Bigger TV (65") Recommendations

Discussion in 'Geek Cave: Computers, Tablets, HT, Phones, Games' started by purr1n, Oct 7, 2019.

  1. YMO

    YMO Chief Fun Officer

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    Thanks, but I don't do physical media anymore for movies. I'm all on Roku Ultra 2019, what films has everything except for Dolby Vision.
     
  2. SineDave

    SineDave Friend

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    Then you'll just need to calibrate the TV and be done with it.
     
  3. YMO

    YMO Chief Fun Officer

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    Any cheap solutions to that? Not like I'm spending $3k on a TV that would be worth to get it done professionally. I saw the 55 in Sony X950 gotten a price drop down to $1,000. I'll wait until I move to a new apartment in March to see if any of the 2020 models have something interesting to me (most likely not), or I can get a deal on a 2019 model.
     
  4. SineDave

    SineDave Friend

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    You can pay for calibration from Best Buy for about $350, or you can learn to do it yourself, but the learning curve is a little steep.
     
  5. Syzygy

    Syzygy Friend

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    Calibration is an art unto itself, and you need at least a decent colorimeter to do it, and the Rec.2020 disc to play. And THX blue glasses. All that, you'll spend a few hours probably getting it to a point where you're satisfied with it. But you still don't have the equipment/software needed to write it to the TV's LUT (color look-up table), depending upon the model you choose. Rather you'll just be making manual adjustments to the brightness, contrast, red, blue, green, etc., channels by hand.

    Or you can pay the Best Buy service fee, get them to do it, and they'll write the TV's LUT.

    Yes it sucks that they charge so much. But the gear & software to do it automatically is around $1500. Come to think of it, it'd be kinda cool to have one of those around for an occasional SBAF loaner tour. Maybe a "group buy" of one that can be sent around as needed.
     
  6. zonto

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    I would not pay Best Buy to calibrate a TV unless they were my only option. Searches for reputable ISF-certified calibrators in your area would likely be more fruitful. A few calibrators are active over on AVS Forum as well and occasionally do calibration tours with a bunch of bookings over a few days.
     
  7. ogodei

    ogodei MOT: Austin AudioWorks

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    I used Chad B back in the day (http://www.hdtvbychadb.com/tours.html), he's good.

    However, sets these days often come with at least one dialed in calibration setting, make sure you check all the modes and think it looks out of whack before you pay for this service. I haven't had to calibrate a set beyond the consumer settings for several years now.
     
  8. zonto

    zonto Friend

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    I used D-Nice myself a few years ago. ;) And agreed re: stock settings on some newer TVs. The differences between the calibration and the default Samsung "Movie" mode (with other recommended changes available in the regular menus made) is pretty subtle for the most part. Most noticeable is that calibration removed a hefty red push on my F8500, and initially looked weird and overly green. I've since adjusted of course. Other than that, nothing really noticeable to the naked eye, despite the better results measured by the equipment and evidenced by the post-calibration charts.
     
  9. SineDave

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    The exception is for HDR. HDR has reintroduced the need for calibrators, since most sets have significant issues with color reproduction in HDR, despite being quite good in SDR. This may not be a major concern to most, but the majority of calibrators now are focused on calibrating HDR modes and just tweaking SDR grayscale, luminance, contrast and color balance very slightly.
     
  10. JohnCarter17

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    I made the same decision. and went with a TCL65R615. For under 900 it was contending with Samsung, LG and Sony models at higher price points making it the best picture for the money. Add in support for both Dolby Vision and HDR10. At the time I was also needing to upgrade at BD and AVR for HDMI 2.1 so I didn't want to spend more. The Roku interface is exceptional, unlike other major brands (Samsung and LG) where the interface is effectively a sphincter designed to shit commercials on you.
     
  11. murphythecat

    murphythecat GRU-powered uniformed trumpkin

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    my only concern surrounding TCL is reliability. they look nice but ive remember reading so many stories of them failing prematurely.
     
  12. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    I can buy x2.5 TCLs for one Sony. And Sony stuff hasn't exactly been reliable in my lifetime. I can tell you about my Trinitrons and CDPs.
     
  13. JohnCarter17

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    Reliability has been fine for me. I had 1 incident over a year ago where I was getting a pink/red screen, but a shutdown and restart cleared it up.
     
  14. Superexchanger

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    My beloved VT60's input board just fried, and while I try to track down a repair option I've been looking into a new set as a backup plan. I wanted to go with a projector after watching the superbowl at a neighbor's place on a 120 inch screen, but even in a dark room the somewhat shallow contrast bugged me. So, a compromise.

    Does anyone have experience with the 75-85 inch category? OLED prices at this size are out of reach for me, but will a very large LCD in the 80 inch range with robust local dimming get me anywhere near picture quality a TOTL plasma from 8 years ago? I haven't put my face in front of many new TV's lately, aside from that TCL. It was good given what my eye was used to, but I didn't see a large set or in the dark. I'd like to keep it under 2500 USD.
     
  15. murphythecat

    murphythecat GRU-powered uniformed trumpkin

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    while I love my sony 900e, no way id pay again that much for a new set.
    One can buy a used Sony w600b for about 250$. I bought one used for my living room and that 250$ tv vs my 2000$ 900e is a no brainer.

    2-3 years ago, I think TCL were much less reliable? I remember reading so many horror story from TCL and that other cheap company
     
  16. LetMeBeFrank

    LetMeBeFrank Won't tell anyone my name is actually Francis

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    Going to look at new TVs tomorrow. Currently have a 47" LG 1080p, I want a 55" 4k. I don't want OLED since I want to be able to pause something for 20+ minutes without having to think about it, plus I want to be able to play games with a static UI. I had a Panasonic plasma for a long time and I hated how fast it burned in. My budget is $1300.

    Any recommendations?
     
  17. zonto

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  18. LetMeBeFrank

    LetMeBeFrank Won't tell anyone my name is actually Francis

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    The Sony looks good. I'll check them out.

    Does anyone have experience with the LG Nano 9 series?
     
  19. LetMeBeFrank

    LetMeBeFrank Won't tell anyone my name is actually Francis

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    Ended up getting an LG Nano 9 55". Best Buy in Ann Arbor had an open box and it rang up $509. The tv still had all the wrapping on it like someone opened the box and said f**k it before even taking it out. Couldn't pass it up for that price. Waiting on a 4k Blu Ray player to really test it out but 4K YouTube and Netflix look really good so far.
     
  20. randytsuch

    randytsuch Friend

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    Looking to finally replace my 13 year old Sony 52" LCD.
    Decided to go 75". We sit pretty far away, 12-14 feet. But I don't really have room for the 80 inch + TVs
    Considered the TCL 6 and 8 series, LG OLED's (worried about burn in), Sammy Q90T and R and Sony 900 and 950s

    Pretty sure I'm going to go for the 950H series. Not cheap, but as my wife said, as long as it works it will be a long time before we replace this one, and I want the best I can get at a sane price. Since I was looking at 75" OLEDs, budget is up to $4100, but prefer to spend less.
    The 900F series looks nice too, but it doesn't do eARC. My current receiver doesn't do either, but I'll upgrade that and likely the HDMI cables at some point in the future. Maybe next year.

    Room is pretty bright during the day, when I watch sports and broadcast TV on the weekends. We watch streaming stuff at night.

    Any reason not to get the Sony?
    I would like to get it locally (So Cal), OOS at Best Buy right now. If there is a problem I figured its easier if I buy from a local place. And I'd rather support local, not sure if the Source has them either? Will give them a call.

    Was hoping to install this weekend, but now I don't expect to have it in time.

    Randy
     

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