LCD and Plasma Bargains

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Tough one.

I would say no, considering there is sometimes a LG 42" 100Hz LCD on special for around R6k. Remember, the only difference between LCD and these "LEDs" we see at massmart stores is the back light. Everything else is the same. Remember LED back lighting is prone to more problems than conventional CCFL back lighting!

Just refresh us with what you're using the TV for?

Where in Cpt are you located?
 
Hey PP, I'd be using the TV for movies (1080p sometimes, 720p more often than not, SD if I have to), series (720p and SD). I might watch the odd bit of SABC or eTV, but i know that's pretty torturous on a FHD LCD.

I'll wait around then for an LG or a Sammy then. Ideally with 3 yr guarantee. [1]

Oh, I live in the s.suburbs btw. Work in the CBD.

[1] Reason I'm keen on longer than 1 yr guarantee is a buddy of mine spent a small fortune on his LG 120hz about 2 years ago and it's been on the fritz this year and i think he's struggling to fix it or find justification to fix it. It works sometimes, i think sometimes it takes a while to show a picture.
 
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May I ask why you decided against plasma? It's the best suited for what you need (720p/SD). Is it because of resolution/reflection? Also, Audiovision have a FHD 42" Panasonic plasma for R6,800ish.

You can always upgrade the warranty, I think 3 years from the usual stores is about R700.
 
PP, i like the idea of full HD. I don't really wanna have to make the room too dark as well. I could probably go either way. My decision is based on what i have read here and not 1st hand experience. I am looking to spend around 5k. It's just the price point i'd be happiest with. 42" seems like a nice size. First hand I've only seen an LG 42" FHD LCD at a friends place and an older Samsung 40" 530C at another friend's place. And ideally with decent built in media playing capabilities so that buying a separate media player is not an absolute necessity. I can live with 50hz too i guess.
 
ryan411 said:
PP, i like the idea of full HD. I don't really wanna have to make the room too dark as well. I could probably go either way. My decision is based on what i have read here and not 1st hand experience. I am looking to spend around 5k. It's just the price point i'd be happiest with. 42" seems like a nice size. First hand I've only seen an LG 42" FHD LCD at a friends place and an older Samsung 40" 530C at another friend's place. And ideally with decent built in media playing capabilities so that buying a separate media player is not an absolute necessity. I can live with 50hz too i guess.
Click to expand...

I haven't seen the Sinotec, but I'd go with the Samsung LA40D550 if you're happy with the LA40C530...

I understand that you like the idea. I do too. If I may poke a bit more, have you done resolution comparisons?
 
PostmanPot said:
I haven't seen the Sinotec, but I'd go with the Samsung LA40D550 if you're happy with the LA40C530...

I understand that you like the idea. I do too. If I may poke a bit more, have you done resolution comparisons?
Click to expand...
Comparisons between the a HD Ready plasma and a Full HD LCD? Nope I haven't...
 
ryan411 said:
Comparisons between the a HD Ready plasma and a Full HD LCD? Nope I haven't...
Click to expand...

I meant specifically 720p vs 1080p. Especially from your room's ± viewing distance...

...But that's interesting nonetheless. :p

Is it safe to assume that you like the idea of FHD, because it's simply more than HD Ready, and "logically" must be better? The fact that you mention "the idea" leads me to believe that, while most likely having watched HD content on a 40" HD TV, you haven't exactly had a demo of the difference, especially from your room's viewing distance.

Do you understand how viewing distance affects the full FHD experience?

With resolution [partially] and reflection aside, do you understand that a lower resolution screen can beat a higher resolution screen at displaying higher resolution sources, due to the former lower-res TV's better overall picture quality, and because of the role viewing distance plays when watching any source?

What TV do you currently have in your room? Did you ever have a CRT box TV? Did you need to "make the room dark" to enjoy it?

What's your viewing distance?
 
PostmanPot said:
I meant specifically 720p vs 1080p. Especially from your room's ± viewing distance...

...But that's interesting nonetheless. :p

Is it safe to assume that you like the idea of FHD, because it's simply more than HD Ready, and "logically" must be better? The fact that you mention "the idea" leads me to believe that, while most likely having watched HD content on a 40" HD TV, you haven't exactly had a demo of the difference, especially from your room's viewing distance.
Click to expand...
Correct.
PostmanPot said:
Do you understand how viewing distance affects the full FHD experience?
Click to expand...
You've explained it many times :)
PostmanPot said:
With resolution [partially] and reflection aside, do you understand that a lower resolution screen can beat a higher resolution screen at displaying higher resolution sources, due to the former lower-res TV's better overall picture quality, and because of the role viewing distance plays when watching any source?
Click to expand...
I guess i can grasp that concept :)
PostmanPot said:
What TV do you currently have in your room? Did you ever have a CRT box TV? Did you need to "make the room dark" to enjoy it?
Click to expand...
We have a 70cm CRT but i hardly watch anything on there other than the news.
PostmanPot said:
What's your viewing distance?
Click to expand...
Well, it's variable but i guess it can be anything between 1m and 2m. Depends if i am wearing my glasses or not :p

How does 720p content look on a 42" LCD vs a 42" or 43" plasma?

Ultimately I'd be happy with best value for money. If the plasma is quite cheap then that allows me to spend like a grand on a media player then. I'd like to spend a max of R5500. I can spend more than this if it's worth it...
 
PostmanPot said:
I haven't seen the Sinotec, but I'd go with the Samsung LA40D550 if you're happy with the LA40C530...

I understand that you like the idea. I do too. If I may poke a bit more, have you done resolution comparisons?
Click to expand...

