Technology Thread.

[TANGODANCER]

Lounge, 32" TV, sat 9 or 10 feet away. No bother. Living room (where I mainly watch) 26", sat 8 feet away. No bother at all. Move your chair nearer the set.

Well indeed.

I think the argument goes that if you're paying for HD signal (in my case Sky) and an HD TV there is a relationship between viewing distance and screen size that allows you to appreciate the "extra HD detail". Which I guess makes sense. Not much point having a tiny HD screen if you sit so far away that you can't make out the details that HD brings to the surface.

I just think the guide I posted seems quite extreme.

I fancy going bigger than 40" but didn't envisage going above 50".

Worry not, I was just joking. Son in Yankee land has two monsters, one takes half his wall up. He loves them but I just kept feeling I wanted to move away from them. Whatever takes your fancy.

[Abdoulaye's Twin]

I have an external sound system so I'm not bothered about the TV speakers.

The trouble is that all the specialist TV/Video sites all give you the buy a £990000000000000000000 TV advice. Which is fine for those who have a keen interest in that stuff, and I do a bit, but not to the extent of an unhappy wife and a living room re-design to accomodate it.

What do you think on LED/LCD vs Plasma? I've had a gander at both and prefer the look of the picture on the LED/LCD. However, the experts again will say thats wrong and merely down to how the sets are setup in the shops.

I wish Apple would just hurry up and bring out their TV (joking).

Brother in law has plasma and ours is back lit LED (edge lit not as good). Our picture is much better than the plasma. Both same brand, though ours is a couple of years newer. I'd forget what the geeks say and buy what looks best to you.

[General Mannerheim]

bought a samsung 50" LED full HD 3d Smart TV before crimbo, it wasnt a lot more to get a 55" my room could easily accommodate one but i just i find oversized teles a bit garish. in reality its not much bigger than the 42" it replaced, just this one has almost no border to the picture! its pretty good. love watching iplayer and netflix direct.

Plasma's seem to be a helluva lot cheaper than LED/LCD's atm tho.

[IggyTheDawgster]

Got a 42 inch Panasonic Viera Plasma here, TXP42S20B from 2010. Not seen a TV on the market with a better picture yet.

[BWFC_Insane]

bought a samsung 50" LED full HD 3d Smart TV before crimbo, it wasnt a lot more to get a 55" my room could easily accommodate one but i just i find oversized teles a bit garish. in reality its not much bigger than the 42" it replaced, just this one has almost no border to the picture! its pretty good. love watching iplayer and netflix direct.

Plasma's seem to be a helluva lot cheaper than LED/LCD's atm tho.

Aye was looking at them at the weekend. They look 'smart'.

Reviews a bit mixed though, mind they are for virtually anything that isn't frighteningly expensive.

I think I will probably go for 50" in the end.

[thebish]

Shape of things to come?

Driving down the A1M I spotted a couple of Service Station signs that had a little graphic of a car with a plug coming out of it...

anyway - pulled into one on the way back - and there they were... the petrol electricity pumps of the future...


electric top up by revnev, on Flickr

[thebish]

I wish Apple would just hurry up and bring out their TV (joking).

http://www.apple.com/uk/appletv/

[BWFC_Insane]

I wish Apple would just hurry up and bring out their TV (joking).

http://www.apple.com/uk/appletv/

That's not a TV, just an on demand box that you plug into your TV. They are supposedly bringing out a TV range soon.

I won't be buying it, as it will no doubt be very good but also no doubt hideously expensive.

[thebish]

I wish Apple would just hurry up and bring out their TV (joking).

http://www.apple.com/uk/appletv/

That's not a TV, just an on demand box that you plug into your TV.

(just joking... sigh...)

[ChrisC]

Had a good mixture of plasma and LED tv's over the last few years and LED wins hands down for me picture wise. The Panasinic Viera plasma I had was very good but you can't beat LED with a HD picture IMO.

[IggyTheDawgster]

Had a good mixture of plasma and LED tv's over the last few years and LED wins hands down for me picture wise. The Panasinic Viera plasma I had was very good but you can't beat LED with a HD picture IMO.

Oh you can, Very much so. Colour accuracy/Depth, Response times, Black levels, Motion handling. Plasma wins hands down. The gap isn't as large these days as it once was. There are some very good LED backlit LCD's on the market, But proper Plasma panels are still way ahead.

I suppose LCD's may look better "out of the box" and many consumers don't care to spend time calibrating displays before using them.
But if you do take the time to calibrate the two side by side there is only one winner.

[BWFC_Insane]

I wish Apple would just hurry up and bring out their TV (joking).

http://www.apple.com/uk/appletv/

That's not a TV, just an on demand box that you plug into your TV.

(just joking... sigh...)

Oh, we'll sorry I didn't realise.

[Annoyed Grunt]

Had a good mixture of plasma and LED tv's over the last few years and LED wins hands down for me picture wise. The Panasinic Viera plasma I had was very good but you can't beat LED with a HD picture IMO.

