Aldi 19 inch TV for €139 - is it OK for us?

Sam Russell

Aldi have a 19 ich TV next Thursday 14th July. It does not say anything about decoders or MPEG 4, Saorview, or anything really.

I doubt it is compatible, but does anyone know?

Kristopherus

Just my thoughts as well, Sam. I think it would be a very foolish move by Aldi to offer a non -compatible tv at this stage, when they already know that it is frowned on by almost everyone at this stage:(. Noticed that its only HD ready, not full HD. Though it does say its DVB-T.:) So, maybe, just maybe..............

Sam Russell

What makes me think it is MPEG 2 and not MPEG 4 is the digital tick on the logos. That is a UK logo for Freeview, not FreeviewHD. The HD Ready is OK because it is only a little screen, so it will not matter much. The absence of MPEG 4 will of course. It also mentions Teletext 'as broadcast' which would mean no MHEG5.

All this points to a dud. I wouls say AVOID. Check out Power City and others. They have approved and non-approved products in this price range.

tommy89

I was thinking about getting this for playing ps3 in a smallish bedroom.. Would this be ok for that.. Don't really care about it getting saorview

Kristopherus

Should be fine.

ted1

Full Hsu on a set that size is a waste you need a bigger set for it to be noticable

Sam Russell

ted1 wrote: »

Full Hsu on a set that size is a waste you need a bigger set for it to be noticable

But Saorview or not would be noticable, regardless of screen size. It looks like a MPEG2 set to me. If they do not make claims, then I presume they cannot make those claims. If it does not say it on the tin, it is not in the tin.

professore

ted1 wrote: »

Full Hsu on a set that size is a waste you need a bigger set for it to be noticable

Correct: http://rolandlim.wordpress.com/2007/07/31/do-you-need-a-full-hd-1080p-display/

A lot of people are still not accustomed to the “large” sizes of present day flat panel LCD or plasma TV. Many people think that a 42″ plasma or LCD is a very big TV and a 50″ plasma or LCD is huge. Most people tend to sit rather far away from these “large” flat panel TV, often at least 8 to 12 feet away. However, at this distance, even if you have perfect 20/20 vision, the human eye simply cannot resolve the difference between a 720p and 1080p display.

For a 42″ display, you have to sit 5.5 feet or closer before you can see the difference in resolution between 720p and 1080p. Even with a 50″ display, you will have to sit 6.5 feet or closer before you will see any difference.

You may think 5.5 feet or 6.5 feet are far too close a distance to sit in front of a TV, but in this age of high definition TV, you really need to sit this close, or you will not be able to appreciate the full glory of high definition TV.

Of course your viewing distance could be affected by many factors including home decor and wife/husband acceptance factor. If you can sit at the recommended distances, then by all means, you should consider a Full HD display, provided you can afford the premium over a 720p display.

But if you cannot sit at the recommended viewing distances, next time you go into a audio-visual shop looking to buy a new HDTV and if the salesman is trying to push you into buying a Full HD display, then you can just tell him that you only want a 720p display and save yourself a lot of money at the same time. You will not be able to tell the difference if you are going to sit 8 to 12 feet or further away.

STB

Sam Russell wrote: »

What makes me think it is MPEG 2 and not MPEG 4 is the digital tick on the logos. That is a UK logo for Freeview, not FreeviewHD. The HD Ready is OK because it is only a little screen, so it will not matter much. The absence of MPEG 4 will of course. It also mentions Teletext 'as broadcast' which would mean no MHEG5.

All this points to a dud. I wouls say AVOID. Check out Power City and others. They have approved and non-approved products in this price range.

Absolutely Avoid. This is a step backwards for ALDI it would seem. Besides the quite obvious currency exchanges benefits for them (they are selling this in the UK, this week for £99 - thats €110!) its a Freeview profile TV which leads me to believe its an MPEG2 DVB-T tuner. Absolutely USELESS for Ireland. Analogue will be switched off VERY soon and these guys are selling TVs with the wrong integrated digital tuners.

And I dont see any new 19" Tevion models that have a H264 chip in them.

Lost opportunity - I just hope its not old cheap incompatible stock being dangled in front of the the unsuspecting public. Certainly seems that way.

