Is It Worth Buying a US TV in Australia?

L1kaDoubleScheme on 23/02/2023 - 12:03

Would like to know if there is value in buying a US TV here in Australia? Has obvious price benefit, and my limited search shows I would need a US to AU socket adapator (~6$), step down transformer (basic ones available ~30 bucks) and maybe a Set Top Box for viewing the Direct FTA channels (around ~50 bucks) as it has an ATC tuner instead of DVB. Any other issues or additional costs/hardware needed, or anything I should be aware of? I plan to wall mount the TV(75") and mainly used for streaming and occasional gaming.
The unit is an OLED and will go in a heavy sunlight lit media room, but willing to go for OLED for the price I am getting.

Any suggestions are welcome

Electrical & Electronics

Comments

  • CodeXD on 23/02/2023 - 12:04
    +7

    Has obvious price benefit

    Does it really? Are you converting price from USD to AUD? and shipping?

    There will also be warranty issues.

    • eccaz on 23/02/2023 - 13:49

      I believe the OP is referring to the 77” American LG OLED on eBay.

  • djsweet on 23/02/2023 - 12:23
    +1

    Shipping a 75" tv from the US is going to around $1k I reckon, based on newegg shipping rates. So, I doubt its going to be worthwhile.

    • Mechz on 23/02/2023 - 16:08
      +1

      Also, because it's OLED it's likely to be damaged in transit more easily. No way it's worth the effort.

  • bobbified on 23/02/2023 - 12:24
    +1

    How much cheaper is it? Factor in the fact that you're not likely to get warranty because it'll be impossible to ship it back.

  • OMGJL on 23/02/2023 - 12:40
    +2

    75 inch tv have a power consumption of ~130w, your cheap step down transformer might not have enough power.

    the weight is about 46kg, I wonder how much shipping it'll cost.

    I also wonder what would you do when shipping damage occurs, what if your TV break down during warranty period.

  • 1kaDoubleScheme on 23/02/2023 - 12:56
    -1

    Not getting it shipped, planning to get it from a known contact who got it wrongly delivered at his company office here in Syd instead of US. Yes, agree it wont have warranty but it is a brand new unit, visibly checked.

    • Nugs on 23/02/2023 - 12:57
      +4

      well that IS different
      .

      • 1kaDoubleScheme on 23/02/2023 - 12:58
        -1

        Guess might bite the bullet wrt Warranty and other stuff, but are there any other picture quality challenges, etc. which makes it a No-Go decision for me?

  • Italkdigital on 23/02/2023 - 13:02

    Better of buying off a country that has 220-240 volts supply, have you heard of a country called China? Check out Aliexpress or Alibaba plenty off cheap monitors there, you can buy a pc monitor and buy say a HDMI Fetch mighty or mini pvr which has builtin aussie tv tuners actually i think the Mighty has 4x tuners or a cheap Androind box with built-in tuner, only conversion at worst would be a socket adapter from one country plug to our AU plug

    • 1kaDoubleScheme on 23/02/2023 - 13:07
      -1

      Thanks mate, I am considering an OLED TV though and obviously demanding a huge price cut for top of the range OLED TV in lieu of the warranty and other challenges. Concerned a bit, as I read somewhere that there may still be judders after getting all the required hardware? If thats the case, would let it go otherwise pull the plug on this

      • Italkdigital on 23/02/2023 - 13:15

        What do you mean by judders? Certainly having a transformer of any sort would not be a great idea but by rite (i think) tvs should have built-in universal powersupplies, anyway looking through Aliexpress postage straight of the bat is a killer but i do remember sourcing pc monitors through Alibaba and to save on postage costs had to go by ship not air

        Probably better idea if your trying to buy a cheap 75 inch tv is to buy one used thats few years old, im sure like expensive mobiles theyd surely drop down dramatically in price, well if you can fund a high end pc monitor that big well doubles up as a pc monitor surely xbox or ps console would love it

        Anyway good luck

        Edit: anyway what price range we looking from America? Love a challenge lolz 😆 🤣

  • FirstWizard on 23/02/2023 - 13:20
    +2

    Most new TVs have a power supply that is capable of handelling 100-240V. So you may be able to get away without actually needing a step down converter.
    Check the specs

    Also I opted for snipping the end of the power cable and putting a AU plug top as those US to AU travel adaptors always seem to come lose.

    • 1kaDoubleScheme on 23/02/2023 - 13:32

      This one doesnt have 240V..

      Power Supply (Voltage, Hz) AC 120V, 50/60Hz

  • Ocker on 23/02/2023 - 13:25
    +1

    Whats about the fact USA is NTSC and Australia is PAL

    • 1kaDoubleScheme on 23/02/2023 - 13:42
      +1

      no idea mate, how that plays out. If thats to do with Free to Air channels, wont that be solved with a digital set top box?

      • KaTst3R on 23/02/2023 - 15:08
        +2

        It only matters if you have a CD or DVD players that still uses analog signals as some contents are region locked and in PAL/NTSC format.

        If you have moved on from the 90s, it wont matter.

        By the way, some TVs might come with multiple region FTA channel tuner (it is in the menu and can select countries but not sure if it works). I would suggest buying the digital tuner last after you check that it cant receive the signal. Step down transformer and convert you will definitely need.

    • ItsMeAgro on 23/02/2023 - 15:21
      +1

      I don't think PAL vs NTSC has mattered for a decade or two.

      Buy an Australian set top box, plug it's HDMI out into the HDMI in and you're done, right?

      Surely it's 480p and 720p at 30 FPS and that's it, I'd have thought.

  • pjetson on 23/02/2023 - 18:52
    +1

    the fact USA is NTSC and Australia is PAL

    No, Australia hasn't been PAL for ages. Digital TV was introduced more than 10 years ago here. Now, it's DVB-T with some DVB-T2 channels. There is no broadcast PAL here.

    Broadcast TV in the USA also isn't NTSC any more - it changed to digital in 2009. Now, it's ATSC. I think cable TV stayed analog for longer, and it's possible that this TV still has NTSC.

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