Cheap TV upgrade now or hold on for 4K?

DHR · 15 Jul 2015 at 18:26

I have a cracking 37" Panasonic LCD TV full 1080p TV, it's hitting 6+ years old and I'm itching to get a bigger screen for the living room.

I've held on until now because I was thinking of it being a good idea to wait for the decent 4K TVs to start rolling out.

The prices of the 1080p TVs is incredibly tempting at the moment, particularly considering that I mainly use my TV for 1080p console gaming (360/PS4/XB1) but even these units aren't rendering content out at 4K so I'm asking myself what's the point?

I've been through collecting DVDs and Blurays, can't envisage me buying into ultra bluray... netflix streaming maybe but I'm watching less films than I ever have so given I'd be going for a 47" screen max.... I'm thinking a cheap upgrade would do me for 3-5 years now.

nicknack35 · 15 Jul 2015 at 19:32

What functions and price? smart? 3D?

DHR · 15 Jul 2015 at 19:43

Use a freesat box for all my smart needs, hate 3D. Price can be anything between £300-1000

Raymond Lin · 15 Jul 2015 at 20:02

There was just a Sony 48" went for £399, no 3D, just Smart.

DHR · 15 Jul 2015 at 20:10

I was out off sony 8 year back or so when there were reports of them shipping demo units to reviewers with different screens in than the production units. The Panasonic has been great, only other brand I'd probably consider Samsung unless you can convince me otherwise

Raymond Lin · 15 Jul 2015 at 20:12

I am in the same sort of boat too. I have a Panny 42" plasma of a similar age, hence now and again I look at new TV but currently we are in the middle of the tech moving, it is still not settled on 3D (bombed), curved (pointless) and new OLED and 4K still not cheap enough yet.

DHR · 15 Jul 2015 at 20:15

Part of me thinks now would be the best time, the techs matured that much that you can get cheap sets that produce close to reference levels out of the box.

Just too tempting!

Raymond Lin · 15 Jul 2015 at 20:16

DHR said:
Part of me thinks now would be the best time, the techs matured that much that you can get cheap sets that produce close to reference levels out of the box.

Just too tempting!

Right time to get a 1080p LED for sure.

peahead · 15 Jul 2015 at 20:19

Hi

Check out the 55" Sony w829 £650 @ john lewis with 5 year guarantee its a cracking tv for the price

nicknack35 · 15 Jul 2015 at 20:20

Well i have the Samsung H6400 and its a brill set it does have 3D but you don't have to use the 3D

DHR · 15 Jul 2015 at 20:53

I bought the Panasonic at her start of the full 1080p screens coming out, paid about £780 for it at the time, then 12 months later the market was flooded and they were going for £300-400. I'm to skip that trend this time around, can't see me upgrading my other kit to 4K soon too.

Now I just have to convince the wife....

DHR · 16 Jul 2015 at 08:05

The Samsung H6400 does look to be getting cracking reviews, just trying to find the equivalent Panasonic and Sony models to compare them to.

Dylan2013 · 16 Jul 2015 at 08:55

Considering the price, 4K is not great.

dl8860 · 16 Jul 2015 at 09:07

DHR said:
The Samsung H6400 does look to be getting cracking reviews, just trying to find the equivalent Panasonic and Sony models to compare them to.

H6400 is generally similar to the Sony w829 and the Panasonic as640.

Given identical prices, I'd say the w829 is the pick of the bunch

alx · 16 Jul 2015 at 13:58

dl8860 said:
H6400 is generally similar to the Sony w829 and the Panasonic as640.

Given identical prices, I'd say the w829 is the pick of the bunch

This.

As peahead mentioned above the Sony 55W829 can be had for £650 at JL (and Argos I believe) at the moment which is a bit of a bargain.

Went to my local JL to see the 55W829 in the flesh as I'm in the same boat (have a 42" Panasonic G30 and looking to upgrade). Looked very nice

.

DHR · 16 Jul 2015 at 14:04

Just been to my local RS, loving the look of The Panasonic TX47AS650B

robmac65 · 16 Jul 2015 at 14:31

4k why, there is hardly any significant content to be bought and sod all is transmitted ota, why bother with it, and all lcd/led tv's are crud for black levels as well, so unless they come out with an affordable 4K OLED without faults I personally won't be mithering with 4k for years yet.

HangTime · 17 Jul 2015 at 21:47

Been musing this myself recently having just got Sky multiroom with the second TV being an old 22(?)" non-HD LCD connected over a Scart lead. Seemed like the right time to look at relegating my main 6.5 year old TV to the kitchen and get a 4K beast in the living room.

However I have talked myself out of that now unless an absolute bargain shows up because there is no fibre/cable broadband here so virtually impossible to get 4k content at the moment. I think I'll hold fire for a while and see what happens with the tech, would like a 60"+ OLED 4k HDMI2.0 priced lets say under £800.

robmac65 · 20 Jul 2015 at 10:34

HangTime said:
Been musing this myself recently having just got Sky multiroom with the second TV being an old 22(?)" non-HD LCD connected over a Scart lead. Seemed like the right time to look at relegating my main 6.5 year old TV to the kitchen and get a 4K beast in the living room.

However I have talked myself out of that now unless an absolute bargain shows up because there is no fibre/cable broadband here so virtually impossible to get 4k content at the moment. I think I'll hold fire for a while and see what happens with the tech, would like a 60"+ OLED 4k HDMI2.0 priced lets say under £800.

Wakey wakey!!!

R3X · 20 Jul 2015 at 21:00

4K may never take off or it may.... we just won't know till xmas and next year to get a bit of an idea.

Its best to see the tv set in person get down to currys or john lewis and compare the screens there, look at the blacks, contrast, viewing angles I spent an hour in currys and found the Samsung UE40JU6400 or J series to be pretty much the top panel, yeah its more pricey but you can find that same tv at JL for £600 but £520 in few other places online check pricespy, also JL do price promise so worth a shot regardless of what set you go for.