Need help to quickly find a TV - wedding anniversary tomorrow.

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › Need help to quickly find a TV - wedding anniversary tomorrow.

BlueFlame

15 posts

Geek

#69267 5-Oct-2010 14:18

So, my 25yo NEC CRT looks like it will last forever but I think it is time to finally get some new tech to replace it. I need help selecting the right tool for the job.

Budget:

$2000

Location:

Will be located in a room 3.5mx3.5m with a maximum viewing distance of 3m, various viewing angles of up to 60 degrees off centre, and the room can be quite bright in the daytime unless the curtains are pulled.

Things I will be connecting to the TV:

Old Sanyo home theatre from The Warehouse
Old JVC VHS player
Laptop
Gaming PC
Xbox
PS2
Wireless LAN (or wired if wireless is not possible.

Features I would like if possible:

At least 40"
Full HD
100Hz
USB ports
Internet TV
Tuner for freeview
Wireless options - connecting things wirelessly as much as possible so I don't need to run cable and install jack points everywhere

I have read other posts on the various pros/cons for plasma vs LCD vs LED/LCD sidelit vs LED/LCD backlit and have no real preference except finding the best fit for my application. I like the idea of the better motion of the plasmas but also like the idea of a brighter picture so I don't always need to pull the curtains.

Question 1.

Do I need a Bluray player to watch my extensive DVD collection in HD?

Question 2.

Should I try to get all the features I'm after built into the TV or am I better off getting some or all of the features via another device like a BluRay player or otherwise?

Question 3.

If I'm better to try to get all the features built into the TV, what do you think of these options in terms of value?

Samsung PS50C550 50" plasma for $1799 http://www.dse.co.nz/dse.shop/en/product/GE6071
or
Sony Bravia KDL40EX600 for 40" edgelit LED/LCD $1699 http://www.dse.co.nz/dse.shop/en/product/GE6025

I need to make a decision fairly quickly since I'm hoping to pick something up tomorrow - wedding anniversary.

Cheers,

BF

scuwp

3885 posts

Uber Geek

#388280 5-Oct-2010 14:45

As no one else has responded I will have a crack...

1. No. Modern DVD players and blu-ray players will try to 'upscale' but the reality is DVD's are not HD. If you need to buy a player go blu-ray, DVD's are just about dead. So sorry, but your extensive DVD collection now can be put away with your LP's and your cassette tapes

2. Not many TV's have internet TV as far as I am aware, so you choice may be limited. That option may be best left to an external device

3. Bigger is always better in my book, and value for money in the 50" + range would have to be with plasma

4. Shop around, go to the other retailers and do a bit of price comparison shopping, you may be surprised at what you can get

5. Most TV's will have the ports you need. Make sure it has the older ones though like for your video player

Lazy is such an ugly word, I prefer to call it selective participation

NzBeagle

961 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#388290 5-Oct-2010 15:01

Just a note, the ex600 from Sony doesn't do 100hz, you will need either the ccfl 500, or the led 700/710.

As previously mentioned, the bigger sizes suggest a plasma for value for money, if it suits your preferences and/or viewing environment.

I'd suggest getting a decent BD player which has internet capabilities rather than the TV. But then you mentioned a PC and laptop.

If those are your only considerations then i'd hit up a retailer for a TV + BD player combo, if you're not going on finance they should give you a combo deal.

Some of the Samsung LED's *lack* a large supply of analogue inputs so check instore to ensure you're going to be able to connect everything you want.

richms

28172 posts

Uber Geek

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Lifetime subscriber

#388304 5-Oct-2010 15:18

Dont get the inbuilt internet stuff to the TV, there are already many TVs that are left behind as far as widgets etc are concerned, a display is a long term purchase, the source units are not.

Depending on what happens to the appletv as far as jailbreak it may proove to be a decent player for a price you cant argue with, otherwise there are things like the WDTV live and AC ryan boxes that most computer sellers have. Still lousy support for various web and streaming online video services, but they are getting better.

LCDs generally suck for viewing angles, but there are some that are acceptable if not great out at 60 off axis, really the room is pretty small so at 3m you are limited at how many people can see it close to square on anyway, have a look in shops, but remember that they are usually looked down on in shops so crouch down to a normal height to look, and also the bright shop lighting will washout any backlight leak from the panel too.

Richard rich.ms

Dunnersfella

4086 posts

Uber Geek

#388323 5-Oct-2010 15:45

Righty ho - for viewing angle performance and fast motion performance... go for a plasma.
For a TV that deals with bright light conditions - LCD tends to win. Models like the Sony KDLEX500, LG 42LD560 or Samsung LA40C630 all offer 'matt' finished screens. They work exceptionally well when sunlight hits the screen, but when you get off axis - you'll find they lose colour reproduction.

My pick isn't one of these though...
It's the Panasonic V series plasma. For well under 2k, you can get a TH-P40V20.
Heck, I've seen a 46" version for just under $2100...
It has a filter that helps with bright lights (not quite to the extent of a matt screen on some LCD's - but it's a lot better than other plasmas). It's full HD, has 2 x USB inputs (one of which can be teamed with a USB powered hard drive to record terrestrial TV... BUT this is limited in its capability.
It has an SD card slot, AV OUTS *not just INS* that will allow you to record TV shows on your old VCR (but you will only be able to record the station you're watching).
It's DLNA compliant (I use mine quite a bit to watch DivX) but the movie playback formats are limited. The internet apps are there, but not something to choose the TV for. However you CAN use a wireless USB keyboard on the TV to type on Twitter.
There's loads of HDMI ports... oh, and I own the next size up :-)

Personally, I'd start off by getting a 40" V, a wireless dongle (802.11n) and you should cruise in under the 2k budget :-)

I think other people have covered off the DVD player / BluRay situation - definitely worth the investment. Of course, you could just spend the money on a PS3...
It'll up-convert DVD's, play BluRays, allow you to go on-line, watch TV3 on demand etc etc.
Oh yeah, you can play the odd video game on it too.

