40-43 inch TV

[Saracen999]

So, I ordered the Polk S4. Finally. It's due to arrive today, which usually means mid-morning. Ended up paying £279.

I'm a bit weird about this sort of thing. Or maybe everybody is. Dunno.

i was more than happy to pay the full(-ish) £299. I thought, assuming it's as good (for the money) as reviews etc suggest .... right up until I saw it at £249. Now, I somehow resent paying £279 because I know it was at £249. I expect it soon will be again, now I've ordered. I mean, whether £249 or £279 doesn't really matter. i was happy enough at £299. How does that make sense?

So I hear you guys ask .... why not wait, then?

Simple. Because I've been eyeing up the Sonos Arc. At about £800. And I know me too well. If I get the Arc, I'm going to "need" the sub, too. At £600+. it wouldnt be the first time I've ended up spending far more than I initially planned. It'll make missing ou on than nominal £30 oversend on the Polk look silly. By buying the Polk, I guarantee not buying the Arc.

i hope.

[neonplanet40]

Make sure to give us a review of the s4

[Iota]

Oh, and Richer warranties were referred to earlier. I haven't needed to call on one for a few years but when I did, they were utterly outstanding. They are still on my personal "preferred supplier" list for exactly that reason and will stay there if they don't try to screw me over. They're also usually at least competitive on pricing and often have great (probably EOL, but who cares) deals, too.

You also get slightly better pricing if you join the "VIP" club (basically the mailing list....).

I am a bit of an audio connoisseur, though. Or to be more accurate, my head still thinks it is but my ears moved on to "hmmm, hearing aid??" a few years ago.

The problem with any audio, is it's slightly different for every person. It's probably why I prefer to watch films etc using a set of headphones instead of a soundbar. I found it terribly frustrating watching anything with family mainly due to the "oh it's too loud, turn the sound down" or "it's too quiet, turn the sound up" that was occurring constantly when trying to watch anything, so now I refuse to watch anything with family because of this. It's also kind of nice to shut the world out when watching with a fairly decent set of headphones on and listening to something and catching the cues you don't always get with soundbars.

[Saracen999]

You also get slightly better pricing if you join the "VIP" club (basically the mailing list....).

I don't remember seeing that, but personally (and it is very personal) I never sign up for "marketing". I'd rather pay the higher price. Same applies to Club/Reward cards etc. Thanks, but they're not for me.

....

The problem with any audio, is it's slightly different for every person. It's probably why I prefer to watch films etc using a set of headphones instead of a soundbar. I found it terribly frustrating watching anything with family mainly due to the "oh it's too loud, turn the sound down" or "it's too quiet, turn the sound up" that was occurring constantly when trying to watch anything, so now I refuse to watch anything with family because of this. It's also kind of nice to shut the world out when watching with a fairly decent set of headphones on and listening to something and catching the cues you don't always get with soundbars.

Oh, absolutely. I used to tease my wife (and Mum-in-Law) that the Americans could have saved a fortune on distant early warning stations, and just hired the wife or Mum-in-law to listen. I swear they could both hear a gnat fart .... in China. The gnat was in China, I mean. When they were in the UK. I only had to think about buying something expensive and the wife would look at me and say "No".

It's not just sound level, either. Anything audio is very subject. One of my least favourite questions (to be asked) ,... "You're into hifi, aren't you? What's the best speaker/phones/amp/CD/whatever?

My answer? The one YOU like of sound of (and can afford). Why would you buy what I like the sound of? You going to be listening using my ears?

Okay, I'll concede I can often narrow it down a bit, and yeah, some products are just technically not as good as others. But pick half a dozen technically similar products at the same/similar price and there's still a good chance they'll sound different, and possibly very different. I like Sennheiser phones, but a mate of mine generally prefers Beyer. Neither choice is right, or wrong.