Really need some advice regarding LCD TVs

F

fwwwn

Well-Known Member
Joined
Apr 5, 2009
Messages
295
Reaction score
0
Looking to get a 32" or 40" LCD TV, but the crappy Samsung and LG websites are not helping. So far, I've found the Samsung LA40D550 at Game for R4700, which seems like a good deal. But it's not LED backlit, is it? Not particularly keen on getting a TV with a CCFL backlight, as I hate the way the brightness fades away over time.

The TV will mainly be used together with a PS3 for games and streaming 1080p movies, but I would also like the option of using it as a monitor for my notebook at some point in the future.

Please help me out and recommend some TVs for me to look at? Budget is around R5000 or less.
 
It doesn't seem to have LED backlighting. Unfortunately for that price you may struggle to get a 40 inch with LED backlighting. Maybe look at plasma screens?
 
francoiswnel said:
I've found the Samsung LA40D550 at Game for R4700, which seems like a good deal. But it's not LED backlit, is it?
Click to expand...
No, but the LA40D550 is probably the best 40" 1080p TV in your price range, with low input lag for gaming.

francoiswnel said:
Not particularly keen on getting a TV with a CCFL backlight, as I hate the way the brightness fades away over time.
Click to expand...
You mean over its lifespan of many years?
 
Roman4604 said:
No, but the LA40D550 is probably the best 40" 1080p TV in your price range, with low input lag for gaming.

You mean over its lifespan of many years?
Click to expand...
Thanks for confirmation that it's a good TV for the price. Yeah, I mean, if you spend money on a TV, monitor or notebook, it sucks knowing that the CCFL will get dimmer as the product ages. No train smash though, supposed in a few years I'll get an LED 3DTV or something anyway.

Okay, found a Game with stock in CT, so going to buy it.

@MattRoy - don't really like plasmas. My parents have one at the moment, but I prefer LCDs to it. Dunno why, just do... Thanks for the advice though.
 
Are you sure it's the D550 for R4,799? And not the D501 or 502 or similar? Don't get the one with 1 x HDMI, it's the diluted version D550.
 
TVs aren't great with laptops. Games are fine, but the resolution demanded from a PC display card does not come out all that great on a LCD TV. Its not bad but I have been disappointed, and I have a 42" Philips which was top of the range 2 years ago.
 
chrisc4290 said:
TVs aren't great with laptops. Games are fine, but the resolution demanded from a PC display card does not come out all that great on a LCD TV. Its not bad but I have been disappointed, and I have a 42" Philips which was top of the range 2 years ago.
Click to expand...
Probably wasn't optimally configured.

You have to ensure your TV isn't under scanning, 16:9 mode usually crops 5% off the picture edges and causes the image to be re-scaled resulting in a smudged, non-sharp picture. Similarly you also need to make sure the GPU driver is not over scanning, that is adding a 5% border (in anticipation of the TV being in 16:9 mode), again resulting in image re-scaling and deterioration.
 
PostmanPot said:
Are you sure it's the D550 for R4,799? And not the D501 or 502 or similar? Don't get the one with 1 x HDMI, it's the diluted version D550.
Click to expand...
This is the one I'm getting: http://www.game.co.za/SAMSUNG-40INCH-FULL-HD-LCD-TV-LA40D550-556995.aspx - seems legit, right?

Going to buy it tomorrow morning (I know, my timing's great, right?). Please tell me where I can check for the SQ code while in store - will probably pass up on the deal if it's not the best panel.

Also, I understand that I have to put it into PC mode if I ever hook up my computer, but do I have to do anything special for the PS3 to get a proper 1080p image without any over/underscan?
 
francoiswnel said:
This is the one I'm getting: http://www.game.co.za/SAMSUNG-40INCH-FULL-HD-LCD-TV-LA40D550-556995.aspx - seems legit, right?

Going to buy it tomorrow morning (I know, my timing's great, right?). Please tell me where I can check for the SQ code while in store - will probably pass up on the deal if it's not the best panel.

Also, I understand that I have to put it into PC mode if I ever hook up my computer, but do I have to do anything special for the PS3 to get a proper 1080p image without any over/underscan?
Click to expand...

Awesome price. You can only get the panel code on the TV itself (right side) - not on the box. Most/all seem to be SQ in SA.
 
francoiswnel said:
Also, I understand that I have to put it into PC mode if I ever hook up my computer, but do I have to do anything special for the PS3 to get a proper 1080p image without any over/underscan?
Click to expand...
Not really, PS3 never seems to overscan. Just set Picture Size to Screen Fit (when on the HDMI port connected to PS3) and you should have a perfectly sharp 1920x1080@60Hz picture.
 
Awesome. Thanks for the advice, guys. Will report back tomorrow with my impressions.
 
I am not sure how people can have problems with LCD tvs on PCs. For example I bought myself the Sony KLV 40s400 between 2-3 years ago, and its primary use is viewing content, games, ect from a HTPC. The only time it uses regular TV signals, is when my parents are here and view SABC2 afrikaans news, which looks 100% crisp as DSTV actually.

Sadly though, it doesn't do DVB-T2, and I guess the CCFL will go with time, but I expected 7-10 years if viewing time with this TV, and thus far it has been great. I still get people saying "wow look how crisp your TV's image is, and the detail is superb!". This TV cost me R12k back them. Looking back, I would buy it again at the time I did.

TVs nowadays are probably much better than this Sony, cost less, and look better. My next TV will probably be LED TV, not sure which brand yet, because by the sound of it, Sony is not doing too well with TVs at the moment, but heck I will see when the time come, for now I have to pay of a bond so no money for a TV :(
 
So I bought the TV this morning and set it up. Busy playing HD content from a flash drive, and I'm very impressed! The image quality is mind blowing!

Also, extremely happy with the SQ02 S-PVA panel. No brightness or colour shifts when viewing it from an angle.

So yeah, thanks for the advice, glad I got it!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X