Which LCD to buy for between £300 - £400

chrisb1357 · 26-02-2007, 22:15

Hi all

New to the forum and this is my first post on here. Myself and my partner are looking at getting our first LCD for our living room in our flat but not sure on which one to get as there are so many to pick from with good and bad reviews for all.

We are looking for a 26" or 27" LCD TV to be used with our Standard Sky Box and DVD PLayer and maybe HD TV and a stnadard XBOX.

Our budget is low and looking to spend between £300 and £400 Max.

We have seen the following 2 LCD's so far but not sure what they are rated like spec wise or if someone else can recommand others that are good

1, Goodmans 27" GTVL27W23HD - £350 at Tesco's

2, Hitachi 26" 26LD6600 - £347 at RGB Direct

Many Thanks
Chris

russellelly · 26-02-2007, 22:31

At that price/size combonation you're inevetably going to end up with a fairly poor performer. If you value picture quality (some poeple are much pickier than others!) then I'd be looking to either up the budget, lower the screen size or opt for a CRT.

Ultimately thoughthe best advice is to see one yourself, preferebly with sources you'll be using.

I've no experience with the Goodmans, but the Hitachi is a rebadge job (Vestel I think?) and while it isn't terrible it's build quality is pretty poor and the picture quality is OK.

chrisb1357 · 26-02-2007, 22:50

Our budget cannot go much higher but could think about going to a smaller screen. We have a 15" Samsung LCD in the bedroom and are happy with that but the size is to small for the living room

Chris

thms · 26-02-2007, 23:30

lg 26lc2r is £399.99

http://www.empiredirect.co.uk/conten...LGE-26LC2R.htm

incidently they have the hitachi 26ld6600 for £329.00

(delivery on both sets is £15.00)

i know you said max £400 but if you can find another £60
then consider the JVC LT-26DR71 is £444.01 (+£19.99 delivery)
it has freeview and a 7ms response rate
http://www.digitaldirect.co.uk/produ...=12229#Scene_1

this is what trusted reviews said about it's similarly styled big brother http://www.trustedreviews.com/tvs/re...37in-LCD-TV/p1

thms · 27-02-2007, 02:20

this buyer gave the Hitachi 26LD6600 a poor review

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hitachi-26LD...&s=electronics

chrisb1357 · 27-02-2007, 09:25

Does anyone know what the Mirai 527V200 or 632V200 are like as they have good reviews and are just £400 for a 32" or just under £400 for a 26"

Who makes these LCD Screens?

Chris

thms · 27-02-2007, 09:42

a colleague bought a 32'' mirai set last year
http://www.mirai.eu/Uk/AboutMIRAI
and there is a thread about them on av forum
http://www.avforums.com/forums/showt...ighlight=mirai

chrisb1357 · 27-02-2007, 10:21

The Mirai Screens seem to get some good reviews on that thread

Chris

Happy Gilmore · 27-02-2007, 10:50

Chris mate, you are looking in the wrong place if you want info about screens.

The AV forums is a fantastic place to do some quality research.

The Hitachi you suggested is beyond rubbish mate, a horrible contrast rate of 600:1 is enough to put anyone off.

The Mirai is a fantastic set for the price. Easily the budget buy of the moment. Read the mega 55+ page thread on the AV forums which include user reviews, problems and their solutions, and some nice pics to persuade you a little bit more.

Just ordered the set yesterday from Techfever for the missus, am sure it wont disappoint. I've sent 30 hours since the weekend researching sets at this price range for her, i nearly went with the AOC, but for the extra £40, this set blows it away.

Mirai are enjoying a growing rep, but have been around a long time under Matsui if i am to believe that thread, just a sister company.

Anyway the 527V200 is the old version, shown by the 5, which was a good set, and people who bought it enjoyed it, which you can see earlier on in that thread, the 632V200 is the newer and certainly improved version, which is certainly worth your money from what i hear.

It arrives tomorrow, i could come back and give you my initial impressions, but LCD can sometime take a couple of weeks to settle down or 'burn' or so people say. I didn't know that again until this weekend like!

chrisb1357 · 27-02-2007, 10:54

I think i am going to go with the Mirai 32"

Chris

Happy Gilmore · 27-02-2007, 10:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrisb1357

I think i am going to go with the Mirai 32"

Chris

Good choice. Even though that thread takes about 3 hours to read, its worth it mate, especially if you are going to buy it.

I feel am ready for its arrival, and know a lot more about it than if it just came out of the box.

chrisb1357 · 27-02-2007, 15:14

I have now ordered the Mirai 32" and should be here on Wed. Just need a stand for it now

Chris

thms · 27-02-2007, 18:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrisb1357

I have now ordered the Mirai 32" and should be here on Wed. Just need a stand for it now

Chris

considering you're small budget you're right to go for this larger set.

chrisb1357 · 27-02-2007, 22:05

Thanks for the advice and help,

£400 not bad for a 32 inch,

Chris

parthena · 10-04-2007, 08:58

How did things go with the Mirai, Chris? Are you able to do a little review here?

