4k TV recommendation
Discussion
Looking to get a new 4K TV - ideally 55" and under £500 - we're going Sky (after many, many years of C&W/ntlworld/Virgin) and want to make the most of the UHD content - and our trusty 42" Panasonic plasma is only HD.
There seems to be a huge choice and to be quite honest it's a bit bewildering - just after a decent picture (mainly for watching sport/F1)
Any recommendations?
There seems to be a huge choice and to be quite honest it's a bit bewildering - just after a decent picture (mainly for watching sport/F1)
Any recommendations?
Alucidnation said:
Panasonic.
Any one in particular?GregK2 said:
This looks decent. A hair over budget.
https://shop.bt.com/products/samsung-55--ru8000-dy...
https://shop.bt.com/products/samsung-55--ru8000-dy...
The Mad Monk said:
According to Which?
LG 55UM7510PLA £459.00
Thanks, will have a look at themLG 55UM7510PLA £459.00
mgv8 said:
4K is ok but HDR (or the like) is what you really what to look out for. Our eye see colour more then detail.
Think that's the problem at this price point, HDR is never gonna be the greatestphil-sti said:
OLED.
Under £500?Does Sky actually broadcast in 4k? I've got it into my head that you need a Sky Q 2Tb box and even then you need to download 4k content to view? Perhaps sports is broadcast 4k live?
For me Netflix and Prime is better value for 4k.
I have just recently bought a 4k Panasonic OLED refurb from eBay. As already mentioned, the 4k is nice, but it's the HDR that makes the difference.
For me Netflix and Prime is better value for 4k.
I have just recently bought a 4k Panasonic OLED refurb from eBay. As already mentioned, the 4k is nice, but it's the HDR that makes the difference.
bernie_eccle said:
Does Sky actually broadcast in 4k? I've got it into my head that you need a Sky Q 2Tb box and even then you need to download 4k content to view? Perhaps sports is broadcast 4k live?
Yes, the majority of content is downloaded but sports and F1 are live - I've got the SKy Q 1TB UHD boxLook for a ex display or second hand Sony XE9005 or XF9005.
Best LCDs out there under £2000 with the exception of the 2018/19 Samsung Q9FN.
John Lewis were selling the 55XF9005 down to £799 and then had a £125 cash back voucher which brought it down to £675 or so.
I would not be swapping a plasma for a sub £500 LCD, the issue you have is nearly all the 4k you will watch will be HDR, a £500 LCD will tend to be an IPS panel that can't do black properly with normal stuff, HDR with the backlight set to 100 will make it look awful.
Even the Sony with it local dimming struggles with some HDR content, all LCDs do compared to OLED, so I tend to watch a lot of stuff on Netflix through the Sky box where there is no HDR if watching on the LCD. Not all, some looks great, but stuff with lots of darker scenes looks awful.
I bought a Samsung Q7 over xmas, well I bought the Samsung Qled Frame first, terrible, swapped for the Q7 with local dimming, still terrible. So went and bought another Sony XF9005. It is on a different league.
I would also look on avforums for used OLEDs, many upgrade every year or two and many are falling into the £5-600 mark, often with 3 years warranty left on them.
With a £500 budget you are so near to getting something excellent, but could end up with a pile of s
te that is worse than you plasma, by a long margin.
Resolution means sod all, from my viewing distance of around 3m or so there is very little in it between watching in 4k or watching the same content on the Sky mini box at 1080, on the 55" anyway. When you get to 65" it starts to become a little more obvious.
HDR is what impresses most, but then only if the set can do HDR properly, and IMHO most LCDs can't.
Best LCDs out there under £2000 with the exception of the 2018/19 Samsung Q9FN.
John Lewis were selling the 55XF9005 down to £799 and then had a £125 cash back voucher which brought it down to £675 or so.
I would not be swapping a plasma for a sub £500 LCD, the issue you have is nearly all the 4k you will watch will be HDR, a £500 LCD will tend to be an IPS panel that can't do black properly with normal stuff, HDR with the backlight set to 100 will make it look awful.
Even the Sony with it local dimming struggles with some HDR content, all LCDs do compared to OLED, so I tend to watch a lot of stuff on Netflix through the Sky box where there is no HDR if watching on the LCD. Not all, some looks great, but stuff with lots of darker scenes looks awful.
I bought a Samsung Q7 over xmas, well I bought the Samsung Qled Frame first, terrible, swapped for the Q7 with local dimming, still terrible. So went and bought another Sony XF9005. It is on a different league.
