I am planning to buy a TV in the 40 ~ 50 inch range from John Lewis so would welcome comments on my following shortlist, as you can see I don't want a curved screen or 3D particularly.

What I do want is a TV that is good for upscaling SD/HD.

Samsung ue48ju6400

http://www.johnlewis.com/samsung-ue4...wi-fi/p1929338

JL49jl9100

http://www.johnlewis.com/john-lewis-...wi-fi/p1993490

sony-bravia-kd49x8005

http://http://www.johnlewis.com/sony...wi-fi/p2231247

panasonic-viera-tx-48cx400b

http://www.johnlewis.com/panasonic-v...wi-fi/p2033314


As much as anything else I am looking for advice on which one to avoid

Personal opinion - Panasonic first, Samsung second, Sony third.

And that's having had both Panasonic and Sony sets and most recently gone back to Panasonic.

If you're buying from JL, it's also worth being aware that their own brand sets are apparently re-badged LGs so if you find one of those at an attractive price you shouldn't disregard it.

Bear in mind with 4k the broadcast standards are NOT finalised at this time and none of those sets have in built 4k decoders, so when broadcast 4k comes along you'll need a separate box (i.e. Sky, whatever Freeview does etc) to receive 'off air' 4k.

So it *might* be worth waiting if 4k is your reason for wanting a new set.

We were looking at a LG 49UF770V, it says on LG site that it has HEVC decoder, that's means it's all ready for 4K right?

But anyhow everyone should know your skyhd box will not receive 4k, there will be a new box sky will bring out probably.

Hi killjoy
If your main priority is good upscaling of SD/HD, then I would suggest this Samsung 1080P (non 4K): http://www.richersounds.com/product/...sams-ue48j6300

The problem with the ones you've linked is that pretty much all the entry level 4K TVs I've seen do a poor job of upscaling 1080P - images are noticeably softer and less detailed than on a good 1080P TV. Of course if you get a 1080P set you have no future-proofing when 4K eventually takes over.

Having said that, there's no guarantee current 4K sets will give you that anyway. If/when 4K broadcasts start, chances are it will be a new standard, requiring at the very least a new box, rather like standard Freeview boxes not being able to receive HD, and possibly a new TV.

So, if good upscaling is your main priority, I would get the Samsung Ive linked.

very poor upscaler:http://www.techradar.com/reviews/aud...1311315/review

I agree - but not totally unbiased. Ive got a Pana and have had a Sony and prefer Pana over it. A friend of mine has a Samasung and its a great TV. JL mmmmm not sure.

Not at all. It could mean it will decode the new German DVB-T2 tests which are using HEVC.

As has been stated the 4K standards have not been decided yet.

As for upscaling, it's a con. You cannot create what is not there.

Would normally agree but the CX400 range is just a Vestel badged set. No where near the standards that Panasonic would normally set for themselves. These sadly are aimed at just hitting a price point on supermarket shelves or websites.
The best advice however for anyone buying a TV, is go to the shop and see them working first hand. Beyond checking basic spec's like size, connections and functionality on paper, ther is nothing as good as making your choice for a visual product by seeing the products with your own eyes. Is very subjective and one person's opinion is no substituted for your own visual preference.

It perfect for Amazon Prime and Netflix 4k content. It will also decode the Astra 4k demo if you connect a satellite cable to the TV.

External STBs won't need HEVC as they'll do the encoding.

Unfortunately that has a curved screen and I want a flat one.

It's been pointed out many times that upscaling is a process that is performed by a tv to make a lower resolution image fit a higher resolution screen, it can be done with various degrees of quality depending on the chip used, the final result can look very good, sometimes better than the original, (as is the case for good sourced HD upscaled on my 4k tv), other times when a poor quality chip is used the result looks very poor.

Some scalers are very intelligent where they guess with a good degree of accuracy to what information neighbouring pixels should display, this can even be a shade of colour not used in the original, so in some respect it will and can create what was not there originally.

As for it being a con, couldn't be further from the truth, it does what it says on the tin.....

You might be interested in its predecessor;http://www.richersounds.com/product/...sams-ue48h6400

What Hi Fi's 2014 TV of the year although you may want a more recent set. Still very good though.

This is mine. A brilliant price, with a 5 year warranty. Panasonic, despite the stated screen resoution, will only achieve 200hz. This tv is also availablein a 48", for £749.
http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/tv-and-...27145-pdt.html

Ahh I've got you now, thanks for that.

But do they do a version without a curved screen?

A similar, non curved model;http://www.richersounds.com/product/...ams-ue48ju6400

That's the one I have just ordered from JL

I think that's a good choice, the best of your original shortlist imo and scores well in independent reviews.

The TV is fine, except that I cannot get IPlayer to work.

IPlayer opens up and I can select the program I want to watch but it does not play. Other apps like ITV Player are OK.

As is the CR430 and C300 range.

Yup, sadly.