Hi, I'm after a new HDTV of around 37 inches. I live in UK and have £600-£700 to spend.
 
I've looked at the Sony KDL37W5500U, which looks to be a good solid all rounder.
 
I'd be interested in others posting there choices and reasons why. Thx Marty

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You want Samsung mate, Samsung, never forget the name, no better TV makers out there.


So much in fact that I don't think I have seen an electronics program or games expo in recent years that wasnt using mostly Samsungs


You also want LCD, Plasma is quickly becoming dead tech.

I recommend this, it is well under budget at around £540, 40 inch, full 1080p, I have the same TV downstairs, and a 22inch version in my bedroom, trust me you cannot find higher quality TV make than Samsung LCD, Sony can rival it at best, certainly not surpass it.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Samsung-LE40B550A5-Widescreen-Crystal-Freeview/dp/B001UE8LW4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1255545159&sr=8-1

Here it is set up in my living room with my PS3, to give you a better size comparison on how it will look I guess:

http://twitpic.com/g8wnp

Hope this helps.

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Samsung is Sony's whiny little brother... cant go wrong with Sony baby.  And as for plasma being dying tech.. surely you jest.  Nothing rivals the color palate or black levels that can be achieved with a plasma.  LCD is getting better and better.. but plasma remains the benchmark for picture quality. 

As for a 37" TV.. you do not necessarily need a 1080p set.. sure it would be nice but anything below a 46" set can get away with 720p and still retain picture quality at normal viewing distances.  If you are going to be sitting 3 feet away.. then sure 1080p will help.  The Sony Bravia line is an excellent line... especially with their XBR sets.. but they can be a bit pricy.  Samsung is indeed a quality brand, and at the price range you desire, it can be a more than acceptable tv set. 

All work and no play.. makes odion go something something

Uh smokey, to my knowledge Samsung makes Sony panels
That's not to say Sony isn't good. In fact they are pretty nice depending on the model.


At this size, line, and price range though I would probably go with the Samsung. I was attempting to find a mid  to high end 32" T.V. to use as my monitor/tv (which is very hard to find at that size.) and was eyeing a samsung. There was an LED one but that was just released and pretty expensive lol.


If we were talking bigger I would go with the Samsungs or the Panasonic Vieras (their bottom end ones aren't the best though). LG isn't always bad either. Speaking of Plasma, their plasmas and Samsungs are rated some of the best T.V.s out there, plus now a lot of engineers who worked on the Pioneer Kuro now work for Panasonic. So perhaps overseas they aren't as popular, but over here they still sell well, are excellent, and now are getting pretty inexpensive as well. Samsung's LED's look pretty sweet though. And given that OLED's are having issues with longevity, Plasma and LED's will probably be still relevant for quite some time.

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I also think it is samsung (maybe sony) that makes the panels for Vizio of all brands. Go figure.

Samsung is what I use. 42" plasma but I am getting an LCD soon enough. Plasma shows reflection in a bright room. The LCD I am getting is actually a Vizio 47" xvt which uses a samsung panel. I wanted to get the big 55" xvt which uses a sony panel but it is just to expensive ($1500) where as this 47 is just under $900.

I used to be a toshiba person but after having bought the samsung I swear by them (or brands that use their panels).

snoop_dizzle


Uh smokey, to my knowledge Samsung makes Sony panels
That's not to say Sony isn't good. In fact they are pretty nice depending on the model.


At this size, line, and price range though I would probably go with the Samsung. I was attempting to find a mid  to high end 32" T.V. to use as my monitor/tv (which is very hard to find at that size.) and was eyeing a samsung. There was an LED one but that was just released and pretty expensive lol.


If we were talking bigger I would go with the Samsungs or the Panasonic Vieras (their bottom end ones aren't the best though). LG isn't always bad either. Speaking of Plasma, their plasmas and Samsungs are rated some of the best T.V.s out there, plus now a lot of engineers who worked on the Pioneer Kuro now work for Panasonic. So perhaps overseas they aren't as popular, but over here they still sell well, are excellent, and now are getting pretty inexpensive as well. Samsung's LED's look pretty sweet though. And given that OLED's are having issues with longevity, Plasma and LED's will probably be still relevant for quite some time.

Dammit.. you are correct... but it could be the tinted glasses.. but viewing an XBR in person and seeing the competition brands... it was no contest.  Although the manufacturer could be one.. the specs of the consoles can be different.. but I wouldnt think samsung to make an inferior model to be honest.  Its a funny thing what brand recognition does.

As for plasmas... either pioneer or panasonic is the way to go. 

All work and no play.. makes odion go something something

AliTheBrit


You want Samsung mate, Samsung, never forget the name, no better TV makers out there.