I would also look on avforums for used OLEDs, many upgrade every year or two and many are falling into the £5-600 mark, often with 3 years warranty left on them.
With a £500 budget you are so near to getting something excellent, but could end up with a pile of s
te that is worse than you plasma, by a long margin. Resolution means sod all, from my viewing distance of around 3m or so there is very little in it between watching in 4k or watching the same content on the Sky mini box at 1080, on the 55" anyway. When you get to 65" it starts to become a little more obvious.
HDR is what impresses most, but then only if the set can do HDR properly, and IMHO most LCDs can't.
gizlaroc, thank you for your really informative post, lots of food for thought. I've probably been suckered in by all the 4K hype, you're right about buying at this price point there's so much choice (and dross!).
Viewing distance is 3-4m, our current telly is a Panasonic TX-P42G10B, bought second-hand some time ago but still in good nick - maybe I'll wait until OLED becomes more affordable
Viewing distance is 3-4m, our current telly is a Panasonic TX-P42G10B, bought second-hand some time ago but still in good nick - maybe I'll wait until OLED becomes more affordable
PeteH66 said:
gizlaroc, thank you for your really informative post, lots of food for thought. I've probably been suckered in by all the 4K hype, you're right about buying at this price point there's so much choice (and dross!).
Viewing distance is 3-4m, our current telly is a Panasonic TX-P42G10B, bought second-hand some time ago but still in good nick - maybe I'll wait until OLED becomes more affordable
Definitely worth keeping an eye on AVF as gizlaroc says, some real bargains if you can make the logistics work (unfortunately I'm in the back of beyond and getting a TV transported here is more than some of the bargains! There's a 2013 55" Sony that was top of the range back then up for £200 (deal was agreed for collection at £175) - I'm more than happy with 1080p, but not so much the £227 to ship it here Viewing distance is 3-4m, our current telly is a Panasonic TX-P42G10B, bought second-hand some time ago but still in good nick - maybe I'll wait until OLED becomes more affordable
A 55" LG OLED went the other day for £460 so it is certainly doable for your budget.
Edited by stevoknevo on Friday 24th January 22:59
gizlaroc said:
Look for a ex display or second hand Sony XE9005 or XF9005.
I'd suggest the OP tries using one of these before committing. People seem to like the picture, but the interface/speed was so dire I couldn't live with one.My usage is also almost exclusively during daylight, where black levels become largely irrelevant.
Really is only one arbiter for the panel you need and that is yourself. Peoples eye sight differ. I have seen good detail on a non HDR panels from further that the charts advise, detail is important and your brain is part of the mix. Personally I would get a new panel, unless there is a cast iron warranty that is transferable to the new owner with second hand and then I would want to spend an hour or more watching a secondhand panel going through all the options.
Distance is divisive now as most panels are 4k, we re arranged the room to get in the sweet spot. If you are stuck at 3 meters go look at a few in a shop at that distance.
Distance is divisive now as most panels are 4k, we re arranged the room to get in the sweet spot. If you are stuck at 3 meters go look at a few in a shop at that distance.
https://www.richersounds.com/lg-55sm8600pla.html
A bit over but not by much.
I've had mine for a couple of months and it's bloody great for the money.
I use it for Freesat, all the usual streaming and Plex. The UI is brilliant, the picture on a Netflix Dolby vision stream is amazing (The Crown looked very regal).
The only negative it the SD broadcast can look a bit below par, bit they will compared to 4k. The only channel that doesn't do HD is ch4 but the 4od picture is great so it's no bother.
I've got a similarly priced 55" Samsung in the other room, it's also great but the LG just pips it for picture quality and the UI is better.
A bit over but not by much.
I've had mine for a couple of months and it's bloody great for the money.
I use it for Freesat, all the usual streaming and Plex. The UI is brilliant, the picture on a Netflix Dolby vision stream is amazing (The Crown looked very regal).
The only negative it the SD broadcast can look a bit below par, bit they will compared to 4k. The only channel that doesn't do HD is ch4 but the 4od picture is great so it's no bother.
I've got a similarly priced 55" Samsung in the other room, it's also great but the LG just pips it for picture quality and the UI is better.
SD will be poor on any decent sized panel if you are tuned into it. I expect many watch SD and don't twig what the difference is. Magic wand time. Poof! all SD turned off.
It will be interesting when the new LG plant finally starts chucking out panels, hoping prices will see a drop and the smaller OLEDS hitting the shops soon as well.
It will be interesting when the new LG plant finally starts chucking out panels, hoping prices will see a drop and the smaller OLEDS hitting the shops soon as well.
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