Looking for a TV

shad_68

DOOD looks like a lady
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Since I've moved to a different room in our house where I have more space available, I want to finally get myself a TV. I've been browsing around the last couple of days, and I'm lost. Even more so than when I began. Every manufacturer has a bunch of models, even in the same size, that all look more or less the same to me.

So I'm hoping that those of you who are more up to speed can help me to get an idea of what to go for.

My criteria so far:
- size: around 40" (give or take a few)
- price (in Germany): around 500? ... 600 if really necessary
- should have a DVB-T tuner
- due to the geometry of the room (attic) a TV with lower height (compared to others of the same size) is prefered

I don't care about 3D and would like to avoid it if it means I can save money. I'll hook my xbox up to the TV, so reaction time could be an issue. Playing videos via USB or ethernet would be nice, I guess. And I'd like a rotatable stand.
Apart from that, I don't really know what sort of features I'd want. But I'm inclined to go for a less feature-laden TV since most of the stuff I've come across seems gimmicky and not like something I'd actually use in reality.

Another thing, I'm also considering to get 2.1 blu-ray entertainment system, and it seem like there's a lot of feature overlap with the TVs themselves. Which is another thing speaking for less features on the TV, I guess?
 
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You do want to get a Full HD model, not an HD ready model. Second point: Do you plan do have sound delivered via the TV speakers or will it get hooked up to a HiFi system anyway?
 
You do want to get a Full HD model, not an HD ready model.

I already know that much. :p And I don't think you can even find many TVs that aren't full HD anymore, anyway.

On the second point, as I said I'm also looking at 2.1 entertainment systems (5.1 or more would be too big and difficult to set up in the room imo, so I'd rather stick with a decent stereo setup).

- - - Updated - - -

Currently looking at this combo:
TV & 2.1 system
 
Have you thought of getting a soundbar with a sub?
 
My 2c, since I just bought a new TV myself:
Feature-laden TVs are worth it when they fit into your budget, because often they're the higher spec models with better screens and better picture. So even if you don't use all of the features, the better image quality might be worth it, although your budget is quite limiting. Same with 3D, while you may not use it, if adding 3D means you end up with a better 2D picture, why not go for that one? Check lots of reviews, and check with google for potential issues with that model.

The Samsung you've linked looks good, although I find the Samsung's black plastic to look cheap, and the image to be a bit hazy compared to Philips and LG. My preferred way of buying a TV (and which I used) is to go to a large electronics retailer, like Media Markt or Saturn, and just look at the TVs on offer there to check for image quality and find something that matches your preference. Then go home with a shortlist, google them for known issues and reviews and check for prices online.
 
Pick from LG, Samsung, Sony (er spit, spit - they are the ones pushing this region coding lark on DVDs; as they bought a movie studio and by this trade restraint [for that is what it is] they are making money - but they do make good hardware none the less, I just do not buy it unless nothing is comparable - see my PS3 over there) and Panasonic - really good make.

I do not need 3D so avoid them and there are some great deals in Ukania for slightly older versions (Richer Sounds for instance). Sound is always a problem and the speakers can always do with some help from a sound bar product but that can be left until funds allow. ...

My 2p's worth. ...
 
Personally I'm quite partial to Panasonic Plasma, though I don't know how they're doing on their entry-level models these days.

The newest TV I've been involved in buying was a Samsung LED LCD about a year ago, and I've actually been quite impressed with how much you get for not a lot of money now. Especially if you actually, you know, set it up and not just go with the "Dynamic" setting.
 
Their entry level models are not that great, compared to similarly priced Philips, Samsung and LG LED LCDs. Of course, plasma has its perks, but proper LED panels can come quite close nowadays.
 
They seem to have shifted towards the higher and mid level markets the last few years. Their larger models are supposedly pretty fantastic, but you don't hear much about their entrylevel anymore.

Back in 2008 when I bought my Pana it was easily the best bang for the buck :)
 
I followed Adu's advice and took a quick look at the TV selection in a Media Markt, but they only a few TVs explicitly grouped by size. The rest was on a huge display wall where you had to search pretty hard to find any sort of specific models. <_<

Speaking of Panasonics though, I saw the 37" version of this series there. Looked quite good to me, and the 42" version is on Amazon for around the same as the Samsung I posted upthread. They had a similar Samsung to that one on display, and it didn't really wow me. And I was surprised to see how thick it was, especially compared to the Pana.
 
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Honestly, I'm not a big believer in judging TV's in any sort of super market, or anything less than a specialised store. Most TV's these days even have a "Home" and "Store" setting when you first start them up. What looks good in a store usually doesn't look very good at home. I've seen Plasma TV's, both Panasonic and sometimes Samsung, that have looked horrible in a store - but I know, from reading reviews and impressions from people who really know what they're talking about, that they're probably the best TV's they have.

That being said, I also think that the risc of really getting a turd of a TV has greatly diminished these past years. As long as you stick to the big brands, you can't get totally screwed.
 
After looking around some more and deliberating, I went for this one. Was only a few Euro more than the non-3D model I was looking at in the end, with the only difference (apart from picture quality maybe) being that this one doesn't have a DVB-S tuner.
 
Got the TV delivered today (while the rest of my order has apparently been stuck in the DHL hub it started in since friday...), the box had a tear on one upper edge, so I quickly opened it and took a look at the panel to confirm that it wasn't damaged before I signed off on the delivery.

But when I went to put it up in my room I discovered that almost all the screws that attach the backside to the panel were missing. I could just lift the rear up and see the backside of the panel and internal circuitry. :blink:

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After some back and forth between Amazon and Samsung to find the best way to fix this, Amazon is going to send me a replacement and will pick up the defective TV when they deliver the new one.

But how the hell does something like that happen? They have to have some QC in the plant where those TVs are assembled, so how could they miss something like that?! :blink:
 
I want to buy Panasonic TX-P42G30E (plasma). Good choice ? Because I can`t afford nothing more than that.
 
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