Recommend me a TV

Anonymous111

Hey all,

I'm not too knowledgable on TV's (I've been reading through this forum and alot of the terms etc. go right over my head) so I was hoping you could help me out. I'm thinking of treating my parents to a new TV as the ones we have at home are not good at all. I have a budget of about 400 euro, although that could possibly stretch to 500 if the deal was really amazing (although I would like to keep the price down).

I'd like a big screen (bigger than 32" if possible, would like at least 37"), with good picture and sound quality. Want it to be HD also. I really am fairly clueless when it comes to this. I've been looking at Currys, argos, pcworld etc but to be honest, I just don't know the subtleties and what distinguishes one set from another.

I'd really appreciate if perhaps you could link me some TVs that would be high quality and affordable, with all the trimmings (or as many as possible :pac:).

You guys are the experts - thanks in advance for any help/tips.

larry kehoe

probably out of your price range but if you come across a sony bravia stay away from them....

need bulb replaced after certain amount of hours (4000 i think) cost 300 euro, and the projector cyphon or prysim aswell which means it has to go back to sony at hugh cost...

great tv otherwise tho...:rolleyes:

Stinicker

I'd say you'd get a pretty decent samsung within your price range, probably a 40" for around the €450 mark.

The Cush

Have a look at the 37"+ range from Powercity - http://www.powercity.ie/?action=%3CB%3ETV+37%22+-+43%22+Screen%3C%2FB%3E&par=10-13&cat=TV+37%22+-+43%22+Screen&action=brandstory

A Saorview approved TV will futureproof your parents for the new Irish digital terrestrial tv service (via aerial) which launches next month.

They also describe some TVs as "Irish Digital TV" ready which means they're not Saorview approved but will receive the digital TV channels but may or may not work with other aspects of the new service such as digital text for example.

Be careful with stores like Currys, Argos, PC World, Harvey Norman; they may carry a lot of non compatible stock.

Anonymous111

Thanks very much, guys.

Is being Saorview approved really that much more important over Irish Digital TV? We have SKY digital anyway, so I'm not sure if it will be that important. I'm not sure we'll value digital text that much more than the old text either, although maybe I'm overlooking something here.

Here are a few I've been looking at, was wondering if you could recommend which would be the best value for money.

http://www.powercity.ie/?par=10-13-40C530&pages=1&prod=40C530&brands=SAMSUNG&image=

http://www.powercity.ie/?par=10-13-42LD45&pages=1&prod=42LD45&brands=LG&image=

http://www.powercity.ie/?par=10-13-42LE45&pages=1&prod=42LE45&brands=LG&image=


Still open to alternative suggestions and recommendations, and thanks again in advance.

desaparecidos

Currys have some good deals if there's one close by

http://www.currys.ie/Product/SAMSUNG-LE40C530-40andquot-Full-HD-LCD-TV/300745/339.0

http://www.currys.ie/Product/LG-42LE4500-Ultra-Slim-42andquot-Full-HD-LED-TV-Black/297647/339.0

The Cush

Anonymous111 wrote: »

Is being Saorview approved really that much more important over Irish Digital TV? We have SKY digital anyway, so I'm not sure if it will be that important. I'm not sure we'll value digital text that much more than the old text either, although maybe I'm overlooking something here.

If you continue to subscribe to Sky then it's not important.

RTÉ has indicated it will probably switchoff the old analogue teletext in Oct 2012 or thereabouts. Not sure how this will affect Sky and UPC subscribers as neither use MHEG-5 for digital text etc.

Anonymous111 wrote: »

Here are a few I've been looking at, was wondering if you could recommend which would be the best value for money.

http://www.powercity.ie/?par=10-13-40C530&pages=1&prod=40C530&brands=SAMSUNG&image=

http://www.powercity.ie/?par=10-13-42LD45&pages=1&prod=42LD45&brands=LG&image=

http://www.powercity.ie/?par=10-13-42LE45&pages=1&prod=42LE45&brands=LG&image=


Still open to alternative suggestions and recommendations, and thanks again in advance.

desaparecidos wrote: »

Currys have some good deals if there's one close by

My brother purchased an LG 42LD450 in Currys today for €470, he was also looking at the Samsung LE40C530 (€450).

Works OK with Saorview, Digital Text, epg looks good and according to the spec meets all the audio requirements of Saorview.

winston_1

The Cush wrote: »

RTÉ has indicated it will probably switchoff the old analogue teletext in Oct 2012 or thereabouts.

It is NOT analogue teletext. All teletext is and has always been digital.
The teletext you refer to is known as EBU teletext or world service teletext.

The latest teletext used on Saorview and Freeview is known as MHEG 5.

The Cush

winston_1 wrote: »

It is NOT analogue teletext. All teletext is and has always been digital.
The teletext you refer to is known as EBU teletext or world service teletext.

The latest teletext used on Saorview and Freeview is known as MHEG 5.

