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Looking at 55 to 60 inch. Source will mainly be Amazon Prime/ Netflix/ free view.
Am I wasting my time I getting a OLED?
Should I save the planet and buy an LED one?
Ideas / suggestions?
I would go OLED every time. Unless you need very high brightness that is. My living room is about 60% glass, so I need as bright a TV as possible, so I've got a Samsung QLED.
It's a slight compromise in quality at night (vs OLED) to enable decent viewing during day light hours.
I've got a Samsung 55" Q70. The difference between that and entry-level OLED (about £600 when I bought it) wasn't worth paying, it may be for you. It does all the streaming services really well except iPlayer where it won't remember my password. If I had a quid for every time I've heard Mark bloody Radcliffe tell me I'll only have to input it once...
We bought a 2020 the frame a munt ago - its great
but really the biggest improvement was a new sonos arc pair with a couple of sonos ones we already had
really quite shocking what i'd been missing out on for. and that's before we get dolby atmos
Been running oled for a few years now. I knew after 2 minutes of use the extra cost was well placed. Perfect blacks, perfect viewing angles, great motion and no issues with brightness. I’d never consider anything else now (well if over 48” anyway)
I’ve got a Sony OLED (AF9) and a new Sony LED (X9005). I really don’t think the OLED is worth the extra money - both are excellent.
I went LED as it’s in the family room with a console attached, and I kept reading horror stories of OLED screen burn (although never had an issue myself).
The TV it is replacing is a 12 year old Philips - I assume LCD. I am expecting a jump up in terms of performance - even from the lower priced LEDs.
Then is darkish - big bay window at the front. It is more the film, series etc watching room. Sky news etc tend to be looked at on the smaller TV in the back room.
I don’t think it will be switched on for endless hours - and not a big gamer.
Would I notice the difference between a 600 GBP LED and a 1100 LG OLED.
We sit about 12 ft away from the TV.
Longevity may well be more attractive than a perfect picture ...
Thanks
Every time I need a new TV, I just buy the best Samsung I can afford (after a fair bit of research) and have never been disappointed
I also spend a bit of time on AV Forums post purchase also - finding out how to set it up properly
I just buy the best Samsung I can afford (after a fair bit of research) and have never been disappointed
Would I notice the difference between a 600 GBP LED and a 1100 LG OLED
Well, I think you would see a difference but whether you think it's worth £500 is a question only you can really answer. You can buy a decent sound system for some of that money which might do more to increase your enjoyment than a gain in picture quality.
I just buy the best Samsung I can afford
Ay least that would resolve the OLED vs LED question.
You mention longevity so I would go the extra for OLED. LG have the best interface, make the panels for everyone else and generally seem the best bang for buck. Most importantly, on the longevity thing again, they offer the best compatibility with the various HDR formats so you are less likely to get shut out in the future.
I wouldn’t touch a Samsung if you paid me, but obviously a personal opinion.
Also in the market for a new telly. Which manufacturer has the least worst interface and EPG? Requirements are council telly, Netflix, NowTV, Disney and Airplay support.
Whereas I've had no issues with several Samsung TVs, but my LG one broke (and my LG phone too). Your mileage may vary...
was going to go for this https://www.richersounds.com/panasonic-tx55hz980b.html
but as i sit 8' away its not going to be big enough so going to pay the extra £550 for the 65" version.
as far as io can tell from my research LED's can't get anywhere near OLED on picture quality and i still haven't seem an LED that can beat my 8 year old plasma(like for like standard HD content). if bothered about burn in risk with OLED john lewis do an insurance that covers it for 5 years against burn in although current ones are much better at avoiding it.
also read a lot that mid range LED is just as good as higher end LED unless its HDR content your watching.
as above LG make all the panels but i'm going pannasonic as had them for years with no issues, currently got an 8 and a 11 year old plasma still going strong and pannasonic also have everything the LG has regaurding HDR formats and protection features against burn in. i think pannasonic have improved the interface(which wouldn't take much) but it's not something i use much as i find it easier to do everything through the sky box.
My current and previous TVs are OLED (LG) and before that an LED Samsung. Where you most notice OLED is with HDR and dark non-HDR content (where true black can really help making stuff out). Whether or not that's worth it to you is a personal choice (and somewhat related to the amount of HDR content you'll be watching - there's a lot on Netflix these days, BBC iPlayer and Prime have some to)
I prefer the LG WebOS interface over the Samsung one but that's comparing against a 4 year old Samsung interface, it might have improved. Netflix and Prime have dedicated buttons and for Disney+ etc. you just install the app through the TV and move it where you want on the app bar so it's only two clicks away.
