Advice Buying a TV

Peccavi on 20/07/2016 - 14:19

With the current 20% off tech sale on eBay, I'm looking to buy a new TV. It's been a decade since I was last in the market and technology has changed quite a bit since that time.

I don't need anything too fancy. I'm looking for something between 40-50" in size, with 1080p Full HD.
I'd like some advice on:
1. Is LED LCD the best balance between quality & budget? Is it worth considering OLED/4K/etc (even though they cost much more)?
2. Is it better to get a smart TV, or a regular TV with Apple TV/Chromecast/etc?
3. I've never had a wall mounted TV before, but I'm considering it. Is it hard to install yourself? I've hung heavy cabinets on the walls at home. But where my TV will be placed there's no studs behind the plasterboard.
4. Any other features I should look out for?
5. And of course, the most important question on OzBargain - what's a good price to pay?

Thanks in advance for your help!

Electrical & Electronics

Comments

  • DavoW on 20/07/2016 - 14:28

    Hey Peccavi. I'm going to rush through this, but here's my thoughts.

    OLED commands a price premium at the moment. Modern LED are still pretty good, and prices are pretty low.
    Smart TV etc depends mainly on if you'd like to watch catchup TV or play files. Think about the features smart TVs offer, and consider if you'd even use them.
    No advice on wall mounting, i'll leave that to someone more qualified to answer.

    My only overall advice is that once you've read reviews and sorted out your budget, go and find the TV and spend some time watching it. I find that it's the best test of if you'll like the TV, and it's exactly what I did. I use a range of TVs in my job (video editor), I find my OLED is AMAZING ($9000 sony broadcast reference monitor) but the client LED monitor is also a very nice TV.

    Hope this makes sense/helps slightly.

  • pjetson on 20/07/2016 - 14:45

    where my TV will be placed there's no studs behind the plasterboard.

    How did that happen?

    Or do you just mean there are studs behind the plasterboard, just not in the right location? What you might be able to do is attach a piece of wood to the studs and then mount the bracket to the wood.

    • Peccavi on 20/07/2016 - 15:32

      The studs are right on the edge of the area where I want to mount it. I have to double check whether I can attach a piece of wood without it being seen.

      • pjetson on 20/07/2016 - 15:36
        +3

        Studs should be no more than 600mm apart. A 50" TV would probably be about twice that wide, which suggests that the TV might span 3 studs.

      • pjetson on 20/07/2016 - 15:43

        Perhaps you could paint the wood the same colour as the wall or the bracket?

    • Peccavi on 20/07/2016 - 19:24

      Ok, I went home and checked again - and this time my stud finder picks up the stud! Don't know why it failed last time. :/
      So I guess it should be ok to wall mount :)

  • pjetson on 20/07/2016 - 14:49

    Don't jbhifi have a good deal on a 55" smart TV today? I'm sure I read that somewhere.

    • Peccavi on 20/07/2016 - 15:33

      Yeah, there are quite a few threads/deals on TVs at the moment. I'm trying to read them all, but getting a bit confused.

      • pjetson on 20/07/2016 - 15:39

        Yep, that was it. Thanks.

        One thing I might say about Soniq, though, is that the sound is terrible on the two sets of that brand that I have.

        • kerodean on 20/07/2016 - 15:39

          Oh really? I might have to check it out in store

    • newsim on 20/07/2016 - 17:25

      Just wondering if anyone else has information if this TV is Ok, sound and screen quality wise. Not too fussed about the smart side of it, more if its good for casual gaming and netflix.

  • KaTst3R on 20/07/2016 - 15:15

    I wouldnt consider 4K a couple of years back but now I will. It looks like everything is moving towards that direction (PS4 Neo, Netflix, Youtube, PC gaming, etc).

  • Hessian Sack on 20/07/2016 - 15:20

    Last time I was in the market, most TVs with decent pictures came with a bunch of smart features, whether you wanted them or not. So we ended up with a "Smart TV" whose smart features we never use, in favour of an Apple TV, an Xbox One, and a PVR.

  • maxx on 20/07/2016 - 16:04

    Good Guys are having a 'After Dark' sale these days and they have marked down prices for 4K TVs. For example, Samsung 55"(140cm) SUHD LED LCD Smart Tv is $3295 + Bonus #300 gift card. That's a very good price for high end LCD LED tv.

    https://www.thegoodguys.com.au/televisions-promotion

  • Savas on 20/07/2016 - 17:19
    -6

    looking for something between 40-50" in size, with 1080p Full HD

    Are you posting this from 2008?

    • Peccavi on 20/07/2016 - 19:25
      +2

      I did say I've been out of the market for a decade. Sorry for not having a big mansion in which to put a big TV. Thanks for your most helpful post.

  • bennos on 20/07/2016 - 17:29

    Get a smart tv

  • Euphemistic on 20/07/2016 - 18:59

    Do you watch a lot of TV? Do you watch a lot of movies? Do you have fox, Netflix etc?

    Not a lot of point getting a super high def fantastic TV if you only watch the news, probably worth the extra if you intend to watch movies streamed in 4k.

    I don't bother with a lot of the smart to features it's easier to pick up an iPad. I wouldn't pay for 4K as I don't watch enough movies.

    • Peccavi on 20/07/2016 - 19:26

      I will use the features of a smart TV. Just wondering if it's better to have it built-in, or to use something external like Apple TV /Chromecast/etc.

  • altomic on 20/07/2016 - 23:25
    +3

    don't get a smart TV.

    Get a "dumb" TV and buy an external media box. plenty out there for <$50 delivered.

    with a smart TV you are at the mercy of the TV manufacturer to provide updates.
    and if it doesn't do what you want it to do then you're stuck.

    with an android box, if it gets outmoded then you can throw another $50.

    • Peccavi on 21/07/2016 - 12:05

      Yes, that's what I'm thinking as well.
      Do you have a media box you'd recommend?

      • altomic on 21/07/2016 - 12:35

        I bought a MX Plus II from everbuying for US$27 delivered. I just needed a media play box. And internet works great via wifi. I haven't tried streaming with it but kodi is installed. It does everything I want. It's an android box. I've put VLC on it so it plays everything. Here's a link to a review I wrote

        • Peccavi on 21/07/2016 - 12:37

          Thanks mate!

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join