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[lachesis]

Dear all,

I'm considering getting a TV set - as this is probably one of the cheapest time to get a set from 2017, thanks to Super Bowl & season end inventory clearance.

I've heard many good things on Sony X900E as one of the best bang for the buck, with full array local dimming - currently 65 inch model is going for $1499 at BB and other places.
Also heard LG C7 (or B7P at Costco) - going for $2699 at BB (and similar on other places as well) - and many named it as the best TV you can buy with money.

I've sold some of my stuff that I don't use on eBay and also gotten some credit card cash back points throughout last year - that I have roughly around $2700 to spend. I can add extra few hundred bucks, but I'd rather not if possible.

My current setup is 7+ yr old 55" Sony NX720 3d Smart TV. Decent TV for that time - bought specifically for its superfast input lag - but since it's an edge lit - I can see the clouding in dark areas while watching movies. As per the sound, I recently bought Sony HT-ST5000 Dolby Atmos sound bar - I had a nice real 7.1 setup with a Marantz and another with Denon receiver with proper in-wiring for all the speakers at my previous residence - but my new place is much smaller and I am tired of doing all the wiring works, etc - choosing for a simpler life now.

I wouldn't have thought of buying a TV, but since I got divorced last year and finally settling down to my new smaller place - I found that I have more time to enjoy the TV and gaming. I watch more movies on the days when my child's at my ex's place - and me and my child play games together when my child is with me. (It wasn't like this while I was married - I had almost zero time playing/watching TV - mostly working and doing house chores LOL) - I pretty much entirely skipped current gen of consoles (first time in my life ever - lol) so I'm thinking of getting PS4 pro and/or XB1X. I only have a Wii U at the moment and enjoying my backlog (1st time playing Zelda Skyward Sword) - but figured it would be nice to have a real console that does 4k & HDR well to enhance my enjoyment of the new TV.

So Sony X900E - cheaper and well within my budget even if I buy both of the 4k consoles. My practical self screams not to look any further than this one... Since coming from edge lit TV - this full array local dimming would be definitely an upgrade, although zones are not as many as Z9D or whatever high ends offer. Certainly wouldn't match the black levels of OLED or even Plasma... but It's an already proven/mature technology that I can rely on for many years to come. I am okay with the design, although I do have a little problem with the little led bulge thing on the bottom/center of the unit - I would have loved just rectangular. (New Sony X900F, with X1 Extreme chip & Dolby Vision support - seems to have no led bulge thing on the bottom, but I don't think I have patience to wait till next black friday to get this set)

C7... is probably my dream machine (at least on tech wise). While I don't like the design of the back panel and its color choice - also would have to adjust my wallmount quite a bit once I get that TV - It does pretty much everything that I want - probably better in every aspect than X900E - except brightness. I always wanted a plasma Kuro topping black level in sometime in my life. When I bought my TV back in 2011, I thought by the time for an upgrade, OLED might be much affordable and burn-in free - well, it is more affordable than ever, and many stand by the burn-in being an overblown issue for normal users like me - but since I plan to plug in a HTPC on the machine, I am just little wary of the whole thing - then again, it might be a groundless fear. Looks like my dream of perfect black - gets pushed back every time that I upgrade... If I do get this TV, PS4 Pro or XB1X would have to wait till later this year, depending on my fiscal situation. I can certainly buy them with my savings, but I'd rather not to go below certain amount of savings, even in short term. I could technically get a 55" version, which is just slightly more expensive 65" X900E - but since I'm currently watching on 55" and looking to "upgrade" in size... it seems like it would defeat the purpose especially when the size of the TV itself is smaller than current one (due to the bezel size)...

Anyhow I'd love to hear anyone's input who has either X900E or B7A/B7P or C7 - or both. I'm probably going to head out to BB after work tomorrow and buy one of above sets after seeing it.

 

[plasmasd]

I like the 900e in 55" at 65" it has huge issues with flashlighting in darker scenes. The 930 looks much better at 65"

The oled looks better than both but costs more.

 

[TheShocker]

Imo, it boils down to one question. Is getting back into gaming that important to you? If yes, go te X900 route. If it isn’t, go with the C7.

I was at a similar impass late summer between the X900E and the TCL P Series + XB1X.

I ultimately with with the second option and couldn’t be happier.

 

[lachesis]

Oh - I see. I thought 930 = vertical edge lit and had problem with light blooming on top and bottom of letterboxes...
I will certainly consider 930. I like the design - but only issue is it's edge lit which I didn't like at NX720 that I have...

 

[Deputy Moonman]

If possible, you might also consider waiting until march/april to see how TCL's new 65" 6000 series reviews. It should be cheaper than than the x900e or similar in pricing with similar picture quality plus dolby vision compatability.

 

[lachesis]

If possible, you might also consider waiting until march/april to see how TCL's new 65" 6000 series reviews. It should be cheaper than than the x900e or similar in pricing with similar picture quality plus dolby vision compatability.

I see - Never tried a TCL ones but heard a lot of good things about their last year model. Yeah - I thought about waiting, especially after seeing CES 2018 line ups... but realized I would be waiting forever and would find something that I don't find perfect in any kind of TVs... be it the price, performance or whatnot.

 

[lachesis]

Well, I went to the shop, basically dead set on to getting a 65" X900E, and ended up getting a 65" C7 a couple of weeks ago. The sales person at Best Buy talked me into it! LOL... He was pushing me to get x930e - but I wasn't interested in another edge lit TV... It was because of the trait of edge lit TV that I wanted to get a new TV to begin with - then he started pushing me into C7.

