What 40" HD TV would you buy for $1200?

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magicgeoff

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#95849 14-Jan-2012 15:16

Hi

Im about to hit the stores looking for a new 40"+ TV. Below are my requirements, what should I purchase with a budget of $1200 (or less if on special).

Im looking for:
Full HD
The best colour - blacks must be black
Great picture for watching mainly sky sport, and sometimes the movies
SD card slot
Possible skype call usage
Sometimes viewing on an angle
Maybe a bit of gaming but not so important.
AVI movie files readable off a flash drive

Im looking for a good allrounder TV that will do me well for the next 5-10 years.
Consumer recommends the Sony KDL40CX520 LCD and Ive been impressed with the Panasonic Viera Plasmas.

Thanks
magicgeoff

mattwnz

20141 posts

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#568823 14-Jan-2012 15:59

magicgeoff: Hi

Im about to hit the stores looking for a new 40"+ TV. Below are my requirements, what should I purchase with a budget of $1200 (or less if on special).??

Im looking for:
Full HD
The best colour - blacks must be black
Great picture for watching mainly?sky sport, and sometimes the movies
SD card slot
Possible skype call usage
Sometimes viewing on an angle
Maybe a bit of gaming but not so important.
AVI movie files readable off a flash drive

Im looking for a good allrounder TV that will do me well for the next 5-10 years.
Consumer recommends the Sony KDL40CX520 LCD and Ive been impressed with the Panasonic Viera Plasmas.

Thanks
magicgeoff

You maybe able to get the sony ex720 LED 3D 100Hz one for that if you can find a retailer who will do you a good deal. They were around that during the boxing day specials.

vinnieg

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#568842 14-Jan-2012 16:46

In your list of criteria you mention the Blacks must be black, not many LEDs will be completely black(apart from OLED/AMOLED which aren't available in those sizes for consumer grade yet)

I wouldn't trust Consumer either, they have gone down hill extremely fast over the last 5 years. Try Testfreaks or somewhere similar, where multiple reviews are stored

The Sony ex720 above will be good, otherwise try getting Harveys to give you a Samsung UA40D6000 if you want a good bang for buck TV with great features(3D, 200hz, Skype, 3 USB ports(HDD, Camera, USB flash), excellent viewing on an angle, excellent for gaming and fast action movies, AVi files readable off either USB flash or Network via ethernet or Wifi adapter.

only thing both the Sony and Samsung LEDs don't have are the black levels of the Viera. If you can do with mostly black but a bit grey, the LEDs above would be perfect

I have moved across the ditch. Now residing in Melbourne as a VOIP/Video Technical Trainer/Engineer.

magicgeoff

19 posts

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#568895 14-Jan-2012 19:44

Cool thanks, Ill be off to HNorman

mattwnz

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#568906 14-Jan-2012 20:57

Not many will have sd slots, buy you can usually attach a card reader to the usb port.

If black levels and fast motion pans are important, plasma maybe the way to go, but they don't perform as well in brightly lit rooms as LED/LCD.

I also wouldn't use consumer as a recommendation for a model. I would only use it as a guide and take their findings with a grain of salt, as it is usually only one persons/teams opinion.

I would recommend sony over samsung, only becasue they are shown by consumer to have better reliability, and my experience with samsung LCDs and appliances hasn't been the best in the past. They also look better designed, the samsungs do look a bit plasticy for my liking.

hads

392 posts

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#568944 14-Jan-2012 22:54

The Samsungs look quite nice but the quality is only okay - in my opinion.

We have a UA46D7000, the third one after two replacements in the first couple of weeks. All three have backlight bleed or clouding coming from the four corners, it is especially noticeable if you sit on an angle. It's seems to be a common issue if you search on the 'net for it.

The one we settled with is the least noticeable and not too bad. I have grown accustomed to it over a couple of months and don't notice it so much any more. Apart from that annoyance I'm generally happy with the set, though most of the features are unused - it's just a glorified monitor since everything runs through the HTPC.

When we had the original issues I also compared some other brands and models (the top runner was another Sony to replace the original) and came to the conclusion it's an issue with LED edge lighting in general, though perhaps I'm just overly sensitive to it.

Just something to think about it, check them out in a darkened room before you buy if you can.

hads

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mattwnz

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#568952 14-Jan-2012 23:09

hads: The Samsungs look quite nice but the quality is only okay - in my opinion.

We have a UA46D7000, the third one after two replacements in the first couple of weeks. All three have backlight bleed or clouding coming from the four corners, it is especially noticeable if you sit on an angle. It's seems to be a common issue if you search on the 'net for it.

