I'm about to embark on a modest spending spree... and hope to re-vamp both TV and audio for my new living room. I haven't fixed a budget - but, as AV is fat from being 'my passion and my life' - I'd prefer to spend less rather than more - assuming I won't be disappointed every time I switch it on.
Right now I have:
* 28" CRT TV which I've used for 12 years - To be taken to the dump.
* ~25 year old Denon AV Amp bought second hand in 1996 for £80.
* UGLY Mission floor standing speakers - Excellent sound quality - cost £350 in 2003.
* Excellent Yamaha CD player - as new - cost £250 in 1997 - Though I gave up on CDs in 2001.
* A very, very cheap and nasty DVD player.
* Topfield PVR - broken - to be free-cycled tomorrow.
* Great home network with loads of music and film/TV rips available from a Linux server over WiFi and Ethernet.
* My mobile is Android - and I expect to stick with Android for the foreseeable future.
What I want:
* Large-ish (ideally approx 44") TV - supporting 1080p. Must be thin - anticipating mounting as if a picture on my living room wall.
* Streaming of TV - either from the AVIs on my server, or Netflix or similar.
* Freeview TV - and I may want to dabble with Freesat in future - no urgency for the latter.
* MP3s played through my stereo - ideally using an Android tablet (and TV?) to select music - which is then to be streamed from my network. As little 'computer' stuff involved as possible.
I envision replacing everything - though I hope not to need to do this all-at-once.
I'd really like to solicit your collective advice about the TV - my first purchase... I know I want:
* About 44" screen... 40" (if necessary); 42" (bit small); 46" (bit big) - larger if necessary.
* I want a THIN TV - and a small bezel. This is my main aesthetic requirement.
* Good picture quality - must do 1080p "properly".
* Should allow me to connect a laptop - VGA input an advantage (short term) but not critical.
* Want to be able to surf the web and watch media from my own network as well as youtube, BBC iplayer, 4OD, and possibly other paid streaming services such as Love-film.
A superbly thin 40" Samsung LED job from PC World @£449. [UE40ES5500 - I think]
A neo-plasma 50" thing (bought last week by friends) and recommended (though it is a bit too big and more expensive than I'd like.) @£995.
I'd love to get some wider recommendations - bearing in mind that I'd like to keep this TV for many years, I'm looking for good quality first and great value for money second.
Ideas?
Right now I have:
* 28" CRT TV which I've used for 12 years - To be taken to the dump.
* ~25 year old Denon AV Amp bought second hand in 1996 for £80.
* UGLY Mission floor standing speakers - Excellent sound quality - cost £350 in 2003.
* Excellent Yamaha CD player - as new - cost £250 in 1997 - Though I gave up on CDs in 2001.
* A very, very cheap and nasty DVD player.
* Topfield PVR - broken - to be free-cycled tomorrow.
* Great home network with loads of music and film/TV rips available from a Linux server over WiFi and Ethernet.
* My mobile is Android - and I expect to stick with Android for the foreseeable future.
What I want:
* Large-ish (ideally approx 44") TV - supporting 1080p. Must be thin - anticipating mounting as if a picture on my living room wall.
* Streaming of TV - either from the AVIs on my server, or Netflix or similar.
* Freeview TV - and I may want to dabble with Freesat in future - no urgency for the latter.
* MP3s played through my stereo - ideally using an Android tablet (and TV?) to select music - which is then to be streamed from my network. As little 'computer' stuff involved as possible.
I envision replacing everything - though I hope not to need to do this all-at-once.
I'd really like to solicit your collective advice about the TV - my first purchase... I know I want:
* About 44" screen... 40" (if necessary); 42" (bit small); 46" (bit big) - larger if necessary.
* I want a THIN TV - and a small bezel. This is my main aesthetic requirement.
* Good picture quality - must do 1080p "properly".
* Should allow me to connect a laptop - VGA input an advantage (short term) but not critical.
* Want to be able to surf the web and watch media from my own network as well as youtube, BBC iplayer, 4OD, and possibly other paid streaming services such as Love-film.
A superbly thin 40" Samsung LED job from PC World @£449. [UE40ES5500 - I think]
A neo-plasma 50" thing (bought last week by friends) and recommended (though it is a bit too big and more expensive than I'd like.) @£995.
I'd love to get some wider recommendations - bearing in mind that I'd like to keep this TV for many years, I'm looking for good quality first and great value for money second.
Ideas?