Flat screen TV

[Spaniel]

I'm going to purchase a Samsung flat screen LED table mounted tv. I'm looking at either a 55 or 48 inch model but thinking the 55 inch might be to big for our living room. Their seems to be a big price difference between the regular model and the Smart TV. Since we are not interested in the computer hookup Smart tv we will most likely go with the regular model. My question is what else should I be looking for as far as other features? The price for the 55 inch is around B28,000 and the 48 inch around B22,000. This includes delivery and hookup.

[Crossy]

You may wish to consider a model with a built-in digital tuner (assuming someone will want to watch Thai free to air programming), much more convenient than a separate box and remote.

[IMHO]

Yep, if you're not interested in Smart TV functions, you should still be at least looking for something with a DVB-T2 tuner in it, so you can get digital free to air channels (with no extra set top box).

As for size, you won't be thinking that 55" is very big, for very long Buy the biggest screen that meets your budget, features and picture quality requirements - else prepare yourself for some buyer's remorse within days/weeks/months - once you've adjusted to the screen size.

Edited February 6, 2015 by IMHO

[IMHO]

Also, shop around for prices... there's some great deals online if you're OK with screwing on the legs, and plugging in the power and HDMI cables yourself.

Here's some options in your price range:

LG 55LY340C - 55" Full HD (1080P - 2 megapixels) for 22K: http://www.lazada.co.th/lg-led-digital-tv-55-55ly340c-gray-562210.html

LG 49UB820T - 49" Ultra HD (4K - 8 megapixels) for 25K Baht: http://www.cdiscount.co.th/lg-ultra-hd-smart-led-tv-49-inch-49ub820t-19041 (this is seriously hard to ignore when looking at future-proofing)

Edited February 6, 2015 by IMHO

[Chicog]

I'm having trouble loading the site here, but check out prices at Powerbuy

[IMHO]

I'm having trouble loading the site here, but check out prices at Powerbuy

Not much going on there... like HomePro/DirectToShop their pencils don't seem very Sharp* anymore..

There's only one set worth looking into that I can see - a Sharp 60" 1080P for 30K: http://www.powerbuy.co.th/en/electronics/tv/led-tvs/led-60-sharp-lc-60le631m.html

I have never seen this screen IRL, but it appears to be a 2012 model, so isn't going to have an IPS panel or local dimming, so I doubt up the same sort of PQ standards of the 2014 LG models previously linked. Baht per inch it's pretty good on paper though - so long as it doesn't look terrible, worthy of including on the shopping list

* pun coming up

[dddave]

Figure out what your seating arrangement will be for the TV and how far away the viewers will be from the screen. A friend bought a very large screen LED TV and found that with his seating arrangement, which was quite close and impossible to change because of room size, the large screen was very tiring to his and his wife's eyes and that they were very aware of the pixelation. He was able to exchange the TV for a smaller model and both found it much more comfortable to watch. Bigger is not always better.

I suggest when you are shopping, view the TV's you are interested in from the distance you will use in your home and see how they look from that perspective..

I have a 42" LED LG that I view from about 7' and it easily fills my field of vision.

[elgordo38]

Figure out what your seating arrangement will be for the TV and how far away the viewers will be from the screen. A friend bought a very large screen LED TV and found that with his seating arrangement, which was quite close and impossible to change because of room size, the large screen was very tiring to his and his wife's eyes and that they were very aware of the pixelation. He was able to exchange the TV for a smaller model and both found it much more comfortable to watch. Bigger is not always better.

I suggest when you are shopping, view the TV's you are interested in from the distance you will use in your home and see how they look from that perspective..

I have a 42" LED LG that I view from about 7' and it easily fills my field of vision.

I concur. We have a 40 inch and sit about 8-10 feet away and it is just perfect. I always pay extra for the 3 year warranty especially in the higher end larger models.

[Anthony5]

Figure out what your seating arrangement will be for the TV and how far away the viewers will be from the screen. A friend bought a very large screen LED TV and found that with his seating arrangement, which was quite close and impossible to change because of room size, the large screen was very tiring to his and his wife's eyes and that they were very aware of the pixelation. He was able to exchange the TV for a smaller model and both found it much more comfortable to watch. Bigger is not always better.

I suggest when you are shopping, view the TV's you are interested in from the distance you will use in your home and see how they look from that perspective..

