Have been considering getting a 4K/UHD TV for a while and some of the models on display in Curry's look pretty damn good.

However, we're nervous about purchasing a 4k/UHD TV now before the standard has been properly set, as we don't want to purchase a new TV and find out that its not fully compatible with broadcasts / 4k Blu-Ray players etc. But the Boxing Day / New Year sales are looming and would be a great time to pick up a bargain if it existed.

We've got the following questions:-

1. What are the absolute essentials for a 4k TV - e.g. HDMI spec, refresh rate, etc, that should (will?) ensure it is fully future proofed for future broadcasts etc?

2. What else is there to look for, when choosing a TV - we're looking at the sub-£2,000 range. There is a Samsung in the shop - model UE55JS9000 - 55" smart 3D Ultra HD 4K Curved LED TV
http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/tv-and-...22369-pdt.html

3. What about LED or OLED (or any other technology type)? The main reason for purchasing the TV will be sport and being an existing Plasma owner its disappointing there are no (?) 4K Plasma's as they always handled fast motion better.

4. What is the general thought on curved TV's? They look visually good, but are they really worth it compared to flat TV's?

5. What are sky & BT's plans in 2016 - I know Sky are bringing out the Q box.

6. What about sound bars - again some of the curved sound bars that would sit under the TV look visually great but are they worth it and what sort of level of £'s get a decent one? Or is it better to get a dedicated surround sound system?

I would wait until more 4K televisions come out with OLED.

I was considering buying a 4K TV myself, but I knew that this time next year there'll probably be quite a few 4K TVs which are OLED as well.

I currently have a Panasonic plasma too which I bought 4 years ago. I'm very happy with the picture quality, however I don't see plasmas anymore in the shops. When new TV technology comes along these TVs don't seem to break down like the old CRTS did so you are pretty much forced to replace them with new tech.
I've had many CRTS over the years with varying shelf lives, some only lasted a few months. But it feels like I'm stuck with my current plasma TV as I can't see it breaking down in the foreseeable future.

As for my feeling on curved TVs, I personally think that they're a bit of a gimmick which will die out. These sound like famous last words, but I don't think the trend will last.

I don't think you need worry about 4K being incompatible with current broadcasts. As far as I'm aware they can play the standard broadcasts which any TV can.

I have decided that when I eventually do replace my television I'll probably go for a 4K OLED television. By then the prices should have gone down a bit.
So if can offer any advice I'd suggest that you stick with your current plasma for while, as I assume that it has a good picture.
It might also be worth waiting for a while to see which companies produce good 4K TVs, or good OLED TVs, because as with previous technologies some brands are better than others at creating TVs in particular formats, etc. plasma/LED/LCD, etc.

Make sure it has sufficient HDMI 2.0/HDCP 2.2 inputs. Many sets have only one or two, so if you're planning on connecting multiple 4k devices SkyQ/BT/Blu-ray/Amazon Fire etc. you may get caught out.


http://www.hardwarezone.com.sg/featu...mi-20-hevc-uhd

I'm waiting for OLED too. I'm going to try a 50" 1080p LCD in the meantime to see how it compares to my plasma.

I have a plasma and a new 50 inch Panasonic CX802 4K.....I wondered at first what I had let myself in for as the picture quality was a let down.
Now that I have set the tv to my room and personal preferences it has come alive.
The HD broadcasts are superb and the 4K videos I've watched are just amazing!!

The biggest disappointment is the picture viewing angle...go off centre by a small amount and the picture washes out, unlike the plasma which doesn't alter wherever you view the screen in the room....One thing I've done, which actually makes a difference, is to angle the screen so that it sits pointing a few degrees away from my normal viewing position...this enables my viewing position and others to equalise.

I wish plasma was still around I would have bought another!
Regarding curved screens...they just don't work for me.

Have you checked out this review of the TV on Richer Sounds?

http://www.richersounds.com/product/...ana-tx50cx800b

They also had a problem with the viewing angle, which Richer Sounds was willing to look into, so it might be a problem with individual sets, even though it does sound like a design problem with that model.

Curved TVs = shit idea. (N.B. Unless tailor-made for a room)

Ideal if you live in a lighthouse though ?

Thanks.
Yes, I read that.
According to some other reviews the poor viewing angle is down to the panel being a VA panel which gives better blacks apparently.
Apparently the IPS panel fitted to some other models gives a better viewing angle but is not as good with blacks.

I'm quite happy with my bodge of turning the tv slightly away from my viewing position, it does the job nicely, just looks slightly odd on my AV unit.

