40-46' LCD or LED

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hazza87

352 posts

Ultimate Geek

#52699 6-Dec-2009 12:21

As the subject implies, i am looking at purchasing a 40-46" LCD tv also considering the LED ones.
Budget $2000-$4000

The ones i am currently considering are:

Samsung B650
Samsung B750
Sony W5500

Samsung series 6/7 LED

The questions that i need answering are:

1. Is the jump from 40 -46" worth it ( lounge is plently big enough to sit at whatever distance from the tv would be best)

2. Are the LED tv's that much better? (not all that bothered about the thickness as it wont be going on the wall anyway)

3. Then finally which model to choose.

Thanks in advance

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Biddle Corp

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#279718 6-Dec-2009 12:42

Any particular reason you're not considering a Plasma?

I'd personally never buy a TV less than a 50" - if you have a medium size room it's a good size to have. While you may think it's big you soon realise that's not the case.

hazza87

352 posts

Ultimate Geek

#279720 6-Dec-2009 12:52

A few reasons, i personally prefer the bright vivid colours on an lcd compared to the more 'realistic' style of plasmas, Also it is a very bright room when the sun is shining and plasmas don't tend to deal with that as well. Have had an lcd for the last few years and have been happy with it and not had any problems with ghosting etc.

dale77

294 posts

Ultimate Geek

#279744 6-Dec-2009 16:28

2. Are the LED tv's that much better? (not all that bothered about the thickness as it wont be going on the wall anyway)

One advantage of the LEDs is that they use significantly less power than the older LCDs. I personally don't know whether the visual performance is significantly better, LED technology was ruled out by budget in my case.

I would have preferred a 46in LCD (bought a 40in Samsung) but couldn't justify twice the price for 6 inches.

Dale

HTPC: Antec Fusion 430, Intel i3, Gigabyte 1050, Corsair 4x1Gb, Hauppauge WinTv, Logitech z-5500, Logitech Harmony 525, Yamaha Rx-v6a, Samsung KS8000 4k, Windows 10, Mediaportal 1.30, BLU-RAY: Panasonic UB820

d0tn3t

43 posts

Geek

#279749 6-Dec-2009 16:34

You could probably get the LG LH90 42" for less than $4000 from HN. Advantage is that it is Full LED with local dimming, can play 1080P mkv from USB, and supports Bluetooth headphones.

Edit: Plus I'm pretty sure you get a 32" TV by redemption

old3eyes

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#279753 6-Dec-2009 16:42

Don't forget that LED is only the backlite method not the display. They are both LCD sets. I would if buying again go for plasma..

Regards,

Old3eyes

samwooff

219 posts

Master Geek

#279833 6-Dec-2009 23:11

There's no real reason to go for the w5500 over the v5500 as far as i can tell both from the specs and comparing the two in my store, perhaps someone else be able to clarify whether they use different panels or is the only difference 100hz?

With your budget you could even go to 52" :P
http://www.dse.co.nz/dse.shop/4b1b82990316f86c2740c0a87f3b06e9/Product/View/GE6465
Bigger is always better

Another option is the sony x4500, still the best LCD you can get in NZ and being last years model you can get the 46" version for 4k now.

Desktop: i7 920, GTX 275, asus P6T, antec 1200, 6gb ram, 1tb spinpoint f1, 1tb spinpoint f3, Logitech Z2300, Zero DAC, Shure SRH440
Laptop: Toshiba satellite, T5300, Go 7300
Home Theatre: 32" loewe CRT, Harmon kardon amp, dvd player, image 418 speakers, rega planar 25 turntable :)

clevedon

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#279868 7-Dec-2009 07:25

sbiddle: Any particular reason you're not considering a Plasma?

I'd personally never buy a TV less than a 50" - if you have a medium size room it's a good size to have. While you may think it's big you soon realise that's not the case.

I'd agree with that 100%. While we don't watch TV during the day much - you can always draw the curtains if you find light a problem.

