TV Buying Guide

You can go bigger than before

Thanks to narrower bezels surrounding TV screens, you can fit more screen in the same space as you used to be able to. A modern 50” TV takes up roughly the same size as a 42” TV did back in 2008, so if it’s been a while since you bought one, consider going up a few sizes.

How far away will you be sitting?

If you’re not sure where to start, think about where you’ll be watching from. If you can work out how far away you will be, you can use the diagram here as a good rule of thumb for TV screen size.

The figures on the diagram are just suggestions, and the size of your TV is ultimately down to personal preference. If you need more help we have also developed the TV Size Finder app. It has been designed to help you choose the perfect size TV for your room.

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With all these additional pixels making up the picture on your TV screen, the brightness of the colours, the sharpness of the images and the overall clarity of the picture are vastly improved. Most premium 4K TVs will upscale standard content into near 4K quality - look out for TVs with HEVC video compression for upscaling technology. Watching content that was shot using a 4K camera will give the most true 4K picture and allow you to fully benefit from this technology.

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More and more content is now becoming available to view in 4K. Blu-ray players that upscale standard Blu-ray discs to 4K quality are now available, whilst 4K Blu-ray discs are currently set to be available by the end of 2015. Currently, streaming services such as Amazon Instant Video and Netflix offer the best chance to view in 4K. For example, Netflix now shoot all their own produced shows in 4K, and there are also 4K videos on YouTube. We recommend broadband speeds of over 20 Mbps to view buffer-free, and your TV will need to have a HEVC decoder to read the compressed files.

Most brands also offer a choice of 4K content as part of the TV operating system. Each brand is different so it is worth researching what they offer, or speak to a colleague in store.

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TV processing rates work in much the same way as your computer processor might. If you watch lots of sports or fast-paced movies, the number of scene changes are frequent and these put a strain on your TV. The higher the TVs processing rate, the easier it handles these quick changes.

Traditionally, processing rates were always measured in hertz (Hz) but you’ll now find different manufacturers measure them in different ways such as PMI or PQI so comparing across brands can be tricky.

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We think picture quality is hugely important when it comes to buying a new TV.

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LED stands for Light Emitting Diodes whilst OLED stands for Organic Light Emitting Diodes. Both refer to the way your screen pixels are lit to create the colours and contrast of the images on your screen. OLED is the latest technology. The pixels create their own light source to make up the picture. This means that they can turn themselves off completely in order to show the deepest blacks. LED screens on the other hand have a backlight which is shone through an LCD panel to produce the individual pictures.

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• Curved screens deliver a more immersive viewing experience
• Images have more depth and contrast
• The best experience comes from larger screen sizes (46”+)
• LED and OLED are both technologies used to light your TV screen pixels, providing rich colours and contrasts. OLED is the latest technology

Decided between curved and flat screen? Shop the ranges here:

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As well as receiving standard channels, a Smart TV allows you to access online content via the internet using applications (apps) built into the TV. All Smart TVs will have a ‘homepage’ where you can find all of the options available to you. You can stream your favourite TV shows, movies and more and watch on your TV at a time that suits you. All you need is access to your broadband network either via WiFi or Ethernet cable.

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You can stream programmes and films from the Smart apps on the TV but you will not be able to download additional apps, so if you want to record and store programmes for viewing later you will need a Saorview/Sky/Virgin box.

• Connects to your home internet connection.
• Gives you free content options, plus access to movies, catch up services and more.
• The apps available varies by the brand you buy.
• Can connect to compatible devices in your home to share content easily.

Is a Smart TV what you’re looking for?

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We love having access to the additional on demand and streaming services that Smart TV gives you which is why all the TVs our experts love are Smart.

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All televisions have their own built-in speakers to deliver sound but the comparison between these built-in speakers and custom-designed surround sound speaker systems can be worlds apart. Deep bass, clear treble and room-filling sound to watch your favourite TV and movies are only truly achievable with the support of additional sound devices such as a sound bar, soundstage or home cinema system.

As the name suggests, a sound bar is a long bar shaped speaker that sits beneath your TV on the stand or can be fixed to the wall. We’ve got a large range of wireless sound bars, so you can avoid ugly wires trailing from your TV to the sound bar. Many of them can also be connected to a multi-room speaker system which allows you to wirelessly stream music through your sound bar. A wired or wireless subwoofer enhances the bass and delivers depth of sound.

A soundstage system, on the other hand, provides an all-in-one solution and generally includes a built-in subwoofer.

If you want true surround sound, a home cinema system with both front and rear speakers will really put you at the heart of the action on screen, akin to the sound you experience at the movies.

• Your TV’s built-in speakers may not be enough for you if you want really incredible sound.
• Sound bars are discrete and pack a good punch when partnered with a subwoofer. They look great sitting in front of or beneath large screen TVs. Curved sound bars are also available to match curved TVs.
• Many sound bars are also compatible with multi-room speaker systems. They will work in conjunction with other speakers around your home, allowing you to stream your music throughout your house.
• Soundstages are a similar size to a DVD player, and house all the speakers in one system. They look great with smaller screens.
• Home cinema systems provide the ultimate experience, with front and rear surround sound speakers.

Interested in boosting your TV’s sound?

Our Knowhow team can mount your television to a wall or build your new TV stand. Our installers are experts at the tricky parts of the job, such as embedding cables within brick walls and fitting your sound bar or home cinema system alongside your new TV. Even better, once we have fitted your TV just the way you want it, we’ll even talk you through the features and how to get started so you’re all set when we leave.

For more on our TV services, check out our Knowhow guide.

A properly wall-mounted TV with the cables embedded looks neat and very stylish, whereas a stand gives you greater flexibility to add your other entertainment devices, such as a Blu-ray player. You’ll need to make sure that the wall is suitable if you choose to wall mount – a cavity wall, for example, is unlikely to take the weight of a large screen TV. If you think you may add more devices to partner with your TV later on then remember, once you have wall-mounted and cabled behind walls, you may have to re-do it to add new devices.

For more on our TV services, check out our Knowhow guide.

The guarantee includes:

• Protection against mechanical or electrical breakdown
• We'll fix it or replace it
• Support from our experts over the phone

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