My mum might be purchasing a new TV, any suggestions based on her wants?

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › My mum might be purchasing a new TV, any suggestions based on her wants?

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MikeAqua

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#2476284 4-May-2020 13:50

sm1ff: There is standard blu--ray which is a major improvement from DVDs its completely worth it! You never want DVD ever again after seeing blu-ray

We have DVD attached to one TV and Blu-ray on the other. There is a difference if I put my glasses on but happy to watch either. Most of the stuff we have is on DVD or hardrive. TBH don't watch that much off disc these days and when I do, the obligatory anti-piracy message (which pirates presumably leave out) feels like quite an imposition compared to ad free streaming.

Mike

MikeAqua

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#2476289 4-May-2020 13:52

Dingbatt:

Not really. If the wall socket for the aerial is the only one in the room then you will need to use a cable from the amplifier to wherever you are putting the TV. The less cable between the amplifier and the aerial on the roof the better (IMO). So keep the amplifier where it is and the (green) cable connecting it to the wall, and then a long (yellow) cable to the tv from the amplifier.

If possible (sorry if I missed something) I would have the cable rerun. Edit: And while you are at it, consider a data cable to the TV, if the smart functions are to be used.

Or better yet don't move the TV.

Mike

Eva888

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#2476347 4-May-2020 14:56

Just a thought. If you got her a Vodafone TV box it would make her current TV smart and save a lot. Assuming her old TV has an HDMI port. Then it gives you time to wait for the sales if she still wants to change.

fe31nz

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#2476683 5-May-2020 00:44

MikeAqua:

We have DVD attached to one TV and Blu-ray on the other. There is a difference if I put my glasses on but happy to watch either. Most of the stuff we have is on DVD or hardrive. TBH don't watch that much off disc these days and when I do, the obligatory anti-piracy message (which pirates presumably leave out) feels like quite an imposition compared to ad free streaming.

If you are playing from hard drive, then you need to use better software to play your images. Using MythTV (on Linux), all the codes on DVDs that prevent skipping are ignored and I can just push the next track button or the right arrow to skip forwards over that sort of rubbish. I hope if I ever get BluRay images that MythTV will do the same there, but so far I do not have any to try. If I put a DVD in the MythTV box's drive and play it from there, it works also.

MikeAqua

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#2476789 5-May-2020 10:31

fe31nz:

If you are playing from hard drive, then you need to use better software to play your images. Using MythTV (on Linux), all the codes on DVDs that prevent skipping are ignored and I can just push the next track button or the right arrow to skip forwards over that sort of rubbish. I hope if I ever get BluRay images that MythTV will do the same there, but so far I do not have any to try. If I put a DVD in the MythTV box's drive and play it from there, it works also.

I meant playing from actual disc on a DVD/BD player. Anything on hard drive (literally a USB hardrive plugged into my TV), I've downloaded (legally) without any ads or shot myself. Streaming is 95% of my viewing these days.

Mike

Finch

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#2513620 27-Jun-2020 13:51

Hey folks. Still in the market.

Seemed to come to three options now. Personally I feel she should get the Phillips one. Anything "wrong" with the Phillips one? Few hundred cheaper. Just a recap, mum isn't a tech person. She wont be using apps, no Netflix/Youtube etc. Just standard FTA channels.

Phillips for $900 50"

Panasonic for $1200 50"

LG for $1400 49"

Rikkitic

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#2513671 27-Jun-2020 14:21

Don't hold me to this but considering her requirements, I would think almost any modern TV would do so just let price be your guide. Even that Philips is going to be 1,000% more than anything she will ever want or need. In addition to price, maybe also look at reliability if you can find information. Your mum isn't going to want a TV that has to keep going back for repairs even if that doesn't cost her anything. In my case, I have an old (pre-Android) Sony Bravia that is still going strong. Quality is fine for what it is and the TV has never had an issue (unlike some others). I have never used the so-called 'smart' functions, which are pretty pathetic, so I just operate the Sony as a dumb panel from other devices. But I have also tried the built-in DVB-T tuner and that works well.

