New telly

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 30 Apr 2006, 10:47

I'm about to buy a new telly, my first in about 12 years. My head is hurting after an evening spent reading AV forums. CRT vs Plasma vs LCD. Since everyone is going flat-screen there are certainly some great bargains to be had in CRT and lots of people still reckon this had the best PQ. Plasma and LCD both have their admirers and the debate is so heated that our new schools thread pales into insignificance.

I'm leaning towards a Sony Bravia but it seems like a huge amount of money.

Opinions? Advice?

impossiblevoices · Post by **impossiblevoices** » 30 Apr 2006, 11:05

Sony Bravia is the way to go. I work with these sets and they are the market leaders. Sony have been involved with this technology for around 15 years now, which is a lot longer that many other manufacturers. They do not use third party components to produce the sets either, which people like. The screen is a Sony screen and all the electrical components inside are all Sony branded. They are produced in one factory in Japan, which helps keep costs down.

As far as LCD/Plasma, that really depends on what size of screen you are looking for. The smallest Sony Bravia plasma has a 50 inch screen. It retails for around Â£5000. If you are looking for a smaller screen (which most people are!) then LCD would be your option.

The range goes 23", 26", 32", 40" and next month Sony are releasing a 46" panel. This will be the first 46" panel in the world which is one panel and not two 23" ones stuck together!

The most popular size at the minute for us seems to be 32". There are two tv's in the range, the KDL32S2010 and the soon to be released KDL32V2010. Both are HD Ready and both feature Freeview tuners. The 32V is the better set, providing better picture quality and better sound processing, but when you are watching an HD broadcast, there is virtually no difference in picture quality between the two sets. The selling point is eally that when you are watching regular British TV, you get a better picture on the 32V.

As far as the picture quality debate between CRT and LCD/Plasma goes, the CRT sets still have the edge. But there are reasons for this. The CRT technology is as old as the transmission technology it was designed to interperet. Sony, for example, introduced their Trinitron tube in 1954. The design hardly changed at all until we stopped selling them at the start of the year. The way forward is High Definition. To recieve this you need either Sky or Telewest at the minute. The Sky HD box costs Â£299. Sony are maketing this leap forward as the biggest thing to come along in TV since the introduction of colour. Its pretty amazing when you see it in the flesh. Our HD demo's have been selling our TV's since the end of last year when we introduced the Bravia range.

Oh dear - seem to have rambled on a bit. If I can help, get back to me...

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 30 Apr 2006, 13:51

Well I nearly bought the Bravia, but I was also impressed with Comet's in-store offer on the Toshiba 37WLT66 which includes a free DVD recorder for Â£1599.

The guy in Currys reckons that I'm best hanging on for another week, as several new models are due in and he anticipates keen competition for the World Cup market.

So another week of research and agonising over whether I really need 2 HDMI inputs, is the Bravia really worth the Sony premium and after I have finally made a decision, can I afford the HDTV package?

It's not easy.

impossiblevoices · Post by **impossiblevoices** » 30 Apr 2006, 14:54

Yup - I agree with the guy in Currys about waiting a week or two until the new models hit the shops.

The World Cup is going to be a massive selling point for us - what with Sony teaming up with Sky.

gilo · Post by **gilo** » 30 Apr 2006, 19:35

impossiblevoices wrote:next month Sony are releasing a 46" panel.

What's that noise Homer Simpson makes when he sees food or beer?

I've been toying with the idea of a new big telly with Cinema stuff but then I get concerned and there are a few things that hold me back such as..Will I have to watch loads of telly to make it cost effective...do i really want to see Grant Mitchell that size...what about the noise and my poor neighbours....and do I really want it or do I just think I really want it..i.e. I'll be on to the next consumerable within the next couple of months and be no happier and further out of pocket.

promqueen · Post by **promqueen** » 02 May 2006, 19:09

As an avid telly watcher, but a skint one,too ! - I suggest that you all club together for ONE Sony Bravia and use the other thousands to go and visit some of the places / theatres / events featured on the programmes for real ... any money left over could fund wee wine and cheese nights in whosoever's house the new TV languished at the time !

Dadaist · Post by **Dadaist** » 02 May 2006, 19:40

how to build an LCD video projector for $300 ---->

http://www.elephantstaircase.com/wiki/i ... dProjector

ifstar · Post by **ifstar** » 02 May 2006, 20:29

Bob Jefferson wrote:Well I nearly bought the Bravia, but I was also impressed with Comet's in-store offer on the Toshiba 37WLT66 which includes a free DVD recorder for Â£1599.

The guy in Currys reckons that I'm best hanging on for another week, as several new models are due in and he anticipates keen competition for the World Cup market.

