Just buying a screen, not a TV?

[admin_exported]

Hi everyone - I'm going to be in the market for a new TV soon as my 4.5 year old 32 inch Samsung is looking a little long in the tooth and frankly my surround setup only has one flaw, the screen

I'm using:

Denon AVR-3808a
Dali Suite 2.8 front's
Dali Lektor 2 rears
A Dali Blue C1000 front

My video sources are all pumped into the amp, and then into the screen. After reading a fair few reviews I've come to the conclusion that I really don't need anything in the TV - I don't need a remote, speakers, a tuner, any inputs other than a single HDMI - in fact nothing but a picture

So bareing that in mind - can you offer any advice on what I should be lookign for and where I should go? I don't even know the terminology for this sort of thing so any pointers would really help.

thanks very much for your time.

 

[Anonymous]

hmmm , to my knowledge , your choices are limited to lcd monitors , or a panasonic proffessional plasma screen , the former are really only meant for use with computers , though some can give great picture quality depending on source , but the best 1080p ones can cost more than an arguably better tv , so i dont see the sense in going down that road ..

the panny prof plasma screens are very good , but expensive , and again , you would probably get similar quality from one of their regular , mass market plasmas , for less money , so i cant see any sense in one of them either ..

whats your budget and preffered screen size ??

 

[Anonymous]

maxflinn:whats your budget and preffered screen size ??

Bit up in the air at the moment to be honest, i'm just scouting around looking at what sort of things are available now and doing some research - that said I spent almost £3K on the audio so having something that didn't match would be silly.

Size I'd hope 50+, price, I suppose somewhere between £1K&£2K, but not looking to purchase in the next 3 months, so plenty of shopping around. I'm not fussed about not getting this months model either. The Amp has already been superseded but I intend to keep it for the next ten years

I'm only saying what about a monitor, because everything else would be a waste of resources, I have a Harmony remote, the surround speakers are always on for any tv watching so I'd never hear the speakers, and I'd literally only have the one signal going into it ever!

Thanks for the feedback

 

[Anonymous]

the best tv available today is (arguably) the panasonic 50vt20 3d plasma , £2k may just be enough to get you one , presuming your amp has at least a couple of hdmi inputs ? you could buy a panasonic 3d blu-ray player (do you currently have a blu-ray player ?) , and you would be futureproofed , you would be able to watch 3d movies when they become more widely available , and enjoy the best current 2d picture also ..

seeing as you appear to be someone that doesnt change/upgrade kit too often , i think the pannys would be your best bet ..

 

[bigboss]

maxflinn:

hmmm , to my knowledge , your choices are limited to lcd monitors , or a panasonic proffessional plasma screen , the former are really only meant for use with computers , though some can give great picture quality depending on source , but the best 1080p ones can cost more than an arguably better tv , so i dont see the sense in going down that road ..

the panny prof plasma screens are very good , but expensive , and again , you would probably get similar quality from one of their regular , mass market plasmas , for less money , so i cant see any sense in one of them either ..

That's exactly what I was going to say! Couldn't have put it better.

 

[Anonymous]

cheers bb , i do feel more at home in the tv section , after my recent turbulent venture into the complex world of the home cinema and hifi sections

 

[dave_k]

What about a projector/screen combination?

 

[The_Lhc]

If you're extremely lucky you might find a Pioneer KRP-500M somewhere, this was basically the 500A but without the tuner box and with a single HDMI port instead of the A's system port. It could be bought with or without speakers as well. I doubt they sold in the same numbers as the As, so there might be somewhere with one left but they probably weren't built in the same numbers either.

 

[6th.replicant]

I too wish the likes of Panasonic, Sony et al included 'monitor-only' versions of their TVs for those of us who don't need a tuner, sound/speakers & wifi gimmickry etc.

I'm sure the marketing bods would have field day with some BS range-name, too.

Just imagine: a slim-line set with best-quality components for fabulous pic quality - and reliability/build consistency.

Cost: c. £1200 for 42in; c. £1600 for 50in.

Dream on!

 

[simonlewis]

To the op, have you tried contacting the manufactures directly they may be able to help.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks very much for all the feedback everybody

maxflinn:

the best tv available today is (arguably) the panasonic 50vt20 3d plasma , £2k may just be enough to get you one , presuming your amp has at least a couple of hdmi inputs ? you could buy a panasonic 3d blu-ray player (do you currently have a blu-ray player ?) , and you would be futureproofed , you would be able to watch 3d movies when they become more widely available , and enjoy the best current 2d picture also ..

seeing as you appear to be someone that doesnt change/upgrade kit too often , i think the pannys would be your best bet ..

The amp has 4 inputs luckily, (all taken). Do I need to check that the amp can handle a 3d HDMI signal? It only came out last year so it's pretty new.

The 50vt20 looks like a very nice TV, and I think I could probably fit to the budget in a few months time if everything goes ok with work (I'm a contractor so I never know if I'm going to get paid!). I do have a Blu Ray player but I'd be happy to sell it and get a 3d player somewhere further down the line.

the_lhc:If you're extremely lucky you might find a Pioneer KRP-500M somewhere

I've had a look and they do seem to be available, *but* for the same price or more than the prior mentioned 50vt20 so I presume the latter may represent a better deal now?

slewis:To the op, have you tried contacting the
manufactures directly they may be able to help.

