NeoPlasma vs 4K UHD LED/IPS vs OLED

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Snowflake

#157294 26-Nov-2014 20:00

Wont be buying another new screen for a few years.... so trying to decide what to get. Have always preferred plasma over LCD in the past but the 4K TV looked OK (but haven't given it a run with my own material yet).

[edit: removed poll link, it expired :P]

Looking for opinions on the following types/models.

Panasonic VT50 NeoPLasma (end of line, but still able to be acquired)

LG OLED (new model is the 55EC930T)

UHD 4K LED/IPS TV like the Samsung UA55HU9000 or LG 55UC970T Curved (or flat) models

chur!

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#1183689 26-Nov-2014 22:14

I have a 55VT50, if it was replaced tomorrow, it would be the LG OLED.
It has inky blacks, but it punches far brighter. I haven't heard of any issues found in the early OLED models... but I'm not sure how it would be for gaming.
The only detractions would be the curved design, the lack of UHD and Web OS.
So maybe I'll wait until those 3 issues are dealty to.

However, as far as display tech, it's the best on the market at the moment.

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Snowflake

#1183826 27-Nov-2014 09:14

Dunnersfella: I have a 55VT50, if it was replaced tomorrow, it would be the LG OLED.
It has inky blacks, but it punches far brighter. I haven't heard of any issues found in the early OLED models... but I'm not sure how it would be for gaming.
The only detractions would be the curved design, the lack of UHD and Web OS.
So maybe I'll wait until those 3 issues are dealty to.

However, as far as display tech, it's the best on the market at the moment.

I'm ot a big fan of WebOS and the (lack of) relevant apps as i'll be using MCE and XBOX behind it, so picture quality is probably the most important thing. I don't mind the curved screens, but I have yet to spend a long time behind one.. UHD - realistically, how much content will there be in 2, 3, 5 years?

I saw the old Top Gun DVD playing on an older Samsung UHD TV - the picture wasn't great, and there was a massive lip sync problem, probably due to all the picture processing. I'll have to try some reference clips on a few screens and see how they fare

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toaster

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#1183900 27-Nov-2014 10:53

I currently own the curved Samsung 65HU9000, which I think is a wonderful and sexy TV with very good screen uniformity for an edge-lit tv and minimal clouding when SMart LED setting is engaged on Low. This TV also has by far the best 4k upscaling picture quality of all TVs on the current market, with good sources like 1080p blu-rays it brings out the kind of detail that is simply impossible to see on a mere FullHD screen, so in my opinion a non-4K TV is no longer worth it. The difference is staggering even if the source is not pure 4K video.

Samsung HU9000 was the third 4k TV I tried after going through the pains of dead pixels and awful banding issues on 2014 Sonys and Panasonic AX800.

Recently though I have tested the new Panasonic AX900 in JB HiFi on numerous test videos and was very impressed by what I saw. I would definitely consider trying it out.

As for OLED, let's wait for the LG's M2 production line to finally start producing goods in December, it will mean the prices on OLEDs will fall quite quickly in the first half of 2015.

Hope this helps

Cheers

NzBeagle

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#1183906 27-Nov-2014 10:56

I'm a fan of the OLED screens, they look great. I was originally excited about UHD, but after looking at OLED, I was pretty impressed even at 1080p. I didn't like the stand on the first gen LGs, and apparently there were a few issues with subpixels which all seem to have been ironed out on the second gen models.

Agreed with UHD content, at this stage it's only Netflix for me, and HoC looks already looks great at 1080p on my plasma. WebOS isn't ideal, but I guess it depends what you want from the panel, I just think of it as a dumb panel, and rely on the chromecast to deliver Netflix and Plex content.

I'll be keeping an eye on sales over over the holidays to see if I can be compelled to grab the LG. If UHD is a deal maker the 65EC9700, (maybe 970T when it gets here) could be worth a look, but 1st gen UHD OLED and high prices might be a deterrent.

Quinny

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#1183916 27-Nov-2014 10:59

Panasonic VT all the way (if you can still find one) or even the Samsung but I was a Pana VT fan from the 10 to the 30 then the 50. When they still won the shootout over the 4ks earlier this year hunted down a last remaining VT60 in the South Island and have not looked back. In a few years may replace but until then my awesome pickies win. And yes that is 4 VTs in the house 2 of them (the VT50 and 60) 60inch lolz. Movie night at my place rocks.

toaster

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#1183920 27-Nov-2014 11:05

NzBeagle: If UHD is a deal maker the 65EC9700, (maybe 970T when it gets here) could be worth a look, but 1st gen UHD OLED and high prices might be a deterrent.

