Plasma, LCD, OLED, LED, best tv for next gen

I'm definitely planning on buying a 65" set in the coming months, I'm seriously considering the Sony 65X900B, as there are no realistic 1080p options from Sony in this size, and the X950 is unjustifiable right now. However Ive started to come around on a few Samsung models, they just so happen to be curved, but I guess I can live with that...

I think I've written off the HU9000 due to the supposed extremely high lag, despite the extremely good upscaling, so I'm interested in learning a bit more about the 65H8000, so I'd be dropping 4K and going for 1080p if I go with Samsung (tho would gain a higher native refresh panel...)

Problem is that there doesn't seem to be a single US pro review of this set, only UK ones, and the Euro models actually lack hardware based local dimming, unlike the US set which has it, which makes any review for the set found online to totally irrelevant to anyone in the US...So basically, has anyone here bought a US Samsung H8000 model and have any thoughts?

After a recent firmware update the HU8500/8700 are down to 40ms input lag, same as the Sony units I believe. Not sure about the 9000.
 
W850A is an MVA panel I believe but it's not a very good one, I don't know who manufactures it. The X900A is apparently an AU Optronics 10-bit S-PVA panel. This is all academic, all I can say is that the panel on the X900A is way better than the one on the W850A. But where's my Impulse mode, Sony??
Ah, you're right!

I was confusing it with the W800A.
 
Whilst calibrating my Sony 55W905 last night I spotted a stuck blue pixel on a black screen :( Bollocks.

I've had it for nearly 3 weeks now and hadn't seen it up until then and might not have ever seen if I hadn't happened to be dismatling my colorimeter nosed up to the screen. But just knowing it's there is a bit unsettling and keeps drawing my eyes to it even though I really can't see it at seating distance.

Has anyone here managed to unstick one? There's quite a few guides and bits of advice about from playing back flashing solid colours to massaging it gently with it switched off. But I'd rather live with it than run the risk of knackering it even more though.
 
I never had any success with unsticking a pixel but it's always worth a try. Don't think massaging would work as the panel had a glass coating doesn't it? Not like the soft screen on a monitor.
 
I never had any success with unsticking a pixel but it's always worth a try. Don't think massaging would work as the panel had a glass coating doesn't it? Not like the soft screen on a monitor.

Nope, they dropped the gorilla glass for the W9 so it's just plastic like a monitor but glossy and not matte.
 
The motion blur on this $600 Black Friday Vizio TV at my parents' house is actually better than the formerly-$7,000 Sony 65X900A. Something has gone horribly wrong with the world, and I think it's time to get off.
 
I've never seen any blur on my Vizio, I'm coming from a CRT. I guess I'm blind? I saw tons of blur on the shitty LCDs at the hotel I stayed at though.
 
Sorta shopping around for a TV, not really sure what I want. Will be upgrading form a Panasonic ST50, looking for something that puts off less heat and doesn't buzz at me when a white picture is shown.

Hi Unknown Soldier. Long time no see. It's King Lala / King Rat / Coldsnap, using my girlfriends account because I locked myself out of mine.
 
Pretty sure dumb ol Shovel Knight has permanently burned the boss health meter in the corner of my VT60. That stupid game with its black bar full of static white shapes that's present 99% of the time you're playing.
 
W850A is an MVA panel I believe but it's not a very good one, I don't know who manufactures it. The X900A is apparently an AU Optronics 10-bit S-PVA panel. This is all academic, all I can say is that the panel on the X900A is way better than the one on the W850A. But where's my Impulse mode, Sony??

Well that explains my horrible off angle issues with my W850 (even going slightly off-center shifts the colors), but that's my only issue with it. I measured the input lag and it was 15ms, it's pretty much perfect gaming TV, but you have to look at it directly at all times.
 
Pretty sure dumb ol Shovel Knight has permanently burned the boss health meter in the corner of my VT60. That stupid game with its black bar full of static white shapes that's present 99% of the time you're playing.

I quit my VT60 for roughly the same reason, except that my problem is the FFXIV UI.

The burn in is a tough bitch, no two ways around it. I can see now why plasma had such a bad rep, the picture quality was and is unsurpassed by anything except OLED but the drawbacks are a killer for that tech.

