New TV time

giggsy

So buying a new TV on the weekend - any esteemed opinions?

Makro had a decent deal for a Samsung 40inch LCD plus HD PVR and a Dstv Drifta for I think its 7000. But... its not an LED - do you reckon that would make much of a difference? And I'm not sure how much I'd use the Drifta without an iPad or an iPhone though...

MikeM

Not a big deal unless you're a yuppie. You get two types of LED tvs. Local dimming is the one that looks a lot better, but it's very expensive. The LEDs that are in the more or less reasonable pricerange just use LEDs instead of CFLs to light the panel and usually higher refresh rate. It's lighter and uses less power. Not really worth it IMO. I am guessing that's the LA40C530? They're real nice, my dad and my brother both have one. You can pop a flash stick in them and watch video clips on them too ?

giggsy

MikeM wrote: Not a big deal unless you're a yuppie. You get two types of LED tvs. Local dimming is the one that looks a lot better, but it's very expensive. The LEDs that are in the more or less reasonable pricerange just use LEDs instead of CFLs to light the panel and usually higher refresh rate. It's lighter and uses less power. Not really worth it IMO. I am guessing that's the LA40C530? They're real nice, my dad and my brother both have one. You can pop a flash stick in them and watch video clips on them too ?

Cool, so the premium you pay for an LED is not really worth it? And yeah, was the LA40C530 but I see the deals no longer valid - the TV alone is available for under R5000 though...

MikeM

That's a real nice price for a cool toy man! Have you checked them out in person? They're on "special" every couple of weeks, so keep an eye out for a deal you want.

Highway-Chile

I have two Samsung TV's and I LOVE them. I was leaning towards the Sony Bravia before I bought my 40" Samsung but man the Samsung is just awesome. Shit, I'd buy the biggest TV Samsung has but unfortunately the very expensive entertainment center we bought years ago is not wide enough in the television space......bummer.....and the missus won't let me ditch it in favor of a huge TV. Double bummer!

Take a look at Samsung's ratings in Consumer Reports. I am a member so in case you don't use it I will just let you know that the Samsung UN40C5000 scores highest at 73 points with the Sony Bravia coming in second at 71. I don't know if this model is the same as the one you are looking at, SA being 220V and all...... but still, you get the.....er, picture. ?

Results......

In 60" and larger, Sony takes 1st with the Samsung 2nd. The Sony was 68, the Samsung 66....better score except for audio...that dropped it by 2.

In 52"-55" Samsung takes 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 5th.

Don't see Samsung in 46"-47"..... don't know if they make in that size.

In 40"-42" Samsung 1st

In 37" Samsung 1st

In 32" Samsung 1st, 2nd and 4th.

In 27" LG took 1st and Samsung took 4th. It took a hit for sound quality and I agree..... I have one like it and the sound is not great, not bad either. It also only has one HDMI connection.

giggsy

Thanks Highway Chile - should have read that before ?

Ended up getting a pt]Sinotech 42 inch - were contemplating an LG 40 inch and a Sinotech 47 inch, but as we were about to be swayed by the brand name, were offered a grand off on the Sinotech LED LCD - too good to refuse.

First impressions - man, it's a lot bigger than my old 72cm! And the 47 inch would have been just too big. DVD's look incredible on it but watching a movie on DSTV on it gave noth the wife and I a headache... maybe we're too close to it? Maybe it's not set up right yet? It was hard to watch - too 'real' if that makes any sense - maybe we just need time to adjust. Gonna get someone out to install the HD PVR during the week - maybe they'll be able to help fine tune it.

djpauw

50" is the smallest TV you should have.... Since I got mine all the other just look so small ?

Seriously though, it's almost like buying a guitar, go see what YOU like. I went to the shops a number of times to check things out before buying my current TV. It was very clear at the time that the difference/improvement of LED over plasma/LCD were not significant enough to justify the price difference (at the time) and also the price on the one I liked kept dropping almost every week until I bought it after which it went up again(!).

Just my thoughts, but go get what YOU like.