Need monitor/TV for XBox - Any suggestions? (Approx 27")

[NeilF]

I want to put a screen in our play room for the XBox. I'd also like to plug a bluray player into it as well? This location does not have a TV aerial.

So I'm after something around 27-32", ideally 1080p, and that either has reasonably good speaks, or at least some form of audio out so I can plug in a pair of simple (good) PC speakers.

I'm considering something like the Asus MX279H - http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MO-048-AS The reviews seem to be positive and the speakers generally seem to be adequate enough for gaming and for kids to watch a film etc?

Ideally I could TV route, to make use of on demand / Netflix etc?
- LG 27MS73
- Samsung LT27B551

Any comments/help would be appreciated?

 

[Psycho Sonny]

ideally you want something with low input lagg and if you go down the tv route it will need to be 32" minimum, because they don't really make decent panels below that size all tends to be cheap stuff.

the sony 2013 range is the best for gaming but there is a samsung for £250 which is good as well the 32f500 i think, not as good as the sony but it's like £150 cheaper.

 

[NeilF]

ideally you want something with low input lagg and if you go down the tv route it will need to be 32" minimum, because they don't really make decent panels below that size all tends to be cheap stuff.

the sony 2013 range is the best for gaming but there is a samsung for £250 which is good as well the 32f500 i think, not as good as the sony but it's like £150 cheaper.

I'll have a measure up, but I think a 32" will just be too big. You referring to the Sony KDL32W6? Yes expensive!

I was thinking of getting one of the 27" units and putting it on a super flexible arm on a desk to allow it to be pivoted all over the place. ie: To allow it to be used on the chairs at the desk, or to pivot 90 degrees around to view it from the neighbouring couch. I didn't want to put holes in the wall ideally

 

[Psycho Sonny]

I'll have a measure up, but I think a 32" will just be too big.

I was thinking of getting one of the 27" units and putting it on a super flexible arm on a desk to allow it to be pivoted all over the place. ie: To allow it to be used on the chairs at the desk, or to pivot 90 degrees around to view it from the neighbouring couch. I didn't want to put holes in the wall ideally

then you want to stick to a monitor then and get some speakers if you want to use it as a tv.

bigger is better though for gaming imo, I use a 50" plasma

 

[NeilF]

then you want to stick to a monitor then and get some speakers if you want to use it as a tv.

bigger is better though for gaming imo, I use a 50" plasma

Yes, but you're sitting how far away? This scenario is at a desk.

I suppose if I get the monitor I referred to above (Asus MX279H) any bluray player I get will have the same on demand (IPLayer / Netflix) etc built into it that a tv would... Plus that monitor's speakers may be adequate too!

 

[Psycho Sonny]

Yes, but you're sitting how far away? This scenario is at a desk.

I suppose if I get the monitor I referred to above (Asus MX279H) any bluray player I get will have the same on demand (IPLayer / Netflix) etc built into it that a tv would... Plus that monitor's speakers may be adequate too!

7-8 feet away, obviously using a 50" from 3 feet away would never work.


it depends on how much you value audio tbh, the speakers on my GT50 are rotten and that is a top of the line panny plasma, same goes for my D8000 which is a top of the line sammy plasma.

tv's these days are focused on being thin and speakers need space to work well that is the facts.

even if you spent <£50 on speakers they would be an upgrade worth doing imo, built in speakers these days are truly awful due to space constrictions.

mind you if your only sitting 3 feet away you could possibly get away with it, but for watching tv shows, movies and immersive gaming i would want something with a lot more bass and power to it.

 

[NeilF]

7-8 feet away, obviously using a 50" from 3 feet away would never work.


it depends on how much you value audio tbh, the speakers on my GT50 are rotten and that is a top of the line panny plasma, same goes for my D8000 which is a top of the line sammy plasma.

tv's these days are focused on being thin and speakers need space to work well that is the facts.

even if you spent <£50 on speakers they would be an upgrade worth doing imo, built in speakers these days are truly awful due to space constrictions.

mind you if your only sitting 3 feet away you could possibly get away with it, but for watching tv shows, movies and immersive gaming i would want something with a lot more bass and power to it.

I have a Panasonic 46GT30, and we're more than happy with its speakers! For our films etc I'll use the amp, but for every thing else it's fine.

Above, you mentioned basing your choice on lag, yet I thought these big 50" plasmas were bad in that department?


I'll measure up again, but I think 27" is about perfect. I think 32" will be too big for the space/room. Plus I can put it on an arm which will allow it to be maneuvered all over the place! ie: Comfortably close.

 

[Psycho Sonny]

I have a Panasonic 46GT30, and we're more than happy with its speakers! For our films etc I'll use the amp, but for every thing else it's fine.

Above, you mentioned basing your choice on lag, yet I thought these big 50" plasmas were bad in that department?


I'll measure up again, but I think 27" is about perfect. I think 32" will be too big for the space/room. Plus I can put it on an arm which will allow it to be maneuvered all over the place! ie: Comfortably close.

30ms of input lagg on my GT50 (measured by avforums), you find me a 50" LCD which was manufactured in 2012 or older which has less and it has to have been measured by a credible source like avforums or hdtv test or the like, not which/what magazine or manufacturers stated specs.

