Investing in a new TV to replace existing 40" Samsung.

 

Looking to go up to 50-55" in size - do I future proof and get a 4K one?

 

Can get a full HD 1080p Panasonic 55DS500B for £500 but for another £100 or so I can go for either:

 

Panasonic 55DX650B - £599

LG 55UH625V - £629

 

 

I watch HD content at the minute but not any 4K content, but seeing as I'll be keeping for a good few years it seems logical to invest now?

 

 

I got an LG 55UH650V in Nov and it's fantastic. Side by side with panasonic rivals in Curry's the LG's looked a lot better to me. It's used for just about every feature and been fantastic so far. Amazon app on the TV lets me watch The Grand Tour in 4K and it's really really really nice in 4K I don't use Netflix, but I think they provide 4K content too? Normal 1080p the TV upscales it, but I am sure all 4K TV's would do the same. 

Edited 27 March, 20179 yr by FUBAR

I got mine in Argos as I could get it delivered the same day (90 min later it turned out on a Sunday evening) and any issues it can be collected for refund or exchange as quick) There was no way I was going to fit it into the Octavia and Currys etc for my location the delivery was expensive and would take 5 working days with an all day delivery window needing a day off work and the same wait again if there was an issue...

Going by model numbers these ones are either side of the one in your post, reading it I really can't see the spec difference, might just be stands or frame? 

The one I got £699 (was on offer before Christmas when I got it a bit less) http://www.argos.co.uk/product/5313053

 

A similar one but cheaper £599 http://www.argos.co.uk/product/5328127

Edited 27 March, 20179 yr by FUBAR

Thanks @FUBAR

 

The model numbers are all over the place and there just seems many which are the same or very similar.

 

The Panasonic is this one: http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/tv-and-home-entertainment/televisions/televisions/panasonic-viera-tx-55dx650b-smart-4k-ultra-hd-55-led-tv-10144936-pdt.html?intcmp=home~panasonic-tv~price~dl-4~fourth~spring~pr~-~210317

 

The LG is this one: http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/tv-and-home-entertainment/televisions/televisions/panasonic-viera-tx-55dx650b-smart-4k-ultra-hd-55-led-tv-10144936-pdt.html?intcmp=home~panasonic-tv~price~dl-4~fourth~spring~pr~-~210317

 

 

 

Maybe 4k by itself doesn't look that different from 2k. 4k tvs might have better processors, giving more responsive netflix etc. (Or not in the case of the Sony ZD9 whose Android is a bit sluggish)

But HDR does make a difference on the right material, but there's not much HDR stuff out there yet and TVs need really good contrast or backlight control to show HDR well (and so are £2k+ currently).

HDR really feels like being there as opposed to watching TV; i'm guessing it shows the cues that our brain recognises (really bright sunlight reflections from metal edges and water ripples etc.). But as far as I know the BBC are only talking about doing it at some point in the future. "Horizon zero dawn" on the PS4 pro uses HDR which is nice, and the demos from LG, Samsung and Sony are nice, but maybe it won't be important until 2020.

2 minutes ago, Coops said:

Thanks @FUBAR

 

The model numbers are all over the place and there just seems many which are the same or very similar.

 

The Panasonic is this one: http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/tv-and-home-entertainment/televisions/televisions/panasonic-viera-tx-55dx650b-smart-4k-ultra-hd-55-led-tv-10144936-pdt.html?intcmp=home~panasonic-tv~price~dl-4~fourth~spring~pr~-~210317

 

The LG is this one: http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/tv-and-home-entertainment/televisions/televisions/panasonic-viera-tx-55dx650b-smart-4k-ultra-hd-55-led-tv-10144936-pdt.html?intcmp=home~panasonic-tv~price~dl-4~fourth~spring~pr~-~210317

 

 

 

Going by reviews for Panasonic, this model here http://www.trustedreviews.com/panasonic-tx-55dx650-review

With a low rating saying "This is an attractively priced but deeply flawed 4K TV" makes me just run for the hills and look at the next one. 

The Sony ones I was looking at the time were good value for price v spec, but had reviews of software issues requiring them to be unplugged and plugged back in for crashing occasionally, a guy in work with one of their top end ones had the same issues with his. I was and until now have been exclusively a Samsung TV person with 2X 40" main LCD TV's and a 46" LED one and no issues, but none smart. This one was a big jump up for me and the current Samsungs just were not coming close for the same price point and I made the jump. 

