Any recommendations for a decent 32 inch TV

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › Any recommendations for a decent 32 inch TV

j0e90

24 posts

Geek
+1 received by user: 1

#75332 17-Jan-2011 00:43

My flat is pertty small, and Im thinking Im better off getting a good 32 inch than a mediocre 37 or 40 inch.

1 | 2

75 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 1

#427834 17-Jan-2011 02:24

Any Series 6 LED Samsung.

How much money are you willing to spend?

j0e90

24 posts

Geek
+1 received by user: 1

#427860 17-Jan-2011 09:10

no more than 1k is poss.

JimmyH

2898 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1554

#428103 17-Jan-2011 17:08

+1 for series 6 Samsung. I have one which I like.

Also look at Panasonic. If anything the picture on my Panny (TH-L32S10Z) is marginally better than the Samsung. List price is around $1K, can be had for 10-15% less if you wait for sales.

If budget is a big constraint, DSE currently has some 32" (Samsung series 4 & Panasonic X series) for just under $600. Obviously not their top models, but shouldn't be too bad.

I have also heard favourable remarks about LG from friends (although I don't have personal experience of the quality of this brand) and they can be got quite cheaply as well.

Personally, I recommend avoiding Sony like the plague. Overpriced for what they are, and I have issues with Sony's verious shenanigans over the years (Lik Sang, removal of otherOS from PS3, CD rootkits, MPAA & RIAA machinations etc), and their general attitude contempt towards their customers.

[edit: fixed obvious spelling mistake. D'oh]

1080p

1332 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 152
Inactive user

#428122 17-Jan-2011 18:11

You can get a very nice Samsung 40" for $1088. Shop around and they'll likely do you a deal.

http://www.jbhifi.co.nz/tv-lcd-led-plasma/samsung/40-inch-full-hd-lcd-tv-sku-29929/

That particular model is the LA40C550.

mattwnz

20515 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 4795

#428123 17-Jan-2011 18:20

j0e90: My flat is pertty small, and Im thinking Im better off getting a good 32 inch than a mediocre 37 or 40 inch.

The sony 32 inch LCD ones are nice, and they were selling them on special during the xmas sales for around $650, and I had heard they were also giving you a free sony camera by redemption. You maybe able to get the sony LED one for under 1k if you shop around. I think sony willbe bring out some new models over the next few months, so you maybe able to get one of the current models cheaper when they come out. I would only buy sony or panasonic LCDs.

mattwnz

20515 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 4795

#428124 17-Jan-2011 18:22

1080p: You can get a very nice Samsung 40" for $1088. Shop around and they'll likely do you a deal.

http://www.jbhifi.co.nz/tv-lcd-led-plasma/samsung/40-inch-full-hd-lcd-tv-sku-29929/

That particular model is the LA40C550.

You can get the sony LCD 40 inch for $999 if you shop around, and it should have the same features as the samsung.

Geekzone support

Support Geekzone with one-off or recurring donations Donate via PressPatron.

timmmay

20857 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 5349

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#428133 17-Jan-2011 18:35

I agree with the suggestion of a Samsung LCD. My Mum got a 40" for $950 at a recent sale, from Harvey Norman I think. It looks almost the same as my Samsung 55", which cost $2800.

Dunnersfella

4100 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 887

#428174 17-Jan-2011 19:38

The best 32" TV I've seen under $1k is...
The Panasonic THL32D20.
It's an LED LCD, 100Hz, much nicer panel than the Sony and Samsung (it's IPS), has nice styling AND the speakers are good! The other LED's in the market have cut down the size of their speakers in making the TV thin, whereas Panasonic seem to have left the speaker bulge in at the bottom, meaning better bass.

mattwnz

20515 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 4795

#428210 17-Jan-2011 21:01

Dunnersfella: The best 32" TV I've seen under $1k is...
The Panasonic THL32D20.
It's an LED LCD, 100Hz, much nicer panel than the Sony and Samsung (it's IPS), has nice styling AND the speakers are good! The other LED's in the market have cut down the size of their speakers in making the TV thin, whereas Panasonic seem to have left the speaker bulge in at the bottom, meaning better bass.

The sound quality on most LCDs/LEDs are pretty poor. They expect you to also buy a home theatre system to hook it to. CRTs used to have far better sound. The consumer mag has a lot of information about LCDs. Sony and panasonic rate well for both performance and reliability.

Dunnersfella

4100 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 887

#428218 17-Jan-2011 21:23

I agree, most LED's have terrible sound...
The Panasonic seems to be the exception, not the rule.
To be fair though, I make a habit of completely ignoring everything that Consumer says - which makes my recommendation sound foolish ;-)

almaznz

89 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 1

#428429 18-Jan-2011 13:54

from my experience the samsungs while producing nice panels have the WORST after sales service of any of the major manufacturers, i picked up in october a sony KDL40EX400 for 1050 with 30 months interest free, the only negative i would have to say about this is that on some sports (not all) you can really see where 100hz would of given a lot of value but apart from that its a great TV. since you are looking at the 32inch size im pretty sure you can get the KDL32EX500 (with 100hz) for under that $1000 mark you were talking about with some haggling. and it would be a great buy.

Mighty Ape

Shop now at Mighty Ape (affiliate link).

gehenna

8667 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3883

Moderator

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#428434 18-Jan-2011 14:00

My Panasonic 37" 1080p (which is a bit pointless at that size but none-the-less) was only $950. The extra real estate is noticeable that's for sure! Why not try find a good larger sub-$1k panel?

vexxxboy

4336 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2072

#428444 18-Jan-2011 14:29

this week at Noel Leeming they have a Panasonic 42" full HD for $1099, Samsung 32" for $599 and a Sony 40" full HD for $999 , Prices are dropping

Common sense is not as common as you think.

Dunnersfella

4100 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 887

#428454 18-Jan-2011 14:54

They're all the cheap 100Hz models though...
The OP said he was looking for a small panel, with higher specs.

almaznz

89 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 1

#428455 18-Jan-2011 14:57

AFAIK the human eye can not handle much more than 100hz, so while the eye can see a greater difference between the 50hz and 100hz models, it is negligible with hz ratings much higher than that

1 | 2