Mid-screen brainstorming

[_Rick_]

When I get my bonus/girlfriend/sell my car - whichever happens first - I'll likely have some disposable to put towards a fun-size screen.
I've never had a TV for the last 14 years, watching movies on my computer (30" screen for the last few years, before that split across two 19"ers), playing games there, yadda-yadda.

Now, when I had a girl over a few weeks ago she did complain about the lack of TV to watch a movie from the bed/couch. She was right, watching movies from the comfort of your bed is quite nice. I also want to eventually hook up my steering wheel and pedals/joystick to a big screen that will give me some nice immersion into sims.
The latter is probably not going to happen in this flat, since there's no room for a sim-seat. Nonetheless, it's something that's vaguely on my radar.

I've got Gbit around this place, so streaming from NAS isn't an issue, I've also got two SAT feeds and 50Mbit downstream on the dsl, so high-def sources are possible even in the short time frame. For gaming (and sitting inches and not feet from the screen) 4k also seems to be a benefit. So I'm mostly looking at 4k screens.
I do have a somewhat limited budget and space, so I'm currently looking at 55" screens (though won't balk at 50 or 60, if I have reason to believe that some desirable feature is absent in 55)

I'm in a rather dark environment, when I watch movies, so good black values will have a big positive impact. I am a bit of a perfectionist, therefore curved displays and their geometric distortion are right out - apparently along with Samsung, who stopped making flat panels with direct-lit backlighting.

Some screens that caught my eye so far:

Upcoming flat LG OLED display - no idea why it's 20% marked up over the released curved display, but prices will probably meet in December.
Still, quite expensive, and not nearly as well specced as for example the below Pana. Calibration used to be a mess.

Panasonic's local dimming LCD - apparently a bit laggy (but I think I can live with a bit of lag in sims. Upside: DisplayPort support for potentially better 60Hz support @ 4K on the source/cable side. Also: fans. Sure, in the reviews they're not loud, but after 3 years of ownership.... On the other hand: IPS-display, so great angle independence, almost as good as OLED. I don't like the stand, which puts it at a weird angle for my application.

I won't bother with type numbers and names, since those vary too much between regions...
From what I've seen, Samsung is mostly out of the equation, unless there are old high-end flat screens that are decent enough. I have no idea what Sony is doing, and whether their screens worth a look at all - it used to be a place of many mark-ups and little value.
I've also looked at projectors, but those won't do 4k in the consumer space for a while yet, and noise in particular is always going to be an issue.

Any other screens or developments I should be aware of? Any mistakes I'm making? Hope to year your input.

 

[s44]

You want VA, not IPS. VA has better blacks.

Best 4k value at the moment is Vizio 4K... Though this year's M series has only 60hz below 60" and last year's P series (same as this year's M, with a few more dimming zones) was IPS at 55" (VA at all other sizes). So you're probably looking at the 60" version of either.

 

[Twitch03]

What kind of budget do you have? Also 55" seems to be the sweet spot for pricing right now.

If you want really deep blacks, your looking at a used plasma (since no one makes them any more, and only 1080p) or OLED, which is costly (around $2k for the 1080p).

If you want full back lit, your looking at Vizio or Sony. The Vizio M65-C1 gets really good reviews, but at 65" might be bigger then you want.

edit: also make sure you have HDMI 2.0, with the option to upgrade to 2.0a for HDR content, h.265 and HDCP 2.2. This will help futureproof you

 

[_Rick_]

I'm looking at 4K screens, because of the gaming aspect and in anticipation of UHD satellite feeds and streaming offers. Plasma is therefore somewhat out of the picture.

My budget is....flexible, but definitely below the equivalent of 5k$.
The Panasonic I mentioned goes for 3.8k Euro, the flat OLED 55er goes for 4k Euro....those two are definitely towards the painful end of my budget, but appear to be some of the less compromised screens.

DP-inputs are even more interesting than HDMI for me, since I could use my 770 (4GB) @ 4k/60Hz should I refuse to get a new card just for the odd gaming session. Although in many titles I won't be pushing close to 60 fps @ 4k anyway, with lowered details or less demanding titles I might just be fine.

Vizio appears to be a US-market only brand, I wonder under what designation those screens are marketed in the EU.

 

[poofyhairguy]

I wonder what the CZ950 will sell for when it is released in Europe next month? That will be the best TV on the planet the second it comes out I bet.

 

[_Rick_]

Sadly, it looks like that will only be available in 65" size, and is slightly curved.
Judging by size + OLED + features, I estimate a launch price in the 8k euro range.

 

[Twitch03]

My advice is to hold out for the 65" OLED to come down in price, it has been cut in half to about 7k USD MSRP, you can find it cheaper online of course. 55" OLED 4k is $5500, again cheaper online.

If you have a retailer cole to you with OLED, go look at it in person, it's darker than plasma, and brighter than LCD. Its an amazing technology, that would be worth compromising the slightly curved screen