I wouldn't get too hung up over room brightness levels either, OLED only really suffers in a very bright room (e.g. 80% glass as one reply mentioned), in your average room with one or two windows an OLED is fine in day light.
Every time I need a new TV, I just buy the best Samsung I can afford (after a fair bit of research) and have never been disappointed
I've only bought 5 TV's in 32 years.
A Toshiba CRT, forget the size but it was of the first Dolby ones, 1988 and £400.
A bigger Toshiba CRT when we moved to Germany, because our UK one couldn't pick up sound.
A flat screen Toshiba 32" when the OH bought a new TV bench and it was too small for the CRT 🙂
A flat screen Toshiba 37" when we wanted a gaming TV, so moved the 32" into the snug (for gaming)
And the current LG 49" when we put a 'dongle' into the previous TV and discovered that the sound card didn't work anymore (we always use an amp).
And the reason we didn't buy a Toshiba - they stopped making their own TV's, and just rebrand someone else's.
Netflix and Prime have dedicated buttons and for Disney+ etc. you just install the app through the TV and move it where you want on the app bar so it’s only two clicks away.
Just in case you weren't aware, you can make any app or input one click away. You can assign apps/inputs to the numeric keys and go direct to them by holding down the number key you want. Hold down 0 to set this feature up (it's called Quick Access).
Ooh cheers, might do that - I never bother looking for short cut type stuff!
Our 10 year old Samsung "not very' Smart lost the ability to attach to the network, so we bought a Sony Bravia to replace it. This one I think:
We did look at OLED but decided to buy a Sonos Beam and a couple of Ikea Sonos speakers. The TV is so much better than the Samsung. We did compare the 1k+ OLEDs in the shop (when you used to be able to go into them!) and there was defo a difference. It's just wasn't £400 to us!
Interface is Android. Works great with Sonos and Chromecast. And I now have a 43inch Zwift monitor 🙂
Very curious about this thread. I've been planning on getting a Sonos Arc but it won't work very well with our 9 year old Panasonic Plasma, which is still brilliant.
I've got a fairly new LG oled and would recommend like a few others on here. However mine is a bit too slow on the UI menus. As you can't test this in the shops, make sure you read the reviews and if there is any mention of the UI being slow then don't buy as you'll find it frustrating.
I’ve been planning on getting a Sonos Arc
I wanted the Arc but I was 'value engineered' down to the beam 🙂 Still sounds great tho with the two Bookshelf Ikea speakers both for music and TV. I'm just trying to dream up a watertight business case for the Sonos Sub. That might take a while.
Dead interested in the Samsung Frame 32" for the bedroom, has anyone got one?
The Sonos Arc does seem good and the fact it's modular means I can probably get away with adding bits to it over time. We used to have a separate based system of Kef speakers and an Arcam amp but it won't work in this house. You need a very modern telly to get the best sound to it though, one that supports eArc I'm led to believe.
my mate has a Philips with ambilight - wasn't cheap, but my god is it good. i thought it was a gimmick but with a proper quality screen (best in class by all accounts), the ambilight gives it a feeling of almost borderless dispaly - it just feels as though it fades out and your eyes don't feel as though they are watching a box..
I've got 2 high end Sony's, my next will be Philips!
https://www.whathifi.com/reviews/philips-55oled803-review
the choice is really now between a LG 55CX and a Sony KD55A8 - both the same price at RS. Interestingly nobody here as mentioned Sony - but the sales guy at RS suggests it the best of the bunch.
Anyone have any experience of Sony?
My 2 year old ambilight Phillips TV is the worst TV I have ever had the displeasure of using, it is so painfully slow at reacting to button pushes we often give up with it.
It will be replaced with a Sony oled in April
Anyone have any experience of Sony?
I did up there ^^^ 🙂
We bought the KD55KH. Really happy with it. Should have bought the 60 tho!
My 2 year old ambilight Phillips TV is the worst TV I have ever had the displeasure of using, it is so painfully slow at reacting to button pushes we often give up with it.
It will be replaced with a Sony oled in April
What operating system does it run? I just bought a 43pus8545 that runs android just before Christmas as it’s brilliant. When I was looking into which one to get most the reviews said not to get a Phillips that ran their own software.
Anyone have any experience of Sony?