So much in fact that I don't think I have seen an electronics program or games expo in recent years that wasnt using mostly Samsungs


You also want LCD, Plasma is quickly becoming dead tech.

I recommend this, it is well under budget at around £540, 40 inch, full 1080p, I have the same TV downstairs, and a 22inch version in my bedroom, trust me you cannot find higher quality TV make than Samsung LCD, Sony can rival it at best, certainly not surpass it.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Samsung-LE40B550A5-Widescreen-Crystal-Freeview/dp/B001UE8LW4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1255545159&sr=8-1

Here it is set up in my living room with my PS3, to give you a better size comparison on how it will look I guess:

http://twitpic.com/g8wnp

Hope this helps.

sont is god compared to samsung, i had a samsung tv, next day replaced it with a sony, the colours on the sony are so much more pronounced

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get a plasma

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9236338&st=panasonic+plasma&type=product&id=1218064404632

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get a plasma

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9236338&st=panasonic+plasma&type=product&id=1218064404632

Plasma is a great screen. Very rich color and especially good in dark environments. Problem is with the glass. It isnt good for a normal room or one with windows as it shows glare/reflection.

LCD is best for a bright environment and plasma is great for dark. When I get my new LCD, my plasma is getting moved to the game/play room.

SmokeyMcBear


Samsung is Sony's whiny little brother... cant go wrong with Sony baby.  And as for plasma being dying tech.. surely you jest.  Nothing rivals the color palate or black levels that can be achieved with a plasma.  LCD is getting better and better.. but plasma remains the benchmark for picture quality. 

As for a 37" TV.. you do not necessarily need a 1080p set.. sure it would be nice but anything below a 46" set can get away with 720p and still retain picture quality at normal viewing distances.  If you are going to be sitting 3 feet away.. then sure 1080p will help.  The Sony Bravia line is an excellent line... especially with their XBR sets.. but they can be a bit pricy.  Samsung is indeed a quality brand, and at the price range you desire, it can be a more than acceptable tv set. 

I would agree that plasma's a dying tech...but definitely not because of inferiority.  Plasma's going out of style, but that has nothing to do with someone's purchase now.

I personally prefer LCDs though because of heat issues I have in my room.

Julius J. Carry III, R.I.P.

 

If your deadset on getting a 37" tv, then get a 720p hdtv.

Anything smaller then a 50" 47" range and your wasting money since you wont be able to see any difference...it's a marketing gimmic.

Also I agree I would personally get a plasma, saying that plasma is a dead technology is further from the truth. Plasma still holds some of the best color,black levels, as well as some of the best brands on the market now. The only reason some people say it's a dead technology is cause all of the little kids at BB that have no idea what they are selling and think that LCD is the way to go.


I also dont agree on the Bravia line, Sony tv's are hit and miss. I've heard lots of complaints about the XBR series and the problems they have had not to mention that lots of them have color issues....read -red push.

If you have the cash get a kuro elite....the best damn tv out on the market, they stopped making them but if you can get your hands on one you wont need a tv till OLED is able to make bigger tv's then 12" .

The second I would say is Panasonic, the lower tier models are 110% better then the best LCD's out there that includes LED's. The g10 is decent for a beginner tv and has THX mode but have heard some problems with a green push on that model but the picture is still unbelievable .

Then I would pick Samsung but an LCD tv from them, their plasma line has a lot to be desired and to me wasnt as good looking as the panny's.

Other then that you can pick what you want becasue most of the lower brands arent that good...see vizio,sharp,olevia,LG,ect....

Good luck ohh and one more thing, when you go look at tv's, dont take to much into what the saleperson is saying he has no idea most of the time of what he is talking about....and dont put to much stock into how the tv looks in the storeroom as well....and the worst thing....never never listen when people start talking about "DYNAMIC contrast ratio," It's a marketing phrase.

Good luck.

SmokeyMcBear

snoop_dizzle


Uh smokey, to my knowledge Samsung makes Sony panels
That's not to say Sony isn't good. In fact they are pretty nice depending on the model.


At this size, line, and price range though I would probably go with the Samsung. I was attempting to find a mid  to high end 32" T.V. to use as my monitor/tv (which is very hard to find at that size.) and was eyeing a samsung. There was an LED one but that was just released and pretty expensive lol.


If we were talking bigger I would go with the Samsungs or the Panasonic Vieras (their bottom end ones aren't the best though). LG isn't always bad either. Speaking of Plasma, their plasmas and Samsungs are rated some of the best T.V.s out there, plus now a lot of engineers who worked on the Pioneer Kuro now work for Panasonic. So perhaps overseas they aren't as popular, but over here they still sell well, are excellent, and now are getting pretty inexpensive as well. Samsung's LED's look pretty sweet though. And given that OLED's are having issues with longevity, Plasma and LED's will probably be still relevant for quite some time.

