4K 55"

[alex.mcintosh]

I've been looking at 4K 55" TVs around £700 and narrowed it down to 2 - Samsung UE55NU8000 and LG 55SK8100PLA. Both have similar reviews but rtings.com is very specific about viewing angles saying that unless you're sitting right in front of the Samsung the LG is better. Our viewing angle means that we can't all sit directly in front of the TV but will this really matter? Any other general suggestions appreciated.

Thanks

[anonymous-user]

Up your budget and get OLED

[normalbloke]

One golden rule. Don’t buy any TV until you’ve seen it in the flesh. Preferably not in a brightly lit Currys etc lined up next to 50 others.

[Zetec-S]

User interface on the Samsung will (IMO) be better and more intuitive. The viewing angle differences might well be unnoticeable to the "untrained eye" (remember it's the job of people who spend all day reviewing different TV's to spot differences/issues like this). I'd go somewhere like Currys and have a quick look as a comparison.

Also, as above, up the budget and go OLED/QLED

[anonymous-user]

Zetec-S said:

User interface on the Samsung will (IMO) be better and more intuitive. The viewing angle differences might well be unnoticeable to the "untrained eye" (remember it's the job of people who spend all day reviewing different TV's to spot differences/issues like this). I'd go somewhere like Currys and have a quick look as a comparison.

Also, as above, up the budget and go OLED/QLED

QLED and OLED are not the same beast at all

Also go to Richer Sounds rather than Currys, the staff there know what they are talking about to a degree, Currys, do not

[768]

The Samsung has a VA panel, the LG IPS.

I bought a 43" Samsung recently which I knew was a bit 50/50 as to whether I'd get an IPS or a VA panel. I wanted the VA, I got the IPS, but it's adequate for a bedroom TV so I stuck with it.

I'd probably go with the Samsung and if the angle bothers you (some are unviewable not that far off central) send it back. But if you value a hassle free life over the last bit of picture quality, just go with the LG.

[normalbloke]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Something has changed at Richer Sounds, for the worse. I’ve been a customer for the last 15 years plus. Went in just after Crimbo, to buy a 75”+ screen and a chunk of Sonos kit, and had a less than stellar experience. Ended up dealing with Sevenoaks at Guildford, and it seemed nothing was too much trouble. It’s a shame, as I’ve always been the first to recommend RS.

[anonymous-user]

normalbloke said:

Something has changed at Richer Sounds, for the worse. I’ve been a customer for the last 15 years plus. Went in just after Crimbo, to buy a 75”+ screen and a chunk of Sonos kit, and had a less than stellar experience. Ended up dealing with Sevenoaks at Guildford, and it seemed nothing was too much trouble. It’s a shame, as I’ve always been the first to recommend RS.

Unfortunately I think it's very store dependant, luckily ours is good still but I have heard similar. Even the worst RS must be better than Curry's though?

Not sure how JL are with tech, could be an option

[anonymous-user]

Zetec-S said:

Also, as above, up the budget and go OLED/QLED

Yeah - really, truly, don't confuse QLED with OLED. Samsung are being tricky bds with this one.

OLED = organic pixels that are not backlit = 100% true blacks - makes a huge different to contrast (and blacks!)
QLED = quantum LED - basically "nicer" leds. That are backlit. Great for bright rooms. Will never touch OLED for blacks.

[davek_964]

We were browsing in Curry's the other day, and I was really surprised to see that the QLED was the same price as the OLED. I couldn't imagine why anybody would choose the QLED

[Zetec-S]

davek_964 said:

We were browsing in Curry's the other day, and I was really surprised to see that the QLED was the same price as the OLED. I couldn't imagine why anybody would choose the QLED

We were in a similar position to the OP just before Christmas, went out with a budget of about £600-700 to replace our old 37" plasma. Went to Currys as well... To be fair the guy was pretty knowledgeable, and guided us to the right section when he heard our budget/requirements. It was only us who continued down the aisle to the more expensive section "just to compare"

Ended up with a Samsung QE55Q7 55" QLED TV for about twice our original budget, but no regrets. Why did we choose QLED over OLED? Firstly the UI of the Samsung TV's was much better than other brands - far more intuitive and easy to use. Secondly, Samsung have the 1 cable solution so it's tidier and easier to connect things up without having to pull the TV out. Thirdly was price - it had the best picture quality (at least at the time) compared to other TV's at a similar price. If we'd stretched the budget a bit further then we'd have been more tempted by OLED, but for a 55" at around £1500 it was the best all rounder there was. Even better now, you can get for £1,199...

I take the point about blacks, but we tend to have some light on when watching TV so it's not so noticeable. If we were lucky enough to have a separate TV/cinema room then yes I'd go OLED, but for your average living room then QLED is perfectly fine and a big step up from normal LED.

