Navigating brands, models, quirks and prices....it's a bit of a minefield!

[Venger]

This is really me just thinking out loud tbh but...

This time last week I was decided on buying a second hand, probably OLED, 55” tv of some description.

Fast forward a week and I’m more or less decided I’m now going to buy new.

I did post here actually and was given some helpful links, one of which took me to the classified ads over on avforums and I got in touch with a couple of sellers but the logistics of transporting large, thin, tvs of this type without their original packaging started to bother me somewhat – not least for the fact I’d need to hire a small van or borrow something suitable for transport.

I must be honest and say I’ve now got a bit bogged down in model numbers and after hours of reading the reviews and then checking prices at all the usual places you get a bit snow blind!

I should say from the start that anything I buy will be a massive step up from the Panasonic LCD I’ve got now but what bothers me (or is it bugs me) are the so called ‘foibles’ some of these tvs exhibit.

I appreciate there will always be a pros and cons list, no perfect piece of kit exists, so it was back in the day when I was into two channel hi-fi but when you read about LG C4’s experiencing green tint problems or LG G4’s having HDMI2 problems, I get a bit concerned about parting with my cash.

In my opinion these aren’t things on the cons list at the end of a review, they’re really faults.

I don’t have an unlimited budget unfortunately so I’ve been wondering about buying new but buying last year’s model as it were and this kind of leads me to my point – leaving cost to one side for a moment, is there ever a scenario where the older model may actually be ‘better’ than the current model?

I don’t mean better in terms of value for money, I mean technically, in the way it goes about doing what it’s supposed to do, or is it simply the case that, year on year, each new model will be better than the last and if you’re like me, coming from an ancient tv and not upgrading from something more recent, you just buy the latest model and, hopefully, have your mind blown?

I’ve found a LG G3 for sale at £1,399 albeit I’ve never heard of the company selling it. The G4 is currently on sale at Richer Sounds for £1,699 and of course I’d have to buy a stand for the G3.

I’ve also found a 2023 LG C3 for sale at £1,029, with Richer Sounds selling the C4 for £1,199.

I don't know if these are particularly good deals and people are still reporting green tint issues with the C3 and I really thought that OLED’s were supposed to have excellent viewing angles.

I'm also a bit concerned about the automatic brightness limiter technology across various brands - in some reviews it seems like it can be quite heavy handed and can't be switched off, is it really that noticeable when it kicks in?

So I dunno, I’m not really sure who to give my money to tbh, altho current models, the Samsung S95D sounds interesting and better still, I quite like the Panasonic Z95A, particularly as it’s got something approaching half decent sound but £2000 is way out of my budget.

Sorry for my ramblings.

 

[GSV Ethics Gradient]

I'd be prepared to pay a bit more at Richers to get their 6-yr warranty:

Thank heavens for Richer Sounds...

Fault with my TV after 3 years. Front LED keeps going off, and when it does the set is unresponsive to the remote. LG gave me a quick way to reboot it yesterday, and it works fine when restarted. But LED keeps extinguishing. Rang LG as the set's now three years' old, only to be told at first...

forums.whathifi.com

And I'll repeat my point that while it's not an unknown fault, it's certainly not common. I wouldn't be put off another LG in future.

 

[Venger]

I love it when you hear the words 'known fault'....if it's known, why don't LG do something about it!

The biggest thing I've ever bought from RS is a phono lead but I used to work 5 mins from their London Bridge store and at the time, I used to avoid it like the plague . Walking into a cramped shop piled to the ceilings with boxes of gear by brands I'd never heard of was not the hi-fi shopping experience I was looking for but that probably says more about me than them.

Fair play to them though - they really pulled it out the bag to assist with your tv, glad you got it sorted in the end.

The 6 year warranty you mentioned, I'm assuming you have to pay for that and is it separate from the 5 year warranty that seems to be advertised on a lot on websites for the big brands?

...and talking of RS, what is the whole VIP thing about? If it costs you absolutely nothing to join and there's no subscription I don't really understand the point. Clearly no one would buy a high ticket price item from them without joining first which means everyone will join which means it's not really VIP? Is it just a way of showing a reduced ticket price when in reality the VIP price is the price most other retailers are selling the item for anyway?

 

[bigboss]

I love it when you hear the words 'known fault'....if it's known, why don't LG do something about it!

The biggest thing I've ever bought from RS is a phono lead but I used to work 5 mins from their London Bridge store and at the time, I used to avoid it like the plague . Walking into a cramped shop piled to the ceilings with boxes of gear by brands I'd never heard of was not the hi-fi shopping experience I was looking for but that probably says more about me than them.

Fair play to them though - they really pulled it out the bag to assist with your tv, glad you got it sorted in the end.

The 6 year warranty you mentioned, I'm assuming you have to pay for that and is it separate from the 5 year warranty that seems to be advertised on a lot on websites for the big brands?

