Kicking The Tires On A New TV...Advice Needed

[Rodster]

I stopped by a local Target and they had the Black Friday 55" LG 4K w/HDR+ TV's at $498 so that got my attention. Then there were the Samsung 4K's w/o HDR and nothing came close to the Samsung's in picture clarity, color, image sharpness. Looking at the Samsung's was like looking out the window. The few Vizio's they had looked nice but nowhere near the Samsung's so it's going to be Samsung 4K with HDR.

[dbdynsty25]

I stopped by a local Target and they had the Black Friday 55" LG 4K w/HDR+ TV's at $498 so that got my attention. Then there were the Samsung 4K's w/o HDR and nothing came close to the Samsung's in picture clarity, color, image sharpness. Looking at the Samsung's was like looking out the window. The few Vizio's they had looked nice but nowhere near the Samsung's so it's going to be Samsung 4K with HDR.

Irregardless of model series, I'm fully on the Samsung bandwagon now that they are not 200% more expensive than Vizios...who I was formerly on board with fully. The price gap between manufacturers is less and less now, so now it's a lot easier to pick the big boys instead of the smaller startups (tho Vizio is no longer a smaller startup).

I think I have that LG 4K tv as my "football" tv that I've got on a stand that I move around from the main room to the patio for outside BBQ viewing (hello Southern California winter)...and it's a quality TV. That said, when it's in my main room next to my 60" Samsung 4K, it's not quite in the same league. Plus WebOS as the tv operating system is terrible. No wonder it failed on phones.

[Wilk5280]

Seeing some weirdness with XBOX One S and Gears 4 w/ HDR on the Samsung KS8000. Forza looks bright and vibrant, but when I play Gears everything is kind of dark and washed out. I double checked to make sure the backlight is maxed out, but pretty surprised how bad this looks.

Anyone know of issues with Gears and HDR or anything that might be going on here?

I have my TV set for Game mode and I switched back to HDR mode and see if there was an issue. Colours were beautiful still and I didn't see the washed out effect you experienced.

Gratz on the 65' model Divot, I am loving mine.

I'm not sure what you mean by "switched back to HDR mode". Are you talking about switching from Game to HDR+ in the special modes? If so that's not real HDR like you set for each HDMI input individually. Regardless, I appreciate the response (didn't see it until just now). I don't know what I did because I really didn't do anything, but it seems to be working better now. The game is dropdead gorgeous.

[Wilk5280]

Does anyone know why the 60" KS8000 is so much more expensive than the 55" and 65" inch models?

The 60" inch is going for 1999 while the 55 and 65 inch models are going for 1299 and 1799 respectively. Seems odd to me.

[10spro]

Not sure the answer to that, but definitely go with the 65'.

If money is no issue this is their lineup for 2017.

http://www.theverge.com/circuitbreaker/ ... k-ces-2017

[DivotMaker]

Does anyone know why the 60" KS8000 is so much more expensive than the 55" and 65" inch models?

The 60" inch is going for 1999 while the 55 and 65 inch models are going for 1299 and 1799 respectively. Seems odd to me.

I went from the 55 curved at $1099 to the 60 flat at $1299, to settling on the 65 flat at $1499 back in December. Cannot for the life of me understand the 2K price for the 60....it was nice but I agree with 10s....65" is the best value and never looked back.

If you can wait, BB will price the 65 lower sooner than later. When I bought mine, it was $1499 the day before I decided to buy and that day it was $1699, so I bought anyway. In exactly 2 weeks, same TV was back to $1499, so they price matched and I paid for 2 year extended replacement warranty with the difference. Worked out well. If you can wait, do so....

[dbdynsty25]

Might just be a supply issue w/ the 60"...only thing I can think of that would make it that much more expensive, all things created equal.

[Wilk5280]

I already have the 65" for the main living room and am shopping around for a 55" or 60" for the cave. I think DB is onto something with it being a supply issue on that size. Can't see any other reason why 60" would be so much more expensive.

[wco81]

For the newer factories built in the last couple of years, they have equipment designed for 55 or 65 inch panels. The glass sheets they produce can be cut up for either size without leftover glass.

At least that's the case with LG's OLED.

