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Last hesitations (950H, A8H)

1364 Views 22 Replies 9 Participants Last post by  Traab, 
Traab
Hello
After a couple of weeks of research & thinking, and various posts here, I need to now make a decision, and seeking final bits of advice.

Currently, I'm using a 55" FHD IPS with my Mac mini as the hub for streaming (Netflix, Youtube, and movies from Apple TV) and music (USB Dac to Audiolab amp to KEF Q150). The TV is also used for some browsing and office work, and occasional gaming. Viewing distance is 8 feet (sofa is centered and 9 feet wide), TV is on its stand on a 2 feet high console. There is full height window on one side - no direct sunlight, but plenty of ambient light, and even at night we don't like watching in pitch dark (we always keep some of our lights on)

With the upgrade to a 65" 950H or A8H we're hoping to get a bit of gain everywhere.. bigger size, 4K support for our streaming, better contrast and HDR experience for movies, a bit less usage of our Mac mini as a hub (i.e. direct control of streaming) via android TV. By and large, our biggest use case remains day-time or evening time watching of streaming shows in Netflix and YouTube.

While initially I was locked into A8H (price difference in my region is around 800$ (2300 vs 3100).. despite the higher price, I'm now thinking overall 950H might be a better fit for me, since the better blacks of A8H aren't really critical as I feel 950H will already be a huge upgrade... and I don't watch in pitch dark. Also since I use PC time to time, I may feel more comfortable with 950H in the long-run. Finally the 150 nit 100% brightness of OLED sounds a bit restrictive during daytime.

The part where I cannot make my mind is on the viewing angle and reflections/glare. I've seen both TVs several times, and noticed the following ... A8H and all OLED use very glossy screen, and at the "right condition" the reflections are much more "clearer" and noticeable than LED TVs.. On the other hand on the "right condition", the 950H has strange rainbow that is mildly distracting.... Overall, I feel during daytime, I would probably be less distracted by 950H's reflection as its less like a full mirror... This is kinda important for me as we don't like using curtains on our window for various reason.

The second part is on the viewing angle, and OLED is hands down far superior to anything on viewing angle (even IPS), vertical and horizontal.. It's clearly better, but I could "live" with 950H and even 900H (though I don't consider this model) was OK upto around 45 degree...

Would appreciate any current users feedback on my scenario before I pull my trigger (I'm torn between trying my first OLED experience ... or going for the more 'practical' 950H)
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M
Only you can decide. Honestly. Go with your gut feeling. That is what I would do. OLED=better picture quality. LED=brighter.

On a side note, I had three Sony X950H units, all had dead pixels right out of the box. The third one may have actually had dust particles under the screen, but at any rate, it seems like they dropped the ball on that one. Look at the X90J instead. Save $100, get a better unit.


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WOLVERNOLE
Traab said:
Hello
After a couple of weeks of research & thinking, and various posts here, I need to now make a decision, and seeking final bits of advice.

Currently, I'm using a 55" FHD IPS with my Mac mini as the hub for streaming (Netflix, Youtube, and movies from Apple TV) and music (USB Dac to Audiolab amp to KEF Q150). The TV is also used for some browsing and office work, and occasional gaming. Viewing distance is 8 feet (sofa is centered and 9 feet wide), TV is on its stand on a 2 feet high console. There is full height window on one side - no direct sunlight, but plenty of ambient light, and even at night we don't like watching in pitch dark (we always keep some of our lights on)

With the upgrade to a 65" 950H or A8H we're hoping to get a bit of gain everywhere.. bigger size, 4K support for our streaming, better contrast and HDR experience for movies, a bit less usage of our Mac mini as a hub (i.e. direct control of streaming) via android TV. By and large, our biggest use case remains day-time or evening time watching of streaming shows in Netflix and YouTube.

While initially I was locked into A8H (price difference in my region is around 800$ (2300 vs 3100).. despite the higher price, I'm now thinking overall 950H might be a better fit for me, since the better blacks of A8H aren't really critical as I feel 950H will already be a huge upgrade... and I don't watch in pitch dark. Also since I use PC time to time, I may feel more comfortable with 950H in the long-run. Finally the 150 nit 100% brightness of OLED sounds a bit restrictive during daytime.