Shopping for an LCD with acceptable motion blur isn't fun either.
 
I'm probably going to be looking at some smaller tv's in the near future. Fiance' and I are looking to have a side-by-side gaming setup so a huge singular set really doesn't make sense.

Thinking at least 32, probably a 39 or higher. Any suggestions for an LED set with minimal input lag that won't break the bank?
 
The 65W850A that I ordered from Fry's a while back came on Friday. Really loving this set. The picture seems noticeably better/richer than the DLP set it replaced.
 
I have a Panasonic 50" Plasma that is a little over 4 years old now, and I went to look at some newer options. I was thinking that I might go LCD this time, hoping there was something out there that has that great price point, similar picture quality and something I don't need to baby as much for image retention. It is nuts that all the TVs that are rated the best are still Plasma. What a dumb market to be killing off the superior technology for irrelevant stuff like physical depth.

I'll probably stick it out with my plasma for a little longer.

I quit my VT60 for roughly the same reason, except that my problem is the FFXIV UI.

The burn in is a tough bitch, no two ways around it. I can see now why plasma had such a bad rep, the picture quality was and is unsurpassed by anything except OLED but the drawbacks are a killer for that tech.

Shopping for an LCD with acceptable motion blur isn't fun either.
I'm in that exact same boat for FFXIV. The chat box pretty much destroyed the bottom left corner of my screen. I haven't played much in over a month and its just now about gone finally. I found that changing the text to purple and turning the brightness down helped a lot. I wish games had more plasma-friendly HUD options. Give me the ability to change transparency and that would be good enough.
 
Are curved TV's the rage, or are they really worth it? The sweet spot seems like an issue with those. For example if you were on a large sectional, you would want to sit in the middle and not anywhere else.

I ask because I am going to be looking for a new TV soon!

How is the PN64F8500 for gaming? I have never owned a plasma
 
Got my Bravia 50W829 set up last night, with the UK soundbar bundle. I really love it. Played some Flower and Mario Kart, and the picture is superb.

Only problem so far is that I can't get the TV remote to control my Sony HT-CT60BT soundbar, which makes it annoying to fish for another remote when adjusting the volume.
 
Are curved TV's the rage, or are they really worth it? The sweet spot seems like an issue with those. For example if you were on a large sectional, you would want to sit in the middle and not anywhere else.

I ask because I am going to be looking for a new TV soon!

How is the PN64F8500 for gaming? I have never owned a plasma

Curved TV's are GREAT!
for one person.
 
Curved monitors I can understand, but a curved TV seems pretty weird and lonely.

My 50W829 has 3D, and uncomfortable glasses, but I don't have any 3D content other than a couple of PS3 games. Is there anywhere I can get 3D videos or trailers to test out 3D on the screen?
 
missed the deal on the 50gt60 (was 1200€ a few months ago, now i can't find it below 1400) and i'm wondering if i shouldn't grab a led instead...
but usage was 50 / 50 between movies and games, now it's more like 90% movies and 10% games..

also, i can't go bigger than 50 (51, maybe) and it looks like the best deals are on 55 :(
 
I am seriously considering getting the Samsung PN64F8500. I am not so sure I am ready to jump on the 4K bandwagon (until OLED drops in price)

Anyone game on this panel?

My other options are the Samsung UN65HU8550 , Sony XBR65X850B or Sharp LC-70UD1U .

This decision process if killing me!
 
F8500 and X850B are easily your best options (and F8500 is better picture quality-wise)

Sharps are not usable for gaming.
missed the deal on the 50gt60 (was 1200€ a few months ago, now i can't find it below 1400) and i'm wondering if i shouldn't grab a led instead...
but usage was 50 / 50 between movies and games, now it's more like 90% movies and 10% games..

also, i can't go bigger than 50 (51, maybe) and it looks like the best deals are on 55 :(
If it's 90% movies I wouldn't think twice about getting a GT60.

Albeit I have a plasma being used 90% for gaming, one has to wear them before that's 100% doable without need for any care.
 
F8500 and X850B are easily your best options (and F8500 is better picture quality-wise)

Sharps are not usable for gaming.If it's 90% movies I wouldn't think twice about getting a GT60.

