New tv for dad

[Piff]

With sisters,have decided to buy a new tv for dad (combined birthday & christmas).

Current budget is approx £400 but intend to run this past him in case he wants to top up the budget.

He is currently using our old 100hz 28" JVC. I note that there is not a direct replacement for 28" so probably looking for 32" or possibly 37".

Any recommendations in the 32"/37" size range we should be considering?

 

[Tan]

Have a look at Richer Sounds, they always have some good deals.

Richer Sounds - The UK's Hi-Fi, Home Cinema & Flat Panel TV Specialists!

Tan

 

[Sp!ke]

The smaller sizes seem to hold quite high prices whereas the more common +42" models have very aggressive pricing now.

So not much cost difference between 28" and 50".

 

[verytalldave]

LED/LCD televisions are less power hungry than plasmas.
Generally.
Also, LED/LCD's tend to give a better brighter picture in a room that gets sunny.
Another factor worth bearing in mind is to buy a TV where the speakers actually face the viewers, rather than to the side or rear facing.
This makes for clearer sound.
100Hz picture is better - but more expensive.

The size of the screen is more or less dictated by the size of the room. No point in putting a 50" in a 10 foot square room.
John Lewis always has a good display of TVs and will price match without quibble. And a 5 year guarantee is worth having.

If you really have a ceiling to your budget of circa £400, then this is the set I would choose for him.......

http://www.johnlewis.com/230606295/Product.aspx

Its £399 and comes with a 5 year guarantee. It has simulated surround sound built-in, built-in freeview tuner and is a good brand name. And John Lewis normally do free delivery on TV's subject to a few restrictions.
The only downside is that its not full 1080p HD.
However, unless he subscribes to SKY HD, or wants to use freesat HD, or use a Blue Ray player, then this is of little consequence. Why pay for a feature you dont need or ever intend to use?
I suspect over half of all full 1080p HD televisions in use have never been used fully.
This is the one I would buy IMHO.

 

[nickcc101]

Bought a Samsung 37" lcd hd ready earlier this year from Argos, more than satisfied and would certainly buy again. Shop around though as you should still be able to get a good deal.

 

[wemorgan]

I forget where, but I remember reading that in a typically sized living room that the smallest TV where 1080p would be noticeable was 37". Whether that's still relevant for today's TV range I don't know, but on having watched a few friends TVs that sounds roughly right.

 

[G.O'Rilla]

That's a good point - don't get hung up on size.....................

......but everyone notices if it's too small


and yes, I was still talking about TV's

Buying both son and daughter TV's for christmas (little blood suckers spending their inheritance already) and the temptation to go big is very high, due to the relatively small price difference

 

[Piff]

Thanks people.
I ran the idea past him yesterday.
He is more than willing to contribute to up the budget.
But as friends of his have just bought a 37", he thinks that would be too big for his lounge and has decided on 32"
He also thinks he wants full HD so I am now going to try to steer him into one with freesat so he will at least get some HD content.
Two I've narrowed down are LG 32LF7700 which seems to have had some mixed reviews and Panasonic TX-L32G10
Anyone have any experience of either of these?

The LG was available at John Lewis at very good price of £399 incl 5 yr g'tee. But currently out of stock. Others have it at £400 upwards. The Panasonic starts at about £540

 

[verytalldave]

Sony also sell freesat TV's now but are expensive.

If you are contemplating a freesat TV then you will need to budget for about an extra £100 for a freesat installation dish and cabling. Get the installer to use a quad output LNB with all cabling installed. This ensures a high degree of future-proofing the dish installation.

 

[renault12ts]

Thanks people.
I ran the idea past him yesterday.
He is more than willing to contribute to up the budget.
But as friends of his have just bought a 37", he thinks that would be too big for his lounge and has decided on 32"
He also thinks he wants full HD so I am now going to try to steer him into one with freesat so he will at least get some HD content.
Two I've narrowed down are LG 32LF7700 which seems to have had some mixed reviews and Panasonic TX-L32G10
Anyone have any experience of either of these?

The LG was available at John Lewis at very good price of £399 incl 5 yr g'tee. But currently out of stock. Others have it at £400 upwards. The Panasonic starts at about £540

How big is the room. Remember he'll get used to it very quickly and mightb regret not going bigger. We went from 28 to 42, now looking at 60s. The 28 is in the bedroom and looks very small. Try and get an anti-glare screen so that he's watching TV not reflections of everything in the room. We have direct sunlight on ours sometimes and can still see everything.

 

[Piff]

Sony also sell freesat TV's now but are expensive.

If you are contemplating a freesat TV then you will need to budget for about an extra £100 for a freesat installation dish and cabling. Get the installer to use a quad output LNB with all cabling installed. This ensures a high degree of future-proofing the dish installation.

Already got the dish - and need to get the installer back anyway to sort distribution to another room

 

[Piff]

How big is the room. Remember he'll get used to it very quickly and mightb regret not going bigger. We went from 28 to 42, now looking at 60s. The 28 is in the bedroom and looks very small. Try and get an anti-glare screen so that he's watching TV not reflections of everything in the room. We have direct sunlight on ours sometimes and can still see everything.

Room is about 11' to 12' wide x 15' long. He sits about 9' to 10' from screen. But yes I agree, you soon get used to a big screen.

The TV is oposite a south facing window so glare could be a problem. Any ideas who offers an anti glare screen?

 

[renault12ts]

Our room is 18 by 13. But I am currently sitting 6' from the TV. Go big.

 

[Piff]

TV ordered now
LG 37LF7700 1080p Freesat LCD TV 37LF7700 - Direct TVs

Thanks to all for the input.

 

[verytalldave]

Any LCD TV will be OK in the room you describe. Even with direct sunlight on the picture it will be fine.
My 32" LCD is an old design and doesn't even have freeview built in. In the late afternoon I get sunshine directly on the picture and it still easily viewable. Whereas my old CRT TV I had before, I needed to roll the blind down.

 

[renault12ts]

Any LCD TV will be OK in the room you describe. Even with direct sunlight on the picture it will be fine.
My 32" LCD is an old design and doesn't even have freeview built in. In the late afternoon I get sunshine directly on the picture and it still easily viewable. Whereas my old CRT TV I had before, I needed to roll the blind down.

VTD. The latest LCDs etc have glossy screens in the main and are impossible to watch with the sun on the screen. Like you, my (3 year old) tv has the anti-glare screen.

 

[grober]

The higher end SAMSUNG LCD's get very good reports but one of the things they get criticised for is their highly reflective screens. Its actually quite noticeable if you look for it.

 

[renault12ts]

Went to PC World the other day. Only one laptop on sale which did not have a glossy screen. What's the benefit? If I want to look at myself I'll use a mirror.

 

[rossyl]

LED/LCD televisions are less power hungry than plasmas.
Generally.
Also, LED/LCD's tend to give a better brighter picture in a room that gets sunny.
....

All good points there.

But, LCD's cannot compete with plasma for motion (such as a football match), or true black.