It may be that the industry see the US market moving up towards those sizes. Ten years ago, people went for 40-inch plasmas, which were a good step up from the 27 and 30-inch CRTs we used to have.

I have a 50-inch plasma so I figured 60-inch would be a good step up. But when I was waiting for something at Costco, I saw all the 55 and 65 inch TVs and even the 65-inch didn't seem that large.

[dbdynsty25]

I have a 50-inch plasma so I figured 60-inch would be a good step up. But when I was waiting for something at Costco, I saw all the 55 and 65 inch TVs and even the 65-inch didn't seem that large.

Well yeah, once you go from the giant bezels on the older TVs, the step up 10 inches doesn't seem like much. Went from a first gen Vizio 55" I spent 2K on back in 2007 or 2008 to my current 65" Samsung and it's exactly the same size on the wall. Kind of ruins the upgrade when it looks essentially the same to your eye.

[pk500]

Ha. The bezel on my 50-inch, 2009 Panasonic plasma needs its own ZIP code. But that set still is kicking very well, with a wonderful picture and 600 hZ refresh rate, which is great for gaming and sports.

So I'm keeping my trusty old Panny until it dies or current tech races far beyond it, especially since plasma sets - which I think are superior in regular HD to LCD and LED - sadly have taken the same route as the dodo and passenger pigeon.

[DivotMaker]

Ha. The bezel on my 50-inch, 2009 Panasonic plasma needs its own ZIP code. But that set still is kicking very well, with a wonderful picture and 600 hZ refresh rate, which is great for gaming and sports.

So I'm keeping my trusty old Panny until it dies or current tech races far beyond it, especially since plasma sets - which I think are superior in regular HD to LCD and LED - sadly have taken the same route as the dodo and passenger pigeon.

Then don't put your plasma side by side with these new 4K sets as the differences in picture IMO are astonishing. Replaced my 42" Toshiba 1080p 240 hz set with the 65" Samsung 8000 series 240 hz 4K HDR and I did a side by side comparison and it was pretty remarkable.....

[Danimal]

Yeah what Divot said. I always watched my sports and played games in my theater room since I have a 10 foot screen and a 1080p projector. Since getting the 4K set I prefer to watch things in the family room as the picture difference is amazing.

[pk500]

I'm sure 4K and HDR will be the next step for me. Problem is, I'll make that jump about three years later than everyone else.

Signed,
Tighter Than Two Coats of Paint

[DivotMaker]

I'm sure 4K and HDR will be the next step for me. Problem is, I'll make that jump about three years later than everyone else.

Signed,
Tighter Than Two Coats of Paint

Tighter than Dick's hatband....got it!

[Aristo]

I'm sure 4K and HDR will be the next step for me. Problem is, I'll make that jump about three years later than everyone else.

Signed,
Tighter Than Two Coats of Paint

I'm all loose goosey, but it is the wife that will have a large say in that. And the problem is, it's not just the TV. We will then need a new DVR. And if anyone has a surround receiver, that will probably need a an upgrade. How in a new console for whatever the scorpio is going cost, and it's gonna be a big price tag.

I think I need to break the Tivo first. Then I will pick up a Bolt to replace it. Then I will knock the TV off the stand, and 4K will just make the most sense. Then I will worry about getting the Scorpio or One S. Just have ti get it chunks.

[AcemanPR]

My wife puts the brakes on my impulse buys to. I bought a 70" Vizio 3 1/2 years ago, great TV. however I am salivating at the 4K TVs and hope to be able to get one sometime in the fall. If one of our other TVs end up failing, then it will be a no-brainer. Ideally I'd like to pick one a 65" for under 4-digits by the time I'm ready.

[pk500]

What's an impulse buy?

Seriously, I don't think I've purchased anything for myself more expensive than $75 on a whim in the last 20 years. I bought an elite-level pair of boxing gloves for $75 -- they were marked down about 40 percent -- in November 2015 as a gift to myself when I really didn't need new gloves.

Everything else is planned, studied, saved for and scrimped. Everything. I buy only because I need, not because I want.

That's how my wife and I roll. Always have in our nearly 26 years of marriage. Yeah, we're weirdos. Peas in the proverbial pod!

[TCrouch]

I sometimes wish I could exert that kind of self control. I'm on the polar opposite end of that spectrum...not that that's news to anybody here, I'm sure.

