Non-HD LCD - What's best?

RobSaints · 04-01-2006, 09:53

I'd quite like a nice LCD TV to replace my current 28" CRT, but I have no plans to buy a Xbox or go for Sky's HD service or anything like that for quite some time (years, not months). I don't play games often and I don't see the point in Sky HD until every channel, or at least the channels I watch the most, are broadcasting in HD.

So for that reason, I don't need a HD TV. I also worry about SD looking poor when upscaled to match the HD resolution. This is something I've read about many times so as my TV use is limited to Sky+ and DVD's I want to stick with SD

So for these reasons, I'd like to know what people think is the best LCD screen for non-HD viewing.

I don't plan on spending a fortune but would like at least a 32" LCD. Budget.... not much.... probably up to £700 if I can sell my PSP for a fair price.

Does anybody have any recommendations?

Cheers

Rob

RobSaints · 04-01-2006, 10:31

For what it's worth, based on the above, the one TV I keep coming back to is the Sharp LC32P50E.

Being designed for PAL use it really appeals, and the reviews of it seem very good. Price wise, it can be had for £700 if you look in the right places so it seems to fit the bill.

But am I doing the right thing in looking down this route? Does anybody own one of the Sharp P50 TV's?

Dan27 · 04-01-2006, 10:54

Yep if its a large (26" and beyond) you are looking at, the only real line of LCD screens that really cater for Pal SD transmissions are those Sharp P50s.

I walked past a Richer Sounds with that 32" model (priced around £600 if I remember right) and it was playing Shrek. Looked fantastic. Mind you most LCDs will look great with Shrek....

meltcity · 04-01-2006, 23:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobSaints

I'd quite like a nice LCD TV to replace my current 28" CRT, but I have no plans to buy a Xbox or go for Sky's HD service or anything like that for quite some time (years, not months). I don't play games often and I don't see the point in Sky HD until every channel, or at least the channels I watch the most, are broadcasting in HD.

So for that reason, I don't need a HD TV. I also worry about SD looking poor when upscaled to match the HD resolution. This is something I've read about many times so as my TV use is limited to Sky+ and DVD's I want to stick with SD

So for these reasons, I'd like to know what people think is the best LCD screen for non-HD viewing.

I don't plan on spending a fortune but would like at least a 32" LCD. Budget.... not much.... probably up to £700 if I can sell my PSP for a fair price.

Does anybody have any recommendations?

Cheers

Rob

Agreed, SDTV broadcasts often look poor on fixed pixel displays. It's worth bearing in mind though that the Sharp P panels still have to scale horizontally and deinterlace a PAL signal; there is no 1:1 pixel mapping. I'm not convinced that 960 x 540 LCDs are the forward, given that if you shop around you can get a 1366 x 768 HD Ready screen for the same price. I would carefully compare the P panels to similar priced HD LCDs before making any final decision myself.

Philips' HD Ready LCDs have the most CRT like SD picture of the models I have looked at.

RobSaints · 05-01-2006, 08:11

Cheers for the advice, as I mentioned I'm not 100% sure which is the best route so it's good to hear what other people have to say about it.

My main concern is spending hundreds on a new screen and being dissapointed with the results. So I want to ensure that whatever I buy, I get the right screen

I'll make sure I pay attention to Philips screens too now!

04-01-2006, 09:53	#1
RobSaints Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 15	Non-HD LCD - What's best? I'd quite like a nice LCD TV to replace my current 28" CRT, but I have no plans to buy a Xbox or go for Sky's HD service or anything like that for quite some time (years, not months). I don't play games often and I don't see the point in Sky HD until every channel, or at least the channels I watch the most, are broadcasting in HD. So for that reason, I don't need a HD TV. I also worry about SD looking poor when upscaled to match the HD resolution. This is something I've read about many times so as my TV use is limited to Sky+ and DVD's I want to stick with SD So for these reasons, I'd like to know what people think is the best LCD screen for non-HD viewing. I don't plan on spending a fortune but would like at least a 32" LCD. Budget.... not much.... probably up to £700 if I can sell my PSP for a fair price. Does anybody have any recommendations? Cheers Rob

04-01-2006, 10:31	#2
RobSaints Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 15	For what it's worth, based on the above, the one TV I keep coming back to is the Sharp LC32P50E. Being designed for PAL use it really appeals, and the reviews of it seem very good. Price wise, it can be had for £700 if you look in the right places so it seems to fit the bill. But am I doing the right thing in looking down this route? Does anybody own one of the Sharp P50 TV's?

04-01-2006, 10:54	#3
Dan27 Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: By The Sea Posts: 9,574	Yep if its a large (26" and beyond) you are looking at, the only real line of LCD screens that really cater for Pal SD transmissions are those Sharp P50s. I walked past a Richer Sounds with that 32" model (priced around £600 if I remember right) and it was playing Shrek. Looked fantastic. Mind you most LCDs will look great with Shrek....

04-01-2006, 23:15	#4
meltcity Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 1,770	Quote: Originally Posted by RobSaints I'd quite like a nice LCD TV to replace my current 28" CRT, but I have no plans to buy a Xbox or go for Sky's HD service or anything like that for quite some time (years, not months). I don't play games often and I don't see the point in Sky HD until every channel, or at least the channels I watch the most, are broadcasting in HD. So for that reason, I don't need a HD TV. I also worry about SD looking poor when upscaled to match the HD resolution. This is something I've read about many times so as my TV use is limited to Sky+ and DVD's I want to stick with SD So for these reasons, I'd like to know what people think is the best LCD screen for non-HD viewing. I don't plan on spending a fortune but would like at least a 32" LCD. Budget.... not much.... probably up to £700 if I can sell my PSP for a fair price. Does anybody have any recommendations? Cheers Rob Agreed, SDTV broadcasts often look poor on fixed pixel displays. It's worth bearing in mind though that the Sharp P panels still have to scale horizontally and deinterlace a PAL signal; there is no 1:1 pixel mapping. I'm not convinced that 960 x 540 LCDs are the forward, given that if you shop around you can get a 1366 x 768 HD Ready screen for the same price. I would carefully compare the P panels to similar priced HD LCDs before making any final decision myself. Philips' HD Ready LCDs have the most CRT like SD picture of the models I have looked at.

05-01-2006, 08:11	#5
RobSaints Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 15	Cheers for the advice, as I mentioned I'm not 100% sure which is the best route so it's good to hear what other people have to say about it. My main concern is spending hundreds on a new screen and being dissapointed with the results. So I want to ensure that whatever I buy, I get the right screen I'll make sure I pay attention to Philips screens too now!

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Non-HD LCD - What's best?