Thanks winston but I'm well aware of that, check out some my previous posts

The fact is both here on the boards and in RTÉ publications the teletext service carried on the analogue channels is regularly described as analogue teletext (or traditional analogue EBU teletext) and MHEG-5 text as digital text. It simplifies the difference for the non technically minded (how many know or care Nicam (728) stereo on the analogue channels is digital audio).

This is from the RTÉNL Saorview FAQ

7.12 Will My Teletext Continue To Work?

If you have a SAORVIEW approved receiver you will continue to receive Teletext / Aertel services. SAORVIEW approved receivers are capable of showing both traditional analogue EBU teletext and new digital teletext services.

If you have an unapproved receiver with MHEG5 middleware then it possible that you will continue to receive Teletext services. For digital teletext it does depend on the compatibility of the MHEG5 middleware with the SAORVIEW service.

For some unapproved receivers instead of just pressing the text button you may have to access the digital teletext service via another button or combinations of buttons.

If you have an unapproved receiver that does not have MHEG5 middleware then will not be able to receive digital teletext.

Broadcasters have the option of transmitting traditional teletext (EBU teletext) via the SAORVIEW service. Broadcasters also have the option of transmitting a digital teletext service. To receive digital teletext your receiver must have MHEG5 middleware.

The digital teletext service has many advantages over the traditional EBU teletext:

- More information delivered at a faster rate.
- Easy to navigate menus as well as the traditional page numbers.
- Much cleared text and pictures.
- Television service continues to be displayed on the screen at around 1/4 size.

All services (RTÉ One, RTÉ Two, TV3, TG4) are currently transmitting traditional analogue EBU teletext on SAORVIEW. RTÉ is also transmitting an enhanced version of its Aertel teletext service in digital.

No fixed date has been set by the broadcasters for switching off their traditional analogue EBU teletext services. It is likely that RTÉ and / or any other broadcaster that is transmitting a digital teletext service will discontinue transmitting their traditional analogue EBU teletext at Analogue Switch Off in October 2012 or soon afterwards.

winston_1

It is indeed sad that a reputable broadcaster is making such basic mistakes. I can onle assume their journalists are non technical and no one has checked their writings.
That said there is no need to compound these errors on this forum. We already have a "digital aerial myth" thread, perhaps we should have an "analogue teletext myth" thread as well.

Apogee

RTENL Saorview Faq wrote: »

All services (RTÉ One, RTÉ Two, TV3, TG4) are currently transmitting traditional analogue EBU teletext on SAORVIEW.

Is EBU Teletext being transmitted on RTÉ Two? Didn't seem to work on a combo box I was using a few days back.

Sam Russell

Apogee wrote: »

Is EBU Teletext being transmitted on RTÉ Two? Didn't seem to work on a combo box I was using a few days back.

No. It will display a blank page with P100 in the left hand corner.

The Cush

Apogee wrote: »

Is EBU Teletext being transmitted on RTÉ Two? Didn't seem to work on a combo box I was using a few days back.

It was carried on the Temporary RTÉ2 channel until last week.

Apogee

The Cush wrote: »

It was carried on the Temporary RTÉ2 channel until last week.

It seems unlikely the FAQ was referring to the temporary service. More than likely a mistake.

Badgermonkey

Anonymous111 wrote: »

Still open to alternative suggestions and recommendations

Amazon will deliver this to Ireland and it's a great spec for the price €270.00 approx, though only 32". You could put the saving towards a nice surround sound system if you so wished.

Choose Amazon as the seller on right hand side of page:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/LG-32LD450-32-inch-Widescreen-Freeview/dp/B003FMSIQ8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1303933971&sr=8-1

Anonymous111

Cheers guys, really appreciate the help and suggestions.

Is the difference between LCD and LED really noticable? Or is it not worth the extra money?

EDIT: Also, most of the TVs in my price range seem to be 50 or 60 ghz. I don't know what ghz is, but I know the higher it is the less blur there is (useful when gaming or watching fast-paced action). Would this be a problem or is it something that experienced "TV people" (for lack of a better word) merely nitpick on? Getting a 50ghz TV wouldn't bother me as long as it's not blurry when gaming or watching TV.

The Cush

Anonymous111 wrote: »

EDIT: Also, most of the TVs in my price range seem to be 50 or 60 ghz. I don't know what ghz is, but I know the higher it is the less blur there is (useful when gaming or watching fast-paced action). Would this be a problem or is it something that experienced "TV people" (for lack of a better word) merely nitpick on? Getting a 50ghz TV wouldn't bother me as long as it's not blurry when gaming or watching TV.

Refresh Rate in Hz (not GHz) - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Refresh_rate also google is your best friend.

Anonymous111

Sorry to bump this, but does anyone know of any stores that sell TVs in Dublin city centre? I know there's PCWorld in Jervis, but can't seem to think of other places. I'm sure there is. I'd appreciate any help.

Sam Russell

Peats on Parnell St, Philips Shop on S. Gt George St.