Smart TV 55inch

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beenz

642 posts

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#181238 7-Oct-2015 14:26

In the market for a 55-60 inch smart TV.
Main features is a good picture of course wall mounted and good sound.
Want it to be able to connect to the internet and as we love sports in our house looking for something that can deliver Rugby feeds or would this be asking to much.
Price point 2-3k do not care about 3D

Fed up with the sky and there high pricing.
Anyway and ideas please as there is so much out there.

khull

1245 posts

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#1401794 7-Oct-2015 14:59

Not in your range but I got this after looking for TVs that were 2-3k as well. It was a bit more than what I wanted to pay but the difference was obvious in features/and longevity before the next TV upgrade

http://bit.ly/1VDXaus

Otherwise you can settle with a Samsung JU7500

To save yourself the homework:

- All TVs have the optional 3D in whether you want it or not. This feature is a dead duck

- Contrary to the marketing gimmicks 4k will make a difference if you sit close enough. Think of the iPhone 6s /plus now capturing in 4k. You will be able to take advantage of this playing back on the big screen. Very few panels if any will actually produce 4k resolution. The correct term is 2160p. It won't matter unless you are purist and don't mind black vertical bars (not horizontal) when watching 2160p feeds

- TVs have enough brightness contrast to mitigate reflections. You won't find matte screens because colour reproduction will not be accurate as not only is it trying to stop light reflecting from the outside but also from within the panel

- Refresh rate is rubbish as most panels use software to fake it and can be very difficult to measure

- Consider what you will be using the panel mostly for, e.g. movies vs games

- Blacks from LED backlit panels now are good enough for the budget conscious. OLEDs are not affordable just yet. Forget Plasma unless your intention is to heat the room and have cheap/free electricity

- Reconsider the use of "Smart" in the smart TV. There are alternatives out there Android sticks, Apple TV, Roku, Fire etc that will be infinitely more useful than what you get out of the box. All the 'smart' features introduce bloat and potentially takes longer to boot up. If you wait more than 3 secs from screen off to picture display you will be throwing the remote at it soon enough out of frustration.

- Higher end TVs will have good sound (not great) - be prepared to accept 'ok/acceptable' sound for your budget range and invest in a sound bar/external audio device/receiver

browned

636 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1401824 7-Oct-2015 15:22

I would suggest a Sony TV with Android TV as the OS.

There is not much in the way of streaming apps for NZ content at the moment but with Philips, and Sharp TV's also coming with Android TV, Nvidia Shield, Amazon Fire TV, Nexus player, and numerous other Android TV boxes on offer it is only a matter of time before the apps appear.

Think about it, a TV that can do TVNZ, TV3 on demand, skygo, fanpass, neon, lightbox, netflix, quickflix, and freeview plus. Plus Kodi for your home media and any other Android Tv app and all from one remote control.

Home Server: AMD Threadripper 1950X, 64GB, 56TB HDD, Define R6 Case, 10GbE, ESXi 6.7, UNRAID, NextPVR, Emby Server, Plex Server.
Lounge Media Center: NVIDIA Shield TV 16GB: Kodi18 with Titan MOD, Emby.
Kids Media Center: NVIDIA Shield TV 16GB: Kodi18 with Titan MOD, Emby.
Main PC: Ryzen 7 2700, 16GB RAM, RX 570, 2 x 24"

scuwp

3885 posts

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#1401844 7-Oct-2015 15:47

I have always gone with Samsung, and have found the 'Smart' apps a welcome add-on.

+1 on budgeting for and allowing installation of at least a sound bar. Samsung TV speakers aren't altogether terrible, but hardly anything to rave about.

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

mclean

581 posts

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#1401918 7-Oct-2015 17:04

browned: ...Think about it, a TV that can do TVNZ, TV3 on demand, skygo, fanpass, neon, lightbox, netflix, quickflix, and freeview plus. Plus Kodi for your home media and any other Android Tv app and all from one remote control.

That's got to be a big plus! The Samsung Smart TV platform is also quite good but with fewer app choices - it can do Lightbox and Plex but not Kodi. It's often said that smart TV's are not all that smart and that you shouldn't let "smart" features influence your choice of TV, but I'm not sure that's valid any more.

kiwijunglist

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#1401925 7-Oct-2015 17:17

If wanting to use smart functions then samsung was the best last year and is probably still the best.

Aim for paying 20% less than RRP, or wait for the next 20% of all TVs sale.

If buying samsung then ju6400 is what is usually recommended as a basic good quality smart tv. Goto 7 series samsung if wanting 3d ie ju7500.

A roku is better than a smart tv.

Agree with above post by khull.

suggesting a ju9000 is a bit overkill for 99% of people.

HTPC / Home automation (home assistant) enthusiast.

DaveB

1139 posts

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#1402284 8-Oct-2015 11:45

kiwijunglist: If wanting to use smart functions then samsung was the best last year and is probably still the best.

I think you are quite correct. The major issue for us as a family was the ability to change region easily and Samsung allows this. The other issue was a simple interface for family members and this kept bringing us back to a smart TV and a one remote solution.

