LG 55" OLED TVs

[charlesrshell]

I am starting to take a close look at the LG 55" OLED TVs to get ready for the up coming Black Friday sales. The LG web site is horrible to figure out the different models and also there is no compare option. Does anyone know what is the difference between the OLED55C7, B7, and E7 models? Just read in Consumer Reports that the C7 tested the best. Thanks for any help.

 

[harshness]

The CR articles (including the footnotes) sum up the differences pretty well. There isn't much to compare in the classic sense of measurements other than dimensions -- it is mostly a matter of does it or does it not support a particular feature. They all run LG's proprietary WebOS interface.

As always, the choice should come down to what looks best to you and for many that isn't always the top model (especially with the B7 in the mix).

You might check AVSForum in their Display Devices->OLED Tech and Flat Panel subforum. I've found the discussions of banding and vignetting among many OLED models to be most enlightening.

If I were forced to buy an LED at this point, it would probably be the Sony A1E. It is more money, but it is a lot more TV and the few nits that CR had could probably be worked out in firmware (if they haven't already been).

Generally speaking I wouldn't depend too heavily on high-end stuff being heavily discounted for Black Friday. Black Friday is more about loss leaders and stepping up.

 

[charlesrshell]

The CR articles (including the footnotes) sum up the differences pretty well. There isn't much to compare in the classic sense of measurements other than dimensions -- it is mostly a matter of does it or does it not support a particular feature. They all run LG's proprietary WebOS interface.

As always, the choice should come down to what looks best to you and for many that isn't always the top model (especially with the B7 in the mix).

You might check AVSForum in their Display Devices->OLED Tech and Flat Panel subforum. I've found the discussions of banding and vignetting among many OLED models to be most enlightening.

If I were forced to buy an LED at this point, it would probably be the Sony A1E. It is more money, but it is a lot more TV and the few nits that CR had could probably be worked out in firmware (if they haven't already been).

Generally speaking I wouldn't depend too heavily on high-end stuff being heavily discounted for Black Friday. Black Friday is more about loss leaders and stepping up.

Thanks harshness. I was surprised the 55" LG OLEDs have come down in price. Lots of good deals when I do a Google search. Is this a good place to purchase TVs? Value Electronics Home Page. What is this $600 calibration charge they can do? I don't understand how they can do a calibration unless the TV is in your home for it to be performed.

 

[navychop]

I agree on the calibration. For not much more, you can have it done in your home and you KNOW enough hours have been put on the set for it to have settled in with real world watching.

I was surprised yesterday to see in Wally World a $700 65" "4K" TV. Not OLED, but still, prices are coming down faster than I expected.

 

[charlesrshell]

I agree on the calibration. For not much more, you can have it done in your home and you KNOW enough hours have been put on the set for it to have settled in with real world watching.

I was surprised yesterday to see in Wally World a $700 65" "4K" TV. Not OLED, but still, prices are coming down faster than I expected.

For not much more! I think $600 to do a calibration is kind of high to me. I will call around and see what it would cost to have it done in the home. Why do TVs need calibration anyway? Shouldn't they come from the factory already set up or pretty close? I never have had a TV calibrated before. Maybe I have poor eyesight.

 

[navychop]

You can buy a calibration disc and do it yourself. Check/correct geometry and other problems.

 

[charlesrshell]

You can buy a calibration disc and do it yourself. Check/correct geometry and other problems.

But aren't TVs already calibrated from the factory? I guess they might get knocked out of wack during shipment.

 

[osu1991]

But aren't TVs already calibrated from the factory? I guess they might get knocked out of wack during shipment.

Every room and lighting condition is different. All devices output differently. Factory can’t account for those variables.

 

[navychop]

I think factories preset to "burner" mode, max brightness, so if set up in a garish display room, it'll look "good."

Not likely the conditions matching your home viewing.

 

[charlesrshell]

Every room and lighting condition is different. All devices output differently. Factory can’t account for those variables.

