Please can anyone help.
I am considering purchasing a new tv set and could really use some advice as to what make and model I should choose. I have been looking at 40" and 42" full hd sets with freeview hd, in both smart and non-smart versions. I'm not really sure whether I need the smart version, because I don't expect to be wanting to look at Youtube or Netflix, but as the smart sets seem to cost only a little more money than their non-smart versions, it seems like it might be false economy not to?
As I don't watch very much television, I am hoping spend only a modest amount of money on this purchase, but I'd still like whatever receiver I choose to have good picture and sound, and to be reliable.
To this end I have looked at a 42" Hitachi Smartvue set currently on offer with a major UK retailer for under £250, until I read some customer reviews posted on the web saying how they'd experienced technical problems with these.
I then came across a 40" Finlux non-smart set for around £200, and another Finlux (this time a smart set) for less than £250. Again, these also appeared impressive until I again began to read some reviews. Blaupunkt also looks to be a popular brand, but based on all of the above, it seems like it might be difficult to tell for certain.
I hear that people are saying good things about Samsung, Sony, Panasonic, LG - only their tv sets seem to cost a considerable amount more money for what looks to me to be about the same spec. as the lower priced Finlux, Blaupunkt and Hitachi. So, what gives?
Are the more expensive sets really worth so much more of my hard earned cash? Can I expect the picture and sound quality to be substantially better, and be more reliable?
I have read that it doesn't matter how much money you spend on a tv set these days, because you're unlikely to get anything better than poor quality sound without adding additional speakers due to the sets being too thin to house a proper speaker. This seems a bit daft, as you buy an ultra-slim tv set only then to clutter up your living space with all kinds of add-ons.
Some people are saying that smart tvs at the lower end of the price scale can be slow to access the internet - don't play back programmes recorded to usb properly without being choppy or freezing, and often don't even have a scart socket enabling them to be connected to a vcr and standard dvd player. Is this right?
So, would I be barking mad to even consider spending £500 on a 40 - 42" non-smart or smart tv set, or should I just spend a more modest £200 - £250 for what looks to be pretty similar?
Do you have personal experience of what is a reliable tv set with good picture and sound? If so, I'd be happy to hear from you!
Any constructive advice gratefully received.
I am considering purchasing a new tv set and could really use some advice as to what make and model I should choose. I have been looking at 40" and 42" full hd sets with freeview hd, in both smart and non-smart versions. I'm not really sure whether I need the smart version, because I don't expect to be wanting to look at Youtube or Netflix, but as the smart sets seem to cost only a little more money than their non-smart versions, it seems like it might be false economy not to?
As I don't watch very much television, I am hoping spend only a modest amount of money on this purchase, but I'd still like whatever receiver I choose to have good picture and sound, and to be reliable.
To this end I have looked at a 42" Hitachi Smartvue set currently on offer with a major UK retailer for under £250, until I read some customer reviews posted on the web saying how they'd experienced technical problems with these.
I then came across a 40" Finlux non-smart set for around £200, and another Finlux (this time a smart set) for less than £250. Again, these also appeared impressive until I again began to read some reviews. Blaupunkt also looks to be a popular brand, but based on all of the above, it seems like it might be difficult to tell for certain.
I hear that people are saying good things about Samsung, Sony, Panasonic, LG - only their tv sets seem to cost a considerable amount more money for what looks to me to be about the same spec. as the lower priced Finlux, Blaupunkt and Hitachi. So, what gives?
Are the more expensive sets really worth so much more of my hard earned cash? Can I expect the picture and sound quality to be substantially better, and be more reliable?
I have read that it doesn't matter how much money you spend on a tv set these days, because you're unlikely to get anything better than poor quality sound without adding additional speakers due to the sets being too thin to house a proper speaker. This seems a bit daft, as you buy an ultra-slim tv set only then to clutter up your living space with all kinds of add-ons.
Some people are saying that smart tvs at the lower end of the price scale can be slow to access the internet - don't play back programmes recorded to usb properly without being choppy or freezing, and often don't even have a scart socket enabling them to be connected to a vcr and standard dvd player. Is this right?
So, would I be barking mad to even consider spending £500 on a 40 - 42" non-smart or smart tv set, or should I just spend a more modest £200 - £250 for what looks to be pretty similar?
Do you have personal experience of what is a reliable tv set with good picture and sound? If so, I'd be happy to hear from you!
Any constructive advice gratefully received.