Hd Tv

[AndyCambs]

Not sure if this is the right place, but someone might point me in the right direction.

With the possibility of the V+ Drive being released in NTL areas, I'm considering buying a new television.

I already have a 17" LCD tv upstairs. Downstairs, we have a conventional 4:3 television, which equates to a 19" visible screen with the widescreen function on NTL STB.

I don't want an enormous television in the lounge - some of the sets are more suitable for the end of a runway rather than a lounge... I think that the maximum screen size really I'm looking for is around the 27" having looked around the stores.

I'm not sure on the benefits or disadvantages of LCD over plasma (although most plasma screens are much larger).

I shall want to use the television with the V+ box, so any advice, and tips would be gratefully be received!

Thanks

[clayts]

Plasma screens tend to start at 40 inches and over, so you'll probably be wanting to go with LCD. In terms of picture quality, LCD has come on in leaps and bounds in the last year or so and are equally comparable with plasma, and in some cases a lot better.

The standard advice on buying a LCD is select a model then buy the next size up as whatever you buy is never big enough

I changed from a 28 inch widescreen CRT to a 32 inch LCD TV on Saturday and am thoroughly glad I went with the 32 inch and not the 26 inch I had planned.

Of course, a lot depends on how far you sit from the screen - even with me sitting 6 foot away, 32 inch is just the right size.

Look for models which have at least 2 HDMI sockets (most current models do) and if your wallet can stretch to it one with 1080p compatibility. However, as long as they can cope with 720p/1080i (720progressive/1080interlaced) that's fine for now and for the next few years or so (until such a time as high definition DVD becomes affordable).

Best advice is to go to the AV Forums site - there's loads of recommendations on there, with most folk giving the thumbs up to the Toshiba 32WLT66 I believe

Hope that helps in some small way

[nikbedwell]

The forums you really need for this type of question is...

http://www.avforums.com

[handyman]

hmm, I much prefer plasma as a whole over lcd. They give a much warmer picture and handle dark bits better.

However the samsung hd lcd's that I have seen are superb.

price v pic quality should see plasma winning at the moment and for size v price 42" is the best value.

Wandered by dixons (currys digital) yesterday they have 42" plasma and lcd for £999 bargain

[Nikesh]

Originally Posted by handyman

42" plasma and lcd for £999 bargain

I bought my Philips 28in CRT for that price a couple of years ago!

[daz300]

have a look a www.play.com lots of lcds and plasmas . i have all so seen the 42" in dixons wow no need to wall paper ever . well that is my reson for looking at it .

[AndyCambs]

Originally Posted by handyman

hmm, I much prefer plasma as a whole over lcd. They give a much warmer picture and handle dark bits better.

However the samsung hd lcd's that I have seen are superb.

price v pic quality should see plasma winning at the moment and for size v price 42" is the best value.

Wandered by dixons (currys digital) yesterday they have 42" plasma and lcd for £999 bargain

42" is a little large for the room - if I was offering television in a hotel or or other public place it would be fine, but for my sized room, I think that 27" or 32" at maximum is the largest required.

[HDFootyMan]

Originally Posted by AndyCambs

42" is a little large for the room - if I was offering television in a hotel or or other public place it would be fine, but for my sized room, I think that 27" or 32" at maximum is the largest required.

27" might be too small to really notice the improved picture quality of HD (unless you're sitting quite close to it).

[AndyCambs]

Originally Posted by Chris Howell

27" might be too small to really notice the improved picture quality of HD (unless you're sitting quite close to it).

So you would think 32" a better option?
42" really is too big and would fill the room!

[HDFootyMan]

Originally Posted by AndyCambs

So you would think 32" a better option?
42" really is too big and would fill the room!

It depends really how close you are gonna sit to the TV. Too close/too big a screen size, and you'll find that HD/DVD content looks great, while some standard channels look naff due to their low bitrate.

Too small/too far away, and you may end up missing out on the extra detail which a device like TV Drive can deliver to the HD ready telly which you've paid good money for.

I usually sit around 6ft away from my Toshiba WLT66 32" and I find that the TV is 'big' without overshadowing everything else in the room (approx 7ft x 10ft).

IMO, AV Forums (http://www.avforums.com/) are THE best place to go for more info. I read loads of posts over there before deciding what HD ready telly to buy and what screen size it should be.

[AndyCambs]

So you wouldn't have any preference of plasma over LCD - just the size mattering?

[Nikesh]

I would go for a 32inch LCD.

[HDFootyMan]

Originally Posted by AndyCambs

So you wouldn't have any preference of plasma over LCD - just the size mattering?

I went for LCD because its (usually) cheaper, and I've read too many horror stories about the channel DOGs (The little logo most channels have in the top corner of the screen to ID themselves) being burned into the TV image on Plasma sets. I think most of those sets have somesort of 'screensaver' built in, but still......I wouldn't wanna risk a "Sky Sports" Logo being burnt into the TV image after only a few weeks use.

Plus, I think Plasma sets use up more energy.

[DaBoz]

I went for 32WLT66, but should have ignored the wife and gone for the 37WLT66. The width would only have been an few cms wider than my old 32" CRT base unit (the speakers are under the screen no on the sides).

37" is a good compromise.

Boz

[AndyCambs]

Another interesting fact, I see that most of the televisions come with integrated Freeview tuners. Which really means I would be paying for something not needed, as I use the STB for signals.