Best LCD, HDD/DVD/Upscaling/PVR combos - budget £2000.

[Ono]

Friend wants to get a decent LCD, upscaling DVD and HDD/PVR + DVD recorder setup.

He's got a decent enough budget of about £2000 for the lot but I don't think he needs it all.

Questions are I suppose:

Best 40-42 inch LCD
Best upscaling DVD player (can be combined with below if it upscales)
Best HDD/DVD/PVR combo (do any of these have twin tuners?)


I'm thinking across the Samsung range here at the moment as looks are just as important - as decreed per his Missus.

[splobber]

Prolly the Samsung LE40M87, although he would be wise to check out the plasma market too

Oppo 981

No idea about the PVR, although SkyHD is worth looking at.

[GAmbrose]

£2000 would get you a loverly Panasonic HD Plasma, Upscaling DVD player and Sky HD. Is there a reason he has plumped for an LCD instead?

Gary A

[Ono]

Is there a reason he has plumped for an LCD instead?


Yeah, cos I told him to :D

Seriously though, the guy watches very little TV and is not currently interested in HD so I advised him not to spend loads on a top notch TV when a very good one would do.

He doesn't have Sky and needs a PVR to record the 1 or 2 programs a week. :nuts:

Ideally, he's like a all in one solution to PVR, DVD Recorder & Upscaling DVD.

[splobber]

If he isn't interested in HD then he should definitely look at a plasma...

[joconnor]

Personally I would go with a Plasma. In fact last week I did.

Having spent the best part of 2 months researching/procrastinating I decided that Plasma was the route to go.

I also have an Oppo player which is literally jaw dropping when hooked up to the plasma.

[Ono]

If he isn't interested in HD then he should definitely look at a plasma...

He isn't interested in HD yet but he expects to keep this TV fopr 5-8 years so needs to be future proofed.

[splobber]

Huh, some friend you are.

[pigpicker]

According to AVforums there are a couple of cracking new Samsungs coming out in the next month or so - F86 and F96 - which I'll be taking a close look at.

The 40" F86 should be around £1200 and will have 1080p with 100hz (120hz US) technology to reduce/minimise flicker and also accomodates 24fps to reduce judder when playing HD/Bluray.
It'll have a contrast ratio of 25000:1 which some people might find interesting although it isn't the be all and end all.

The F96, I believe, has all this however also incorporates a revolutionary locally-dimming LED back light that is 'meant' to greatly enhance picture quality. From the reports I've read on AVS forums it'll retail for slightly more but should be worth it.

I'll be waiting for the reviews first but hopefully these LCD's will start to come close to a decent plasma picture and maybe even better it!

[splobber]

I'm waiting for the F96 as well before getting my next TV, although no doubt something better will be in the pipeline by the time it comes out.

[LouBarlow]

If he's not interested in hi-def he would be nuts to get an LCD in my opinion.

[Ono]

If he's not interested in hi-def he would be nuts to get an LCD in my opinion.

Erm, did you see my post above?

He's not interested in a HD source at the moment - but in a few years' time when HD is standard he'll want a HD ready TV.

[LouBarlow]

Erm, yes I did.

Why buy a television now then when you aren't going to get any proper use out of it for 6 years, by what time better sets will be about for less money?

And SD looks **** on LCD's period, hence my comment.

[splobber]

In a few years there will be something else on the market so it would be best to go with what suits his needs now rather then in six years time.

[LouBarlow]

So get a CRT. Case closed.

If SD is going to be it's major use, if you *have* to have a new tv, then I'd definitely go plasma. Less **** for SD (just) :D

[thescrounger]

SD is only as good as the scaler in the TV.

[pigpicker]

I'm waiting for the F96 as well before getting my next TV, although no doubt something better will be in the pipeline by the time it comes out.
I've been playing the old 'wait for what's just around the corner' game for a while now but I've decided that (if the reviews are favourable) the F96 is where I'll stick my dosh.
It's revolutionary technology which I'm sure will be improved quite quickly but compared to the current LCD benchmarks around at the moment it should be at the top of the tree.

OK - well I've just put the kiss of death on the F96 then! Get ready for screen clouding, motion-blur, judder and probably a slight niff of poo!

P.s. Have you heard what sizes Sammy will be launching the F96 in Europe? Apparently it's being reported that 52" will be the smallest sized panel available for a while but surely this set will price itself out of the market??

Sorry for hijacking thread - don't bother replying to the last question

[Ono]

And SD looks **** on LCD's period, hence my comment.

SD looks fine on my Sammy.

He is interested in upscaling DVDs, hence being part of my original question so having an LCD is not wasted.

Basically he just moved, is in the middle of decorating and is looking to install a big flat TV for use from now and over the next few years. He's had his current CRT for about 12 years :nuts:

He's also the type that doesn't go out looking for technology but rather looks technology to arrive on his doorstep. I estimate either BD or HD-DVD, along with HD Sky or HD Freeview will find him in 2-3 years and he won't be upgrading again - hence the need for a HD TV now.

Think I'll go with the Sammy combo.

[zantarous]

SD looks fine on my Sammy LCD too, although I do use a upscaling V+ box. Modern LCD’s have come a long way and upscalled DVD looks fab.

So get a CRT. Case closed

Erm just how heavy would a 40” -42” CRT be let alone finding a manufacture that actually still make them big. Actually I seem to recall the biggest CRT was 40” by Lowe. In fact try buying a CRT over 14” is quite a task now as virtually all TV’s over that size are LCD and Plasmas.

As for a PVR I have a Pioneer HDD/DVR which served me well when I had a standard cable box, very good features and very easy to use. I do believe that they now do one with a Freeview tuner and HDMI socket for upscaling.

Something like this http://reviews.cnet.co.uk/dvdpvr/0,39030416,49289084,00.htm I am sure if your friend shops around he will get a much better price.

I'm waiting for the F96 as well before getting my next TV, although no doubt something better will be in the pipeline by the time it comes out.

I remember when I was looking at getting be TV back in Dec/Jan and could not decide between the Sony and Sammy you were waiting for a new model. And now they are here you are still waiting. I played that game for so many years I am so glad that I finally bought one.

[splobber]

I'm not really in any hurry as I have a 42PX60 that I bought last June so can afford to wait.

[chris21]

Freeview looks very nice on my Philips LCD, but SD DVD's look noticeably worse than they did on my CRT.

[Ono]

Thanks to everyone for their views.

He called me yesterday and and told me he has bought a 46 inch LCD, the SAMSUNG LE46M87BDX/XEU (http://www.thedvdforums.com/jump2.php?url=http://www.awin1.com/awclick.php?mid=157&id=30372&p=http://www.comet.co.uk/cometbrowse/product.do?sku=389617&cm_ven=Affiliatewindow&cm_cat=Affiliate&cm_pla=Affiliate&cm_ite=Affiliate) :nuts:

He's also looking to get a HDD Recorder, the Samsung DVD-SH855M 250Gb with Freeview (http://www.thedvdforums.com/jump2.php?url=http://clkuk.tradedoubler.com/click?p(50092)a(60823)g(16417296)url(http://www.shop.bt.com/ProductView.aspx?Quicklinx=4LRB)) but it is out of stock at the moment. Great price BTW for that at BTShop.

Thinking of lending him my HD-DVD kit to test it all out :D