How to make a Smart TV from a regular TV with your own hands. Criteria for selecting a media player for the Smart option

All tips

To the question of how to make a “Smart TV” from a regular TV, there is an answer that is quite accessible and understandable to most users. The point is that buyers of fashionable TV and Internet-connected devices often have no idea what they can do similar system much cheaper. This will require some devices (game console or tablet), a little skill and suitable adapters. As a result, you will be able to enjoy your favorite movies or games online without delays.

How to make a “Smart TV” from a regular TV?

Many people have a TV at home that is not the most modern, but still works. A dilemma often arises: to replace the TV with a new model or to upgrade an existing device. The latter option has many preferences using mobile or gaming gadgets.

You can do this simply through the HMDI port of the TV, but in the end you will get a kind of monitor, the image quality on which leaves much to be desired, and managing the functionality is not very convenient (especially with a mouse). This procedure is much more effective if there is an interface adapted for the TV screen. We should also not forget that standard computer Quite noisy and not always appropriate next to the TV.

As an alternative - various mini-devices and game consoles. With their help, it is possible to reorganize a regular TV into the “Smart” format. One of the best options is considered to be “Android Whistle”, the production of which is well established in China. There are several series of them, but the principle of operation of each is approximately the same.

Options

Modern television repeaters are real multimedia centers, having access to the Internet with support for a variety of services. However, with maximum functions, such a thing will be very expensive. It is much easier and cheaper to build a “Smart” with your own hands from improvised devices and wires.

You can do this in one of the following ways:

Using a compact and inexpensive media player.
Via a smartphone or tablet computer.
Using a universal Blue-Ray player system.
Using the game

What can a network media player do?

Owners of a network media player can read the device's characteristics in the operating instructions and make sure that it has a lot in common with the Smart function. If previously such devices were a player with a USB port, now they are an effective and multifunctional class of equipment. In fact, using a media player greatly expands the capabilities of the TV both in functional terms and in terms of sound reproduction quality.

The player has the ability to play movies from a PC in HD format. This opens up access to music, entertainment and other files, not to mention online stores. The main media is an old TV displaying full-fledged websites and additional files.

Pros and cons of media players

To figure out how to make a “Smart TV” from a regular TV with your own hands using a network media player, you need to take into account all the advantages and disadvantages this method. At the right approach the set-top box used will make it possible to make a real competitor to modern “sophisticated” devices at minimal cost. The advantages of using a media player include:

compact overall dimensions;
acceptable price;
interaction with all common modules and formats;
built-in WLAN option;
availability for connection external devices including hard drive.

In addition, the modification in question has comfortable operation and works with most interactive services, including online stores and social media. The disadvantages of this method include the fact that some media players do not interact with Blue-Ray disc images.

Criteria for selecting a media player for the Smart option

Most of the latest media players are equipped with connectors for connecting a keyboard or mouse via the USB ports of the TV. In the variety of models, you can choose an option with a Russified interface and access to proprietary applications.

You should also be aware of supported connections. In any case, it must be there. A digital audio input S/PDIF and a built-in card reader would also be useful. Modern media players are increasingly being produced without a built-in hard drive, but with the ability to connect external media or a memory card.

If your TV is so old that it does not support an HDMI connection, then you will need to select analog composite connectors with corresponding inputs and outputs. Those who are not used to storing information on interactive services will need to make sure that the player is functionally able to play files in the desired format. Fortunately, the choice in this area is very wide.

"Android set-top box": smartphones and tablets

Modern tablet computers and smartphones are equipped with all sorts of interactive services and applications that allow you to perform a lot of operations, including watching movies in high quality and listening to music files. Most of these gadgets can be easily connected to your TV. To do this, you will need to select the appropriate adapters, which are not included with the device.

The disadvantages of such a transformation include limited memory mobile devices, which does not allow storing the entire media set, but gives a regular TV the functions of a computer. To get maximum benefit, it is recommended to use special software. An Android set-top box in the form of a tablet or smartphone has a significant advantage: compactness and the ability to download the necessary content. Negative aspects include limited memory capacity, the need to use various adapters and the difficulty of watching video in high definition.

How to display an image using mobile devices on a TV screen?

Smartphones or tablets are often equipped with a mini-HDMI or MHL connector. This makes it possible to connect the device to TVs different modifications. Otherwise, you will need to use adapters, which are selected individually, since they are not unified with each other.

For example, to connect Apple, you will need a special adapter. To avoid rapid discharge of the device, it is advisable to additionally connect the power cable. On the Android platform, you can select several types of resolutions (from 480 to 1080 pixels). Unfortunately, iPad and iPhone gadgets do not have such functions. Due to this, the image in interactive games may be slightly distorted and have black stripes on the sides. In this case, videos from YouTube will be formatted across the entire width of the screen.

Gaming consoles

One of the options for making “Smart TV” from a regular TV is to use a video console. Compared to full-fledged media players, game consoles are less functional, and some applications are paid. To get the maximum performance, users of the Microsoft Xbox 360 console must register in the system Xbox Live with payment for a “gold” account.

The Microsoft Xbox 360 service does not allow you to copy movies to your HDD, but plays them from DVDs, CDs and flash cards. In addition, connection is available external drive. All popular video and audio formats are also supported. To receive the full option, you must constantly be in touch with the updated Windows media center (DLNA format).

Sony PS-3

Next, we’ll look at how to make a “Smart TV” from a regular TV using In this case, the user is provided with two free resources focused on video playback, as well as the ability to store media information on internal storage HDD format.

The console does not allow you to play files that weigh more than four gigabytes due to disabilities devices. "Play Station - 3" launches video from Blue-Ray, as well as from memory cards and external media of various formats within the allowed volume. Using the PS-3 console, you can listen to music, watch videos with a resolution of up to 1080 pixels, view photos and use several free online services.

Blue-Ray players

One of the options for making a “Smart TV” from a regular TV with USB is to use a Blue-Ray player. Such devices have a fairly high price, but also have great functionality. When using them, the consumer receives the following opportunities:

support for almost all video formats and codecs, as well as audio;
built-in WLAN module;
connection external drives and DLNA options;
full set of Smart and Wi-Fi functions;
additional applications and access to all kinds of interactive resources.

You can watch movies in good quality without any problems, not to mention videos from YouTube. Some models are equipped with additional functionality that makes it possible to download branded programs from online stores.

How to connect Blue-Ray?

All Blue-Ray players have an HDMI interface. If included with the player suitable cable was not, you can easily buy it at any electronics store. You can also use adapters for SCART or RCA (“tulip”) connectors.

Often such connectors are provided in a standard set. It is worth considering that when connecting the player via the SCART or RCA interface, the image will not be as high quality as via HDMI. But if we make “Smart TV” from a regular TV, this point is not critical. To connect a Blue-Ray player to a device, you may need an RCA-SCART or HDMI-SCART adapter. When interacting with RCA, you will have to independently switch the television receiver to AV mode, since this connection does not provide an autonomous transition to decoder, as opposed to SCART mode. You should also choose an adapter carefully: too cheap copies may cause interference when playing files.

What should you pay attention to?

Before you buy a Blue-Ray player, you should make sure that your TV has the appropriate connectors. If you are using an optional speaker system, you must check that it is compatible with the device you are purchasing.

