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The time to buy is coming soon, but personally I wouldn't fuss too much over 4K; I mean we are only just going mainstream with HD on freeview/paid TV and streamed content, so it'll only be usable if you buy/rent films (or you own a 4K camera).
CES 2016 has come. So all the TVs manufacturers will be releasing detail of their new models very soon, which usually trickle into UK stores around March/April.
So check out which models are being discontinued and see what prices they are dropping to. But bear in mind some manufactures and retailers have sale-or-return agreements, so even if a model is discontinued they will not sell it at a loss. The exception is ex-display, consumer returns (under s&g act) and opened box. The latter will be the ultimate bargain as the retailer cannot return it to their wholesaler, but double check the warranty; it may not be as long.
I expect the Sony kdl-xxW705c (swap "xx" for the size in inches) will be discontinued, this the TV in my kitchen, so can give a candid opinion: this is a 1080p LED which has a nice picture at varying viewing angles, half decent backlighting/uniformity and good image motion; Three criterion that LED/LCD TVs suffer badly with. I can give it a thumbs up in that respect. Menu and remote isn't too bad either.
Downfall is sound quality; A bain of all modern flat TVs; Sony have made an attempt by having shaped enclosures for the speakers which helps with lower tones, but there is a nasty spike in the frequency response at around 10khz which cannot be corrected with the sound settings, this gives a very "spitchy" sound on vocal audio on pronunciation of sharply spoken words words containing an "s" or "t". The smart features are slow and clunky; it won't stream from Apple devices (PC and android are ok).
So if want something to tie you over and willing to put up with the sound or, go for an additional sound solution (bar or home theatre etc. which is inevitable with most TVs), then this a model worth looking for on offer.
Last edited by ALi-B; 02 January 2016 at 10:14 AM.
The time to buy is coming soon, but personally I wouldn't fuss too much over 4K; I mean we are only just going mainstream with HD on freeview/paid TV and streamed content, so it'll only be usable if you buy/rent films (or you own a 4K camera).
CES 2016 has come. So all the TVs manufacturers will be releasing detail of their new models very soon, which usually trickle into UK stores around March/April.
So check out which models are being discontinued and see what prices they are dropping to. But bear in mind some manufactures and retailers have sale-or-return agreements, so even if a model is discontinued they will not sell it at a loss. The exception is ex-display, consumer returns (under s&g act) and opened box. The latter will be the ultimate bargain as the retailer cannot return it to their wholesaler, but double check the warranty; it may not be as long.
I expect the Sony kdl-xxW705c (swap "xx" for the size in inches) will be discontinued, this the TV in my kitchen, so can give a candid opinion: this is a 1080p LED which has a nice picture at varying viewing angles, half decent backlighting/uniformity and good image motion; Three criterion that LED/LCD TVs suffer badly with. I can give it a thumbs up in that respect. Menu and remote isn't too bad either.
Downfall is sound quality; A bain of all modern flat TVs; Sony have made an attempt by having shaped enclosures for the speakers which helps with lower tones, but there is a nasty spike in the frequency response at around 10khz which cannot be corrected with the sound settings, this gives a very "spitchy" sound on vocal audio on pronunciation of sharply spoken words words containing an "s" or "t". The smart features are slow and clunky; it won't stream from Apple devices (PC and android are ok).
So if want something to tie you over and willing to put up with the sound or, go for an additional sound solution (bar or home theatre etc. which is inevitable with most TVs), then this a model worth looking for on offer.
It's an awful lot of money for a tv, I think many of you get a little too caught up with the features, just seems like more to go wrong to me.
I bought a Blaupunkt 42" jobby about 18months ago couldn't tell you what model it is or what features it has, I just turn it on and watch it strange I now cost about £250/270 from sainsburys and is still doing the job, we have a virgin package that includes broadband and phone (don't use the phone part) between that and the built in freeview there's more than enough crap to go goggle eyed at for 2/3hrs of an evening before I fall asleep on the couch and the mrs and boy start giving me **** for snoring.
