Panasonic TX55FZ802B OLED; good choice?

Panasonic TX55FZ802B OLED; good choice?

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caiss4

Original Poster:

1,865 posts

196 months

Wednesday 14th August 2019
quotequote all
Going TV buying tomorrow for the first time in 8 years so have been reading up the various threads on here plus other research.

The situation is that we have a 42" Panny LED TV in the lounge which is a bit on the small side for a viewing distance of 3.5-4m. I just couldn't justify upgrading until now.

Courtesy of one of the children leaving home and moving in to their own place we're going to be relieved of one of our TV's; a Sony LED in the kitchen.

So using the usual man maths/PH logic the TV to replace is the lounge one and migrate the current Panny to the kitchen!

Long story short I'd like to go OLED but keep the budget reasonable. At about £1300 this Panasonic seems to be a right. I realise it's an 'old' model and has been superceded but its spec is better for me as it has Freesat built-in whereas the new model is Freeview only. This will allow me to ditch one box in the lounge set up. (Note we are in an area where terrestrial TV is a no-no so have always been satellite based.)

Anyway I'm aware there are some knowledgeable folk on this forum so I'd appreciate any feedback, comments or alternative suggestions. Over to you guys.

PS: 55" is the max size that will fit.

Integroo

11,574 posts

84 months

Wednesday 14th August 2019
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I bought an OLED LG B8 for less than 900 quid about four months ago. I did quite a bit of digging, and it seemed to be class leading (well the C8 was, but the differences are apparently minimal). Don't know if the Panasonic is decent or not, but if you can still get an LG B8 for sub 900 quid I would go for that.

caiss4

Original Poster:

1,865 posts

196 months

Wednesday 14th August 2019
quotequote all
Integroo said:
I bought an OLED LG B8 for less than 900 quid about four months ago. I did quite a bit of digging, and it seemed to be class leading (well the C8 was, but the differences are apparently minimal). Don't know if the Panasonic is decent or not, but if you can still get an LG B8 for sub 900 quid I would go for that.
Just done a check and Richer Sounds have the B8 at £1100 and the Panny at £1200 so only £100 in it. I might head to them to see them side by side.

Zirconia

36,010 posts

283 months

Wednesday 14th August 2019
quotequote all
No dolby vision on this one?
Does HDR10, HDR+ and HLG

Seeing some good prices for Dolby vision ones.

Would that be something you would miss?


LG make all the OLED panels I think.

Edited by Zirconia on Wednesday 14th August 20:34

caiss4

Original Poster:

1,865 posts

196 months

Wednesday 14th August 2019
quotequote all
TBH, I wouldn't miss it as I don't think I've ever seen it!

My current TV's are only HD so all those HDR formats are new to me.

Is Dolby Vision something I should really be looking for?

Craig-3w8a4

2 posts

74 months

Wednesday 14th August 2019
quotequote all
I've had an 802B for the best part of a year, stunning TV, really happy with it, I previously had a Panasonic plasma. If you have Amazon Prime or Netflix 4K then you will be really impressed by the picture when streaming 4K HDR content. The upscaling of SKY HD looks decent as well, the ability to show proper blacks and bright whites/colours in the same scene is top notch. Only two negatives, the first, being really picky the motion is not absolutely perfect, say you have something which is still then suddenly moves there is a slight judder from the still to the movement, I think it's just a lag in the TV realising there is movement. It's a minor issue that most people won't even notice and it doesn't seem to happen all of the time. The second negative was that it developed a stuck pixel. I bought it from Costco and they got it sorted within a week. I think all the OLED panels are the same so this could have happened on any manufacturer OLED TV. Do you have a Costco card, I think they are selling the latest model for around £1300? Might be worth checking.

LuS1fer

41,085 posts

244 months

Wednesday 14th August 2019
quotequote all
The C8 is about £1300 but I saw the E8 for the same price in 55" which has better speakers.

