Computer Shopper - UK (2020-07)

TVs

ISSUE389|COMPUTER SHOPPER|JULY2020 77

getthebestoutofhighdynamicrange(HDR)

content, which is becoming increasingly

common on popular streaming services.

Apeak brightness of 400cd/m^2 is usually the

minimum forhalf-decent HDR.

We’ll also be looking at the quality of

upscaled content, as this is determined

more by the TV than the content itself,as

well as how each set handles motion. Alot

of TVshavededicated motion processors to

avoid blurring and visual artefacts around

moving objects, and agoodprocessor is

well worth having.

PICKYOUR PORT

Because multiple HDMI ports, S/PDIF audio

outputs, and both Ethernet and Wi-Fi are

all standard issue on current-generation TVs,

you don’t need to worry toomuch about

whether you can connect to the internet or

plug in asoundbar.

That said, not all TVswillhaveconnections

such as compositeinputs or antenna sockets,

so consider whether you need these before

buying. The capability of the HDMI ports

can also vary: standard HDMI 2.0 ports will

handle 4K video up to 30fps, but forhigher

frame rates and HDR support, HDMI 2.0b

connections are better equipped and can use

the same cables as HDMI 2.0.

The newest HDMI format, 2.1, isn’t

currently amust-have formostusers, but

it could be of interest to audio aficionados.

Its higher bandwidth allows foralossless

audio signal to move back and forth between

aTVand asoundbar or AV receiver,whereas

HDMI 2.0b compresses the signal. Youwill,

however,need to ensure you’re using a

certified ‘Ultra High Speed’ HDMI cable to

get the full benefit.

ATYOUR SERVICE

One of the best recent developments in TVs

has been the addition of smart features, such as

built-in streaming services accessible through

the bundled remote. This can potentially save

you the further expense of buying aseparate

streaming stick or set-topbox.

We’ll noteineach review whether aTV

leaves out certain major streaming platforms,

but most of the big names –Netflix, Amazon,

BBC iPlayer and so on –are common.

Besides, there’s also the simple fact that
4K looks much better than 1080p,packing far
more detail intoevery frame.Oftenyou can
even take advantage of upscaling to play
1080p content at akind of pseudo-4K
resolution, enhancing older and cheaper
video sources, although the quality of
upscaling varies on each TV.
4K is ano-brainer,then, althoughyou will
have to choose the size of your new TV.The
models we’ve tested range from 49in
diagonally up to 65in, and we don’t think it’s
wise to go much smaller than the former or
larger than the latter.50in to 55in will suffice
formost room sizes; 65in only feels necessary
forvery spacious living rooms, or if you have
cash to burn. Keep in mind that each TV
should have multiple size options available,so
if one of the models we’ve tested appeals to
you forperformance but seems toobig or
small, it’s worth checking forother versions.

DIODETO JOY
Modern TVscan use one of several different
panel technologies. Most of the more
affordable sets incorporateLCD screens,
specifically using vertical alignment (VA)
panels. These typically offer very high
contrast, especially compared to other LCD
types such as in-plane switching (IPS) panels,
as well as good colour depth, but theyalso
sufferfrom narrow viewing angles. In short, if
you’re viewing the screen from atight angle,
the image will appear darker and discoloured,
even if it looks fine when facing it square-on.
Pricier TVsmight instead use organic
light-emitting diode (OLED) panels. Whereas
VA panels use backlighting to illuminateeach
pixel, producing the images you see on the
screen, every pixel on an OLED panel directly
illuminates itself.This confers numerous
benefits,such as finer control over brightness
and perfect blacks (as the pixel LED can
simply turn off,instead of trying to produce
avery dark light). However,itoftenmeans
lower peak brightness overall, and OLED
screens have aremoteriskof‘burn-in’, where
traces of previous images remain visible.
Samsung’s proprietary QLED panels avoid
this by combining an LCD-stylebacklight
with afilm of ‘quantum dots’,which can
produce colours on aper-pixel basis –similar
to OLED but without the individual LEDs.
It’s asmart middle ground that also retains
OLED’s wider viewing angles, even if OLED
screens tend to have the more vibrant,
colourful picture overall.

IMAGE SEARCH
The eight TVsreviewed here have been
extensively tested on every aspect of image
quality, from colour performance and
contrast to brightness and motion. As with
any display, you’ll want avivid, high-contrast
screen that avoids over-orundersaturation
or any unsightly tinges.
High brightness has numerous upsides,
from helping to deal with glare to giving
colours extra pop.It’s downright essential to

Supportingsoundbars

NotallTVs’integratedspeakersarebad,butforthebestaudio

accompanimenttofilms,TVshowsandgames,theywon’tbeat

agoodsoundbar. Herearesomeofthebest

POLKAUDIOCOMMANDBAR

£190•Fromwww.amazon.co.uk

Not only is this an affordable and rich-sounding soundbar/

subwoofercombo with plenty of bass delivery,itdoubles as

asmart speaker.Set up theAmazon Alexa smart

assistant and you can use voice commands to

play, pause and adjust the volume of whatever

you’re watching.

Some TVshavesimilar capability,but these usually require you to speak commands into

microphones within the remotecontrol. Besides upgrading your home cinema audio,the

Command Bar is therefore agood pick if you want to minimise remoteuse.

SAMSUNGHW-MS650

£299•Fromwww.currys.co.uk

Aslightly older option, but still abrilliant one in

2020. The HW-MS650 is one of the best all-roundall-in-onesoundbars–asin,theresno
      separatesubwoofer–you can get, combining aclean, accuratesound with extensive
      connectivity and even multiroomfunctionality.
      One of its tricks is adigital signal processor (DSP), which is dedicated to making sure
      multi-channel inputs are pushed out of the appropriatedrivers. The result is awide
      soundstage that almost emulates asurround-sound effect,all by itself.

SAMSUNGHW-Q70R

£550•Fromwww.currys.co.uk

Having dropped fromits original price of £779,the HW-Q70R

if you want the holy grail of home cinema audio:DolbyAtmos

sound adds asense of width, Atmos addsasense of height,

bouncing sound off your ceiling foramore immersive 3Deffec

The HW-Q70R is easily the cheapest Atmos soundbar we’v

seen so far, anditperforms well as ageneral speaker/subwoo

too, with clear dialogue and deep but not uncontrolled bass.

is acanny choice

s.Just as surround

ct.

ve

ofercombo

ndallinonesoundbars asin there’sno