Need help on which TV to buy for living room

PARV

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Hey guys I would very much appreciate any help that can be given on this topic. I need a new tv for the living room and I've narrowed it down to these 3 which I believe to be within my budget could any one help me make a choice?

1. Toshiba 48U7653DB 48 Inch Ultra HD Smart TV.Buy Toshiba 48U7653DB 48 Inch Ultra HD Smart TV at Argos.co.uk - Your Online Shop for Televisions.

2. Philips 40PUT6400 40" 4K UltraHD FreeviewHD Smart Android TV Buy Philips 40PUT6400 40" 4K UltraHD FreeviewHD Smart Android TV at Argos.co.uk - Your Online Shop for Televisions.

3. Panasonic TX-40CX400B 40Inch 4K Ultra HD FreeviewHD Smart TV Buy Panasonic TX-48CX400B 48Inch 4K Ultra HD FreeviewHD Smart TV at Argos.co.uk - Your Online Shop for Televisions.

Any help would be much appreciated. (I couldn't find any reviews on the 1st option wonder if anyone could shed any light?)
 
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PARV...All I can say is I have had three Toshiba TV's over the last 15 years and in all honesty I have had no trouble with any of them. Hope this helps somewhat, the only reason for change in models was to update.
 
What size do you actually want? 40 or 48? Thats the most important thing - for 4K/Full HD think about 2 - 2.5 times size of screen away from you.

Frankly, I'm not sure about any of them. The Panasonic is pants, being a 'Turkish TV'. I havn't seen a Tosh for some years, but they were kind of dull when they were last around. And Philips has been a bit odd for some years as well.

That Tosh is certain ringing bells in terms of price (and yes, no revieews is a bit odd). You get what you pay for, and a 48-50in 4K TV isn't normally that cheap. Your paying for the panel, and the contrast/refresh rate. The latter is really important, because its normally upscaling from HD - if its not refreshing well, you'll know about it. I'd expect an entry level Samsung 4K J6400 (so decent, but with economies of scale) to be currently £699. At £479, whats missing?

Personally, I wouldn't get a TV from a catalogue store or supermarket - to them, TV's are just something in a box, and you have zero chance of asking anyone about them. They also sell at the lowe end of the market - and cheap is not always cheap, and expensive is not always expensive. Prices are often less than keen, and a one year warrenty is a bit limited.

Go to a proper shop, having made up your mind on the correct size (do you even want/need 4K?), and then look at them. Be realistic about price. £549 or more is what I'd expect for a 40in 4K that I'd recommend as decent, and about £700 for a 48-50in. The Full HD Sony W8 50in is about £549 on the High Street - thats better value than a not very good 4K.

Panasonic cx680, the Sony x83, the Samsung J6400 and the LG 6 series are all decent, and the LG is particularly well priced. Go and have a look.
 
PARV...All I can say is I have had three Toshiba TV's over the last 15 years and in all honesty I have had no trouble with any of them. Hope this helps somewhat, the only reason for change in models was to update.

Thanks for the reply millfield, I have a 32 inch Toshiba in my bedroom that I've had for about 4 years and I have no complaints on that either to be fair!

What size do you actually want? 40 or 48? Thats the most important thing - for 4K/Full HD think about 2 - 2.5 times size of screen away from you.

Frankly, I'm not sure about any of them. The Panasonic is pants, being a 'Turkish TV'. I havn't seen a Tosh for some years, but they were kind of dull when they were last around. And Philips has been a bit odd for some years as well.

That Tosh is certain ringing bells in terms of price (and yes, no revieews is a bit odd). You get what you pay for, and a 48-50in 4K TV isn't normally that cheap. Your paying for the panel, and the contrast/refresh rate. The latter is really important, because its normally upscaling from HD - if its not refreshing well, you'll know about it. I'd expect an entry level Samsung 4K J6400 (so decent, but with economies of scale) to be currently £699. At £479, whats missing?

Personally, I wouldn't get a TV from a catalogue store or supermarket - to them, TV's are just something in a box, and you have zero chance of asking anyone about them. They also sell at the lowe end of the market - and cheap is not always cheap, and expensive is not always expensive. Prices are often less than keen, and a one year warrenty is a bit limited.

Go to a proper shop, having made up your mind on the correct size (do you even want/need 4K?), and then look at them. Be realistic about price. £549 or more is what I'd expect for a 40in 4K that I'd recommend as decent, and about £700 for a 48-50in. The Full HD Sony W8 50in is about £549 on the High Street - thats better value than a not very good 4K.

Panasonic cx680, the Sony x83, the Samsung J6400 and the LG 6 series are all decent, and the LG is particularly well priced. Go and have a look.