Just my opinion

[davek_964]

Zetec-S said:

davek_964 said:

We were browsing in Curry's the other day, and I was really surprised to see that the QLED was the same price as the OLED. I couldn't imagine why anybody would choose the QLED

We were in a similar position to the OP just before Christmas, went out with a budget of about £600-700 to replace our old 37" plasma. Went to Currys as well... To be fair the guy was pretty knowledgeable, and guided us to the right section when he heard our budget/requirements. It was only us who continued down the aisle to the more expensive section "just to compare"

Ended up with a Samsung QE55Q7 55" QLED TV for about twice our original budget, but no regrets. Why did we choose QLED over OLED? Firstly the UI of the Samsung TV's was much better than other brands - far more intuitive and easy to use. Secondly, Samsung have the 1 cable solution so it's tidier and easier to connect things up without having to pull the TV out. Thirdly was price - it had the best picture quality (at least at the time) compared to other TV's at a similar price. If we'd stretched the budget a bit further then we'd have been more tempted by OLED, but for a 55" at around £1500 it was the best all rounder there was. Even better now, you can get for £1,199...

I take the point about blacks, but we tend to have some light on when watching TV so it's not so noticeable. If we were lucky enough to have a separate TV/cinema room then yes I'd go OLED, but for your average living room then QLED is perfectly fine and a big step up from normal LED.

Just my opinion

Fair enough - however, when I was looking the QLED and OLED were identical price for the same size. So it wasn't a case of stretching the budget to get OLED - it was simply one or the other for the same cost.
Funnily enough, the Curry's guy that was talking to the g/f was also singing the praises of the single cable solution - which I guess is a benefit if you don't have an amp.

[BRR]

I bought the NU8000 and am perfectly happy with it considering what it cost, the OLED's are better but I didn't think they're £500 better. The viewing angle make a bit of a difference to the image quality but not enough to bother me. It seems to be regarded as the best TV in this price range, though clearly not as good as OLED

[anonymous-user]

Zetec-S said:

davek_964 said:

We were browsing in Curry's the other day, and I was really surprised to see that the QLED was the same price as the OLED. I couldn't imagine why anybody would choose the QLED

We were in a similar position to the OP just before Christmas, went out with a budget of about £600-700 to replace our old 37" plasma. Went to Currys as well... To be fair the guy was pretty knowledgeable, and guided us to the right section when he heard our budget/requirements. It was only us who continued down the aisle to the more expensive section "just to compare"

Ended up with a Samsung QE55Q7 55" QLED TV for about twice our original budget, but no regrets. Why did we choose QLED over OLED? Firstly the UI of the Samsung TV's was much better than other brands - far more intuitive and easy to use. Secondly, Samsung have the 1 cable solution so it's tidier and easier to connect things up without having to pull the TV out. Thirdly was price - it had the best picture quality (at least at the time) compared to other TV's at a similar price. If we'd stretched the budget a bit further then we'd have been more tempted by OLED, but for a 55" at around £1500 it was the best all rounder there was. Even better now, you can get for £1,199...

I take the point about blacks, but we tend to have some light on when watching TV so it's not so noticeable. If we were lucky enough to have a separate TV/cinema room then yes I'd go OLED, but for your average living room then QLED is perfectly fine and a big step up from normal LED.

Just my opinion

You are absolutely correct - if you are not obsessed with blacks / watch a lot of dark room movies, then QLED is a great choice for a superb picture at less insane prices. You also don't have to be paranoid about image retention.

[alex.mcintosh]

I've actually gone with the LG. The viewing angle for those at the side isn't great so didn't want to take the risk with the Samsung. It arrives Thursday so fingers crossed.

We'd already upped the budget from £500 50" so no option for scope there.....

[chris285]

Basically QLED is better in a bright room with reflections as it is a brighter panel on the whole, if you are sat in front of the screen with few reflections the OLED wins hands down

I doubt the difference would have been that noticeable tbh

[sbk1972]

Great thread as I#'m in the same boat :-)

Do model day smart 4K TVs allow you to download apps from the android apps store ? I like the idea of down loading apps to connect to my tv / film storage array ?

Also due to a issue with location means that I will need viewing angle needs to doable from the sides and looking up i.e. I remember some tvs you need to be straight in front to see the best pic, from the side its all dark / black.

Im looking for a 50 /55 inch. Budget - £600.

Any suggestions ?

[Murph7355]

sbk1972 said:

...
Do model day smart 4K TVs allow you to download apps from the android apps store ? I like the idea of down loading apps to connect to my tv / film storage array ?...

No.

Android TV sets do, but you need to check the compatibility of the apps you want to use.

The others, AIUI, all have their own flavour of app stores and different coverage of apps (I've been looking too...will be going for the latest version of an Android TV set as and when I pull the trigger as Kodi is viable...as is Plex).

Annoyingly you'll likely find that some apps run on one but not the other - there isn't really a "standard" right now.

[Glosphil]

alex.mcintosh said:

I've actually gone with the LG. The viewing angle for those at the side isn't great so didn't want to take the risk with the Samsung. It arrives Thursday so fingers crossed.

We'd already upped the budget from £500 50" so no option for scope there.....

We bought the 49SK8100PLA just before Xmas on-line from RS for £599. Has a great remote control with on-screen curser. I really
like the TV's UI - a big improvement over our previous 2010 Sony.

[anonymous-user]

Interesting about the QLED I'd written them off but we don't watch in the dark really either and my current 40' Samsung has been superb

The price difference means I could squeeze a new soundbar in too