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VG

VG

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#324873 5-Jun-2026 20:33
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I am about to do some rennovations and create a new living room which presents fresh opportunities to have a new TV and sound set up with cables buried in the walls, TV hardwired ethernet etc.

 

I am completely out the loop with understanding the cost of getting set up. Feeling like a noob and starting to get overwhelmed by options and fear of making bad choices. My budget could potentially go to 3k but that would be tops. 

 

Looking Oled if possible and given room dimensions, 65" would be optimal without dominanation of the space. There won't be much glare problem given it's likely going on the wall adjacent to bedroom 1.

 

 

 

Things I've seen at a mates house is his Philips Ambilight 3 which looks lush but I've also realised you can add these kinds of Ambilights to any set up.

 

Other thoughts are that I'm not looking for an immersive living room, just looking to upgrade a 10yr old 43" TV with no proper sound connected to something that will make me want to enjoy going back through great movies and watch in good quality but also kick back, nap on the sofa and have lovely sound listening to some music.

 

Last consideration for down the line is a Switch 2 to play with the family as a first console being introduced into the houee. (7r old and 9r old kids)

 

 

 

Appreciate any wisdom, words of advice to take this opportunity in a great way!

 


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Scotdownunder
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  #3500669 5-Jun-2026 22:22
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Rather than a sound bar, consider an AV Rx with a pair of decent speakers and smaller speakers for surround sound for at least a 5:1 system.  Look at what you can buy second hand to keep the budget in check.  Can’t comment on current TVs as I still have a 5 yr old sony 72” unit.

 

disclaimer - I am currently selling surplus AVR and speakers but have a 5:1 system using the wall mounted and wired up back speakers plus a bass and centre speaker unit.  However, I mostly use my two big floor mounted speakers in stereo mode replacing the front wall mounted units, great when listening to music.




lxsw20
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  #3500670 5-Jun-2026 22:31
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Realistically that budget will sort the TV only. Personally id go for an LG C5 or C6. 


michaelmurfy
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  #3500672 5-Jun-2026 23:01
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LG C5 has my vote. Great TV.

 

And soundbars are not bad and the sound is good enough for most needs. It all comes down to your living room setup as for us, a sound bar mounted under the TV is far nicer than speakers.





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Stu1
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  #3500676 5-Jun-2026 23:14
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LG C5 or 6 as well. Sound bars are ok if just tv but if you want a cd player or turntable they are not great . I wish sometimes I kept my old amp and speaker set up to cover more music options. Nothing better than an old vinyl Floyd album with a whiskey 


VG

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  #3500713 6-Jun-2026 08:55
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lxsw20:

 

Realistically that budget will sort the TV only. Personally id go for an LG C5 or C6. 

 

 

 

 

The C5 or C6 was where I got to aswell in my research. Didn't put it in the post for no bias. All roads keep coming back to spending the $ on this. Regarding the Ambilight, is there a reason no other brands have implemented this do you know? 

 

I'm conscious on that budget too, happy to wait and save if it means I get the right sound set up. The research has been pointing me to Sonos Arc, Samsung q994. Again I'm aware the the budget is well blown. 


shakedown14
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  #3500719 6-Jun-2026 10:02
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Does you budget includes the work to be done for the wiring?

 

TV wise TCL is a good start. Good picture quality for the price and not a lot of failure rate.


 
 
 
 

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lxsw20
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  #3500721 6-Jun-2026 10:15
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IMO Ambilight is a bit of a gimmick/distraction. It's been around over 20 years and never really caught on. You can achieve the same thing with a Philips Hue HDMI sync box and light strip if so desired. 

I personally have a 65" C1 and what ever the Samsung Atmos soundbar with rear speakers was at the time, still going great 5 years on. 


alasta
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  #3500723 6-Jun-2026 11:24
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Your use case for music complicates the audio aspect, because most of the affordable soundbar setups offered by the mainstream TV manufacturers have awful boomy sounding subwoofers. You'll need to think about how much you want to spend on audio and, if budget is limited, then decide whether you want it optimised for TV sound effects or music. 


Stu1
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  #3500738 6-Jun-2026 12:13
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shakedown14:

 

Does you budget includes the work to be done for the wiring?

 

TV wise TCL is a good start. Good picture quality for the price and not a lot of failure rate.

 

 

The wring is important , especially running hdmi cords, power cords and  network cables , ended up with a network switch recessed behind the TV for all the connections 


shakedown14
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  #3500801 6-Jun-2026 17:26
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Also 2026 TV models are rolling out so keep an eye on discounted 2025 models.


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