48" TV - What to buy?

Z

z4_top_down

Member
 Cheshire
We've decided that the kids no longer need a playroom so we're turning it into a decent sized TV snug. This will require a new TV which will be wall mounted above a fire place. We're pretty much settled on 48" for the size but have no idea on brand or features (it's about 10 years since we bought a TV). Has any one got any recommendations?

Thanks

Paul
 
The gadget show did a future on tv's this week that might be of use. You'll be able to get it on the catchup service.
 
z4_top_down said:
We're pretty much settled on 48" for the size but have no idea on brand or features (it's about 10 years since we bought a TV). Has any one got any recommendations?
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Same boat here, I have it down to Samsung or Sony. Was edging towards curved, but after the gadget show I think flat, 4K ultra HD is for me.
Seems about 700 - 1,000 is about the price scale.
 
I would definitely go 4K Ultra HD. Whilst its not yet the norm, its likely it will be when there is enough bandwidth for people to broadcast it. Plus you just know they are already working on something even better so anything less will probably be incompatible with the world in a year or so time.

I wen't Sony, but only because i had receiver, 3d blu ray etc all in Sony already and i like things to match. There's better out there and there's worse.
 
Why stop at 48in? Room size? I now see my mates 42in screens and they seem very small now. I have a 50in and love it - it will be replaced when needed with a larger screen as I love the big screens. I have a Samsung, a Philips and a Sony about the house - I've chosen TVs based on the image seen whilst on display (some seem much brighter and clearer than others showing the same image). I'm no tech fiend though . . . . . hence just comment on screen size.
 
HinesBeans said:
Panasonic Viera.
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TBH I had a Panasonic Viera Smart TV abuot 2 yrs ago, and it was missing some key apps like ITV catchup service, Amazon Instant Video & others.

We replaced ours with Samsung smart TV's & we'r v happy with those. :thumbsup:
 
I would possibly go for a 55inch over a 48inch depending on room size

I have been impressed with Samsung and LG recently and currently have a samsung.

Sony and other brands seem to be falling behined compared to Samsung and LG IMO.

Also when buying i would only use Richer Sounds or John Lewis due to customer service and warranties.

Good Luck
 
stuartC said:
HinesBeans said:
Panasonic Viera.
Click to expand...

TBH I had a Panasonic Viera Smart TV abuot 2 yrs ago, and it was missing some key apps like ITV catchup service, Amazon Instant Video & others.

We replaced ours with Samsung smart TV's & we'r v happy with those. :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

Odd that...I was recommended mine because it was one of the few that did have the itv player...also has amazon and a ton of other apps/players ive never even looked at
 
Personally I wouldn't choose a TV based on the built in smart tv functions - these can so easily be added with small 'set top' boxes such as a ROKU or Apple TV, or even a NOW TV box...

Our Panasonic has iPlayer but not ITV Player or 4OD... same with the Toshiba. but the ROKU gives us everything else.

Choose on picture quality primarily.

As for size and resolution - the higher the resolution (like 4k) the bigger the set needs to be to see any benefit. On our 42" lounge TV I can tell the difference between SD and HD broadcasts.... but not on the 32" upstairs one - both are Full HD.
 
I've got a Panasonic Viera but am changing soon, most likely go Samsung. I have a 40 inch Samsung in our holiday home and am impressed with it, they seem to be the current market leader.
 
mr.tourette said:
stuartC said:
HinesBeans said:
Panasonic Viera.
Click to expand...

TBH I had a Panasonic Viera Smart TV abuot 2 yrs ago, and it was missing some key apps like ITV catchup service, Amazon Instant Video & others. We replaced ours with Samsung smart TV's & we'r v happy with those. :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

Odd that...I was recommended mine because it was one of the few that did have the itv player...also has amazon and a ton of other apps/players ive never even looked at
Click to expand...

Yeah odd, although I'm going back 2 years-ish. I know when we had our Panasonic Viera we had to hook it up to a laptop to watch Amazon Instant Video. The ITV player is of less interest in this house as it's mostly shite anyway ;)

Funny, we rarely watch live broadcast TV anymore. We watch either catch-up or streaming services pretty much exclusively :)
 
Thanks for all the comments, in terms of room size we'll be 10 or so feet from the TV 48" will be a lot bigger than anything we've had before.

Never really thought about the apps either, figured we'd be plugging in a Sky box and DVD player as that all we use at the moment and the sky box has all the apps we use for catch up.

Just no idea which brand has the best picture and reliability.
 
I have a panasonic - they make one of the best panels, It's a great TV and works as a display + usb media playback device...

...but if its a smart TV you're after, and want any of the related features (netflix/prime/youtube etc), dont expect your apps to ever be updated, the software will never get a new release/bugfix and you wont be getting all the features you could get on alternate manufacturers. Panasonic are known for basically releasing a product and then moving on.
 
I bought a Samsung 48" smart TV last year and its been great. A bit of a glitch with Netflix but that has been resolved now.
 
We have Panasonic. One of the annoying feature is the TV guide. It cancels the picture and sound when selected. Our daughter has just bought a Sony. The picture quality when viewed from around 2 metres is not great on that although the guide feature is much better. Good luck
 
For colour saturation I find Sony's hard to beat however they can take alot of tweaking to get right but once you find that colour sweet spot they are good, also look for ease of use, last thing I want is a TV that you need a degree to understand it lol. Also check the best viewing size to distance. It amuses me when people think bigger is better for a TV and it sits in normal sized living room.

Im never a big fan of mounting TVs on the wall as always get a stiff neck :)

Tim.
 
:D first VAG now Samsung at it :oops: you have to laugh :P

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3257374/Is-Samsung-set-Volkswagen-scandal-Lab-tests-suggest-TVs-use-energy-real-world-tech-giant-denies-motion-lighting-feature-cheating.html
 
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