...and talking of RS, what is the whole VIP thing about? If it costs you absolutely nothing to join and there's no subscription I don't really understand the point. Clearly no one would buy a high ticket price item from them without joining first which means everyone will join which means it's not really VIP? Is it just a way of showing a reduced ticket price when in reality the VIP price is the price most other retailers are selling the item for anyway?

Richer Sounds have consistently scored in top 3 for customer service in the UK for several years. I won't be put off by the size of their shop in a prime location in London, when several like Comet, Dixon's etc. have closed.

Their VIP scheme basically means signing up to their newsletter. You can always unsubscribe from their email distribution list later.

Not to forget, they also price match. I'll always buy from Richer Sounds for their excellent customer service and after sales support.

Their 6 year warranty is included. You don't pay anything extra.

 

[Venger]

Richer Sounds have consistently scored in top 3 for customer service in the UK for several years. I won't be put off by the size of their shop in a prime location in London, when several like Comet, Dixon's etc. have closed.

Oh I totally agree, you can't knock their modus operandi when other retailers in the sector have fallen by the wayside.

If I can finally make a decision on what model to go for, there's every chance I may buy it from them as there's a store relatively near where I live, I just find the VIP thing odd altho I guess it's their marketing shtick, in the same way retailers conjure up an RRP, put a slash through it and charge you something else, everybody does it.

 

[R2D2]

This is really me just thinking out loud tbh but...

This time last week I was decided on buying a second hand, probably OLED, 55” tv of some description.

Fast forward a week and I’m more or less decided I’m now going to buy new.

I did post here actually and was given some helpful links, one of which took me to the classified ads over on avforums and I got in touch with a couple of sellers but the logistics of transporting large, thin, tvs of this type without their original packaging started to bother me somewhat – not least for the fact I’d need to hire a small van or borrow something suitable for transport.

I must be honest and say I’ve now got a bit bogged down in model numbers and after hours of reading the reviews and then checking prices at all the usual places you get a bit snow blind!

I should say from the start that anything I buy will be a massive step up from the Panasonic LCD I’ve got now but what bothers me (or is it bugs me) are the so called ‘foibles’ some of these tvs exhibit.

I appreciate there will always be a pros and cons list, no perfect piece of kit exists, so it was back in the day when I was into two channel hi-fi but when you read about LG C4’s experiencing green tint problems or LG G4’s having HDMI2 problems, I get a bit concerned about parting with my cash.

In my opinion these aren’t things on the cons list at the end of a review, they’re really faults.

I don’t have an unlimited budget unfortunately so I’ve been wondering about buying new but buying last year’s model as it were and this kind of leads me to my point – leaving cost to one side for a moment, is there ever a scenario where the older model may actually be ‘better’ than the current model?

I don’t mean better in terms of value for money, I mean technically, in the way it goes about doing what it’s supposed to do, or is it simply the case that, year on year, each new model will be better than the last and if you’re like me, coming from an ancient tv and not upgrading from something more recent, you just buy the latest model and, hopefully, have your mind blown?

I’ve found a LG G3 for sale at £1,399 albeit I’ve never heard of the company selling it. The G4 is currently on sale at Richer Sounds for £1,699 and of course I’d have to buy a stand for the G3.

I’ve also found a 2023 LG C3 for sale at £1,029, with Richer Sounds selling the C4 for £1,199.

I don't know if these are particularly good deals and people are still reporting green tint issues with the C3 and I really thought that OLED’s were supposed to have excellent viewing angles.

I'm also a bit concerned about the automatic brightness limiter technology across various brands - in some reviews it seems like it can be quite heavy handed and can't be switched off, is it really that noticeable when it kicks in?

So I dunno, I’m not really sure who to give my money to tbh, altho current models, the Samsung S95D sounds interesting and better still, I quite like the Panasonic Z95A, particularly as it’s got something approaching half decent sound but £2000 is way out of my budget.

Sorry for my ramblings.

This seems to be the best price for the Samsung 55S95D TV at Smiths TVs for £1350 with 10 per cent off code, I would phone up Richer Sounds and get them to price match:

Samsung QE55S95D 55" OLED 4K HDR Smart TV

Important InformationSave another 10 percent off marked price with voucher code TV10Manufacturer Guarantee1 year EAN8806095453422

www.smithstv.co.uk

The LG G4 comes with a wall mount or stand and costs two different prices. The wall mount one can be had for £1500 the cheapest which again you get Richer Sounds to price match.

