LCD TV Advice

[Smitty]

Hello audio and visual experts :bigwave:

Buying myself a nice 32" TV for my bedroom to hook my PS3 and occasionally my MacBook up to.

Not going for anything top of the range just yet - as I don't see the point in doing so for this screen size.

In my eyes, you can't go wrong with Samsung and this one: Samsung LE32A436T (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Samsung-LE32A436T-Widescreen-Ready-Freeview/dp/B0015CBBB4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1235299421&sr=8-1)

So two questions:

1. Any complaints over that model or know of any that are better value and of similar spec

2. For a screen size of 32" it is really not worth spending £100+ more for the 1080p version is it?

[Bazthemod]

At that screen size the difference between 720 and 1080 isn't as noticeable.

I would however suggest going for the 5 series samsung instead of the 4 as along with 1080 you will benefit from better contrast rate too.

4 series http://www.pixmania.co.uk/uk/uk/974617/art/samsung/le32a456c-le32a457-lcd-te.html
5 series http://www.pixmania.co.uk/uk/uk/986776/art/samsung/le32a556p-lcd-television.html?srcid=369&Partenaire=affiliatewindow&CodePromo=oui&srcid=369

Oh the one on Amazon is the older model by the way... the 4 series on pixmania has better spec for less.

[bazzaric]

At that screen size the difference between 720 and 1080 isn't as noticeable.

I would however suggest going for the 5 series samsung instead of the 4 as along with 1080 you will benefit from better contrast rate too.

4 series http://www.pixmania.co.uk/uk/uk/974617/art/samsung/le32a456c-le32a457-lcd-te.html
5 series http://www.pixmania.co.uk/uk/uk/986776/art/samsung/le32a556p-lcd-television.html?srcid=369&Partenaire=affiliatewindow&CodePromo=oui&srcid=369

Oh the one on Amazon is the older model by the way... the 4 series on pixmania has better spec for less.

but Pixmania are a terrible company and based in France. Not worth the difference when dealing with someone who has returns/exchanges as good as amazons.

May I once again recommend www.hotukdeals.com for checking these kind of things out (pricing). Also, the www.avforums.com are great for everything AV (surprisingly).

Give me a few minutes to check out some prices and I will do a wee list below

[Bazthemod]

Pixmania are part of a uk nation wide electrical retailer ;) im saying no more

[bazzaric]

Toshiba 37" (http://www.hotukdeals.com/item/334279/37-toshiba-37xv553db-full-hd-1080p-/): This one may be a little big for the bedroom, but really is a cracking TV.

26" LG (http://www.hotukdeals.com/item/339538/lg-26lg3000-26-inch-lcd-tv-279-29-d/): Another good telly, but might be too small for your needs?

Vistron 32" (http://www.hotukdeals.com/item/343389/vistron-db32-sd-32-hd-ready-tv-free/): Lesser known name but a 32" with samsung panel and a good company for returns/replacement

Samsung 32" LCD in White (http://www.hotukdeals.com/item/293520/samsung-le32a455c1d-32-lcd-269-99-v/): Comes in around £310 and you need someone with a Costco card, but your getting 5 year warranty and it's a no quibble replacement. I've heard stories of people going back to costco with digital cameras 3 years later and getting a new top of the range equivilent price model with no fuss.

[Gismo]

It's worth getting a 1080p telly if you're planning on getting a PS3 as well, the games and movies will appear much better :thumbs up:

[bazzaric]

Pixmania are part of a uk nation wide electrical retailer ;) im saying no more

DSGi are reportedly going bust soon, I wonder what they will try to flog off first.. im saying no more ;)

[Bazthemod]

DSGi are reportedly going bust soon, I wonder what they will try to flog off first.. im saying no more ;)

As an employee of DSGi its news to us :rolleyes:

[Smitty]

Well thank you all for your advice but I completely ignored it all :p

Went to retail park on Coventry and ended up getting a Goodmans LD3266D (http://www.comet.co.uk/shopcomet/product/484164/?cm_sp=FeatureEnd-_-Plasma_and_LCD_TVs-_-position1) - 32" LCD, 720p.

Got it for £295 (£5 off the already reduced price), plus they threw in a gold plated HDMI cable after a bit of bartering so I'm happy.

I realize there are better TV's out there but this is a temporary box until I get the funds for my own place with a bigger room etc - there is no point in forking out for a 1080p 32" just now when I would be looking at gettin a 40"+ top of the range model in a year or so.