Zirconia

36,010 posts

283 months

Wednesday 14th August 2019
quotequote all
caiss4 said:
TBH, I wouldn't miss it as I don't think I've ever seen it!

My current TV's are only HD so all those HDR formats are new to me.

Is Dolby Vision something I should really be looking for?
HDR. It is a way to show what the colours are really like. For want of a better description. It is process that 4k has kicked off.

HDR comes in a few flavours. HDR really a meaningless term unless you define it. Hence HDR10, HDR10+, HLG and Dolby Vision (latter a bit different but don't worry). Few more kicking around.

Usually the disk or streaming films via netflix and Apple will get a version HDR10 and Dolby Vision (latter becoming more common on disk but HDR10 was the only version for a few years).
HLG is for live, meaning BBC at the moment on their trial channel when available, iPlayer.

To get 4k disk obviously a new 4k blu ray player with the appropriate technologies (quite cheap now). Streaming needs a healthy broadband connection.


Edit
Don't click on this
https://www.flatpanelshd.com/focus.php?subaction=s...





Edited by Zirconia on Wednesday 14th August 21:04

Alex Z

1,082 posts

75 months

Wednesday 14th August 2019
quotequote all
The LG is the class leading “entry level” OLED.
If you can find a B8 or C8 then that’s a great choice but they have been replaced with the B9 and C9 so might be hard to locate and you’ll have to pay a bit more for the newer set.

caiss4

Original Poster:

1,865 posts

196 months

Wednesday 14th August 2019
quotequote all
Zirconia said:
HDR. It is a way to show what the colours are really like. For want of a better description. It is process that 4k has kicked off.

HDR comes in a few flavours. HDR really a meaningless term unless you define it. Hence HDR10, HDR10+, HLG and Dolby Vision (latter a bit different but don't worry). Few more kicking around.

Usually the disk or streaming films via netflix and Apple will get a version HDR10 and Dolby Vision (latter becoming more common on disk but HDR10 was the only version for a few years).
HLG is for live, meaning BBC at the moment on their trial channel when available, iPlayer.

To get 4k disk obviously a new 4k blu ray player with the appropriate technologies (quite cheap now). Streaming needs a healthy broadband connection.
Just proves how I've become detached from developments over the past few years! I've done a bit of research now on HDR formats so that combined with your info abovethumbup has put me in a far more informed position. Looks like I'll be in the market for a new Blu-ray player too biggrin

caiss4

Original Poster:

1,865 posts

196 months

Wednesday 14th August 2019
quotequote all
Alex Z said:
The LG is the class leading “entry level” OLED.
If you can find a B8 or C8 then that’s a great choice but they have been replaced with the B9 and C9 so might be hard to locate and you’ll have to pay a bit more for the newer set.
Yeah, my research tonight tallies with that so a similar situation with the Panasonic. Why do I feel budget creep coming on?

caiss4

Original Poster:

1,865 posts

196 months

Wednesday 14th August 2019
quotequote all
Zirconia said:
Edit
Don't click on this
https://www.flatpanelshd.com/focus.php?subaction=s...

Edited by Zirconia on Wednesday 14th August 21:04
Er, wow.....

Nonetheless very informative.

Zirconia

36,010 posts

283 months

Wednesday 14th August 2019
quotequote all
caiss4 said:
Just proves how I've become detached from developments over the past few years! I've done a bit of research now on HDR formats so that combined with your info abovethumbup has put me in a far more informed position. Looks like I'll be in the market for a new Blu-ray player too biggrin
I jumped from a CRT to this. Disk player, Panasonic 820

Alex Z

1,082 posts

75 months

Wednesday 14th August 2019
quotequote all
One more thing. There’s two versions of the B8 and probably other sets - PLA or SLC.
The screens are identical but one has better speakers. Can’t remember which way round despite owning one, but if there is a choice get the one with the rectangular stand instead of the crescent shaped one.

caiss4

Original Poster:

1,865 posts

196 months

Wednesday 14th August 2019
quotequote all
Alex Z said:
One more thing. There’s two versions of the B8 and probably other sets - PLA or SLC.
The screens are identical but one has better speakers. Can’t remember which way round despite owning one, but if there is a choice get the one with the rectangular stand instead of the crescent shaped one.
Not worried about the TV speakers as it will be running through a 5.1 AV system but thanks for the heads up.

