Best 55inch tv for about 1100 quid (FALC)

[rawsco]

OK team AV experts, looking for a recommendation please, what are the best TV's and places to buy, one condition is they must take Paypal as I've got 6 months interest free on purchases there.

Not interested in 3D
Want 4K
55inch is about right
Not massively fussed about curved either or
needs some sort of audio output i can plumb into my HiFi which takes RCA only (i guess i'll need an optical DAC)
Budget 1100

What say you SE expert masses.

[a4drk]

I was looking at this yesterday

Currys do 4 x Samsungs all 55" curved

6500 model is £899
7500 model is £1100
8000 model is £1499
8500 model is £1550

loads of non curved for about £799
http://www.johnlewis.com/browse/electri ... ListId%7C0


the cheapest one was probably £1800 a year ago
david

[mwmackenzie]

What is the benefit of curved? surely a gimmick? Would it not catch more reflections? Also do you not need to be sitting exectly central to it a certain distance from it to get the best out of it?

[a4drk]

Don't think so mark.
But what I have noticed, is that the picture can look a little bit 3D
I'm not convinced yet



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[robin]

I use a curved monitor on my desk; I never notice that it is curved when working - so either the curvature is irrelevant or it is perfect to straighten out such a wide screen from the point of view of the viewer - but I sit more-or-less dead centre.

The radius of a curved big screen TV is enormous so within reason it won't matter where you sit; but where the panels have a 160 degree (+/- 80 degrees) viewing angle (or better for some modern panels) you're going to find that anyone outside of about 100 degrees will start to see strange artefacts due to looking at the curve sideways on. The curvature should also distort reflections so as to make them less noticeable - though of course a vertical line will still reflect as a vertical line because they are only curved, not spherical.

My guess is that most people won't notice whether the TV is flat or curved when turned on and other differences will be more important - such as colour, brightness, contrast.

There is a depth-of-field effect caused by a curved screen; I find it distracting (my inlaws had a curved screen), actually, but some people may prefer it.

Cheers,
Robin

[a4drk]

That's what I was trying to say - "depth of field" rather than 3D



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[rawsco]

Here's the other dillemma... Do I just stuff the interest free stash some cash over the next 6 months and hope that OLED comes down a bit. I'd mibby stretch a bit more than 1100 quid for an OLED....

[kerryxeg]

I've been looking into similar. Curry's have a Samsung 55" model coming which is unique to them, you get a few extra features for £899 compared to the others, it is 65xx model, you'll see it on their website with 2-4 weeks delivery. I have only been looking at Freesat Tv's so there may be better alternatives - there are certainly lots to chose from.

Curved vs flat is an interesting debate. The curved looks smarter, but looking at them in Costco, I think they are a bit poorer if you are not sitting straight on to them. So if your viewing angle is always dead centre from the front I can see the logic, but if you have a range of potential viewing angles maybe not so good. It's well worth looking at the picture in the flesh, I wasn't able to pick a single model, but I certainly ruled a few out.

[Sanjøy]

I sat in front of a curved screen in JL and it was awesome.

Get a projector

S

[rawsco]

Our watching position is bang on centre so are you all telling me curved is the way to go. They seem to be the majority above a grand so I guess the premium for them is ebbing. So far the Samsung 7500 is leading the race.

I'm not allowed a projector SWMBO says no as we'd need to rearrange the room to unacceptable furniture positions. Its also costing me a dining table...

[woody]

Get a projector and stick some pictures on the wall you're projecting to

S

EFA

[tut]

I bought a LG 55" curved OLED recently in the safe knowledge that it will be several years before anything will appear with a better picture. It is not 4K as it was price matched by JL at £1,600 with another £300 off for your old TV that they do not want, so £1,300 as opposed to £1,999 retail. It also has a five year warranty.

Once you have used a curved you would not go back, we also have two flat screens and they look exactly that in comparison. The 4K version was £2K extra, but as my Broadband has limited data then it would be no use to me until Sky starts broadcasting in it, and as they have virtually stopped using 3D, that is not likely to be soon. Also curved and flat in the LG range are now the same price.

Check out OLED in comparison to others and the pure blacks and whites along with the intensity of the colours and pixel resolution, and if you are prepared to pay the extra then you will not regret it.

tut

ps:- LG are the only ones that now make OLED screens, Panasonic do a 4K 65" version at £8,000 but it uses a LG screen.

[douglasgdmw]

I have tended to go with the recommendations of What HiFi magazine and they have picked this one as the best 47-52:
http://www.whathifi.com/samsung/ue48ju7000/review

I have also tended to go with Richer Sounds as if you join their VIP mebership program (which is free) then you get 5 years guarantee and they will refund the difference if you can find the TV cheaper in 7 days (off the top of my head).

If you are going to be wall mounting the TV then I do not know whether a curved TV would look best - they have always looked strange to me when on a flat wall, just my personal opinion however.

George

[Lazydonkey]

I've got a JU6300 Samsung 48" curved (£539) a few months ago and my FiL has just bought the JU6500 48" curved for £1k.

Can't honestly say i can see the quality difference between the two, but the latter is 4k if you're talking about future proofing. The more expensive one has a funky remote but i wouldn't say it was worth the extra TBH. i'd say a 55" version of my TV would be a great buy. John Lewis have them at £769 right now.

The curve definately gives more depth to the picture, sometimes it looks like the background is green screen (if that makes sense) as the people appear to be a bit forward from the background.

Hope this helps - i always feel you pay a huge premium for the very latest tech, and on something like 4k the sources aren't there yet so i don't see the point.

Mind you i've also got a £600 projector and it's fcuk amazing if you've got the space / wall.....which i've just read that you don't. Sanj doesn't either but that doesn't stop him

[Scuffers]

I have the Samsung UE55HU7200 (55" curved 4K)

Had it about a year now, and it's a good TV for the money (can be had for £580 now!)

Picture wise, it's about as good as LED get's, but it's very dependant on what the source is (especially 4K stuff)

if picture quality is the key for you, get the LG OLED 4K 55", it really is stunning, it's actually better than the last of the Plasma's and so much better contrast than the LED ones (not that they are bad, but that OLED is that good), they do still cost though.

Looked at the 8500 Samsung's, but they offer nothing in picture terms the 7200 does not (bar 3D).

I use Plex a lot with mine, and with good source material, I would recommend it.

Last bit, sound is OK as flat-screens go, but you really need an AV system.