Where did you find the LA40C530 ?

I only find the LA40D550 and LA40D503 (At Makro).

And would would the difference money and specs wise between the C530 and D550 be ?
 
ronald911 said:
Where did you find the LA40C530 ?

I only find the LA40D550 and LA40D503 (At Makro).

And would would the difference money and specs wise between the C530 and D550 be ?
Click to expand...

They are both 5 Series. C is last year's, D is this year's. So it's newer/slightly better. It has more features, I think the main one is DNIE or what not (get confused with DNIE vs DLNA), which is a network port allowing you to access stuff over the network. I think. Roman and Tim can comment.

I have the LA32C550 (and PS42C450 plasma), the upgraded version of the 530, also has DNIE (if it is what I think it is). This year they have the D550 and D503 as you mentioned, done awat with the 530, which lacks a few features (including the network port I think) especially a number of HDMI ports.

I speak under correction regarding the DNIE/DLNA thing.
 
ryan411 said:
We have a 70cm CRT but i hardly watch anything on there other than the news.
Click to expand...

Do you need to make the room dark to enjoy watching the news? The reason I ask is because most CRTs are in fact more reflective than plasma, so if one was anal about reflection, one could say to enjoy CRT the room would need to be made even darker.

Right, still with me? Do you have reflections in the CRT? Do they bother you?

Well, it's variable but i guess it can be anything between 1m and 2m. Depends if i am wearing my glasses or not :p
Click to expand...

So I assume 1m would be if you're sitting on a single-seater chair, up close to the TV. While 2m, I assume would be further back on a 2/3/etc. seater couch? Which is more ideal? Could I assume the latter?

How does 720p content look on a 42" LCD vs a 42" or 43" plasma?
Click to expand...

720p, on entry plasma vs entry LCD, is far better on plasma. And even with 1080p, since plasma tech provides such better picture quality, I would still take 720p plasma over 1080p LCD if I am sitting ±2m back - due to how viewing distance affects the full FHD experience.

Ultimately I'd be happy with best value for money. If the plasma is quite cheap then that allows me to spend like a grand on a media player then. I'd like to spend a max of R5500. I can spend more than this if it's worth it...
Click to expand...

Plasma is best value for money.
 
PostmanPot said:
They are both 5 Series. C is last year's, D is this year's. So it's newer/slightly better. It has more features, I think the main one is DNIE or what not (get confused with DNIE vs DLNA), which is a network port allowing you to access stuff over the network. I think. Roman and Tim can comment.

I have the LA32C550 (and PS42C450 plasma), the upgraded version of the 530, also has DNIE (if it is what I think it is). This year they have the D550 and D503 as you mentioned, done awat with the 530, which lacks a few features (including the network port I think) especially a number of HDMI ports.

I speak under correction regarding the DNIE/DLNA thing.
Click to expand...


I think you're getting confused:
DNIe - Digital Natural Image engine.
DLNA - Digital Living Network Alliance
4 series doesn't have DLNA, 5 series does.

DLNA enables you to stream videos, pictures and music from your DLNA server. You can set up a DLNA server from your phone, tablet, PC and some routers with external harddrives. The supported file types depend on your TV and which it supports natively (I have yet to find any video that doesn't work on my LAD550).

Now here's the cool part: if you have an android smartphone or tablet (probably also iphone) you can use an app like twonky or imediashare to stream youtube videos or other web videos as well as some apps like facebook onto your TV via DLNA. No need for a smart TV, as long as you have a smartphone and a TV with DLNA.
 
Tim182 said:
I think you're getting confused:
DNIe - Digital Natural Image engine.
DLNA - Digital Living Network Alliance
4 series doesn't have DLNA, 5 series does.

DLNA enables you to stream videos, pictures and music from your DLNA server. You can set up a DLNA server from your phone, tablet, PC and some routers with external harddrives. The supported file types depend on your TV and which it supports natively (I have yet to find any video that doesn't work on my LAD550).

Now here's the cool part: if you have an android smartphone or tablet (probably also iphone) you can use an app like twonky or imediashare to stream youtube videos or other web videos as well as some apps like facebook onto your TV via DLNA. No need for a smart TV, as long as you have a smartphone and a TV with DLNA.
Click to expand...

Thanks, taking note. :)

Is the network port involved? Because I don't remember seeing one on the LAC530, but my LAC550 has it.
 
Samsung 5 Series, LA40D550 vs LG 42LK430

whats the major differences?
I'm more bias towards getting the samsung seeing as it have a lan connection. and all those new technologies.
Problem is i'm budgeting for 5K, and currently the LG is in reach. I know if I wait a bit longer the samsung might be in that 5k rangetoo.
 
LG is 2" bigger :-D other then that I don't know the LG at all sorry
 
piranha786 said:
Samsung 5 Series, LA40D550 vs LG 42LK430

whats the major differences?
I'm more bias towards getting the samsung seeing as it have a lan connection. and all those new technologies.
Problem is i'm budgeting for 5K, and currently the LG is in reach. I know if I wait a bit longer the samsung might be in that 5k rangetoo.
Click to expand...
Isn't the D550 100Hz? the LG 430 is still 50/60Hz.
 
PostmanPot said:
Thanks, taking note. :)

Is the network port involved? Because I don't remember seeing one on the LAC530, but my LAC550 has it.
Click to expand...

Yes, you need to connect the TV to your network via the LAN port or the USB Samsung Wifi adaptor. Only 6 series and up (I think) has built-in Wifi
 
also note LG TVs seem to have issues with MKV playback if media player capabilities are important to you...
 
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