Big screen TV question

[pergau]

I have finally convinced myself that my 32" CRT TV just isn't big enough. So I have been looking at 40-42" LCDs and Plasmas but when you see them in the shops the picture quality is terrible.

I have NTL digital basic and don't expect to change that (I'm not really into sports and don't have a PS3 etc) so all I want is a big TV for "normal" use but the picture should be at least as good as the TV I already have.

Does anyone here have one and can they tell me what a normal TV picture is like on them. Also what are DVDs like?
Can you recommend a model - I like the Philips ones in Power City (€999 for a HD ready 42" and €1280 for a full HD one)

I know that I should spend the money on a respray etc but it's too late - I've already convinced myself that I want a new TV. And, more importantly, I also convinced Mrs Pergau that we need a new TV.

Thanks

[Kace]

I have finally convinced myself that my 32" CRT TV just isn't big enough. So I have been looking at 40-42" LCDs and Plasmas but when you see them in the shops the picture quality is terrible.

I have NTL digital basic and don't expect to change that (I'm not really into sports and don't have a PS3 etc) so all I want is a big TV for "normal" use but the picture should be at least as good as the TV I already have.

Does anyone here have one and can they tell me what a normal TV picture is like on them. Also what are DVDs like?
Can you recommend a model - I like the Philips ones in Power City (€999 for a HD ready 42" and €1280 for a full HD one)

I know that I should spend the money on a respray etc but it's too late - I've already convinced myself that I want a new TV. And, more importantly, I also convinced Mrs Pergau that we need a new TV.

Thanks

Correct - most of the pictures on the new LCDs and Plasmas are not actually as good as your regular CRT for regular TV and DVD.

This changes once you have a HD input for some Sky channels or for DVDs and PS3/XBOX360. The picture then is excellent and appears crisper and clearer than CRT.

For the BEST picture on LCD / Plasma you should check the review magazines for the best at this particular point in time ( as they improve all the time ). Look for sets with the lowest 'screen refresh rate'. Apart from that, my best choices were the Sony Bravia (X Series) and Philips Cineos Ambilight models. Both are v. pricey though

[CJ]

I have finally convinced myself that my 32" CRT TV just isn't big enough. So I have been looking at 40-42" LCDs and Plasmas but when you see them in the shops the picture quality is terrible.

This as something that bugged me before I went the 42" plasma route - the fact is that the picture on a 32" CRT close up is sharper than a large plasma or LCD. You need to watch these TVs from a good distance back (6+ foot or so) to get the best from them.

Personally, I don't like Phillips TVs on a number of counts, I know others will say they're great though. When I was doing my research, I concentrated on LG, Pioneer, Hitachi and Samsung - I went for Hitachi in the end due to feature, good reviews and styling. If you're new to the world of LCDs and plasma, I would recommend you head over to the www.avforums.com forums and start reading some TV reviews.

CJ

[Muad_dib77]

Also it's worth keeping in mind that the tellys on display in the shops aren't always configured corrects..on a large screen it makes a big difference..

we have a philips in the sitting room - and I'm more than happy with it - don't even have the HD hooked up yet..

[colm_mcm]

I was looking for a 42" this time last year, ended up getting a rear projection as the picture on it is a lot better than the similar sized LCD's. Only downside is it's not as easy to see as an LCD if the room is fully lit.
I like the fact that it's difficult to steal and doesn't need to be wall mounted

They came down in price hugely just after I bought mine! I'd still get a good rear projection TV over the majority of LCD's on sale now.

[CJ]

I'd still get a good rear projection TV over the majority of LCD's on sale now.

I'd agree to some extent - the picture on a decent DLP RP TV is hard to beat. HD probably won't be an option though. I was in the same boat as yourself last year Colm, I was all set up to buy a DLP and changed my mind at the last minute - I'm watching the plasma as I speak!

CJ

[colm_mcm]

We can't put Sky in,(thanks, residents comittee!) so HD is no use to me! I also like the fac that you can store DVD/Chorus box/Video DVD's etc underneath.

[Bernard]

We can't put Sky in,(thanks, residents comittee!)

Can they do that!?

[Daz]

We can't put Sky in,(thanks, residents comittee!)

Can they do that!?

In short yes.

Its amazing what sort of power some resident commitee's have. can stop you from doing alsorts, one place i lived for years wouldn't let anyone put up a wall around their front garden had to all keep the fences that where put in when built thou eventually after 10 years they let people build walls...... 10 years crazy

Daz...

[JD]

Residents committees have no legal control in relation to what you can and can't do on your own property. On the other hand a lease or a contractual obligation under the terms of a purchase or lease on an appartment block may well restrict what can and can't be installed on the communal or external portion of the property. Outside of that you can put up whatever you like (once it's legal).
JD

[CJ]

Residents committees have no legal control in relation to what you can and can't do on your own property.

Very true. Colm, the lobby power behind the RA in your estate much be significant, I'm on the RA committee and I can tell you that if we started dictating to residents in that way there would be blue murder! Do you live in an apartment complex perhaps?