Plasmas up until 2013 were spanking LCD's for input lagg on the big screens.

Plasmas also handle motion (fast moving images) a lot better too.

the only downside to plasma with gaming is image retention if you have static HUD's, menus, icon, maps on the screen a lot without varying content.

 

[NeilF]

30ms of input lagg on my GT50 (measured by avforums), you find me a 50" LCD which was manufactured in 2012 or older which has less and it has to have been measured by a credible source like avforums or hdtv test or the like, not which/what magazine or manufacturers stated specs.

Plasmas up until 2013 were spanking LCD's for input lagg on the big screens.

Plasmas also handle motion (fast moving images) a lot better too.

the only downside to plasma with gaming is image retention if you have static HUD's, menus, icon, maps on the screen a lot without varying content.

Well, my son is gaming on my 46GT30 fine at the moment...

What's interesting is looking at a review of the LG 27MT93 TV (which I think is related to the 27MS73 I listed in the OP) it suggest it has 66ms of delay - http://www.trustedreviews.com/lg-27mt93_TV_review_3d-pc-use-and-conclusions_Page-3#tr-review-summary

I assume that's pretty bad?

 

[mrk]

I play PS3 on my Dell U2713HM and it's perfect. Audio is passed via toslink to my dac.

No lag, no issues and means playing at the PC desk is easy and high quality.

 

[NeilF]

I play PS3 on my Dell U2713HM and it's perfect. Audio is passed via toslink to my dac.

No lag, no issues and means playing at the PC desk is easy and high quality.

My only problem would be, should I want to anything sound wise, there's no decent sound output from the Asus MX279H, just a phono. It's a shame there's not a HDMI out to get the sound to a sound bar from it.

Don't forget, I'd be plugging 2-3 HDMI leads into it to (so would need an HDMI switch too).

That's something in the Samsung UE32F5000s favour, as it has optical out.

 

[Psycho Sonny]

Well, my son is gaming on my 46GT30 fine at the moment...

What's interesting is looking at a review of the LG 27MT93 TV (which I think is related to the 27MS73 I listed in the OP) it suggest it has 66ms of delay - http://www.trustedreviews.com/lg-27mt93_TV_review_3d-pc-use-and-conclusions_Page-3#tr-review-summary

I assume that's pretty bad?

That's because it is a plasma


66ms is imo bad but not terrible

at the most you would want is 50ms. preferably though 40ms or less imo.

For me anything below 50ms is acceptable, anything over 50ms is very noticeable, your mileage may vary but i wouldn't touch a tv with more than say 45ms for gaming personally.

So i would use that as a benchmark if it's below 45ms measured it's good to go, but anything over I wouldn't touch for gaming.

Obviously though the lower the better.

 

[NeilF]

That's because it is a plasma


66ms is imo bad but not terrible

at the most you would want is 50ms. preferably though 40ms or less imo.

For me anything below 50ms is acceptable, anything over 50ms is very noticeable, your mileage may vary but i wouldn't touch a tv with more than say 45ms for gaming personally.

So i would use that as a benchmark if it's below 45ms measured it's good to go, but anything over I wouldn't touch for gaming.

Obviously though the lower the better.

Well the Samsung UE32F5000 (tv) is supposedly around 30ms. So size permitting I'll look at that. Hopefully the sound will be OK. I've listened to my mum's Samsung UE32D4003 and the sounds is appalling! And that's comparing the sound to my old 20" Sony TV for example.

Failing that the Asus MX279H (monitor) which is obviously a bit small but hopefully will have adequate sound - That's what it sells itself on!

Of course the 32" TV is a lot less than the 27" monitor. In fact with the difference I could buy a Samsung (BD-F5100 ) bluray player

 

[bemaniac]

I got me a used 30" dell for £390 locally in freeads. It's been perfect for 3 years now and does console games real justice.

 

[NeilF]

I got me a used 30" dell for £390 locally in freeads. It's been perfect for 3 years now and does console games real justice.

As previously mentioned, just worried about that sort of size in the room/space available.

I'm borrowing a 32" TV to try it out to see how it fits/looks

Also ideally want reasonable sound for the XBox and Bluray (for the kids).

 

[Psycho Sonny]

As previously mentioned, just worried about that sort of size in the room/space available.

I'm borrowing a 32" TV to try it out to see how it fits/looks

Also ideally want reasonable sound for the XBox and Bluray (for the kids).

Newer 32" should be slimmer and thinner than older models.

Depends on how old it is it could be a huge difference as comparing my first ever 32" LCD to a new one there is a very big difference in bezel sizes and how thin the panel is.

 

[NeilF]

Newer 32" should be slimmer and thinner than older models.

Depends on how old it is it could be a huge difference as comparing my first ever 32" LCD to a new one there is a very big difference in bezel sizes and how thin the panel is.

The newer 32F5000 738mm wide vs my mum's UA32D4003 756.4mm wide - So about 1cm narrower bezel...

Bearing in mind he does split screen gaming with mates every now and then, the extra size would be useful (over a 27").

ps: Again, I can't believe how bad the sounds is on my mums unit. Terrible!