2014 has been a fantastic year for televisions of all sizes. Innovations can be seen across the board with every manufacturer trying something a little different and many creating something just a little bit special. Those unique gems are what we will be focusing on today via 5 categories: 19-32”, 32”-42”, 42”-55”, 55”+, best smart TV. So without further ado let’s jump straight in.
BEST 19”-32” TV:
It’s been a difficult time for Sony over the last few years and this little beauty has silenced many of their critics. The W705/6 (being either black or silver bezzled respectively) is a shining example of how good a small TV set can be. Most of the time the big manufacturers leave their smaller sized TV’s with limited motion handling and a very basic colour choice. Not Sony. Using it’s own Triluminous display and packing a 200Hz XR Motionflow processor this TV gives both wonderful colours, smooth flowing pictures and a great watching experience for both standard definition and full HD. Lastly it’s also got a lovely game mode to boot and handles inputs like games consoles with ease thanks to its extremely fast response time. A great all-rounder with some clever smart features to boot.
BEST 32”-42” TV:
It simply can’t be ignored. Possibly the most popular model in our store and certainly a firm favourite with everyone who has bought one. This is the entry level 3D TV from Samsung this year and it’s the complete package. A great picture quality, a very capable 400Hz CMR for incredibly smooth motion, an award winning smart hub and a very neat and tidy design are all on offer. This TV has quickly established itself as an almost unbeatable foe for the other manufacturers to contend with thanks to its huge array of catch up services, applications, connectivity and clarity. Hats off to Samsung, they’ve created a real winner at a very respectable price tag.
BEST 42”-55” TV:
Once again I feel that I have to give it to Samsung. Out of all the 4K TV’s made this year, no other boasts as many features for such a great price. What Hi-Fi gave this 5*’s in their first review and could only moan about the inability for the stand to swivel. If you are thinking about a TV of this nature however, wall mounting on a swivel bracket can eradicate that negative and make it a flawless choice. The 4K detail from its UHD content pack is undeniably stunning whilst the built in upscaler maintains a high level of quality across all other resolution types. It can work wirelessly with the matching Samsung soundbar, (HWH750), play all available online 4K content from Netflix and Amazon Prime, it can immerse you in incredible depth and detail whilst having one of the slimmest bezzles on any TV I’ve seen this year. We love this TV at Richer Sounds and I’m sure you will too!
BEST 55”+ TV:
I’m torn on this decision so I have to pick two TV’s that have shown us all that Panasonic should never be left out of a fight when it comes to producing a pretty picture. In fact, pretty would be an understatement. Awesome is a more appropriate word for the job. Whilst many people nowadays will be looking for the best smart TV, the most catch up services or even one that has a certain input for their devices, I think it should always boil down to how good the picture looks. If you share the same mindset as me then the 4K range from Panasonic has pipped the others to the top spot. If you want a large screen, a phenomenal picture, the smoothest frame rate and the deepest blacks then these two are all you need to consider.
The AX802 range was the first attempt from Panasonic whilst they finalized the smaller details on the AX902 series and with the recent upgrade to play all 4K Netflix content it has taken its rightful place among my favourites. It was a joy to watch as we replaced our Demo room TV from last year with something very special. The quality on the first Blu-Ray that we played was undeniably sharp and detailed but subtle and very natural in its colour selection. When we recently replaced this with the TX55AX902 (a TV I have been eagerly awaiting to see since reading the CES review in January,) it’s enticing blue light from beneath the bezzle welcomed us to take our seats and revel in the sheer quality and depth of the contrast, the warmth, and indeed coolness, of the colour palette and it’s unrivalled ability to handle even the quickest of moving images with ease. The smart hub is different from every other brand by using a Freetime system, which works as a dual strike force of Wifi streaming and Aerial based TV. This has recently had channel 4 and ITV unlocked in a recent software update; that means it can now compete with Samsung in terms of its catch up offering. All in all, the only thing that may discourage some is the hefty price tag but I would certainly remember that you get what you pay for and Panasonic deliver in spades.
BEST SMART TV:
Thankfully, Samsung have made this very easy for me as EVERY smart TV they produce is equipped with the same catch up services, applications and Quad Core processor power. This means they can offer more catch up Apps (4oD and ITV player being exclusive to their offering) and run them a lot faster than most others without costing the earth. From the entry level H5500 all the way up to the Curved UHD HU8500 range, Samsung have made a TV to aid all of us who ask the question, “What is a Smart TV?” Everything you could possibly need is available at your fingertips, from Internet browsing to Facebook. Tweeting a tweet on Twitter to streaming a movie on Netflix. From listening to your favourite songs through Deezer to catching up with the latest news via the BBC. It also allows you to play games using your smart remote (6 series and above) and stream media via wifi. If you’re hunting around for a TV with the best smart performance, Samsung will be your first port of call.
Author: Andrew, Weybridge store
