URGENT. TV buying advice required !!!!

[dUnKle]

Im short on funds and desperate to get a new TV.

Courts have 3 YEAR 0% finance on two very nice TVs

The first the SAMSUNG SP-43j6HD which is £2299.99. Its a lovely looking TV and has some interesting features ( progressive scan etc ) it is also an LCD screen.

The second set is the TOSHIBA 40WH08B which is £1949.99. I like Toshiba TVs I still have an old pro logic 28" of theres which to this day has great picture quality. However this is 3" smaller than the samsung.

The Samsung is voted 4 stars with some questions as to its picture quality although reviews at T3 magazine say that its picture is rather good. HCC seems to rave about the picture of the Toshiba.

I will be stuk with the set for the next 3 years ( at least ) so want to make THE decision now. I currently have a 32" sony set and my main worry is this...

That I will be disapointed that the Toshiba is NOT big enough being only 8" bigger than my current set

Please help as im probably going to buy TODAY

Short of funds <img src="confused.gif" border="0"> <br />And you are looking to spend 2k on a telly <img src="eek.gif" border="0">

If you think the Tosh might be to small, have you considerd a projector for the big screen ????Thats all thats in the bottom of RPTV's.

[ 05-08-2001: Message edited by: stefinch ]</p>

[dUnKle]

I just have not got the cash to buy all in one, thats why I want a 0% finance deal

Looked at getting a projector but my room is not really that suitable for it, also if I wanted one I think I would end up paying a lot more as I would want a real good picture

[LV426]

FWIW.....

The key difference here is in the technologies employed. I had much the same questions in my mind a few years ago and ended up with a Sony LCD rear-projector which wasn't without its problems initially, but by the time they were resolved, I was more than happy with it.

I can't speak for the specific TV you mention, but, to help you make a choice, perhaps I could point out how the differing technologies compare in general terms.

LCD projectors have the following disadvantages over CRT:

1) Less able to reproduce black - tendency to be a bit grey in dark areas. Newer LCDs are better in this respect than older ones, but never(?) as good as CRT.

2) They have a lamp which will have a limited lifespan. Check the specs for quoted lamp life, and check out the cost of a spare.

3) They may have a visible pixel structure (aka chicken wire effect). You have to look at it, from a sensible distance, to see if this is visible.

4) They may have failed pixels. These show as bright pinpricks on otherwise dark areas. Pixels fail in manufacture; hardly ever in use. Make sure to check out YOUR TV before you pay for it.

5) They may suffer from dust contamination. This shows as dim diffuse coloured patches on dark areas. My Sony never had this problem in 3 years' use.

6) Usually require a cooling fan which may make a noise.

CRT projectors have the following disadvantages over LCD:

1) Convergence. The colour image is produced by three separate tubes. For the picture to look "right" the three images have to project on to the screen in exactly the same place, the same size, the same geometry. If not, you get coloured fringes around things. They drift out of adjustment in use and need occasional "tweaking". External magnetic fields (eg from speakers) can throw convergence out.

LCDs don't suffer from convergence errors (unless they were badly set up in the factory), they don't drift, and aren't affected by magnetism at all. In other words, once it's right, it will stay right. Check YOURS out before you buy it.

2) Voltage regulation: This shows itself as a picture which changes shape according to its brightness. eg: watching a letterbox movie, when the picture is bright, the black bands shrink; when its dark they expand. Another eg: watching a "new" TV channel with a logo - logo moves around as the brightness changes.

LCD's do not suffer from this.

3) Geometry - curved edges and lines that should be straight, picture slanted etc.

Again, LCDs do not normally suffer from this. Check YOURS out before you buy.

4) Refresh rate: A CRT setup always has a refresh rate - usually 50hz or 100hz, or for NTSC material, 60hz. Those of us with "fast" eyes can see 50 and 60 as visible flicker. It's most noticeable on large, bright areas.

LCDs don't have a refresh rate as such - there is no flicker.

Overall, I find an LCD-generated image much less "flawed" than a CRT-based one, and much more relaxing on the eye. But it's down to individual choice.