Oh you can, Very much so. Colour accuracy/Depth, Response times, Black levels, Motion handling. Plasma wins hands down. The gap isn't as large these days as it once was. There are some very good LED backlit LCD's on the market, But proper Plasma panels are still way ahead.

I suppose LCD's may look better "out of the box" and many consumers don't care to spend time calibrating displays before using them.
But if you do take the time to calibrate the two side by side there is only one winner.

Agree with Iggy.

This is mine: http://www.panasonic.co.uk/html/en_GB/P ... index.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Absolutely fantastic.

Brother in law has a 55" and I'm usually sat miles away from it; it is fine. To be honest, I'd either concentrate on a good quality picture and decent sound (so many tvs have shit sound), or if you want to go large get a decent projector. The bigger the tv screen the better the quality it needs to be and therefore starts to get expensive.

Mine is a 40" and I'm sat about about 7ft away. Again, it is perfectly fine. Certainly better than the tiny tvs we managed with in the 70s and 80s

I have an external sound system so I'm not bothered about the TV speakers.

The trouble is that all the specialist TV/Video sites all give you the buy a £990000000000000000000 TV advice. Which is fine for those who have a keen interest in that stuff, and I do a bit, but not to the extent of an unhappy wife and a living room re-design to accomodate it.

What do you think on LED/LCD vs Plasma? I've had a gander at both and prefer the look of the picture on the LED/LCD. However, the experts again will say thats wrong and merely down to how the sets are setup in the shops.

I wish Apple would just hurry up and bring out their TV (joking).

Only had 2 TV's since the death of my old CRT one, both plasma........no issues with them. However, the only downside is you need to spend a little time "breaking them in".....otherwise you could end up with image burn/retention.

Breaking in? How do you do that? Whip them slowly until they work flawlessly?

[ChrisC]

Had a good mixture of plasma and LED tv's over the last few years and LED wins hands down for me picture wise. The Panasinic Viera plasma I had was very good but you can't beat LED with a HD picture IMO.

Oh you can, Very much so. Colour accuracy/Depth, Response times, Black levels, Motion handling. Plasma wins hands down. The gap isn't as large these days as it once was. There are some very good LED backlit LCD's on the market, But proper Plasma panels are still way ahead.

I suppose LCD's may look better "out of the box" and many consumers don't care to spend time calibrating displays before using them.
But if you do take the time to calibrate the two side by side there is only one winner.

That's a fair point Iggy but 90% of people looking for a new TV won't ever touch the settings and mess with the picture so want something that does the trick out of the box without any messing.

Forgetting all the bollocks about black levels that all the tech guys like to talk about the LED wins for ME and many others for a top vibrant picture.. all this talk about black levels makes me laugh.. like people are going to sit there watching Corrie and say to one another..

"ay up fred, that night sky isn't the right black at all!"

Add in the fact that plasma's are heavy on electric, are rubbish in well lit rooms because of the glass screen and the fact they have to run fans to keep them cool which can then feck up in time if they get blocked.. not for me anymore.

[Annoyed Grunt]

Had a good mixture of plasma and LED tv's over the last few years and LED wins hands down for me picture wise. The Panasinic Viera plasma I had was very good but you can't beat LED with a HD picture IMO.

Oh you can, Very much so. Colour accuracy/Depth, Response times, Black levels, Motion handling. Plasma wins hands down. The gap isn't as large these days as it once was. There are some very good LED backlit LCD's on the market, But proper Plasma panels are still way ahead.

I suppose LCD's may look better "out of the box" and many consumers don't care to spend time calibrating displays before using them.
But if you do take the time to calibrate the two side by side there is only one winner.

That's a fair point Iggy but 90% of people looking for a new TV won't ever touch the settings and mess with the picture so want something that does the trick out of the box without any messing.

Forgetting all the bollocks about black levels that all the tech guys like to talk about the LED wins for ME and many others for a top vibrant picture.. all this talk about black levels makes me laugh.. like people are going to sit there watching Corrie and say to one another..

"ay up fred, that night sky isn't the right black at all!"

Add in the fact that plasma's are heavy on electric, are rubbish in well lit rooms because of the glass screen and the fact they have to run fans to keep them cool which can then feck up in time if they get blocked.. not for me anymore.

Glass screen? Fans? Rubbish in well lit rooms?

No glass screen. No fans. Mine automatically increases the brightness when the room gets brighter.

Nothing of the sort on mine. But, as you say, each to their own.

[IggyTheDawgster]

Had a good mixture of plasma and LED tv's over the last few years and LED wins hands down for me picture wise. The Panasinic Viera plasma I had was very good but you can't beat LED with a HD picture IMO.

Oh you can, Very much so. Colour accuracy/Depth, Response times, Black levels, Motion handling. Plasma wins hands down. The gap isn't as large these days as it once was. There are some very good LED backlit LCD's on the market, But proper Plasma panels are still way ahead.

I suppose LCD's may look better "out of the box" and many consumers don't care to spend time calibrating displays before using them.
But if you do take the time to calibrate the two side by side there is only one winner.

