Page 1 of Widescreen TV below £500

I am looking for a widescreen (28 or 32 inch) TV for less than £500.... Any good/bad experiences would be of use.

I am concerned over the fact that a lot of the TVs that are in Dixons for example have very grainy pictures even though they are meant to be digital high res 100Hz flicker free etc.

I`ve currently got a 28" widescreen Sanyo which has a fantastic picture but is rented and I would rather buy!

I am always amazed that Currys, Dixons, Comet etc don`t bother with a decent source for their TVs - how do they actually sell any when the picture looks like that!!

makro are doing a bush 32" wide screen for £299+vat seen it working in the store the pic was just as good as the sony next to it.
seen the same tv in the shops for £600+.
taff.

But does the Bush do auto format changing - i.e. when a widescreen broadcast comes on, flip to 14:9/16:9, etc. Anyone know? If not, I assume you can at least change it on the handset...

I purchased a watson 28" widescreen from makro and can`t fault it.
It cost£189.99 + vat.
Picture is brilliant and it auto formats and also sound is good.

Saw a few 28 inch Widescreens in Asda this morning all with 20% off. Mostly the usual Schnieder ones at £400 reduced to £320 but there was also a Sanyo one that I don`t think was much more expensive. No idea about model numbers etc. Might be lucky enough to find the model you currently rent - worth phoning round a few stores?

My local Makro (Enfield) had no Bush, but Beko and Grundig 32". Unfortunately no prices attached - we had a very cross 3 year old in tow ("no you can`t have that large toy gun" - WAHHHHHHH), so couldn`t find out prices or model details. They looked as though they ought to be cheap, though - I`ll try and find out more next visit.

I`ve also been eying up a Philips 32PW6006 on Unbeatable - £471 without stand (plus delivery).
ANother option that was discussed in a thread I started a while ago was ex rental from BoxClever/Radio Rentals - someone had got a great deal on a 32" Philips, but it seems it is rather an old model, and there aren`t many/any left to come out of rental. Prices I was quoted were from £439 upwards. Some brances more helpful than others about checking their central warehouse.

This item was edited on Thursday, 4th October 2001, 12:28

Im looking at the Phillips PW6006 from unbeatable as well. Have you seen any reviews of this set anywhere ?

It seems a good deal, as if its like all other philips it has a flat screen, but I need more detail before I buy.

I was looking in currys at tvs and It seems all the 100 tvs has a smeared screen image ?

Is this normal for this type of set.

Please let me know if you have any more info on this set.

Cheers

Someone in another thread has mentioned that they have the 28" version of the Philips, and said picture and sound were good. I never know what manufacturers mean when talking about "flat" screens - it seems it can be used on any old screen. I think the 6006 has what is referred to as the Blackline S Superflat tube. This is the same tube as on the 6305 range, the 28" version of which got a best buy from Home Cinema choice.
I notice that Argos are doing this TV (for £749), so maybe a large Argos would have it on demo to look at?

This item was edited on Tuesday, 2nd October 2001, 10:27

Just been back to Makro. Models seen were Beko (32416NDS) and Goodmans (GTV76W251L - I think), not Grundig. Both £299 + VAT. Neither seemed to auto format, though, but I couldn`t get my hands on a remote to see if it was just a set up issue. Been some decent reviews of Goodmans models recently (for the money), and at £350 odd, seems pretty reasonable. Beko picture was awful.
They also had a refurbished Watson 32" for £200 odd, but no manual or remote - no thanks!! I looked at the 28" versions, and agree with Gud1 above - picture not bad (certainly for the money) - would have liked to see a 32" in action.
Also - Hambuger3 - I have just enquired of Unbeatable re the 6006, and it`s not yet in stock - thay`re quoting 3-4 weeks. It sounds like it`s a new model - maybe that`s why no reviews as yet.
Richard

This item was edited on Thursday, 4th October 2001, 14:46