50-52 inch Supertest; Kuro vs W4000?

[admin_exported]

Thank you What HiFi for the 50-52 inch supertest in this month's issue - which comes at an extremely helpful moment as I look to upgrade from my old Sony 40 inch KDL V2000.

I'm trying to choose now between the Pioneer 5090 and the Sony 52 W4000, both of which are obviously great screens. A large part of my viewing remains Freeview SD, watched in the evening (ie under semi dark conditions).

Based on this criteria and this criteria ONLY - ie SD Freeview - can you (or anybody else) give me a view on which is the better screen for that function ?

With many thanks

Tim.

 

[Clare Newsome]

Hi Tim,

The tuners in both sets are solid, so if you can afford it, go for the Pioneer.

However, I can't help feeling a 50in Full HD set maybe isn't the best pick for you if you're mostly watching SD broadcast TV.

Even the best sets, like the Sony and Pioneer, will struggle to make a low bit-rate Freeview channel look good - there's simply so much upscaling involved.

 

[Anonymous]

So, should Tim be looking at a HD Ready set then which involves less upscaling? If that's the case, then the Pioneer HD Ready 508 would be the best choice for that size IMO. Check that out as well and save some money.

 

[Anonymous]

Hi Tim, I have purchased the Pioneer 5090 an d with freeview it is very good indeed you will not be disappointed, I bought it from TLC Broadcast.co.uk good luck

 

[skr1]

My upscaled freeview picture was better than i expected . Pioneer 6090

 

[Anonymous]

Thank you Clare for your quick response and thank you guys for all your comments. There are some other relevant factors in that it is a larger than average room, and I hope to have access to Sky HD by xmas. The final answer of course and as I know is to find a store where I can see the sets side by side or as near to that as I can - though I have found this impossible in the Oxford St department stores, and will now seek out a specialised dealer!

Tim.