Kristopherus

I was going to email Aldi about it but there's no email address given on their "Contact Us" web page.:(

winston_1

OK, this is really simple. Buy it, test it thoughly and if it is OK no problem. If it is MPEG 2 only take it back for a refund.

Post the results on here. If it is MPEG 2 only everyone on these forums can buy 3 and then take them back next day, buy 3 more and take them back again. Aldi may then get the message.

Sam Russell

winston_1 wrote: »

OK, this is really simple. Buy it, test it thoughly and if it is OK no problem. If it is MPEG 2 only take it back for a refund.

Post the results on here. If it is MPEG 2 only everyone on these forums can buy 3 and then take them back next day, buy 3 more and take them back again. Aldi may then get the message.

The problem with that strategy is that most of the purchases would be by people who would take them home, plug them into UPC or Sky and be quite happy, unaware that they had been sold a pup. If they want to tune in TV after ASO, they will wonder why they get no picture.

Macy0161

tommy89 wrote: »

I was thinking about getting this for playing ps3 in a smallish bedroom.. Would this be ok for that.. Don't really care about it getting saorview

I still think you'd be better off furture proofing yourself - the 19 inch saorview certified walker is the exact same price!

danjo-xx

In todays Daily Star the Saorview Approved Logo is beside it.

Kristopherus

danjo-xx wrote: »

In todays Daily Star the Saorview Approved Logo is beside it.

Same in Indo.

tommy89

Macy0161 wrote: »

I still think you'd be better off furture proofing yourself - the 19 inch saorview certified walker is the exact same price!

Ya in the end I went for the 22inch walker in power city for 40 quid extra and saorview certified so be watching champions league on rte next season in hd

number_1

Aldi have a webpage about their TVs and compatibility with Saorview - http://aldi.ie/ie/html/service/16803.htm?WT.z_src=main

theShire

danjo-xx wrote: »

In todays Daily Star the Saorview Approved Logo is beside it.

In my local Aldi today, at least 10 units left and all boxes have a "Saorview Approved" (official logo) sticker applied to them.

Would hope that Aldi have actually verified compatibility before applying these stickers or they'll be in a load of trouble.
Or shouldn't they have gone through the full approval process to be allowed use the the official logo?

The Cush

theShire wrote: »

In my local Aldi today, at least 10 units left and all boxes have a "Saorview Approved" (official logo) sticker applied to them.

Would hope that Aldi have actually verified compatibility before applying these stickers or they'll be in a load of trouble.
Or shouldn't they have gone through the full approval process to be allowed use the the official logo?

To carry the Saorview approved logo the product must go through the Teracom testing process (see attached). If a particular Saorview approved product isn't on the list it may have been approved under a different product name and just rebranded.

RTÉ has appointed Teracom AB to conduct receiver compliance testing for SAORVIEW receivers, both STBs and iDTVs. Those receivers which pass the tests thereby meeting the SAORVIEW specification will be eligible to be licensed to use the “SAORVIEW” logo, which will confirm to consumers that the receiver is SAORVIEW compliant.

Manufacturers/distributors wishing to use the SAORVIEW logo should contact Teracom (irdtest@teracom.se) to arrange testing. When a receiver passes the tests, it will then be eligible to be licensed by RTÉ to carry the SAORVIEW logo.

watty

theShire wrote: »

In my local Aldi today, at least 10 units left and all boxes have a "Saorview Approved" (official logo) sticker applied to them.

Would hope that Aldi have actually verified compatibility before applying these stickers or they'll be in a load of trouble.
Or shouldn't they have gone through the full approval process to be allowed use the the official logo?

Self verification of compatibility isn't allowed.

Saorview is a Trademark. They can be sued if the Model has not been tested by Teracom, and approved. Of course it could be a re-badge, but there still has to be official confirmation. You can't import a Vestel or something that you think is the identical OEM and decide yourself to put a Saorview sticker.

However we know the Official listings are often not up to date because and external agency to RTE maintains the website.

theShire

@the cushion & watty
Understood, was thinking they'd have to go through the approval process alright. Wonder who's TV they've rebranded

STB

theShire wrote: »

@the cushion & watty
Understood, was thinking they'd have to go through the approval process alright. Wonder who's TV they've rebranded

Most likely Vestel (branded as Walker over here).

Well at least its good news if they are carrying the Saorview logo.