OLED | The Tech Guy

Scott Wilkinson and the Big Event

Episode 1829

This week was the annual Value Electronics Great TV Shoot Out. Scott says that all the flagship models were put side by side in a darkened room, along with a professional "reference" monitor for comparison. They were all calibrated the same as well. Commercial and custom content was shown, as well as test patterns. Then, professionals were invited to come and give their impressions on which one was best. There were both 4K and 8K categories, as well as a projection category this year.

Here's are the top three from each category:

What TV and Sound System Should I Get?

Episode 1816

Richard from Tampa, FL

Richard will be buying a new TV and sound system soon and wants to know what to get. Leo says to determine the size; you want bigger than you think. These days, 70" or more is better for movies. And if you can darken the room, then an OLED is ideal. But if the room has brighter ambient light, then an LCD screen is going to be best. So, it depends on the room you put it in. As for sound, a soundbar will work really well, but you want to get a subwoofer.

What 4K TV is Best & Under $1000?

Episode 1811

Janice from California

Janice wants to get a new TV to replace an old 32" HD TV. Leo says that TCL makes a great 65" 4K TV for under $1,000. But Janice will also need to get a soundbar. Vizio makes a great soundbar for the money. So work that into the budget as well. What if money is no object? Leo says that OLED is really the way to go. LG and Sony make the best OLEDs. But they are expensive. What she will really want is an LED LCD TV with full-array local dimming (FALD). That'll give the best color and resolution.

Should I Upgrade My Plasma TV to OLED?

Episode 1809

Henry from Los Angeles, CA

Henry has a Pioneer Kuro Plasma TV, but it's really old now, so he's looking to upgrade to a larger Sony Bravia or LG OLED. Leo says that because Henry's living room can't be darkened, an OLED probably isn't the best choice. An LED LCD TV with full-array local dimming (FALD) would probably serve Henry better. That means the TV has backlighting, not just side lighting. Those are the main considerations. Either LG or Sony are great TVs. So get the one you really like best for the money.

Scott Wilkinson ... Upgraded

Episode 1796

Scott got an email about whether it's a great time to upgrade from a 10-year-old TV and what TV should she buy? Should she go with LED or OLED? She hears that OLED TVs burn out too often and that a QLED is better. Scott disagrees. Most of the problems with OLED have been cured, though there is still a problem with burn-in if you leave it on the same image all day. But even then, with pixel shifting, the potential of burn-in is minimal. So don't worry about OLED, and it's far better than Sony's QLED.

Try to Avoid Using OLED as a Computer Monitor

Jeff, a listener from San Francisco, advises to not choose an OLED display for use as a computer monitor. Burn-in can be a scary issue when it comes to modern computer interfaces, which often leave menus/images still for long periods of time. It can be replaced under warranty if one is lucky, but maybe go for a 4K LCD display instead. Preferably a big screen that can be utilized as a 4-in-1 canvas for multiple windows.

Don't Use an OLED TV as a Computer Monitor

Episode 1791

Jeff from San Francisco, CA

Jeff calls in to warn that if you use an OLED TV as a computer monitor, you run the risk of burn-in from window elements like menu bars that are always on. That makes using an OLED a bad choice for a monitor. Leo agrees and suggests a 4K LCD TV with the highest refresh rate you can get.

Is the 77" LG OLED the Best to View Photography?

Episode 1791

Dennis from Marina Del Rey, CA

Ken recently automated his home with Google Nest, but the problem he's having is that when he's asking his phone to take a picture, he's told by Google Nest that they can't do that. Leo says that's a common issue as sometimes, Google doesn't know where to process a request. That goes away over time as Nest learns speech patterns. It also helps to be more specific in commands.

How Can I Keep an Old Plasma TV Healthy?

Episode 1784

Maurice from Van Nuys, CA

Maurice still has a Pioneer Kuro Plasma Monitor that he keeps in great shape by unplugging it when he doesn't use it. Leo says that they were great TVs for their time, but OLED has actually surpassed them.

Sam Abuelsamid: Escaladed

Episode 1777

Sam joins Leo to talk about the new Cadillac Escalade and its Augmented Reality instrument cluster display. It's 37" wide and has an OLED screen. It's great for navigation since it projects directions floating above the image coming from the front-facing camera. The next generation will have a multi-plane heads-up display that can be projected on the windshield. That's going to be really cool, as well as safe.