We have a Sony A9. Sony are usually rated highly for picture but their Android TV OS was confusing and slow. Recent ones seem to have solved the speed problem but the next gen are using Google TV which I guess is an admission on Sony’s part of the current crap interface. Given the state of the TV market I don’t think anyone expects current models to get updated so if you’re going for a Sony Android TV don’t be surprised if the support life is measured in minutes. And given Google’s habit of dropping things I’m not sure that’s a good bet either. It’ll still be a good screen though.
I swapped the old Chromecast on our old plasma with a new Chromecast with Google TV just before Xmas and it's transformed it - it's a really good system.
(Been using a sonos beam and a pair of play 1s for about 18 months and that was a game changer also)
Rio,
Thanks for that ....
I was a bit perplexed as to why Sony have a stand alone system ... the android TV system is not a known to me ... the TV seem well specced but with some quirky (political) features
And also don’t support Freeview - but NowView. So I guess it will be LG time
LG just announced their new TVs so unless needed I think I’d be tempted to hold out for a bit of a discount on the current versions...
Obviously this is a never ending process if there’s always something new coming round the corner, but might not have to wait too long to get the same for less or the newest newness
I'd go LG or Philips and then whack a Roku stick in it. That way you get to avoid the majority of the crap UI that seems to be a requirement for all TV's from the last ten years. I've currently got an LED Toshiba that is great, but doesn't have HDMI Arc and my lovely Audio Pro A26 speakers do. Is it wrong to wish your TV would die?
What operating system does it run? I just bought a 43pus8545 that runs android just before Christmas as it’s brilliant. When I was looking into which one to get most the reviews said not to get a Phillips that ran their own software.
i don't actually know, but I have tried several times and by various ways to update the software but it says not available.
I guess I have one that is Phillips based, it really is terrible
then whack a Roku stick in it.
That's exactly what I did this weekend, I've toyed with spending silly money on an Oled Sony for a month now, basically just to get Disney plus on the TV and not have to connect a laptop via hdmi.
£50 for a roku stick has now drastically changed my mind.
The picture quality of the Phillips is actually pretty good and the Roku takes care of the software side so much better.
LG just announced their new TVs so unless needed I think I’d be tempted to hold out for a bit of a discount on the current versions…
Obviously this is a never ending process if there’s always something new coming round the corner, but might not have to wait too long to get the same for less or the newest newness
Thake a look at what apps/catch up services are most important for you as LG have the least of them all!
i don’t actually know, but I have tried several times and by various ways to update the software but it says not available.
I guess I have one that is Phillips based, it really is terrible
Sounds like its the Philips own then, you'd know if it was android. I'd recommend the new Chromecast with Google TV as a solution, I've just got one for my 10yr old dumb tv and its brilliant. The only thing Chromecast doesn't have is 4od and UKTV player but these can be cast from your phone.
I got an LG OLED 55” last year to replace my LG LCD. OLED picture is better than the LCD. Though in part because that LG LCD had very patchy backlighting even compared to an old Sony LCD.
I’d go OLED again, but if the choice were LCD + 5.1 sound or OLED I’d go for the LCD + sound.
amazed at how slim the OLED screen is above the control circuitry: slimmer than a phone.
All TV OSs I’ve used are variously poor. You can avoid them with a firestick or roku, not always better UX but more consistent and faster. However, if you’re using an AV receiver check that it will pass-thru all your 4K signals at the appropriate color bit-depth. How I laughed when I realised that the default for my Yamaha receiver was 4:2:0 or something and an incantation/RTFM step was needed to allow it to do anything more. Further laughter ensued when I realised my receiver didn’t pass-thru Dolby Vision, only UHD and HDR. Made me rethink my ‘ugh WebOS and that stupid “magic” remote’ stance.
Yeah well established that the LGs don't have the UK catch up services...
However, its not necessarily that important...
The smart functions seem to be doomed to being unsupported sooner than the lifespan of the display
Last time I bought a TV the advice was generally, get the least smart TV with the best display possible.
TBH if I could get a 60' OLED Monitor with good connectivity and HDMI connections and no 'smart' features or tuner then thats what I would rather have.
Then plug in an appropriate box for your needs.
If your spending >£1K on a TV a few £ on a streaming box is worth it, and can be replaced with the 'new' ones as and when required.
The smart functions seem to be doomed to being unsupported sooner than the lifespan of the display
That's why I went for a TV with android built in, its significantly better than most the others and in theory has the best chance of being supported for longer.