[AcemanPR]

What's an impulse buy?

Well for the most part I am like you pk. Very stingy when it comes to buying things. But electonics/gaming I sometimes act impulsively. However when purchases involve $500 or more, then yeah, I have to plan or have some pause. Used to be able to buy a TV and know it would be good for 10-15 years. But with technology changing, seems like you need to upgrade every 3-5 years.

[pk500]

What's an impulse buy?

Well for the most part I am like you pk. Very stingy when it comes to buying things. But electonics/gaming I sometimes act impulsively. However when purchases involve $500 or more, then yeah, I have to plan or have some pause. Used to be able to buy a TV and know it would be good for 10-15 years. But with technology changing, seems like you need to upgrade every 3-5 years.

An impulse purchase of between $76-$500 would give me a stroke.

And I don't think there's a need to upgrade a TV every three to five years. My Panny plasma looks just fine for me even though it's 7 years old. Yes, it's not a smart TV. Yes, it's not 4K. But I still can access the Web and streaming content through my Xbox, and there's not enough 4K native content out there for me to justify the upgrade.

I have a VERY thick "need filter," especially as I don't want to saddle any of our three kids with student loan debt after college. Now I better live to see retirement so I can reap the windfall of all this frugalness ... ah, f*ck it - cheapness!

[DivotMaker]

What's an impulse buy?

Well for the most part I am like you pk. Very stingy when it comes to buying things. But electonics/gaming I sometimes act impulsively. However when purchases involve $500 or more, then yeah, I have to plan or have some pause. Used to be able to buy a TV and know it would be good for 10-15 years. But with technology changing, seems like you need to upgrade every 3-5 years.

An impulse purchase of between $76-$500 would give me a stroke.

And I don't think there's a need to upgrade a TV every three to five years. My Panny plasma looks just fine for me even though it's 7 years old. Yes, it's not a smart TV. Yes, it's not 4K. But I still can access the Web and streaming content through my Xbox, and there's not enough 4K native content out there for me to justify the upgrade.

I have a VERY thick "need filter," especially as I don't want to saddle any of our three kids with student loan debt after college. Now I better live to see retirement so I can reap the windfall of all this frugalness ... ah, f*ck it - cheapness!

I admire your discipline PK. It will pay big dividends when you reach retirement. I used to have impulse purchases of $400-$500, but that behavior has stopped as the wife and I are less than 10 years from retirement. Early next year, we will be in a position to put everything she makes (she is very well compensated) into retirement accounts. Can't wait for that.

[DivotMaker]

I'm sure 4K and HDR will be the next step for me. Problem is, I'll make that jump about three years later than everyone else.

Signed,
Tighter Than Two Coats of Paint

I'm all loose goosey, but it is the wife that will have a large say in that. And the problem is, it's not just the TV. We will then need a new DVR. And if anyone has a surround receiver, that will probably need a an upgrade. How in a new console for whatever the scorpio is going cost, and it's gonna be a big price tag.

I think I need to break the Tivo first. Then I will pick up a Bolt to replace it. Then I will knock the TV off the stand, and 4K will just make the most sense. Then I will worry about getting the Scorpio or One S. Just have ti get it chunks.

I'm in that boat now.....saving for my new 4K AVR. Probably have to do it again in 5-7 years when 8K is mainstream. It is an expensive merry go round.....

[Aristo]

I wouldn't call them impulse purchases. I would say they are me giving into desires after weeks or months. I'm researching and comparing the whole time, talking myself into spending the money. And that's the trick. It's not an impulse buy, I talk myself into it be being sure it is actually the best buy for me. What I stop doing along the way, which gets me in trouble, is stop considering not buying anything as an option. That's what my wife is for!

[Leadfoot5]

Loving the 65" LG OLED B6 that I picked up a couple of weeks ago. So far the biggest deal for me are the blacks and the viewing angle.

Input lag as bad as they say?

I've played Forza Horizon, NHL, Madden and NBA2K. I *think* I can tell that the lag is there, but it's not impacting my enjoyment of the games or the TV at all. Maybe it's a bigger deal for shooters?

Just wanted to followup that LG released a FW update for this set that has reduced the gaming input lag. Gaming now feels as responsive as it does on my Samsung LCD's.