TV Recommendations in 2020

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › TV Recommendations in 2020 - OLED?

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#2793832 12-Oct-2021 12:14

If your amp supports audio return channel, then use that over optical. From memory on the C1 you'd want to put your Amp on the TV's HDMI 2 input.

jonathan18

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#2793856 12-Oct-2021 12:30

TLD:

ARIKIP:

Congrats on the new TV. WEB OS is great once you get the hang of it...

Thanks for the tips. I have only had a limited play with it, but I do think it is less intuitive than previous TVs I have owned, but with so many options that goes with the territory. Just knowing the terminology helps as 'Web OS' gives me a point of reference to base my research on, and I have found some useful YouTube videos already...

Yeah, webOS divides opinions; personally, I absolutely hate it (as do the rest of my family) - despite having owned an LG TV for probably 18 months I still hate it and find it unintuitive to use. Give me the rudimentary interface of our Panasonic OLED any day. Others here on GZ rate it highly, so certainly YMMV!

As for sound: I get the attraction of moving to an Atmos set-up - I'm interested in doing this myself - but one approach could be to take it in stages: perhaps you could start with upgrading just your receiver. Similarly, moving to have at least your three front speakers from the same brand will probably make a big difference. I'm thinking a better-designed 5.1 system is still likely to provide a better listening experience than a potentially hodge-podge 5.1.4 or 5.1.2 system.

If you are keen on moving forward with Atmos, I don't think you'll find any decent speakers use Bluetooth due to its reliability, delay etc; you can get wireless kits (eg https://www.rapalloav.co.nz/product/svs-soundpath-wireless-audio-adapter-kit) but that'll come with the hassle of needing to get power to their location, which is probably harder than just running speaker cables. It's the cabling that's most me putting off making the upgrade, especially since so few recommend the up-firing type of speakers which would be so easy to install. One option I've considered is SVS's Prime Elevation speakers, which can be attached at the top of the wall (https://www.svsound.com/products/prime-elevation).

jonathan18

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#2793858 12-Oct-2021 12:31

lxsw20:

If your amp supports audio return channel, then use that over optical. From memory on the C1 you'd want to put your Amp on the TV's HDMI 2 input.

OP reports his receiver is about 30 years old, so won't have HDMI let alone ARC...

BuzzLightyear

411 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2794007 12-Oct-2021 14:28

TLD:

Thanks guys. Some good information there, and I am getting a handle on Atmos. It's funny how these things grow and expand into bigger projects. I started thinking that I could maybe use some old computer speakers to supplement the existing speakers, but then I thought there are vents in the ceiling for the heat pump, so she who must be obeyed shouldn't object to some flush mounted ceiling speakers. Would Harvey Norman have an Atmos demo I could use to impress my wife and persuade her it was a good idea? Why is it that blokes are into this stuff, but women not so much so?

Question: Do Atmos ceiling speakers connect by wire to the AV amp? I'm thinking Bluetooth would be problematic because ISTM you'd need to have access to the speakers to reconnect when they inevitably drop out. At the same time, while I could get away with flush mounted covers on the ceiling, running four pairs of cables down the wall would definitely be an ask too far.

I'm getting nervous about the COVID as well. If we have a lunch time report of cases spreading to the South Island, I'll be heading straight to town to make some purchases I have been holding off on.

I got my CX very early in the year and then like you wanted atmos. I got a Dolby atmos soundbar a month later and plugged into HDMI ARC and used the bypass feature on the TV. I also upgraded to an Apple TV 4k. Very happy and a nice uncluttered solution. FYI I did try a Sonos sound bar I had downstairs but the LG TV and Sonos weren't playing nicely. I ended up with an LG Atmos soundbar from Harvey Norman. I know there are better sound bars but bang for buck and for compatibility this is an easy option plus its lower profile and dosen't block the TV.

TLD

902 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2794117 12-Oct-2021 17:36

jonathan18:

lxsw20:

If your amp supports audio return channel, then use that over optical. From memory on the C1 you'd want to put your Amp on the TV's HDMI 2 input.

OP reports his receiver is about 30 years old, so won't have HDMI let alone ARC...

To show how long it is since I last set this up, I had to check the back of the receiver after reading this, and of course you are right, it has no HDMI inputs. The receiver is just has the one optical connection. It definitely makes sense to live with a new system before making big changes. I have already today improved the audio just by getting to grips with settings on the receiver, and I am still getting to grips with Atmos requirements, like how many channels the receiver needs to drive ceiling speakers, and even if subwoofers are included in the 5.2, 7.2 and 9.2 designations?

As ever, YouTube has been useful for working out WebOS with lots of tips and tricks in how to organise the UI. I initially couldn't even create an LG account on the TV and kept getting an 'Invalid email' error message, so I gave up and used the Facebook login via the on screen QR Code.

Thanks for the help.

Trevor Dennis
Rapaura (near Blenheim)

jonathan18

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#2794258 12-Oct-2021 20:34

TLD:

I am still getting to grips with Atmos requirements, like how many channels the receiver needs to drive ceiling speakers, and even if subwoofers are included in the 5.2, 7.2 and 9.2 designations?

ShinyChrome's post on the previous page cover this:

ShinyChrome:

Side note: when you are shopping for AVRs, you want to keep in mind how many channels of atmos a receiver can process/amp. It usually advertised as a "point number" in conjunction with the other channels ie. 5.1.4 = 5 horizontal channels, 1 LFE channel, 4 height channels. Dolby has a range of configuration guides to show you what is possible.

Some receivers can also process more channels than they can amplify, so need an external amplifier to enable extra channel processing. If you are buying a receiver anyway, I would look at four height channels minimum, to get the "front-to-back" transition.