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hazza87

352 posts

Ultimate Geek

#279951 7-Dec-2009 11:55

As i am willing to keep an open mind, What plasmas would you recommend and i will check them out in store.

sbiddle

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#279954 7-Dec-2009 12:14

The Panasonic Plasma's are fantastic. Word on the street is 50" G10's are going for around $2699 now at some retailers, this is ~$1k less than they were a couple of months ago.

They are fantastic TV's.

samwooff

219 posts

Master Geek

#279960 7-Dec-2009 12:36

The 50" g10 is an amazing tv. You won't get better picture quality unless you spend double the money.
If you want to stick to the lower edge of your budget the x or s series in panasonic's lineup are almost as good for quite a bit less.

By the way checking out a plasma in store is not the best way to judge their picture quality unless you can convince the manager to turn off all the highbeams in the ceiling that seem to plague every electronics retailer(paul money is thus far the only one I've come across with a decent TV room).

robjg63

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#279970 7-Dec-2009 12:57

+1 on the G10 50 Pansonic - Got mine for about $3200 a couple of months back - the price on the box said $4499 - It kinds sux that they are still dropping in price - but good for people in the market now.

The S10 is (by most accounts) very similar - and cheaper - dont know that I could see much difference in the picture quality - Well worth looking at for full HD 50" display - bargain!

I agree with samwoolf - the plasmas dont look that bright in the shops - they look a bit drab in the shops with all the bright lights etc - But they look great at home - and yes - if you can keep your room a bit darker they look fantastic. The LCD/LED tvs are very vivid in shop demo mode - they seem initially very appealing - just spend 10 minutes looking at one though - does the ultra vivid display start to seem a bit much? Well I have heard a few people say that but thats just opinion...

Also - go as big as you can afford. We got a 50" for our very small lounge and it seemed huge (for the first night) - it replaced a 32" LCD. It doesnt seem large anymore.

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

daskip

79 posts

Master Geek

#280382 8-Dec-2009 13:27

+2
Was just down at JB. I thought I might consider a Sony V5500 as saw it was (46") 1999 at noel with a free blue ray player without even doing any talking....

Looking at it, reality struck... thought again.

Blacks/Realism are nothing on the plasmas (both the cheaper s10 and g10... which tbh i couldn't draw much difference in).

Also, it shocked me spending a bit of time looking at the samsung LED range how bad they were at brightening the whole screen in a light scene and knocking out their supposedly deep blacks from the shadows in the process. Edge-lit certainly looks like a waist of money to me now.

They had the 50 g10 at 2999 ticketed at jb, so if you can get them for 2699 that'd be amazing. I just don't know if I can fit it :( ... in which case a 46 S10 or 42 g10 are the go for me.

hazza87

352 posts

Ultimate Geek

#281229 10-Dec-2009 15:40

Went down to be JB Hi Fi today in botany downs. Had a look at both the S10 and G10 (couldnt really tell much difference, but they were separated by about 3-4 tvs) Very good picture quality but quite hard in bright store lights to tell as there is a fair bit of glare/reflection off the plasma front glass panels.

The S10 was listed at $2299 i think and the G10 was sitckered at $2799 (normal price tag said $3700)
Salesman was very knowledgeable and said he has a a G10 at home and couldn't reccomend it enough. Said cash prices would be $2650 for the G10 (sure i could haggle him down a bit lower than that though).

They also had the Samsung 46B750 at $3350 (cash = $3200) but they had the Sony 46W5500 at $2299 which seemed very cheap especially compared to the Samsungs.

newbiejam

51 posts

Master Geek

#281599 11-Dec-2009 17:25

Are you sure it was a Samsung LCD 46B750 not a A750 for $3350?

I haven't seen a B750 that comes that cheap, not to mention a 46".

hazza87

352 posts

Ultimate Geek

#281604 11-Dec-2009 17:37

Sorry about that, definite typo. Meant a 46B650 not 750. Good spotting.

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