New TV

[Richard]

Treating myself to a new TV and have come across the following two. I know nothing about what to look out for when buying, how to tell if its a good picture etc, so am relying on the good people of 'The Cellar' to help me out.

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/tv-dvd-blu-ray/televisions/large-screen-tvs-32-and-over/panasonic-viera-tx-l39em6b-39-led-tv-21278883-pdt.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/tv-dvd-blu ... 3-pdt.html</a>

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/tv-dvd-blu-ray/televisions/large-screen-tvs-32-and-over/lg-39ln540v-39-led-tv-21295594-pdt.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/tv-dvd-blu ... 4-pdt.html</a>

Alternatively, if anyone can recommend another TV thats 39-42 inch with a budget of £400 (tops) then great!

 

[Barcon]

I bought a 60" Panasonic Viera plasma reccently, more than happy with it.

 

[rick773]

I'd go with the Panasonic over LG, I used to work with tv systems in hotels and hospitals and LGs had more problems than any other.

There's a samsung 40" "smart" tv at Argos: <a class="postlink" href="http://www.argos.co.uk/m/static/Product/partNumber/5299696.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.argos.co.uk/m/static/Product ... 299696.htm</a>

That's pretty decent. I have the same and it works well/has netflix/ good picture.

 

[GPB]

I'd get a Samsung LED Smart TV, as Samsung is the only make with all the catch-up channels.

A bit over budget but Currys have a 39" 5000 series for £429, and a 40" 6000 series for £469.

I think the 6000 series screens/panels are a bit better specification than the 5000. Whether you'd notice any difference I don't know.

 

[Richard]

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/tv-dvd-blu-ray/televisions/large-screen-tvs-32-and-over/samsung-ue40f5000-40-led-tv-21802448-pdt.html?srcid=198&cmpid=ppc~gg~~~Exact&mctag=gg_goog_7904&s_kwcid=AL!3391!3!31106084615!!!g!50385157535!&ef_id=Uw80bQAABWM9cALL:20140304123851:s" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/tv-dvd-blu ... 04123851:s</a>

I have found this 5000 Samsung on Currys, is this the one you were on about?

 

[Grolsch30]

Panasonic all the way.

If you can try and get hold of a plasma better picture than an LED.

Got my Pana 65VT waiting to go up on the wall :)

 

[steviemc]

To be honest I'd go and have a look rather than buy off recommendations, as everybody has their own colour/contrast preference, and each TV will be viewed in a different environment. For example LED/LCD TV's generally have less glare and are more suited for brighter rooms whereas a Plasma TV can look great in areas that don't have much natural light. Don't worry about any scree-burn nonsense you may hear regarding Plasma, unless you envisage keeping the set for about 25 years. I have an LED in one room and a Plasma in another purely because of the natural light difference in each room, but I won't recommend either, due to the personal preferences mentioned above.

If there's a Richer Sounds store near you, have a pop in and a quick chat, and view the different TV's side by side. There's no need to buy from them, but you'll probably come out with a better idea on which brand/style is going to perform best in your room.

 

[adrianr]

It depends what you're planning on using it for, and also the people using it. I've got a Panasonic plasma at home because my TV's main purpose is movies, and for that you just don't get better than a Panasonic plasma. However there are drawbacks - Making sure the missus doesn't leave 'Rich Housewives of some other shit american city' on pause whilst she does her makeup, making sure it's not in direct sunlight, etc. If you're going to be making full use of the interactive features, often leaving lots of static images on screen, or if it's going in a bright room with kids, LCD/LED is your best bet.

Even going to view the TV in a showroom is often pointless as everything is usually in just on the highest contrast/brightness nuke-your-eyes setting with sharpening on full, then you get it back into your living room and it's like a second sun. My plasma would look god awful in a bright showroom and especially against an LCD panel, but put them both in a dark room with a bluray and it will smash it into next week for image quality.

 

[leewill31]

the 50" Panasonic is great for the price <a class="postlink" href="http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/tv-dvd-blu-ray/televisions/large-screen-tvs-32-and-over/panasonic-viera-tx-p50x60b-50-plasma-tv-21289369-pdt.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/tv-dvd-blu ... 9-pdt.html</a>

edit: ok forget about that one its only HD-ready :(

 

[Carver]

I'd go with the Panasonic over LG, I used to work with tv systems in hotels and hospitals and LGs had more problems than any other.

There's a samsung 40" "smart" tv at Argos: <a class="postlink" href="http://www.argos.co.uk/m/static/Product/partNumber/5299696.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.argos.co.uk/m/static/Product ... 299696.htm</a>

That's pretty decent. I have the same and it works well/has netflix/ good picture.

I've got 2 Samsung TVs, normal freeview tvs, not smart ones and both have an excellent picture. A word of warning, they had a batch of crap capacitors in the power supplies (one is bust at the moment) so check that this is not one of the models that suffers from the power supply packing in.

In saying that it should be a later model than mine and the problems should be resolved.