[Mr Sifter]

Hiya folks,

Ive been a regular reader of this forum for a while now (it was mentioned on Talk 107 in Edinburgh) and the one thing I know Ive learnt is that there are more than a few punters on here that know their stuff!

I do not.

So I want to get a new tv, but I know nothing at all about the 'new generation' of lcd/plasma/hd etc.

Can anyone out there help? What can I buy that is a more than decent all rounder, looks the part, and doesn't cost a fortune?

I saw this Toshiba, is it gonna suffice, or would you suggest something else for that sort of dough?

http://www.play.com/Product.aspx?tit...screen+LCD+TV#

Any help appreciated folks

For info, Im in Edinburgh, my cable will be through Telewest/Virgin. Cheers

Go for this one, i did and its awesome, a really good picture through non-hd transmissions, and fantastic through HD. Its only a 32 which is enough for me, but Sony do the Bravias' in tonnes of sizes. In currys this TV was £700 3 weeks ago.

http://www.dixons.co.uk/product.php?...amp_id=froogle

[David (2)]

Always have a look to see what it looks like, setup, and tuned into to a live tv channel.

One of the big problems with LCD HD-Ready tv's is that they only provide the best picture using a High Def source. Currently thats limited to SkyHD, CableHD (both subscription only), and the new range of dvd players such as BlueRay and HD-DVD. Playstation3 and Xbox360 can also offer High Def.

If you intend to put standard def (SD) pictures on one of these tv's, its is vital you have a look at one set up before you buy. How well the screen handles the SD pictures varies a lot from one brand to another. Dont forget that even Freeview is limited to SD at the moment, and even if that service introduces High Def - the electronics in the new HD-Ready screens wont be able to decode the signal. Only the actual screen is HD-Ready. You would therefore still require a new FreeviewHD box in the future.

With all that in mind, I found only Sharp and Philips LCD (HD-Ready) tv's to be a match for my old Sony CRT tv with regard to SD pictures.

Dave

[Kojack]

You can prob get the best help & advice from http://www.avforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=91

A General rule of thumb is if you intend on playing a lot of games on your screen then a LCD would probably do the trick.
If your not playing many games & wish to use it for general viewing & mostly Std Def TV then Plasma is concidered the better choice & better viewing.

Both are good on Hidef also for that price of the 32"' LCD you can get a 42"'plasma. If 32" is the biggest size you want or can have then your only choice is LCD. Plasma sizes start at 37".

If possible view them both in action & make up your own mind but you can narrow your choice down to a few models by searching the forum on both LCD & Plasma.

I don't think Philips rate highly in either the LCD or Plasma on the AVforum.

Good luck

[meltcity]

I second Kojack's plasma recommendation. Some people (including some forum members) have regretted buying LCD after realising that their friends' plasmas delivered better pictures.

[Mr Sifter]

Cheers for the help guys, I honestly do appreciate your info. I get the feelings that most posters on here are actually in the habit of "gadget buying" for want of a better phrase, but my "gadget purchases" are far more few and far between. So I wanna get this right!

The Tv will be in the sitting room, very rarely will it be used for games, mostly it will be cable tv and dvds I'll be using it for, so maybe the plasma is the better option Kojack?

I have to admit, my intial thought was for a 32 inch, simply because I reckoned your 40 odd inchers would be well out my price list! But if you are saying I can get a decent 42 inch plasma for the price of a 32 inch lcd, whats a guy to do eh!

Id prefer to go for something like a Sony, or a Phillips. No reason, it's just that, as someone who knows nowt, even I know these are both big players on the electrical scene. And thats about where my knowledge ends!

So assuming I was to get a 42 inch plasma, what would you guys recommend?

And one more thing........ the wall mounting. How do I ensure I get the correct bracket? Do they come with the tv? Do I have to buy it seperately? Does each individual tv manufacturer have their own, individual, brackets? Or can I choose from a wide range of brackets, regardless of what tv I actually buy?

[Nigel Goodwin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr Sifter

I have to admit, my intial thought was for a 32 inch, simply because I reckoned your 40 odd inchers would be well out my price list! But if you are saying I can get a decent 42 inch plasma for the price of a 32 inch lcd, whats a guy to do eh!

Do you need a bigger set?, bear in mind the bigger the set (at the same viewing distance) the more it will show the defects in the transmissions.

You're also unlikely to find a good quality Plasma 42 for the same price as a good quality LCD 32. A Plasma 42 at that price probably isn't going to be a very good one?.

Quote:

Id prefer to go for something like a Sony, or a Phillips. No reason, it's just that, as someone who knows nowt, even I know these are both big players on the electrical scene. And thats about where my knowledge ends!

Sony is a big name (the BIGGEST?) with a very good reputation, Philips is a lesser player, and they have a VERY, VERY bad reputation for poor reliablity and poor service.

As always, go to a shop and look at different models, and see which YOU like - feel free to ask peoples opinions here when you've found some you like.

[Kojack]

Agree you need to be sitting a little further away with a 42" TV (about 10 feet) compaired to 32" .

But as far as prices go, £899 for the Philips LCD he was looking at you can get the latest 42" Panasonic & Samsung Plasma for that or even less & both get excellent reviews on the Avforum.

http://www.directtvs.co.uk/42-49_Inc...a_TVs/prod.asp


http://www.digitaldirect.co.uk/produ...eid=42#Scene_1

The only thing with Plasma is you need to run them in for the first 100-200hrs.