Just now, FUBAR said:

Going by reviews for Panasonic, this model here http://www.trustedreviews.com/panasonic-tx-55dx650-review

With a low rating saying "This is an attractively priced but deeply flawed 4K TV" makes me just run for the hills and look at the next one. 

The Sony ones I was looking at the time were good value for price v spec, but had reviews of software issues requiring them to be unplugged and plugged back in for crashing occasionally, a guy in work with one of their top end ones had the same issues with his. I was and until now have been exclusively a Samsung TV person with 2X 40" main LCD TV's and a 46" LED one and no issues, but none smart. This one was a big jump up for me and the current Samsungs just were not coming close for the same price point and I made the jump. 

 

Yeah read that review myself the other day. Did get me thinking.

 

Shame the LG only has 1 USB but I guess I could live with that.

 

 

6 minutes ago, Coops said:

 

Yeah read that review myself the other day. Did get me thinking.

 

Shame the LG only has 1 USB but I guess I could live with that.

 

 

Just re-read specs as I have 2 USB ports, that must be what you get between the models lol. I only use one tbh, as it's wall mounted I don't have ready access, so have a USB extension cable plugged into it so I can unplug a 1tb portable HDD to add stuff to it etc. The Freeview HD is really nice and I can record stuff with the hard drive plugged in etc and set series link etc. The panel has something called micro dimming that changes the contrast/back lighting on the screen independently for different areas of it so if you are watching something with a police car with it's lights flashing at say left of the screen, that part of it focuses on the strobe effect. I was watching John Wick the other week and the nightclub scene with flashing lights really really freaked me out as it basically turned the room into a strobe fest  My old Samsung 46" was top of the range in 2011 and cost a hell of a lot more and is still a fantastic picture at 1080p, but the difference is night and day. I have PS3/PS4 plugged into new one and watching things like Band of Brothers on Bluray on the new bigger one the upscaling which in the past with the old HD upscaling TV's boasted being pretty basic, is actually noticeable. The Amazon content offered in 4K is very good with more and more of their own series's appearing in it.  

Edited 27 March, 20179 yr by FUBAR

13 minutes ago, FUBAR said:

The Sony ones I was looking at the time were good value for price v spec, but had reviews of software issues requiring them to be unplugged and plugged back in for crashing occasionally, a guy in work with one of their top end ones had the same issues with his. 

I've got a pricey ZD9. The picture is amazing, but I switch it off at the plug every night so that Android wakes up non crashy the next day.

6 minutes ago, wonkyewok said:

I've got a pricey ZD9. The picture is amazing, but I switch it off at the plug every night so that Android wakes up non crashy the next day.

I was really liking the android OS or Sony's take on it with them, but the crashyness would have driven me up the walls. LG's WebOS is dead on with all I need on it and since 20th Nov the TV has not been unplugged once now that I think of it I can't recall the model of Sony I was specifically looking at, but it was 4K and FHD3D. I have no 3D on the LG, but as it's not 4K and I'd have to wear glasses I console myself with the fact I can't miss what i've never had. :( 

Generic review sites (trustedreviews reevoo amazon etc) are not good enough for hi-end electronics.

 

Loads of average punters just chuck in reviews as 10 out of 10 across the board because they don't know any better.

 

I recently was bought a top-brand tablet based on just that type of review and honestly it's rubbish, a hopeless piece of kit which is way out-performed by my 4 year old one..

 

Go to AVFORUMS.com for expert advice on the exact model TV you are thinking of buying ( and set up data for when you get it home from the shop and find the picture looks so different in your living room)

 

 

1 hour ago, wonkyewok said:

Maybe 4k by itself doesn't look that different from 2k.

 

Did I miss 2k?

 

I thought we went straight from 1080 to 4k (which has 2160 lines as it happens so double the amount)

 

 

Edited 27 March, 20179 yr by camelspyyder

18 minutes ago, camelspyyder said:

 

Did I miss 2k?

 

I thought we went straight from 1080 to 4k (which has 2160 lines as it happens so double the amount)

 

 

I used "2k" to mean 1920x1080 as it's close to the horizontal resolution, and "4k" for 3840x2160, but yeah I don't know if they're the right names. Resolutions up to and including 1920x1080 have previously been named by vertical resolution and the scan type (interlaced or progressive), e.g. 576i, 720p, 1080p etc.

Thinking about it now, I think the LG won't fit on the TV cabinet as the feet / supports are wider out than the Panasonic.

 

 

@FUBAR How much 4K / HD / SD content do you watch?

