29 replies to this topic

[k3nnis]

Hi All,

Going shopping for my mum, budget approx $1600. I will probably go to JBhifi and also MYER to check it out. I'm in Sydney. I was wondering which LED TV you would recommend for this budget and probably looking at 46"+. Not too big. Also do you think she should get 3D to future proof (if it is indeed a future requirement). Or just get a regular 2D TV? Not sure to go Sony, Samsung etc. I don't think we will be going LG from past experiences... Also she mentioned she wants one that is on the saving electricity/energy side of things

Cheers,
K.

[miata]

k3nnis, on Apr 25 2011, 08:27 PM, said:

Hi All,

Going shopping for my mum, budget approx $1600. I will probably go to JBhifi and also MYER to check it out. I'm in Sydney. I was wondering which LED TV you would recommend for this budget and probably looking at 46"+. Not too big. Also do you think she should get 3D to future proof (if it is indeed a future requirement). Or just get a regular 2D TV? Not sure to go Sony, Samsung etc. I don't think we will be going LG from past experiences... Also she mentioned she wants one that is on the saving electricity/energy side of things

Cheers,
K.

Why would you even think about LED or LCD? Plasma is so obviously superior in all but brightly lit rooms but who watches TV in a brightly lit room?

[k3nnis]

Thanks for the info. Not sure that's why I asked for opinions Actually I think she mainly watches it in a room which has good lighting. I was actually looking at the Sony KDL46HX800...

[diesel]

As for 3D, I think by the time there is mainstream content available, we will be away from the current glasses era and hence current panels will be old tech and still uncomfortable for the masses. Good for occassional viewing but...Why I Hate 3-d (and You Should Too), Interesting article from Rob Ebert

LED is probably the best in terms of energy consumption, but you save a lot up front by buying plasma - 50" from $800

[k3nnis]

Thanks for the info diesel. Would you know if the Sony KDL46HX800 is a good set? I can get it for under $1500 at the moment.

[diesel]

I'm probably not the right person to ask - I don't like LCD or Sony.

[:)]

k3nnis, on Apr 25 2011, 08:37 PM, said:

Thanks for the info. Not sure that's why I asked for opinions Actually I think she mainly watches it in a room which has good lighting. I was actually looking at the Sony KDL46HX800...

personally from what I have seen 3D on a smaller screen display is a waste of time, its just too gimicky perhaps on a large projected image where can immerse yourself in the picture. but otherwise your just paying more for something that doesnt work effectively on a smaller screen.

re LED ? it too another gimick for a thinner screen. why is that important particlaurly. the fluoro back lit screens are better anyhow.

as others have indicated youll find 50" plasmas in this size cheaper and capable of better PQ, so well worth checking out

[Owen]

Yes, "LED" LCD's are all about style as it allows panels to be thinner. The conventional CCFL back lit LCD's perform better and cost less.

As for "3D" its mostly just a gimmick with bugger all content, most of which is of dubious worth anyway. Its a good ploy to get people to pay more for theatre tickets and TV's.

[Chicken Man]

k3nnis, on Apr 25 2011, 09:27 PM, said:

Hi All,

Going shopping for my mum, budget approx $1600. I will probably go to JBhifi and also MYER to check it out. I'm in Sydney. I was wondering which LED TV you would recommend for this budget and probably looking at 46"+. Not too big. Also do you think she should get 3D to future proof (if it is indeed a future requirement). Or just get a regular 2D TV? Not sure to go Sony, Samsung etc. I don't think we will be going LG from past experiences... Also she mentioned she wants one that is on the saving electricity/energy side of things

Cheers,
K.

K.....I think you will find that the consensus of opinion is that 3D on a typically sized TV panel s just a passing fad, it has always been a cinema style presentation where large audience participation adds to its somewhat limited appeal. With the higher prices set for 3D blu-ray movies the 3D consumer market will simply not get traction with such a small demand from consumers.  

As regards to LCD and LED, well it has been said before. If your mum generally watches TV in diminished lighting at night as most of us do then a plasma would be a better option than LCD in my opinion, and possibly get a better TV in the bargain.

Lastly, consider an extended warranty when buying a panel of either technology, workshops are full of failed panels with exorbitant repair costs attached to them.

C.M

[k3nnis]

Thanks for the info guys. If I was to get plasma which panel would be the best for approx $1500 for 46" + sized full hd set.

[Chicken Man]

k3nnis, on Apr 26 2011, 03:39 PM, said:

Thanks for the info guys. If I was to get plasma which panel would be the best for approx $1500 for 46" + sized full hd set.

I have a Panasonic THP54V20A, a really excellent plasma TV.

I bought my plasma from these folk .......excellent service.

Maybe not the cheapest deal but that's up to you shopping around.  P.S  If a Panasonic panel develops an unfixable screen fault Panasonic will replace the panel with a new one.  

Here's a link........

http://www.theelectr.....a Television/

C.M

Edited by Chicken Man, 26 April 2011 - 03:36 PM.

[Ralfi]

You could probably negotiate this to $1500.

[k3nnis]

Are the panasonics using the pioneer panels?

[Chicken Man]

k3nnis, on Apr 26 2011, 08:33 PM, said:

Are the panasonics using the pioneer panels?

As far as I know....No.

But the V and the VT series do have impressively decent blacks, so you won't be disappointed.

C.M

Edited by Chicken Man, 27 April 2011 - 05:34 PM.

[jsmith]

miata, on Apr 25 2011, 08:32 PM, said:

Why would you even think about LED or LCD?

... get sick of the LCD bashing around here.  

miata, on Apr 25 2011, 08:32 PM, said:

Plasma is so obviously superior in all but brightly lit rooms but who watches TV in a brightly lit room?

The first part of your statement is a matter of opinion, so I won't bother going there... Many prefer the LCD "look", have you noticed they sell a truckload more LCD's than plasma's?

I do agree the LED edgelit panels have issues and are for asthetic (i.e. thin) reasons only, but a good CCFL or backlit LED LCD with local dimming will provide most with a quality viewing experience and in mid to light rooms will have much better blacks perception wise.

Not just a bright room, but any direct light (especially on a Pana plasma) greatly affects the perceived black level on a plasma. Alot of people watch TV in rooms that are very light and bright during the day, and many people watch TV at night with a number of lights on, especially where more than one person shares the space.

To the OP, if you prefer the look of an LCD get one. No need for thin LED designs or the passing contentless fad that is 3D. They run cooler than plasmas and use a little less energy. Brand wise, probably best with Samsung or Sony for LCD, Samsung and Pana for plasma.

JSmith  

[jsmith]

k3nnis, on Apr 25 2011, 08:27 PM, said:

Hi All,

Going shopping for my mum, budget approx $1600.
Cheers,
K.

Have a look at the LA46C650 which you can get here for $1185 or here for $1299. The LA46C750 is the next model up and has 3D if you really want that feature, I saw it here for $1399.

Best of luck.

Jsmith  

[OakenShield]

Couldn't agree with JSmith more.

I have a Plasma and love it. LCD's are cheaper to run however and they (generally) run cooler.

So if she's got $$'s in mind for running costs, something to consider.

I'd take her shopping

[k3nnis]

thanks guys We had a look at the Sony KDL46HX800 and we think we may go for this set? Not sure with the differences with the other bravia's like NX, CX, EX etc Confusing is an understatement

[IceZeroZero9]

miata, on Apr 25 2011, 06:32 PM, said:

Why would you even think about LED or LCD? Plasma is so obviously superior in all but brightly lit rooms but who watches TV in a brightly lit room?

How much of a difference is there between the two in a brightly lit room? Do the LCDs come out way ahead or only marginally better? I've never owned either so just curious of the difference in that setting.

[Owen]

You cant generalize, it depends very much on the Plasma model and the viewing environment.
Even an ordinary Plasma is better than CRT in a bright room and plenty of people have no problems with CRT TV's, even when they are old and lost much of their light output.

I have a 52" Samsung B750 supposedly one of Samsungs better LCD's, while it works well in the insanely bright north facing sun room that it was purchased for I don't rate it or any LCD highly for picture quality.

[johndee]

I have a Samsung PS50c700 plasma and have no problems in a north facing room, brightly lit.
It also has a very good picture; when I bought it I compared it to a Sony LCD it was next to and also a Pana (Different wall). The Sony was terrible, the Pana did not seem quite as good as the Samsung, it is a matter of preference though and how it is set up in the shop. It's my second plasma, I think the best LCD's are overpriced in comparison.
JB

[jsmith]

Owen, on May 2 2011, 12:43 PM, said:

I have a 52" Samsung B750 supposedly one of Samsungs better LCD's...

Which you proclaimed was the bees knees when you first got it.  

Owen, on May 2 2011, 12:43 PM, said:

...I don't rate it or any LCD highly for picture quality.

C'mon, sheesh...  

JSmith  

[Steve C]

jsmith, on May 3 2011, 10:59 AM, said:

Which you proclaimed was the bees knees when you first got it.  



C'mon, sheesh...  

JSmith  

I agree totally with what it appears you are expressing here jsmith!  

It's the way of the World.  Such individuals have walked our planet since humanity first crawled out of the primordial slime, and they still haven't been bred out of our species genetic make-up.  

It'd be a pretty safe bet that pre-historic forums about pre-historic technology had posts from certain members that went along the lines of... "I have a piece of 'My flint is better than anyone else's Flint' flint!" "It's the best flint for all sorts of situations and even though I've never actually used it any of those situations, anyone who tells you that you should use your own judgement to determine the best piece of flint for you is just a fan boy of flint that only losers use - so you'd better listen to me because I'm always right..." who without missing a heart beat, turned around and posted "Anyone who isn't using 'My latest piece of Flint is better than anyone else's Flint' flint really needs their head read! It makes even the flint I used to use seem like it was no better than flint other flint users I put the boot into were happy with".

The fact humanity hasn't bred such traits out of the gene pool, actually says quite a lot about the success of these sorts of individuals in finding other individuals who are incapable of seeing exactly what sort of individual they are being duped by.

Self promotion is the name of the game in the modern world. Modesty is spat upon as some sort of quality that weak minded buffoons from the 'dinosaur generations' held in great regard...  and they have no idea why it was held in such regard - yet they declare themselves as paragons of perception!!

Who'd have thought that the more technology presents humanity with ever greater clarity of visual image, the blinder more and more of humanity would become!!

[Owen]

jsmith, on May 3 2011, 10:59 AM, said:

Which you proclaimed was the bees knees when you first got it.  

JSmith  

I never said my Sammy was "the bees knees", far from it. As LCD's go its good but after a year of ownership and constant adjustment I have not been able to get it to provide the sort of performance I could ever be happy with.

I said from day one that the ONLY reason I purchased an LCD was because it had to be used in an insanely bright environment (direct sun light during the winter), if that was not required I would MUCH rather have a base model Plasma for a fraction of what I paid for the 240Hz Sammy LCD.

I have a friend with an old 480p NEC Plasma and every time I see it I am staggered how much better it looks than my Sammy LCD viewed from the same 4 meter viewing distance, even though the NEC has close to the worst black level performance of any TV I have ever seen.
The Sammy blows the old NEC away for blacks, contrast, motion and resolution but cant touch it for colour and gamma and those last two aspects of performance are critical to me. Others may have different priorities and that's their call.

Edited by Owen, 03 May 2011 - 08:24 PM.

[Owen]

Steve C, on May 3 2011, 11:53 AM, said:

It'd be a pretty safe bet that pre-historic forums about pre-historic technology had posts from certain members that went along the lines of... "I have a piece of 'My flint is better than anyone else's Flint' flint!"

I am saying my flint is no bloody good.  

Steve C, on May 3 2011, 11:53 AM, said:

"It's the best flint for all sorts of situations and even though I've never actually used it any of those situations, anyone who tells you that you should use your own judgement to determine the best piece of flint for you is just a fan boy of flint that only losers use - so you'd better listen to me because I'm always right..."

I have always suggested people use their own eyes to assess any TV they are looking to purchase and ignore spec sheets.

Steve C, on May 3 2011, 11:53 AM, said:

who without missing a heart beat, turned around and posted "Anyone who isn't using 'My latest piece of Flint is better than anyone else's Flint' flint really needs their head read! It makes even the flint I used to use seem like it was no better than flint other flint users I put the boot into were happy with".

Where have I ever said anything like that? I don't own a Plasma and never have, however I much prefer Plasma over LCD and I am definitely not alone in that opinion.