So got the PS3 hooked up, plugged into my surround sound. And the first thing I did - take my Pepper White Cooper S for a blast round Suzuka on GT5 Prologue! :thumbs up: :D (Knox, Hamish and the rest of your racers....watch out, I'm good :p ;))

All I need now is an affordable VGA cable to connect my MacBook - any suggestions techies? :computer:

[Gismo]

Well thank you all for your advice but I completely ignored it all :p


All I need now is an affordable VGA cable to connect my MacBook - any suggestions techies? :computer:Hmm, nope :moonie: :hand:

[Craig]

used Belkin VGA cables before (with gold connectors) and never had any problems. Take it your talking analogue 15 pin D Sub?

how about THIS (http://www.ebuyer.com/product/34966) as an option? They do different sizes and MUCH cheaper than buying out of your local electrical shop.. :Whistle:

[Bazthemod]

lol contrast rate of 700:1 for same price at pixmania you could have had 8000:1 contrast rate and DNI image processing technology.

Guess as long as you are happy that's what matters; salesman must have been overjoyed :p

When you are going for the 40" take the advice hehe ;)

[Gismo]

lol contrast rate of 700:1 for same price at pixmania you could have had 8000:1 contrast rate and DNI image processing technology.

Guess as long as you are happy that's what matters; salesman must have been overjoyed :p::lol:

[Smitty]

lol contrast rate of 700:1 for same price at pixmania you could have had 8000:1 contrast rate and DNI image processing technology.



But in the grand scale of things what does that mean to someone who has been using a 23 inch (non-flat screen) CRT for the past 6 months? :p

I'm happy with my purchase, big big improvement for a quick cheap hassle free purchase! :thumbs up:


When you are going for the 40" take the advice hehe ;)

And don't worry, that will be a much more educated decision, with a much bigger budget :cool:

[Smitty]

used Belkin VGA cables before (with gold connectors) and never had any problems. Take it your talking analogue 15 pin D Sub?

how about THIS (http://www.ebuyer.com/product/34966) as an option? They do different sizes and MUCH cheaper than buying out of your local electrical shop.. :Whistle:

That'll do the trick Craig - cheers :thumbs up:

A lot cheaper than what I was expecting! :yes nod:

[Gismo]

If it's cheap you're after, eBay Linky (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/5m-VGA-15-pin-Cable-PC-to-TFT-Monitor-LCD-TV-Lead-15ft_W0QQitemZ120372476731QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Co mputing_CablesConnectors_RL?hash=item120372476731&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1683%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C 240%3A1308)

[Craig]

If it's cheap you're after, eBay Linky (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/5m-VGA-15-pin-Cable-PC-to-TFT-Monitor-LCD-TV-Lead-15ft_W0QQitemZ120372476731QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Co mputing_CablesConnectors_RL?hash=item120372476731&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1683%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C 240%3A1308)

nae gold connectors tho... :rolleyes::Whistle:

[Gismo]

nae gold connectors tho... :rolleyes::Whistle:That's a hi fi myth :hand:

[The Dogfather]

Use a dvi to hdmi lead.

[Burple]

All I need now is an affordable VGA cable to connect my MacBook - any suggestions techies? :computer:

Maybe not the answer you're looking for, but I got a DVI to HDMI cable from the local 300rpm shop for about £17.. not a huge top of the range cable, but it's about 3m in length and does the job to connect my PC to the 40" Samsung ;)

heh.. so I might have replied without reading to the end of the thread... haha sorry Paul ;)

[Smitty]

Will the DVI to HDMI give better quality?

[Bazthemod]

Yup, VGA does not support High Definition DVI does.

[bazzaric]

Yup, VGA does not support High Definition DVI does.

Do you work in PC World?? :eek:

unless your talking about HDCP?

[Bazthemod]

No i work for Currys who aren't closing either :rolleyes:

VGA will carry HD but DVI has better bandwidth and resolution support especially for use with Mac. Thats why any graphics card worth it's salt has DVI out. (Mini port incase of Mac)

I can hook up my mac to my TV via VGA or DVI -HDMI

By VGA it wont support the resolution i need for my tv and many people have this issue.

That's why we recommend DVI and are instructed to do so by Belkin cable reps.

Also gets round the issue of playing DRM protected content or in future playing retail blu-ray disks from the computer.

But who are we? :argh:

[bazzaric]

Yup, VGA does not support High Definition DVI does.


so, is the above statement true or false? :hand:

[Bazthemod]

False if you wish to be anal... but what cable would you use? :rolleyes:

[bazzaric]

I wouldn't use a cable, because it's just silly to use VGA for High Definition :D

[Bazthemod]

Thank you

[Smitty]

Am I going to notice the difference between this budget end cable - eBay Link (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/TECH-LINK-HDMI-DVI-CABLE-QED-CHORD-IXOS-BELKIN-MONSTER_W0QQitemZ170304060257QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK _Computing_CablesConnectors_RL?hash=item1703040602 57&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1683|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A13 18)

...and this top end cable - Belkin - eBay Link (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/TECH-LINK-HDMI-DVI-CABLE-QED-CHORD-IXOS-BELKIN-MONSTER_W0QQitemZ170304060257QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK _Computing_CablesConnectors_RL?hash=item1703040602 57&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1683%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C 240%3A1318")?

Or is there a middle ground for cables?? :computer: