Goodbye OId Friend - Any Decent Cheap TVs out There?

jwh on 20/02/2022 - 10:13
Last edited 20/02/2022 - 10:15

So… my TV suffered a premature death due to an airborne toy, and I'm unwillingly in the market for something new.

It was a cheap and cheerful TV; a JVC 55" 4K LT-55N780A purchased for $387 or so in early 2018 from Big W. I took a gamble at the time as there was no display unit, but it actually had an awesome image! Blacks were great, viewing angles perfect, colours were vibrant, uniform backlight, and there was no discernable input lag for games. To top it off, it started up quick, had 4 HDMI ports that auto switched over HDMI-CEC, and had no Smart TV features to bog it down. It was literally just a 4K screen on the cheap, with what was for me very pleasing image quality. It was a Samsung panel (the actual screen was covered in Samsung stickers when I took it out of the box). The only thing missing was HDR, but it didn't bother me.

Now I've got an approx 12 year old Samsung 32" 5 series filling it's shoes in the interim. It's a huge let-down image wise, and takes forever to start up despite being a dumb TV. Blacks are muddled and devoid of detail, colours are dull, fast motion looks pretty terrible. It's slow to respond to input switches and other menu commands. It's ok for basic TV watching, but by modern standards, it's just not a pleasant experience.

I've had a quick look at JB and TGG websites, and their cheaper Hisense, TCL, FFalcon etc. but I'm tempted by another cheap Big W special. Just don't want to be left with crushing disappointment in the image quality stakes, and often it's hard to know until you've properly used it at home.

Eko 50" Ultra HD Android TV $399.

Eko 55" 4K Ultra HD WebOS TV for $525

Can anyone reccomend something to replace the old faithful JVC?

Electrical & Electronics

Comments

  • gimli on 20/02/2022 - 11:14
    +13

    TV suffered a premature death due to an airborne …

    You didn't vaccinate your TV?

    • EightImmortals on 20/02/2022 - 13:05
      +1

      On the contrary, it died 3 weeks after it's booster shot. :P

  • DemocracyManifest on 20/02/2022 - 11:32
    +2

    The big w tv should fill the void. I saw a falcon running at jb Hi fi with a Apple TV connected, 4k, it looked fine. Of course it’ll never look as good as a optimised $5-10k Sony but it didn’t look like crap. Complaints on product review re Eko - majority are about the ‘smart TV’ features so just get a dumb one. I’ve got a Foxtel now box and it’s dodgy as (profanity) haha but I’m using it still with my close to 8 years old ‘JVC’ 40 inch I got from a factory seconds place on eBay; still going strong 🤷. Amazing how the Samsung TVs are potato’s, I’ve gone one as a second tv I got off a garage pick up

    • DemocracyManifest on 20/02/2022 - 11:34

      Falcon seems to be the better buy https://www.jbhifi.com.au/products/ffalcon-50uf2-50-ultra-hd… - go in store and check it out

      • theHMASfriendship on 20/02/2022 - 12:30
        +3

        It’s pronounced “F-Falcon”

        • Kangal on 20/02/2022 - 15:05
          +2

          Ford Falcon?

      • jwh on 20/02/2022 - 13:31
        +1

        Will check it out, thanks.

    • jwh on 20/02/2022 - 13:28
      +1

      I was looking for another dumb TV with a great panel to keep things simple, but they're pretty thin on the ground it seems.

      I'll just hook up a Chromecast/Firestick or the likes anyway, although WebOS sounds interesting so that Eko model piqued my interest.

      • tomsco on 21/02/2022 - 09:21
        +1

        I feel ya. Dumb TV with several HDMI ports and a satisfactory image/sound.

        Last cheapie I got was a Soniq. Took ages to turn on, slow switching between (only 2) HDMI sources and FTA channels. Eventually used a Vodafone TV which solved a lot of it.

        Problem being is the SMART functionallty wasn't even Android or WebOS or anything. Software was crap.

        In saying that, image was fine so it did the job.

    • wabster on 21/02/2022 - 09:07
      +1

      We bought the FFalcon 65" UF1 (https://ffalcon.com.au/products/65-uf1-series-ultra-hd-4k-sm…) at JB HiFi 2 years ago $699, after another TV blew its power supply.

      The TV itself is fine, it is a rebadged TCL (handy to know for replacement remote controls) and we're very happy with it despite the poor reviews. My wife hates the electronic TV guide layout, and response from Remote is agonising slow at times, but overall that is no big deal.

      Would we recommend it for the price point and performance, absolutely yes.