It's been said several times on these forums not to buy a 4K TV now as the standards have not been finally decided.
It has also been said that curved TVs came about because they could not make flat OLEDs so they decided to make it a feature rather than telling the truth.
More info here:

http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/sky-4k-tv-e...st-uhd-1504433

and here:

http://www.theverge.com/2015/9/2/924...that-new-4k-tv

The first link is a little out of date...I played a video at 60 fps in 4K earlier...the picture was stunning!
The Panasonic CX802 is HDR compatible.
BBC 1 is perfectly good as is the football and sport I have watched so far.
The 50 inch screen is excellent...no issues apart from the viewing angle which I have eliminated with a little nouse.
Read the spec on the CX802, you will see it is up to date.

Yes, there are some standards yet to be agreed but that doesn't worry me.
I'm a confirmed plasma fan having owned a Pioneer plasma for almost 8 years but this 4K UHD CX802 is equal on some broadcasts and fed with a 4K source is exceptional!

I paid the same as I paid for my Pioneer as for this tv and reckon that by the time standards across the board have been agreed this tv will have been a bargain as at that time I would have to pay much more to get what I have.

I bought a new Sony 4k TV in July.
PQ is really good, HD is best I've seen.
Not much 4k content around at the moment but the vids I've seen on YouTube have been amazing.
Now just waiting for new 4k players to hit the market, hopefully they won't be too expensive....yeah right!

the bit about curved OLED screens is a myth. It takes about 5 seconds thinking about it to realise it's a lot easier to manufacture something flat than curved.

Lots of 4k on Amazon Prime and Netflix and if it's got a satellite connection and you have a dish there's a stunning demo reel from Astra/SES.

I can't comment on it being a myth or not, but if you think about it for more than 5 seconds you'll realise that your suggestion isn't in any way true. A OLED screen isn't a simple piece of plastic, so flat or curved doesn't necessarily make it easier.

The 'story' is that they couldn't make large flat screens, hence the MANY years and billions of dollars spent on research trying to do so, but they found out they could make a curved screen - so they did

To be fair it seems as sensible a story as anything else, as it's an incredibly stupid idea making a curved screen

Fine. Hang on...

So, you have no evidence at all to back up your 'non-comment' on curved OLED screens? We've discussed this before, and the consensus is that they made curved TVs 'because they could' and therefore made OLED stand out from other technologies.

I recall no such 'consensus', and such a suggestion makes no sense - why make it poorer 'just because they could'?.

OLED itself would 'make it stand out' (hopefully), making it 'stand out' in an inferior way isn't going to help at all

The fact that they moved to flat screens as soon as they could rather suggests that it was only an interim product, until technology improved.

What if you actually NEED a new TV? By your recommendation you should buy an HD TV which definitely won't meet those standards. Personally I'd rather make an educated choice and buy a UHD TV which will probably meet those standards.

Meanwhile, anyone buying a UHD TV just for the sake of it presumably has the desposible income to do it, or replaces their TV regularly and is perfectly entitled to spend their cash how they like.

Again, no evidence to back up your claims. I have never read anything that says that LG couldn't make a flat screen so they made a curved one instead.

Curved screens are only poorer in your opinion; one I happen to agree with in this case. Manufacturers made curved screens as they thought it would be 'the next big thing', much like 3D. It's only since the price of OLED has dropped and there has been increasing demand for flat ones that they have finally appeared.

Like many other people, I will wait until the 4K standards are finalised, and I can get a flat OLED for reasonably sensible money.

There's no evidence to support your suggestion either


As does almost everyone, for a start why would a reduced viewing angle be 'better'?.


Again, only your 'opinion' - but the fact that OLED started curved screens (after MANY years of trying to make larger flat screens) led to the rumours in the trade that they couldn't make flat ones at that time. It'd certainly a more reasonable explanation for a bizarre screen 'feature'.


I agree on all counts.

Did you actually try to do any research?
http://www.cnet.com/uk/news/seven-pr...d-televisions/

?????

From your own quote:

Oh, I forgot, you're 'in the trade' so you're never wrong.

You are taking the quote out of context. They are saying that making flat screens isn't the problem, but rather the dubious motivations to make curved screens.

I would suggest it's more likely YOU who are taking the quote out of context

LCD tend to have limited viewing angles unless it's an IPS panel, however IPS panels tend to leak backlight a bit more and struggle with blacks. Pick your poison or defect.

My Sony 4k IPS from 2014 screen suits me fine. forced into getting a replacement for my broken pioneer plasma. It ain't perfect but what is, the pioneer was far from perfect too.

OLED has alot of promise but there are questions about image retention, and longevity.