After I leave, we're going to be in the market for getting a new telly (we currently rent ours).

What we're looking for is a 32" LCD HD ready with Freeview built in.

It seems there are dozens to choose from, we'll need the connections on the back for the cable DigiBox and also the PS2 (? scart sockets?) I'm not too well up on this. Some have 2 scarts and some have 3?

Anyone got any recommendations? Sony is nice but a bit pricey (£700 - £800), we're looking at about £400 to £500, thats in the Hitachi / Panasonic / LG area.

We've got Virgin digital digibox and our area is not due to lose analogue till 2011

Col

As your going HD here's a few things to consider:

How many HDCP ports (2 minimum IMO)
How many HDMI ports (1 minimum IMO)
What is the native resolution? (Your wanting 1920 x 1080 if you want true 1080p HD or 1280 x 720 if you happy with 720p. Television signals are likely to only be available upto 720 but HD DVD and Blu Ray will both output 1080p)
Contrast ratio of at least 3000:1

In all honesty I would say keep renting for the moment. Theres not that much HD stuff being transmitted at the moment and I would expect the price of HDTV sets to continue dropping steadily and for £400 - £500 your going to get something that HD content looks OK on and SD content will look a bit crap.

Thanks Chergh - it is a bit of a confusing minefield, I'm not really into telly specs.

We've always had Sony since the 1970's when Trinitron came out. I see Sony do 2 32" LCD's

this one (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sony-KDL32S2530-Widescreen-Bravia-Freeview/dp/B000MCZ1BO#moreAboutThisProduct)

and

this one (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sony-Bravia-KDL32U2000-Widescreen-Freeview/dp/B000HBNI6K/ref=pd_sbs_ce_3/202-1705684-2703868)

I suppose you pays your money etc etc

Col

I wouldn't touch either to be honest. Neither seems to be HDCP enabled so you may be restricted to DVD quality with HD media.

There is only 1 HDMI port. So say you have a HD set top box and a HD DVD/blu ray device you would need to switch the cables when you wanted to switch from one to another, you may also want a games console or a PC connected as well which means more chaning. 2 HDMI ports is a minimum at least one of which should be HDCP enabled.

I would also avoid a built in freeview tuner. Freeview boxes can be bought for 20 quid so if it develops a fault of of warranty you can throw it away and just buy a new one. If the freeview tuner in your television develops a fault it's going to cost you more than 20 quid to get it repaired or to replace the television.

With a contrast ratio of 1300:1 colour isn't going to look that good.

Also make sure you go down to the local Dixons or something first and see how the picture looks on both HD and SD streams, often the HD picture can look quite good but the SD picture will look atrocious, though of course you don't want to buy from your local dixons.

Thanks for that info.

So if you get a set-top freeview box, where does that plug into?

You seem very knowlegable:) - is there a make / model you can recommend as a reasonable telly in the 500 - 600 quid range?

Col

This one (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Philips-32PF5531D-Widescreen-Ready-Freeview/dp/tech-data/B000JBXWVE/ref=de_a_smtd/202-1705684-2703868) looks ok - it's a Phillips

Col

The contrast ratio on the Phillips seems a bit poor.

Take a look at this (http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000O14EWA/kelkoocpc-lcdtvs-21/ref=nosim)

That one looks good. It seems to have all the bits and sockets and stuff.

Price around £470 is also favourable and it gets good reviews. I'll have to wander down to Currys and have a look at it in the flesh.

Thanks for that

Col

Col,
Another thing to think about is plasma. More pricey, but you get nice deep blacks (which i prefer). people say whites are a problem, but i havent seen anything (except for the ice on a hockey rink- during playoffs, it was a bit yellow)

ive seen many LCDs and my plasma blows them all away. so glad i spent the extra cash to get one

Thanks Ray. Not sure I can run to that yet. Finances a bit tight, so I need to hover around the £500 mark ($1,000).

That Samsung Chergh found I can get for £466 with free delivery on tinternet.

As long as I can get a decent pic and play PS2 'Grand Theft Auto' and it works for the normal stuff then I'll be happy.

Col

As long as I can get a decent pic and play PS2 'Grand Theft Auto' and it works for the normal stuff then I'll be happy.

Which one?

Also ive noticed that my ps2 doesnt have any justice done to it on my plasma (tiger woods golf mostly).. thinking im gonna have to upgrade to a ps3.... or i might go to the darkside and buy a xbox 360......!!! Graphics on them are amazing

Plenty of sites out there thta you can keep an eye on to watch for faling prices. i know in the us they are falling fast

Which one?

Grand Theft Auto, Vice City - really good. I also like Gran Turismo.

