LG Flat 4k OLED TV...curved only?
Discussion
After much deliberating I have decided to take the plunge, and buy an OLED TV. I don't care for the current fad/fashion/amazing innovation of curved screens, luckily LG do their 4K OLED screens in a flat version. I already knew that Curry's/PC world have some sort of exclusive deal on the flat version, but I didn't know that they are a special order, not available in store or to 'click and collect'. It wasn't until I visited three separate stores (each time being told the next one definitely had one in stock) that I found this out. At least I did get to actually see one, one of the shops had one on demo. Up until that point I had wondered if they actually existed. To buy one you have to order them from the web, and at the moment they have no stock, and are quoting a '2-4 week' lead time!
What's going on here, do LG not want the flat OLED screen promoted? Or does everyone who wants a high-end TV wants it curved, so the flat one is a very niche product?
My reasoning would be that if you want OLED you want the best possible image quality, so you want the flat screen. Right?
What's going on here, do LG not want the flat OLED screen promoted? Or does everyone who wants a high-end TV wants it curved, so the flat one is a very niche product?
My reasoning would be that if you want OLED you want the best possible image quality, so you want the flat screen. Right?
If anyone knows of any other retailer selling this model that would probably solve my problem. Neither John Lewis or Richer Sounds do. Or Crampton and Moore, or anyone else I can think of.
I believe LG and Curry's have entered into a deal wherby they are the only ones who can sell that particular model. Or maybe there is no demand for it so no one else sells it?
I believe LG and Curry's have entered into a deal wherby they are the only ones who can sell that particular model. Or maybe there is no demand for it so no one else sells it?
Edited by varsas on Sunday 22 November 22:34
This 'curved' thing is absolute marketing BS. On what level of physics does it make any viewing sense? In fact its a field full of nonsense - I have a UHD (aka, wrongly, '4k') camera but no one can really transmit what it records. I think YouTube may offer an 8Mbps stream of its 250Mbps recording 
It's all a bit early...and i say that as an early adopter that loves getting bitten!
It's all a bit early...and i say that as an early adopter that loves getting bitten!varsas said:
LG 55EF950V
HiWe can get these through a trade only supplier but they are currently showing as due to them in 2 to 4 days and POA. The curved ones (960) are showing as in stock but again POA.
My guess is that the availability is just due to manufacturing and the natural ebb and flow of new products. I'd just hold off for a week or two and see where they start popping up.
I'd definitely be avoiding the curved stuff! It looks appaling when off and only alright when off.
NorthDave said:
Hi
We can get these through a trade only supplier but they are currently showing as due to them in 2 to 4 days and POA. The curved ones (960) are showing as in stock but again POA.
My guess is that the availability is just due to manufacturing and the natural ebb and flow of new products. I'd just hold off for a week or two and see where they start popping up.
I'd definitely be avoiding the curved stuff! It looks appaling when off and only alright when off.
OK, thanks for the help, I might PM you if I get stuck. POA is a bit worrying though! We can get these through a trade only supplier but they are currently showing as due to them in 2 to 4 days and POA. The curved ones (960) are showing as in stock but again POA.
My guess is that the availability is just due to manufacturing and the natural ebb and flow of new products. I'd just hold off for a week or two and see where they start popping up.
I'd definitely be avoiding the curved stuff! It looks appaling when off and only alright when off.
Ken Figenus said:
This 'curved' thing is absolute marketing BS. On what level of physics does it make any viewing sense?
The edges of the screen are the same distance from your eye as the centre....? So, the effective aspect of the screen is flat rather than distorted. It's not a new 'fad'. IMAX screens are often slightly curved for exactly this reason, and they made wide curved cinemas from the 50's.
Once you get one, it simply becomes natural viewing.
To be totally honest, at first I thought it was a gimmick, but having actually viewed one, and used one IMHO unless you have a very good reason to, doing a special order for a flat screen on the basis of the thought that it is intrinsically better doesn't hold water.
