Should I replace monitor with tv for console gaming ?

Flanno · 2 Aug 2013 at 15:12

I am thinking of getting a Sony KDL-32W653A and am seeking some advice
on whether this would be a good move.
http://www.sony.co.uk/product/tv-80-32-lcd/kdl-32w653a

It would be to replace my Dell S2740L 27" IPS 1080p screen which I just relegated to console duties since getting a 1440p screen for the PC. The Dell has about the same input lag as the Sony but does have only 1 hdmi port, and annoying IPS glow, remedied somewhat by the Hazro stand I go for it. The Sony if I bought it, would be exclusively for Xbox and eventually PS4.

The thing is I game from only a couple of feet away in the bedroom. Would moving from 27 to 32 inch be a bad idea. I don't bother with larger sets as I prefer to game up close and even my 50 inch Panasonic GT50 feels laggy compared to the Dell. Am hoping the Sony will give a similar experience with the added benefit of more screen space.

Flanno · 7 Aug 2013 at 20:25

Thanks for the advice thepigf@rmer.

inam22 - am collecting it end of the week. Went for the silver 32inch one. It was only 539 euro versus 600 euro for the black one and the only difference is the color of the bezel. Having said that, the same place has the 42inch for 650 euro and it's normally over the 800 euro mark where I live. So I'm still not 100% sure. Also, this place (large chain store) wouldn't be too keen to take a tv back if it had stuck or dead pixels. They gave the usual drone about having to send it back to Sony which could take 30 days. For that reason I am tempted to buy the set in a local family run shop who always look after their customers after the sale. Would mean 599 for the 32 inch, and the 42 inch is well over 800 euro.

Personally I'd really love the Sony 905 but way way over my price range, and also supposed to be excellent for gaming. It might be possible to stretch to the 805 if I wait a few months and it's got good response and low lag also. But its IPS which I dont want in a gaming/console screen.

Flanno · 11 Aug 2013 at 21:12

Well I'm definitely getting the Sony 653AB or 654AS, I just can't decide on the 32 or the 42. It will be used in the bedroom for xbox 360 and ps4. Nothing else really.

Black (653AB) or Silver (654AS) makes no difference to me as they both look nice.

I can get the 32inch silver for 550 euro now. Or I can get the 42inch black for 660 euro. Those 2 models on sale. Price has changed again since I posted first. However, 110 euro doesn't seem a lot extra to pay for an extra 10 inches but would I benefit from it.

Comparing the 32 and 42, I think the 32 would probably suit my needs more.

32 inch replacing Dell S2740L
- Would go on my corner desk in bedroom (desk is part of all in one shelf/drawer that is about 10 feet long on one side of room)
- Playing my console games from a couple of feet away in seated position
- Hooked into a pair of Corsair SP2500 speakers which I can adjust the sound readily (may ditch these if tv sound good enough).

42 inch
- Would be going on a tv stand (which I have already), up against the wall, a few feet from the end of the bed.
- Playing my console games there from about 8-9 feet if lying on bed. Not ideal.
- With TV flat against wall not possible really to play from seated position as viewing angles would be poor (bed cant be moved and seat would be to left side of bed). I could rotate stand and angle it into corner and move chair closer to allow me to play from seated position.
- Would need to get a higher stand or lower seat also though as tv stands are generally low to the ground. Can't mount tv higher on back wall. Not strong enough.
- Might have to invest in a soundbar too (unless the tv speakers were good enough) as it would be a pain to get up to adjust the sound on the SP2500's.

Flanno · 14 Aug 2013 at 23:03

I agree. Too many negatives if I get a 42 inch and I would be lying on a bed 8 feet away. Much better playing up close on a 32 inch. So will be getting the Sony hopefully by the end of the week.

Have read some reviews about the motion handling not being the best. Basically it's either a native 50hz or 100hz panel (no one is too sure) and motion flow 200 is turned on all the time but adjusts according to the content. No control over it. And on HDTV test they said motion resolution is limited to 300 lines unless you turn led motion on for 1080 lines. But the backlight scanning then causes double imaging, flickering and a drop in brightness. Then again, I expect the only thing you would need more then 300 lines for is sports. And I want this for gaming. Lack of 3D isn't an issue either. I find 3D irritating, poorly done, and even avoid it in the cinema these days. Certainly don't use it on my Panasonic plasma.

Flanno · 19 Aug 2013 at 11:24

The consensus on avforums and hdtvtest is that the W653/654 is a 50hz panel and Sony's motion flow (their version of interpolation) is false advertising.

Anyway, I got my 32W653. Can someone who has this or the 40 inch please help. Have problems with the panel flexing.