The part where I cannot make my mind is on the viewing angle and reflections/glare. I've seen both TVs several times, and noticed the following ... A8H and all OLED use very glossy screen, and at the "right condition" the reflections are much more "clearer" and noticeable than LED TVs.. On the other hand on the "right condition", the 950H has strange rainbow that is mildly distracting.... Overall, I feel during daytime, I would probably be less distracted by 950H's reflection as its less like a full mirror... This is kinda important for me as we don't like using curtains on our window for various reason.

The second part is on the viewing angle, and OLED is hands down far superior to anything on viewing angle (even IPS), vertical and horizontal.. It's clearly better, but I could "live" with 950H and even 900H (though I don't consider this model) was OK upto around 45 degree...

Would appreciate any current users feedback on my scenario before I pull my trigger (I'm torn between trying my first OLED experience ... or going for the more 'practical' 950H)
Click to expand...
from what I have seen and read, I would go with a 950H over that x90J. Like you, I have always been VERY impressed with the 950H. Not so much on the x90J. Maybe the soon-to-arrive X95J will be superior, but I say “Grab a close out 950H and don’t look back” based on what you have shared.
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J
mnarcher said:
Only you can decide. Honestly. Go with your gut feeling. That is what I would do. OLED=better picture quality. LED=brighter.

On a side note, I had three Sony X950H units, all had dead pixels right out of the box. The third one may have actually had dust particles under the screen, but at any rate, it seems like they dropped the ball on that one. Look at the X90J instead. Save $100, get a better unit.


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The X90J is definitely not better than the 950H
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E
Go for your first choice, but buy it at a place where you could return it should you not like it. If you like it enough then leave it at that. Otherwise enter the rabbit hole lol
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D
Agreed. Do not listen to the advice that you should get the X90J over the 950H. However I replaced my 950H with an A8H and I was glad I did. I was coming from a Pro-101FD so OLED was the right way to go for me.
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RayGuy
Get some curtains. Nobody wants to see you walking around nekid.

:eek:
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M
I say avoid the X950H because of the fact that I had two 75” models with gray dots or specks all over the place. Several months later, I tried a 65” and had the same thing. Had grey specks everywhere on the screen. It almost looked like dust particles between the screen and the panel. It has left me nervous to purchase another TV. I have not had a main TV since January. I am reluctantly looking at something now. As to what, I just do not know. Was going to be a Hisense U8G, but every place that has them now wants a lot to ship them, or charging well over retail price for them.


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mnarcher said:
I say avoid the X950H because of the fact that I had two 75” models with gray dots or specks all over the place. Several months later, I tried a 65” and had the same thing. Had grey specks everywhere on the screen. It almost looked like dust particles between the screen and the panel. It has left me nervous to purchase another TV. I have not had a main TV since January. I am reluctantly looking at something now. As to what, I just do not know. Was going to be a Hisense U8G, but every place that has them now wants a lot to ship them, or charging well over retail price for them.


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Going by your logic nobody should buy an U8G either?
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Traab
Thank you for your comments. Its pretty clear for me at this stage that any TV that goes to 500 nits or above (and with VA or OLED blacks) would feel like a good upgrade, and I would probably be influenced more by usability issues once a certain level of PQ is there.

I just saw that a stand mounted (as i will not wall mount) 950H is tilted 3-4 Degree backwards, it looks visible sideways, and kinda puts me off (sigh), so I have just added Q95 and a few TVs slightly lower on brightness (900h or X85j, Q70a or the “frame (?)” that still seems to have the good VA contrast and brightness around 5-600 nit range…

I am wondering whether a well implemented (but mid tier) local dimming Led like 900h would be signficantly better than a “pure” non local dimmed TV like X85J or Q70A ?
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Davenlr
You realize you can just put a felt sticky pad of whatever thickness you want on the back of the foot to eliminate any backward tip. I just put a level on my screen, as I havent noticed that, and my screen is perfectly level vertically. No backwards tip at all. Its on a glass TV stand with wooden top.
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Traab
Indeed, that's what I was thinking as well, although I wasn't sure it would "feel safe" - it seems based on your comment its workable
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M
E2K said:
Going by your logic nobody should buy an U8G either?
Click to expand...
I am not trying to say that, but I can see where it would come across as if I am.