Edited by JustinP1 on Monday 23 November 12:37
JustinP1 said:
The edges of the screen are the same distance from your eye as the centre....? So, the effective aspect of the screen is flat rather than distorted.
Doesn't that depend on where you are sitting relative to the screen? The minute you have 2 people watching the same TV then at least one won't be sitting in the "optimum" seat for viewing surely?But on that note, how does the angle of viewing compare to a flat screen?
JustinP1 said:
The edges of the screen are the same distance from your eye as the centre....? So, the effective aspect of the screen is flat rather than distorted.
For the one person that is in the "sweet spot". If you are off axis (as a lot of people have to be in a normal sized living room) it cannot be as good as a flat screen for the other viewersYou've both asked the same question.
It's actually better. My 'usual seat' in the lounge is approximately a 45 degree angle from the screen if that makes sense.
You lose a little on the edge closest to you, but you gain a lot more of the furthest edge as it is bent round towards you.
It's difficult to explain and imagine as everyone is used to viewing a flat screen and our eyes/perception compensates for the perspective effect on a flat screen - i.e. the parts of the screen that are further away from you are smaller to your eye.
On a curved set, from 45 degrees it actually acts a little to counteract this effect.
It's actually better. My 'usual seat' in the lounge is approximately a 45 degree angle from the screen if that makes sense.
You lose a little on the edge closest to you, but you gain a lot more of the furthest edge as it is bent round towards you.
It's difficult to explain and imagine as everyone is used to viewing a flat screen and our eyes/perception compensates for the perspective effect on a flat screen - i.e. the parts of the screen that are further away from you are smaller to your eye.
On a curved set, from 45 degrees it actually acts a little to counteract this effect.
JustinP1 said:
The edges of the screen are the same distance from your eye as the centre....? So, the effective aspect of the screen is flat rather than distorted.
It's not a new 'fad'. IMAX screens are often slightly curved for exactly this reason, and they made wide curved cinemas from the 50's.
Once you get one, it simply becomes natural viewing.
To be totally honest, at first I thought it was a gimmick, but having actually viewed one, and used one IMHO unless you have a very good reason to, doing a special order for a flat screen on the basis of the thought that it is intrinsically better doesn't hold water.
Interesting - what happens if your viewing position is offset from the dead centre though?It's not a new 'fad'. IMAX screens are often slightly curved for exactly this reason, and they made wide curved cinemas from the 50's.
Once you get one, it simply becomes natural viewing.
To be totally honest, at first I thought it was a gimmick, but having actually viewed one, and used one IMHO unless you have a very good reason to, doing a special order for a flat screen on the basis of the thought that it is intrinsically better doesn't hold water.
Edited by JustinP1 on Monday 23 November 12:37
Digitalize said:
Good choice on OLED, the more people that realise how much better it is than LCD/LED and buy them, the more widespread they'll get.
As for the curve, I'd probably go for one, as the idea is the image actually looks more natural.
I'd try and compare the two.
Thanks, I agree. Compared with an LCD it's like a veil has been removed from the screen, everything is so much clearer. For all the dicussion on here I notice no one has suggsted an LCD would be just as good. As for the curve, I'd probably go for one, as the idea is the image actually looks more natural.
I'd try and compare the two.
It's actually not just the curve that is different between the two models. The curved version has HDMI 2.0 sockets, while the slightly later flat version has 2.0a, meaning it will accept HDR signals from external sources. Since I plan to go for ultra HD BluRay to get my 4k content this is a big factor for me.
I know, I'm like some sort of caveman, watching films off a shiny disc on my self-emissive flat TV when everyone else is streaming house of cards on their curved LED’s!
Edited by varsas on Monday 23 November 19:40
https://www.avforums.com/review/lg-65ef950v-ef950-...
These guys think the equivalent Panasonic is better
These guys think the equivalent Panasonic is better
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