To make the most of networking opportunities, you need to make sure there are ports and connectors, without which the modes will not function (LAN, HD, HDMI and others). If using the TV involves frequent communication on social networks or interactive surfing, it is advisable to choose a media player with a convenient remote control. As the latter, you can use a tablet computer or smartphone.

Smart TV is smart tv with built-in access to the World Wide Web. This function is implemented software, which, in turn, requires a certain operating system. Accordingly, in essence, Smart TV is a kind of symbiosis of a TV and a computer.

Based on this, logically, if your gadget is not equipped with a Smart TV option, then this only means that it does not have a computer system. But can it be connected correctly from the outside? How to make a smart TV from a regular TV? Let's take a closer look.

Is it possible to make Smart TV from a regular TV?

Very often the decision that it is necessary to buy a new TV is made only because there is no Smart TV. But don't rush to spend money. After all, this technology is not tied to the TV, but may well be implemented in other devices:

Game consoles,
Digital television receivers,
Media players,
Blu-ray players

By connecting the devices listed above to your TV with your own hands, you will be able to enjoy the same functionality as a Smart TV. They are able to work on various operating platforms, since, for example, Androi and Linux, they provide Internet surfing and support the ability to update programs. That is, they actually implement all the same tasks as the desired TV model.

What is the difference between outdoor and built-in Smart TV?

The difference between these two Smart TV implementations lies in several important points. First of all, this is the interface and the ability to update. As a rule, a built-in Smart TV does not provide for a complete upgrade or expansion of functionality (and this will still have to be done over time). Considering such nuances, an external Smart TV becomes a fairly good solution.

External Smart TV on the Android platform

Android has an important advantage - a colossal library Play Market(paid and free apps). This unique functionality allows you to turn almost any device into a powerful tool for reading books, watching movies, playing games, and communicating with friends in a matter of minutes. All these options are available for implementation on the TV.

What do you need to do for this? It is enough to purchase a special mini-computer ( Smart TV set-top box). Visually, such a gadget resembles a regular flash drive. We connect it directly to the TV.

Let's consider a specific example - Smart TV based on the iconBIT Toucan Stick 3D PRO HD media player. Essentially, such a gadget is a network micro-computer housed in a case whose dimensions correspond to the dimensions of a regular flash drive. We connect such a device via HDMI. Power supply is directly from USB from the TV. If there is no such connector, use any other additional source. The technical characteristics of this option are quite impressive: built-in Wi-Fi, dual-core processor (1 GHz), Android 4.2 system, expandable up to 32 GB microSDHC, 4 GB NAND Flash, 1 GB DDR3.

By connecting this device, you turn your TV into a real media center that is capable of recreating files of almost any format from the Internet via USB (including Blu-ray 3D ISO, Full HD, MKV), there is support for IPTV services, can be downloaded from Play Market various applications. Moreover, you can connect Skype messenger, communicate on various social networks, search the Internet, play games. But what about without a mouse? In fact, this problem is easily solved. After all, its role is successfully implemented by the remote control.

If this is not entirely convenient for you, then it is quite possible to connect a regular mouse via a free USB. And even more than that, you can connect a standard keyboard. But be prepared for the fact that some devices may not recognize the gadgets you connect. In addition, many applications on the Play Market are designed for touch screens, but the TV is not. Accordingly, inconsistencies are also quite possible.

Nevertheless, the most important advantage of Smart TV is that comfortable viewing of movies online is fully realized using this method.

How to make Smart TV from a regular TV - conclusions

The potential of Smart TV is quite possible to realize on any TV. Buy new gadget not necessary. In fact, in the case of connecting this function via SmartTV set-top boxes, the only condition that is necessary is the presence of an HDMI input. But if your TV is an older model and is not equipped with such a connector, you can use stationary media players, made in the form of a television tuner.

If you are reading this, it means you were interested, so please subscribe to our channel on , and for one thing, give it a like (thumbs up) for your efforts. Thank you!
Subscribe to our Telegram @mxsmart.

I hardly watch TV, except perhaps if I use it as a monitor :) But the other day the need arose to pay attention to what it shows and how it shows it. There was a need to provide children with high-quality cartoons, as opposed to what was shown on satellite TV channels mixed with adult advertising.

I set out to transfer a picture from the Internet directly to the TV, with the expectation that it would not interfere with my work at the computer. The problem was complicated by the fact that on my TV there is no such thing as " Smart TV" - did not exist, so it was supposed to use a computer with Internet access as a connecting link.

"Smart TV"appeared recently, their main function is not only to watch TV, but also to access the Internet. Of course, for this they (TVs) have a built-in web browser. Select a movie on some site and watch it!

On my TV Samsung UE-32D5000 no web browser. It is impossible to choose a movie to watch from the Internet yourself. The TV has a (useless) function to connect to the Internet to... update the firmware (I doubt anyone will ever use it).

I started digging towards AllShare. The documentation stated that “the AllShare function will make it possible to easily connect your TV to all compatible digital devices and will provide access to the films, photographs and music recordings stored there." This was already encouraging.

At the first stage, it became necessary to connect the TV to the computer, of course, via WI-FI. But there was no hint of a built-in WI-FI adapter on the TV. It had to be purchased separately. And not just any one, but a Samsung one. Specifically, only 3 adapters were suitable for my model UE-32D5000: WIS09ABGN, WIS09ABGN2 or WIS10ABGN(experiments with other adapters, as far as I know, have not yet been successful).

In addition to the fact that adapters are not cheap, they are also impossible to buy (rare) in Ukraine. You can buy it in America or China, or wait until someone “throws it away” on message boards. After 3 weeks of searching we managed to get it WIS10ABGN(in Zhitomir) for $50.

So, everything is ready for the AllShare function: WI-FI in the house is distributed through a router, the computer itself is connected to the router via a cable, and a WI-FI adapter is connected to the TV.

A WI-FI router distributes internet in the house and also connects the TV to a computer

So that the devices can see each other, I install the program on the AllShare computer from Samsung and, after simple settings, “share” required folders on the computer, I was able to see the contents of these folders on the TV screen (content such as photos, videos and music). But as you know, my goal was to make an analogue of “Smart TV” - to transfer video from the Internet directly to the TV - to watch movies directly from the network.

Advanced programmers from Samsung showed users of already outdated models of their TVs a big “fuck”, since in AllShare program from Samsung you can’t do anything other than look at “shared” folders. I had to silently delete the program and forget about it. The solution was found as a result of 10 minutes of Internet search. The program met my requirements " Home media server"from Evgeny Lachinov (this miracle can be downloaded and configured on the program’s official website).

Home media server (UPnP, DLNA, HTTP) from Evgeny Lachinov is a program that provides media resources (photos, audio and video files) of your computer to other UPnP (DLNA) devices on the home network, for example, Philips, Sony, Samsung TVs , LG, Toshiba, game consoles Sony Playstation 3, XBOX 360, media players WD TV Live, Popcorn Hour, Dune, Boxee Box, IconBit, ASUS O!Play, iPad/iPhone/iPod, mobile and PDA devices.

This is not just a player that will send a movie, TV channel or radio station directly to your TV (where there is no “Smart TV”), it will be able to decode it (video stream) on the fly into the required format, pull up lists of movies from popular services (YouTube, VKontakte, etc.) .d.).