Plesse igmore amd axxept applogies in adbance fir anu typos

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wally22

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#2513689 27-Jun-2020 15:27

Hi,

didn't see this covered in the thread.

Does your Mum record programs at all?

If so, that could complicate things a little. Definitely check with her!

Finch

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#2513701 27-Jun-2020 16:20

wally22:

Hi,

didn't see this covered in the thread.

Does your Mum record programs at all?

If so, that could complicate things a little. Definitely check with her!

Hello! Yes she does, she currently has a freeview recorder, so assuming can just hook it up like it is currently and good to go? I posted on the first page what she currently uses to record.

Thanks!

wally22

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#2513716 27-Jun-2020 16:59

Finch:

One thing she wants in a TV, and something that isn't negotiable, is inbuilt freeview

Finch:

Hello! Yes she does, she currently has a freeview recorder, so assuming can just hook it up like it is currently and good to go? I posted on the first page what she currently uses to record.

Thanks!

Hi,

You didn't mention record at all that I can see. Not quibbling, just trying to understand the criteria.

Answers you have already received may not include any recording capabilities.

If she uses the Freeview box for recordings then she will have to be dealing with the Freeview box.

Is that what she wants? I interpreted from your specifications that Mum wants simplicity.

If she just hooks up the Freeview box as before, that may negate the advantage of having Freeview built into the TV?

Are there any Freeview TV's with built in recording out there?

jonathan18

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#2513740 27-Jun-2020 19:19

Are there any Freeview TV's with built in recording out there?

I imagine many if not most will record with an external HD; our entry-level LG LCD does and the feature works fine, as it does on our Pana OLED (and the rare times I do record I will use this rather than bothering to turn on the Freeview recorder, which n3ver gets used).

The limiting factor may more be a restriction on how many recordings can be made at once, and if a single tuner I assume it’ll be limited to recording a channel on the same mux if the tv is being watched at the same time...

Finch

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#2513744 27-Jun-2020 19:47

wally22:

Hi,

You didn't mention record at all that I can see. Not quibbling, just trying to understand the criteria.

Answers you have already received may not include any recording capabilities.

If she uses the Freeview box for recordings then she will have to be dealing with the Freeview box.

Is that what she wants? I interpreted from your specifications that Mum wants simplicity.

If she just hooks up the Freeview box as before, that may negate the advantage of having Freeview built into the TV?

Are there any Freeview TV's with built in recording out there?

Oh sorry, I meant I posted pictures on the first page of what she is currently using to record (The box). Yes, she doesn't mind, and I think would prefer, to keep using her current recorder as IIRC it has a 500GB harddrive as well. (Might be 250), but it's enough for her.

wally22

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#2513746 27-Jun-2020 19:57

OK, thanks for the clarification.

jarledb

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#2513785 27-Jun-2020 22:49

If she is fine with using the Freeview box then you should look at pbtech. They have a 50” Philips 4K for just under $700. From the reviews it seems like Freeview doesn’t work well on it, but with a Freeview box that shouldn’t matter.

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bfginger

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#2514177 28-Jun-2020 23:58

Finch:

Hey folks. Still in the market.

Seemed to come to three options now. Personally I feel she should get the Phillips one. Anything "wrong" with the Phillips one? Few hundred cheaper. Just a recap, mum isn't a tech person. She wont be using apps, no Netflix/Youtube etc. Just standard FTA channels.

Phillips for $900 50"

Panasonic for $1200 50"

LG for $1400 49"

Panasonic, most reliable brand and has a straightforward interface.

The 50" GX700 is available for less elsewhere and was on sale for $942 a week ago so there may be some room

https://pricespy.co.nz/product.php?p=5143109

Philips is out of the TV business, its name is licenced.

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