We tech enthusiasts like to cover many and various things, but there are some that we really don’t encounter much of – Televisions. TVs are something we don’t get much chances to review and to be fair, aren’t quite products that people consider buying regularly. However, because an individual might only think of getting a new one every few years, it’s probably even more important that we review TVs so that consumers can make informed decisions. Of course, when LG asked if we’d like to review one of their newer models we jumped at the chance. Here’s what we thought of LG’s latest Curved OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) TV.
Display of Beauty
As it was an on-site review, there’s no box to unwrap so we’re not exactly sure of what else is inside besides the TV. The most important piece is the TV itself, and wow it is a work of art. Model name EC930T is a slim TV with a subtle curve. How slim is it? As slim as a pencil, LG says. My rough estimate is that it’s less than 1cm in thickness. It gives a real sense of class and elegance, definitely the kind of of premium home entertainment that’ll turn heads when you have visitors in your home.
THAT Bezel!
Besides the slimness, what people would notice immediately is the flimsy looking stand. It’s not very solid and that can be a concern, so my personal recommendation for this TV is that it should be wall or rack mounted for greater stability. Leaving the issue on the stand behind, I looked at the bezel and everything was forgiven (or more like forgotten, actually). At less than an inch on all four sides, the EC930T has one of the thinnest if not THE thinnest bezels I’ve ever seen. I’m not exaggerating either, as the display’s size is 54.6-inches diagonally, just shy of that actual size of the entire TV frame at 55-inch. Imagine daisy-chaining a few units together for an enlarged display, it would look nigh-seamless!
Magnificent Visuals
Now that I’ve finished gushing over the physical aspects of the TV, let’s discuss its performance. The one thing that really sticks out for OLED TVs in general, is how amazing the contrast can be. It’s something that no other form of backlight-based display can emulate. On the EC930T, the black is truly black instead of light shades of grey, making dark areas or scenes that much more obvious and detailed. This is because in OLED displays, each pixel generates its own light; read up more on that if you’re curious. Next is colour, which is also an area that OLED displays excel in. I tried checking with the LG reps about the total colour gamut of the model, but they couldn’t give me the answer. Suffice to say, the colour is amazingly vibrant.
Audio Below Par
TVs aren’t complete without good audio, so that’s another area I also looked into. This TV has Harmon Kardon speakers built into it, so I had some expectations for its performance. Unfortunately, when it comes to speakers the quality can often be determined by the physical size of the drivers, and because the EC930T is such a thin display, its sound is also on the thin side. The volume is decent and it certainly doesn’t sound bad, but it falls flat and there’s not enough boom to it, so it’s probably best to pair this TV up with a more capable sound system.
New OS
Like many of LG’s newer models, the EC930T recently got the upgrade to WebOS 2.0. This version has a user-friendly setup wizard that’s great for the not so tech-savvy people. The UI is pretty easy to use and functions smoothly, but due to the lack of internet connection at the time of reviewing, I couldn’t fully test how well apps like the built-in web browser performs. For reference though, the remote that comes with the TV has a mic that you can use for voice search, so that can be a very useful feature.
Lowering of Costs
The jury is still out on whether curved displays actually have any major impact on visual depth or ergonomics. Regardless, LG makes a compelling case with its OLED TVs. Once, these were so expensive that not many could buy them. They still are, but we’re starting to see prices coming down and soon it may be in a price range that’s affordable. But if money is no object and the best is your demand, then maybe now is the time to get a LG 55EC930T Curved OLED TV.
Price RM10,999
Dimensions (W x H x D) 1,225 x 753 x 204 mm (with stand)
Weight 16.4kg (with stand)
Display 55-inch 1080p Curved OLED Panel
Engine Triple XD Engine
Speakers 2x 10W Stereo with SRS TruSurround HD and Bass Enhancer
Smart Features USB Video Player, Photo Viewer, Music Player, Photo Frame Mode, Alarm Timer (Sleep), Wireless LAN, Web Browser, Video Streaming App, SNS (Facebook/Twitter via AQUOS.NET), MHL, Optical Picture Control, Active Backlight
I/O 3x USB 2.0, 1x headphone out, 4x HDMI, 1x RS-232C, 1x CI slot, RF in, 1x Full Scart, 1x Composite in, 1x Component in, 1x Digital audio out, 1x Ethernet LAN
Value 8
Features 9
Performance 10
Design 10
Usability 10
Verdict This OLED TV is what you want if visual quality is your number one priority.
Total 9.4