Albeit I have a plasma being used 90% for gaming, one has to wear them before that's 100% doable without need for any care.

yeah, i was sure i'd get the GT60, was just waiting for it to drop to 1100 or something like that, but prices went up everywhere instead..
 
Okay now it is down to Samsung PN64F8500, Sony XBR65X850B or maybe the Samsung UN65HU8550.

I have heard the Sony is a nice gaming panel too. I have heard conflicting reports about the F8500 and latency for gaming. I wish I could find a place to test it, but I have not seen that panel in person, nor can I find one.
 
yeah, i was sure i'd get the GT60, was just waiting for it to drop to 1100 or something like that, but prices went up everywhere instead..
Yeah, I sadly didn't get to buy one too.

Bought a 65VT60, thankfully but I am currently without a fixed steady job and thought I would get one sooner than later. GT60 would be for the gaming room where I have an older plasma.

I'll roam to UK in September... this local job market is going nowhere.
Okay now it is down to Samsung PN64F8500, Sony XBR65X850B or maybe the Samsung UN65HU8550.

I have heard the Sony is a nice gaming panel too. I have heard conflicting reports about the F8500 and latency for gaming. I wish I could find a place to test it, but I have not seen that panel in person, nor can I find one.
It's good enough for gaming at 38 ms via fast camera method, but behind Sony LCD sets.

For modern gaming it's perfectly fine, most monitors lag more than that (4/5 frames is the norm or 66 ms to 83 ms, on that samsung that's roughly 2 frames and one third of a frame) game "timings" never expect you to nail it within less than 50-66 ms or you'd have plenty frustrated gamers blaming the game and not the TV, usually more than that just to be safe.

"Issue" is if you wanted to plug something like a scaler onto it, because then it's 38 ms+24 ms (XRGB-mini lag figures) equal 62 ms of added lag in the chain. To make things worse some old school games are really anal with timing, because they expect nothing less than 0-2 ms of screen lag which is why current Sony models get revered so much for keeping it so low, the advantage is for processor "chains" and retro gaming.

Plus the game/console lag which is usually 66 ms at 60 fps, and 133 ms at 30 fps. This means it's down to 38+66ms (104 ms) for a modern 60 fps progressive game and 38+133 ms (170 ms) for a modern 30 fps game on this TV. It's 5 ms upward than the gold standard, which is nothing much.

Under 33 ms of lag time gains are not really that noticeable (hence, people screaming 11 ms is so more fluid than 33 ms of lag are probably victims of a placebo effect of sorts.

Unless the game actually lags quite a bit as we're trying to keep it from hitting a certain threshold (Killzone 2/3 and GTA IV, shit like that lags 166 ms to 200 ms) so that even with little or no display lag they can lag like bitches (thankfully these games know they're lousy as fuck and have timings that could let you play via the internet via australia or something), the lower the lag the less evident that could be, but it's still the games fault for being lagged to hell and back in the name of doing post processing on the console (idiots).

It's certainly not horrible and let me say this, unlike other plasmas like Panasonic (which I prefer, but that's besides the point, I use them in man caves) F8500 will be confused with an OLED for many years to come, the thing is bright, even for bright room usage, which is something most consumer Plasmas just aren't due to energy usage constraints. It's also more "self-emitting" than LG WOLED-CF screens (CF stands for color filter, and as any color filter, like as with projectors and LCD's, after a certain intensity hits, colors get over-exposed by brightness, it can hit said brightness but can't really be or act calibrated like that), which is the same as saying... This plasma is actually better than that can ever be (one of the reasons plasma won that test against a LG OLED despite even better blacks being presented by it). This thing can be calibrated at 170 cd/m^2. Something we will only see when real OLED's hit (currently they have pretty extensive lifespan issues).

51F8500-7-580-90.jpg


bang.
 
After a recent firmware update the HU8500/8700 are down to 40ms input lag, same as the Sony units I believe. Not sure about the 9000.

Did you test this yourself, or what source did you use? I have the F9000 with the 2014 evolution kit, which is pretty much the same as the HU9000 (or HU8500 as it's called in Europe), and it had 80ms with the 1141 firmware (I tested it with my Leo Bodnar lag tester). I'll test with 1150.6 tonight, but I'm curious where you had this result from?
 