Dammit.. you are correct... but it could be the tinted glasses.. but viewing an XBR in person and seeing the competition brands... it was no contest.  Although the manufacturer could be one.. the specs of the consoles can be different.. but I wouldnt think samsung to make an inferior model to be honest.  Its a funny thing what brand recognition does.

As for plasmas... either pioneer or panasonic is the way to go. 

Guys I should of stated, I don't want a plasma, and TV must be full 1080p ready.

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snoop_dizzle


Uh smokey, to my knowledge Samsung makes Sony panels
That's not to say Sony isn't good. In fact they are pretty nice depending on the model.


At this size, line, and price range though I would probably go with the Samsung. I was attempting to find a mid  to high end 32" T.V. to use as my monitor/tv (which is very hard to find at that size.) and was eyeing a samsung. There was an LED one but that was just released and pretty expensive lol.


If we were talking bigger I would go with the Samsungs or the Panasonic Vieras (their bottom end ones aren't the best though). LG isn't always bad either. Speaking of Plasma, their plasmas and Samsungs are rated some of the best T.V.s out there, plus now a lot of engineers who worked on the Pioneer Kuro now work for Panasonic. So perhaps overseas they aren't as popular, but over here they still sell well, are excellent, and now are getting pretty inexpensive as well. Samsung's LED's look pretty sweet though. And given that OLED's are having issues with longevity, Plasma and LED's will probably be still relevant for quite some time.

I know Samsung and Sony share a HDTV production plant, and therefore use the same TV panels in some HDTV's.

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then as mentioned get a samsung 1080p lcd, samsung are the leaders of lcd panels, they make panels for LG, SONY and a few more too. I have a 32" lcd but my next will be a samsung LED, plasma's are gay, despite the fact the they don't have AS MUCH burn in, it's still a risk, i can use my lcd as a monitor too if i wanted, something that is not advisable with plasma, and the price/quality ratio of lcd's is better than plasma's by far, even if plasma's are slightly better, they are way overpriced

To re-iterate, samsung LCD all the way

Round the hangin' tree
Swaying in the breeze
In the summer sun
As we two are one
Swaying

dchalfont


then as mentioned get a samsung 1080p lcd, samsung are the leaders of lcd panels, they make panels for LG, SONY and a few more too. I have a 32" lcd but my next will be a samsung LED, plasma's are gay, despite the fact the they don't have AS MUCH burn in, it's still a risk, i can use my lcd as a monitor too if i wanted, something that is not advisable with plasma, and the price/quality ratio of lcd's is better than plasma's by far, even if plasma's are slightly better, they are way overpriced

To re-iterate, samsung LCD all the way

In Australia they are still super expensive? Plasmas are getting pretty reasonable now over here, unless you mean the higher end models, but even many of those have come down in price partly due to the recession and trying to sell T.V's . But then again importing that stuff in Australia can be expensive from what I hear. The one's that are expensive over here seem to be the new LEDs from Samsung which do look sweet though.




Anyway, at this size a LCD would be better and I would go with the Samsung. It's when you go bigger when the debate occurs.

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SmokeyMcBear

snoop_dizzle


Uh smokey, to my knowledge Samsung makes Sony panels
That's not to say Sony isn't good. In fact they are pretty nice depending on the model.


At this size, line, and price range though I would probably go with the Samsung. I was attempting to find a mid  to high end 32" T.V. to use as my monitor/tv (which is very hard to find at that size.) and was eyeing a samsung. There was an LED one but that was just released and pretty expensive lol.


If we were talking bigger I would go with the Samsungs or the Panasonic Vieras (their bottom end ones aren't the best though). LG isn't always bad either. Speaking of Plasma, their plasmas and Samsungs are rated some of the best T.V.s out there, plus now a lot of engineers who worked on the Pioneer Kuro now work for Panasonic. So perhaps overseas they aren't as popular, but over here they still sell well, are excellent, and now are getting pretty inexpensive as well. Samsung's LED's look pretty sweet though. And given that OLED's are having issues with longevity, Plasma and LED's will probably be still relevant for quite some time.

Dammit.. you are correct... but it could be the tinted glasses.. but viewing an XBR in person and seeing the competition brands... it was no contest.  Although the manufacturer could be one.. the specs of the consoles can be different.. but I wouldnt think samsung to make an inferior model to be honest.  Its a funny thing what brand recognition does.

As for plasmas... either pioneer or panasonic is the way to go. 

Sharp builds Sony's panels I'm not sure about before but this deal was kicked off late last year .
I'm pretty sure they build sammy's now too        
http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/monitors/display/20090730090909_Sharp_and_Sony_to_Jointly_Build_Industry_s_Most_Advanced_LCD_Panel_Plant.html

     edit: Sammy use to build some of the 8th generation LCD techs for Sony (joint venture) Sharp builds the 10th gen.