Thanks for the lengthy reply old bones, as it's going to be a main room to I'd probably want a 48". I think having done some reading on 4K I'd probably opt out of that bit of technology for now and spend the money on getting a better full hd option as you've suggested.

You make a good point about the catalogue stores, I've never actually thought to go to an actual specialist store and have a look (maybe down to the convenience of just looking on the Argos site or whatever else?).

If my budget was £500 is there anything that you could recommend as a "good buy" for that price in the size I'm looking for? I will have a look at the models that you suggested first though!
 
No point in making comparisons with Toshibas of yesteryear. It's now pretty much a brand label put on low price imports sold in Argos and the like.
 
Thanks for the lengthy reply old bones, as it's going to be a main room to I'd probably want a 48". I think having done some reading on 4K I'd probably opt out of that bit of technology for now and spend the money on getting a better full hd option as you've suggested.

You make a good point about the catalogue stores, I've never actually thought to go to an actual specialist store and have a look (maybe down to the convenience of just looking on the Argos site or whatever else?).

If my budget was £500 is there anything that you could recommend as a "good buy" for that price in the size I'm looking for? I will have a look at the models that you suggested first though!

I absolutely would NOT buy anything as complicated as a television from Argos or similar. Buy from John Lewis, Richer Sounds, Sevenoaks etc, somewhere that gives a five-year guarantee and where the staff might actually know something about televisions.

Okay, 48-inch, Full HD only, £500. One obvious choice meeting all three requirements - the award-winning Samsung UE48H6400, see link below at Richer Sounds, and note that this television has a swivel stand, which is quite useful

SAMSUNG UE48H6400 48 inch 3D LED Smart TV 1080p HD Freeview HD

and one review here Samsung UE48H6400 review | What Hi-Fi? and another, slightly longer review here Samsung UE48H6400 LED TV Review

You will see that it is now £100 and £200 pounds cheaper than when it was reviewed, and the reviewers loved it even at the higher initial price!
 
Okay, 48-inch, Full HD only, £500. One obvious choice meeting all three requirements - the award-winning Samsung UE48H6400, see link below at Richer Sounds, and note that this television has a swivel stand, which is quite useful

An excellent choice, and a shame that its no longer stocked where I work (although the 40in continues). The new version of it (48J6300) is stocked, and seems fine. The panel is curved, and there is a new OS and no scart, and is currently £539.

The Sony W8 in a 50in is around £599 at the moment, and is very much at the same level as the Samsungs - classic mid range Full HD sets, with 4 HDMI's, etc. Your getting a better panel than a 2D version, and I've no problem recommending any of these three. I'd go to a proper shop (Son of SJ listed them) and look at them, and see which one you like.

No point in making comparisons with Toshibas of yesteryear. It's now pretty much a brand label put on low price imports sold in Argos and the like.

Sadly, I think your right. The small 24'' sets that you see with that name have exactly the same on/off switch as the no brand ones. Its pretty annoying how a decent brand name can get used, but thats the way it is. Argos has been known to put some very strange advice on its website/catalogue, and its selling of TV's with Freeview tuners whilst putting 'Full HD' in big letters is more than a bit dodgy.
 
Bought my Toshiba from John Lewis, take the point about the brand from yesteryear this one I have now is 18 months old, was just saying I've had no trouble with the brand. My son has a 40 inch Samsung which he is very happy with but I find the display too cartoonish for me.........just saying.
 
Thank you guys so much for the feedback, I went into a few stores yday afternoon had a look at some options and got a better feel for the sizing and what certain TVs in my price range had to offer. Last night I scouered the net for reviews on the Sony w8, and the Samsung h600 range and I ended up getting that model! Should arrive later today and I am very excited indeed!
Thank you guys for saving me from purchasing something that may have been cheap (or cheaper) but no where near the quality of the bigger brands!

Just a final question, in terms of setting up the to for optimal tv viewing and gaming (in terms of resolution, modes, brightness etc) is there anywhere on the site that I can find how to best configure my device? And it can you guys share any knowledge/tips?
 
Glad to help - any of the three TV's would have been fine, and you've got the one thats right for you, hopefully with a decent warrenty.

Just a final question, in terms of setting up the to for optimal tv viewing and gaming (in terms of resolution, modes, brightness etc) is there anywhere on the site that I can find how to best configure my device?

Follow this link! The AV Forum's Picture Perfect guide is excellent, and I'd advise downloading a recommened DVD as well, so you can get the best black levels on your new set.

Your TV wont have the greatest sound, but adding on a soundbar etc isn't that hard. Brand to Brand has many advantages, but its not essential, and again, they go in levels. £99 plus should get you about 120w, and about £200 plus should get you 320w, wirelss sub (very popular with wives, since there is less clutter), etc. Buy some decent HDMI's if you dont have any already, which means shielded ones. About a fiver or less on Amazon.

Let us know how you get on.
 

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