Flatscreen Tv

[manarak]

I am wondering if there are TV sets which are particularly good value for sale in Thailand/Pattaya?

I'm looking for:

- Size 40" or more

- HD (1980x1080)

- at least one HDMI input

- video Input (yellow, red, white)

[stgrhe]

I don't know about Pattaya but in general outgoing models are often good buys. Also TV sales is a very competitive market, but for the retailers unfortunately low margin business, so normally there are little chances of getting hefty discounts. However, there are from time to time special offers and those times some bargain can be had.

One way of reducing the cost is to drop the requirement for a full HD version as full HD drives up prices and in many cases as much as 25%.

I would say that in most cases you get what you pay for and the best three brands are IMO Samsung, Panasonic and Sony. Panasonic has some advantage because of their 24 months warranty and a more resistant screen to touch marks. They are also the superior plasma TV, especially their G-models while I personally put Samsung first on LCD TVs with LED back-lights. Sony is also good but, depending where you live, they do not have as many service stations as Panasonic and Samsung.

Philips and Sharp are doable but I would never buy a LG TV myself.

That was my five cents.

[Spoonman]

Numchai have a 40" LCD Sony Bravia advertised on their website Bt.for 19,990, it will be a decent TV.

http://www.numchai.com/productdetail.asp?id=OTQ2

However if you want to order it and delivered your can get it for Bt.14,350 from www.ledtvthailand.com

[ignis]

There are new model TV's out all the time, try to find out what is the latest model, most shops and supermarkets still sell the previous model and are much cheaper..

For me would not buy another LG, 1st one problems after 2 years, 2nd LCD 42" lasted 19 months, present one Panasonic 42" Plasma, was the latest model bought at the 'big sale' at Home Pro, is wonderful and now over 4 years old.. 2years later after buying the Panasonic wanted another one for the bedroom, looking at Carrefour they had the same model Panasonic, + some 12,000 baht cheaper than the Sale price 2 years before, of course it was not the new/latest model. + has HD + HDMI input + 3x video Input (yellow, red, white) on back and 1x on front + many other connections.

One thing I would say is if the TV is going to be used for watching TV ask the seller to plug in the Ariel, as most on display are running DVD's..... At the time over 4 years ago, seller tested via Ariel normal TV on 4 different makes, by far the best picture was the Panasonic [via DVD all the pictures looked the same]

[astral]

Check out the Samsung models, very good IME.

[beano2274]

Just bought the Samsung 43 inch Plasma 3D TV, for around 18400baht, has 4 HDMI connections and the usual other component connections (red, yellow and white) also has USB. Came with 2 x 3D glasses and 3D movie pack (Shrek).

[Wavefloater]

I'm looking at getting a 32" as the prices for these smaller flat screens are getting quite low. However, I'm a bit confused by what's on offer. I was in a store looking at Samsung LCD's and there was a 32" at just under 9000 baht and another one beside it for around 10,500. They looked the same, the picture looked the same, and all the little stickers showing their features were the same, and they were the same series (4). Basically, I couldn't see any difference between them, but they had different model numbers (400 vs 403) What would I possibly be paying the extra 1,500 baht for if I purchased the 403 model at 10,500 vs the 400 model at 8,990?

[stgrhe]

I'm looking at getting a 32" as the prices for these smaller flat screens are getting quite low. However, I'm a bit confused by what's on offer. I was in a store looking at Samsung LCD's and there was a 32" at just under 9000 baht and another one beside it for around 10,500. They looked the same, the picture looked the same, and all the little stickers showing their features were the same, and they were the same series (4). Basically, I couldn't see any difference between them, but they had different model numbers (400 vs 403) What would I possibly be paying the extra 1,500 baht for if I purchased the 403 model at 10,500 vs the 400 model at 8,990?

The Samsung Series 4 LCD 32" TV, model 400 is a HD ready TV with a resolution of 1,366 x 768 pixels and a clear motion rate of 50. Also it has only one HDMI input.

The model 430 is a dated model that now has been superseded by the 450 model. It too is a HD ready TV with a resolution of 1,366 x 768 pixels and a clear motion rate of 50, but it has two HDMI inputs. There are some more difference which you can find on the Samsung home page.

[MAJIC]

I don't know about Pattaya but in general outgoing models are often good buys. Also TV sales is a very competitive market, but for the retailers unfortunately low margin business, so normally there are little chances of getting hefty discounts. However, there are from time to time special offers and those times some bargain can be had.

One way of reducing the cost is to drop the requirement for a full HD version as full HD drives up prices and in many cases as much as 25%.

I would say that in most cases you get what you pay for and the best three brands are IMO Samsung, Panasonic and Sony. Panasonic has some advantage because of their 24 months warranty and a more resistant screen to touch marks. They are also the superior plasma TV, especially their G-models while I personally put Samsung first on LCD TVs with LED back-lights. Sony is also good but, depending where you live, they do not have as many service stations as Panasonic and Samsung.

Philips and Sharp are doable but I would never buy a LG TV myself.

That was my five cents.

