Topic: Should I wait for OLED TV's to trickle down in price.

[redman]

I've been toying with replacing an older TV Samsung DLP with a newer more energy efficient and larger TV.

After viewing and comparing some TV technology while at the CNE this summer I was taken by the OLED variants vs even the 4K UHD TV's

I was also floored at the current pricing for an OLED and hoping for a sudden drop to at least 4K price points.

Any thoughts from TV philes (or whatever audiophiles for TV peeps are called) appreciated.

Unlike conventional LCD TVs, which require back lighting, OLED TVs use organic chemicals to generate the light can be produced in very thin films.

Interesting related site:

http://www.computerworld.com/article/2607120/quantum-dot-technology-may-smother-oled-tvs-in-the-crib.html

http://www.tclusa.com/aboutus/

http://www.displaysearch.com/cps/rde/xchg/displaysearch/hs.xsl/index.asp

[quadzilla]

Short answer....All depends on how much extra money you have and your desire to be an early adopter.

I saw OLED last year and it looks amazing, especially the blacks which has always been tough for LCD to do. My issues (besides money) is the small size, my TV needs to be over 60 inches but I think they are working on larger sizes.

Might want to hit up TAVES next weekend (Oct 31 - Nov 2) and check out what they have on display and maybe catch this seminar.

http://taveshow.com/seminars/

Cutting Edge TV Technologies – 4K Ultra HD and OLED (Presented by Mike Osadciw of the CANADA HiFi Magazine)

It’s been over 10 years since high definition television entered our homes and amazed audiences. Has HDTV hit the plateau of image quality or is there a work in progress for even better images? Canada HiFi’s Video Contributor Mike Osadciw discusses the new cutting edge TV technologies, many of which are present at TAVES! Does an Ultra HD 2160p TV and the newest OLED video technology offer a better viewing experience for the consumer? What are the key differences between these two technologies? How will current Blu-rays and streamed content look on these televisions? Should we embrace them now or wait? Join in on the discussion and take a look at the Ultra HD and OLED displays on the TAVES floor. Which technology is best for you?

Side note: If you do go to the show check out Dr. Mark Waldrep's (AIX Records) presentation and buy some of the music he produced. I bought the sampler last year and it was incredible for quality, some of the best I've heard. He also does 3 sound mixes, 2 ch, 7ch stage and 7ch audience.

I've also been reading that they are trying to make better LCD.

http://www.avsforum.com/forum/166-lcd-flat-panel-displays/1726850-panasonic-tc-65ax900a-revolutionary-led-lcd-uhdtv.html

Btw, which Samsung DLP do you have. I have the 61A750 (LED model) and still love the picture quality. Something about the 'film like' presentation make me happy its still working perfectly.

[JG20]

Since there's very little native 4k content, I would wait.  At my home theatre, I sit about 11' away from a 106" screen and bluray material (true 1080p, nothing upscaled) looks awesome.  Nice and crisp with no pixelation.  I don't know off hand the exact numbers but you would have to sit pretty close to a large display to notice a difference between 1080p and 4k and most people sit a fairly good distance from their TVs.

At Bay Bloor Radio, they have a large 4k display and the detail was amazing when you see it up close but when sitting at normal viewing distance, you don't notice much difference from 1080p.

[quadzilla]

^^^ I don't think OLED has any 4K displays yet.

[mwqa]

I'd wait a couple of years. As with any new technology, the finer points may not be sorted out.

For example, Ultra-HD TVs may not actually be 4K (4096 x 2160 pixels). They may 'only' be 3840 x 2160 pixels.

https://www.avforums.com/article/hd-ready-full-hd-4k-ultra-hd-explained-what-does-it-all-mean.10637

By the way, AV Forums is an excellent site for TV reviews and discussion.

I don't think OLED has any 4K displays yet.

LG are the only ones selling true 4K panels and only up to 55" sizes, IIRC.