This has the potential to be a really good screen if you're willing to wait a few months. According to Key Account Manager for LG in New Zealand, the unit won't be available until February next year at the earliest. They also said the expected RRP at this stage is looking like $10999, but is still very TBC. Obviously the final price mark will largely depend on the M2 production line yields.

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t0ny

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#1183926 27-Nov-2014 11:10

OLED would be my first pick. For some reason i dont like the unnatural look for a UHD resolution. Imagine seeing the level of detail you see on those TV's through your eyes every day.

heylinb4nz

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#1183950 27-Nov-2014 11:40

+1 for the Panasonic VT50, sad loss to the industry that Panasonic scratched the Neo Plasma ST\VT series. Consistently won awards and rated What Hifi and CNET TV of the year. Apparently a financial \ market decision...nothing to do with new tech being better.

Plenty of articles on internet mourning the loss of these.

Grab one if you can as we wont see a comparable TV using OLED tech for a while.

toaster

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#1183980 27-Nov-2014 12:11

Speaking of Panny plasmas, yes they give you great video PQ, but just remember that plasma is no good if you're planning to use this TV as a computer/HTPC screen or even for gaming. It's perfect for video, but anything else and you will get massive flickering on bright backgrounds, image retention on static images, and line bleed on horizontal lines - personal experience with the last few series of Panny plasmas.

If you plan to game or hook up your PC/server, then go for UHD LED.

PJ48

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#1183996 27-Nov-2014 12:30

I was at a friends house the other day and saw quite a bit of material on the LG UHD LED screen. To my eyes, my ST60 plasma beat it hands down. Not seen the OLED screens...

Regs

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Snowflake

#1184028 27-Nov-2014 13:21

toaster: I currently own the curved Samsung 65HU9000

how are you finding the curved screen? I've got a good price for a LG 65UC970T screen, much much price better than the Samsung, and better than the panny VT60 (not VT50) - did you try the LG UHD out?

I cant get such a good price on the OLEDs, and I don't know if I want to wait any longer (there is always newer, better just around corner :P)

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dclegg

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#1184030 27-Nov-2014 13:25

toaster: Speaking of Panny plasmas, yes they give you great video PQ, but just remember that plasma is no good if you're planning to use this TV as a computer/HTPC screen or even for gaming. It's perfect for video, but anything else and you will get massive flickering on bright backgrounds, image retention on static images, and line bleed on horizontal lines - personal experience with the last few series of Panny plasmas.

If you plan to game or hook up your PC/server, then go for UHD LED.

I would say thats subjective. I game on my Panasonic plasma all the time (either PS3 or PS4), and don't have a major* issue with it.

*The only annoyance I have is that if you configure it for Game mode to reduce input lag, you get a little popup every 30 minutes telling you how long you've been playing for. The only way I've found to disable this is to not use Game mode, but that will increase input lag. Whether this lag is a big deal for you will largely depend on personal preference. For someone who will never be atop the COD worldwide leaderboards, its a non issue for me.

NzBeagle

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#1184033 27-Nov-2014 13:31

dclegg: *The only annoyance I have is that if you configure it for Game mode to reduce input lag, you get a little popup every 30 minutes telling you how long you've been playing for. The only way I've found to disable this is to not use Game mode, but that will increase input lag. Whether this lag is a big deal for you will largely depend on personal preference. For someone who will never be atop the COD worldwide leaderboards, its a non issue for me.

Haha, that's an interesting feature, is it to remind you that the world flies by when you're gaming? I know I've lost hours at a time in the past! Whether you're top of the table, or mid table, or bottom of the table, there's nothing more annoying than dying first when you shot as soon as you saw them. Input lag sucks!

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Snowflake

#1184036 27-Nov-2014 13:35

i'm currently 'gaming'* via xbox one on my Samsung 42" 848x480 panel. I think nearly anything would be a step up :P

* I suck, so hardly capable of calling it gaming

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dclegg

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#1184067 27-Nov-2014 14:01

NzBeagle:

Haha, that's an interesting feature, is it to remind you that the world flies by when you're gaming? I know I've lost hours at a time in the past! Whether you're top of the table, or mid table, or bottom of the table, there's nothing more annoying than dying first when you shot as soon as you saw them. Input lag sucks!

My (lack of) skills are such that an additional 50-100ms of input lag is rarely the explanation for my poor performance when I game online. And as I usually stick to single player gaming anyway, input lag really is a non-issue for me.

But as you rightly point out, this may not be the case for everyone. If you are a hardcore competitive online gamer, you may be far more susceptible to noticing input lag. For me, if I didn't know it existed, I never would've even been aware it was happening.

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