Is a Tv with 25ms refresh rate good enough?

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › Is a Tv with 25ms refresh rate good enough?

its4taylor

38 posts

Geek

#75286 15-Jan-2011 23:43

Hi, i am interested in buying a cheap LCD TV for my bedroom and i am wondering if 25ms Response time is good enough for just watching Freeview from a satellite receiver.

Tv: http://www.thewarehouse.co.nz/red/catalog/product/Transonic-LCD-15.6-Inch-Television-TC-1598LCD?SKU=1442848

illicit

553 posts

Ultimate Geek

#427552 16-Jan-2011 07:32

I recommend going and using the TV in store

Try;

- using the menu
- tuning a channel
- changing channels
- stand a few meters back (as if in bed) and listen to sound quality
- view from an angle (as if in bed)

I have generally found with Warehouse TVs (especially transonic) that;

- menus are poor (slow, complicated and don't make sense)
- tuning is slow and very complicated
- changing channels is very slow (ie: press button... wait for 3secs, then it decides to change)
- poor sound quality requires higher than normal volume to comprehend vocals
- poor viewing angles (especially downward - ie: TV is on wall or set of drawers)

Go and try one out

johnr

19282 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#427560 16-Jan-2011 08:22

Cheap rubbish

its4taylor

38 posts

Geek

#427570 16-Jan-2011 09:14

illicit: I recommend going and using the TV in store

Try;

- using the menu
- tuning a channel
- changing channels
- stand a few meters back (as if in bed) and listen to sound quality
- view from an angle (as if in bed)

I have generally found with Warehouse TVs (especially transonic) that;

- menus are poor (slow, complicated and don't make sense)
- tuning is slow and very complicated
- changing channels is very slow (ie: press button... wait for 3secs, then it decides to change)
- poor sound quality requires higher than normal volume to comprehend vocals
- poor viewing angles (especially downward - ie: TV is on wall or set of drawers)

Go and try one out

I was thinking about the On-Screen menu and if it would make any sense...
Slow changing channels wouldn't be an issue as i would be connecting a Freeview Receiver to it.

Probably Best to keep to the well known and known brands

But not a Toshiba TV, They are complete rubbish and the warranty covers almost nothing...

bfginger

1267 posts

Uber Geek

#427606 16-Jan-2011 12:25

If you're short of money you'd be better off taking on somebody's free CRT cast-off. The image quality would be better on Freeview Satellite and it'd probably last longer than a TV from The Warehouse. Just make sure it has S-video or component and isn't burned-in.

Go to the Freeview section of this forum for instructions on how to manually tune in the SBS1 and SBS2 channels to your Freeview receiver.

farcus

1554 posts

Uber Geek

#427610 16-Jan-2011 12:52

But not a Toshiba TV, They are complete rubbish and the warranty covers almost nothing...

I have always found Toshiba TVs to be of excellent quality and among some of the best available.

However, that's not to say that you would not have had a bad experience with one - just that as a whole they are generally well reviewed / rated televisions.

its4taylor

38 posts

Geek

#427617 16-Jan-2011 13:20

farcus:
But not a Toshiba TV, They are complete rubbish and the warranty covers almost nothing...

I have always found Toshiba TVs to be of excellent quality and among some of the best available.

However, that's not to say that you would not have had a bad experience with one - just that as a whole they are generally well reviewed / rated televisions.

I've had 2 Toshiba TV's and both of them have been absolute crap. On the latest one, 2/3 Composite inputs are completely dead. "Oh, Thats not covered by our warranty sir"

its4taylor

38 posts

Geek

#427619 16-Jan-2011 13:21

bfginger: If you're short of money you'd be better off taking on somebody's free CRT cast-off. The image quality would be better on Freeview Satellite and it'd probably last longer than a TV from The Warehouse. Just make sure it has S-video or component and isn't burned-in.

Go to the Freeview section of this forum for instructions on how to manually tune in the SBS1 and SBS2 channels to your Freeview receiver.

I'm a bit streched on space and I would like an LCD as it would sit right against the wall on a shelf.

My receiver already has SBS pre-programmed

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JimmyH

2886 posts

Uber Geek

#427626 16-Jan-2011 13:28

I had a good run with a Transonic CRT from the Warehouse. Gave it away last year (still fully working) after 14 years of service as a second TV in my bedroom. So, just because it's from the Warehouse, it isn't necessarily rubbish that will fail quickly.

It is, after all, only $175 and (presumably) warranted for the first 12 months. So, even if it fails after 3-4 years, the value for money proposition isn't that bad. Also, the reality is that even if the picture quality is poor, you are unlikely to be able to tell on a 15" screen!

Personally, I regard 15" as a bit on the small side, even for a bedroom set. With LCD prices having fallen so far, I would be tempted to spend a bit more and get a 22" set. For instance, DSE has two 22" models for $399, other retailers will be similar, and you can probably save 10-20% on that if you wait for the (very frequent) sales that seem to run.

I replaced my 21" CRT with a 32" LCD, and love the difference. I wouldn't like to try and watch a film on a 15" screen now!

its4taylor

38 posts

Geek

#427628 16-Jan-2011 13:32

JimmyH: I had a good run with a Transonic CRT from the Warehouse. Gave it away last year (still fully working) after 14 years of service as a second TV in my bedroom. So, just because it's from the Warehouse, it isn't necessarily rubbish that will fail quickly.

It is, after all, only $175 and (presumably) warranted for the first 12 months. So, even if it fails after 3-4 years, the value for money proposition isn't that bad. Also, the reality is that even if the picture quality is poor, you are unlikely to be able to tell on a 15" screen!

Personally, I regard 15" as a bit on the small side, even for a bedroom set. With LCD prices having fallen so far, I would be tempted to spend a bit more and get a 22" set. For instance, DSE has two 22" models for $399, other retailers will be similar, and you can probably save 10-20% on that if you wait for the (very frequent) sales that seem to run.

I replaced my 21" CRT with a 32" LCD, and love the difference. I wouldn't like to try and watch a film on a 15" screen now!

I Currently have a 32" as the main TV in the house. When that dies, Going to buy quite a big one and wall mount it. Or maybe move that to bedroom and buy a new TV for the lounge.

22" is the size of my computer monitor which would be a perfect size.. I was just bargain hunting

Dunnersfella

4086 posts

Uber Geek

#427740 16-Jan-2011 19:30

Can I ask why you're worried about the 25ms response time?
Are you looking to use it for gaming? If so... it's not overly slow I guess... certainly not my first choice as a gaming TV, but hey, 15" wouldn't be my choice.

I'm wondering if you've mistakenly confused the 25ms response time for a 50Hz refresh rate?
If so, don't worry, as 50Hz will be just fine for a 15" bedroom tellie.

its4taylor

38 posts

Geek

#427744 16-Jan-2011 19:44

Dunnersfella: Can I ask why you're worried about the 25ms response time?
Are you looking to use it for gaming? If so... it's not overly slow I guess... certainly not my first choice as a gaming TV, but hey, 15" wouldn't be my choice.

I'm wondering if you've mistakenly confused the 25ms response time for a 50Hz refresh rate?
If so, don't worry, as 50Hz will be just fine for a 15" bedroom tellie.

No, I wasn't confused.. Ive gone off the TV idea and thinking of buying a LCD Monitor and buying a USB TV tuner..

I was just thinking of watching TV, not gaming

Found a cheap 20" Philips LCD with 5ms refresh rate