New TV 'Needed' - Advice Please!

[Ratmick]

Hi all,

My venerable 29" Toshiba CRT stereo TV died in the arse today, indications are it's the yoke (research indicates it to be a common problem with this model). Given its age (approx 7-8 years) it's probably curtains for this particular unit. The kids' mum has a 90cm LCD Panasonic which they love and they naturally are delighted with this development and are shopping for a 40-46" LCD/Plasma/LED TV (pity they're not paying for it).

Does anyone have any insights they feel that I should know about before I hand over a significant wad of cash (ok, credit or interest-free) for a new unit?

Space isn't a problem, the family room is huge. The current TV unit that house the Toshiba is approx 1.8m across will be relocated to the lounge.

Distance to the screen is between 2 and 3 metres, depending on where the couch ends up being pushed to by the kids.

Please note I can't afford to donate a kidney (my partner has first dibs on mine anyway).

Many thanks, Mick

[Ratmick]

How about one of these?

http://www.harveynorman.com.au/m/panaso ... ision.html

Full HD, built-in tuner, decent size AND a bonus HD PVR worth $1100 on its own.

Mick

[Gosling1]

that looks good Mick.

Any of the quality brands ( Samsung, Panasonic, Sony) are all good mate. Its about the best deal you can swing, and wether an LCD or Plasma is best for what you want.

If the kids play a lot of PS2/3 or Xbox stuff, then an LCD is probably a better bet. Just make sure you get a full HD jobbie, 1920 x 1080p, if you get a tele that's bigger than 40"....

[Whickle]

Sony Bravia LCD all the way!!!!

I would not go a plasma!! Outdated now. Minimum 200hz refresh rate and a 1080p HD with a built in fish (Tuner)!!!!

Well, depends on how much money you have to throw at a tv. But the Sony Bravia lcd's are very good. And im not a sony person!!!

[Smitty]

that looks good Mick.

Any of the quality brands ( Samsung, Panasonic, Sony) are all good mate. Its about the best deal you can swing, and wether an LCD or Plasma is best for what you want.

If the kids play a lot of PS2/3 or Xbox stuff, then an LCD is probably a better bet. Just make sure you get a full HD jobbie, 1920 x 1080p, if you get a tele that's bigger than 40"....

I am with Gos
although of late we tend to be buying Panasonic...LCDs DVD players/recorders or Digital tuners/recorders
prices have been nice (one plus) but the use of only ONE remote...to control a TV + DVD player/recorder
is very bonus too. The other thing we liked is that Panasonic have a sort of ' plug and play' setup which integrates
all the bits..too easy

[Ratmick]

Sony Bravia LCD all the way!!!!
I would not go a plasma!! Outdated now. Minimum 200hz refresh rate and a 1080p HD with a built in fish (Tuner)!!!!
Well, depends on how much money you have to throw at a tv. But the Sony Bravia lcd's are very good. And im not a sony person!!!

Yes, I don't have an unlimited budget alas, and it's not like I watch it much anyway

I will have a look at them as well, I did like the look of the Panasonic for the bonus offer though .

Mick

[Rossi]

Mick,
have a look at JB HiFi .... HiSense 55" LCD, 3 yrs replacement warranty .....bit of haggling just under $2800

[hoffy]

TeleFunken from ALDI all the way !!

[ijuschill]

If your room is well lit, go for the LCD. Any of the major brands will do, plus they all have bonus offers on at the moment

Panasonic have a free HD gift (Camera, Surround sound package or HD dvd recorder)
Sony have the free PS3
Samsung have a bonus 26" LCD TV
Sharp have a Xbox Elite + 4 games

Jb HiFi a huge range of TV's, but best is go check them out see what the difference is between LCD & Plasma, also take a movie with you to put on to see what regular dvd's will look like thru it, because all they show is high def picture which looks great then you get it home and it looks shit then you will be disappointed. Also ask them to put free to air tv on also.

Also check out here lots of useful info http://www.dtvforum.info/index.php?showforum=6

Good luck

[Ratmick]

If your room is well lit, go for the LCD. Any of the major brands will do, plus they all have bonus offers on at the moment

Panasonic have a free HD gift (Camera, Surround sound package or HD dvd recorder)
Sony have the free PS3
Samsung have a bonus 26" LCD TV
Sharp have a Xbox Elite + 4 games

Jb HiFi a huge range of TV's, but best is go check them out see what the difference is between LCD & Plasma, also take a movie with you to put on to see what regular dvd's will look like thru it, because all they show is high def picture which looks great then you get it home and it looks shit then you will be disappointed. Also ask them to put free to air tv on also.

Also check out here lots of useful info http://www.dtvforum.info/index.php?showforum=6

Good luck

Thanks. The Panasonic deal only seems to apply to their Plasma range by the way .

thks, Mick

[ijuschill]

Oh yeah didn't see that oh well.
Just make sure you bargain with them, don't go on weekends they are to busy for you to deal with to get a good price, go during the week if you can and around the end of the month if you can wait that long, because if they haven't made their quota for the mth they will do a good deal to get their end of mth bonus

[Whickle]

Under 1800-2k, I suggest the Pannasonic LCD or Sony Bravia.
1500-1800, Pannasonic, LG or other known brands. But try to get the LCD with the higher refresh rate.

Check out WOW sight and sound or Clive Anthonys. They are the best on price at the moment!

Or, try using this site: http://www.Shopbot.com.au

Use the search feature if you know the model # or want to search for a particular item.

WOW Sight and sound: WOW TV Selection (3 pages)

Not sure where your from, but a lot of IT wholesale places also sell tv's as cheap if not cheaper than the big shops.

[MadKaw]

Big W have or had an AWA 42 inch LCD 1920 1080 for $998. I was in there the other week looking at it and the pic looked pretty good.
Me, I bought a Sharp 42 inch LCD a few weeks earlier, I picked it up it cheap ( for this TV anyway - $1600 usually $2200) as I bought other stuff. Fantastic pic, one of the best I've seen, but shit sound without the surround system. (I would probly have bought the AWA if I saw it earlier.. )

[Jaykay]

Personaly I would recommend going with a well known brand if finances permit. They tend to have much better after sales service if something goes wrong. A lot of the cheap brands can be cnts to deal with.

Plasma or LCD... Generally a personal prefference. The refresh rate on the Plasma's are still quicker than LCD's. This is what causes the lag when watching sports etc... In saying that Plasma's get freekin warm and burn a lot of electricity... Also as stated before if the kids play a lot of games on the telly maybe look at the LCD's... If you leave an image on a Plasma for too long (DVD title screen etc) it can burn in a lot quicker than on an LCD... Although I have fallen asleep and left title screens on mine many a time and it's still the goods....

But yeah there are heaps of electronic websites that will go into all the tech about that stuff... Most brands and their new ranges are giving comparable pictures so just go with the best deal you can get.. Make sure it is full HD tho....

Oh and don't let them talk you into a stupidly expencive HDMI cable... With the current technology they all do the same thing. Honest... I work for a place that makes and sell's them to HN etc... If you pay over $80-$100 you wasting money....

[ijuschill]

For cheap excellent quality HDMI Cables go to this website http://www.ezyhd.com.au/, next day delivery, great customer service

I have used them a couple of times they are great. They are just as good as Monster cables and about 1/8 of the price too.