Zirconia

36,010 posts

283 months

Thursday 15th August 2019
quotequote all
If you are going to run through an amp, and want the 4k, think about what can do what. HDMI ports will need to be 2.0 compliant with HDCP 2.2 (copyright stuff) I think. My amp is too old so I feed the 4k sources direct and used up the available ports on the TV. All the ports are 4k compliant. I feed my amp via the TV optical out link. 5.1 works just fine. But it means I do not get Dolby Atmos (their new sound process).

Also. IF you need to upgrade any HDMI leads and the runs are short, then don't get taken for a ride on the cost of the new leads. You already have cables then give them a go. Might work OK. If not then "Premium High Speed" and around £8. It will do exactly the same thing as one for £80 or a £1000.

https://www.hdmi.org/consumer/finding_right_cable....

Forget the "Ultra sample" in that link. Probably none actually made at the moment that are tested correctly and it is for 8k.

Certified means someone in the program has sent a sample in to get it checked against a recognised standard that the production line cables meet certain requirements. A non certified can work just as well. A certified cable can still fail. Whatever you buy, returns guarantee if faulty.

caiss4

Original Poster:

1,865 posts

196 months

Thursday 15th August 2019
quotequote all
You've just addressed the very questions i was going to be asking today. My amp is a Yamaha A2040 so whilst not old is not exactly fresh off the blocks. At the moment all sources are switched through the amp with the TV acting as a monitor but if it can't support some of these HDR formats (likely) then I'll have to do what you have done and input sources to the TV with the amp driven by the TV.

Zirconia

36,010 posts

283 months

Thursday 15th August 2019
quotequote all
Perhaps stock needs to be taken of what sources of 4k you can get IF you really want this new format.

Streaming needs a good broadband speed and unlimited. Usually on new TV's proprietary apps will do. Further down the line as the panel is less supported, then a 4k plug in device. Streaming is where I expect it to balloon. New services from Disney should be out soon for example. Many options to plug and play.

Disk needs a good player.

Few new leads to get going.

caiss4

Original Poster:

1,865 posts

196 months

Thursday 15th August 2019
quotequote all
Well the Yamaha supports 4K HDMI switching but I don't know whether that will include HDR formats.

As you say need to decide what 4K inputs we're likely to need immediately. Streaming is the most obvious but our BB can be a bit flakey (24Mb/s at best) so that will be a case of see how it goes.

As for broadcast we have a Humax PVR but once again if the sat RX decodes the HDR format then that predates HLG so would have to use the TV built in Freesat RX (Panasonic only).

Disc player will need to be replaced regardless. Right now not a priority.

Could be a quick decision - new TV equals new monitor providing conventional HD with a view to a bit of future-proofing as HDR content becomes more mainstream (particularly streamed)

Zirconia

36,010 posts

283 months

Thursday 15th August 2019
quotequote all
Personally, if it did the HDR formats you are likely to encounter at a future date, they all upscale very will (OLED,s) buy TV now and sort the rest out as required. But knowing there are options helps. I know someone who got a TV that could not do any HDR version but is unlikely to ever want it.

Only thing I would be absolutely certain on is the HDMI inputs will suit future expansion. For example some of the early 4k stuff could not do 4k through the HDMI ports.HDMI Version 2.0b (2.1 starting to appear) should be what you need with HDCP2.2 and able to set to wide colour gamut.

Handy lookup
https://www.rtings.com