By downloading the program, you can import entire libraries of films into it - tens and hundreds of thousands, watch Internet television and archives of TV shows on your TV, using the computer only as a connecting link. In practice, it looks something like this: I work at the computer while it shows the children a cartoon in good HD quality in the background straight from VKontakte.

You will quickly learn how to set it up and use it - fortunately, there is a technical forum on the program website.

This is how we managed to turn the Samsung UE-32D5000 into a home Entertainment Center, implementing in it something like “Smart TV”.

Video from the Internet is broadcast directly to the TV screen, which does not have a web browser, smart TV or other bells and whistles

If you found my advice useful, please be so kind as to let me know in the comments below...

In contact with

Rate the material:

Those who have already been lucky enough to use it certainly appreciated its capabilities. We also noticed some disadvantages. The technology itself is just beginning to develop, so there are some problems. They can be expressed in different ways. In some cases, the video constantly slows down and loads, in others it does not play at all, and sometimes the connection to the Internet is lost. In general, there is something for developers to work on.

And then thoughts began to come to bright minds: what if we use mobile system Android? After all, it is many times more stable than all systems developed for Smart TV. Even in terms of the number of applications available for this operating system, Android surpasses everyone. Agree, this is a pretty good idea for TVs!

It seems that the developers for . And soon a variety of set-top boxes were created, based on this operating system, which can be connected to a regular TV and turn it into a Smart TV.

In today's article we will look at how, using one of these set-top boxes, you can turn a regular TV into a Smart TV. The Defender Smart Android HD2 device will be used as a test subject.

What is a Smart TV set-top box on Android?

The set-top box is a compact device, somewhat similar in appearance to a flash drive, only larger. Connection to the TV occurs via the HDMI interface. And of course, Android is used as the operating system. Such a set-top box requires additional power, which comes through a special adapter or via USB on the TV itself.

Structurally, it's so-so small computer, which has a processor, RAM, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi adapter ohm Everything you need for a comfortable pastime.

To control such a device, you will need a keyboard or mouse. It's better to use wireless devices input (Bluetooth), it will be more convenient. But in general, just one mouse is enough to control it. If you wish, you can buy a special remote control, sometimes these remote controls already included.

Often, set-top boxes are already equipped with additional equipment, in the form of remote controls, web cameras and microphones. Those who have old TVs without an HDMI interface can also experience the capabilities of such a set-top box, because it can be connected via a regular “tulip”, which is found on almost all TVs.

To carry out our experiment, you need to have the following components:

Android console. Perhaps the most important element.
A TV with an HDMI interface (although you can do without it by connecting via an adapter).
Mouse, keyboard, or console remote control. Using one of these devices we will control the set-top box.

Let's take a closer look at Defender Smart Android HD2

Now we will open the box and look at this miracle of engineering with our own eyes. At the same time we will connect it to the TV.

The console was purchased in an online store from its own company, Defender. But now there are a lot of similar consoles, so you don’t have to limit your choice and explore everything possible options, from different manufacturers. Such consoles can also be found in regular stores. So it’s everyone’s personal choice where to buy. 😉

As often happens, it clearly shows the main capabilities that the device has. You can see from behind specifications. In our case they look like this:

CPU Dual Core Rockchip RK3066, clocked at 1.6 Ghz
Mali 400MP graphics accelerator
Operating system Android 4.2
1 GB RAM
Built-in memory of 4 GB
Memory card slot up to 32 GB
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n
Bluetooth
USB interface, two pieces.

If you want to get acquainted with more detailed characteristics, you can always view them on the manufacturer’s official website. The console itself is quite responsive and instantly carries out any “orders”. It reproduces movies and even games with a bang.

What's included?

In addition to the set-top box itself, in the box you can find: a power adapter, an HDMI extension cord, an instruction manual, a warranty and a USB cord for power.

We have already noted earlier that the set-top box is connected via an HDMI interface. It can also be connected via an extension cord. Power is connected via a USB cable, leaving one more USB port. Memory cards are suitable in microSD format with a capacity of up to 32 GB. When the device is working, the LED indicator on it lights up.

In principle, everything is of quite high quality and even the cables are quite normal in length.

Connect the Defender Smart Android HD2 set-top box to your TV

Let's try to connect this Android device to several of our TVs. In this case, the power for the set-top box was connected to USB port, on the TV itself. But this is not necessary; the set-top box can also be connected to the power adapter that it also comes with.

We connected an adapter to one of the ports for wireless mouse, and in the second a flash drive was connected to check the playback of films from it.

Everything worked quite well. But I wanted to try this technology on a TV more. Therefore, the set-top box was connected to a 32-inch LG TV.

We make the connection in the same way. After turning it on, select the HDMI port on the TV as the input source. If you have the same TV, then press the INPUT button. And then select the desired interface to which the device is connected.

After turning it on and loading successfully, this is the main screen that appears.

It is different from the usual worker Android Wallpapers. This is a special shell for working with TVs, which is quite convenient to use.

Defender in action

Of the six main tabs on the main screen, it is recommended that you first visit the Settings tab. Here you will need to configure the wireless Wi-Fi network, set the time, sound and the like. Everything is done exactly the same as on any smartphone running Android.

The connection to the network is quite stable. But a classic problem was noticed for all Android devices. It lies in the fact that if the wrong time and date are set, it is impossible to get into Google Play, and the wireless network icon will have . To avoid such a problem, set the correct time. To do this, in the settings, check the box next to the “Network date and time” item.

On the tab in the “Display” section of the device parameters, we can select the appropriate screen resolution and its refresh rate. In general, the settings are exactly the same as in other mobile devices. For those who have already encountered Android systems before, everything will be completely elementary.

Now let's see what's hidden behind the other tabs on the main screen.

Here you can view videos, photos and listen to music from removable media connected to the set-top box.

After connecting a flash drive with video content, MX Player will immediately open, displaying all the videos that are on the media. You don’t even have to look through catalogs to find the desired video. By the way, it’s quite a convenient and high-quality player, one of the best for Android. As we can see, films are reproduced quite well.

No shortcomings were noticed here.

The next tab allows you to watch movies online and watch videos on YouTube. In the Zoomby section you can find a huge number of films and TV series for every taste.

And this is how YouTube is displayed.

Browsers

What about without browsers? In this section you can find the main programs for working on the Internet: browsers, for browsing websites, social networking applications, Skype and much more.

New materials on the topic (2014):

Unfortunately, that device, with all its obvious advantages, was still too expensive (it cost almost 90 thousand rubles!). Therefore, we did not include it in this review. However, we have another decent Panasonic plasma in mind, which not only shows a standard high level of image, but can also please us with its low price. This is the Panasonic TX-P46U20 for 33 thousand rubles.

The secret of low cost is very simple: it is the most old TV In this article. It entered the markets back in 2010, and three years in the world of electronics is almost an eternity. Just as no one is interested in a three-year-old smartphone, almost everyone has forgotten about this model. It’s not so easy to find even in online stores: only some are slowly selling out their leftovers.

In our era, the design of the Panasonic TX-P46U20 TV stands apart

Among other cheap TVs, the TX-P46U20 model can be immediately distinguished due to its dimensions. Most other devices at the same price have only forty-two inches diagonal, but this display has forty-six. Ten centimeters is a very noticeable difference. In addition, if almost all other budget plasmas have a resolution of only 1024x768 pixels, and this is true even for TVs with a 50-51-inch diagonal, then here we have full Full HD, 1920x1080.