Col

Col,
Another thing to think about is plasma. More pricey, but you get nice deep blacks (which i prefer). people say whites are a problem, but i havent seen anything (except for the ice on a hockey rink- during playoffs, it was a bit yellow)

ive seen many LCDs and my plasma blows them all away. so glad i spent the extra cash to get one

Wouldn't argue with that and I still think a conventional tube outshines LCD

Grand Theft Auto, Vice City - really good. I also like Gran Turismo.

Col

See the preview for 4 yet? looks awesome. main character is a russian immigrant. http://grandtheftauto.yahoo.com/

Wouldn't argue with that and I still think a conventional tube outshines LCD
Totally agree

See the preview for 4 yet? looks awesome. main character is a russian immigrant. http://grandtheftauto.yahoo.com/


You need PS3 for that?

I've got GTA San Andreas also.

I'll need to recheck the finances re a plasma telly. Whatever we get though will be better than our old Sony. Maybe I can rent one.

Col

I see, while Cols at work and "Her-in-doors" is at home a 14" Black and white from Radio Rentals is fine, but now that Col is retiring its got to be a 32" HD LCD. :rolleyes: ;) :cool:

:D Brian:D :D

Black and white :

:D Brian:D :D

If you mean the Minstrels surely they're illegal now:confused:

FYI - "High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP) is a form of Digital Rights Management (DRM) developed by Intel Corporation to control digital audio and video content as it travels across Digital Visual Interface (DVI) or High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) connections."

The idea is that you will one day (not yet but likely soon) need either a DVI or HDMI port for HD (it's up to the provider). I could be wrong, but I don't think there is such a thing as an HDCP port.

I currently have a PS3 and have been using it for games and Blu-Ray movies using just component cables because my tv doesn't have an HDMI port. :( It's not a problem right now because I don't think HDCP is fully implemented yet. When it does though, it may downgrade HD content to DVD quality unless I use an HDMI port (meaning, I'll need a new tv as well).

I see, while Cols at work and "Her-in-doors" is at home a 14" Black and white from Radio Rentals is fine, but now that Col is retiring its got to be a 32" HD LCD. :rolleyes: ;) :cool:

:D Brian:D :D

Trust you to see through my plan:rolleyes:

Col

I could be wrong, but I don't think there is such a thing as an HDCP port.


An HDCP port is an HDMI port which is HDCP enabled.

An HDCP port is an HDMI port which is HDCP enabled.

i have to use components because my hdmi is apparently not hdcp compatible. spent the 30 bucks on the hdmi cable... was kinda sad. dont see a real loss in picture though

An HDCP port is an HDMI port which is HDCP enabled.

Too much information:D . . . . . overload. . . . . . confused

I've only recently discovered what Bluetooth is:rolleyes: and how to get satnav to link to the mobile.

Col

I've only recently discovered what Bluetooth is and how to get satnav to link to the mobile.

By the time any worthwhile HD material becomes available here at areasonable cost the LCD will be obsolete anyway, I shouldn't worry;)

An HDCP port is an HDMI port which is HDCP enabled.Ah, so an hdcp-enabled hdmi port. Thanks for clarifying!


i have to use components because my hdmi is apparently not hdcp compatible. spent the 30 bucks on the hdmi cable... was kinda sad. dont see a real loss in picture though
This is what angers me about this DRM crap. It's there to "protect content" - the end result is someone who can't use his electronics to the fullest in order to "protect" content (from people who always find a way around these things anyways).

By the time any worthwhile HD material becomes available here at areasonable cost the LCD will be obsolete anyway, I shouldn't worry;)
I disagree about available worthwhile HD (especially for gamers), but very true about televisions!
Laser TVs - http://www.lasertvnews.com/features.htm

The one I'm more excited about (think CRT televison but flat and lighter) - surface-conduction electron-emitter display (SED)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SED-tv

Everyone should get a HD tele and write to BBC, ITV, SKY etc and demand more HD content that way I'm more likely to get a bigger payrise and bonus. So get writing folks :p

I disagree about available worthwhile HD (especially for gamers),

Waste of technology, if you ask me:cool:
SED's looks good thus far

Trust you to see through my plan:rolleyes:

Col


:) Well been there done that, well almost. Having retired found myself watching tele in the morning room, soon switched the old 15" for a 21" LCD wide screen with Freeview, which taught me one thing, Freeview via a box (which we have on the other Tele) has some distinct advantages over built in, the ability to record without the TV on, and with 2 scart sockets the ability to record a different channel than the one being watched, I take it you are not about to upgrade your Video recorders to one with a built in digital tuner.
You will notice that I haven't got cable or Sky, don't watch enough tele to justify and go to mt daughters for the footy, they have a 36" HD Lcd instant replay box thingy etc etc.

Happy shopping

Bri :D

Definition of freeview please......

Freeview is a digital service which we can get via the normal TV arial, no satellite dish required, and unlike all other digital services is free. Obviously the number of channels is limited compared to the fee based services. As mentioned earlier a box to provide this can be got for as little as £20.