I am just saying that it makes me nervous. However, I hear little to no complaints or comments about this happening with the Hisense U8G. (Which is the TV that I am thinking is going to be it, depending on what I find out tomorrow if it is still actually in stock)

If I were the OP, I would look at the Hisense U8G. Looks like something that is definitely worth the money. (Unless you need bigger than 65”)


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VA_DaveB
Traab said:
The part where I cannot make my mind is on the viewing angle and reflections/glare. I've seen both TVs several times, and noticed the following ... A8H and all OLED use very glossy screen, and at the "right condition" the reflections are much more "clearer" and noticeable than LED TVs.
Click to expand...
The X950H also has a glossy screen.
Traab said:
Thank you for your comments. Its pretty clear for me at this stage that any TV that goes to 500 nits or above (and with VA or OLED blacks) would feel like a good upgrade, and I would probably be influenced more by usability issues once a certain level of PQ is there.
Click to expand...
Rtings measured the real scene brightness for the OLED A8H in normal TV watching (SDR) at just 316 nits, far short of 500. For very bright white scenes, ABL will further limit brightness.
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Traab
Yes, this is what I realized for the OLEDs, the brightness varies alot depending on use case. I will probably pass on OLED for this upgrade cycle. Its fundamental tech is generation ahead, PQ is correspondingly awesome. Yet when I start to add a few “minor quibbles” (max brightness, reflections, image retention, stutter), while they still are the best PQ, I feel overall value tilts to highend LEDs for this upgrade cycle for me.

I am currently mostly debating between 950H (best PQ, reserves on that tilting stand), Q95T (sightly better specs than 950, initially ruled out for its motion) a 900h (no tilt issue, PQ still very good), or the “Frame” for its unique function (Pq seem par with q70a.. i use google home and love the seemless background photo feature)

I wonder how HDR experience will differ between two TV of similar max brightness but one with and one without local dimming (900h vs frame)

On the reflection, Its not a deal breaker as i dont have direct light just lots of ambient. In showrooms 950h seemed sit between a8H and a 900h in terms of “mirror” like feeling.

Also, regarding panel QC, its probably the most important thing for casual users (I never returned any product in my life), its unfortunate we can only extrapolate roughly by tons of forum reading.

Price wise all 4 model go for similar range, with 900h just a tad cheaper
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M
The more I think about this post, the more I would say if these two were your only choices, I would opt for the A8H.


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VA_DaveB
Traab said:
On the reflection, Its not a deal breaker as i dont have direct light just lots of ambient. In showrooms 950h seemed sit between a8H and a 900h in terms of “mirror” like feeling.
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The X900H is a lower-end TV and therefore it has a semi-gloss screen. Glossy screens are used high end TVs.
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VA_DaveB said:
The X900H is a lower-end TV and therefore it has a semi-gloss screen. Glossy screens are used high end TVs.
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I would not say the X900H is a low end TV, there was only one LED model in 4K models above the X900H, and that was the X950H.

I would say consider this years X95J, but it sounds like that has been a cancelled model for this year, from some press release I read yesterday.


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VA_DaveB
mnarcher said:
I would not say the X900H is a low end TV, there was only one LED model in 4K models above the X900H, and that was the X950H.

I would say consider this years X95J, but it sounds like that has been a cancelled model for this year, from some press release I read yesterday.


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Sorry, I said lower-end meaning lower than the X950H. I did not say that the X900H is a low-end TV as it certainly is not. Only top-end LCDs have glossy screens. Mid-level TVs such as the X900H have semi gloss.

Can you provide a link for the cancellation of the X95J? Many here were looking forward to that TV being released as an alternative to the Samsung QN90A.
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Traab
Thank you all. I really appreciate all the comments, including the recommendation on A8H.

I checked again the angle of X950H, I would need to add a skid pad to balance the tilt, as it will stand on top of a 26 inch stand. X900H seems not to have that "tilt" issue, its viewing angle is a bit borderline. Q90T, the articles on DSE scares me off. I haven't written off A8H (or CX) completely as the only true negative (the glare issue and image retention aren't deal breaker for me) is the sub 200 nit brightness on "near all white" scenes (i.e. web browsing on non-dark mode sites)

  • True wide angle, and pixel level contrast of A8H (with caveats on its max brightness on white scenes)
  • The "nice all-around" X950H without any major downside (except its tilted stand)
  • The "still very good" X900H with some issues on the angle (but also with the cheapest price)

Prices in my region is ... 3.1K / 2.3K / 2.0K respectively.
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