As a general rule, new TV's are announced around this time of year and they become available to buy in the spring. I know this having designed the artwork and promotional material for Panasonic for about the last 10 years or so, and I've just finished working on their latest one.
I've always personally fancied the Philips screens with ambilight, but I've heard about the interface woes before, which rathe puts me off.
Also, on the subject of demo films in stores (when you can watch them). This may be pointing out the obvious but take them with a pinch of salt. I know enough about how they're made to look beyond those and compare technical figures instead.
Hi
Thanks for that - can't really demo in-store ta the moment - so I don't have to put up with that part of salesmen bollocks!
Looks like the LG - as by all accounts the Sony Interface can be challenging....
Next question though.
Current TV has an old PS attached, and amazon fire TV, and and apple TV ( I know I don't need the last two, and could just go with the Apple TV but I prefer the Amazon Interface - Apple TV is a bit shit!). I also have a Humax freeveiw box.
I current attached all of theses to the TV via and AV Amp. Each having its own HAMI in slot of the amp. Hence the sound all comes directly from the individual units. The TV is not attached as a sound source.
Once I move to a smart TV - it has Amazon, Netflix etc loaded onto the Interface. I assume at this stage I use the TV as the sound source through my amp ( so make the TV the Prime HDMI in, and don't worry about pass-through). Is that correct?
I would still have the PS - but attach that directly to the TV HDMI and then again use that as the sound source.
Amazon Fire TV or Fire stick also comes with all the catch up channels - BBC, ITV, Four and Five ... is this still the case on the apps on say an LG TV?
Thanks all
Okay , just joined the 21st century and read all about ARC...
🙂
mates just asked me for a recommendation on a 50" tv, possibly stretching to 55. i pointed him to this thread but he cant afford the QLED/OLED type tv's, i think his budget is £500.
any recommendations at that price point?
cheers
I’m looking to buy a 50”/55” tv for a mate as her kid let slip that they’ve been watching her aging Philips with a melon sized orange/red glow in the centre of the screen for the previous few months, I’ll be getting it from richer sounds as they give you a 6year warranty, got a max of £500 I can spend.
Either This Hisense, or This LG, Or this LG.
Dunno what to go for as I’m not a tv person so I’ll prob call richer sounds tmorn and see what they say
Bloody expert at this me having spent most of last week doing this. Big deal with LG is no ITV/4/5 player. So
Do you want all the uk terrestrial players?
Or just Netflix, Disney, NowTV etc?
Do you want iPhone / iPad compatible AirPlay where you can cast your phone onto the screen?
Is council telly useful where you have an EPG ( online radio times) and/or search for a title like ‘top gear’ that will show and play live and catch up telly without the viewer having to load individual players and find stuff
Plus buying from Richer or John Lewis
Or Costco if you're a member (actually they're top of the list as the do 90 day trial).
got a 65" pannasonic OLED coming in the morning, good job i ordered it when i did as its just gone back up to 2k again, don't think i could have justified that much.
smart features don't matter to much to me, i'll use the tv for netflix but all my other viewing comes from sky.( i currently use the sky box for netflix but the new tv will be much better for it)
Scuttler: no idea?, she has Netflix, now tv (I think?) but iPad/iPhone connectivity would be a bonus, have to remember that one. Can’t really ask her to choose a tv as she wouldn’t entertain the idea of me buying one so I’ll need to surprise her with a delivery/purchase.
Big deal with LG is no ITV/4/5 player.
Is that a new thing? I've got them on mine.
Best idea is to purchase a set with a nice picture for the cheapest possible price and then buy good speakers and an Nvidia Shield. That’s my plan for the next tele. Have a new pair of AudioPro A26, saving for a Shield and waiting patiently for my TV to develop a fault so I can proclaim that it’s broken to Mrs F.
Is that a new thing? I’ve got them on mine.
It’s a 2020 thing. Lots of articles and ‘pissed off’ reviews on the web. Roku/streaming stick is one solution.
iPad/iPhone connectivity would be a bonus, have to remember that one.
Look for AirPlay compatibility (LG, Samsung, Sony I think but maybe not all models).
Have a gander at this https://www.avforums.com/threads/new-my-best-value-tvs-2020-2021-edition.2325951/
It’s a 2020 thing. Lots of articles and ‘pissed off’ reviews on the web. Roku/streaming stick is one solution.
Ah, mine is 2019. I don't think apps on a tv should be any kind of deal breaker, it's easy to just use a Chromecast
Cheers scuttler, having a look now