CJ

[Daz]

Residents committees have no legal control in relation to what you can and can't do on your own property.

Very true. Colm, the lobby power behind the RA in your estate much be significant, I'm on the RA committee and I can tell you that if we started dictating to residents in that way there would be blue murder! Do you live in an apartment complex perhaps?

CJ

yes what colm and yourself are saying is true they don't have anything legal on your property BUT!!! i know of one housing committee that went to the council and set down guidelines that wanted following and use what they called lego town in tallagha in dublin i think it was, as an example and the council approved it(ok voted in by the majority of origional residents but anyone new didn't get a say for years about how they wanted their own property to look.) and god forbid they wanted to do anything the residents committee sent them a letter saying they couldn't and if they ignored that letter they'd get the council down to put a stop on thing's..

Plus i'll give you an example of something that happened to me as some of you may remember i worked for hp in dublin and lived in carlow. well ontop of a 12 hour shift i'm on the road for about 3 hours aday aswell so i wasn't home for 15-16 hours a day and this one summer i was covering someone else who was out of work with a broken leg, it transpired i was working 7 days a week so as you can imagine all i was doing was working and sleeping anyway after 7 weeks of this i was finally run down so much i had to leave work early one day after only 4 hours work. thats how shagged i was anyway i get home to find some members of the residets committee, cutting my front lawn, yes i had let it grow a bit with working so hard, and they wern't expecting me to be home and i guess they would have said if i asked who had done my garden it was the contractors that do the estate upkeep as they were there that day. embarrised they were me i wasn't yes garden in a bad way but it's my garden. ofcourse me being me i just parked up my car. looked at their sheepish faces and said "don't worry don't jump over the wall to my baack garden i'll open up the gate, just try and get it done quickly i'm going to bed" Needles to say they left fairly sharpish and never pulled a stunt like that again.

Daz...

[Muad_dib77]

That's just pure mental.. Denmark is pretty bad for such things - people getting fined for painting fences and what not...but I've never heard of somebody getting their lawn mowed..

[steelroe]

A regards TV's

Stay away from Philips, I am already on my 3rd one in just over 12 months. the speakers keep vibrating causing very bad sound quality. Also Philips do not have a PC connection on the back. I have relations who have bought LG's and they are far superior. Better looking aswell.
I will be in the market for a 50" in the next month or so and it will defo be an LG

[Daz]

A regards TV's

Stay away from Philips, I am already on my 3rd one in just over 12 months. the speakers keep vibrating causing very bad sound quality. Also Philips do not have a PC connection on the back. I have relations who have bought LG's and they are far superior. Better looking aswell.
I will be in the market for a 50" in the next month or so and it will defo be an LG

i have a 32 inch philips lcd, it has all the connections, hdmi ect and i have owned it for over a year without any problems and the tv i owned before that for 6 years was a philips also no issues with that either that said i prefare the look of the samsung's myself. I got the new philips as i was in the right place at the right time getting it at half price.

Daz...

[IrishLad]

In relation to the TV and based on not having HD yet (or the near future).

Plasma is the best option for normal PAL TV signal, it does not have a fix matrix grid (like LCD) so can display the image more naturally and without the jagged edge (as seen on an LCD).

LCD have a fix matrix to display a picture, most standard HD Ready LCD TV's are 720p so the standard TV signal is half the size of this display, the TV must then upscale this image to fill the screen, and this causes rough edges, bad quality as the `grid`cannot display the image correctly.

Plasma is gas based and as such can upscale the image and naturally reproduce the colours and curves more easily and provide much better quality for standard TV.

For full HD viewing a good LCD is the best option as you would be using the LCD full matrix display to reproduce the image exactly as it was recorded (.i.e. 1920*1080p).

The only other consideration for most new "Full HD" TV's is that they are NOT 60Hz (usually 50Hz) so always ensure the one you choose is 60Hz for the complete FULL HD that you read so much about in the stores these days.
ALSO the responce time of the screen is also a factor for watching fast paced movies or playing games (6msec is generally the best). This reduces the ghosting effect you get during a fast paced scene.

So to sum up,
Plasma is best for standard TV and not as good at HD.
LCD is best for HD and not as good for standard TV.

The above is based on 2 years of researching and buying TV's.
What I use at the min:
52" LCD FULL HD 60Hz 6msec Philips (Media Room)
50" Plasma HD Ready Samsung (Bedroom)

PS: Plasma's can burn an image onto the screen if its static (.i.e. the TV3 logo after watching a programme). This is normal and can be removed by leaving the TV on another station for a short period of time to remove the burned image.

Anyway thats my info hope this helps,
IrishLad

[pergau]

Thanks IrishLad that was a comprehensive answer.

Is there anything that the FTO website can't do?

[colm_mcm]

Argos have 50" Samsung plasmas on sale for something like €1200 in Liffey valley.

[Sebastian]

did u buy?

[colm_mcm]

I already have 1 huge telly I don't use...