My second choice would be the Samsung LA40C630.
It's a nice TV, and VERY well priced. I've only seen it in a few stores though...
It's slightly different from the LA40C650 as it doesn't have the red trim on the pedestal + it has a matt finished screen to help with reflections. For my money, it's a nicer TV than the equivalent Sony KDL40EX500.

BlueFlame

15 posts

Geek

#388477 5-Oct-2010 21:04

Thanks everyone for the info and suggestions.

I'm leaning towards a plasma. I can largely solve the room brightness by moving things around. It would just mean I have to run 7-8m of coax from the aerial jack, around the back of the corner suite and into the TV etc.

Hey I really like that PS3 idea if it will do all those things. Bit of a bugger because the wife and my mother just brought home a $600 BBQ that I neither need nor want - that could've paid for the PS3 instead of being a $600 box of "taking up space" in the shed. My wife went with my mother to pick it up as Mum bought it for us as an anniversary present. My wife KNEW that I didn't want a BBQ as we have a perfectly good one that we don't even use. I'm pretty mad about that.

I could not find the P40V20 anywhere, not even on Panasonic NZs website, larger V20 versions yes - but not the P40 size. Neither could I find the LA40C630 anywhere including Samsung NZs website, 650 versions yes - but no 630 versions. Did they even bring these versions into New Zealand? - Never mind, I think I'd like to go larger than 40" anyway.

I went down to Heathcotes and had a look at the TH-P42V20Z they had - said they'd do it for $2k. At least I think it was a 42" - might've been a 46" but memory is fuzzy since I'm still so mad about the whole BBQ thing. If I find a 46" for the $2100 mentioned or less I'll take his arm off. I see pricespy listing the 46" at $2300 so it shouldn't be too hard getting them down to $2k - especially if I also happen to be in the market for a PS3 and I think the oven needs replacing as well hahahahah!!!

They also said they'd do the PS50C550 for $2K (had a sticker on of $2399) - interesting because pricespy had them from Dick Smith at $1799 and I don't think the GST increase should've accounted for a sticker increase of $500.

As Dunnersfella has posted, it seems the V20 plasmas hold all the cards for connectivity and are a bit more future proof than the others. So it seems to me that a V20 and wireless dongle, biggest I can get for my money, with the idea of adding a PS3 later is the front running idea at the moment.

One question though . . . If I go the PS3 route for getting the connectivity and extras I'm after, does that negate the connectivity advantages of the Viera and leave me better off with the 50" PS50C550?

Cheers,

BF (still mad about the BBQ)

Dunnersfella

4086 posts

Uber Geek

#388502 5-Oct-2010 21:53

Ooops - I made a typo with the Pana plasma... they ARE 42" not, 40...
My bad.
From what I've seen, the Samsung 630's are limited in numbers and only available at some places...
It happens more often than you'd think - however they don't have the internet connectivity of the 650's.
So I'd still head towards the TH-P42V20 plasma.

The PS3 certainly offers a lot in the way of connectivity. But it isn't quite perfect...
It's not 802.11n compatible, so it does struggle to stream video wirelessly. Which is a shame.
I wouldn't call it 'family friendly' either. Without purchasing a separate remote, you have to use the controller to navigate all the menus - something my girlfriend doesn't even want to start tackling.
The Viera Tools menu on the Pana is easy though, and it means you can stick with one remote (especially handy if you also have a Panasonic BluRay player).

Re: The 50" Samsung plasma - to my eyes they are pushing the reds quite hard this year. Something that could most likely be calibrated out of the picture... but I haven't managed to wrestle a remote control away to try this yet...

clevedon

1059 posts

Uber Geek

#388588 6-Oct-2010 07:32

A Logitech Harmony universal remote ( with a IR to Bluetooth adaptor for the PS3 ) will solve ALL your remote poblems. Our 785 controls 12 different devices, wife and kids use it with ease.

Samsung

Shop now on Samsung phones, tablets, TVs and more (affiliate link).

Mprezd

119 posts

Master Geek

#388600 6-Oct-2010 08:09

the biggest issue I have with the PS3 is that it doesn't play mkvs. Sure, there are ways around it, but I would personally rather have a media box that plays all file formats - something like a wd live (unless you like rmvb files), xtreamer or asus o!play.

I have a blu ray drive in my pc to convert blu rays to mkv if I need to. I'd rather have all my media on my nas anyway.

BlueFlame

15 posts

Geek

#388955 6-Oct-2010 21:33

Well, I blew the budget and ended up with a TH-P50V20Z for $2500 from JB Hi-Fi in Hamilton.

Very happy with it so far in the couple of hours I've been playing with it.

It wants to do a software update from the internet but keeps losing the server partway through. I'll just make sure there is enough room under my broadband cap and then try again later for the software update.

graemeh

2078 posts

Uber Geek

#389155 7-Oct-2010 13:16

So was your wife happy that you spent hours during your anniversary playing with the new TV?

;)

BlueFlame

15 posts

Geek

#389171 7-Oct-2010 13:38

It was her that wanted a new TV so she didn't mind so much. I was going to do other things but she wanted it all setup and going.

Next mission . . . UHF aerial. I just pulled out an old one that was lying under for the house for 10+ years but the PCBs in the aerial and diplexer (duplexer?) look corroded.

. . . must . . . tear . . . myself . . . away . . . from . . . big . . . screen . . .