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Plasma IS becoming dead tech


Why? because the future of TV's is OLED, OLED is everything an LCD/Plasma is only better

OLED is more energy efficient, much better colours, much thinner, can be viewed at any angle and get the same picture quality, and OLED is basically an extention on LCD, thats why Plasma will soon drop off (when I say soon, I'm talking, 2-5 years from now) and we will be left with the cheaper LCD or the newer better OLED.

AliTheBrit


Plasma IS becoming dead tech


Why? because the future of TV's is OLED, OLED is everything an LCD/Plasma is only better

OLED is more energy efficient, much better colours, much thinner, can be viewed at any angle and get the same picture quality, and OLED is basically an extention on LCD, thats why Plasma will soon drop off (when I say soon, I'm talking, 2-5 years from now) and we will be left with the cheaper LCD or the newer better OLED.

I can agree with you about oled being the new thing...but calling plasma a dead technology is further from the truth.

You talk about Oled like they are the same things as LCD's , they are not so saying that OLED has all those things which some are true can not be said about LCD/LED.

I can take a beginner plasma tv and calibrate it to look better then a LCD/LED tv that came out today, or better yet just show a calibrated elite and it will blow all the new tv's out of the water yet I'm suppose to understand that LCD/LED are better...puhlease.

Plus plasmas dont have burn in anymore, it's called IR...if your going to bash a technology then please figure out what the real problem of it is instead of just copying what other people have said in the PAST.

Plus the fact that IR isnt that big of a deal anyways, after you break in a plasma IR is noexistent.

Oh and before you call OLED the future of tv's make sure that they can make an OLED screen BIGGER then 10" :).

OP: Like I said if your deadset on a 37" get a 720p tv, you will NOT I repeat NOT see a difference at that small of a screen to notice the difference between 720 and 1080....but if you want to waste money go ahead.

Oh and if dont care about picture I agree with the above get a CHEAPER LCD.

snoop_dizzle


In Australia they are still super expensive? Plasmas are getting pretty reasonable now over here, unless you mean the higher end models, but even many of those have come down in price partly due to the recession and trying to sell T.V's . But then again importing that stuff in Australia can be expensive from what I hear. The one's that are expensive over here seem to be the new LEDs from Samsung which do look sweet though.




Anyway, at this size a LCD would be better and I would go with the Samsung. It's when you go bigger when the debate occurs.

yeah i do mean the higher end models, there are cheap plasma's also, but like i said for the same price as a 1080p 32" lcd you get ano name brand plasma with 1023*768 res :S

I got my sanyo 32" lcd for $650 ( but like you said tv's ( actually electronics in general cost more here) so they are fairly cheap...by our standards.

The new samsung LED's are amazing, me and the mrs have picked out the one we want.....just need the moneyz, i think one of them was $3700, getting a high end lcd now, or a 55" lcd seems crazy to me, because before long LED will either replace lcd's...or just come down in price in the way the lcd's have

Round the hangin' tree
Swaying in the breeze
In the summer sun
As we two are one
Swaying

dchalfont

snoop_dizzle


In Australia they are still super expensive? Plasmas are getting pretty reasonable now over here, unless you mean the higher end models, but even many of those have come down in price partly due to the recession and trying to sell T.V's . But then again importing that stuff in Australia can be expensive from what I hear. The one's that are expensive over here seem to be the new LEDs from Samsung which do look sweet though.




Anyway, at this size a LCD would be better and I would go with the Samsung. It's when you go bigger when the debate occurs.

yeah i do mean the higher end models, there are cheap plasma's also, but like i said for the same price as a 1080p 32" lcd you get ano name brand plasma with 1023*768 res :S

I got my sanyo 32" lcd for $650 ( but like you said tv's ( actually electronics in general cost more here) so they are fairly cheap...by our standards.

The new samsung LED's are amazing, me and the mrs have picked out the one we want.....just need the moneyz, i think one of them was $3700, getting a high end lcd now, or a 55" lcd seems crazy to me, because before long LED will either replace lcd's...or just come down in price in the way the lcd's have

Wow at that price point i wouldnt even give LCD a second look. I guess its all preference.
$2500 for the best rated tv out?
Yes please
http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-TCP54V10-Viera-1080p-Plasma/dp/B002C8LX6S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1255641676&sr=8-1
 
 
On to the OP:
At that size you wouldnt even need to consider high end that much. If its gonna be your work horse tv and you want it to really last. I'd say, go with brand but under 40 i dont see many big differences most look fairly similar in image quality. My best advice is to not compare specs and brands so much go and look at them and find what your satisfied with.

P.S. Why is this in the PS3 forums?
 

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