DB7

Time for a new telly. Any recommendations of good discount home cinema websites?

Nick Dando

I do my homework first to find out what I should be looking for and then try finding the best price through Kelkoo and Google. What HiFi or magazines of that ilk are a good place to start.

The people at SMC in Shrewsbury are very helpful for giving you a feel for what's about, and if you want bits and pieces to go with the TV, then Creative Audio in Dogpole are extremely good.

I don't think that I'd buy another Loewe TV as they cost a fortune and the internals are all from the Far Eastern parts bucket. You're really paying for style, just like B&O.

Nick

DB7

Had a ferret thru avforums.com and have bookmarked pixmedia.com and digiuk.com for tomorrow. Had nothing but aggro with my SMC components hi-fi (it throws a strop unless played loud!;)) so I'll steer clear of those boy-racer stereo fitters.:)

Ady

Things are changing fast w.r.t. HD - I think you should go for an economical "stopgap" until HD settles down a bit.
Only a tv with support for 1080p at FULL resolution ( 1920x1080 ) is truly HD ready - anyting else in the "HD ready" list squishes a hi res picture onto a low res screen and you have a compromise. Quality 1920x1080 progressive screens at an affordable price are not here yet, so in a year or so time , you'll need to upgrade again !!
Most sales people with stock to sell and commission to earn will be the most helpful in steering your choice !!
Good luck !
( 4:3 28" crts are best value at the moment !!! )
Ady

DB7

Was thinking the same myself Ady, maybe pick up a CRT as an interim measure until the HD/LCD/Plasma market settles.

alan gowdy

I think plasma is a transient technology which will have disappeared in a few years. Most plasma screens have a rather too limited life and those noisy cooling fans - very inefficient.

There are new cold-running, low-consumpton, light-emitting materials (polymers I think) in the offing. I can't remember what they are called. Any of you tech experts out there save me the research?

As for picture quality, old fashioned CRTs are still the best though the margin is decreasing all the time.