[paulf]

Guys

I'm looking at replacing my current TV with a 3D ready one. I have a £1000 to spend.

I've always bought Sony in the past, but the Samsung units look impressive. It needs to be a minimum of 40inch, but prefer 46.

Does anyone have any advice, suggestions or recommendations?

Thanks in advance
Paulf

[creepy coupe]

Loewe if you don't mind running a couple of IR sensors

There has been a lot of recalls on Sony TV's recently

[BanziBarn]

Samsung seem to be making better TVs than Sony at the moment. I have 3 and have been happy with all of them.

Their Smart TVs offer some good extra functionality such as Iplayer and Music on demand...

http://www.pixmania.co.uk/uk/uk/9578...led-smart.html

[davyk31]

I bought a Samsung UE40d6530 recently, excellent set with all the functions. Smart TV, 3D, Web browser etc. Bought it in Jan sales for £650. The 46" version is probably a bit below your budget.

There are higher Samsung models but they don't add much in terms of features, mainly just how the set looks but mine looks fine to me with a very thin bezzel.

[225_AB]

Another vote for Samsung as I also have one that is excellent.
The Panasonics are also very good but more expensive.

[paulf]

Thanks guys - I notice you can get built in wifi (rather than dongles) too.... and then there are the extra glasses

I may need to look out for bundled deals....

[jonl1983]

Samsung D7000 or D8000. Best by far

[misterS3]

This will sound a bit strange coming from someone who bought 2 3D tv's back in the day for combined price of nearly £2.5k. In my defence Sony were doing a great deal (VAT refund personally!, free PS3 and games with each, glasses etc) so it worked out not too bad in the end, especially as i put it through my company.

But if you're spending your hard earned after tax, save your money. Buy £500 TV from JL and replace it in 3 years time with something else (if needed) and you'll still be quids in. Especially if you chuck the other £500 into some of the stocks that the clever guys on here have picked.

[Kevco]

I'd recommend Panasonic Plasma 3D. The GT series would be the best bang for your buck.

[creepy coupe]

Originally Posted by misterS3

This will sound a bit strange coming from someone who bought 2 3D tv's back in the day for combined price of nearly £2.5k. In my defence Sony were doing a great deal (VAT refund personally!, free PS3 and games with each, glasses etc) so it worked out not too bad in the end, especially as i put it through my company.

But if you're spending your hard earned after tax, save your money. Buy £500 TV from JL and replace it in 3 years time with something else (if needed) and you'll still be quids in. Especially if you chuck the other £500 into some of the stocks that the clever guys on here have picked.

You could give that advice about buying anything. Cars for example. Why go through life buying inferior products to save money?

[misterS3]

Originally Posted by creepy coupe

You could give that advice about buying anything. Cars for example. Why go through life buying inferior products to save money?

Because of the laws of diminishing returns. eg GTR v Veyron. Veyron is clearly better in every aspect. But for £75k the GTR does 95% of what you need it to. And on the road would be just as good. Clearly inferior product. But not necessarily in practise.

I'd say the same for PC's. Don't spend more than £400. In fact i buy the cheapest £200 of ebuyer. Got 20 or so of them in my businesses and they work fine. Just need an OS install every couple of years. But there are no mechanical parts to wear out. So they should be good until the motherboard goes.

I personally doubt many (if any) people can actually tell the difference between a £1000 tv and £500 tv in their home.

Spend the £500 on a onkyo amp and some surround speakers to go with the TV and the picture will look better. Weird but true. That's the way the mind works. Ask Heston.

Not saying the OP shouldn't spend his money on what he wants. Just giving my opinion on the obsolescence of consumer electronics.

[davyk31]

The Samsung 6530 and above have built in Wifi so no need for the dongle. Also these models have a web browser which the lower range do not, I only really discovered this by chance as kinda assumed they could all access the Net but not true.

How often you use the toys is questionable but good to have them there.

[fulcrum]

Originally Posted by misterS3

Because of the laws of diminishing returns. eg GTR v Veyron. Veyron is clearly better in every aspect. But for £75k the GTR does 95% of what you need it to. And on the road would be just as good. Clearly inferior product. But not necessarily in practise.

I'd say the same for PC's. Don't spend more than £400. In fact i buy the cheapest £200 of ebuyer. Got 20 or so of them in my businesses and they work fine. Just need an OS install every couple of years. But there are no mechanical parts to wear out. So they should be good until the motherboard goes.

I personally doubt many (if any) people can actually tell the difference between a £1000 tv and £500 tv in their home.

Spend the £500 on a onkyo amp and some surround speakers to go with the TV and the picture will look better. Weird but true. That's the way the mind works. Ask Heston.

Not saying the OP shouldn't spend his money on what he wants. Just giving my opinion on the obsolescence of consumer electronics.

So while contributing to the near £800 a year which public sector fraud (including VAT evasion) costs everyone of us you ruin your staff's eye sight!

A £200 PC will be fine for word processing and email but will include a hard drive with moving mechanical parts and fans ditto - but it will not be the most ergonomic will it?

I do agree with you that money spent on a decent separate sound system would be a better investment than a 3D TV. However, you should be looking to spend at a ratio of 1:3 amp: speakers. At least decent speakers hold their value.

Not really picking on you - just saying.

[creepy coupe]

Originally Posted by misterS3

I personally doubt many (if any) people can actually tell the difference between a £1000 tv and £500 tv in their home.

