Hi all,
I currently have an LG 50PX990 plasma I bought after it's glowing reviews on AV Forums to replace a Pioneer 436XDE. I've regretted the decision since as the LG wasn't a patch on the pioneer but I had money at the time and wanted 3D and a larger screen. Anyhow, I'm reluctant to read the reviews after being burned previously and would prefer input from owners this time.
I'm after a 50 inch plus TV for tv watching (streamed from a Mac mini) and gaming (Xbox one at the moment with a view to a project Scorpio).
Cbeebies has a large viewing time on the TV so I'd prefer something that didn't end up with screen burn. I'd like the TV to last at least 3 years and have about 1K to spend.
I like the idea of an OLED but don't think the budget stretches to this.
I'd like 4K HDR for future proofing
I'd be interested to hear views from people in the same boat who are overwhelmingly pleased with their purchase
I'm after a tv owner who'd give an unreserved 5 stars to their set that puts a smile on their face when they watch it.
Thanks in advance.
I am one of those cannot watch an LCD for too long types, I just don't like them. There are more of us on the OLED and Plasma forums.
Gaming , how seriously do you game. That might be a deciding factor as LCDs are at the £1000 price point better for gaming by and large. To be expected really as, LCD/LED tech was invented for displaying computerised graphics.
Screen Burn: do not look at sets in Currys and judge any burn on them and treat that as an indicator of potential problems in a domestic environment. OLEDs have a correcting cycle that they use to avoid burn but require the set to be put in stand by to start the cycle. Not turned off at the mains like they do in Currys every night. I have had my 910v since October and no screen burn despite the fact that the other half likes channels that with banners and logos and, loves pausing TV for a couple of hours to do something else. Screen burn is probably only a concern if you game a lot and don't take burn into consideration i.e. pausing a game for hours without turning the TV off etc. It's pretty much not something you should be overly worried about.
Another fact is going OLED on your budget means forgoing UHD, 4k and HDR by buying a LG910V. The switch to 4k and HDR isn't happening with anything like the speed that SD to full HD did. Most content is subscription only, premium subs. Sport is fairly well catered for if you want to pay for BT TV and enjoy football. If you watch a lot of Netflix or Amazon prime then there is content there providing, you have a broadband connection that can cope with the data levels required. The same is true of blockbuster movies providing you want to pay out for UHD discs and a player now or in the near future. Notice that this could get very expensive, getting UHD content because, there is no BBC UHD channel in the pipeline or similar, almost all UHD content costs extra.
If however, you tastes lean more towards drama and broadcast TV, BBC Channel 4 etc then UHD content is pretty much non existent. In fact you would need a hubble sized telescope to see it coming
. None of the big major broadcast global dramas are being made in UHD from GOT to Poldark from the Walking Dead to Dr Who, even the new HBO one, Westworld. So for consumers like me, UHD isn't going to be something I need now or probably in the next few years, because it's not there. For you it may be different, so do consider that. Note this is from someone who bought the first full 1080p consumer plasma, I'm not a Luddite, UHD is the future just not the near future for some.
From what you have said, whether to go UHD or not will depend on whether you plan on upgrading to a UHD console. In which case go down the LCD route, or up the budget by 50% and hope you can pick up a LG B6 OLED in the easter sales for £1500.
My advice go to a Richer Sounds, they have their Tvs set up for SKY, so you can view your potential purchase with realistic sources, you can view SD and HD, as well as 4k and HDR when making your decision and, if you ask they will let you have the remotes to turn off all the processing junk like sharpness and motion. It might not be a proper AV demo but it will reflect how your TV behaves at home, unlike the big box stores that have those USB lets show off the TV and not it's flaws, videos running. Just remember showrooms are brightly lit, so a TV that looks dull won;t look dull when you get it home.
ETA another thought. any new TV will be a lot lighter in terms of weight than your plasma. they are easily knocked over, a fast moving cat could do it. So as you have Cbeebies watching kids you may need to look at your mounting/stand. I have my 910v mounted on a VESA cabinet mount to secure it place ( large bouncy Bull terrier) new Tvs are not the big weighty tanks that plasmas were