new 55" TV suggestions

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423 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1088064 13-Jul-2014 13:57

There are a few 4k test files here which might be cool to check out

bfginger

1267 posts

Uber Geek

#1088101 13-Jul-2014 16:01

I don't think you'll find any Samsung F8500 plasmas except display models. Check for burn in with any ex-display plasma as many shops run static logos all day.

The F8500 and *T60 plasmas are the ones with glare guards. The models without glare protection are for dark room viewing.

Are you into gaming? Many TVs don't have fast response times for gaming and some Panasonic plasmas can have trouble with image retention if you're displaying static huds for hours.

browsing looks like mostly LG/Samsung models are around here in NZ

Sony and Panasonic have good representation on the New Zealand market unlike some countries. Build quality for their LCDs should be better than LG which should be better than Samsung. The lower the reliability, the higher the market share.

a friend bought an f8500 51" and is currently onto number 3.

What did he have break down on them?

Panasonic didn't stop plasma production because they were bleeding red but they couldn't justify the investment in next-gen 4k plasmas.

They could make them but they would use too much electricity, at least 500 watts.

freitasm, did you see any banding on your 65" demo unit?

There's also 58" and 50" AX800s but we don't have the 50" in NZ.

nathan, these two models are available for $2000
http://www.sony.co.nz/product/kdl-55w800b
http://www.panasonic.com/nz/consumer/home-entertainment/viera-televisions/led-tvs/th-55as700z.html
The Panasonic has better viewing angles being an IPS panel but the Sony has one more HDMI port.
There are some 60" LCD models available for under $2000 but they're lower end models. That doesn't automatically mean they have poor image quality but you should check for that. Noel has 25% off the KDL60W600B until the 15th of July.
http://www.noelleeming.co.nz/shop/tvs-dvds/televisions/led-televisions/60-led-tvs/sony-kdl60w600b-60-full-high-definition-smart-led/prod128446.html

https://vierapromo.co.nz/
http://www.sony.co.nz/article/588870/section/promotions

HowickDota, what's hardest to find are 60Hz progressive demos. Almost nothing is filmed with professional cameras above 30 fields per second unless it's interlaced.

networkn

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#1088105 13-Jul-2014 16:14

Having bought more than my fair share of TV's in my time, including some over 10K in price, right now if you want LCD/LED, you can't go past Sony. Second to that I'd buy Samsung, everyone else is behind by some margin. Also forget Smart Features, concentrate on picture quality.

Dunnersfella

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#1088234 13-Jul-2014 20:07

I second the TH-55AS700 or the Sony KDL55L800B.
However the 800B doesn't seem to reveal the detail as much as the Panasonic, it appears to overly smooth the image, whereas the Panasonic seems more natural.
Sony seem to have gone backwards compared to last year, it's a pity.

ilovemusic

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#1088276 13-Jul-2014 23:12

bfginger:

a friend bought an f8500 51" and is currently onto number 3.

What did he have break down on them?

#1 had faulty video processing.
#2 had weird fluctuating sound levels when listening through the built-in speakers.
#3 has been fine for several months.

freitasm

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#1088278 13-Jul-2014 23:25

A bit OT but thought this notice on the box was funny:

"Ultra HD broadcast programming is not available in any country"

bfginger

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#1088292 14-Jul-2014 06:18

Dunnersfella: I second the TH-55AS700 or the Sony KDL55L800B.
However the 800B doesn't seem to reveal the detail as much as the Panasonic, it appears to overly smooth the image, whereas the Panasonic seems more natural.
Sony seem to have gone backwards compared to last year, it's a pity.

Are you talking about default settings or after optimisation? Default motion and noise reduction settings may be quite different between the two brands, I would expect Panasonics to be less processed by default. A fair comparison would need overscan turned off too as de-interlacing 1080i is much harder with it enabled. Someone I know's Sony LCD improves greatly when displaying 1080i after overscan is disabled.

Last year's KDL-55W800A is still available if anyone wants it. The reviews for the 55W800B seem to be better except for the 3D.

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Lurch

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#1088295 14-Jul-2014 06:58

I'd avoid LG, the 55" inch we tried out for awhile had faint horizontal bars. On white screens half the screen had a muddy look (hard to describe). 3D was amazing. Blu-ray/HD content wasn't right something was off, anything DVD was terrible. Not sure what was up with regular/live TV but that looked really bad.

Not to mention the terrible support from LG locally, nothing gives you more confidence than two dodgy looking guys in an umarked truck picking up your TV.... Plus the months it took for it to get repaired. Finally had enough and stood my ground and had the TV refunded. Never again.

Funny thing was a 47" Veon full HD TV had a better picture. Also the Veon has a Pioneer panel. Panasonic/Pioneer/Sony would be my picks.

trig42

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#1088354 14-Jul-2014 09:50

I like the Pana AS700's. Nice looking Set, with a great picture IMO - they look very well balanced colour wise.