So another week of research and agonising over whether I really need 2 HDMI inputs, is the Bravia really worth the Sony premium and after I have finally made a decision, can I afford the HDTV package?

It's not easy.

We opted for a Sagem 45" DLP tv in December from John Lewis after much looking around. Since we weren't going to be wall mounting it then it wasn't an issue that we couldn't do that with a rear projection tv. Its a fully HD Ready set with more features and connections that you can shake a stick at! 3 scart, 2 HDMI, component, pc input, intergrated freeview.

Are you going to purchase an HD-DVD player in the next few years?, if so then get one with 2 HDMI sockets as presumably you will be looking at the getting TVDrive/Sky HD too?

Comet were just selling the Sagem 50" last week for Â£999 but it looks like they have all been sold.

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 02 May 2006, 20:39

Sounds great, but I've just done a complete U-turn and decided to buy one last CRT before I join the 21st Century. I really can't justify spending Â£1500 on a telly right now and although the LCDs and Plasmas look cool and sexy, I'm not overly impressed with the PQ. Sure, HD is great but it's not going to be widely available for a few years yet and by then technology will have moved on.

So, I think I have decided on the Toshiba 32YT56 at a fraction of the cost. It got a pretty good review here.

Of course, I may have changed my mind by tomorrow.

ifstar · Post by **ifstar** » 02 May 2006, 21:18

If you are getting it from currys then you could use one of the following discount codes.

To claim your discount, you need to enter the unique code listed below in the promotional box on the basket page and then press update. Your discount will be applied automatically.

DISCOUNT OFFER DISCOUNT CODE
Â£15 OFF ALL ORDERS OVER Â£200 CURRYS1506
Â£40 OFF ALL ORDERS OVER Â£500 CURRYS4006
Â£65 OFF ALL ORDERS OVER Â£800 CURRYS6506
Â£120 OFF ALL ORDERS OVER Â£1400 CURRYS12006

The Toshiba does look the best of the ones in that price range.

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 02 May 2006, 21:33

Thanks, but I think I may have to buy it in-store. Their website shows no stock on that model, although I was assured by a member of staff today that they have a 100 or so ready to deliver. Also, the web details seem to indicate that a stand isn't included, which I'm sure isn't the case. They will match their own web price although I will have to pay delivery.

Zargonian · Post by **Zargonian** » 05 May 2006, 14:33

I'd get a Sony for sure.

Although.....

Pioneer are good too.

But would not get a Plasma.

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 28 May 2006, 21:13

I tried to get hold of Bob earlier today for some advice on tellys. I went to Currys and they wanted Â£1299 for a 32 inch Sony Bravia with freeview, HD ready and all that sort of thing.

I had checked out what I presume is a dixons site www.web-prices.co.uk where you can get discount vouchers but it wasn't as cheap as Costco. They were already the cheapest but took another Â£50 off for the bank holiday.Making it Â£881 . I deliberated betweeen the 26 and the 32 inch but ended up going for the latter. I have it set up at home and its a brilliant picture.

Dadaist · Post by **Dadaist** » 28 May 2006, 21:36

Very interesting, Porty.

How sharp is the picture? Any fiddles plugging it in with Telewest?

I take Bob's point about one last "tube" tv but I'd love one of those babies.

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 28 May 2006, 21:45

No problem at all with plugging it in to telewest, if that's what i did? I just plugged the cable in and away it went. the picture is very sharp indeed. i watched a bit of Top Gear, which I detest but it was like they were in the room with me. Cant wait to see HD.

Dadaist · Post by **Dadaist** » 28 May 2006, 21:52

I want to be HD ready - but Bob might have a point in that technology always changes and things get cheaper.

But I'm fed up having the end bits of my picture cut off.

Mmm. Consumer electronics.

So - when you talk about the sound - were you talking about the Bravia's speakers?

ifstar · Post by **ifstar** » 28 May 2006, 23:06

Just watched the first episode of Planet Earth HD - looks absolutely amazing. Had the SD version recorded too so loaded that up and the difference is very apparent.

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 29 May 2006, 11:14

Dadaist wrote:
So - when you talk about the sound - were you talking about the Bravia's speakers?

I dont think I mentioned the sound but it does sound good.

Dadaist · Post by **Dadaist** » 29 May 2006, 12:27

Porty wrote:
Dadaist wrote:
So - when you talk about the sound - were you talking about the Bravia's speakers?
I dont think I mentioned the sound but it does sound good.

My apologies - it was when you said it was like Top Gear were in the room I thought you meant in a surround sound kind of way, not a reach-into-the-tv good picture way.

Me wanty flat telly.

Talk Porty ~ Portobello

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