The design, unfortunately, indicates that the TV belongs to 2010. The wide frame and thick case (9.3 cm!) by today’s standards, as well as the large stand with a thick neck, went out of fashion already in 2011. But in terms of durability and strength, such a design can compete with any modern model. And compared to the rest of the faceless TVs that we have reviewed in two years, such a device, with all its old-fashionedness, looks refreshing.

The plasma panel provides first-class black depth and absolutely uniform screen brightness. There are no complaints about the level of Full HD 2D video. In addition, thanks to Sub-Fueld Driving technology, the dynamic picture looks excellent, without steps or twitching. But with the reception of an analog signal, things could have been better. The noise reduction system does not meet modern standards: there are more ripples in the frame than we would like.

There are no unnecessary options here. There is not even a media player provided. There is only an SD card slot, but only so that photographers can enjoy their JPEG photos on big screen. Smart TV is also missing (this is for the best, because in 2010 it was a rather pathetic sight).

The viewing angles of the local plasma panel are excellent. Contrast is better than most current top-end LCD TVs. Good dynamic frame quality is great for sports broadcasts and games. Video on DVD and Blu-ray shows all the splendor of color in its full resolution. In general, if you are lucky enough to find a place near you where such TV is sold, and watching broadcast channels If you're not particularly interested, choosing the Panasonic TX-P46U20 as your home TV won't be such a crazy idea.

Pros:

low price;
large diagonal;
plasma screen with all that it implies;
normal sound;
convenient, traditional remote control;
First-class 2D picture quality.

Minuses:

high energy consumption: up to 300 Wh;
lack of a media player (and, accordingly, USB ports);
lack of 3D;

Toshiba 42VL963 - one of the golden mean

This TV has a nice, laconic design. The frame around the screen is very thin, it is almost invisible. At the bottom there is an elegant silver stripe with some functional elements. The stand also fits into the general theme: neat, clearly rectangular, with a thick and reliable neck. But still, the main advantage of this TV is not its appearance, but its functionality. There are all tuners here: from DVB-T and DVB-C to DVB-S2. There is also a good media player that can play video in DivX, Xvid, MKV and MPEG-4 formats. Digital TV shows can be recorded onto a flash drive or hard drive. There are also many Smart TV options, although in this regard Toshiba, unfortunately, is hopelessly behind some competitors. Even YouTube is not integrated into the system properly. Although, I must admit, the Toshiba Places portal itself is done quite well, and a couple interesting applications you can find it there.

The LED backlight, although Edge LED, does its job with dignity: the brightness on the LCD screen is distributed evenly, its sharp jumps in one direction or another cannot be detected by the eye. Motion is handled well, the image is clean and detailed. The Toshiba 42VL963 also has the ability to create three-dimensional images, and the 3D here is passive, more suitable for long viewing sessions than its active competitor. Four pairs of lightweight, albeit purely plastic, glasses are supplied with the TV, so you don’t have to buy anything extra. There is some ghosting, but good color balance and normal brightness more than make up for it. And the device, with its 42-inch diagonal, costs less than a thousand dollars.

Well, how can you not fall in love with such a beauty as the Toshiba 42VL963?

In general, in terms of the quality of its picture this TV is in no way inferior to the LG 42LM580 model already discussed above. Even the system for creating a stereoscopic image is the same. It costs almost one and a half times more - but at the same time we get a beautiful design, an evenly illuminated LCD panel and fairly solid Internet capabilities.

Perhaps the most weak side TV is its interface. It feels like it was designed by several different companies. As a result, the menu looks overly simplistic in some places, and overly complex and pretentious in others. Like Sony, icons are used to indicate menu items. At the same time, the items are scattered across the screen, and the icons either show the windows that you have to open, or represent a couple of strokes in a vector. And there is the same confusion inside the settings. Maybe there is some logic in all this, but it’s hard to understand at first glance.

Yes, to this we should also add a strange remote control with a bunch of small buttons and a triple “round” in the center. Due to the too dense arrangement of keys, the fingers constantly miss, pressing not the one that was needed, but one of the neighboring ones. You have to be doubly careful.

Pros:

very nice design;
non-glare LCD panel;
generally good 2D picture quality;
good reception of over-the-air channels;
availability of all possible tuners;
decent level of “passive” 3D;
four pairs of polarized glasses included;
good media player.

Minuses:

not the most practical menu, especially inconvenient for those who are more accustomed to using equipment from Samsung, LG, Philips and other market leaders;
inconvenient remote control;
lack of Wi-Fi out of the box;
Blacks are not deep enough.

Samsung UE46EH5300 - for those who don't look at design

This TV was released in the spring of 2012, and since then its price has almost halved: from 40 to 25 thousand rubles. Samsung's bet did not work, and this model did not achieve popularity in the market. Fortunately, this brought it into our budget segment. And we, having looked at this device more closely, were imbued with the unusual approach that the Koreans tried to implement here. Perhaps the UE46EH5300 will interest you too.

This TV is quite ambiguous. Some will be attracted by its picture, standard quality for Samsung Smart TV and good sound. And some will be put off by the design, which is too strange for our time, the lack of 3D and some flaws in terms of processing dynamic frames.

The first thing the user pays attention to is the design. If a buyer walks along the shelves in supermarkets, he will not even look in the direction of this TV. Or he will look and grin: it’s clear that this is some kind of outdated TV, look at it in comparison with other models! No, you can’t fool me, I’d rather choose something from another shelf!

Hence the low sales.

The whole point is simply a matter of thickness. Since plasma and LCD TVs with LED backlight entered the market, those with thinner bodies win. It has reached two or three centimeters, so that the TV becomes like a painting on the wall.

But what if you don’t plan to hang your device on the wall yet? What then is the practical use of these three centimeters? All the same, the stand takes up at least twenty!

However, the trend was set: the thinner the better, period. Therefore, those who understand that they will still only look at the TV from the front, who are not prejudiced against devices based only on their dimensions, today can buy themselves the UE46EH5300 at a very good discount.

Front panel of Samsung UE46EH5300 TV

And it really makes sense to buy. Firstly, the screen diagonal is forty-six inches. Secondly, the right rear part of the case is full of ports, including two USB and three HDMI. Thirdly, due to its thickness, the Samsung UE46EH5300 does not experience the sound problems that all slender and graceful models inevitably encounter. The device demonstrates very good bass and decent highs. There is an equalizer and many additional settings that allow you to balance audio at different frequencies. In the budget segment, only the Philips 40PFL7007T can compete in sound level with this TV, and even then only because of the special audio stand.

The device has automatic volume control. Local “enhancers” help make barely audible dialogues audible and turn up too noisy commercials. A very relevant function for Russian realities.

Despite its wide rear, the Samsung UE46EH5300 uses Edge LED backlighting rather than cold cathode lamps. Therefore, the picture here, in general, is generally not bad, with small highlights at the edges of the screen - by the way, there are fewer of them here than on some expensive Samsung TVs from the ES7000 and ES8000 series, which in itself can be considered a success.