I haven't - but I will have a think about doing it actually, who gets the reccomendation? Sony? Panasonic?

Thanks again all - realy great feedback

Cheers

 

[Anonymous]

if you do decide to get the new 3d pana , and if u also get a pana 3d bluray player , you wont need to upgrade your amp , this is because they have two hdmi outputs , one to send the 3d picture to your av amp , and one to send the audio to the amp , any current hdmi cables will suffice too..

if you buy a different make of 3d player , sony , samsung etc ,you would need a new av amp too , as all other makes bar panasonic only have one hdmi out , and its 1.4 spec too .. your current amp would not be compatable with them , you would need to upgrade amp and cable ..

its a no brainer if one is going 3d , and doesnt want to have to buy a new av receiver , a panasonic 3d blu-ray player is the answer ...

 

[Anonymous]

Seems like a major oversight on the part of the other manufacturers...

Or just a ploy to get us to part with even more cash

 

[Anonymous]

Its a question of supply and demand...

... Screens with sound, remote etc are so much more popular so end up being cheaper than screens without so manufacturers stopped making them.

99% of the time I only use the on off from the remote and the sound is set to zero!

Have you thought of a projector?

 

[TKratz]

Tetsugaku:

the_lhc:If you're extremely lucky you might find a Pioneer KRP-500M somewhere

I've had a look and they do seem to be available, *but* for the same price or more than the prior mentioned 50vt20 so I presume the latter may represent a better deal now?

If you like to indulge in 3D, 50VT20 is one of the best screens out there.

But if you are purely interested in 2D, I would still argue that KRP-500M is better.

 

[6th.replicant]

Yesterday, I saw a 50vt20 3D demo at Best Buy.

The Airfix-grade-plastic glasses were broken & held together with elastic bands, then the Geek Squad fella showed me a desk drawer full of broken Panasonic 3D specs: 'We're hoping Panasonic are going to upgrade the design soon..." Makes you wonder if Panasonic have cut corners in other areas of the 50VT20's overall spec(!) and build-quality?

FWIW, I thought that the 3D-effect of all the 3D TVs on display was so feeble it was laughable - and also very, very artificial.

Obviously, in 9 months there'll be a new range of 3D TVs that'll be a vast improvement on this initial batch; then in a further 9 months another advance; then 9 months after that...

In short, arguably the 50VT20 is going to look very old hat this time next year + the discount stores will be selling it for c. £1400?

 

[Anonymous]

6th replicant.. did a tv fall on your head when you were a baby ?

 

[6th.replicant]

maxflinn:6th replicant.. did a tv fall on your head when you were a baby ?

I beg your pardon?! Care to explain your comment?

 

[Anonymous]

6th.replicant:maxflinn:6th replicant.. did a tv fall on your head when you were a baby ?

I beg your pardon?! Care to explain your comment?just that you seem so peeved off with tvs , any tv that someone mentions , you can find a problem with it , do you even like tvs ?

 

[6th.replicant]

maxflinn:6th.replicant:maxflinn:6th replicant.. did a tv fall on your head when you were a baby ?

I beg your pardon?! Care to explain your comment?just that you seem so peeved off with tvs...

Might have something to do with the fact that the last four TVs that I've purchased ALL had fundamental faults. And that's not just my experience: a 2010 Consumer Direct survey cited TVs as number-2 - and that's up one slot from last year's chart position - in the rankings of consumer complaints.
maxflinn: ...any tv that someone mentions , you can find a problem with it...

Merely expressing my opinions and sharing my experiences. Isn't that this forum's raison d'etre?
maxflinn: ...do you even like tvs ?

I'll have a Kuro KRP-500M, thanks.

BTW, any chance that you could be civil when replying to a post that doesn't concur with your Panasonic-loving outlook?

 

[Anonymous]

6th , im always civil , you didnt see the humour in my post , and pick up on it , like i thought you would ..

im not a panasonic lover at all really , just appreciate their recent plasma tvs , i think they are the best tvs on sale , i own a sony blu-ray player ..

i know you have had some bad luck with tvs recently , i suppose the same experience would sour me a little too , but saying the vt20s 3d performance is laughable ? well , your in a tiny minority ..

but as you say , its a forum , everyone is entitled to voice their opinions , good luck with finding a tv that you are happy with

 

[The_Lhc]

maxflinn: but saying the vt20s 3d performance is laughable ? well , your in a tiny minority ..

Yes, of people who have actually seen it...

 

[Anonymous]

the_lhc:
maxflinn: but saying the vt20s 3d performance is laughable ? well , your in a tiny minority ..

Yes, of people who have actually seen it...
well add me to the list , i seen it today , and it was very good imo ..

 

[bigboss]

6th.replicant: Might have something to do with the fact that the last four TVs that I've purchased ALL had fundamental faults.

Gosh! You're incredibly unlucky!!!

 

[6th.replicant]

maxflinn:... you didnt see the humour in my post , and pick up on it , like i thought you would ...
May I respectfully suggest a more appropriate use of emoticons?

maxflinn:... but saying the vt20s 3d performance is laughable ? well , your in a tiny minority ...
Not specifically criticising the VT20's 3D-effect, IMHO all of the TVs in the demo room displayed feeble 3D images.

"Tiny minority"? In the beginning, that's what they said about 8-Track's Naysayers!

Still, I'm sure 3D TVs will be freakishly effective - in approx three generations hence.