TV Options for common room

Forums › Home Theatre › TV Options for common room

BTR

1293 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 331

Subscriber

Topic # 138809 17-Jan-2014 10:59

Hi Everyone

I have been tasked with providing two TV's for two of the common rooms at work with a budget of no more than $1000 per TV. The room sizes are about the size of your average lounge but there could be a dozen plus people watching the TV's from multiple angles.

I have read the sticky on the home theatre forum here about the differences between LCD and Plasma but the post was made in 2008 and I haven't really kept up to date with the technology in TV's

Would appreciate peoples thoughts on this and please remember the budget is $1000 per unit so UHD is out of the question. Also there will be a dozen or more people viewing at times

Thanks in adavance

nzkc

345 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 25

Reply # 968769 17-Jan-2014 11:13

I'd go into NL/HN/et al and just ask "What can you do for me for two TVs at $1k a piece?"

Also: http://pricespy.co.nz/category.php?o=eg_89&l=s159024593

TwoSeven

1182 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 105

Reply # 968778 17-Jan-2014 11:34

I would probably suggest an LED TV around the 40" size. You will need built in FreeView and it also would be full HD capable. Price of most of these units comes in around the $800-$1k inc gst. Some of the models also have built in Wifi which can be useful.

Do you have an antenna in these rooms for receiving freeview/sky?

Software Engineer

trig42

Banana?
3860 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 765

Subscriber

Reply # 968789 17-Jan-2014 11:49

You can go offbrand and get bigger TVs: http://www.jbhifi.co.nz/tv-lcd-led-plasma/bluesen/48-inch-full-hd-led-lcd-tv-sku-245732/

I have seen these going, they look fine. Maybe not quite as bright as a Samsung (they seem to be set the brightest in store).

farns

97 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 1

Reply # 968822 17-Jan-2014 12:28

One person supports this post

Get a panny plasma while u still can (they are ceasing plasma sales in around march), at that budget will be S60 rather than ST60 so will be more reflective and maybe slightly dim for bright daytime viewing but otherwise PQ will be better, also should have less motion blur than competing LEDs if you are watching sport etc

For wide viewing angles you need plasma or IPS-based LED which I think at that budget is Panny B-series and possibly their non-39" E-series , IPS doesnt have the contrast though so blacks will be a bit grey

Plasmas use a lot more power than LEDs but they dont need to know that, u just want best picture and least motion blur for the budget

B1GGLZ

1840 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 101

Reply # 968823 17-Jan-2014 12:28

nzkc: I'd go into NL/HN/et al and just ask "What can you do for me for two TVs at $1k a piece?"

Also: http://pricespy.co.nz/category.php?o=eg_89&l=s159024593

Likewise for JB HiFi. I've always got good deals from them.
They have several 48 - 50" in the $600 - $1000 range. Shop around and Haggle!!

blackjack17

574 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 110

Reply # 968832 17-Jan-2014 12:34

Make sure it has built in freeview, unless work is also springing for sky, you don't want to have a number of different remotes

trig42

Banana?
3860 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 765

Subscriber

Reply # 968834 17-Jan-2014 12:35

Pretty hard to get a new TV without built in Freeview (has been for about 3 years).

BTR

1293 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 331

Subscriber

Reply # 968866 17-Jan-2014 13:15

Both rooms will have Sky so needing free view isn't an issue. Have an account with Noel Leemings and a few other suppliers so will see who comes up with the best deal.

wasabi2k

2090 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 848

Reply # 968868 17-Jan-2014 13:20

farns: Get a panny plasma while u still can (they are ceasing plasma sales in around march), at that budget will be S60 rather than ST60 so will be more reflective and maybe slightly dim for bright daytime viewing but otherwise PQ will be better, also should have less motion blur than competing LEDs if you are watching sport etc

For wide viewing angles you need plasma or IPS-based LED which I think at that budget is Panny B-series and possibly their non-39" E-series , IPS doesnt have the contrast though so blacks will be a bit grey

Plasmas use a lot more power than LEDs but they dont need to know that, u just want best picture and least motion blur for the budget

Nope Nope Nope.

The S60 is absolute garbage. Don't waste your time and money. Significantly worse than an equivalently priced plasma.

farns

97 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 1

Reply # 968872 17-Jan-2014 13:29

Ah righto cheers, you mean an equivalently priced LED I think? They always look worse than LCDs in the shop on "dynamic" colour setting etc
It reviews very well at the proper sites

Put a pricespy alert on the ST60 though in case it drops near $1k, would be a steal

Anyone used the Panasonic E, EM or EV 39" LEDs? Apparently only the 39" def have the VA panel, some others have IPS which are less contrasty
The VA panel reviews great but viewing angles arent so good

wasabi2k

2090 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 848

Reply # 968891 17-Jan-2014 13:48

I did mean LCD - my bad.

Dunnersfella

3136 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 359

Reply # 969027 17-Jan-2014 17:34

You can pick up the 50" BL6 50" IPS LED from Panasonic for under 1k.
It must be a limited release as most retailers don't seem to be able to get it... but it'll work well in a bright environment, perform well off-axis etc.