The color rendition is very pleasing: the shades look natural in the standard mode, even without adjustments. The color temperature is around the ideal level of 6500 K. Movies with bright, bold graphics and various animations will certainly be pleasant to watch on such a device. Things are not so rosy with the depth of the dark matter, but overall there is nothing bad to say about it either.

A noticeable flaw may only appear when watching action movies or sports. The quality of image processing in motion here does not meet Samsung standards. It would be nice if the screen refresh rate was at 200 Hz. In our opinion, this is just the line between “too smooth” and “slightly choppy.” Here it is only 100 Hz. As soon as the frame starts to flicker, no noise reduction systems help. The loss of clarity is noticeable even to the untrained eye.

If you're willing to put up with the thickness of your TV and aren't particularly interested in watching 3D movies at home, the Samsung UE46EH5300 is definitely worth considering.

Pros:

large screen;
beautiful, rich colors;
high-quality Smart TV with a full-fledged, albeit “tight” Internet browser;
omnivorous media player (only MKV files broadcast over the network cannot be read);
low price for its size;
good sound level;
high-quality picture, optimal for watching calm and colorful movies on Blu-ray or DVD.

Minuses:

thick body;
not the deepest black color;
small screen viewing angles;
Not best systems noise reduction;
slight motion blur;
lack of DVB-T2;
lack of 3D support.

LG 32VS10 - TV monitor

Sometimes you want to not only watch TV shows via antenna or cable, but also connect the TV to your computer in order to evaluate a downloaded movie or a photograph you took. Regular TV treats this option with disdain; no one puts it in first place. It is secondary, auxiliary. But sometimes it’s so convenient to take an HDMI cable, connect a large LCD panel to a laptop or a computer standing nearby - and it’s as if you get a huge monitor on which everything is visible in detail.

LG thought so too, releasing the 32VS10 model at the end of 2012. There are many monitor functions here. For example, the TV can be rotated 90° to landscape mode. The hardware buttons on the front panel are purely monitor buttons, even with arrows “Up”, “Down”, “Left”, “Right”. And the design is unusual, more reminiscent of some Samsung devices from the SyncMaster series (if, of course, you don’t pay attention to the funny short legs). Even all the connectors, HDMI, USB, SCART, LAN and so on, are not on the side, but on the bottom, just like a monitor.

Front panel LG 32VS10

And yet, this is exactly what a TV is, even if it is in the Flatron line. There is a built-in media player, you can select the picture format and adjust the sound level, including adjusting the treble and bass. In addition to the TV, two 10 W speakers can be supplied, which are attached to its back and connected to the audio output. Moreover, in terms of quality they can give odds to some top-end TVs. Just check with the seller whether such a set is provided specifically for your model. If not, you will have to use your own computer speakers or buy a separate audio system.

In addition to instructions and power and D-Sub cables, the kit includes a remote control remote control with two pinky batteries. It is a little large, but the location of the buttons is convenient. At least there is some space between them so that your fingers can distinguish one key from another in the dark. We are also very pleased with the presence of a multifunctional Back button, which some manufacturers for some reason do not add to their remote controls.

If you are familiar with LG technology, then neither the remote control nor the menu in this model will be new to you. Despite its extremely strange appearance, the 32VS10 still remains a TV from this company, and a new interface was not personally designed for it.

As for image quality, this is where the device fails to please us. Black demonstrates a depth of 0.09-0.1 cd/m2 with white at 200 cd/m2. In other words, the contrast is far from ideal. The same applies to the quality of picture display in dynamics. The screen refresh rate for a TV here is, of course, completely obscene: only 50 Hz. It’s good that at least the color rendition is on standard settings does not disappoint, and highlights on the panel are almost invisible due to its small dimensions.

Appearance of the LG32VS10 TV with assembled legs

The TV does not connect to the Internet. There is also no option to view 3D content here. But the built-in media player is very good. From flash drives and external hard drives reads data in MPEG, MPG, VOB, DAT, M4V, DivX, AVI, JPEG, MP3 formats. It is possible to play subtitles of the form *.srt, *.smi or *.sub (including external ones, if their name matches the name of the video file). However, only low-bitrate files are processed without delays, and it is desirable that the frame rate does not exceed 30 FPS.

The device can be hung on the wall if necessary, using a VESA 200x200 mount.

This TV is, of course, not the best option for watching high-quality movies. But if you plan to regularly connect your TV to your PC, then the LG 32VS10 will be just right. Especially for its price of 23-25 thousand rubles.

Pros:

low price;
good viewing angles;
good sound quality from additional speakers from LG;
omnivorous built-in media player;
the presence of a variety of “monitor” chips, appropriate design.

Minuses:

lack of 3D and Smart TV;
lack of built-in audio system;
low contrast;
low resolution of the LCD panel: only 1366x768 pixels;
very low screen refresh rate.

Erisson 42LES66 - for the elderly

Do you want to give a gift to your grandparents? Why not TV? Especially if it's inexpensive!

Now let's think about it. Smart TV hasn't given in to them at all. They will not use 3D mode. But, let’s say, they have an old VCR, for which some new TVs no longer have connectors. They don’t understand color rendering, they’re too lazy to tinker with the settings, and they’re unlikely to distinguish deep black from mediocre. But to have a large diagonal and a massive remote control so that you don’t lose it is very desirable. Well, so that there are no ripples, that goes without saying.

Is there such an option on the market? Well, where would we be without him? There are dozens of them here. And the cheapest, and more or less so, is Erisson 42LES66. You won’t buy it for yourself, the Internet has spoiled you. But as a gift - it’s very possible.

It's very cheap, but objectively not too cheap good TV from a Russian company (not to be confused with the Swedish Ericsson). It’s worth taking it only if you need to get the largest possible diagonal for pennies. The Erisson 42LEN60 and Erisson 42LEB15 can be included in the same category; the difference between them is small. All this - LCD TVs are not highest category, the attractiveness of which lies only in their cost. Of these, 42LES66 is the best, but also the most expensive: the user will have to pay about fifteen thousand rubles for it. But at least there is 100 Hz frame update here, and not 50 Hz like the other two.

Appearance of Erisson 42LES66

Despite the Edge LED backlight, the black depth here is low: around 0.14 cd/m2. It’s hard to even call it “black,” especially if you look at the magnificent Philips 40PFL5507 standing next to it with its 0.04 cd/m2 after adjusting a couple of settings. Deviations from the standard gamma curve are significant, color rendition is far from optimal. As a result, in dark scenes the frame looks grayish, and in bright scenes, where the image, in theory, could turn out decent, it looks somewhat faded. Although, of course, you can come to terms with this, especially since half of the users still “kill” the picture with incorrectly selected lighting or settings.

The resolution here is 1920x1080. This is good news: on cheap TVs it is usually customary to save the number of points (although when connecting to a PC, by the way, for some reason only 1360x768 is available). The panel's response time and input lag are quite low, which is also a plus. Yes, and there is a media player here, even if it only reads JPEG from MP3. Plus, you might like the remote: it's made in the old style, with very large and protruding buttons that, although a little tight to press, allow your fingers to feel free and not be afraid of accidentally clicking the wrong thing.

