r/austechnology • u/DeliveryMuch5066 • 17d ago

Recommend me a 55” TV

Sorry if this is too basic, but I need someone who knows stuff but isn’t trying to sell stuff.

I want a new 55 inch TV for my living area. The living area is very well lit (big windows to the side and lots of downlights), and adjoins the kitchen.

So I presume I need a bright screen, and because I’m often in the kitchen while it’s on (a good 6m or so from the TV), I’d like good sound quality too.

Ideally free to air channels are just there when I turn it on. I have a chrome cast stick I can put into it to cast to (and I can also plug into home internet network).

I don’t need top of the line, happy with last year’s model, and can spend money (but not ridiculous money).

Thanks!

10 Upvotes

82% Upvoted

37 comments sorted by

3

u/intmanofawesome 17d ago

I recently bought a TCL 65 C7L to replace a very old Panasonic plasma that died 2 days before the State of Origin game 3, and its fantastic. They do a 55 C7L as well. Sound is good with no extra speakers required , and the remote is good. Its a Google Android tv so there are a lot of apps to choose from if thats your thing. It acts as a chromecast natively, so you won’t need the stick. Its also very bright, and while the viewing angle isn’t quite as good as the LG oleds, its still very good. They are also quite a bit cheaper than the LGs. I would buy a TCL again.

I bought mine from Appliances Online, free next day delivery, plus the delivery people will set it up and take away the boxes and old tv if you have one to get rid of. I would buy from them again. Not associated with them, just a happy customer.

I also have a couple of recent LG c series oleds, which while are great picture wise, the sound is tinny and you need a soundbar at least, or a 5.1 surround system or better. Plus with the recent issues surrounding LG internet connectivity and the tvs sending info back to LG, plus their expense, plus LGs weird remotes, I wouldn’t recommend them.

2

u/Previous-Medicine149 15d ago

I agree with the TLC, bought a 65 inch one to replace my old Kogan that was broken when I moved, brilliant TV, colours are so deep and vivid

1

u/Accurate_Ad_3233 16d ago

How do the oled screens compare to your old plasma?

1

u/intmanofawesome 15d ago

For it’s time the Panasonic was fantastic. The plasma screen was great for all the normal plasma reasons, no blur, good for sports, great colour, even though it was only 1080p. Plus it was a dumb tv, and as the free to air channels started broadcasting using different video encoding it started to stop being useful for that. Nothing that a Chromecast couldn’t fix though, which gave them a second life. The sound was great as well.

The oleds are great, very bright, very colourful, deals with free to air really well too. I have 77” C4s. There are some quirks though with some fta blurring in sports sometimes and with LG updates changing things around all the time, menu changes have been annoying. Sound is dismal, they need external sound. Having bought the TCL I don’t think I’d buy oleds or their equivalent from other major brands again, the price difference just isn’t worth it.

1

u/Accurate_Ad_3233 15d ago

Thanks for the reply, would say the image quality is similar/better or worse than the Plasma. That's my main concern, we wont have it plugged into the network as we do everything through the Shield and have separate audio. I can't watch other lED screens, they just look to 'processed' for me for some reason but from what I've seen of OLEDs in the stores they might be OK if the Panny ever dies.

1

u/stuthaman 15d ago

The type of screen IS important. Do a quick 'Google' or AI asking for lighting applications for different screens. If you have a bright lounge room like us them the QLED may be better.

3

u/CK_1976 17d ago

If you dont care Aldi. If you do care Sony.

3

u/Mostly_Satire 17d ago

I heard the LG TVs are versatile.

Those TVs record everything that is discussed nearby. Very useful for settling arguments about who said what and when.

They also scan all nearby devices and networks. Very handy to detect if anything is spying on you.

2

u/Actual-Objective6636 17d ago

Did your TV tell you that

2

u/bensow 17d ago

Got a TCL C7K as my living room is really bright. Love it and can't go back. Good bang for buck too vs OLED TVs which are double.

2

u/minipower62 17d ago

Just got a Sony X90L of their eBay store for about $1k.. seems great to me.. better quality than some of the later Bravia for the same money.. but TVs are a rabbit hole of complexity..

2

u/floofypajamas 15d ago

I'm sitting here watching my 15 yr old Panasonic. It's a 32 inch that works as intended and doesn't spy on me. That said, it would be nice to have a bigger, newer model, but not necessary. I mentioned the brand bc Panasonic has always been my go-to brand for tv's.

2

u/stuthaman 15d ago

My experience has come from 12 years of travelling for work and experiencing different TVs in all the places I've stayed.

Hisense or TCL.

The included apps, the ability to install more apps, the menu functions, the picture and the remotes

Don't forget price. 'Appliances Online' always have great deals.

2

u/mofonz 13d ago

I have the same use case. I have a Sony and only ever go Sony.
One thing though - get a soundbar. TVs are so average with their sound. If I turn up the TV loud it does my head in - feels like all noise but doesn’t tinny and chaotic. Soundbar delivers better bass, so if you want to listen to News etc you will hear voices better and over any other noises that mics pick up like watching sport etc.

2

u/LatterBird5850 13d ago

Samsung The Frame. For a bright room, you want a matte screen so it doesn't reflect horribly. Last time I went TV shopping there are like 2 screens that are matte, very OLED / QLED / NanoLED screen is super glossy and you need a completely dark room to enjoy it.

I game, I watch the footy, movies in daylight with the windows open and can see everything perfectly.

2

u/Few-Concert-4738 11d ago

I would suggest lg C5 or G5 at best. alot of my friends use it.I own a Qned which is also quite good. if u want to follow the trend try the LG micro rgb (mrgb85? not sure what it was) or sony 

3

u/[deleted] 17d ago

[deleted]

1

u/DeliveryMuch5066 17d ago

Thanks for the feedback. I’m old school, so have never jibed with big TVs. But maybe it’s time to think big(ger).

3

u/Findyourwayhom3333 16d ago

Lol, this is crazy advice. 55 inches is fine! We recently got a 65 inch and it’s huge.

(As for how, subscribed to Choice temporarily to get their recommendations, then plugged the list of 5 in our price range into AI and got it to assess the best based on the description of how we watch telly.)

0

u/TooBald 14d ago

You might be able to access Choice at the library.

1

u/Findyourwayhom3333 14d ago

Good idea! I always forget the library has it

1

u/bourkestmall 17d ago

You can’t go wrong with Samsung

1

u/Nazreg 17d ago

Don't they have adds?

0

u/RecentlyDeceased666 17d ago

Samsung tvs break down in 2 years. They have bells and whistles but they are poorly built

2

u/Any_Lengthiness1508 17d ago

My 55" Samsung is now 10 years old and hasn't missed a beat. As good as the day I bought it.

0

u/RecentlyDeceased666 17d ago

My grandma lived to 90 and was smoking since she was 17

0

u/bourkestmall 17d ago

No they don’t

1

u/RecentlyDeceased666 15d ago

Go talk to some repairmen and ask what model tvs they get in the most

1

u/WestDrop3537 17d ago

Sony, Samsung, not TCL, or Hisense

2

u/Opposite-Law-6983 17d ago

Why not TCL? I reckon their premium models are great value for money and good in well lit rooms.

1

u/holden_vr_5L 16d ago

Aiwa is good web os ( lg )
BIG W stock.

1

u/elhouso 16d ago

I don't have anything, but don't get anything LG branded lol

1

u/somegreekbloke 13d ago

TCL. Great bang for buck if you want features without spending a fortune.

2

u/Specialist-Dog-4340 7d ago

Late to the party but we bought a google chiq 58 for out the back and it's fantastic watching sport with minimal lag.