps sideways and the picture starts to degrade where the sharpness goes and the colour looks dull, that's been my experience for the various screens I've had/have and seen.
Perhaps you should look at some decent quality LCD's
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Old 28-10-2014, 21:55
ney
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I just no longer see the point of an analogue tuner in a TV anymore unless you want to plug in a old Play Station or something like that and hardly anyone uses them anymore.
I got an old play station and VCR in the house and have not used them in a few years.
As for curved TVs they do look good but don't know if they will fully take on.
I do really like the 22inch LED Samsung Full HD smart TV with Freeview HD in my bedroom that's now just over 10 months old and the newer Samsung 32 inch modal I got for the living room about 2 weeks ago.
I do at times however find that some channels sound louder than others when watching via the Youview box.
I have also noticed that both Samsung TVs Freeview HD tuners is 100HZ but when using the Youview box via HDMI it shows as 50HZ.

Darren
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Old 28-10-2014, 22:20
White-Knight
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How can the viewing angle be greater? For the same angle from the centre the nearside of the TV will be at a more acute angle making that less watchable and the extra problem with reflections will limit the viewing positions even more - that's if you can get somewhere reflection free. Having a slight rather than large curve will only reduce the problems not remove them.

Of course the TV itself may have a good viewing angle but that will be down to the quality of the panel not the curve, it would be even better if flat.
Yes Bob that's what you would expect. However, it's better. Maybe its down to a combination of panel improvements and curve but in viewing curved 4k screens from Samsung, I found the viewing angle to be much better.

yes i have
apology accepted.

note, i was commenting on the curved screen, NOT 4K.
try reading posts properly before you make comment and make yourself look like a fool.
I never made myself look like a fool. If you read carefuly above then you'd know I was also commenting on the curve not 4K. If you don't agree, then that's fine, that's your opinion but the 4k Samsung's I viewed were better for having the curve.

Sorry, but that's utter nonsense - curving the screen inwards can only REDUCE the viewing angle.
Go and view Nigel, that's all I can say. I don't disagree with the physics of it all.

Maybe it's a panel improvement behind the angle increase + the curve, but the latest curved screen definately offers very wide angle viewing and the immersion is better than with a flat screen.

I was the biggest sceptic ever but after seeing a £2.5 Samsung 65" 4k vs several 55-65" flats screens placed adjacent, the curved screen was more immersive.

As I said above though, it's not enough to amke me pay extra for a curve but if ti was there, I would take it over the flat on any day.
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