Looking for new bedroom telly

Forums › Home Theatre (incl HTPC) › Looking for new bedroom telly - 26"

CM

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Master Geek
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# 37248 9-Jul-2009 12:27

Hi all,
Watching The Ashes in bed last night and found it very difficult to see the ball on my old Akai 14" telly. So I'm on the lookout for a decent sized replacement bedroom-telly, and I reckon 26" is a good size for the room. Any recommendations?
In terms of the main players it seems to be a choice between these 5 at the moment:
* Sony BRAVIA KLV26T400A
* Panasonic TX-26LE8
* LG 26LH20D
* Toshiba 26AV550
* SAMSUNG LA26B450

Struggling to find reviews or anyway to differentiate other than on price. Should I not worry too much because at that size it doesn't really matter too much, so long as the basics are covered? It really is just going to be for watching telly, and will be hooked up to a simple dvd player. No surround sound etc. Perhaps the very occasional PS2 hookup.
And before you suggest it, I reckon 32" would be too large for the room (and the wife would put her foot down).

Any help much appreciated.

Regards,
CM

itxtme

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# 233146 9-Jul-2009 17:47

Its crazy when a 32" is cheaper!!

chiefie

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# 233169 9-Jul-2009 18:36

32" isn't really that much bigger than 26" honestly. We have a 32" LCD and it is just right for a room 4mx3m

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Dingbatt

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# 233682 10-Jul-2009 14:32

Are you mainly going to watch Sky on it? and how is it connected (RF, AV, etc). If you are sticking with ordinary Sky Digital then smaller is probably better because it starts looking pretty ordinary above 32". I note that none of the models you specified appear to have Freeview terrestrial.

Edit: I notice in today's paper that the LG is a freeview 26". Don't know what it's like quality wise but 1366x768 should be fine for a little TV.

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CM

139 posts

Master Geek
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# 234109 11-Jul-2009 15:52

Thanks guys. I don't really think I'd ever get authorisation for a 32" in the bedroom.
Will watch the free-to-air channels and yeah, Sky. But not HD Sky. Will just be connected via RF.
Thanks for the heads-up on that LG - which paper/store was that?

d0tn3t

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# 234118 11-Jul-2009 16:14

Yeah even the little 22" LG has freeview, but I reckon go for the 32"!! haha, just go somewhere like harveys and give them some good old fashioned bargaining

Dingbatt

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# 234146 11-Jul-2009 17:18

CM: Thanks guys. I don't really think I'd ever get authorisation for a 32" in the bedroom.
Will watch the free-to-air channels and yeah, Sky. But not HD Sky. Will just be connected via RF.
Thanks for the heads-up on that LG - which paper/store was that?

NZ Herald Page A19
But the TV is advertised at Bond and Bond.

The digital FTA is worth considering, analogue is crappy blurry 'alley-vision' that will eventually be turned off. LG is the only manufacturer that I can see that goes that small with freeview, I thought Panasonic were going to but it is not reflected on their website.

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CM

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Master Geek
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# 234568 13-Jul-2009 09:52

Yes excellent point about digital FTA. Worth paying a little extra for that (seems to be $1200 for that one whereas others are around $900-$1000).

CM

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Master Geek
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# 239287 27-Jul-2009 10:46

Just to close this off - I got the LG 26LH20D for $980 at Hill & Stewart (Lynmall, Auckland). JB Hifi and H&S had 15% off all tvs on the weekend and I also had a $50 'Westfield' gift voucher. Neither would accept the voucher, even though both are in the mall (WTF is that about??!) but when I was obviously about to head over to check out Noel Leeming, the H&S guy said he'd give me another $40 off to make up for not being able to use the voucher. So I took it (and so still have the voucher, which I assume I'll be able to use at SOME Westfield store??!).
Got it set up and I reckon it's the perfect size for our bedoom. I think a 32 inch would have been too large. Looks great - and yeah, obviously freeview picture is WAY much better than the FTA reception. Very glad I opted for that - thanks Dingbatt.
Now to get authorisation to replace the 29 inch CRT in the lounge.......! (that'll be some way off, although one of my arguments for this purchase was that if the CRT lounge tv craps out we can use the LG and wait for a good deal rather than 'having' to replace it right away).