LG B9 / C9 alternative, smaller TV required

[gashart]

So, with a bit of down time recently been researching for a replacement of our old Panasonic plasma TV, with a bit of digging around on here and other forums kind of decided the LG OLEG range was a good buy, either the older B/ C 8 or this years B / C 9 in 55 size. But made a complete boo boo with regards sizing and have just realised the 55 is a lot larger than I realised and won't fit into the side alcove of our 1940's house where it must go, (wife pleasing). So I need to now find an alternative now with a max width of 114cm, (don't know what that equates to in "s TV size, may be 47" - 50"???), so any suggestions please?? Oh and it will be wall mounted on a swivel mount if that makes any difference, can't see it will, but thought I'd mention it.

[Zirconia]

My 55 is a few cm over 114 but no OLEDS under 55. Tv stand in front of alcove an option? Keeps the tv eye height sat on sofa.

[gashart]

Zirconia said:

My 55 is a few cm over 114 but no OLEDS under 55. Tv stand in front of alcove an option? Keeps the tv eye height sat on sofa.

What model is that, it might work as we have the TV at an angle anyhow?

Didn't realise that about OLED's being no smaller than 55", needs to be wall mounted as I have a small HIFI unit underneath for various DVD, FreeSat Recorder and PS4 boxes and LP player on top, with active speakers either side on stands.

If OLED isn't available, what the next best tech, considering we are used to the Panasonic plasma picture?

[S7Paul]

Depends how urgently you need it. LG are supposed be bringing out an OLED TV in the 48/49" range in 2020, so it might be worth waiting. That's what I'm doing, as I'm in a similar situation to you.

[Zirconia]

gashart said:

What model is that, it might work as we have the TV at an angle anyhow?

Didn't realise that about OLED's being no smaller than 55", needs to be wall mounted as I have a small HIFI unit underneath for various DVD, FreeSat Recorder and PS4 boxes and LP player on top, with active speakers either side on stands.

If OLED isn't available, what the next best tech, considering we are used to the Panasonic plasma picture?

Just checked mine, 123 cm, it was a quick check earlier. Measured properly this time. B9 same says web site. Sorry for the bum steer.

I have one of the earlier ones no longer sold but I cannot see the bezel has got any thicker. They are insanely thin. The dimensions are on the LG web site.

https://www.lg.com/uk/tvs/lg-OLED55B9PLA

Get some cardboard and cut to the same size or sticky together a box or two and use that as a guide?


Best tech is whatever anyone is happy with. For me the black on an OLED are the clincher. That gives the best picture, I don't get into nits when there is a pure black involved.

As pointed out above though, smaller sizes in the pipe line though I wasn't sure when.

[gashart]

Thanks for the 2 replies above, yep not in desperate rush so might just see if LG do launch a smaller sized OLED TV, quite happy with the Pany picture at the moment, it's just not a smart TV and doesn't have a digital audio output, which are 2 things I want now, as then all external devices can then be HDMI ed to the TV and then just one audio out to the KEF LS50W's speakers, and get rid of another box, the Roku 3, as I've already got rid of all my pre / power amps / CD player etc and floor mount speakers.

[272BHP]

Surely it is always better to add 'smartness' via a device rather than having it integrated?

Got a fire tv stick and a cube recently and they are very impressive and so much smarter and more fluid than the tech in the TV currently.

[Phooey]

The best (value for money) 49" is probably the Samsung QLED QE49Q70R - can now be had for £749. 109cm wide. I bought the model down from this (can't remember exact model-name) 6 months ago for my daughters room and it's quite good - interface / OS is very good, and pic seems OK for the money. I'd of thought the Q70R would be better again

[Zirconia]

272BHP said:

Surely it is always better to add 'smartness' via a device rather than having it integrated?

Got a fire tv stick and a cube recently and they are very impressive and so much smarter and more fluid than the tech in the TV currently.

I would hope that a premium TV would come all smart stuff working but certainly wouldn't expect it to last. I would be making sure that all connectivity is HDMI2.1 at least from now on and HDCP2.2 on all inputs.

My LG was pretty nifty but two apps had issues from day 1 (OS is still good and fast), Netflix was fine as long as you didn't want HDR and iPlayer studio shows such as panel games still stutter. Films and drama are all OK for some reason. The external boxes sorted those out. It is coming on 5 years old and I expect the new TV's won't suffer what I did but support will end at some point.

Interestingly Apple and BT are now putting apps out onto certain brands with some functionality to get around the box.

[gashart]

Phooey said:

The best (value for money) 49" is probably the Samsung QLED QE49Q70R - can now be had for £749. 109cm wide. I bought the model down from this (can't remember exact model-name) 6 months ago for my daughters room and it's quite good - interface / OS is very good, and pic seems OK for the money. I'd of thought the Q70R would be better again

Thanks for the recommendation, I'll look into the Samsung. With regards on board apps, I would also certainly hope as well that a premium TV these days the apps would be fully functional from the off and long term, but will always have the Roku 3 to fall back on if not. But really trying to get rid off as many boxes as possible to make the area cleaner, less cables and make it wife friendlier operation wise, again fewer remotes would go down really well. Personally if any of the TV's came with FreeSat with recorder I'd be all over that as well and get rid of another box, but that doesn't look possible at all unfortunately.

[JackReacher]

I'm also looking for a similar sized TV for our main lounge, and limited to 49-50" by the space available. I have a LG OLED in a dedicated TV/film room so this doesn't need to be as good, but still want something with a good picture.

The Sony KD49XG9005 seems to get the best write up in terms of picture quality, and in store it did look excellent. My main concern is the Android operating system which apparently is still not that great. I'd really like to be able to use Neflix/Amazon Prime/iplayer etc through the TV and not through a firestick if possible, but worried the Sony won't be that good. The Samsung already mentioned is the only other competitor, which seems to have a better operating system.