I note your points on quality flat screens,but I am wondering why Plasma,from my research has been underated,due to premature fade out of picture sharpness, quality,whereas LCD does not seem to have the same problem,according to the experts,

However in my own experience LCD seems to have a slow response rate,when changing channels,and start up time?

[stgrhe]

I don't know about Pattaya but in general outgoing models are often good buys. Also TV sales is a very competitive market, but for the retailers unfortunately low margin business, so normally there are little chances of getting hefty discounts. However, there are from time to time special offers and those times some bargain can be had.

One way of reducing the cost is to drop the requirement for a full HD version as full HD drives up prices and in many cases as much as 25%.

I would say that in most cases you get what you pay for and the best three brands are IMO Samsung, Panasonic and Sony. Panasonic has some advantage because of their 24 months warranty and a more resistant screen to touch marks. They are also the superior plasma TV, especially their G-models while I personally put Samsung first on LCD TVs with LED back-lights. Sony is also good but, depending where you live, they do not have as many service stations as Panasonic and Samsung.

Philips and Sharp are doable but I would never buy a LG TV myself.

That was my five cents.

I note your points on quality flat screens,but I am wondering why Plasma,from my research has been underated,due to premature fade out of picture sharpness, quality,whereas LCD does not seem to have the same problem,according to the experts,

However in my own experience LCD seems to have a slow response rate,when changing channels,and start up time?

Well, I don't think I have ever said that LCD TVs are superior to the of the Plasmas. Actually, both systems have their merits and draw-backs. In particular the Panasonic G-model are really top class plasma TVs, and the larger the screen size the more they win over the LCDs.

However, in the Thai climate, and with the relatively high cost for electricity in this country, LCD TVs with LED back-ground lights are IMO the best choice. As a average the plasma will consume three times or more power than a corresponding LCD/LED TV, which to a great extent is generated into heat.

Having said that, had Pioneer continued with their consumer plasma TVs I would probably have chosen a plasma despite the higher electricity bills and the added heat generated. Pioneer used a superior technique, quite costly though, so in 2008 they pulled out of the consumer market since they couldn't compete with the Koreans as the prices for larger LCD TVs dropped.

[Wavefloater]

I'm looking at getting a 32" as the prices for these smaller flat screens are getting quite low. However, I'm a bit confused by what's on offer. I was in a store looking at Samsung LCD's and there was a 32" at just under 9000 baht and another one beside it for around 10,500. They looked the same, the picture looked the same, and all the little stickers showing their features were the same, and they were the same series (4). Basically, I couldn't see any difference between them, but they had different model numbers (400 vs 403) What would I possibly be paying the extra 1,500 baht for if I purchased the 403 model at 10,500 vs the 400 model at 8,990?

The Samsung Series 4 LCD 32" TV, model 400 is a HD ready TV with a resolution of 1,366 x 768 pixels and a clear motion rate of 50. Also it has only one HDMI input.

The model 430 is a dated model that now has been superseded by the 450 model. It too is a HD ready TV with a resolution of 1,366 x 768 pixels and a clear motion rate of 50, but it has two HDMI inputs. There are some more difference which you can find on the Samsung home page.

Thanks for the info. I interpret from what you're saying that unless having 2 HDMI inputs is important to me, I'd be wasting money buying the 430 model.

I'd appreciate opinions of whether the Samsung series 4 - 400 is a good TV (good specs, etc.) or will I find that spending a bit more for something else of better quality is the way to go? Anybody who's bought one of these Samsung flat screens and wants to tell us about your experience with it, please do so. It would also be appreciated.

[astral]

Thanks for the info. I interpret from what you're saying that unless having 2 HDMI inputs is important to me, I'd be wasting money buying the 430 model.

Don't under estimate your future needs for HDMI connections.

An HD satellite receiver will fill one.

A BD player another.

WD TV player, or similar, another.

[Wavefloater]

Thanks for the info. I interpret from what you're saying that unless having 2 HDMI inputs is important to me, I'd be wasting money buying the 430 model.

Don't under estimate your future needs for HDMI connections.

An HD satellite receiver will fill one.

A BD player another.

WD TV player, or similar, another.

That's a good point. However, I don't have cable service available where I live, and UBC/True satellite service is nothing I've ever considered because it doesn't offer good value for me. I use bit torrents as my source for TV, sports, and movies then either watch them on a 22" monitor using my desktop or on my old CRT type TV using a DVD player with a USB port and the codecs needed for AVI, XviD, etc. I now have a new laptop with a HDMI output and see it as being the only device I'd probably be plugging into a flat-screen TV. I was watching movies back home on my brother's 40 inch LCD using a HDMI cable from my laptop, and the picture and sound quality were great.

I do see your point, though. When I got my last desktop computer and it had 6 USB ports, I chuckled and wondered how anybody would possibly use that many ports. Needless to say, I am now using most of them.

[MESmith]

Siam TV currently selling Samsung 40" Full HD 551 Series LCD for around 14,800 baht. Plays movies straight off USB stick. 4 hdmi inputs, 2 USB. Bought one today. Very nice picture. SD downloads from theBox.bz look great. HD downloads look spectacular, IMHO . I think the offer ends on October 2nd.