Gimme some telly advice

[sam86]

Need some TV advice please chaps. I'm a bit of a numpty with TV's, and still sad I'm having to get rid of my CRT's!

1. (perhaps more of a 'new building' question). I'm moving into a new block of flats (built in January), and in the front room there is a television point, with a lead already coming out of the wall. Apparently the estate agent, and the landlord don't know what this is... Does anyone have any idea? Will it likely just be to an aerial on top of the flats that everyone uses for BBC 1, 2, ITV, 4, 5? Or perhaps it can be used with a freeview box?

2. I guess this is more about opinions then anything. But, I need a small 19" (or so) flat screen for my new bedroom. I will most likely just be hooking it up to digital TV / freeview (whatever comes built in, as long as something does!). Keeping in mind I still like my CRT's, will I be alright with an 'HD Ready' LCD TV? I don't care too much about picture quality. I won't have blue rays. I won't use my PS3 on it. Etc. Seems liike 'HD' TV's are about £100 more than 'HD Ready' TV's of this size. Basically, I want to know if I'm missing something between HD and HD Ready, or, for what I will use it for (crap freeview TV to put me to sleep at night), HD Ready will be sufficient?

Cheers.

 

[clippedgull]

Need some TV advice please chaps. I'm a bit of a numpty with TV's, and still sad I'm having to get rid of my CRT's!

1. (perhaps more of a 'new building' question). I'm moving into a new block of flats (built in January), and in the front room there is a television point, with a lead already coming out of the wall. Apparently the estate agent, and the landlord don't know what this is... Does anyone have any idea? Will it likely just be to an aerial on top of the flats that everyone uses for BBC 1, 2, ITV, 4, 5? Or perhaps it can be used with a freeview box?

2. I guess this is more about opinions then anything. But, I need a small 19" (or so) flat screen for my new bedroom. I will most likely just be hooking it up to digital TV / freeview (whatever comes built in, as long as something does!). Keeping in mind I still like my CRT's, will I be alright with an 'HD Ready' LCD TV? I don't care too much about picture quality. I won't have blue rays. I won't use my PS3 on it. Etc. Seems liike 'HD' TV's are about £100 more than 'HD Ready' TV's of this size. Basically, I want to know if I'm missing something between HD and HD Ready, or, for what I will use it for (crap freeview TV to put me to sleep at night), HD Ready will be sufficient?

Cheers.

1: Probably an aerial lead. If the aerial is capable of picking up a 'digital signal' then yes you can put a freeview box on the end of it. Trial and error really.

2: HD Ready means a digital box can be attached. HDTV means a digi card is already included into the TV.

 

[Acker79]

Basically, I want to know if I'm missing something between HD and HD Ready, or, for what I will use it for (crap freeview TV to put me to sleep at night), HD Ready will be sufficient?

Cheers.

I'm pretty sure that there is no difference between an HD TV and an HD ready tv, that is an "HD tv" is technically only actually "HD ready", i.e. it is ready to produce a high definition picture if you have a high definition source (blu ray, sky hd, ps3 etc.)

EDIT: But looking at this HDTV Ready vs. HDTV -- Engadget HD it seems clippedgull is right.

 

[sam86]

2: HD Ready means a digital box can be attached. HDTV means a digi card is already included into the TV.

So do 'HD Ready' TV's not come with built in Freeview/Digital? That would be a suprise, as even my 5+ year old CRT has some sort of digital built in (apologies if I have misunderstood - which I probably have).

 

[Acker79]

So do 'HD Ready' TV's not come with built in Freeview/Digital? That would be a suprise, as even my 5+ year old CRT has some sort of digital built in (apologies if I have misunderstood - which I probably have).

I think it means it might have freeview, but you won't be able to watch any high definition channels, unless you get a freeview hd box (or freesat/sky/virgin HD box).

 

[sam86]

Cheers Acker.

Anyone else got an opinion?

Cheers.

 

[Tricky Dicky]

I have a 32inch 100Hz 1080p Panasonic (Patrick) Viera what I bought nearly two years ago - no complaints so far.

I had a 32" Viera as well, although about 5 years old.. Thought it was ok, until it stopped working. Now have a 40" Samsung, which is rather better IMO.

 

[Danny-Boy]

Got a long wait though until 2015..allegedly. Still a public school boy like you should make it....

 

[Arthritic Toe]

This may be obvious to TV nerds, but when you get it, dont forget to connect it to your freesat box (or whatever) using an hdmi cable, not a scart lead as the picture won't be HD through the scart interface. However, you can use the cheapest possible hdmi leads (Tesco hdmi lead is £4.99), as being digital, the signal quality is in no way affected by the quality of the lead. You can pay in excess of £90 for an hdmi cable if you are suitably gullable.

I know someone who ran their HD TV through a scart lead for 6 months before they realised they needed an hdmi cable....

 

[sam86]

Cheers AT. That is good to know.

How much should I be spending on a 19" HD Ready then? Seen some for £99. Are they going to be SHIT, or is that about right?

If anyone has any thoughts of my #1 at the top of this page, that would be good...

Cheers, again.

 

[marcos3263]

I have a 32" LG LH4000 bought about 18 months ago for £450.

it is connected to SKY HD and a xbox 360, I dont watch many DVDs

Every day I rejoice what a flipping brilliant picture it is.

Lovely menus, nice styling, sound is ok although if I am gaming or watching a match etc I switch to the surround sound anyway.

This TV dropped in price to £400 practically the next week but I dont care, I would happily have paid more!!

Prob being given away now in crackers as old stock but I am well happy

 

[seagullsovergrimsby]

Go for a 42" inch screen which will easily fit into the space needed by a 32" CRT. A LCD/LED TV will have a limited viewing angle which means the picture will look washed out if you are watching off axis. This is ok if you're the person that sits in the "sweetspot" , a plasma TV doesn't have this problem. Make sure the TV is Full HD ie 1920 x 1080p resolution. LCD , LCD/LED and Plasma TVs all have niggly problems but unless you're a perfectionist they can be put to one side.