Granted, I'm all out of money to buy any of consoles - but actually am quite happy to have C7 over x900e - not that x900e wasn't a good TV (probably better bang for the buck) - but I am so happy with the picture quality. Also the webOS based menu were quick and responsive, that since it already does Netflix quite well, there's no need for me to plug in a Chromecast either.

Been watching Planet Earth II and Gurren Lagan on netflix with my child on the days I have her. We'd share a blanket and some chips & soda - kicking back and watching - my 10 yr old child was saying "Now, THIS - is life!" I did play a few gaming sessions on my Wii U, and all was very good. Looks like for my kind of use - OLED burn-in wouldn't be an issue.

Thanks for everyone for advices. Very much appreciated.

 

[Bowler]

I was in the same boat between the 900 the 930 and the b7 c7.

I ended up with the Sony 930.
Reasoning being is I usually watch tv with lights on and this tv is one of the brightest tv's out there. It's HDR is top tier also due to its 1500 nits and has twice as many zones for local dimming then the 900. It just got the Dolby vision update, and it's nothing short of awesome. It uses some hocus pocus slim backlight drive system that hasn't shown the edge lit clouds like old edge lit leds.

The oleds have perfect blacks but just doesn't get as bright, and many have reported banding issues and burn in with this year's LG models. I hate playing panel lotteries with 2 grand price tags.

 

[lachesis]

I was in the same boat between the 900 the 930 and the b7 c7.

I ended up with the Sony 930.
Reasoning being is I usually watch tv with lights on and this tv is one of the brightest tv's out there. It's HDR is top tier also due to its 1500 nits and has twice as many zones for local dimming then the 900. It just got the Dolby vision update, and it's nothing short of awesome. It uses some hocus pocus slim backlight drive system that hasn't shown the edge lit clouds like old edge lit leds.

The oleds have perfect blacks but just doesn't get as bright, and many have reported banding issues and burn in with this year's LG models. I hate playing panel lotteries with 2 grand price tags.

I definitely hear you. I'm long time Sony TV fan since Trinitron days - my first small 14" TV/VCR combo was sony TV - as well as following couple of tubes too. I had gigantic Sony LCD projection TV (60"), as well as aforementioned 55" NX720, which is only 1" thick, with sub 10ms of input lag. I did buy for an 55" LG and 42" Visio for my other setups, but for my main TV.. I mostly stayed with Sony TVs.

930e looked very very bright indeed - even in the bright light of Best Buy show room. As per brightness - I am opposite end that since I work 11a-7p, normally gets home around 8p, and maybe get to watch TV well after 10p doing all the chores and all... I really don't need a super bright lights. My calibrated Sony N720, the brightness was way down too... and C7's original brightness was just too bright to my eyes, (as I was told OLED's are dim, just like Plasmas) - I actually toned down the brightness to half or something like that - following some experts' recommended settings.

Since being total newbie in the world of HDR - I also turned down the brightness down quite a bit even in Dolby Vision mode too, because they were hurting my eyes! LOL.... But yes, I do worry about the burn ins and all - but so far so good that I don't see any image retentions and all. Fingers crossed.

Enjoy your 930e! I really liked the whole look of 930e, including the back-pannel. I know, I'm probably one of the few who really thinks about the back of the TV - I still hate the back panel of c7 - ugly cheap looking white plastic...

 

[Composer]

I would really suggest to wait until the end of this. The new crop of UHD + HDR TVs are going to be next level. I own a KS8500 which is better than the 2017 batch of TVs. Its a really smart idea to wait.

 

[lachesis]

I wish I had that much patience! LOL... KS8500 was quite appealing too. Well, since I bought the TV now, I would just hope that it will last at least till the next big thing of 8k with 10 knit brightness for true dolby vision... (even if my poor old eye can't take such brightness. )

I'm very curious of that Micro LED technology that Samsung was touting about this year at CES. I'm sure this fear of OLED burn-in would last next few years for myself - but at the moment I'm very happy with the quality of the c7.

 

[Composer]

I wish I had that much patience! LOL... KS8500 was quite appealing too. Well, since I bought the TV now, I would just hope that it will last at least till the next big thing of 8k with 10 knit brightness for true dolby vision... (even if my poor old eye can't take such brightness. )

I'm very curious of that Micro LED technology that Samsung was touting about this year at CES. I'm sure this fear of OLED burn-in would last next few years for myself - but at the moment I'm very happy with the quality of the c7.

You got a great TV overall, and won't need replacement for another 7 years.

 

[llien]

I think you MUST see the TVs first, before making decisions like that.
1499$ isn't cheap to pay and then regret you didn't go with OLED.

I personally would go with LG, possibly going down to 55" inches (should be 1000$+ cheaper)

 

[lachesis]

I think you MUST see the TVs first, before making decisions like that.
1499$ isn't cheap to pay and then regret you didn't go with OLED.

I personally would go with LG, possibly going down to 55" inches (should be 1000$+ cheaper)

Yes, agreed. That's the reason that I buy TVs offline, as long as the price difference isn't too much. I did end up getting 65" OLED - and very happy with it. So far no buyers remorse yet. As per the size though - when I upgrade my TV, I always try to up the size by one class up.. so my next TV will be 75" down the line... as this 65" isn't much physically bigger than the outgoing 55" that had 2" bezel all around.