LCD/Plasma/CRT/DLP - questions

['Press Start']

Because I have moved my Meridian av system out of the front room, I am back to a stereo set up in a dedicated room, and wanted to make the front room look neater and not like a branch of Comet!!

The PHD8 doesn't have any speakers built in, it is purely a display, and what I had forgot is my HDMI switcher, which is also Meridian, is connected to the processor and communicates through that, so when I press TV on the remote it switches to Sky on input 1, press PS3 on the remote and it switches to the input with the PS3 attached etc. etc.
However, now I don't have the processor the switcher is manual, so I also wanted a display with plenty of inputs.

Don't get me wrong, it is the best LCD I have seen so far, but it is well behind the better plasmas.

This was the Panasonic, just a little over powering in the room....


This is the room with the Sony in it, less about the TV now...


I might just keep the Panasonic and stick it in the loft room, for the ?350 I will get for it it seems silly to let it go.

Off topic: GIzzE, where is the Sofa from? I am looking for a new sofa and that is the style I am after. Nice train set too, the little one might be getting something similar from Santa this Christmas.

[gIzzE]

It was from DFS, we bought 2 x 3, or maybe they were 4, seaters and a the armchair and it was around ?2k all in.
Plus they offer 4 years interest free with a year before you start paying, which is 5 years really.

However the guy got all confused as we said we wanted to pay over 12 months. He had to call head office to see if that was possible. haha.

We liked them as they are deep, you can slop back into them and it is like being in a load of pillows on the floor.



Oh, and buy the Brio track off ebay, we got ?600 worth for about ?80, which sort of offset the stupid amounts you pay for the engines they want etc.

[gIzzE]

Think this is the one, but the fabric has changed slightly.

http://www.dfs.co.uk/sofas/fabric-sofas/martina/

['Press Start']

Think this is the one, but the fabric has changed slightly.

http://www.dfs.co.uk/sofas/fabric-sofas/martina/

Cheers mate. We have a low backed sofa at the moment and its not good for chillin'. Yours and the one in the link look like you would struggle to get up to bed after sitting down on it. Just what we want!

Thanks for the tip about the Brio track! Its either that or the tower of doom from Early Learning centre. I am trying to figure out which one I want the most...!

Anyway, TVs. This one is lovely looking!

As much as I love the border-less design I still can't help thinking a black frame helps the picture stands out.

[koopatroopa90]

If I hadn't wanted a 3D set when I was looking (or passive 3D the second time round) I'd have bought a borderless TV, think back then it was only LG making them at reasonable prices, although the D range of Samsung models seem to have them now. The borders on my little LG 15EL9500 are pretty thin although it helps that the TV produces a proper black to give the impression the screen merges with them

[Lyris]

Gizze: if you were having usability problems, wouldn't it make more sense to get one of the new Panasonic consumer Plasmas rather than one of the Sony LCDs?

That borderless LG display looks beautiful. Shame LG are using IPS panels (poor black level).

[capcom_suicide]

I have an old couple that need a 40-42" TV. They have been scared by Comet that they will not be given any service if the TV is LCD and has any number of dead pixels. They are advised to get a 42" Plasma.

Can anyone in the UK give me a model of a TV in this size for ?400-450 that has:

- Good Speakers
- Easy to use
- 1080p
- NOT 3D
- No Extra web functions

Would be really glad of any help.

Also, in the UK is there no upper limit for Dead Pixels? I Norway we have 5 dead/stuck pixels as the limit.

[koopatroopa90]

I think it's a cluster or several dead pixels (might be 5, tbh I'm not sure).

[Lyris]

I would advise you to get a Plasma as well, but for other reasons - they are now more susceptible than LCD with regard to dead pixels. Many of the PDPs I review have dead pixels whereas I don't see it much with LCD anymore. Although, sometimes PDP pixels can "wake up".

Can anyone in the UK give me a model of a TV in this size for ?400-450 that has:

- Good Speakers
- Easy to use
- 1080p
- NOT 3D
- No Extra web functions

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Panasonic-TX-P42S30B-42-inch-Plasma-Freeview/dp/B004TFDSUQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1321400943&sr=8-1

I don't know about good speakers, that's kind of hard to find on a flat panel display now. Samsung's PDPs have punchy sound, but their smallest 1080p display is 51".

Also, in the UK is there no upper limit for Dead Pixels? I Norway we have 5 dead/stuck pixels as the limit.

Not specifically. I'm not a lawyer, however, I believe UK law states that defects have to be pointed out at the time of sale. If you weren't advertised dead pixels and you get them, you could perhaps return on those grounds. I haven't tried it. I just buy from Amazon and you can return even on a whim.

[MarioMark]

Hi

I'm thinking about buying a Samsung 22" LED TV as a monitor for my next PC build and so I can compliment it with my Xbox 360 and GameCube over component as sort of a gaming corner in my living room while the missus watches junk TV on the big telly.

Will this pass as a decent LCD for a PC monitor? Is a HDTV basically a TFT display with a tuner and speakers built in or is there more to it than that (apart from the higher resolutions above 1920x1080 that you get on a good TFT)

I know you can buy TFT Screens with HDMi inputs now but I'd rather just have a shiny new LED with all the inputs for simplicity.

I have tried my laptop on my 32" and 46" over VGA and I'm happy with the results but not tried any PC games.

[sj33]

Pretty much, in my experience a HDTV can often be better due to superior viewing angles. The trade-off being that PC monitors are often higher resolution. Make sure you can get native resolution over either HDMI or VGA, but this should be standard these days.

[smouty]

I have a 22" Samsung LCD TV - a series 5 in white. The native res is 1366x768 so not so good for a PC but fine for 360 and cube.
Great little TV.

[MarioMark]

Thanks for the replies.

I think the one I was looking at is a series 5 LED and it says 1080p HD 1920X1080 native. So would that mean I'll be able to get that resolution on the PC using the DVI connection as well?

Here's the screen http://www.hdtvreview.com/Samsung-UE22D5000-hdtv.html

I'm just planing ahead and don't want to spend all the time and money on a half decent PC rig to only be able to run it in a low resolution.

[sj33]

You should be fine. I just checked the manual, the TV seems to switch to 'PC Mode' when it detects a PC connected (which will disable unwanted processing, ensure there is no overscan etc.). There is also a 'Screen Fit' setting just in case the display overscans anyway.

http://downloadcenter.samsung.com/content/UM/201104/20110419141157058/UX5DVBEU5A-ENG.pdf

Don't be afraid of using VGA if you'd rather use the DVI port for something else, btw. I don't know what resolutions the TV supports over VGA, mind.

[capcom_suicide]

Thanks Lyris,

They bought this one, and opted to pay ?10 more at John Lewis as they then got a 5 year warrenty included.

I also did extra research and fell on the same TV!

Your help appreciated, TV is delivered on Tuesday.

I would advise you to get a Plasma as well, but for other reasons - they are now more susceptible than LCD with regard to dead pixels. Many of the PDPs I review have dead pixels whereas I don't see it much with LCD anymore. Although, sometimes PDP pixels can "wake up".

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Panasonic-TX-P42S30B-42-inch-Plasma-Freeview/dp/B004TFDSUQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1321400943&sr=8-1

I don't know about good speakers, that's kind of hard to find on a flat panel display now. Samsung's PDPs have punchy sound, but their smallest 1080p display is 51".


Not specifically. I'm not a lawyer, however, I believe UK law states that defects have to be pointed out at the time of sale. If you weren't advertised dead pixels and you get them, you could perhaps return on those grounds. I haven't tried it. I just buy from Amazon and you can return even on a whim.