  • MS Paint on 20/02/2022 - 12:03
    -3

    Did I disappoint you or let you down?
    Should I be feeling guilty or let the judges frown?
    'Cause I saw the end, before we'd begun
    Yes, I saw you were blind and I knew I had won

    So I took what's mine by eternal right
    Took your soul out into the night
    It may be over but it won't stop there
    I am here for you if you'd only care

    You touched my heart, you touched my soul
    Changed my life and all my goals
    And love is blind, and that I knew when
    My heart was blinded by you

    I've kissed your lips and held your head
    Shared your dreams and shared your bed
    I know you well, I know your smell
    I've been addicted to you

    Goodbye my lover
    Goodbye my friend
    You have been the one
    You have been the one for me

    Goodbye my lover
    Goodbye my friend
    You have been the one
    You have been the one for me

    I am a dreamer and when I wake
    You can't break my spirit, it's my dreams you take
    And as you move on, remember me
    Remember us and all we used to be

    I've seen you cry, I've seen you smile
    I've watched you sleeping for a while
    I'd be the father of your child
    I'd spend a lifetime with you

    I know your fears and you know mine
    We've had our doubts but now we're fine
    And I love you, I swear that's true
    I cannot live without you

    Goodbye my lover
    Goodbye my friend
    You have been the one
    You have been the one for me

    Goodbye my lover
    Goodbye my friend
    You have been the one
    You have been the one for me

    And I still hold your hand in mine
    In mine when I'm asleep
    And I will bear my soul in time
    When I'm kneeling at your feet

    Goodbye my lover
    Goodbye my friend
    You have been the one
    You have been the one for me

    Goodbye my lover
    Goodbye my friend
    You have been the one
    You have been the one for me

    I'm so hollow baby
    I'm so hollow
    I'm so, I'm so, I'm so hollow
    I'm so hollow baby
    I'm so hollow
    I'm so, I'm so, I'm so hollow

  • lordezekiel on 20/02/2022 - 12:15

    I would consider getting a second hand 55" 4K off facebook marketplace or gumtree. Should be able to get an actual name brand like Sony/Samsung/LG/Panasonic/etc for $200-500 depending on how quick/lucky you are.
    Even a 5 year old LG will be way better than an EKO.

    • jwh on 20/02/2022 - 13:51

      I had a quick look earlier, couldn't find any bargains this morning. But in saying that, I was pleasantly surprised with the quality of my 'JVC' so I'm not totally against these cheaper offerings that actually deliver.

    • DemocracyManifest on 20/02/2022 - 19:09
      +1

      I would not, they are probably lemons. People sell them on for a reason

      • jayboi on 20/02/2022 - 19:45

        People sell them on for a reason

        yeah, maybe they want to make room for something else instead of a tv or are moving houses, doesn't mean its a lemon at all. just turn it on and inspect for any issues

      • tomsco on 21/02/2022 - 09:22
        +4

        Broken screen. HDMI port doesn't work. No stand… $500 firm.

  • randomusername2017 on 20/02/2022 - 12:25

    Any Decent

    More related to content isn't it?

  • Wardy on 21/02/2022 - 14:28

    I purchased one of these https://www.eko-entertainment.com.au/65-qled-4k-androidtv-k6… a while ago and have been very happy with it, but I don't use for gaming.

  • Tigercjn on 21/02/2022 - 14:36
    +1

    I would not waste your money on a cheap tv, I just purchased a Samsung 2021 model and its amazing, google assistant built in. 40 more free TV channels. Fantastic streaming, fast switching, great picture qualities, and sound. For a 43 inch it cost me $850, that's the max size that will fit in our bedroom.

  • OzHunterNSW on 21/02/2022 - 15:29
    -2

    Try disciplining your children…. no toys in front of the TV

    • jackspratt on 21/02/2022 - 16:18

      There's different types of toys…….

  • JonnyQuest on 21/02/2022 - 21:08
    +2

    It's a bit of time to wait, but EOFY specials in June ?

    I have a 6yr old Samsung 40" served me quite well, but had my Laptop hooked up have left it on too long, now have image burn (?) with a patch of bright light in bottom half of screen. It's bearable, but I will need a new TV at some point.

    I've read some horror stories of people buying new TV's from many name Brands upto $2500 and having things fail after 3mths or less ?.

    Seems quality control has gone out the window in many companies that you'd assume you wouldn't have a problem due to its reputation ?

  • Maz4bz on 23/02/2022 - 14:14

    I picked up the Hisense 65" U7G last week, great picture, deep blacks, snappy UI, nice remote, good enough connectivity.

    For the price I felt it was right in the sweet spot for a budget TV at this point in the price cycle.

    I'm happy.

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