This company charges $600 for the calibration. I wonder if they come to your home to perform the calibration! Can't find much out about it in their web site. I guess I will call them and ask.
Value Electronics Home Page.

 

[charlesrshell]

I think factories preset to "burner" mode, max brightness, so if set up in a garish display room, it'll look "good."

Not likely the conditions matching your home viewing.

Yes but I have noticed that when you set some of the newer TVs up at home there is a selection for the store or at home mode.

 

[navychop]

New to me.

 

[osu1991]

They do have demo or home modes, even my old 50in 720p plasma has it. Check some of gadgtfreaks threads. He has had his OLEDs calibrated.

 

[charlesrshell]

They do have demo or home modes, even my old 50in 720p plasma has it. Check some of gadgtfreaks threads. He has had his OLEDs calibrated.

OK, thanks.

 

[harshness]

I was surprised the 55" LG OLEDs have come down in price.

I think they're competing in a size range that OLED buyers generally aren't interested in. 55" is probably too small to really take advantage of UHD resolutions. You may have noticed that CR didn't test many 55" models in favor of the 65" models. Certainly WCH and HDR are big deals but if you're going to include UHD, you need to go larger (unless your seated well within 7' of the screen).

I suspect there's also an issue with some of the models not being bright enough to catch one's attention versus the hot LEDs; especially when those hot LEDs are as less than half the money. Nobody wants to explain to all their rowdy friends how tons of dark greys make for a better image when the brighter TVs clearly pop with their favorite team's jerseys or sponsor graphics.

 

[harshness]

Every room and lighting condition is different. All devices output differently. Factory can’t account for those variables.

It is mostly down to variations in the display panels anymore. The rest of the stuff is pretty carefully controlled.

Contrary to what you might imagine, it appears that sources are probably more difficult to control than TVs. Many layman can see differences between UHD Blu-ray players and we know how variable TV providers can be in terms of their "special sauce" dialing in of content color and brightness contours.

 

[osu1991]

It is mostly down to variations in the display panels anymore. The rest of the stuff is pretty carefully controlled.

Contrary to what you might imagine, it appears that sources are probably more difficult to control than TVs. Many layman can see differences between UHD Blu-ray players and we know how variable TV providers can be in terms of their "special sauce" dialing in of content color and brightness contours.

Bad wording on my part. I meant output of the incoming sources to the displays.

 

[charlesrshell]

I think they're competing in a size range that OLED buyers generally aren't interested in. 55" is probably too small to really take advantage of UHD resolutions. You may have noticed that CR didn't test many 55" models in favor of the 65" models. Certainly WCH and HDR are big deals but if you're going to include UHD, you need to go larger (unless your seated well within 7' of the screen).

I suspect there's also an issue with some of the models not being bright enough to catch one's attention versus the hot LEDs; especially when those hot LEDs are as less than half the money. Nobody wants to explain to all their rowdy friends how tons of dark greys make for a better image when the brighter TVs clearly pop with their favorite team's jerseys or sponsor graphics.

Well, I would like to go with the 65" but I am dealing with a TV entertainment center that can only hold a 55." Wife sits about 7' back and I am around 10'. So I am going to stick to the 55". Do you have your Sony A1E wall mounted? I noticed that it has an easel stand and sits on an incline. I wonder how that works out sitting on an incline.

 

[fredp]

Charles, you really need to be on the AVS forums and specifically http://www.avsforum.com/forum/40-ol...017-lg-c7-b7-owners-thread-no-price-talk.html for info on the model of OLED you are looking at. I suspect you are already aware of that forum but in case you're not. A wealth of information.

 

[charlesrshell]

Charles, you really need to be on the AVS forums and specifically http://www.avsforum.com/forum/40-ol...017-lg-c7-b7-owners-thread-no-price-talk.html for info on the model of OLED you are looking at. I suspect you are already aware of that forum but in case you're not. A wealth of information.

Thanks