The one we settled with is the least noticeable and not too bad. I have grown accustomed to it over a couple of months and don't notice it so much any more. Apart from that annoyance I'm generally happy with the set, though most of the features are unused - it's just a glorified monitor since everything runs through the HTPC.

When we had the original issues I also compared some other brands and models (the top runner was another Sony to replace the original) and came to the conclusion it's an issue with LED edge lighting in general, though perhaps I'm just overly sensitive to it.

Just something to think about it, check them out in a darkened room before you buy if you can.

hads

Yes I am not a fan of the Samsung quality. My LCD monitor had regular problems from new, so got a refund on it. Also had a samsumg mobile phone, which had power/charging problems, where the battery lost it charge after only a few hours and had multiple batteries, so got a refund on it. Now have a samsung freezer that has had problems from day one. It has now developed a noisy compressor, so have to get their service people out again to look at it. Only 6 months old.
Sony however I have found to be good, never actually had a major problem with any sony appliance, until they have gotten old.

hads

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#568956 14-Jan-2012 23:20

mattwnz:
Yes I am not a fan of the Samsung quality. My LCD monitor had regular problems from new, so got a refund on it. Also had a samsumg mobile phone, which had power/charging problems, where the battery lost it charge after only a few hours and had multiple batteries, so got a refund on it. Now have a samsung freezer that has had problems from day one. It has now developed a noisy compressor, so have to get their service people out again to look at it. Only 6 months old.
Sony however I have found to be good, never actually had a major problem with any sony appliance, until they have gotten old.

I don't think I would buy another Samsung, if just for the way their customer service rep treated me on the phone.

I've decided to see how this one goes though. I had free choice of brands at the store after the faulty units and for better or worse decided to stick with this one. There was backlight bleeding on the Sony I tested also so it was a pick of the bunch type of decision.

hads

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mattwnz

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#568971 15-Jan-2012 00:13

hads:
mattwnz:?
Yes I am not a fan of the Samsung quality. My LCD monitor had regular problems from new, so got a refund on it. Also had a samsumg mobile phone, which had power/charging problems, where the battery lost it charge after only a few hours and had multiple batteries, so got a refund on it. Now have a samsung freezer that has had problems from day one. It has now developed a noisy compressor, so have to get their service people out again to look at it. Only 6 months old.
Sony however I have found to be good, never actually had a major problem with any sony appliance, until they have gotten old.

I don't think I would buy another Samsung, if just for the way their customer service rep treated me on the phone.

I've decided to see how this one goes though. I had free choice of brands at the store after the faulty units and for better or worse decided to stick with this one. There was backlight bleeding on the Sony I tested also so it was a pick of the bunch type of decision.

hads?

I have to admit I have a bit of backlight bleeding on my sony led edgelit, but it doesn't bother me and not too bad. Only when teh screen is totally black, and in a dark room. I think it is just a limitation of the edge lighting technology and manufacturing the things affordably. I think plasma is what I would go for if that did bother me.

magicgeoff

19 posts

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#569233 15-Jan-2012 21:06

Hi All
Again thank you very much.

One last thing, the naming or coding of each Panasonic Viera model indicates its quality (from crap to top of the line)
Someone explained it here on geekzone but I cant find it again.

Would appreciate it if someone could reply to me with it.

Thanks

magicgeoff

bfginger

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#569274 15-Jan-2012 23:59

http://www.panasonic.co.nz/viera/plasma.html

Going from lowest to highest with the 2011 models

X30
U30
UT30
ST30
GT30
VT30

The X is a basic 768x1024 resolution model. The U30 is a 1080p model but with around 900p resolution during motion, it is called the S30 overseas. The UT30 is a U30 with 3D. The ST30 is Full HD and with somewhat better glare handling and black levels. The GT30 has slightly better black levels than the ST30 and some minor feature addons. The VT30 has slightly better black levels again and a single front glass design for some limited viewing and glare improvements.

The P42ST30Z is the lowest end "good" model. It has been available for $1300 at the lowest, $1389 is the lowest marked price at the moment.

The 2012 models have been announced but they might not be available here for a while. There won't be any decent sub 50" Panasonic plasma models for the North American market in 2012 and it won't be surprising if it's the same worldwide.

timmmay

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#569346 16-Jan-2012 10:15

I really like my Samsung 1080p LCD TVs. These days you can probably get LED for that price.

robjg63

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#569372 16-Jan-2012 11:02

The panasonic viera plasmas get better and better each year and are great value for money.

I have one thats a couple of years old and still well pleased with it.

I think that generally plasmas dont look as impressive in the shops because they dont wind the brightness up so high under demo mode. In a home situation they give a very nice natural colour.

From memory the plasmas only kick in 42" and above in the Panasonic range.

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