parthena

26-02-2007, 22:15	#1
chrisb1357 Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 144	Which LCD to buy for between £300 - £400 Hi all New to the forum and this is my first post on here. Myself and my partner are looking at getting our first LCD for our living room in our flat but not sure on which one to get as there are so many to pick from with good and bad reviews for all. We are looking for a 26" or 27" LCD TV to be used with our Standard Sky Box and DVD PLayer and maybe HD TV and a stnadard XBOX. Our budget is low and looking to spend between £300 and £400 Max. We have seen the following 2 LCD's so far but not sure what they are rated like spec wise or if someone else can recommand others that are good 1, Goodmans 27" GTVL27W23HD - £350 at Tesco's 2, Hitachi 26" 26LD6600 - £347 at RGB Direct Many Thanks Chris

26-02-2007, 23:30	#4
thms Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 56,818	lg 26lc2r is £399.99 http://www.empiredirect.co.uk/conten...LGE-26LC2R.htm incidently they have the hitachi 26ld6600 for £329.00 (delivery on both sets is £15.00) i know you said max £400 but if you can find another £60 then consider the JVC LT-26DR71 is £444.01 (+£19.99 delivery) it has freeview and a 7ms response rate http://www.digitaldirect.co.uk/produ...=12229#Scene_1 this is what trusted reviews said about it's similarly styled big brother http://www.trustedreviews.com/tvs/re...37in-LCD-TV/p1 Last edited by thms : 26-02-2007 at 23:33.

27-02-2007, 10:50	#9
Happy Gilmore Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 555	Chris mate, you are looking in the wrong place if you want info about screens. The AV forums is a fantastic place to do some quality research. The Hitachi you suggested is beyond rubbish mate, a horrible contrast rate of 600:1 is enough to put anyone off. The Mirai is a fantastic set for the price. Easily the budget buy of the moment. Read the mega 55+ page thread on the AV forums which include user reviews, problems and their solutions, and some nice pics to persuade you a little bit more. Just ordered the set yesterday from Techfever for the missus, am sure it wont disappoint. I've sent 30 hours since the weekend researching sets at this price range for her, i nearly went with the AOC, but for the extra £40, this set blows it away. Mirai are enjoying a growing rep, but have been around a long time under Matsui if i am to believe that thread, just a sister company. Anyway the 527V200 is the old version, shown by the 5, which was a good set, and people who bought it enjoyed it, which you can see earlier on in that thread, the 632V200 is the newer and certainly improved version, which is certainly worth your money from what i hear. It arrives tomorrow, i could come back and give you my initial impressions, but LCD can sometime take a couple of weeks to settle down or 'burn' or so people say. I didn't know that again until this weekend like! Last edited by Happy Gilmore : 27-02-2007 at 10:55.

26-02-2007, 22:31	#2
russellelly Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Scotland Posts: 10,720	At that price/size combonation you're inevetably going to end up with a fairly poor performer. If you value picture quality (some poeple are much pickier than others!) then I'd be looking to either up the budget, lower the screen size or opt for a CRT. Ultimately thoughthe best advice is to see one yourself, preferebly with sources you'll be using. I've no experience with the Goodmans, but the Hitachi is a rebadge job (Vestel I think?) and while it isn't terrible it's build quality is pretty poor and the picture quality is OK.

26-02-2007, 22:50	#3
chrisb1357 Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 144	Our budget cannot go much higher but could think about going to a smaller screen. We have a 15" Samsung LCD in the bedroom and are happy with that but the size is to small for the living room Chris

27-02-2007, 02:20	#5
thms Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 56,818	this buyer gave the Hitachi 26LD6600 a poor review http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hitachi-26LD...&s=electronics

27-02-2007, 09:25	#6
chrisb1357 Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 144	Does anyone know what the Mirai 527V200 or 632V200 are like as they have good reviews and are just £400 for a 32" or just under £400 for a 26" Who makes these LCD Screens? Chris

27-02-2007, 09:42	#7
thms Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 56,818	a colleague bought a 32'' mirai set last year http://www.mirai.eu/Uk/AboutMIRAI and there is a thread about them on av forum http://www.avforums.com/forums/showt...ighlight=mirai

27-02-2007, 10:21	#8
chrisb1357 Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 144	The Mirai Screens seem to get some good reviews on that thread Chris

27-02-2007, 10:54	#10
chrisb1357 Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 144	I think i am going to go with the Mirai 32" Chris

27-02-2007, 10:57	#11
Happy Gilmore Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 555	Quote: Originally Posted by chrisb1357 I think i am going to go with the Mirai 32" Chris Good choice. Even though that thread takes about 3 hours to read, its worth it mate, especially if you are going to buy it. I feel am ready for its arrival, and know a lot more about it than if it just came out of the box.

27-02-2007, 15:14	#12
chrisb1357 Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 144	I have now ordered the Mirai 32" and should be here on Wed. Just need a stand for it now Chris

27-02-2007, 18:50	#13
thms Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 56,818	Quote: Originally Posted by chrisb1357 I have now ordered the Mirai 32" and should be here on Wed. Just need a stand for it now Chris considering you're small budget you're right to go for this larger set.

27-02-2007, 22:05	#14
chrisb1357 Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 144	Thanks for the advice and help, £400 not bad for a 32 inch, Chris

10-04-2007, 08:58	#15
parthena Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: SW London, Crystal Palace Tx Posts: 2,769	How did things go with the Mirai, Chris? Are you able to do a little review here? parthena

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Which LCD to buy for between £300 - £400