Sounds like most of you spend far too much time in front of the box, I'd need to live in front of it to warrant paying the best part of a grand for one, and considering the amount they come down by and how quickly they are superseeded by newer models with even more useless features, I really don't see the point.
Last edited by ditchmyster; 04 January 2016 at 09:22 AM.
spend the rest on beer , youll never see the difference
Now that's my kind of deal, I agree you'll never notice the difference, but you will notice the extra £500+ in your pocket to buy something else like putting it towards a very nice couch that will last you years.
I heard someone on the radio say that these internet ready "smart" TV's offer nothing over a non internet enabled TV combined with a USB stick from google, amazon etc etc
and the beauty of the USB "modular" approach is that you can chop / change and update as you see fit (via the dongle) - you are not locked in to what the manufacturer's view of "smart" is
Few years ago when I bought mine these sticks won't as prevalent, otherwise that's the option i would have taken
It's additional remote to lose of course
and forget about 3d , , that was another 200+ pounds I didn't need to spend
I heard someone on the radio say that these internet ready "smart" TV's offer nothing over a non internet enabled TV combined with a USB stick from google, amazon etc etc
and the beauty of the USB "modular" approach is that you can chop / change and update as you see fit (via the dongle) - you are not locked in to what the manufacturer's view of "smart" is
makes sense to me
They offer downloads that can fix bugs, update features or improve picture quality. That said most non smart tvs can do this via usb transfer.
What does 'spitchy' actually mean?? I Googled it but not convinced at all with the results.
If it means that S and T are spoken quietly in a word, then if someone spoke the word '$h1t' with this spitchy accent, it might sound like 'Hi' to the listening party. If it means that S and T are spoken with emphasis, then the speaker will be in $h1t! If it means, like Radio 4 with some impurities such as pet hair or just usual fluff stuck on the relay path, then that's what it is.
I need to hear a 'spitchy' sound, in order to learn what it is.
it may mean that S and T are spoken for very long in a word. We actually had a teacher like that who spoke like "Thissssssssssssss pupil................issssssssssssssss............ .Taking the p!$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$......................." It was like a sssssssssssssssssssssssssssnake ssssssssssssssssspitting itsssssssssssssssss venom or sssssssssssssssssssimply hisssssssssssssssssssing for ferk all!
Last edited by Turbohot; 04 January 2016 at 05:48 PM.
Also, please demonstrate what 'spitchy' means, if you're that ferking serious types. Go on.
'Cos its not a word; its a sound (hence the quotes). Say "spitchy" aloud in a room with echo and listen.
Notice how the "S" and "T" parts have a high pitch resonance. Now, how it sounds when a person says it in that room could be considered normal (assuming you don't spit when you speak ). Call it a reference point.
A speaker (TV or radio) should give an almost exact reproduction of that.
However if the speaker's frequency response is as such that that it sounds excessive, its not good, its sound harsh, un-natural. The speakers in my TV make news-readers sound like they have a gap in their front teeth; Any spoken word starting with "Sp" and/or having "tch" in the middle or end highlights the speaker's poor frequency response.
Anyhoo, joz being more educated than me actually knows the word for it: Sibilance.
I just know it as the guy doing stage sound checks on a microphone saying "one two, one, two, two, two...Fred turn down the treble, two, two, that's better".
Last edited by ALi-B; 04 January 2016 at 11:14 PM.
Look, how creative and funny responses I got from Al. He has not only clarified but also entertained with his ways of posting.
Originally Posted by ALi-B
'Cos its not a word; its a sound (hence the quotes). Say "spitchy" aloud in a room with echo and listen.
Notice how the "S" and "T" parts have a high pitch resonance. Now, how it sounds when a person says it in that room could be considered normal (assuming you don't spit when you speak ). Call it a reference point.
A speaker (TV or radio) should give an almost exact reproduction of that.
However if the speaker's frequency response is as such that that it sounds excessive, its not good, its sound harsh, un-natural. The speakers in my TV make news-readers sound like they have a gap in their front teeth; Any spoken word starting with "Sp" and/or having "tch" in the middle or end highlights the speaker's poor frequency response.