That's a fair point Iggy but 90% of people looking for a new TV won't ever touch the settings and mess with the picture so want something that does the trick out of the box without any messing.

Forgetting all the bollocks about black levels that all the tech guys like to talk about the LED wins for ME and many others for a top vibrant picture.. all this talk about black levels makes me laugh.. like people are going to sit there watching Corrie and say to one another..

"ay up fred, that night sky isn't the right black at all!"

Add in the fact that plasma's are heavy on electric, are rubbish in well lit rooms because of the glass screen and the fact they have to run fans to keep them cool which can then feck up in time if they get blocked.. not for me anymore.

Lol, When was your last Plasma experience? 1982? They now run NeoPDP panels so there is negligible power draw difference, And I've never seen a Plasma panel with a fan???

If you're spending the sort of money nowadays for a decent set and watching Corrie on it then you're wasting your money. You might as well buy a CRT.

I think you misunderstand Black Levels. Black levels increase picture quality a hell of a lot when watching high definition media, They not only increase the perception of detail in dark scenes but help in the richness and depth of colour that LED sets tend to over do. Hence your "Vibrancy" comment. The better range of black level the better overall image reproduction is achieved without washing out or crushing darker areas or lower detailed areas of scenes. Illuminous green grass when watching footy is a dead giveaway of poor colour reproduction, Yes it may look loud and vibrant but it's not very accurate is it? I want to look at a panel and be tricked into thinking I'm looking through a window, Not at a cartoon.



You can download a THX Certified calibration tool from any good website and spend 30 minutes setting up gamma/contrast/brightness/sharpness levels with ease. Many Pixar Blu-Ray movies come with a set up tool in the options. Failing that, If you have any SONY Blu-Ray movies lying around there is a little secret on the disk.

Wait for the disk to boot up to the menu screen and type "7669" (SONY on the number pad) and hit enter. This should take you to a series of calibration screens.

[Prufrock]

I thought I couldn't give less of a f*ck about teles. Then I read this thread.

[Abdoulaye's Twin]

Doesn't matter what the experts say. If the picture looks good to you then it does the job. It is like anything else. Just because an expert says a particular painting or wine is the best it doesn't mean you will like or enjoy it. Just go look at a wide selection, take your time and pick what looks good to you. As for watching a DVD and running set-ups and stuff; life is too short as far as I'm concerned. As long as it looks and sounds decent it will do for me.

[Lost Leopard Spot]

Has BWFCi thought up a cunning advertising campaign...

[CAPSLOCK]

Had a good mixture of plasma and LED tv's over the last few years and LED wins hands down for me picture wise. The Panasinic Viera plasma I had was very good but you can't beat LED with a HD picture IMO.

Oh you can, Very much so. Colour accuracy/Depth, Response times, Black levels, Motion handling. Plasma wins hands down. The gap isn't as large these days as it once was. There are some very good LED backlit LCD's on the market, But proper Plasma panels are still way ahead.

I suppose LCD's may look better "out of the box" and many consumers don't care to spend time calibrating displays before using them.
But if you do take the time to calibrate the two side by side there is only one winner.

That's a fair point Iggy but 90% of people looking for a new TV won't ever touch the settings and mess with the picture so want something that does the trick out of the box without any messing.

Forgetting all the bollocks about black levels that all the tech guys like to talk about the LED wins for ME and many others for a top vibrant picture.. all this talk about black levels makes me laugh.. like people are going to sit there watching Corrie and say to one another..

"ay up fred, that night sky isn't the right black at all!"

Add in the fact that plasma's are heavy on electric, are rubbish in well lit rooms because of the glass screen and the fact they have to run fans to keep them cool which can then feck up in time if they get blocked.. not for me anymore.

Lol, When was your last Plasma experience? 1982? They now run NeoPDP panels so there is negligible power draw difference, And I've never seen a Plasma panel with a fan???

If you're spending the sort of money nowadays for a decent set and watching Corrie on it then you're wasting your money. You might as well buy a CRT.

I think you misunderstand Black Levels. Black levels increase picture quality a hell of a lot when watching high definition media, They not only increase the perception of detail in dark scenes but help in the richness and depth of colour that LED sets tend to over do. Hence your "Vibrancy" comment. The better range of black level the better overall image reproduction is achieved without washing out or crushing darker areas or lower detailed areas of scenes. Illuminous green grass when watching footy is a dead giveaway of poor colour reproduction, Yes it may look loud and vibrant but it's not very accurate is it? I want to look at a panel and be tricked into thinking I'm looking through a window, Not at a cartoon.



You can download a THX Certified calibration tool from any good website and spend 30 minutes setting up gamma/contrast/brightness/sharpness levels with ease. Many Pixar Blu-Ray movies come with a set up tool in the options. Failing that, If you have any SONY Blu-Ray movies lying around there is a little secret on the disk.

Wait for the disk to boot up to the menu screen and type "7669" (SONY on the number pad) and hit enter. This should take you to a series of calibration screens.

Fcuk me, you're as anal as some Apple nob jockey

FWIW, I've got a 46"LCD (Toshiba) and I've never seen owt with a better picture