Or, do I wait and see if LG/Panasonic bring out a smaller OLED next year?

[LocoBlade]

48" LG OLEDs have been confirmed by an LG press release

In addition, LG Display will add another size of OLED TV display to its lineup of 55-inch, 65-inch, 77-inch, and 88-inch OLED TV displays, expanding consumer options by unveiling a 48-inch OLED TV display for the first time in the world.

https://www.flatpanelshd.com/news.php?subaction=sh...

[gizlaroc]

Find yourself a Sony 49XE9005 or 49XF9005.

The last decent sub 50" model made imho.

The XF has a slightly faster processor or more ram as the menus are a bit quicker.

Picture quality is excellent, I have an XE and an XF and also an LG B7 Oled, the Sony is the better set in many ways and although there are times when the OLED excels I genuinely think that the LCD is the better overall ownership experience.

The XG9005 is a step backward, so I would definitely try and find a used XE/F9005, expect to pay around £500 for it.

[gizlaroc]

I forgot to say, I really like the Android OS, now it is on Oreo it is pretty good imho. Nice to be able to add apps etc. too.

I don't use an aerial and therefore don't use Youview or whatever it is called? But that apparently is what slows the OS down a smidge.

[MiniMan64]

I posted this in another thread, I’ve got the same alcove constrictions.

The LG OLED 48 sounds interesting though, wonder how much.....

MiniMan64 said:

Was going to start a new thread but this seems about right! I’m in the market for a 49 smart telly, I’m limited by a 113cm alcove!

Are Sony really better than the Korean alternatives? We bought a 32” LG for the kitchen last year that was pretty good and the wife is quite keen on having the same brand in the living room (no idea why!)

What about these options?

https://www.richersounds.com/tv-projectors/all-tvs...

https://www.richersounds.com/tv-projectors/all-tvs...

What’s the £200 difference for? Nanocell?

Anyone recommend better at this size?

While we’re at it, any experience of pausing/recording on SMART tellys without an extra box? (we’re trying to downsize!!)

[Sheepshanks]

gizlaroc said:

I forgot to say, I really like the Android OS, now it is on Oreo it is pretty good imho. Nice to be able to add apps etc. too.

I don't use an aerial and therefore don't use Youview or whatever it is called? But that apparently is what slows the OS down a smidge.

YouView can be disabled/deleted on the Sony Androids, and it reverts to Freeview, but you lose the intergration with catch-up services - it's quite handy to be able to restart the news etc from the beginning with a single button press.

[JackReacher]

gizlaroc said:

The XG9005 is a step backward, so I would definitely try and find a used XE/F9005, expect to pay around £500 for it.

Could you expand on why it's a step backwards? Saw a new XF 49 in John Lewis the other day discounted, but only £20 less than the XG 49 so didnt seem worth it.

[pincher]

S7Paul said:

Depends how urgently you need it. LG are supposed be bringing out an OLED TV in the 48/49" range in 2020, so it might be worth waiting. That's what I'm doing, as I'm in a similar situation to you.

I've always wondered why the smallest OLED was 55" - I was looking at the LGs recently but I think they are just slightly too big for my living room configuration, so it's great news that they are bringing out something slightly smaller!

[JackReacher]

I think I might wait for a smaller OLED, but does LED perform better in a bright room?

[gizlaroc]

JackReacher said:

Could you expand on why it's a step backwards? Saw a new XF 49 in John Lewis the other day discounted, but only £20 less than the XG 49 so didnt seem worth it.

The local dimming works much better on the XE and XF models. On the XG it is no where near as controlled, on some scenes it even managed to give blooming into the black bars which is really rather poor.
The overall black levels in a normally lit sitting room at night, so a two or three lamps not lights out, were noticeably behind my XE9005.

The XE/XF is rather special, especially in 49" version, the 55" starts to show a few more LCD traits, but the 49 is a gem imho.

I personally couldn't live with the XG after having years with Panny pro plasmas, Pioneer Kuros and a few years now of OLED, the XE/XF however just does everything a bit better, and that bit better makes all the difference.

In all honesty if I was only allowed to keep one set, I would probably keep the XE or XF9005 and let the OLED go.


There are some caveats with that of course, it is a VA lcd panel, so you need to be sat facing pretty much head on, if you are off to the side it looks crap, but in an alcove I guess it will always be angled at the sofa anyway, if you do watch TV in a pitch black room buy an OLED.
But overall the image from the Sony I prefer, motion is much nicer, the ability to do proper bright white can't be underestimated, and the colours on the Sony are nicer and more natural, plus I do watch a lot in the day and the Sony handles that really well, where as the OLED can struggle when the room is bright.

The only area the OLED wins is on the very rare scene where you have complete black and then a bright small object, the ability to turn off every pixel is impressive, but they are so few and far between I don't worry.
HDR is better on the OLED too, but I feel the Sony when set up well looks more like HDR anyway, it has more punch and to me looks more like real life, and 90% of my viewing is not HDR anyway, or if it is, is from Netflix where the difference is subtle at best.

The other issue with OLED is the wear rate. The red pixels wear far quicker than the others. After 2-3 years I do start to get screen burn. I know it is not screen burn and just the red phosphors are simply worn more, but easier to explain.
So if you watch Sky News or something with ticker tape that is red of yellow it will leave you with an image retention on screen.
I just accept this as I there hasn't been a 55" LCD to compare with OLED, however, the Samsung Q9FN (not the newer Q90R) I think probably now does. But it is what it is, part and parcel of OLED tech.