LCD TVs

sideshowbob

sideshowbob

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I want to get rid of my TV, which I almost never watch, and replace it with a 17inch LCD job that I can wall mount. Anyone know anything that doesn't cost an arm and a leg that will do the job? I need to connect a DVD player (so widescreen would be nice) and a VCR to it, so I assume I'll need scart inputs, but are there other options (I've heard of component and S-video but I don't know anything about them and whether they're better than scart).

Dixons seem to have a couple around £700 with a single scart (so how would I connect 2 boxes to it?), but I have no idea if I need to spend more to get something decent.

I know nothing about AV, as is probably apparent.

-- Ian
 
John Lewis (www.johnlewis.com) stores have a surprisingly good selection and they pricematch aswell. Worth visiting a branch just to get an idea of how quality can vary (and it does vary a lot). The worst issue with LCD screens is off axis viewing allthough the more recent ones have viewing angles close to 180 degrees so aren't a problem. As for hanging on the wall, some are specifically designed to support this, others will have silly things like SCART sockets coming out of the back (rather than sideways) making it tricky.

Quick browsing of the John Lewis selection seems to indicate that few if any of the lower priced models have more than a single SCART input.

As video inputs go they go like this in decreasing order of quality:
- Component (separate red, green and blue leads with either RCA or BNC terminals). Rare in Europe (because we have SCART) until you get to higher end gear.

- SCART RGB. Debatable whether it's actually any worse than component - many forum wars have been fought over the issue :rolleyes: IMO SCART RGB is excellent and even though my DVD player and TV support component I prefer to use SCART for the convenience.

- S-video. Multipin plug roughly RCA sized. Some people swear by it and rate it as highly as SCART RGB or component but in general it's not quite as good. It's still miles better than composite though.

- Composite. The ubiquitous yellow RCA socket which is by far the worst of the lot.

NB: A point of confusion is that SCART itself is not a input standard, it's merely a 21 pin connector standard. SCART cables can carry RGB, S-video and component aswell as stereo audio on them. Some TV's also accept component video over SCART (eg Loewe) but that's non-standard. SCART connectors are also 2-way. They can be an input and an output at the same time.

Also, if a TV has multiple SCART connectors often only one of them is enabled for RGB with the rest being merely S-video or just poxy composite.

As is probably obvious from the above, if you use anything other than SCART you'll need to hook up audio separately using a standard RCA interconnets.

If you want to connect your VCR and a DVD player to the TV and it only has a single SCART socket then, if you're lucky either your DVD player or VCR (more likely) has 2 SCART sockets allowing you to "daisy chain" the devices together eg: DVD -> (SCART in) VCR (SCART out) -> TV. The "middle" device (VCR in this example) doesn't have to be on for this to work. If you're unlucky and don't have 2 SCART sockets on one of your devices then you'll need something like this (there are many similar types of gadget).

Last little thing about SCART which IMO is a killer feature is that it auto switches ie, if you start playing a DVD the TV will sense the input and switch to it. With other video inputs there's no auto-switching (the main reason why I use SCART in preference to component).

Hope that helps.

Michael.
 
Ian, I do believe Mackro, do a Samsung 17" LCD for £299 (it's a trade holders card, but they arn't for just the electronics trade, I have you can use if you wish) T.
 
Now that's a good idea, I can get a Makro card through the business. Cheers Tone, I owe you a beer.

-- Ian
 
you don't want a 4:3 tv!!
at least 80% of progs are in 16:9 (although you do need a Freeview or Sky box for true 16:9)

LG do a 17" LCD Widescreen telly which we do for £699 or so, but theres a Sony at £870 (with free dvd) and Philips for around the same amount

add 17.5% VAT to Macro afaik- a LCD for £299 sounds like a PC one anyway

you won't get component on LCD tvs sub £2k or so, just S-Video, composite, RGB scart and on some, VGA input for pc (although LG mentioned above has USBs too!!)

yes, all above can be wall mounted- wall brackets generally need to be ordered in in stores or off the net and start around the £50 mark
 

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