[quadzilla]

I don't think OLED has any 4K displays yet.

LG are the only ones selling true 4K panels and only up to 55" sizes, IIRC.

You are right but its actually 65" (3840 x 2160).

http://www.lg.com/us/oled-tvs

[mwqa]

Ah, so no one has 4096 x 2160 pixels (rereading the article, this seems to only be a cinema standard).

[JG20]

^^^ I don't think OLED has any 4K displays yet.

Sorry, I thought all OLEDs were 4K 

[mwqa]

^^^ I don't think OLED has any 4K displays yet.

Sorry, I thought all OLEDs were 4K 

I think you are right JG20. OLEDs are 4K.

OLEDs are 3840 x 2160 pixels per quad's link above, which seems to be what people are calling 4K / UHD these days.

I was confused because the 4K 'standard' mentioned in the article is 4096 x 2160 pixels, but at this point only cinemas seem to follow that standard.

Hope this clarifies things.

[quadzilla]

Only the 65" is 4K all the other sizes are 1080p.

[mwqa]

^^^ sneaky buggers. 

[JG20]

You'd have to be sitting less than 5' from a 50" tv to notice a diff between 1080p and 4k.  Who sits that close?  Makes sense to only have 4k for bigger tvs.

[quadzilla]

Another review...

http://www.avsforum.com/forum/40-oled-technology-flat-panels-general/1734497-consumer-reports-lg-55ec9300-isn-t-best-tv-we-ve-ever-tested.html

Love that picture of the two tvs showing black levels.

Worth reading through the thread also, lots of good comments are made.

[redman]

My old TV DLP technology has been going through 1 bulb per year and shutting off once a night after a couple of hours of use.
I managed with that and tried to hold out for OLED or maybe even Quantum Dot as I was not content with LED blacks, artifacting and side angle views.
Last week my ATSC tuner konged out and the writing seemed like it was on the wall, so a decision was made to get a new TV which comes with a built in tuner.

After due diligence I managed to find and acquire a Panasonic 60" plasma model TCP60ST60. Since OLED pricing is still high.
This is the last of the Plasma's on the market with the latest tech. Thin bezel 3D (will never use) and smart TV.
Some may think that Plasma is outdated but at 600 mhz vs the best 240 mhz LED I accept the viewing challenge especially with action high speed moving scenes.
The depth of black (hard to reproduce) is outstanding and colour depth is amazing.
So far I'm liking my latest toy (as my wife refers to it).

Two reviews here :
1) http://www.cnet.com/products/panasonic-tc-p60st60/
2) http://reviews.plasmatvbuyingguide.com/panasonic-plasma-tv/panasonic-tcp60st60.html

2015 TV buying guide. http://www.cnet.com/topics/tvs/buying-guide/

[quadzilla]

Such an awesome TV and like you, I also think plasma has a nicer picture than LCD. Great find!

[JG20]

Congrats!  It's really too bad more people don't realize how much better a plasma can be compared to LCD/LED.

[ktm525]

Good buy! After checking out OLEDs and the crazy prices I scrounged around until I found a Samsung PNF8500 on a blowout sale. The display model on the wall put all the fancy 4ks to shame when then were displaying a live soccer match.

If you can find I still recommend:

 http://www.engadget.com/products/samsung/f8500-series/


Sony at the time had a very sneaky setup. They were displaying their new 4k TVs will static sport shots. No movement. Once I saw the live game I knew why. The blurring was awful.

 

[redman]

 ^^^
^^^^
 A good buy. Shame that Plasma TV's left the market. The latest production models were really good Tv's with thin bezels.

[KD]

^^^^ Nice find indeed!  I have no plans on upgrading from my Pani plasma any time soon.  I can't remember the last time I watched anything in 3D though. 

[mwqa]

Nice! 

Plasma all the way for me, too. I'll wait until the OLED or the next tech becomes established before replacing my Pani plasma (a 2010 model).