42 / 43" Main TV for living room
Discussion
Good afternoon all,
I think I'm pretty much set on an LG OLED42C44LA. My viewing distance is 2.5 - 3m so I 'should' go for a much larger panel but it needs to fit in an alcove to the side of the fireplace so I am limited there. Currently watching a 32" TV and have never lived with bigger than 43" so I'm hoping I won't mind the size. I'm obviously not going for a cinema experience and watch films rarely.
However all the TV size guides tell me it's basically not worth having a fancy panel at this size and viewing distance. Am I a mug for spending £800 in this situation or should I economise? I don't mind the spend but if it saves me money and leaves me more budget for a soundbar...
I do want better sound than will come from the TV alone so I was intending to buy a bundle with the LG US60T soundbar and subwoofer at negligible extra cost. Unless that soundbar is totally hopeless and will essentially be e-junk? I have considered soundbar options up to £400 but I'm minded to try the bundled LG soundbar. It will doubtless be better than anything I have had before.
I think I'm pretty much set on an LG OLED42C44LA. My viewing distance is 2.5 - 3m so I 'should' go for a much larger panel but it needs to fit in an alcove to the side of the fireplace so I am limited there. Currently watching a 32" TV and have never lived with bigger than 43" so I'm hoping I won't mind the size. I'm obviously not going for a cinema experience and watch films rarely.
However all the TV size guides tell me it's basically not worth having a fancy panel at this size and viewing distance. Am I a mug for spending £800 in this situation or should I economise? I don't mind the spend but if it saves me money and leaves me more budget for a soundbar...
I do want better sound than will come from the TV alone so I was intending to buy a bundle with the LG US60T soundbar and subwoofer at negligible extra cost. Unless that soundbar is totally hopeless and will essentially be e-junk? I have considered soundbar options up to £400 but I'm minded to try the bundled LG soundbar. It will doubtless be better than anything I have had before.
It's up to you.
We've been very happy with the plain old LCD Sony, we don't use a soundbar, but now and then take the sound through the hifi for classical music and the like.
I'd suggest a trip to Richer Sounds at a quiet time to listen to a few TVs.
We're not fussed about cinema sound effects, but clear dialogue is important.
Of course our Sony is 5 years old now, and it was an 'end of line model' so I can't vouch for the current models!
And it's quiet here, if you're needing to turn the TV up to cover more background noise, you might find the TV's speakers more limiting than we do.
We've been very happy with the plain old LCD Sony, we don't use a soundbar, but now and then take the sound through the hifi for classical music and the like.
I'd suggest a trip to Richer Sounds at a quiet time to listen to a few TVs.
We're not fussed about cinema sound effects, but clear dialogue is important.
Of course our Sony is 5 years old now, and it was an 'end of line model' so I can't vouch for the current models!
And it's quiet here, if you're needing to turn the TV up to cover more background noise, you might find the TV's speakers more limiting than we do.
I bought a Sony Bravia 40” 1080p ( yeah state of the art now right?) back in 2008 (I think ). It’s still going strong, with a ‘bolt on’ smart box. My mum has it now, at her place, and it’s still going strong, and doesn’t look small in her living room ( a 1970’s 3 bed semi type place ). I’ve got a 50 ( odd ) inch LG 4K smart thing, on my wall at my place, and ( except for its smart capability) it’s not night and day different. The exception being watching some of the 4K content available in some shows / movies, where you can see the difference. But for everyday stuff, the Bravia is still perfectly acceptable.
That’s my 50 incher ( stop sniggering) on the wall at my place. IMO, unless yours is massive ( cut it out back there, I mean your wall) you don’t need a huge one to fill the gap. It’s horses for courses really.
That’s my 50 incher ( stop sniggering) on the wall at my place. IMO, unless yours is massive ( cut it out back there, I mean your wall) you don’t need a huge one to fill the gap. It’s horses for courses really.
Edited by Dbag101 on Friday 14th February 17:51
I’ve got a semi. Typical 1930s so both reception rooms have a chimney breast with a 4’ alcove either side, leaving you the choice of putting the TV in an alcove or putting it on the chimney breast, in my case above a fireplace which I don’t like. One of the alcoves is 5’ because it’s into a bay window. That’s where it’s going. The size is such that I can comfortably get a bookshelf hifi speaker on a stand either side of the fireplace.
All the guides are telling me I ‘should’ have a 65”+ TV!
Anyway I know it’ll be big enough. The main decision is how to split the budget between the panel and the soundbar. I’m currently minded to just get the LG C4 and the bundled soundbar and see how I go unless anybody’s going to tell me that the C4 will be wasted in this situation and I should buy a cheaper telly? In which case I’d probably spend some of the savings on a better soundbar. I think I want a one-box soundbar, maybe a 2.1 system at most? Can’t be arsed with rear speakers. I don’t think I actually like them very much.
All the guides are telling me I ‘should’ have a 65”+ TV!
Anyway I know it’ll be big enough. The main decision is how to split the budget between the panel and the soundbar. I’m currently minded to just get the LG C4 and the bundled soundbar and see how I go unless anybody’s going to tell me that the C4 will be wasted in this situation and I should buy a cheaper telly? In which case I’d probably spend some of the savings on a better soundbar. I think I want a one-box soundbar, maybe a 2.1 system at most? Can’t be arsed with rear speakers. I don’t think I actually like them very much.
Dbag101 said:
I bought a Sony Bravia 40” 1080p ( yeah state of the art now right?) back in 2008 (I think ). It’s still going strong, with a ‘bolt on’ smart box. My mum has it now, at her place, and it’s still going strong, and doesn’t look small in her living room ( a 1970’s 3 bed semi type place ). I’ve got a 50 ( odd ) inch LG 4K smart thing, on my wall at my place, and ( except for its smart capability) it’s not night and day different. The exception being watching some of the 4K content available in some shows / movies, where you can see the difference. But for everyday stuff, the Bravia is still perfectly acceptable.
That’s my 50 incher ( stop sniggering) on the wall at my place. IMO, unless yours is massive ( cut it out back there, I mean your wall) you don’t need a huge one to fill the gap. It’s horses for courses really.
Gotta love having the microwave in the TV room, so you can get a snack efficiently during the adverts. That’s my 50 incher ( stop sniggering) on the wall at my place. IMO, unless yours is massive ( cut it out back there, I mean your wall) you don’t need a huge one to fill the gap. It’s horses for courses really.
Edited by Dbag101 on Friday 14th February 17:51
:-)
As you say horses for courses, it's about having your telly fit into your room and your lifestyle.
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