ssddx,
This is the email I have send to my mum to help her upgrade. I will post it here in case it helps others.
This is a great forum regarding the speed and quality of the reply to my post.
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Hi Mum,
Here is what I have researched far you about a new TV, with some help from a website called Tom's Hardware, they had more experience than me.
New TVs are able to receive High Definition (HD). HD content has been around for years. Typically this was an extra you had to buy but it's becoming more and more common as standard. This type of picture is massively better quality. People can buy HD films on disk to play on their HD TV called Blu- Ray (the replacement to DVDs). I know you don’t buy DVDs but your Freeview Terrestrial TV has started to make available HD channels. On your TV guide you will start to see channels with a littler HD sign against them.
Your current Humax Personal Video Recorder (PVR) is not HD compatible, this will mean if you record a HD program, when you watch it back it will not be in High Definition but will still work. Keep in mind though that the vast majority of channels and internet online video (streaming) is not HD either. Your current PRV will fit right in but it might be worth upgrading eventually to something HD compatible. As it stands right now some content is HD while some is not depending on the Freeview channel. Even pay TV is not entirely HD yet and many older movies are Standard Definition only since they were not shot in HD.
Here are some different scenarios to think about. Let me know which one you lean to and we can go from there to narrow the vast amount of choices to your personal needs and budget.
Scenario 1 (TV with its own recording)
Some TVs have built in their own PVRs. In this scenario your current Humax PVR can be moved to the TV in the spare bedroom but the TV will be more expensive. But some things to think about regarding this:-
1. If an internal PVR breaks, it's integral to the TV so the whole TV equipment will need repair or replaced.
2. If it is separate from the TV it can be replaced or repaired more easily with less disruption.
3. An external PVR can be upgraded more easily as technology improves.
4. An external PVR can be moved elsewhere if you wish (EG: upstairs, if you upgrate it)
Scenarios 2 (Using your current stereo to improve the sound)
Flat screen TV speakers can vary in quality. If you see a TV you like then it should be possible to connect the audio to your current stereo to give you a nicer sound with your nice new picture if the speakers are not great. But your current old stereo is not Surround Sound and you will have another remote to play with as you have to switch to the sound on your stereo system. We would also need to check compatibility first.
Scenario 4 (Smart TV connected to the internet & pay TV)
Smart TVs allow you to connect to the internet for various reasons e.g.: pay TV/Films. Some Smart-TVs are quite limited as to what they support. Some have Internet Browser applications which is what you use to go on the internet (you use a browser when you do your internet shopping) but they are very basic and generally junk. They do include apps such as Netflix, Hulu (film rental online), and other streaming media players but are known to not get updated after a certain period of time so eventually there may come to be a time where they no longer work how they should and some are paid subscriptions. To use online film/TV services you will want an internet connection faster than 2 megabytes per seconds but something 10mbps or more is ideal but your current internet speed is 1.07 megabytes per second.
Scenario 5 (Surround Sound or Sound Bar)
Surround Sound speakers or a Sound Bar will compliment your TV. Surround Sound is great with films, but I don't think you watch many films so although they would work in the basic sense the surround sound part of the speaker would not be used as much I think. A possible a compromise is something called a Sound Bar which is as it sounds, a long thin bar that sits with the TV to improve sound, if needed.
Scenario 6 (Current PVR but new [not smart] HD TV)
This will allow you to keep using your current Humax PVR for your TV and recording but start to take advantage of the HD TV channels appearing on Freeview.
Scenario 7 (New PVR and new [not smart] HD TV)
When we upgrade your PVR we can make sure it has HD and twin TV tuners. This will allow you to record more TV, watch more channels at the same time and of course record in HD quality against a HD channel. (Currently you are restricted to a smaller selection of channels to watch when recording multiple channels in your current setup).
This scenario can also be reached in stages, e.g.: buy the TV first, then upgrade your PVR later putting the older PVR in the spare room.
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Well respected brands are LG, Samsung and Sony.
Thanks
Lee