^ If you have a Wii try the 240p test suite.

I know my gaming room TV lags 16.7 ms but I was pretty surprised at the fact that the manual test gave me that exact value via that suite over the average of 10 results. I recommend using the sound cue, because sound gets delayed in these TV's to match the video, and it gets the results to be more consistent, at least for me.

Of course the result is just a number and it might be wrong due to user error (if you have a CRT though that suite also has the fast camera method ready to be used, I just didn't out of laziness) but it's fun to toy with nonetheless.
 
For modern gaming it's perfectly fine .... Lots of awesome info

51F8500-7-580-90.jpg


bang.

Wow, thank you. I am leaning strongly for this set. I was going to go to BesbtBuy Magnolia's today to see if they have it setup. I have been considering holding off on 4K until OLED's come down in price. Gaming and sports is what I will be using this for mostly.

I just do not want to have a $3k regret on my shoulders.
 
Did you test this yourself, or what source did you use? I have the F9000 with the 2014 evolution kit, which is pretty much the same as the HU9000 (or HU8500 as it's called in Europe), and it had 80ms with the 1141 firmware (I tested it with my Leo Bodnar lag tester). I'll test with 1150.6 tonight, but I'm curious where you had this result from?

It is according to this review site, which measured with a Leo Bodnar:

http://www.hdtvtest.co.uk/news/ue55hu8200-201406123803.htm

Make sure you rename the input to PC, not Game.
 
A little off topic but I note certain projectors have rediculiously low lag (according to some reviews) the below being one i've been eyeing to buy soon! 17ms!!!!!!

http://www.projectorreviews.com/art_of_gaming/optoma-hd131xe-gaming-projector-input-lag-times/

Seems rediculously fast. Any thoughts?

It's a cloned timer test, which is generally accepted to be less accurate and produces faster numbers than the lag test device. Bodnar values would probably between 25-32ms, which is still good.
 
I went to Magnolias at Best Buy tonight. They had the F8500 but it was really dark compared to the 4K TV's. That instantly turned off my wife from it. I checked and it was set to high brightness, etc.

I thought I read that the plasma was really bright?

Could it have been the floor model or something?
 
I went to Magnolias at Best Buy tonight. They had the F8500 but it was really dark compared to the 4K TV's. That instantly turned off my wife from it. I checked and it was set to high brightness, etc.

I thought I read that the plasma was really bright?

Could it have been the floor model or something?
Its the brightest plasma but its still not gonna be brighter than an led model
 
I went to Magnolias at Best Buy tonight. They had the F8500 but it was really dark compared to the 4K TV's. That instantly turned off my wife from it. I checked and it was set to high brightness, etc.

I thought I read that the plasma was really bright?

Could it have been the floor model or something?

No, plasma is pretty much never as bright as LCD/LED TVs.

That said, unless you have very little lighting control in your home it's a non issue.
 
Its the brightest plasma but its still not gonna be brighter than an led model
It's possible to calibrate at a higher light throughput though - hence it'll look better in a well lit room against LCD... LCD's have light coming from "behind" the image, hence it's easy to wash out. I like to describe it as a sheet of paper with a flashlight behind it, during night most light will make it through, but try that during the day and the light on the back will be totally defeated by stronger light coming from the front. Which is why even the best cell phone LCD panel still has problems being readable under direct light. Which is why light output on some LCD's has been so brutish before.

Plasma problem has never been about it washing out, it's that due to power usage constraints they don't get very bright and have ABL (auto brightness limitation), that and the fact they're made of glass, meaning... doesn't wash out but it's not very bright on a bright room and since they're glass, if a AR filter is not in place it will reflect like a mirror.

Which is why every modern plasma at a certain pricepoint has AR filters going on. Most LCD's don't, as a sheet of matte finish is not an AR filter. F8500 has a worse AR filter than VT60, perhaps worse than ST60, thing is it doesn't need it as much. One LCD regarded to be awesome in bright rooms being Phillips 9 series with a motheye filter, one of the few examples of an LCD having a real contrast+antiglare filter.


VA panels have decreased peak brightness compared to what IPS panels of old did (380 cd/m^2 being something that was achievable). Today most don't hit 200 cd/m^2 (and are certainly not all that accurate after 120 cd/m^2, just like IPS panels weren't too, perhaps even less so.


