New Smart TV: Which one?

S

simvaughan1

Member
 Warwickshire
So as the title suggests.

Budget of ~£500.
Looking for smart features, mainly for the catchup TV (we have no sky/virgin box).
Mostly for watching TV, the odd DVD, and perhaps blueray in the future!

Choices I've found are:
Samsung: http://www.johnlewis.com/samsung-ue40f5500-led-hd-1080p-smart-tv-40-with-freeview-hd/p587837
Panasonic: http://www.johnlewis.com/panasonic-viera-tx-l42e6b-led-hd-1080p-smart-tv-42-with-freeview-hd/p231889200?kpid=231889200&s_kenid=3a01d1f2-2ada-d308-2a97-00000aeab410&s_kwcid=7x2354494&tmad=c&tmcampid=52
Sony: http://www.johnlewis.com/sony-bravia-kdl42w653-led-hd-1080p-smart-tv-42-with-freeview-hd/p454747?navAction=jump
LG: http://www.johnlewis.com/lg-42ln575v-led-hd-1080p-smart-tv-42-with-freeview-hd/p425776

Any comments/experience appreciated!
 
Make sure you double check the catchup services they run, not all services are available on all TV's
 
Do you plan to hook it up to any kind of hi-fi/ home cinema - if not I would check out which one sounds best. We've had several samsungs and the picture is great but audio without the home cinema or HiFi pretty poor- I would say Panasonic are better at the sound side of things than most. Best is to go and watch them somewhere showing the type of program you watch - they all tend to look brilliant playing the supplied demo blu-ray.
 
Yeah the Samsung appears to have everything so that would be the best to go for in that respect.

Reviews say the Sony has a brilliant picture.

Yeah for sound I have a choice of my Separates HiFi or a surround system so that's covered :)
 
Size wise you will get a bigger Samsung than you will Sony for the same money.
You also need to check the screen viewing angle.
I bought a Sony to use in the corner of our lounge and found that it suffered colour fade beyond 40degs from centre. It's now wall-mounted in my son's room (where viewing is virtually at right angles).
 
ZermattV said:
Do you plan to hook it up to any kind of hi-fi/ home cinema - if not I would check out which one sounds best. We've had several samsungs and the picture is great but audio without the home cinema or HiFi pretty poor- I would say Panasonic are better at the sound side of things than most. Best is to go and watch them somewhere showing the type of program you watch - they all tend to look brilliant playing the supplied demo blu-ray.
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I would agree with this - I've had a couple of Samsungs and the picture quality is excellent but they need to be connected to a home cinema system.
 
Interesting comments on the Samsung, I had one and was so disappointed with the picture I sent it back and swapped it for a Panasonic. Mine's not a smart TV though, all that is built into my BluRay player and Xbox.
 
if you go the AV receiver route, then make sure the speakers meet the ohm requirement/tolerance of the amp
 
I got my parents a panasonic 42" smart tv last month from john lewis... Cost £579, but was reduced to £499 2 weeks after a i bought it... And JL refunded the difference

Also JL will price match any other physical store (excludes online/ membership stores like costco) even upto 28 days after you buy it.

I got them to price match my series 8 samsung from richer sounds last yr (but i ended up getting it from costco!)




Sent from my iPhone 5 using Tapatalk
 
I bought the same model Sony Bravia but the 32" a few months back when they first came out. I struggled to get one from the normal outlets so ordered it direct from Sony, looks like prices have come down of late.

I've has Sonys for years as to me the picture quality is superb, the only pain is it takes an age of calibration to get the picture just right but its worth it in the end, it was the same with my previous Bravia. What I don't like with the latest Bravias is the speakers aren't as good as previous models as they now sound thin and buzzy, I'm guessing with making the screen and backing as slim as possible your limited to quality of speakers. Overall though very pleased with it.

Tim.
 
It's got to the stage that the we will all need sound bars or av receivers - they have become monitors.

Last year we moved and replaced all the tv s 1x Samsung, 1x Sony and 1x Panasonic.

I think the quality of the Panasonic build is brilliant but the look is dated ( but we got a32" high Hz tv with built in HD receiver for half price so cant complain) The Samsung 8 series coupled with an av receiver is great when I can get the lip sync right on it . We bought a 46 inch sony for the kitchen and we really like it and it was cheaper on a deal than the equivalent Samsung and to be honest in that room the all black look of the Sony better suited the room it was going in.

Benchmark JL against richer sound or google the model number with the words best buy after it works as well.
 
jimbo1958 said:
John Lewis probably not the cheapest but 5 years warranty on TV's. :thumbsup:
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John Lewis price match with the 5 years warranty,my tv was on sale at Argos and I rang JL and they checked the Argos price and matched it. :thumbsup:
 
i have the samsung one - the catch up tv is getting better and itv and more4 have been added - but - worth checking exactly which ones you will get - we have a "you view" too, and that is easier to use

the internet facility is a pain to operate with the remote - and really really slow
 
We have a 40in LG smart led bought from Richer Sounds. Their 5 year warranty works out at 10% of the purchase price.
The picture is really sharp ,sound is ok .
 
Samsung catchup has 20-30 apps mows including all the major tv channels....

John Lewis price match even online now....and their 5 year g'tee is worth it too
 
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