Another question from me. I'm looking to get a new smart TV but with the demise of the high street there is only one shop in my town with any TVs to see and most of them are the size of a small house! I have LG currently but has anyone bought a TV this year that they would recommend for clear sound? The trouble is if I buy one and open the box I can't return it even if the sound if awful. I can't afford to waste £300 on poor quality. I'm prepared to get off my bum to go to shops but they simply don't exist! Only someone else with tinnitus will understand the way it affects everything and the simple joy of buying a TV can turn into a disaster. :0(
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lulu2608
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Check reviews. Television sound on most modern televisions is pretty awful because the manufacturers don't want to mount forward facing speakers on the front because they take up space and consumers are largely indifferent. I use a small separate amplifier and hifi speakers. Or you can use a sound bar.
Keep in mind that the TV is only smart for as long the manufacturer updates the firmware - which seems to be about 7 years. Smart TVs and smart speakers are a modern curse. I think chromesticks/firesticks used with dumb TVs is more environmentally responsible.
Thank you. I have, I am, I will but most people leaving a review don't have an issue with audio. I've notice the rise of sound bars, another expense and something I can't try for free, but I guess the issue will be the same as the TV speakers - they're 'over there', unlike surround sound (not sold cheaply anymore) where the sound would be 'over here'. The smart I'm after is not having to keep plugging the laptop in to watch programmes on Netflix or iPlayer. I can't imagine big apps like them being desupported anytime soon.
I chose a smart 32" TV and a separate sound bar. Works for me. The TV is a good make, but the quality of sound from its speakers is dire. The store warned me about this problem beforehand.
The make of sound bar I chose costs around £250 today. Has fantastic sound quality.
Key point is to go for a separate sound system with a flat TV.
Thank you. Would you mind sharing the makes you have? And was the shop local or nation? I only have Curry's and they were useless. I could travel to John Lewis. The trouble with a separate sound bar is the extra cost. I have £300 so can't spend £250 of that on the sound bar! I might have to save up for that in a couple of years as I really want to stop plugging in the laptop to watch Netflix and iPlayer so the smart TV is my main aim now.
The TV is a Sony and the speaker is a Bose (solo).
I purchased both from John Lewis, the TV while visiting in person and the Bose a little later online, once I'd confirmed the retail assistant's opinion about the tinny sound quality of flat TVs.
Hi, I am in the same boat, we need to buy a new TV. I'm afraid I have not researched any yet but I am doing my research on the internet (Currys, John Lewis, etc.), I will be using the TechRadar website ( techradar.com/uk/televisions ) for reviews as an excellent site to tell you how a TV (and other technology) perform in all categories, so may be worth researching there on audio performance. Also, I am going to ensure the new smart TV has bluetooth audio connectivity so I can watch with wireless headphones. Just a tip when you do research. Good luck.
Thank you for the tech radar recommendation, I haven't hear of them. I started with Curry's as my only local shop although I can travel to a John Lewis. Good point about bluetooth. I don't have wireless headphones but I try to future proof my tech and am also looking at bone conducting headphones. Good luck with your search.
Hi Lulu. A couple of weeks ago, I had to replace my Samsung TV which gave up the ghost after 10 years of sterling service. After a bit of research on the internet to get a rough idea of prices etc we headed for Currys.....big mistake. The sales assistants product knowledge was pathetic and when I asked him to demonstrate the various features on the model we were considering, he shrugged his shoulders and told us none of the TV's were actually connected to an aerial so it wouldn't be possible. At that point we left the store. A friend recommended we try the local Sony shop and what a difference! Nothing was too much trouble and the assistant demonstrated all the features we asked about and then some! They were also able to price match and every TV carried a 5 year warranty. We settled for a 43 inch Sony Bravia and the sound quality is excellent as is the quality of the picture. I have really loud invasive tinnitus but I can hear the TV just fine, with or without my hearing aids in, so no need for an expensive sound bar. I hope this helps.
Thanks Jimmuck , that's a really good reply. The woman I spoke to in Curry's wasn't helpful (once I got hold of her). Even after I explained my situation she wouldn't take off her mask (loud background music!), she did manage to get some of the TVs on but they only played a trailer on loop which didn't have enough speech for me to determine if I could understand it. They only seem to want to sell TVs the size of a house as the small section had 32-43" which I class as big!
I had found a Sony on Curry's website which I was comparing to LG but there were negative reviews on audio so I dismissed it. Would you mind sharing the model number? I'll look up my nearest Sony shop. Cheers.
We recently replaced our beloved Panasonic CRT tv with an equivalent Panasonic LED tv - to echo what has been said elsewhere in the thread, try to budget to include a separate soundbar, as most latter day telly speakers are functional at best.
Our set is a 2019 model - 50gx800b - and an sc-htb688ebk 3.1 wireless soundbar/subwoofer, which does appear to have the bluetooth headset connectivity (haven't tested this yet).
We bought the TV from Hughes Direct on eBay and the soundbar from an online retailing behemoth with a river-y name...
Thank you Pat. I'll look up those models top see current prices. The trouble with a separate sound bar is the cost is roughly the same as the TVs I'm looking at and I can't afford that, I have £300. I doubt a £50 sound bar from B&M will be very good! ;0) My main aim right now is a smart TV so I don't have to keep plugging the laptop in for Netflix and iPlayer so the sound bar might be for next year.
Hi Lulu. The TV we bought was a Sony Bravia, model KDL43WG663ABU. Its a smart TV so you can get Netflix at the push of a button on the remote. The picture quality is superb and I have no issues with the sound even without my hearing aids in, despite my raging tinnitus! Mine is 43 inches so maybe the speakers are a bit bigger than they would be on a smaller model but once you hear it in store you'll know if it suits you. Happy hunting! Best wishes.
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