The 'LFE channel' he refers to above is 'low-frequency effects', ie the signal that would feed a subwoofer. It's the middle number of the three when a receiver is quoted as #.#.#, the first being the main channels and the last being the height channels, as per the example above.

If it's only comprised of two numbers it may or may not have height channels! 5.1 will be a setup like your current one, but you may see other amps like this one advertised as '11.2', which is essentially just the total number of supported full-frequency channels (and possibly amplification of these), but it will no doubt allow a range of set-ups for the use of those channels whether for additional zones, height channels, or even to bi-amp some of the main speakers.

If you want a single pair of height speakers you'll need 5.1.2; if you want two pairs you'll need 5.1.4 (and nine channels of amplification - either built-in or via external amp).

And one is talking pretty decent bucks to get a receiver that has the built-in amplification for nine channels - many will support seven and have amplification for the same; a number will support nine but only have amplification for seven. I'd been looking for one to support a 7.1.2 setup (I already have 7.1, and had thought I'd add a single pair of height speakers, but reading ShinyChrome's comment I made need to rethink that), and have been put off by the price! Kinda wished I'd done it at the start of last year before prices went crazy...

Dunnersfella

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#2794286 12-Oct-2021 21:34

If you're in Blenheim, talk to Jason @ Harvey Norman - he's into his cinema kit.

If you make the trip over to Nelson at any point, go into The Audiophile or Beggs and talk to Dan or Tim respectively.

Both of those businesses have ATMOS demo rooms and they can help you persuade your better half of the benefits of adding more speakers to your room.

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keriboi

274 posts

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#2798157 20-Oct-2021 13:32

Panasonic JZ1000 or LG C1 65" ? Both around $3895

Both are the same price at the moment. Thinking of jumping the gun now.

ShinyChrome

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#2798163 20-Oct-2021 13:49

keriboi:

Panasonic JZ1000 or LG C1 65" ? Both around $3895

Both are the same price at the moment. Thinking of jumping the gun now.

Much of a muchness, but you can't go wrong either way.

Both support the same HDMI 2.1 feature-set, although the C1 has 2 more HDMI 2.1 capable ports than the JZ1000. webOS is more polished and seems to be supported by LG a little bit more actively than Panasonic does with My Home Screen 6.0.

On the other hand, the JZ1000 supports HDR10+ as well as Dolby Vision IQ, if that matters

A bit will come down to the personal preference of how the OEM handles things like picture/motion processing etc.

For what it's worth, I would go for the JZ1000, since I think Panasonic do a better job on the processing side, and I also use an external box over the onboard TV OS.

keriboi

274 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2798167 20-Oct-2021 13:59

Thanks. What external box do you use?

We will just be using Plex, Netflix, Disney + and Freeview.

Currently using the Smart vu box. I like that my tv is coming through the internet as we dont have a dish or aerial. Not sure is the tvs can run apps to do tv through the net?

JPNZ

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#2798172 20-Oct-2021 14:14

I to prefer Panasonic picture over LG and Ive watched a lot of the C1 and own an older GZ1000. I also like the panasonic stand with swivel over the LG non-swivel base. They really are much of a muchness though

Panasonic 65GZ1000, Onkyo RZ730, Atmos 5.1.2, AppleTV 4K, Nest Mini's, PS5, PS3, MacbookPro, iPad Pro, Apple watch SE2, iPhone 15+

keriboi

274 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2798177 20-Oct-2021 14:19

JPNZ:

I to prefer Panasonic picture over LG and Ive watched a lot of the C1 and own an older GZ1000. I also like the panasonic stand with swivel over the LG non-swivel base. They really are much of a muchness though

Oh Swivel is actually a good selling point.

jonathan18

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#2798184 20-Oct-2021 14:29

keriboi:

Thanks. What external box do you use?

We will just be using Plex, Netflix, Disney + and Freeview.

Currently using the Smart vu box. I like that my tv is coming through the internet as we dont have a dish or aerial. Not sure is the tvs can run apps to do tv through the net?

Doesn’t the TVNZ app have live TV streaming? It certainly does on my phone, and I’m pretty sure it’s available on the app on my TV (Panasonic GZ1000). These days, though, most content is also available via their on demand service as well.

That said, if you were interested in minimising the use of a secondary device, the Panasonic’s not the way to go. No TV3 app, no Plex… (though a couple of weeks back they added Disney+). LGs are far more comprehensive in their app selection, and I find they generally get relatively frequent updates (never found this with the Panasonics we’ve owned for the past 15 or so years). The only other device we have connected to our TV is a Google Chromecast with Google TV, primarily for Plex and Apple TV+ but also casting if needed; the TV has all the other apps we require (Netflix, Disney+, Prime plus the free NZ ones).

As per my post earlier on this page, the interfaces of the LG and Panasonic could hardly be more different, so I’d suggest giving them both a go - more just to ensure there’s one you really don’t like (many find the Panasonic interface basic and fugly; others like me find Web OS really irritating to use). For me, usability is an important aspect in decision-making, especially in this case given there apparently isn’t a huge margin between the two in terms of PQ.

shelford

115 posts

Master Geek

#2798186 20-Oct-2021 14:35

Do you need a special HDMI cord when using the HDMI 2.1 port?

JPNZ

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#2798188 20-Oct-2021 14:39

shelford:

Do you need a special HDMI cord when using the HDMI 2.1 port?

If you want to make use of the 2.1 features like 120Hz 4K then yes, you need a HDMI 2.1 compliant cable.

Panasonic 65GZ1000, Onkyo RZ730, Atmos 5.1.2, AppleTV 4K, Nest Mini's, PS5, PS3, MacbookPro, iPad Pro, Apple watch SE2, iPhone 15+

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