Anyway... I'm not so sure it was properly set up if it didn't look like a very bright TV because it is. Not the brightest, but for most TV's max brightness is not usable, on this one it is.


First things first, Energy Saving - OFF (not sure if this limits brightness, but it's standard procedure to make sure it doesn't) and then toggle Cell Light to 20, then choose ECO Sensor - OFF. Brightness being appropriate I don't need to mention.

"Black Optimizer" set on "Bright Room" will make sense for a store but probably not for home use.


Do those and I don't think it should be dim... I've never heard anyone calling a F8500 a "dim" TV.
 
But that test is not for the HU8500, but the HU8200 rather. Mixed up the link?

No, I was referring to the US model numbers in my original post.

8500 (UK) = 9000 (US)
8200 (UK) = 8700 (US)
7500 (UK) = 8550 (US)

8700 is essentially the same TV as the 8550, just curved.

I haven't seen any revised numbers for the HU9000. I would say the 8550/8700 are more similar to your F9000 though. The HU9000 has additional features that our sets do not like the Auto Depth Enhancer and PurColor.
 
No, I was referring to the US model numbers in my original post.

8500 (UK) = 9000 (US)
8200 (UK) = 8700 (US)
7500 (UK) = 8550 (US)

8700 is essentially the same TV as the 8550, just curved.

I haven't seen any revised numbers for the HU9000. I would say the 8550/8700 are more similar to your F9000 though. The HU9000 has additional features that our sets do not like the Auto Depth Enhancer and PurColor.

Oh, I was referring to the HU8500 aka HU9000 in the US. Gah Samsung and their stupid numbering. I did test the input lag and it is lower now. I got 62ms in the middle of the screen, compared to the 73ms for a PC named input previously (although I measured it at 80ms with 1141 and named input DVI PC, oh well).
 
.... Do those and I don't think it should be dim... I've never heard anyone calling a F8500 a "dim" TV.

So your opion is that out of the Samsung PN64F8500, Sony XBR65X850B or maybe the Samsung UN65HU8550, the F8500 is the way to go?

I almost wonder if there was some energey saver they use which dims the thing some. Every review I read talks about it's brightness. I know LED's are brighter, but if you looked at the wall of TV's, it almost was a mini blackhole.
 
Picked this up the other day from Fry's due to some good luck on my end. They were running a promotion of them paying the sales tax on all 4K TV's and since Sony has unilateral pricing on their displays it was the same cost across the board at all retailers for their newer models which happened to be on sale.

But Fry's goofed and had an ad that listed it $300 + lower then the sale price which I printed out cause I knew that was too good to be true worked some magic and caved in. Otherwise I probably would have waited until next years models since I have a 65ZT60 and 500M and VT30....but I have no will power and teh deal was good so...


Picked up a XBR65X900B for less then it is on sale for now with no tax.

1B6AD420-418E-4BBD-B170-683D6AD658BE_zpsdvtk5vtr.jpg


Will post some impressions later after I calibrate it and have some time with various content.

Anyone want to buy a 65VT30 lol...anyone?
 
Bravia 50w829 questions (possibly true of all current bravias).

Is it possible to rename the HDMI and other input ports? The PS3 name is picked up via Bravia Sync, but I'd like to name my Wii U channel, etc. My 1998 era Sony TV had good channel/input renaming, lol.

Is it possible to set the remote to shortcuts to different inputs? I don't use TV so I'd prefer for 1, 2, 3 etc to switch inputs. Again, my 1998 Sony TV was great for this! :D

Congratulations! :D
(my initial thought was a pang of jealousy! I so want a PS4 omg)
I totally forgot about the PS4 competition. I'll enter that after I've moved house. Wish me luck!
Turns out, this morning, I won that PS4! :D
 
These 4K TVs which are being sold right now support 3840x2160 at 60Hz?

Yes but what they support is 4K/60 at reduced chroma resolution of 4:2:0. This is because the current HDMI transmitters only work at the bandwidth of HDMI 1.4 which is 10.2 Gbps. The HDMI transmitters which can support the full HDMI 2.0 spec of 18 Gbps won't be ready until the 2015 4K sets probably.
 
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