Hello all.
About to make the jump from a 32in Panasonic plasma to something larger (50-55in max) and more modern, but I'm in a dilemma over how far to jump.
Viewing sources will be split between SD content (Freeview), an extensive Blu-ray/DVD collection, while my son has an Xbox. Priorities will be motion handling and screen uniformity, so I'm looking at VA panels. The idea of screen burn worries me, so I'm ruling out OLED. I don't think viewing angles will be a major factor. Above average smart functionality would be a bonus.
My issue with UHD is upscaling. While I'd be confident that at 4K BD should look stellar and DVD decent (depending on the disc), I am aware from reading these forums and elsewhere that SD content can look awful when blown up on a larger panel. Same for my library of vintage movies stored as MP4 and AVI files on disc drives (but I tend to watch those on a smaller screen anyway).
So compromises are called for. On the one hand, going for a FHD model would make sense given much of the content we watch as a family. On the other, it would seem sensible to buy something more future-proofed, not that any channels will begin broadcasting in UHD (or even decent full HD) any time soon. And of course the price differential between the two technologies will be considerable. I'm prepared for that.
Please note, I'm coming at this with only a rudimentary grasp of the subject, but from what I gather Sony is rated highly for motion handling. I have read decent things on this site about Sony WF753 and 663 FHD TVs at 50in, although I believe they are 50hz panels and I had in mind 120hz. Also elsewhere people have complained about poor smart functionality - perhaps a way around this would be a separate smart box (no experience with those).
Are high-end FHD TVs even widely available at the size I'm interested in? I couldn't see either of the above for sale at the kind of retailers I'd hope to buy from (Richer Sounds, John Lewis).
If I do splash out for UHD, having read through Dodge's VFM guide and watched some video reviews, I like the look of Sony's XH9505. I confess to being intimidated by the sheer number of settings available, but I am encouraged by owners' comments in the relevant thread. I have some concerns based on what's written there - creaking sets, sound slipping out of sync - but there seem to be fixes or workarounds.
Regarding upscaling on this particular set, is there any way to mitigate the loss of quality when it comes to SD content? I suppose it is an automatic process - it can't be 'set' to 720p, say, depending on the source. If I watched Freeview through my DVD recorder, for example, which upscales already, will a UHD TV further upscale the image?
I am by no means set on Sony or the models mentioned, so any advice/recommendations for solid all-rounders (with the emphasis on movie-watching) is much appreciated.
About to make the jump from a 32in Panasonic plasma to something larger (50-55in max) and more modern, but I'm in a dilemma over how far to jump.
Viewing sources will be split between SD content (Freeview), an extensive Blu-ray/DVD collection, while my son has an Xbox. Priorities will be motion handling and screen uniformity, so I'm looking at VA panels. The idea of screen burn worries me, so I'm ruling out OLED. I don't think viewing angles will be a major factor. Above average smart functionality would be a bonus.
My issue with UHD is upscaling. While I'd be confident that at 4K BD should look stellar and DVD decent (depending on the disc), I am aware from reading these forums and elsewhere that SD content can look awful when blown up on a larger panel. Same for my library of vintage movies stored as MP4 and AVI files on disc drives (but I tend to watch those on a smaller screen anyway).
So compromises are called for. On the one hand, going for a FHD model would make sense given much of the content we watch as a family. On the other, it would seem sensible to buy something more future-proofed, not that any channels will begin broadcasting in UHD (or even decent full HD) any time soon. And of course the price differential between the two technologies will be considerable. I'm prepared for that.
Please note, I'm coming at this with only a rudimentary grasp of the subject, but from what I gather Sony is rated highly for motion handling. I have read decent things on this site about Sony WF753 and 663 FHD TVs at 50in, although I believe they are 50hz panels and I had in mind 120hz. Also elsewhere people have complained about poor smart functionality - perhaps a way around this would be a separate smart box (no experience with those).
Are high-end FHD TVs even widely available at the size I'm interested in? I couldn't see either of the above for sale at the kind of retailers I'd hope to buy from (Richer Sounds, John Lewis).
If I do splash out for UHD, having read through Dodge's VFM guide and watched some video reviews, I like the look of Sony's XH9505. I confess to being intimidated by the sheer number of settings available, but I am encouraged by owners' comments in the relevant thread. I have some concerns based on what's written there - creaking sets, sound slipping out of sync - but there seem to be fixes or workarounds.
Regarding upscaling on this particular set, is there any way to mitigate the loss of quality when it comes to SD content? I suppose it is an automatic process - it can't be 'set' to 720p, say, depending on the source. If I watched Freeview through my DVD recorder, for example, which upscales already, will a UHD TV further upscale the image?
I am by no means set on Sony or the models mentioned, so any advice/recommendations for solid all-rounders (with the emphasis on movie-watching) is much appreciated.