Got Around 1.5K To Spend On a LCD, Which To Go For?

Soulja · 17 May 2008 at 10:52

Hi all,

I'm looking for a 1080p LCD 46''+ That must be able to do 1080p via VGA/HDMI. I've been looking at the new sammys(le656) but after reading peoples opinions on it i'm not so sure anymore. Can anyone reccomend a good t.v?

Thanks

Psycho Sonny · 17 May 2008 at 15:02

i think new samsung models are being launched soon with vast improvements, i would wait for them, leds for backlighting etc, makes bleed a thing of the past, etc

[DOD]Asprilla · 17 May 2008 at 16:13

Are you set on an LCD? I take it you are going to be using it for an HTPC?

Psycho Sonny · 17 May 2008 at 16:21

[DOD]Asprilla;11703905 said:
Are you set on an LCD? I take it you are going to be using it for an HTPC?

i know a lot of people reccomend a plasma and i know the advantages of them, but i still prefer lcd's

also pioneer have stopped making plasmas and they were the best at doing so, what does that tell you?

lcd's are the future until they think of some other way of doing it, you could get a nice large 720P plasma set but i reckon you would be better off with 1 of the new samsung 1080p sets when they are launched

[DOD]Asprilla · 17 May 2008 at 16:27

Psycho Sonny said:
also pioneer have stopped making plasmas and they were the best at doing so, what does that tell you?

They have outsourced the manufacture of their panels to Panasonic, but they are still doing R&D and the new panels will produced to Pioneer specifications and sold exclusively as Pioneer Kuro.

Considering most LCD manufacturers don't even R&D their own panels but just buy those produced by one of the (i think it's three one being the Sony / Samsung JV) main current manufacturers I don't really see the difference.

My opinion is that LCDs are the champions of mass productions, but if you want the best, and are willing to pay a little extra for it, then a Plasma is still the way forward.

-Ad- · 17 May 2008 at 17:19

Psycho Sonny said:
i know a lot of people reccomend a plasma and i know the advantages of them, but i still prefer lcd's

also pioneer have stopped making plasmas and they were the best at doing so, what does that tell you?

That they were not making enough money whilst producing their own panels in house, so outsourced it to panasonic, and are building the rest of the set around an excellent manufacturer. Now think of the extra resources available for the rest of the R&D

lcd's are the future until they think of some other way of doing it, you could get a nice large 720P plasma set but i reckon you would be better off with 1 of the new samsung 1080p sets when they are launched

You can't recommend a new samsung set when you haven't even seen one. LCDs are catching up but still have far worse black levels compared to a kuro, have worse viewing angles, and still produce noticable motion blur during, well, motion. They are not prone to screenburn, and use a little less power, but those are the only real resons to get one over an LCD. Also being available in smaller sizes gives them the market lead in everything under 37, as plasmas arn't made in those sizes, which is a big point as not everyone can throw £600+ at a 37, and thousands of pounds on larger sizes.

Ok Soulja, what is your MAX price, and what distance do you watch tv and game from ? Can you also put down % wise how much you use these e.g. 'Freeview/sky/virgin' 60%, movies/blu-rays/hd-dvd 20%, gaming 10%, HTPC 10%.

Then we will have a better idea what sets to recommend

Kamakazie! · 17 May 2008 at 17:29

If you want the absolute best picture quality then i think the Phillips screens (9606/9706) are the only ones to consider. Dunno if they are in your price range and not sure if they will do 1080P over VGA.

Other than that, look at the Toshiba 46ZF355D, Samsung A656/750 or some of the newer Sony screens. Though both the Samsung and Sony panels have documented problems such as clouding. The Toshiba is a bit newer so there is not so much feedback as to any problems. To be honest though, every LCD TV comes with problems be it judder, backlight bleed, clouding, banding or smearing. Some you just won't notice and to be honest i think some people are just overly picky.

