Need a new telly. Mid 4K capable. Not too fussed on smarts

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Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › Need a new telly. Mid 4K capable. Not too fussed on smarts

davidcole

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#304148 9-Apr-2023 11:15

Similar to https://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=34. I have an old (2008 Samsung 46”) that has decided it doesn’t want to turn on any more. I may look at getting it repaired as a secondary (pricing dependent). So looking at the low - mid 4K capable TVs. I run an Apple TV and a PlayStation 4. (Also a wii and Nintendo 64 via component and composite respectively - but may source something else to take their signals since it seems 90% of sets nowadays do not have these connections.

Tossing up between the (all 50” versions)
Lg qned80
Sony x85k
Samsung qn90b

Not sure any others. While I don’t care about smarts too much. Do like the lg (and Sony?). Both have a chromecast and airplay (5”the lg def does). Have a slight bias against Samsung.

For sound I have a little Bose soundbar. Currently hooked via toslink. Depending how the connections go I hope I can got arc to reduce the number of remotes. But do use a harmony as well.

Thoughts?

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Stu1

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#3060702 9-Apr-2023 15:16

What about one of these ?

https://www.heathcotes.co.nz/products/th-65lx650z-panasonic-65-lx650-4k-hdr-smart-tv

davidcole

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#3060706 9-Apr-2023 15:30

I don’t know a lot about the Panasonics . And can’t really find reviews comparing to the others

SirHumphreyAppleby

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#3060707 9-Apr-2023 15:31

Since you're using external devices to add 'smarts', is CEC important to you?

Experience my vary by model, but based on TVs I've used with Kodi, the Panasonic, LG and Samsung CEC implementations seem a bit rubbish. Sony worked the best, so I would favour that option.

davidcole

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#3060710 9-Apr-2023 15:34

I do like that a85k Sony, it seems to review well. Not as good as the a90k

PANiCnz

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#3060727 9-Apr-2023 16:20

Looks to be some reasonable prices on Panasonic OLED's at the moment.

davidcole

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#3060808 10-Apr-2023 08:54

So I think I’ve got it down to the Sony 50” a85k for $1299 and a Panasonic lz980 I’ve found on specia for $1497. Slightly smaller but oled. Will go look at them side by side today.

Edit. Pulled trigger on the lz980 oled from Panasonic.

Brunzy

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#3061579 11-Apr-2023 17:14

Sounds good!
I had a quick look and couldn’t see it anywhere near that price, mind if I ask where?
Thanks

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yann

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#3061587 11-Apr-2023 17:31

Might be the 48" one at JB-Hifi? I don't think there is a 50" version.

https://www.jbhifi.co.nz/panasonic/panasonic-lz980z-series-48-oled-4k-tv/421234/

Also there looks to be some promotion with Panasonic so $100 cashback with that model - I think.

https://www.panasonic.co.nz/promotions/panasonic-oled-tv-cashback-april-2023

https://www.panasonic.co.nz/promotions/panasonic-oled-tv-cashback-april-2023/terms-and-conditions

davidcole

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#3061597 11-Apr-2023 17:57

Yeah. Was jb. Noel leeming would have matched it. But the guy didn’t seem all that interested in helping (no remotes, had no content but the demo reel). And none in stock.

The jb guy was much more helpful

jonathan18

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#3061624 11-Apr-2023 18:45

We’ve got the JZ980 55” for our secondary system and it’s an excellent TV in terms of PQ (sound is as bad as anything else these days). But you’ll be using a soundbar, I see, and ARC’s worked fine with it. Annoying that it doesn’t have Chromecast built in, but you mention smarts aren’t a priority for you.

davidcole

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#3061647 11-Apr-2023 20:22

Chromecast would have been nice ( over the rest of the apps). But anyway have one of those standalone as well as Apple TV.

Finding the arc a little strange. I’d used optical with my my old set.

So have figured out if I leave viera link all turned on and use arc. Then:
If it’s on tuner and I turn the tv off and on. The speaker comes on and works (mostly)
If the tv was set to ps4 or Apple TV. Then turn tv off and on the sound doesn’t come back. Unless I turn off the speaker (of which it’s turned back on in a second)

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