 

I'm concerned that the SD will look worse on a 4K set? I do watch a reasonable amount of HD which I guess will look the same on a 4K.

 

Should I actually consider a standard Full HD tv instead, or should I future proof now?

16 minutes ago, Coops said:

@FUBAR How much 4K / HD / SD content do you watch?

 

I'm concerned that the SD will look worse on a 4K set? I do watch a reasonable amount of HD which I guess will look the same on a 4K.

 

Should I actually consider a standard Full HD tv instead, or should I future proof now?

A bit of everything, mainly 1080p and 720p HAD content, 4K where I can find it and SD also like currently working my way through MASH again, am on season 3 and it's sub SD tbh lol 

 

HD stuff wise it should look a bit better due to upscaling. SD seems well catered for, it isn't a bunch of big pixels or anything like that, it seems to smooth it out well. 

Thanks, that's really helpful.

 

I think I'm going to detune to 49" rather than 55", it's a little bit too big. That means I get up the spec slightly.

 

 

11 hours ago, Coops said:

@FUBAR How much 4K / HD / SD content do you watch?

 

I'm concerned that the SD will look worse on a 4K set? I do watch a reasonable amount of HD which I guess will look the same on a 4K.

 

Should I actually consider a standard Full HD tv instead, or should I future proof now?

 

SD doesn't look all that great on a 4k. DVDs start to look a bit shabby as well and that's on my 43" LG.

 

HD looks fine and blue rays look very good.

 

I think 4k now is necessary really, and almost unavoidable. But get one with HDR that's more important for now.

4k content is available now on Amazon (with the Fire TV not the Fire Stick) and You Tube. BBC iPlayer has some experimental 4k stuff so it won't be long there.

 

On a 43" set it's not easy to tell the difference between 4k and HD. On a 50+ it should be more obvious.

 

I got an LG becasue I liked the on screen OS (they bought it off HP) and I'm happy with it. Mine isn't HDR so I'll probably change it in a  few years. You should also look carefully at the number of HDMI sockets (2 isn't enough) and data connectivity. Some charge you extra for a wifi dongle and some have it built in. I prefer to use a Cat5 to a powerline circuit.

Thanks @Aspman

 

Most of the large TVs are 4K ones, not a great deal which are just Full HD so I'm probably going to end up getting one. Leaning towards LG ones at the minute

I tend to agree with the above regarding 4k content. I'm still using a Panasonic Plasma which isn't even full HD and noticed that a lot of terrestrial broadcasts are below this standard so you get some distorting in the darker colours. The father in law had gone Pioneer 4K and the majority of the time it shows up these poorer broadcasts more than ours. Even the HD broadcasts aren't wowing me but you do see the difference in some of the BBC Attenborough nature programs and the one or two expensive 4k discs that he has. Until more content is available at 4k I don't see the benefit unless you do a lot of gaming. By the time the content is more available the prices will have dropped too.

Even Blue Ray disks aren't 4k unless you buy special UHD disks and a 4k player.

 

The new Xbox will be a UHD player allegedly.

I'll probably need a new TV when I get my own place in the coming months. 

 

I don't currently own anything 4k capable, but will probably get 4k if I can find a decent spec Samsung on sale somewhere. 

I've now bought one now!

 

Massive thanks to @FUBAR for all his help and advice.  In the end decided on a 55" LG 55UH668V. 

 

It's a really good TV - HD content is better than my old Samsung 40", SD it no worse, AND the 4K content I've watched so far is amazing.

 

Kids have already worked out how to download Youtube App to it. I've got my USB hard drive hooked up meaning I can record extra programmes to it should there be any clashes on the YouView box. It's going to last me a few years and hopefully I'll be "future proofed" as 4K content comes out.

1 hour ago, Coops said:

I've now bought one now!

 

Massive thanks to @FUBAR for all his help and advice.  In the end decided on a 55" LG 55UH668V. 

 

It's a really good TV - HD content is better than my old Samsung 40", SD it no worse, AND the 4K content I've watched so far is amazing.

 

Kids have already worked out how to download Youtube App to it. I've got my USB hard drive hooked up meaning I can record extra programmes to it should there be any clashes on the YouView box. It's going to last me a few years and hopefully I'll be "future proofed" as 4K content comes out.

That was a cracking deal too in Currys 

Lucky fella - a 55" 4k telly. 

 

Set up assistance to optimise it can be found here:

 

https://www.avforums.com/PicturePerfect/