The main advantages of the Erisson 42LES66 TV and its brothers on the assembly line are, of course, the large 42-inch diagonal and the neat design that accompanies it. The frame is a little thick, and the body could be thinner, given that the local illumination consists of small LEDs. But the rounded corners, the uniform black color of the body, merging with the LCD panel of the screen, and the glossy stand with a thick, reliable neck completely make up for all these small disadvantages. True, the device cannot spin on the stand. Once you install it, it's worth it.

We could talk about sound here if it were audible. By adding a few centimeters to the thickness of the case, the company could provide it good speakers. But apparently she didn’t want to. It's a pity.

We cannot recommend this TV with a pure soul, but if you want something big, and finances sing romances, there is not much choice here. The same LG 42LM580, a very cheap Korean TV, the picture quality, media player and 3D mode of which you can sing praises about, costs almost 30% more. A few thousand rubles is also money.

Pros:

large diagonal;
low price;
low input delay, which would allow full use of this TV with game consoles, if not poor quality dynamic picture processing;
nice design with matte front panel;
as many as two AV inputs;
full Full HD screen resolution;
presence of a media player.

Minuses:

lack of Smart TV and 3D;
low screen refresh rate;
bad sound;
no headphone output;
a simple, but not very thoughtful and convenient menu with numbers and letters that are too small for our taste;
low contrast, not the best color rendition;
lack of digital and satellite tuners.

Sharp LC-40LE340 - everything except action movies

This LCD TV was released in the second half of 2012. And although the price range is still quite wide, it can already be found for 17-18 thousand - and there are almost no shortcomings in it.

The design is quite attractive, although the frame is a little heavy at the bottom. Thanks to the Edge LED backlight, the device is only 4 cm thick and can be easily placed on the wall if you purchase an additional VESA 400x400 mount. Although some of the connectors here still “look” perpendicular to the LCD panel, there is no escape from this.

I am pleased with the rather large diagonal of the screen, which, by the way, has almost no glare. Natural shades and only slightly elevated color temperatures are also not very common among budget devices.

Pure and calm colors on the Sharp LC-40LE340 are pleasing to the eye

The “smart” capabilities here are provided by AQUOS NET technology. The on-screen menu includes special widgets that adapt popular social networks and media resources to the TV screen. The main ones for us, of course, are Rutube and YouTube. And when you connect a flash drive or HDD to a USB port, you can use the Timeshift function: stop watching a digital TV show, do all your business, and then continue from the same point where you left off. True, you won’t be able to communicate via Skype via the Sharp LC-40LE340, even if you purchase an additional webcam.

You can record video from the TV to a USB device, and, of course, play it back. The list of formats read by the media player is not the most impressive, but it should be enough for undemanding users: JPEG, MPEG4, MP3 and DivX - quite a set for a boy scout. There is also an electronic TV program guide.

And everything seems to be fine, even there are all tuners (except for satellite). But for some reason the speakers here are only eight-watt. For forty inches diagonal this is very little. After all, it is assumed that such a TV will be installed not in a small closet, but in a completely respectable room. And here the frame update rate is low by modern standards - and there are no technologies, like Active Motion, to improve it. So you won’t buy such a TV for watching dynamic movies. the best solution. If you're a sports and action movie fan, it's not for you. But calm movies with pleasant soft colors will work just fine on the Sharp LC-40LE340.

Pros:

pleasant 2D picture quality;
availability of functional Smart TV;
abundance of interfaces: two USB, four HDMI and so on;
built-in media player.

Minuses:

low screen refresh rate;
overly large and unusually curved remote control;
lack of 3D;
faint sound;
uncomfortable touch buttons on the TV itself.

Samsung UE40D6530 - for Internet lovers

This TV came out back in 2011 and was quite expensive back then. But over time, the price has fallen, and for us who want to find something of better quality and cheaper, this is a great chance. The picture level and functionality have remained unchanged! And now for the “old” UE-40D6530 in online stores they are asking less than thirty thousand!

The design here is not as unusual as that of the Philips 40PFL5507 TV discussed below, but still quite pleasant. The case is very thin, and the frame thickness is only 15 millimeters. A shiny metal strip runs along the perimeter of the panel, as if separating the back of the case from the front. An interesting touch that you rarely see on budget models.

The TV pleases with a large number of ports: video inputs - both composite and component, HDMI - four, USB - three. There is also a port for Ethernet. The only thing is that there is no card reader for SD cards. But, like the Philips 40PFL5507, it has a built-in Wi-Fi module, so you don’t need to buy an additional adapter. But, unfortunately, 3D glasses are not included here.

Samsung UE40D6530 TV design

The media player here is quite good, even MKV is readable (however, built-in subtitles in this container format do not work in MKV either). Where TV really shines is in Smart plan TV. Samsung, with its Smart Hub, is, as usual, ahead of the rest: here you have social networks, dozens of popular portals, and a lot of different widgets. User-friendly interface YouTube, the ability to buy online videos, simple Internet search, and, no less important, a special resource Samsung Apps, where you can find hundreds of applications for your TV, including free ones.

With picture quality, things are a little worse. Color rendition at factory settings is far from ideal, there are problems with gamma. As a result, the light parts of the frame seem so light that they hurt the eye, but the dark parts, on the contrary, merge into one large shadow. You have to lower the brightness to about 40%, but this does not correct the situation with the RGB palette.

Fortunately, all Samsung TVs are easy to customize: they have so many options in the menu that half of them sometimes seem redundant. And if you set the “Cinema” mode and tinker with the color space and white balance, you can create a completely solid image that, at least, won’t be embarrassing to look at. Although the problems of the matrix and backlight (in particular, excessively bright fields in certain areas of the screen, affecting the overall black level), unfortunately, cannot be corrected by software. As a result, the picture on the Samsung UE40D6530 as a whole turns out to be worthy of its price of thirty thousand - but excellent results cannot be achieved on this TV even after careful calibration.

Samsung UE40D6530's internet features are amazing

The same applies to games: the device may not be suitable for gamers. On the one hand, the LCD panel here is quite fast in response; the remaining frames are erased in just 10-11 ms, which is good, for example, when watching sports broadcasts. But the input delay on the TV is too high: 50-60 ms, that is, almost four frames. In online games that require quick reactions, the owner of the Samsung UE40D6530 will be “on the fly” by default.

The situation with 3D images is also interesting. In general, the rest of the 3D video here shows itself very well - without unnecessary ghosting and burning in the eyes, with a good sense of depth. Even during dynamic scenes, the frame remains clear, not blurry, and trails are almost invisible. But the problem with brightness has not gone away - this, alas, is the scourge of all LCD TVs and active 3D technology - and again, there are no shutter glasses included.

Pros:

quite good level of frame dynamics thanks to Samsung Motion Plus technology;
built-in Wi-Fi module and DVB-S2 tuner;
a good media player and fairly high-quality budget 3D;
an abundance of settings, thanks to which any user can find the optimal mode for him;
good quality of the standard audio system, especially at high and medium frequencies;
The best internet experience of any budget device.

Minuses:

glare screen with glare;
all ports in the Samsung UE40D6530 are located not on the left, but on the right, which may be inconvenient for those who are accustomed to a more traditional arrangement of interfaces;
A good quarter of the buttons could be removed from the remote control;
2D video quality is not the best: black at 0.07 cd/m2, contrast about 2500:1;
There are no shutter glasses included.