TV's are a tricky one. I paid £1200 for my Sony eighteen months ago, and it simply knocked the opposition into a hat as a package. It shared the panel with a similar Samsung at £800 but the sound from the Samsung was truly awful. But £500 sets didn't come close in the shop, let alone at home.

[225_AB]

There are significant differences in picture quality and features as well as sound (if you are not going to use an amp and external speakers) between sets. As mentioned above as well as the panel quality will also be affected by sofware. Like all things this is not purely price dependent but price is an indicator of quality to a degree. There are many good sets and it is an individual choice. Go to a showroom and watch sets which have been properly set up and are playing the same source to decide which you like. You can also search internet reviews eg amazon, what hi fi and home cinema, which magazine etc. Good luck.

[misterS3]

Originally Posted by fulcrum

So while contributing to the near £800 a year which public sector fraud (including VAT evasion) costs everyone of us you ruin your staff's eye sight!

A £200 PC will be fine for word processing and email but will include a hard drive with moving mechanical parts and fans ditto - but it will not be the most ergonomic will it?

I do agree with you that money spent on a decent separate sound system would be a better investment than a 3D TV. However, you should be looking to spend at a ratio of 1:3 amp: speakers. At least decent speakers hold their value.

Not really picking on you - just saying.

Business isn't VAT registered.
Staff don't watch the TV's (and if they are, they aren't doing their jobs)

I'm sitting using a £200 Zoomstorm PC now. I do heavy database, and processing work on it (eg music studio with soft synths). I've added a £20 graphics card to run dual monitor set in HD res. As for ergonomics it's a black box that is pretty much the same shape as most full form PC's. If you want to buy a small form factor PC there are options under £400.

I guess buying a nice looking TV is important to some people - so yeh ergonomics at a price point is important.

I'll agree on speakers.

[misterS3]

Originally Posted by creepy coupe

TV's are a tricky one. I paid £1200 for my Sony eighteen months ago, and it simply knocked the opposition into a hat as a package. It shared the panel with a similar Samsung at £800 but the sound from the Samsung was truly awful. But £500 sets didn't come close in the shop, let alone at home.

I know what you're saying I have a 903 and 803 Sony and picture was miles better than my old Tosh's. But was it £500 better than the Samsung i looked at. Nope. But the stuff thrown in free and the discount my mate and i negotiated from Sony centre meant they came in at the same price. Otherwise i wouldn't have bought it. I'd have gone for the Samsung.

What i meant was in 3 years time. A £500 tv will be miles better than £1000 TV now. So for a little sacrifice now (and if you're on Sky the signal quality is degraded anyway to make HD channels look better) you'll end up with more in the long run.

But i'll not pollute this thread any further.

Whatever you get enjoy

[davyk31]

On my Samsung the picture on say standard BBC1 is good that I rarely actually watch it on BBC HD because the difference isn't massive.

[makkan00]

Originally Posted by creepy coupe

You could give that advice about buying anything. Cars for example. Why go through life buying inferior products to save money?

+100

example:
Sony= Beamer
Panasonic = Merc
Samsung = Ford

You decide whether you are after a brand or just a box which can display frames

IMO Sony and Panasonic are best to stick with.

No disrespect to anybody here who own and use Samsung Tele.
My friend has one, and honestly I dont like the EPG font and display. It gives your Tele cheaper look, same as Hyundai interior display.

Stick to Sony and you will never regreat.

[F31-340i]

Originally Posted by misterS3

Business isn't VAT registered.
Staff don't watch the TV's (and if they are, they aren't doing their jobs)

I'm sitting using a £200 Zoomstorm PC now. I do heavy database, and processing work on it (eg music studio with soft synths). I've added a £20 graphics card to run dual monitor set in HD res. As for ergonomics it's a black box that is pretty much the same shape as most full form PC's. If you want to buy a small form factor PC there are options under £400.

I guess buying a nice looking TV is important to some people - so yeh ergonomics at a price point is important.

I'll agree on speakers.

When you say you bought it through the company does this mean you bought it vat free as a result, or claimed the vat back through your accounts 'as it was for use in conjunction with your business'?

[jonl1983]

Originally Posted by makkan00

+100

example:
Sony= Beamer
Panasonic = Merc
Samsung = Ford

You decide whether you are after a brand or just a box which can display frames

IMO Sony and Panasonic are best to stick with.

No disrespect to anybody here who own and use Samsung Tele.
My friend has one, and honestly I dont like the EPG font and display. It gives your Tele cheaper look, same as Hyundai interior display.

Stick to Sony and you will never regreat.

Sony use samsung panels mate?!

In terms of styling and features samsung smart tv's blow Sony equivalents out of the water.

[225_AB]

Originally Posted by makkan00

+100

example:
Sony= Beamer
Panasonic = Merc
Samsung = Ford

You decide whether you are after a brand or just a box which can display frames

IMO Sony and Panasonic are best to stick with.

No disrespect to anybody here who own and use Samsung Tele.
My friend has one, and honestly I dont like the EPG font and display. It gives your Tele cheaper look, same as Hyundai interior display.

Stick to Sony and you will never regreat.

Sorry mate that is complete rubbish. I could have bought any tv I wanted. I wanted a plasma and chose a 63" Samsung because it gave a great picture, great design and had all the features that I wanted. As for epg font, I have sky HD so the EPG is the same as any other set. Yes Sony made the best CRT but best plasma or LCD that is highly debatable and no one manufacturer dominates. The best plasma was made by Pioneer but they couldnt make it pay. If you want more controversy nip over to avforums.com and check out the tv forum you will end up very confused.

Remember Mercedes made the A class and Ford the GT40