Angus Kidman17 January 2007, 7:37 AM
Yes, you can have a 1080p screen for $2,500 -- but just how big will it be? We've tracked down the best pricing on true HD LCD TVs for aspiring high-resolution addicts.
In the post-Christmas washout, there are plenty of LCD TV specials floating around, but appearances can be deceptive. The vast majority of the LCD TVs on sale in Australia offer lower-resolution LCD displays (1366 by 768).
Sure, that beats a crummy ancient CRT, but if you're going to invest a couple of thousand dollars or more in a new display, you might as well get proper 1080p (that is, 1920 by 1080 resolution) -- after all, who wants to upgrade their television again in a year's time? An added bonus is that there are enough models in this segment to provide competition, but not so many that you're drowning in possible choices, which is getting to be the case in smaller sizes and lower resolutions.
 Acer's AT3705W-DTV: 36 kilos of discount LCD goodness. |
There are bargains to be had in the high-def sector, though you've got to dig harder to look for them, and you might have to be prepared to compromise on screen size to score a high-quality bargain. Here's some tips to help you find the best deals.
You're going to have to spend at least $2,500. A handful of sites offer Acer's AT3705W-DTV for under $2,500 -- the cheapest deal we encountered on a 1920 by 1080 screen, though availability is a little open to question. The media gateway version (with better PC connectivity) costs slightly more, though both can easily be had well under their respective list prices of $2,899 and $3,599. As well as the Acer options, there are 37 inch models available from BenQ, though these are pricier.
For 40 inches, you need around $4,000. The cheapest 40 inch model we could find, Samsung's LA40F71BX, can be had for under $4000 if you shop around. The Sony KDL-40X2000 can be snagged for just over $4,000, which is costlier, but still an impressive $1,000 less than its official list price.
Getting an online discount on the bigger sizes is tricky. Competition is pronounced in the 37 and 40 inch markets and using comparison shopping engines is definitely worthwhile, but once you hit 46 inches and above there's only a handful of major brands (Samsung, Sharp and Sony) where there's much activity at all, and the prices quickly boom.
 Sharp's LC65G5XSYS: When size matters more than cost. |
For the really big displays -- such as Sharp's monster 65 inch LC65G5XSYS, which has an official price of $23,999 -- you'll be better off heading to a couple of specialist dealers and negotiating in person. (The 65 inch model costs $14,000 more than its 52 inch sibling; frankly, if you can afford that for 13 inches, you probably don't need to haggle.) Philips also appears to have favoured physical dealers over online sales, so if you want to pony up for its Ambilight features, you'll have to leave the building.
Don't forget the delivery charges. Given their cost, size and delicate components, delivery fees are not something you want to skimp on. A saving of $100 isn't worth it if getting the product shipped from interstate costs more than that. Personal pick up is a possible choice if you're near a good deal, but remember, it may not be practical if you drive a hatchback.