Sharp LC-40LE730 - Japanese quality at a reasonable price

An LCD TV from a once popular company, with a good media player capable of receiving all popular video formats, and, in addition, a good Smart TV, which can be used not only to access YouTube and social networks. In addition, the abundance of connectors here is pleasing: it’s rare to find four HDMI ports and three USB ports at once on a cheap device. The body is light, thin, the design is generally decent, slightly reminiscent of modern televisions Philips. It’s also good that there are three speakers and a subwoofer, providing very decent sound quality.

The appearance of the Sharp LC-40LE730 TV is quite ordinary

But the main thing, of course, is the picture. And there is also complete order with it: both with contrast and color rendition. Sony and Philips use Sharp matrices in their TVs, and not so long ago this was considered an indisputable advantage of devices from these companies. And even though the market situation for Sony and Sharp is not the best now, and the Koreans, with their excellent interfaces and well-thought-out marketing program, are pushing these companies on all fronts, the image quality of their TV remains very high.

Even if the Sharp LC-40LE730 doesn't have as impressive Internet functionality as Samsung TVs, and doesn't have such a well-thought-out interface as LG's. But the uniformity of the lateral LED backlight here it is quite at the level: deviations along the screen plane do not exceed 15%. The cost of this LCD TV is low, and there are no obvious and glaring shortcomings to be found here. Although we will not definitely recommend this model. This is a solid middling product for those who continue to believe in the Japanese quality of Sharp even after the assembly of this company's TVs has moved to Poland.

Pros:

access to radio and Smart TV;
good sound for the price;
convenient and indestructible remote control;
functional media player;
full set of interfaces;
good color rendering;
high screen brightness in 3D mode;
wide viewing angles.

Minuses:

during dynamic scenes, you can notice picture distortions caused by the absence of any frame “enhancers”;
lack of DVB-S/DVB-S2 tuners for satellite dishes.

Philips 40PFL5507 - for those who need balance

This TV is one of the best, if not the best, device of 2012 in terms of quality and price. It has some minor shortcomings in terms of Smart TV, and the audio quality has been deliberately lowered for the sake of the thinness of the body. But everything else is in place. In many respects, this TV can compete with top-end devices for fifty to sixty thousand.

For example, there is a surprisingly omnivorous media player. It reads videos in AVI, MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, WMV9/VC1, H.264/MPEG-4 AVC, MKV, music in MP3 and pictures in JPEG. File files are accepted FAT systems 16, FAT 32, NTFS. At the same time, films in highest quality go without delays or failures. The fact that the system is having a hard time can only be noticed by an attentive user when rewinding. The only drawback of the player is that external and internal subtitles are not supported. Foreign films definitely need a sound track.

The design of the Philips 40PFL5507T is pleasant from all sides

Philips 40PFL5507 costs some twenty-three thousand rubles, and at the same time it has a built-in Wi-Fi module that allows you to set up DLNA or access the Internet directly from the TV. There are three USB ports, four HDMI input, it is possible to play movies in 3D.

In 2012, Philips introduced a new design series of its televisions. Model 40PFL5507 was one of their first birds. Hence - a thin frame, neat metal finish, light colors, a stand whose neck is at an angle, and convenient hardware buttons that do not clog up the space on the front panel. Against the background of such splendor, the remote control looks somewhat pale: it has also been updated, but remains plastic, black and rather fragile to the touch.

The graphical interface is simple and clear, although Philips's color scheme remains somewhat gloomy. But the 2D picture here is very bright thanks to the built-in Edge LED backlight. Moreover, the screen is illuminated quite evenly. Color rendition is also at the level, with almost no deviations from the norm. Gamma - stable 2.2. The black depth in the “Cinema” mode, after a little calibration, reaches values of 0.04 cd/m2. In addition, the screen also has a high-quality anti-glare coating.

The model, among other things, is also suitable for gamers: the input delay here does not exceed 33 milliseconds - almost like the best gaming plasmas. If you have two pairs of 3D glasses, you can play 2D games together on the same screen that support two-person mode. With the Philips 40PFL5507, you no longer need to look only at your half of the screen.

Pros:

The TV has all the latest achievements of manufacturers: media player, 3D, Smart TV;
deep black colors, high screen contrast (up to 5000:1 - better than some TVs from the highest price category);
low power consumption;
built-in Wi-Fi module;
pleasant and original design;
high response speed of the TV at the input and the LCD panel itself, which allows us to recommend this device for gamers;
convenient, small-sized remote control.

Minuses:

Not best sound, especially at mid frequencies (diaphragm vibrations in the speakers create additional noise, which is noticeable during careful listening);
lack of Ambilight Spectra backlight, which we were so pleased with on other Philips TVs;
low viewing angles, especially vertically;
3D glasses are not included.

Sony KDL-26EX553 - for children's or kitchen

The EX553 series from Sony at the beginning of 2012 replaced TVs from the EX320 line. All of these are small-sized devices with Edge LED backlighting. True, they now have some Smart TV features and Wi-Fi access right out of the box. But the design has hardly changed: at the bottom of the case, instead of a traditional stand, there are still some kind of runners, thanks to which the TV screen visually appears larger. This unusual stand is an excellent solution for those devices that by default would look bad on the wall. But it will be very easy to mount the Sony KDL-26EX553 on a bedside table or on a special TV shelf, and it has no problems with stability. There is only one noticeable disadvantage: the screen on such runners cannot be rotated. It only tilts back a few degrees when necessary.

For a TV whose LCD panel is only 26 inches diagonal, the KDL-26EX553 is equipped with a fairly large number of ports. There are two analog audio inputs, PCMCIA, optical digital output, D-Sub input, regular audio output, RF-in connector, network input, SCART video output, headphone port, two HDMI and one USB. The weight of the device is only 6.9 kg.

The TV can be controlled from a tablet or smartphone by downloading the Sony Media Remote program, which works with both iOS and Android. This application has its drawbacks, but with its help it is still easier to use the device’s Internet capabilities than with a standard remote control.

Sony KDL-26EX553 TV can fit even in the smallest corner

The built-in media player has problems. Files in HD quality simply do not work on the KDL-26EX553, scrolling through the video turns into a slide show, and external subtitles are not played in any of the formats. But, given the cheapness of the TV, you can treat all these minor shortcomings with understanding or buy an external media player. Moreover, the player here is capable of reading a surprisingly wide range of different video files. Data in DivX, Xvid, WMA, MPEG-4, as well as, of course, JPEG and MP3 are read from flash drives. As you know, Sony usually treats MKV with hostility, but this popularly loved container is also accepted by this TV.

The advantages of the device include a wide range of web services that can be used with its help. There is access to BRAVIA Internet Video - a technology that easily withstands competition from NetCast from LG and Net TV from Philips. On the Sony KDL-26EX553 you can run various Internet applications, check social networks, read information from your favorite news sites, and even watch videos on YouTube and other media hosting sites.

Video playback quality is generally good, although it doesn't really matter on such a small screen. More importantly, the noise reduction system for signals from the antenna works in a normal rhythm, and pictures in SD resolution have almost no artifacts. The LCD panel is illuminated evenly: the Edge LED backlight at twenty-six inches of diagonal is almost no different from the Full LED at fifty-six. Objects in motion are also displayed quite clearly - thanks to MotionFlow XR 100 Hz technology. By the way, one hundred hertz is exactly the frequency at which the notorious “soap opera effect” that plagues top-end TVs with their 800 and 1200 Hz never occurs.