Soulja · 17 May 2008 at 18:09

-Ad- said:
Ok Soulja, what is your MAX price, and what distance do you watch tv and game from ? Can you also put down % wise how much you use these e.g. 'Freeview/sky/virgin' 60%, movies/blu-rays/hd-dvd 20%, gaming 10%, HTPC 10%.

Then we will have a better idea what sets to recommend

My max would be around £1800.

I sit about 7 feet away from the t.v but when gaming i'd say abit closer.

Sky 35% Gaming 40% Blu Rays/Movies 25%

Ihave beem looking at the Sony 52w4000 for £1600, can't find any reviews on it though

[DOD]Asprilla · 17 May 2008 at 20:27

I'd go for the PDP508XD for that money. There simply isn't a better screen available at the moment for less than £3,000.

Soulja · 17 May 2008 at 20:39

Isn't it a plasma? also i notice it isn't 1080p

[DOD]Asprilla · 17 May 2008 at 21:11

Soulja said:
Isn't it a plasma? also i notice it isn't 1080p

Yep, it's a Plasma and it's 720p, but I'd suggest that you go and have a look at one and use it as a reference for the other screens you consider. It's really is the best screen available in your price range.

Soulja · 21 May 2008 at 17:40

went for the 52'' Sony KDL-W4000, had a quick play and well impressed so far

Fr0dders · 22 May 2008 at 01:11

see my post in another thread about samsung quality control. Id honestly never touch another samsung product again

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showpost.php?p=11733160&postcount=45

then go read at AVForums to see why im not the only one

http://www.avforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=757603
http://www.avforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=746383
http://www.avforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=590827 (this is the owners thread, it reads like a timeline, with first posts being released, the last posts being complaints of owners who've owned the set for a while. Start reading from the last page back)

MikeHunt79 · 22 May 2008 at 06:44

Samsung 6 series is good, you could get a 46" for that money...

-Ad- · 22 May 2008 at 08:54

Soulja said:
went for the 52'' Sony KDL-W4000, had a quick play and well impressed so far

Cool cool enjoy, but the Pio 508XD is still the daddy at ~£1500.

Enjoy anyway.

Soulja · 22 May 2008 at 15:03

MikeHunt79 said:
Samsung 6 series is good, you could get a 46" for that money...

I was going to go for the 6 series but to many bugs for my liking

Fr0dders · 22 May 2008 at 16:18

Soulja said:
I was going to go for the 6 series but to many bugs for my liking

you'd think they'd have learnt to make quality sets by now

but the new series just as full as bugs as the F86/M86 were.

They just keep making set after set with issues and flaws. And the worst thing is, they dont have any technical dept in the UK to do anything about it.

Soulja · 22 May 2008 at 16:34

MrLOL said:
you'd think they'd have learnt to make quality sets by now

but the new series just as full as bugs as the F86/M86 were.

They just keep making set after set with issues and flaws. And the worst thing is, they dont have any technical dept in the UK to do anything about it.

Pretty shocking tbh. I was reading the thread over on AVF and tbh the amount of people complaining about the set not only put me off the t.v. If i spend over 1k on a t.v i want it to work perfectly!

My last t.v was a sammy F71 which overall was a decent t.v and to my knowledge had no faults, Lucky me! :eek:

Scooby_WR1 · 23 May 2008 at 21:04

Sorry to hijack the thread but after reading the bad comments about the

sammy,s i just wanted to know what you think of the 46" LE46A557 because i

will be buying one very soon.

-Ad- · 23 May 2008 at 23:18

Scooby_WR1 said:
Sorry to hijack the thread but after reading the bad comments about the

sammy,s i just wanted to know what you think of the 46" LE46A557 because i

will be buying one very soon.

Don't think ive seen one of them, but you really need to compare all the sets in your price range. If you will be mainly doing freeview/sky, movies and some gaming then go plasma, and if you are a game fanatic and/or game up close then go for an LCD.

Check out the new panasonic tvs, ranging from 550 up to 1300 for their best 46inch 1080p plasma.