I think most of the manufacturers are giving stuff away at the moment too - the Pana 55AS700 gets you $500 to spend online with Panasonic on a large range of stuff (just helped a friend with her buying decision, and she scored a 32" for a bedroom TV as a gift).

bfginger

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#1088910 14-Jul-2014 21:50

Wow you're right, $500 towards another product with the 55AS700.

I linked to the two promos above. The Panasonic one ends July 31, the Sony one on the 15th.
There is a free PS4 with the Sony promo.
This is in the terms and conditions
"The 55" or larger BRAVIA TV must be delivered by 15th July 2014 to be valid for this promotion; no forward orders or laybys will be accepted."
So you'd want same-day delivery to get the PS4.

shk292

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#1088942 14-Jul-2014 23:04

I recently bought a new TV, was going to go for a Sony but liked the specs and picture on a Samsung. I have to say, although I hadn't been fussed about smart features before, the convenience of being able to access apps such as BBC iplayer direct from the TV, and having my NAS automatically appear on the "Source" OSD has really impressed me and has made the WAF of ditching Sky much easier.

Although Panasonic may have a great picture (I wouldn't know, the Samsung seems great to me), my Samsung TV has yet to fail to play any media file I have thrown at it. Compared to my Panasonic home cinema system, which plays about one file in ten, and isn't able (as far as I can tell) to have its region changed to use UK or US apps.

ilovemusic

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#1089136 15-Jul-2014 10:26

Funny thing was a 47" Veon full HD TV had a better picture. Also the Veon has a Pioneer panel. Panasonic/Pioneer/Sony would be my picks.

really ?
do tell more about this veon/pioneer as pioneer never made their own lcd panels - they were supplied by sharp.

trig42

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#1089173 15-Jul-2014 11:48

shk292: I recently bought a new TV, was going to go for a Sony but liked the specs and picture on a Samsung. I have to say, although I hadn't been fussed about smart features before, the convenience of being able to access apps such as BBC iplayer direct from the TV, and having my NAS automatically appear on the "Source" OSD has really impressed me and has made the WAF of ditching Sky much easier.

Although Panasonic may have a great picture (I wouldn't know, the Samsung seems great to me), my Samsung TV has yet to fail to play any media file I have thrown at it. Compared to my Panasonic home cinema system, which plays about one file in ten, and isn't able (as far as I can tell) to have its region changed to use UK or US apps.

The other good thing about Samsung Smart is you can get Plex for it (I think you can get it for LG too?), and if you are running a Plex Server, it makes the WAF go even higher.

For Us, Samsung Smart (with Plex and TVNZ/TV3 on demand) and AppleTV with Netflix (could just as easily use a FireTV or Roku) is all we need. I don't need Sky for anything but Sport, and having to pay $80 a month for that is wearing really thin, though we do have a housemate who really wants Sky and is paying over the odds for it.

shk292

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#1089236 15-Jul-2014 12:57

trig42:
shk292: I recently bought a new TV, was going to go for a Sony but liked the specs and picture on a Samsung. I have to say, although I hadn't been fussed about smart features before, the convenience of being able to access apps such as BBC iplayer direct from the TV, and having my NAS automatically appear on the "Source" OSD has really impressed me and has made the WAF of ditching Sky much easier.

Although Panasonic may have a great picture (I wouldn't know, the Samsung seems great to me), my Samsung TV has yet to fail to play any media file I have thrown at it. Compared to my Panasonic home cinema system, which plays about one file in ten, and isn't able (as far as I can tell) to have its region changed to use UK or US apps.

The other good thing about Samsung Smart is you can get Plex for it (I think you can get it for LG too?), and if you are running a Plex Server, it makes the WAF go even higher. For Us, Samsung Smart (with Plex and TVNZ/TV3 on demand) and AppleTV with Netflix (could just as easily use a FireTV or Roku) is all we need. I don't need Sky for anything but Sport, and having to pay $80 a month for that is wearing really thin, though we do have a housemate who really wants Sky and is paying over the odds for it.

I was about to ask what value Plex would add given the TV's media-playing abilities, but having googled it, some of Plex's functionality around library presentation and tracking what you have watched looks pretty cool. Next project is going to be setting up my Synology NAS as a media server

GrowlerNZ

5 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1101204 3-Aug-2014 16:59

I'm fairly new to all of this so thought I would start here. I'm looking for a good 55" 3D LED TV, and looking to spend around 3K.
I want to use it for TV, movies and some games, but I want good picture quality, and preferably good build quality.
I know that some brands are better than others. but they all seem much of a muchness.
Reading through your forum it seems Sony and Panasonic are the better options? What are you thoughts?
Is there anything I need to stay away from?
Any assistance would be appreciated.

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