Hi all, I'm looking for a TV I can buy and have in my room. I don't need anything fancy, preferably 32-40", 4K isn't necessary, I just want to plug a HDD in and watch TV shows.
I've tried looking at reddit for suggestions but most of the TVs can't be purchased from Aus.
Would also prefer a TV with low latency as I'd probably use my Switch with it too.
Budget is $400-1000.
I'd say skip Kogan (slow shipping, horrible service)… and instead get a cheap 32" FHD-LCD TV for like $250-$400 from your local JB-Hifi, Big W, etc etc. If there's a problem, its relatively easy to switch the unit with a new one. Or hand the TV back in-store for warranty purposes.
Besides, you can see/feel/test the TV in-store. It's not worth the $50-$100 savings by risking an online sale and the hassles that come with it.
For the low-latency units, you're going to have to spend around $1,200 and more. I just don't think its worth the money. This is a secondary TV for your bedroom afterall, for your primary unit in the Lounge Room there is some logic in splurging for a bigger, better, faster, stronger unit.
FHD in a 32" is hard to come by. They all tend to be smart TVs and start around the $500+ mark.
TV with low latency
You need a name brand TV to give you what you are after.
If you decide to spend up to a $1K, you can get last years Sony X7000E 55" 4K TV for $999 if avail.
I would steer away from Soniq, Kogan, JVC, Polaroid & Bauhn.
The problem is with many, we all want to best for little as possible to spend.
However, that's not the case …. If you want low latency, picture quality … etc, you have to spend on a name TV.
Cheers
Is it possible to get what I need in a 32" TV? 55" is way too big for me.
Yes.
However, for a measly 32" name brand TV, you are spending $600 for it.
Plus they only accommodate FHD and not UHD.
If you are going to by new, then why don't you get the latest tech for future proofing?
The smallest UHD TVs' I think is around 43"
Cheers
Yep.
To get a low-latency 32" TV, you will have to move up to SONY/Samsung's Midrange units.
They retail typically around $600-$800. Basically double the cost of the Chinese units, but not double the quality and features (ie/ Less Value).
but not double the quality and features (ie/ Less Value)
Agree, however this is the usual Electronics Parabolic curve. (Quality vs Cost)
The OP is requesting low latency and to attach a USB HDD to watch video. (Edit: A USB-HDD requires higher current to run and the cheapies probably cannot support)
IMO you need a respectable TV that can operate, have low latency and recognise/run an external device without minimal frustration due to a lengthy processing delay. Furthermore, the cheapies lack the recognition of certain formats and do not adopt any Firmware updates to compensate for future-proofing.
Therefore a name brand TV will adopt a faster CPU and a larger/faster internal memory
Added bonus is SMART features where the cheapies take forever to work and crash :P
Dupe - removed
@vinni9284:
You're going about this all wrong. Use the Chinese TV for the display. Use a different gadget (Xbox, Android Box, or HTPC) to play your media.
32 is pretty puny. You'll end up wanting bigger. 42 or so is probably ideal. (Source: have 32 inch TV)
Personally I wouldn't plug in an external hdd, just because I wouldn't want it running most of the time. I'd just get a usb drive. Most brand name TVs have the usb playback function. Look out for compatible formats ie if it can play mkvs at h264 and h265
Get a brand name tv as there is less of a chance there will be something that goes wrong out of warranty, and if it does, the amount of spare parts for those brand name tvs will be a lot greater.
I know this as i repair tvs as a side gig and its harder to find exact replacement boards for the no name chinese tvs. They also use ICs that you can only get in china so no replacing a component that has failed either.
Panels aren't the best quality as compared to a tv from the manufacturer that makes the panels. They sell the lower quality ones to low tier tv makers.
TL:DR
buy LG, Samsung, Panasonic or Sony. Stay away from Kogan. They are cheap for a reason.
Kogan. Their TVs use LG and Samsung panels, they're a local seller (for returns/warranties/etc), and their prices are lower than basically any name brand TV you can usually find.