Technical Dummy needs help.

[admin_exported]

It has been some time since I purchased a new TV and DVD recorder so I`m completely out of touch. I have spent the past few months boning up on HD, HD ready, FREEVIEW, FREESAT, 100 hertz compared to 50 hertz Reading manufacturers specs and asking sales staff seems to add to the confusion, however I`m starting to see a small *** of light at the end of this technological tunnel and have actually made a decision that it will be a 32" screen ! Are my conclusions correct ?

Most manufacturers offer Freeview and HD ready sets. To obtain Freesat I would need to purchase an addition piece of kit and have a sat dish fitted. John Lewis currently have on offer a Panasonic TX32LZD81 with built in Freesat HD for £899 and when purchased together with the Panasonic DMR EX 768-K DVD recorder with 160 GB Hard Drive you get the latter for £99, a saving of some £130. As I understand it the advantage of Freesat is not so much the extra channels available but the fact you can receive HD transmitions.

Just when I thought I had a grasp of the subject I started to read a number of blogs / reports in WHAT HI FI and now I`m not so sure I fully understand. I am starting to get the impression that I would be throwing my hard earned cash away on Freesat and HD as on a 32" screen it makes no discernible difference on picture quality. In which case would I be better off purchasing the 32" Sony recently reported as the WHAT HI FI best buy which comes across as being a much better set? If I`m right any suggestions on a compatible DVD player.

I look forward to hearing your views.

 

[Anonymous]

Oh - hard questions as the differences are small.

You are correct about Feesat. If you have an existing sky dish you can get Freesat HD otherwise you will need a dish installed.

Re the full HD v HD ready question - yes you can see a small difference if you are close to the screen on 32 inch tellies. However most people would tell you that you are too close if you can see it. I have both a HD ready and Full HD 32 inch Panasonic of similar age and there is no question that side by side you can see a slight difference. However since the 2 tellys are in two different rooms it is really hard to tell the difference in real life. (Sorry - I know that answer does not help.)

Re the freesat v freeview thing - hard question as to which will be best in the long run. When freesat was originally proposed it was to cover off those who could not get freeview. Now however it's being touted as the HD format of choice for free to air broadcasting.

If you don't upgrade very offten then I'd say go as future proof as you can. It'll pay off in the long run.

BTW - If this is also your switchover to digital then you might find you need a new aerial. Don't dismiss freeview until you've had your aerial checked out if you have problems at first. Most old analogue aerials will get some sort of digital signal but when I changed I had to get a new wideband aerial installed.