We have had netflix on our TVs for almost 3 years now, simply due to the ability to change region. Streaming live BBC TV through iPlayer, I could watch the Soccer World Cup live from Rio, simply at the touch of a button. At the moment I can watch the Rugby World Cup through the Filmon app for Samsung TV, live as the games are shown. Or I can watch catchup through ITVPlayer.

A TVPlayer Plus app is also about to be released for the Sammy Smart range and Plex works fine, so my family can just help themselves to a movie easily.

All of this from one remote and my wife and 10 year old love it. The reality is that there is more on offer than we could ever watch and Sky went a long time ago.

To the OP, if family simplicity is what you are after, then a Smart TV is the way to go. And if you are looking for app and region flexibility then I think Samsung is the best choice for now, still.

As an aside ...... having just upgraded our main TV, I was tempted to look into the Sony TV with Android TV. Sadly non of the High Street retailers could tell me at the time if it was easy to change region on the TV. As far as I am concerned, if you are stuck with the NZ region, you are missing out on so many other streaming capabilities and a Smart TV then, is not so, well ....... smart!

DaveB

1139 posts

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#1402286 8-Oct-2015 11:47

browned: I would suggest a Sony TV with Android TV as the OS.

There is not much in the way of streaming apps for NZ content at the moment but with Philips, and Sharp TV's also coming with Android TV, Nvidia Shield, Amazon Fire TV, Nexus player, and numerous other Android TV boxes on offer it is only a matter of time before the apps appear.

Think about it, a TV that can do TVNZ, TV3 on demand, skygo, fanpass, neon, lightbox, netflix, quickflix, and freeview plus. Plus Kodi for your home media and any other Android Tv app and all from one remote control.

With your suggestion of a Sony TV with Android, can you tell me if you can change the region easily to either UK or US?

Sharesies

Trade NZ and US shares and funds with Sharesies (affiliate link).

bj99

169 posts

Master Geek

#1402293 8-Oct-2015 12:05

+1 for Samsung.
Description of J series capability (even lower end versions) here

http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=83&topicid=180896

beenz

642 posts

Ultimate Geek

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#1402332 8-Oct-2015 12:28

DaveB:
kiwijunglist: If wanting to use smart functions then samsung was the best last year and is probably still the best.

We have had netflix on our TVs for almost 3 years now, simply due to the ability to change region. Streaming live BBC TV through iPlayer, I could watch the Soccer World Cup live from Rio, simply at the touch of a button. At the moment I can watch the Rugby World Cup through the Filmon app for Samsung TV, live as the games are shown. Or I can watch catchup through ITVPlayer.

All of this from one remote and my wife and 10 year old love it. The reality is that there is more on offer than we could ever watch and Sky went a long time ago.

To the OP, if family simplicity is what you are after, then a Smart TV is the way to go. And if you are looking for app and region flexibility then I think Samsung is the best choice for now, still.

Very interested in Filmon and just installed the App looks awesome.
Do you have a subscription and if so which one, certainly cheaper than sky.

DaveB

1139 posts

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#1402349 8-Oct-2015 12:50

beenz:
DaveB:
kiwijunglist: If wanting to use smart functions then samsung was the best last year and is probably still the best.

We have had netflix on our TVs for almost 3 years now, simply due to the ability to change region. Streaming live BBC TV through iPlayer, I could watch the Soccer World Cup live from Rio, simply at the touch of a button. At the moment I can watch the Rugby World Cup through the Filmon app for Samsung TV, live as the games are shown. Or I can watch catchup through ITVPlayer.

All of this from one remote and my wife and 10 year old love it. The reality is that there is more on offer than we could ever watch and Sky went a long time ago.

To the OP, if family simplicity is what you are after, then a Smart TV is the way to go. And if you are looking for app and region flexibility then I think Samsung is the best choice for now, still.

Very interested in Filmon and just installed the App looks awesome.
Do you have a subscription and if so which one, certainly cheaper than sky.

You don't need a subscription unless you want to record. I'm not 100% sure, but I think a subscription will get you a higher streaming bitrate.

Of interest for Sammy owners to look forward to. TVPlayer PLUS will shortly release a dedicated Samsung app with free streaming of UK free to air channels along with a few premium channels for $10 a month. See this thread http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=151&topicid=181225

It is also my understanding that BBCiplayer will be upgraded for the Tizen OS to provide live streaming (like the 2013 models). They are also experimenting with 4K streaming similar to Netflix.

Too much choice, so little time.

timmmay

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#1402351 8-Oct-2015 12:54

I'd get a "dumb" TV with a good picture and HDMI inputs, buy the "smart" box separately - much easier to upgrade.

reven

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#1402360 8-Oct-2015 13:03

I wouldnt bother with a non-android smart tv now. Samsung might have the apps now, but androidtv will get all the apps aswell and would run better ones.

I have 3 samsung smart tvs in my house, theyre good, but when I upgrade I'll be going for whatever brand (currently only Sony in NZ that im aware) with androidtv.