Anyhoo, joz being more educated than me actually knows the word for it: Sibilance.
I just know it as the guy doing stage sound checks on a microphone saying "one two, one, two, two, two...Fred turn down the treble, two, two, that's better".
Originally Posted by ALi-B
Ps....my car makes this noise after starting the engine: "brrrrumm brrummm, bumpf, bumpf, ffffttpp, brrrm brrrrrrrrr"
(it misfires a bit when its cold and wet )
And don't try and google it
You can google onomatopoeia though
LOL @ one, two, one, two and brummm, bumpf, brrrr etc.
...I just know it as the guy doing stage sound checks on a microphone saying "one two, one, two, two, two...Fred turn down the treble, two, two, that's better".
I was gonna say; I assume you've already tried turning the treble on your set all the way down to "minus eleven" , obviously?
Last edited by joz8968; 06 January 2016 at 09:07 PM.
Personally i wouldn't buy a 4k TV just yet as their isn't enough 4k content around to justify buying one, 90% of the time you'll just be upscaling SD or HD to fit the screen and from what ive seen from the demos i've had the 4K TV's don't do a great job of upscaling SD content.
If that were me i'd buy a 1080p TV as a stop gap until 4k content becomes more readily available and they upscale better, the majority of the time you'll either be watching SD or 1080p HD content anyway so the 4k screen is a waste.
Another reason not to buy a 4k TV is that you won't be able to tell the difference between it and a 1080p screen. It's depends on your eyes and the distance you sit from the screen, but I've read articles which mention distances of between 5 and 9ft. Bottom line appears to be that your eyes are not physically capable of processing the amount of detail on the screen once you get so far away from it. Have a dig around on the net. However in the next couple of years or so all tv's on sale will be 4k anyway, it's a great marketing con.
Nice one...slight above the original £500 budget...that always happens to me...always end up spending a load more.
Originally Posted by joz8968
Beat me to it.
I was gonna say; I assume you've already tried turning the treble on your set all the way down to "minus eleven" , obviously?
Damn thing has a 5band graphic equaliser, with settings for 50hz and 20Khz which is about usless as a chocolate fire guard as the speaker are incable of producing those frequencies.
Ended up forking out £500 for a Onkyo+Wharfdale DX1 amp/speaker package. Lovin' it. Especially now I've found a few apps that can stream to the TV from an iPhone.
Didn't exactly love having to chase a load of new cables into a newly plastered wall (note to self...pre-install tubing to draw extra cables through, like they do in spain : (before and after)
Nice one...slight above the original £500 budget...that always happens to me...always end up spending a load more.
Damn thing has a 5band graphic equaliser, with settings for 50hz and 20Khz which is about usless as a chocolate fire guard as the speaker are incable of producing those frequencies.
Ended up forking out £500 for a Onkyo+Wharfdale DX1 amp/speaker package. Lovin' it. Especially now I've found a few apps that can stream to the TV from an iPhone.
Didn't exactly love having to chase a load of new cables into a newly plastered wall (note to self...pre-install tubing to draw extra cables through, like they do in spain : (before and after)
Yeah, we just couldn't get the spec' we wanted for our budget, so I sent the missus down the mines for a couple of shifts. Richer Sounds Cardiff great to deal with as always and best on price and guarantee. Can recommend dealing with Matt (the manager) if you're in South Wales.
Next challenge is positioning the darn thing because we've exposed stone walls to contend with!
JT, get this on youtube once you're set up! No video shows 4K better, the neons will look incredibly colourful without light saturating into the rest of the picture.
01 January 2016, 06:54 PM
Menu and remote isn't too bad either. 
strange I now 
cost about £250/270 from sainsburys and is still doing the job, we have a virgin package that includes broadband and phone (don't use the phone part) between that and the built in freeview there's more than enough crap to go goggle eyed at for 2/3hrs of an evening before I fall asleep on the couch and the mrs and boy start giving me **** for snoring. 
, that was another 200+ pounds I didn't need to spend
I Googled it but not convinced at all with the results. 
). Call it a reference point.
)
