TVs, televisions, soundbars, projectors, surround sound, etc

It's a sweeter sell if you're already in the ecosystem as viewing history syncs across devices and play controls appear on nearby phones etc. 🤷‍♂️ a solution that has worked for me, anyway.

Yeah definitely. We're both on Android phones but could easily move back to Apple for the next one. Also have one iPad and MBP. Rest of smart stuff is Google at the moment.

CeX seem to be selling good condition 2nd hand for £250 with a 24 months warranty.

It's annoying you can't do that with Sonos as I'd do that in heartbeat otherwise...

If sonos supports airplay2 you should be able to audio from Apple TV to it wirelessly.

Hmmm ... After investigation I think I'll wait to see if Apple releases new big HomePods this year and/or the Kef LSX 2.

Might still buy an Apple TV in the meantime mind you.

Might still buy an Apple TV in the meantime mind you.

We picked up an AppleTV a few weeks ago after I got some vouchers from work and thought it’d be nice to buy a frivolous gadget with them.

It’s a classic Apple product. Absolutely no need for it at all, but we’re already impressed with how fast and slick it is in comparison to the Fire Stick we previously had and wonder why we didn’t get one sooner. Netflix is the only app that’s not fully ‘native’ so doesn’t show up in the global ‘what’s next’ and Now doesn’t yet work with surround for some reason but other than that it’s been great.

Would definitely recommend one.

If you're an android user you can set up the Google nest audio as tv speakers via Bluetooth. Not sure how Samsung works with it but might be worth looking at. Two nests can be paired for stereo as well.

You can do the same with Chromecast/Google TV and Nest Audio for a couple of hundred quid. Or Echo Studios set up as a studio pair and connected to the TV via Bluetooth.

Don't know how the sound quality compares to Apple though and none of them are going to match up to the Kef option.

Do you need 4k in a projector?

Currently making do with a very old WVGA (something like 800x480 pixels) Epson my step-father-in-law left here a couple of years ago. I run a VGA-HDMI cable and it does image just about acceptably for the novelty of BOTW on a big screen but it's basically like me watching something without my glasses.

I'd like something small that can sit on a shelf in an alcove, potentially screwed in place and aimed slightly wonkily at a large bare wall ('keystoning'?).

I'd consider a pull down ceiling mounted screen but the wall is pretty smooth and well painted.

It's quite a bright room and it would be most used in daytime but with curtains pulled etc.

Because of where I want to place it I suspect I don't actually want one that has speakers as the sound would just hit the hard surfaces all around it.

I like the look of this: https://www.richersounds.com/xgimi-horizon-pro.html (visually - compared to traditional looking projectors, plus it's very bright, probably as big as could fit on the shelf in question, 4k, lots of connectivity etc) but do I want to spend that much? Not wildly just after Christmas. Never heard of XGimi, either. I've seen similar form factor but smaller by XGimi / Anker etc but they're much duller lamps and usually 720p. Anything in the middle?

Not really up on projectors, but you could buy a decent 65 inch OLED TV for £1600 that would probably give you a much better picture than projecting onto a bare wall in a bright room.

This is absolutely correct. However I don't want to have a permanent screen. I can't reasonably explain why.

"Do you need 4k in a projector?"

No but it depends on content. i had a look at a mates set-up last weekend, it was 2k or a bit bigger? and to my eye was a very organic picture with great colour fidelity, this was on blu-ray so no bit rate issues or banding in the shadows. wasn't even on the special grey/mettalised paint on the wall.
FWIW i look at and adjust colour in stills a fair bit on my Eizo though obviously not a colourist/grader. mate in question is on the technical committee of the SMPTE and VP of technology at a cinema versioning/distribution company so going to know what looks crap.

i'm still happy with my HD 40in KDLW40 Sony, was £350 and rated on all the AV forums, turned all the motion crap off and added a tiny bit of green to offset a slight magenta cast and it's great on streamed (not Amazon as it's so variable) and decent HD broadcast, be gutted when it finally dies.

I'd be curious what your mate has if you can find out but no worries. Any word on your gaff?

i'll ask him.
no news yet but supposedly exchange today, email will be sent just after lunch...

How about the laser ultra short throw units that project ‘up’? I’ve not seen one in person but the tech looks impressive.

its an Epson TW9400W but he said it's been superseded by a laser version (or is that 'later' and a typo??)

Thanks, I've seen a couple on paper that look good but again, something about having it out of sight out of mind on a shelf, particularly with a kid I don't know how to parent. Makes it more of an event when we put it on for a film or go play something. And also not something he can reach/wreck.

Quite possibly a laser one - have seen some on my travels but will check out the Epson - thanks for asking!

I set a Canton DM55 soundbase (working from the TV optical out) audio delay to sync with the built in TV speakers. I used something on Netflix I think and was acceptable. Next day, BBC freeview+ output, sync was some way out. What's going on here then?

The soundbase was only to provide some bass, not ideal, but was ok when in time.

If your connected by HDMI check that it's plugged into to the correct arc socket on the TV and then it should synch automatically

I didn't know that existed, but the Canton has no HDMI in, the connection is optical only.

Looking at TVs - sub 50".

Asked a mate and they sent this
https://www.johnlewis.com/panasonic-tx-48lz980b-2022-oled-hdr-4k-ultra-hd-smart-tv-48-inch-with-freeview-play-dolby-atmos-black/p6339756?tmad=c&tmcampid=7&s_share=jlappios_bmV0LndoYXRzYXBwLldoYXRzQXBwLlNoYXJlRXh0ZW5zaW9u

Is thst how much a good TV costs?

Maybe how much a really good TV costs. Day to day you probably wouldn't notice much difference with something like this though

https://www.prcdirect.co.uk/lg-oled48a26la-48-a26-4k-smart-oled-tv-2022.html

Cheers.

Are there any features that are musts?

Trying to read online guides are full of guff.

OLED is generally viewed as the best technology (although decent LED is still good). I'd tend to stick with Panasonic, Samsung or LG but anything not bargain priced will probably be decent.

I generally ignore the smart features as those tend to date faster than the rest of the tv and it is easy to plug in a fire stick or something to replace them.

Main deal breakers for me would be actual physical stuff (number of HDMI ports, eARC, etc) if you're going to be using it with a console, multiple inputs, soundbar, etc

Cheers