About half way down the right side for about 6 inches the panel will move in and out if you touch it gently. Same with bottom edge. It's like it's not attached to the frame but there does not seem to be any side effect over this. Pressing it or not makes no different as I can't see any bleed either way. Left and top are fine. I had last years panasonic DT series that did the same. And in the panasonic manual it even said this was normal. My understanding is that it has to do with the panel flexing to allow for heat expansion. And sure enough once the thing warmed up the flexing stopped. So this could be the same with the Sony (will game for a few hours tomorrow and check) or it just could be variances in how these TV's are made. The main thing is I can't detect any backlight bleed or any change to the lighting when I press it gently. Sure I could return it under the 30 day money back guarantee but I bought this TV for gaming, specifically the PS4, and it doesn't have any bleed or stuck pixels so I may as well keep it. Incidentally one other person on avforums has seen this also on their set, and in the store.
http://www.avforums.com/forums/19468606-post675.html

By the way I read the Sony supports full range hdmi but I noticed when I set the xbox 360's hdmi range to expanded the blacks are crushed slightly. Intermediate appears to be a better option.

<edit> Paid a visit to local electronics chain store at lunch time. They had a 32W654 on display. Same model as mine except silver bezel. This unit has the same loosness on the right. Except it started in the top right edge and extended for about 10cm. While mine was loose from around the middle. Same clacking noise where you could push the panel in. And this screen had been on for a number of hours/days. Also I noticed the bottom edge was completely loose. A 1mm gap between the inside edge of the bezel and the edge of the panel going all the way accross. An 805 model they had on display was pretty much the same. So I guess build quality varies. None of the Samsungs's I "tested" in the same price range had this problem.

Thanks

Flanno · 4 Sep 2013 at 17:51

Daytrader said:
i would not be happy with playing console games at just 300 lines, thats worse than stv, i would want full hd 1080 lines.

This is motion resolution I am talking about. ALL HDTV's produce 300 lines of motion resolution according to the tests HDTVTest have run, unless you have interpolation turned on (Sony's motionflow is one example, other manufacturers call it something else....Samsung's is cmr I think). Generally this processing introduces input lag (and soap opera effect on some tv's) and is only of benefit in fast moving scenes (sports). Games and movies generally don't benefit. My point was for gaming you don't need fantastic motion handling / interpolation and the standard 1080P 50hz/60hz screen which produces just 300 lines is ok.

Flanno · 6 Sep 2013 at 09:47

Great, I got it mainly for gaming and its fantastic. Colour great out of box. Very little adustment needed. Just stick it in game mode, turn off all the processing options and good to go. Much deeper blacks than any IPS and can't see any motion blur and zero input lag. Plus ZERO backlight bleed which would rally bother me. Never seen this before on a led tv and this is with automatic light dimming turned off. I also have almost no DSE (dirty screen effect). Zero in games, and only once saw it when watching sports which I didn't buy this tv for anyway. All sets have DSE to a certain degree even high end Samsung 8 series and Sony 9 series. The W series is better then those 2 in this regard.

A good thread on it here. VegaCortez's settings are spot on.
http://www.avforums.com/forums/lcd-led-lcd-tvs/1776014-sony-w6-owners-
thread-2.html

And great review here
http://www.avforums.com/forums/lcd-led-lcd-tvs/1776014-sony-w6-owners-thread-2.html

The only issues are that Led motion which is basically backlight dimming is supposed to help with fast moving action in sports, but it dims the screen and causes flicker. Leave it turned off. Apparently if you run games this way though that are 60fps it doesn't have this effect.

There is also some debate on avforums about what hz the panel is. Some think it's 50/60hz and other's 100hz. It looks like the 200hz motion flow (Sony's interpolation) can't be turned on or off but comes on automatically depending on what scene mode you select. That's what Sony told me. To be honest when watching movies I find it as good as my mates Samsung UEF8000 flagship tv which I believe does motion interpolation to around 800-1000mhz with CMR. So it's really a non issue. For gaming it's perfect where in Game mode all that stuff is turned off anyway.

The only physical issue is that the bottom of the panel along the edge of the bezel can be pushed in slightly. Noticed when cleaning. I'm talking maybe a mm. Same along the right edge. Checked other W6 series in shops and it's the same. The same on the high end 805 series too. Even when you push it in slightly with the tv turned on, it doesn't effect light uniformity. Got onto Sony tech support and as I suspected this is for tolerances to do with heat expansion/contraction and not a build quality issue.

Please post your impressions when you get your set. I went for the 32 inch for close up gaming.