Brian

And the free Sky channels provided at the minute are about to be put on a pay per view basis. Who the hell wants to pay to watch Sky News?:rolleyes:

:) Well been there done that, well almost. Having retired found myself watching tele in the morning room, soon switched the old 15" for a 21" LCD wide screen with Freeview, which taught me one thing, Freeview via a box (which we have on the other Tele) has some distinct advantages over built in, the ability to record without the TV on, and with 2 scart sockets the ability to record a different channel than the one being watched, I take it you are not about to upgrade your Video recorders to one with a built in digital tuner.
You will notice that I haven't got cable or Sky, don't watch enough tele to justify and go to mt daughters for the footy, they have a 36" HD Lcd instant replay box thingy etc etc.

Happy shopping

Bri :D

Thanks Bri, is it possible to have a TV with Freeview built in, then also to have a Freeview digibox? I like the Samsung TV shown earlier, but it has Freeview - ok, just use the Freeview box instead?.. . . possible?

For example - I have my cable TV coming through all on channel 5 on the TV, that means the recorder is set to 5 and you can record whatever channel you have on the cable Digibox.
Can you then set up a Freeview box to show on (say) channel 6? Then you could record BBC1 or ITV on the recorder from channel 6 and watch UK Gold (a non-free channel) on channel 5. . . . .will that work?

I detect that you said you can't record built-in Freeview if the set is off? is that the case?

I don't wish to change our DVD recorder as it's only about 3 years old (a Panasonic with hard disc)

Col

In essence, the question is, how can I record BBC1 or ITV whilst watching a cable channel at the same time? we do it using analogue at the mo, but that'll be gone at some point.

The answer seems to be a Freeview set-top box?

also, can I use a Freeview set-top box on a TV with Freeview built in?

Sorry to ask so many questions, if I was 10 years old it would be simple.:rolleyes:

Col

can I use a Freeview set-top box on a TV with Freeview built in?

This seems to be the key question, and i don't have a definite answer. I don't see why not, but her-in-doors would go mad if I started fiddling about at the moment.

The reason that the tv , mine anyway, maybe some work differently but don't see how, has to be on for me to record a digital channel is that the TV's tuner is selecting the channel, then outputting to the video.

My freeview box on the other tv has 2 scarts , a must have feature if the tv is an old analogue device.

Why do you need freeview if you have cable? Except to record and watch different digital channels, but I think there is another option that gives this, I will try to remember to have a word with son in law tomorrow.

Brian

Curiosity got the better of me so went on the'phone.

With his Virgin media box he can record upto 3 channels whilst watching a 4th.

He thinks that the Sky+ box is similar.

Brian

Curiosity got the better of me so went on the'phone.

With his Virgin media box he can record upto 3 channels whilst watching a 4th.

He thinks that the Sky+ box is similar.

Brian
we have virgin, but it's not a recorder, just a digibox.

I'm off to the local business park tomorrow, I'll pop into Curry's and have a word with the children who run it and see what they think.

Col

ps - I'm only retiring from the NHS and getting the NHS pension, sadly I still need to work so maybe will get a job perhaps november time

Notes in passing: We have SONY BRAVIA. I agree with the "a bit expensive" part, but it has a GREAT look. We got the 34 inch, which by coincidence fits perfectly in our faux fireplace. Honest, less than 1/4 inch on either side and we didn't measure it ahead of time. It just fits that well.

Those who want to consider plasma screens: More modern ones might be better about this, but some plasma designs have an unfortunate tendency to "burn in" an image. My best advice is if you wanted to go plasma, at least invest in a copy of some magazine that has test comparisons. In the USA we have Consumer Reports. Don't know what our UK cousins have, but it is a great reference for comparison shopping.

As to HDMI ports, the newer SONY models have more than one. The 2006 closeout models were limited to one HDMI.

Depending on what you are using for inputs, though, don't ignore the fiber optic option, which SONY supports. You lose very little signal on that. The USA Discovery channels, particularly the Discovery HD channel, are awesome through fiber.

As to which unit to buy, this is one case where magazine shopping cannot be the end. You MUST see the TV you want side by side with its competitors, if that is possible. That is the only way that you would realize that, for instance, the low-contrast models suck for nature shows but are OK for the studio-based comedies and dramas. Not great - but OK.

Hi Col

As you are on Virgin you might like to check out this site
http://allyours.virginmedia.com/html/dtv/vplus/index.html

Brian

... but some plasma designs have an unfortunate tendency to "burn in" an image. My best advice is if you wanted to go plasma, at least invest in a copy of some magazine that has test comparisons. In the USA we have Consumer Reports. Don't know what our UK cousins have, but it is a great reference for comparison shopping.

Burns dont start till after 50000 hours or something like that, a few years ago, you definately got a burn. they are getting better and better about it. i can sometimes see "shadows" after i turn it off, but thats the same as with CRT tvs