TV recommendations - OLED vs HDR; Android TV vs randoOS

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › TV recommendations - OLED vs HDR; Android TV vs randoOS

mdf

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#195942 12-May-2016 20:31

New TV time in the MDF household (first time in a long time and the technology and acronyms has me a bit lost).

I was all set to get a Sony 55 inch 4K HDR model - awesome picture and good OS (cr@ppy remote though) but it turns out it won't fit in our built-in cabinetry (57 inches diagonally... sweet, obviously made with a 55 inch set in mind... wait, what weird aspect ratio did the joiner use coz 55 inches ain't fitting!). So I'm forced in to a 49/50 inch model, and Sony don't seem to make (yet) an HDR model in that size.

I was quite taken with picture on some of the LG OLED displays in the store (in 49 inches), but understand that while some OLED displays might be the equivalent of HDR, they aren't allowed to be called HDR. There also may be some firmware upgrades in the offing, but couldn't see anything specific to NZ about this.

So I am a little leery about dropping a large chunk of cash into something that (while looking good in store) may not actually have any content that will look that good at home - most of our TV-ing is Netflix, which does have at least some 4K HDR content available, but I am not sure how this would work with quasi-HDR/OLED screens?

I am also not sure about webOS (or the other random OS's of panafonics and sumsungite). Android TV I at least know and understand the limitations of, and can't help but think this and Apple TV will be the ecosystems of the future.

Finally, at 49 inches, I am not sure whether it is even worthwhile going for the full 4K and investing in any kind of smarts. I might be better off just getting the cheapest okay-looking 1080p screen and use an HTPC/Roku for the brains, upgrading external boxes as and when required.

Cost isn't the defining feature (within reason), I'm more after value. Something the looks awesome and will play the best content and formats for a good few years to come at $2/$3$4K seems like reasonable value, but so does a "dumb" okay looking panel for $1K.

I'm particularly interested in the thoughts of anyone with an LG OLED TV. Any regrets?

sbiddle

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#1551763 12-May-2016 20:48

After looking at all the new model TV's at CES this year IMHO there is nothing on the market that comes close to the LG OLED's in terms of picture quality. There is finally a TV out there as good as a Panasonic VT Plasma.

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mdf

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#1551805 12-May-2016 21:54

sbiddle:

After looking at all the new model TV's at CES this year IMHO there is nothing on the market that comes close to the LG OLED's in terms of picture quality. There is finally a TV out there as good as a Panasonic VT Plasma.

Glad it's not just me that thought it looked good. Validation in shared opinions!

Any thoughts on webOS though?

hyperman

418 posts

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#1551806 12-May-2016 21:58

mdf:

sbiddle:

After looking at all the new model TV's at CES this year IMHO there is nothing on the market that comes close to the LG OLED's in terms of picture quality. There is finally a TV out there as good as a Panasonic VT Plasma.

Glad it's not just me that thought it looked good. Validation in shared opinions!

Any thoughts on webOS though?

IMO even webOS 3.0 is still average...

The views expressed by me are not necessarily those of my employer

KrazyKid

1238 posts

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#1551845 13-May-2016 00:23

When TV shopping 2 months ago I liked the OED but thought the ball in the air during a rugby game was blurring so was concerned by by how it handled motion and sports.
I was watching Freeview Terrestrial on the TVNZ popup channel so was up-scaling from 576i terrestrial.

I ended up buying a Samsung JS8000 so can't comment OED use at home. It may have been fine.

But I do believe the HDR standard includes 2 levels so (1000+ nits and 500+ nits or something similar) so OED TVs can meet HDR standards.
(not sure which OED models will meet this new HDR standards, but even so if the 2015 model does HDR you will get some benefit even if it doesn't met the full brightness of the the HDR standard.)

tangerz

613 posts

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#1552195 13-May-2016 13:49

What you really should be looking for is TV's with the new "Ultra HD Premium" badge. This is the new standard that ensures the TV has all the components that make up 'HDR' (as well as being 4K).

To get the "UltraHD premium" badge a TV must be:

1 - Minimum resolution of 3,840 x 2,160

2 - 10-bit colour depth

3 - Minimum of 90% of P3 colour space

4 - Minimum dynamic range - OPTION 1: More than 1,000 nits peak brightness and less than 0.05 nits black level

- OPTION 2: More than 540 nits brightness and less than 0.0005 nits black level

When it comes to number '4' above, 'Minimum Dynamic Range', the two options were created because of the differences in display technologies between LED/LCD TVs and OLED TVs.

LED/LCD TVs can give high peak brightness but black levels not as deep, so they conform to 'Option 1'.

OLED TVs on the other hand can give deep black levels but not as high peak brightness, so they conform to 'Option 2'.

For more see: http://www.trustedreviews.com/opinions/ultra-hd-premium

As to what you should buy, while it would be nice to get both the best picture quality panel and best OS in the same package, IMHO you are better off just getting the best PQ panel and just ignore the 'smart' features (if you don't like that particular OS) and just use it as a 'dumb' panel with your own 'smart' device attached. You should see if there is any way to get a 55" in your space as most of the high end panels only go down to 55".

If I had a spare $10K at the moment I'd probably buy the LG 65EF950T to replace my Panasonic VT60... but I don't!

dclegg

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#1552201 13-May-2016 14:06

sbiddle:

After looking at all the new model TV's at CES this year IMHO there is nothing on the market that comes close to the LG OLED's in terms of picture quality. There is finally a TV out there as good as a Panasonic VT Plasma.

That is reassuring to know. :-)

I'm a VT Plasma owner, and we have two house moves within 6 months (temporarily relocating while house is renovated). When we moved out, my biggest concern was the TV being broken in the move. While insurance would've paid for a new one, I'm highly sceptical I'd be able to source one as a replacement, and feared no other telly would come close to the awesome picture quality of my beloved VT.

We've still got the move home to contend with. I'll sleep a little more soundly knowing it isn't all doom and gloom if the trusty old fella doesn't quite make it back in one piece (despite my best efforts to ensure it does, including using the original packaging for transport).

Kopkiwi

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#1552213 13-May-2016 14:17

Surely the ZT60 is the benchmark plasma, not the VT60?

tangerz

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#1552231 13-May-2016 14:59

Kopkiwi:

Surely the ZT60 is the benchmark plasma, not the VT60?

The ZT60 was never available in NZ...