I have a 42" LED LG that I view from about 7' and it easily fills my field of vision.

Is that you Marty Dave

[elgordo38]

I'm having trouble loading the site here, but check out prices at Powerbuy

I like Powerbuy as well. They are just up the street at Central Kad Suan Kaew shopping. As far as warranty goes they are the best of the worst for service. Siam TV has some good prices but they only give you 1 year warranty no extended.

[Tywais]

TV size to viewing distance:

http://www.rtings.com/info/television-size-to-distance-relationship

http://www.cnet.com/news/how-big-a-tv-should-i-buy/

[IMHO]

TV size to viewing distance:

http://www.rtings.com/info/television-size-to-distance-relationship

One of the TV's I posted is a much more up to date Ultra HD (4K) model... So when using this link, make sure you select the "4K Ultra HD" option, and see how much shorter the seating distance becomes.

1080P is now officially dinosaur tech guys

Edited February 6, 2015 by IMHO

[bkkjames]

i bought a 48 inch sony smart tv (sorry IMHO, no 4k for me for now) with wireless. Paid 25k at powerbuy. Plenty big enough for the living room in the condo. Only problem is I never get to watch it with my sons viewing minecraft videos and the xbox etc. Connect up the smartphone phone for easier searching on the net cause the remote is to say not that user friendly for inputting text searches.

Had a 51 Samsung before this and don't notice the difference in size. Picture quality seems a bit better to my eyes - better blacks, but I am far far far away from being an expert who can tell the difference. Sound quality is better than the Samsung but will never rival a decent home theatre.

[IMHO]

i bought a 48 inch sony smart tv (sorry IMHO, no 4k for me for now) with wireless. Paid 25k at powerbuy. Plenty big enough for the living room in the condo. Only problem is I never get to watch it with my sons viewing minecraft videos and the xbox etc. Connect up the smartphone phone for easier searching on the net cause the remote is to say not that user friendly for inputting text searches.

Had a 51 Samsung before this and don't notice the difference in size. Picture quality seems a bit better to my eyes - better blacks, but I am far far far away from being an expert who can tell the difference. Sound quality is better than the Samsung but will never rival a decent home theatre.

No need to say sorry to me - it's your buyer's remorse, not mine, hehehe

[bkkjames]

i bought a 48 inch sony smart tv (sorry IMHO, no 4k for me for now) with wireless. Paid 25k at powerbuy. Plenty big enough for the living room in the condo. Only problem is I never get to watch it with my sons viewing minecraft videos and the xbox etc. Connect up the smartphone phone for easier searching on the net cause the remote is to say not that user friendly for inputting text searches.

Had a 51 Samsung before this and don't notice the difference in size. Picture quality seems a bit better to my eyes - better blacks, but I am far far far away from being an expert who can tell the difference. Sound quality is better than the Samsung but will never rival a decent home theatre.

No need to say sorry to me - it's your buyer's remorse, not mine, hehehe

No remorse here - then again I didnt pay 50k for a 4k with no content

[IMHO]

i bought a 48 inch sony smart tv (sorry IMHO, no 4k for me for now) with wireless. Paid 25k at powerbuy. Plenty big enough for the living room in the condo. Only problem is I never get to watch it with my sons viewing minecraft videos and the xbox etc. Connect up the smartphone phone for easier searching on the net cause the remote is to say not that user friendly for inputting text searches.

Had a 51 Samsung before this and don't notice the difference in size. Picture quality seems a bit better to my eyes - better blacks, but I am far far far away from being an expert who can tell the difference. Sound quality is better than the Samsung but will never rival a decent home theatre.

No need to say sorry to me - it's your buyer's remorse, not mine, hehehe

No remorse here - then again I didnt pay 50k for a 4k with no content

I guess it depends one when you bought... but you did see the 49" 4K for 25K Baht that I linked to above, yeah?

Here it as again: http://www.cdiscount.co.th/lg-ultra-hd-smart-led-tv-49-inch-49ub820t-19041

Would you still buy the 48" 1080P for 25K today?

Edited February 6, 2015 by IMHO

[lopburi3]

Believe he and I would buy 1080 at today's price and be very happy.

[bkkjames]

i bought a 48 inch sony smart tv (sorry IMHO, no 4k for me for now) with wireless. Paid 25k at powerbuy. Plenty big enough for the living room in the condo. Only problem is I never get to watch it with my sons viewing minecraft videos and the xbox etc. Connect up the smartphone phone for easier searching on the net cause the remote is to say not that user friendly for inputting text searches.

