LG 55EA9800 OLED HDTV - REVIEW

The new LG 55EA9800 is one of only two available OLED televisions on the market. OLED (organic light emitting diode) is a new display technology which has been in development since 2008. The technology offers a stunning depth and clarity, unparalleled  by plasma, LCD, or LED displays.

    LG's new cutting edge display presents a picture unlike anything else on the market, except perhaps its Samsung OLED counterpart. Unlike more traditional display technologies, OLED requires no backlight, as each individual pixel is illuminated, contributing to an overall sharper and more vibrant image. Because there is no backlight, there is no color bleeding, meaning that the blacks are deeper than is possible with other technologies. The OLED display offers an image as close to real-life as is currently possible. It does not disappoint.

    Another benefit of the OLED technology is that it allows the TV itself to be incredibly thin. At it's thinnest, the LG 55EA9800 is only 4.5 millimeters. As well, unlike more traditional display technologies, OLED is able to create a curved display. In this, it is similar to its Samsung counterpart. Unlike the Samsung, the LG has a clear curved base. Along with the nearly non-existent bezel, the design of the display itself is quite stunning, and unlike anything else you will find on the market. Unfortunately, within that beauty, there is apparently little room for speakers. LG has decided to stick two front facing speakers in the clear base, and they are not up to par. We would recommend that if you don't already have one, you buy a speaker system to accompany this TV.

    As a top of the line Smart TV, the LG 55EA9800 is full of all the standard Smart TV features you would expect. Like many 3D televisions, it also comes standard with LG's Dual Play, which allows two-player split screen video game play using the 3D glasses, but unlike the Samsung's multi view, it does not allow this feature to be used for watching TV shows.

    In conclusion, the LD 55EA9800 does not disappoint as the first OLED display on the market. It most notably has a stunningly sharp image, but isn't without its flaws. Like the curved Samsung OLED counterpart, the LG cannot be wall mounted, and it is reasonably expensive. Still, if you're looking to break into the OLED market, the LG is a worthy purchase.

Pros:

- A cutting edge display technology, OLED lives up to the hype with a beautifully crisp picture

- A pleasing aesthetic design, as well as incredibly thin

Cons:

- OLED is costly, but unlikely to fall anytime soon due to long development time of the technology

- Cannot be wall-mounted

- Sub-par onboard speakers


When you decide to purchase the LG 55EA9800, please do so by clicking on the Amazon.com link below, as it helps support this site. Thank you!

Samsung KN55S9C Curved Panel Smart 3D OLED HDTV - REVIEW

The new Samsung OLED (organic light-emitting diode) TV is one of the first of its kind. As one of only two OLED TV's currently on the market (as of November 2013), it offers a superior picture to almost any other display, be it plasma, LCD or LED. The reason for this is the new OLED technology, which allows for no back light, as each OLED pixel independently displays a rich and bright image. This groundbreaking technology allows for greater color contrast than even a plasma display, resulting in incredibly deep blacks, with no color bleeding. Overall, the Samsung KN55S9C offers the best picture of any TV on the market, hands down. 

    Besides the fantastic picture, the OLED technology allows for several other visible benefits. Because there is no back light, OLED TV's can be made extremely thin, even more so than a regular LED TV. As well, because of the lack of back light, this is the only display technology that allows the screen to be curved. And well, because they can, they did. This design choice has also been implemented into the only other on-the-market OLED TV, the LG  55EA9800.

    While we could argue that the curve of the display doesn't actually offer any benefit besides an eye catching aesthetic, it does in fact seem to benefit an extreme angle side view of the display. In the end, after watching the display for some time, the curve went unnoticed. Along with the floating bezel, the display looked like something in a modern art gallery when turned off.

    The floating bezel, aside from adding further aesthetic, functions as a front-facing speaker, about which we have no complaints. As most displays have speakers which face out the back, this is a welcome change, creating crisper and more direct sound.

    Amazingly, aside from its phenomenal picture and one-of-a-kind, eye-catching design, the  Samsung KN55S9C offers another unique feature: the ability to show two different full-HD images at the same time. Samsung calls this feature "Multi View". Passive 3D televisions can do something similar targeted towards gamers, but multi view can be used to watch two TV shows simultaneously. Unfortunately (and obviously), this feature requires the use of specialized 3D glasses with built-in headphones. The KN55S9C ships with 4 pairs of these glasses. When multi view is turned on, and the glasses are not worn, the TV displays the two programs overlaid. Put on the glasses and you can see only one image, but are able to switch freely between the two. While the "first" screen is able to watch from any source, unfortunately the second screen is limited to an external input, such as HDMI, or the TV tuner. While this feature functions perfectly well, it does unfortunately again, require multiple live TV sources if both viewers want to watch live TV. In other words, two cable or satellite boxes.

    One more nice feature the KN55S9C is that it offers a separate breakout box for its external connections, which include 2 USB and 4 HDMI ports, as well as the other standard requisite ports. This means that only one single cable connects to the TV. This single universal cord also supplies power. As well as reducing cable clutter, this breakout box wards against Smart TV obsolescence, as it can conceivably be upgraded as need arises.

    In conclusion, the Samsung KN55S9C OLED TV offers a stunning display, undoubtedly better in comparison to any plasma, LCD, or LED TV. It has a unique aesthetic which you won't find with any other type of display technology, as well as several unique features, such as the breakout cable box, and Samsung's Multi View. It also, of course, hosts Samsung's other high-end features, such as the built-in camera, voice and gesture control, and a comprehensive Smart TV suite. Not without its flaws, however, the KN55S9C cannot be wall mounted due to its curved design, and it is no doubt an expensive new technology. The new Samsung OLED retails for just under 10 grand, but for that price, you get something wholly unique and cutting edge.

Pros:

- A cutting edge display technology, OLED lives up to the hype with a beautifully crisp picture

- A pleasing aesthetic design, as well as incredibly thin

- Samsung's multi view is a welcomed feature

- Breakout cable box

Cons:

- OLED is costly, but unlikely to fall anytime soon due to long development time of the technology

- Cannot be wall-mounted

When you decide to purchase the Samsung KN55S9C, please do so by clicking on the Amazon.com link below, as it helps support this site. Thank you!