The LG 55G3 can be had for £1400 odd but I would avoid that because it’s an older model and the G4 would be worth the extra £100. Again it does come with stand, although you can buy a Bontec feet stand on Amazon for £20 odd:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/1home-Universal-Pedestal-TVs-Securely-800x400mm-32-70-Upright-Height-Adjustable/dp/B01ESPNXJW/ref=sr_1_6?crid=YQH37JNIKOSZ&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.iRts8XWKNRuJPr6b0UbFDSAhdOaiNdTurkLIYWZgDkW0tT0A7dQBmGTZX14JHFQCM7sXdi9rN4zgVgs6HDlU4z-T_bgtI1mv-kCL832wuarXp9j9kL9Qqj8gU7zyUpD8FRlMCJNQUmjO4V5B9u-9S4YwgvqSlXiXQ5-S5i-PFs1Ndhn9-8D9yD3QLuMQxUHv8QSn8f2-zkH1KrmgtIcy07PcQ9R7akP6f9EEtGmc_JY.DXYtC7aQr1GSsMgz77fwRiQgG9NReYCl8gypPCHR5vo&dib_tag=se&keywords=bontec+tv+stand&qid=1737628707&sprefix=Bontec+%2Caps%2C65&sr=8-6

The LG 55C4 model can be had from LG direct for a good price:

55 inch LG OLED AI C4 4K Smart TV 2024 - OLED55C44LA.AEK | LG UK

Discover the next generation of LG's Smart AI TVs, OLED55C44LA.AEK, for the optimal viewing experience tailored to you through the webOS platform's smart AI features. Click for pictures, reviews, and tech specs for the LG OLED AI C4 55 inch 4K Smart TV 2024.

www.lg.com

10 per cent discount off too. 5 per cent off when you join the website too. 2 per cent off again for being a member which is free. £100 trade in discount when you trade in your old TV this would be worth it with your 32-inch TV. You could be looking a a real bargain with all these discount on LG website. It also comes with TV stand.

https://www.lg.com/uk/promotion/

See above for extra 5 percent off and 2 per cent off and £100 trade in.

 

[Venger]

This seems to be the best price for the Samsung 55S95D TV at Smiths TVs for £1350 with 10 per cent off code, I would phone up Richer Sounds and get them to price match:

That's what I was wondering about doing actually. I saw that price on Smiths TV yesterday, I'm not really familiar with that company, not sure if anyone's had any dealings with them but as you say, if RS price match it then it's irrelevant, I could get it from RS.

 

[R2D2]

That's what I was wondering about doing actually. I saw that price on Smiths TV yesterday, I'm not really familiar with that company, not sure if anyone's had any dealings with them but as you say, if RS price match it then it's irrelevant, I could get it from RS.

Smiths TVs looks good to be honest and I have bought and cancelled from them before and everything was fine. But I would get Richer Sounds to price match on the phone and order that way. If they don’t price match I would buy direct from Smiths TVs or get Peter Tyson to price match on the phone.

The Samsung 55S95D is a brilliant TV and is my first recommendation for sure and it’s good in a bright room like yours. Has stand already too.

 

[GSV Ethics Gradient]

The 6 year warranty you mentioned, I'm assuming you have to pay for that and is it separate from the 5 year warranty that seems to be advertised on a lot on websites for the big brands?

It's factored into the price, not added on top. EDIT - as BB says.

 

[R2D2]

The LG 55C4 has a 10 per cent discount code on page at Richer Sounds and you get a free £300 soundbar:

LG OLED55C44LA

Shop for LG OLED55C44LA 55 inch OLED evo 4K Ultra HD HDR Smart TV with Richer Sounds for a 6 Year Guarantee, expert advice and Lowest Prices Guaranteed

www.richersounds.com

This looks to be a really good deal. I would buy on the internet or phone that way you are covered by distance selling regulations and can return for free if a problem. If you buy in store at Richer Sounds and change your mind they will charge you 10 per cent return fee at least. If you order online or phone they won’t charge you a return fee.

 

[Venger]

Interesting morning...

Having pontificated at length about which model to buy I thought I'd better actual look at one or two in the flesh just to see what I thought.

Popped into my local Richer Sounds armed with a screenshot of the Smiths TV promo on the Samsung S95D and looked at a LG G4 and the S95D...and I'm very glad I did because the panel in the S95D is VERY different from the G4.

If I'd never seen another OLED and wasn't in a room surrounded by TV's, I probably would've bought the S95D but that anti-glare screen does make a difference, there's no reflection whatsoever but I just liked how the colours popped a little more on the G4.

Being sensible about it, given the amount of light in the room where the tv will go, the S95D is by far the better thing to buy but the G4 was stunning.

Anyway, as it turned out, it was all moot because would you believe in the time it took me to drive to Richer Sounds (25mins) and after spending about 20mins with the tvs, when the assistant went to do the price match, the S95D was no longer listed on Smith TV's website!

Interestingly the assistant said they wouldn't have honoured a price match anyway because Smith's don't offer a 6 year warranty with their tvs - the T&C's of the RS price match apparently says the warranties must be the same.

Which begs the question how many other retailers offer a 6 year warranty with their tv sales, not many I'll wager, so I wonder how often RS price match tellys!

Anyway, seems like I have to find a bigger budget, hey ho.