Of course, there is not the slightest sense in watching 3D video on such a small TV. And it is quite logical that Sony did not include such an option here. The KDL-26EX553 is also not suitable for gamers: the frame output delay is enormous, up to 100 ms. You can only enjoy casual games that do not require special skills or reaction speed.

Pros:

matte screen without glare and reflections;
neat design (devices from the EX553 series can be found in stores not only in traditional black, but also in white);
the contrast is decent for such a cheap TV - about 2900:1 without calibration;
large viewing angles;
presence of a media player and access to DLNA;
built-in Wi-Fi and DVB-S2 tuner for watching TV shows from satellite without a receiver;
availability of a good Smart TV with a built-in Opera browser;
small, convenient dimensions.

Minuses:

the remote control is too large, especially when compared with the size of the TV itself;
low resolution - only 1366x768;
stripped down media player;
It is not recommended to listen to the sound at maximum volume: the two local 8-watt speakers have serious problems with high frequencies and with bass;
modest screen diagonal.

LG 42LM580 - large LCD screen for a minimal price

Few TVs with a 42-inch screen cost less than twenty thousand rubles, especially if they also have good quality 3D. You can count such devices on the fingers of two hands, and they all belong to LG or Panasonic. But the best of all will, perhaps, be the 42LM580 - thanks to the overall level of its picture and the functions that this TV opens up to its users.

Perhaps the main disadvantage here is the design. The Korean company decided not to experiment with the appearance of its device, and did not even try to hide its focus on the budget segment. As a result, if the Philips 40PFL5507 looks very interesting, then nothing more traditional than the LG 42LM580 can be imagined. The only thing that distinguishes this TV from models that were on the market back in the nineties is its thin frame. And at the bottom of the screen there is a metal edging that looks out of place and faded.

There are as many connectors as we are usually used to seeing on large TVs: three USB interfaces, three HDMI inputs, component and composite ports, Ethernet, and so on. True, it is better not to place the TV close to the wall: most of the connectors look perpendicular to the screen, so some wires may rest against the wallpaper.

Another design flaw is the touch-sensitive buttons. They are located on the front panel, just on the silver strip below the screen. What is their advantage over conventional hardware keys and why manufacturers are increasingly starting to use them on TVs, following the fashion of smartphones, remains a mystery to us.

The media player on the LG 42LM580 TV is quite “omnivorous”, but some 3D films are not played on it, and external subtitles are not always available.

In appearance, the LG 42LM580 is rather unprepossessing, but behind such a shell hides a real monster of the television market

The 2D picture quality is average. In terms of contrast and black depth, the LG 42LM580 TV does not show anything outstanding. The only thing that can be praised here is the color rendition. The shades on the local IPS matrix look very natural, red, blue and green are also in their place. And to ensure that the image is clearly visible to the user both in daylight and in the evening, the sensor built into the TV helps to analyze the degree of illumination in the room and, depending on it, adjusts the brightness of the screen.

In addition, polarized glasses do not require electronics and are quite cheap. That’s why four pairs of them are supplied with the TV. Considering that budget active 3D displays are not equipped with such glasses at all and you have to buy them yourself, this fact alone saves the user up to fifteen thousand.

The downside of the stereoscopic picture on the LG 42LM580 and other passive 3D TVs is that vertically it has only half the full resolution (maximum - 540 pixels). But, in our opinion, the advantages outweigh this.

In addition to glasses, a strap for cables and a stand, the device also comes with an adapter for an over-the-air antenna.

Pros:

large enough screen;
four pairs of 3D glasses included;
very good 3D picture quality;
the presence of DLNA and a fairly good media player;
nice interface.

Minuses:

insufficient sound quality (speakers are output to the rear panel);
high input delay, which does not allow us to recommend this device for games;
There are noticeable highlights in the corners of the LCD panel;
lack of Wi-Fi;
lack of satellite tuner;
lack of Smart TV;
ordinary, boring design.

Philips 40PFL7007T - for quality audio

This TV is an almost complete copy of the Philips 40PFL5507, which we talked about just above. There is only one significant difference: the special Philips Soundstage audio stand that this model is equipped with. It contains two speakers with a power of 10 W, the outputs of which, finally, do not look at the floor or at the wall. Thanks to this special stand, the body of the device remains as thin as possible (its thickness is only three centimeters), and at the same time the sound quality is improved by two orders of magnitude. Both the treble and bass are simply pleasing to the ear.

Beautiful light design;

Ambilight Spectra backlight;

generally good 2D and 3D quality;

remote control with QWERTY keyboard;

five HDMI connectors;

a full-fledged Smart TV, which is easy to use thanks to the built-in Wi-Fi module;

excellent sound quality.

Minuses:

large input delay (~ 60 ms), which does not allow you to fully enjoy active games;
not the highest picture brightness in 3D mode;
relatively high price (this, however, is compensated by the fact that 3D glasses are still supplied with this TV).

Samsung PS51D550 - the best cheap large plasma

This TV is at the upper end of our price range: it costs at least thirty-five thousand. However, not considering it because of this would be a mistake. After all, this “plasma” is ideal for watching movies and TV shows: the quality of 2D and 3D pictures is very high, probably the best among budget TVs.

We have already reviewed pre-production samples from this series in the 2011 article “Plasma TVs Samsung PS51D490 and PS51D550 - review of new models.” You can find complete information there. But the most important thing to know is that over the past two years the price of a TV has dropped by several thousand. And also the fact that only Samsung produces inexpensive plasmas on our market, and among all of them, the PS51D550 has the highest level.

Among its advantages are a simple and practical design with a thin frame, well-positioned ports (including two USB and as many as four HDMI). Unfortunately, like the LG 42LM580, the buttons are touch sensitive. Standard large remote control. A successful media player that processes and plays video in Full HD quality without any delays in any format, including MP4 and MKV (however, subtitles in these two formats are still not played). The only noticeable disadvantage of the TV is that you cannot record TV shows directly to a flash drive from the digital tuner. And also the fact that the media player does not always read the data in the M2TS container.

The device displays broadcast channels normally, although the noise reduction system could work better here. But what looks great is Blu-ray or DVD quality video. Slow films with beautiful high-quality scenes go especially well. The large panel and deep black tones allow you to fully enjoy the director's vision. For action films and sports broadcasts, however, the Samsung PS51D550 is also not a bad option.

Yes, the Korean company has cheaper ones plasma TVs, but most of them do not have Full HD resolution. The panels there are mostly content with a meager 1366x768 or even even 1024x768, which are simply heartbreaking to look at with such a large diagonal.

Pros:

full resolution of 1920x1080 pixels, unlike many other budget Samsung plasmas;
51-inch screen diagonal;
very high level of 3D images;
decent 2D quality;
The device is suitable for games: input lag is only 35 milliseconds.

Minuses:

glare glossy screen;
lack of built-in Wi-Fi and generally Smart TV, for which Samsung is so famous;
no 3D glasses included;
there is an afterglow effect and the danger of pixel burnout, therefore it is not recommended to use this TV as a monitor;
very high power consumption.

How to make a Smart TV from a regular TV with your own hands. Criteria for selecting a media player for the Smart option