Had a 51 Samsung before this and don't notice the difference in size. Picture quality seems a bit better to my eyes - better blacks, but I am far far far away from being an expert who can tell the difference. Sound quality is better than the Samsung but will never rival a decent home theatre.

No need to say sorry to me - it's your buyer's remorse, not mine, hehehe

No remorse here - then again I didnt pay 50k for a 4k with no content

I guess it depends one when you bought... but you did see the 49" 4K for 25K Baht that I linked to above, yeah?

Here it as again: http://www.cdiscount.co.th/lg-ultra-hd-smart-led-tv-49-inch-49ub820t-19041

Would you still buy the 48" 1080P for 25K today?

would rather drive a year old bmw than a new hybrid honda if that's what you are asking lol

[2fishin2]

Get a smart tv. Much smarter than you think.

[SheungWan]

If you have firmly decided on a Samsung LED then yes there is a gap between 55" and 48" with nothing in between. That is maybe a little soft spot. Also if you go for the 55" you will get Smart features whether you want them or not. However, if you buy the Samsung 48" you will probably find that it is quite an old model and need to bear that in mind. IMHO, if you don't want Smart but do want a reasonably up to date TV either go for an LG 49" or Panasonic 50". I think if it is still Samsung you go for then the alternative is both the 48" or the 55" having Smart.

[2fishin2]

Panasonic TVs are just as good

[lopburi3]

1. Full HD should be fine for the normal lifetime of a TV set bought now - unless you must have state of the art or have monitor type reasons - there just is no content for 4k and likely will not be much for some time - probably better to buy new unit then (prices lower and improvements made).

2. Digital tuner - not required for most viewers as why limit yourself to free 30 stations when free 300 stations are available with a cheap sat system.

3. Smart TV - mixed bag - some will like but same things can be done with external sources which may be easier to upgrade - but for the smart phone generation perhaps a good option.

4. 3D - seems to be a failure and not worth it for 99% of buyers.

[Anthony5]

I have several flatscreens. All are 1080P and the smallest is 50", with 3 of them being 3D and smart tv.

I have a media server with thousands of full HD movies and 3D movies.

My experience is that the 3D function is only used by my son, to watch the same few movies over and over again.

The smart function is used only for connecting to the server, and never used any of the other network futures, and to be honest connecting to the server through a media box works smoother as using the DLNA software on the smart TV.

[IMHO]

would rather drive a year old bmw than a new hybrid honda if that's what you are asking lol

That analogy makes no sense though - LG have way better screen tech than Sony - indeed LG are well in the lead over all brands with their IPS, local dimming, OLED and Quantam Dot tech...

Edited February 7, 2015 by IMHO

[IMHO]

This thread reminds me of a saying I learnt only recently:

You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink.

Hope I've used it right (I couldn't even spell it right first time)

Edited February 7, 2015 by IMHO

[kkerry]

Thinking about buying a 4k tv in Thailand. What channels are showing 4k content that my current HD tv can't show properly?

[dddave]

Figure out what your seating arrangement will be for the TV and how far away the viewers will be from the screen. A friend bought a very large screen LED TV and found that with his seating arrangement, which was quite close and impossible to change because of room size, the large screen was very tiring to his and his wife's eyes and that they were very aware of the pixelation. He was able to exchange the TV for a smaller model and both found it much more comfortable to watch. Bigger is not always better.

I suggest when you are shopping, view the TV's you are interested in from the distance you will use in your home and see how they look from that perspective..

I have a 42" LED LG that I view from about 7' and it easily fills my field of vision.

Is that you Marty Dave

Nose is about right but eyebrows way to controlled.

[bkkjames]

Panasonic TVs are just as good

pansanonic just announced they are getting out the business.

[bkkjames]

Thinking about buying a 4k tv in Thailand. What channels are showing 4k content that my current HD tv can't show properly?

None.

[bkkjames]

would rather drive a year old bmw than a new hybrid honda if that's what you are asking lol

That analogy makes no sense though - LG have way better screen tech than Sony - indeed LG are well in the lead over all brands with their IPS, local dimming, OLED and Quantam Dot tech...

ok, will take your word for it and keep my Sony.