OLED industry update

[Robert Zohn]

So much has transpired with the 2017 line-up of OLED TVs. We now have the choice of Sony or LG and most importantly Dolby Vision support has been added to the dynamic frame by frame tone mapping of HDR10 and HLG HDR.

A very big shoutout to LGE engineers and management to include the 2016 OLED series in the Dolby Vision update! I love companies that have the culture to continue support and enhancements for previous generations whenever possible.

At Value Electronics we've been blazing the new trail of calibrating HDR10 and Dolby Vision HDR to peak the performance of our beloved UHD, HDR, 10-bit, rec.2020 color gamut all following the new EOTF curve to accurately deliver every detail that our new UHD/HDR TV System offers.

OLED future looks brighter than ever ( get it brighter ) with LG Display's new OLED panel production plant in Guangzhou, China that is now scheduled to begin production of ultra large OLED panels for Q1 2020. This new OLED fabrication plant will have the ability to produce panels larger than 100" diagonal. And as needed the new flexible OLED displays we've seen prototypes for the past year or so will now be a reality.

Thanks to all at LGD and LGE to have the guts, foresight and determination to advance emissive display technology!

By the end of next month I'll be launching our OLED fine art gallery exhibition that will dazzle the art community and video enthusiasts around the world.

 

[Tonto]

That's really great news! Thanks for the update.

 

[Todd Anderson]

Great update, Robert!

I sat through that HDR seminar you suggested (the Japanese engineer might have well been speaking in Japanese... most of what he said was nearly too complex), but the ensuing discussion about Tone Mapping and its implications for for calibration was certainly interesting.

Question: Will the 2016 OLEDs get an HDR10+ or HLG firmware update?

Really glad you're here to share some of this info... and awesome that your shop is forging ahead and deliver calibrations that take HDR into account. Curious, do your customers ever ask you to switch their display back into a standard mode?

I only ask because a local DC installer told me they've stopped calibrations because so many customers were unhappy with the end result. Made me wonder if they were calibrating properly...? They are a super reputable business, so I'm assuming they know what they're doing.

 

[tripplej]

Thanks for the update. Always good to know more about OLED!

 

[Robert Zohn]

@Todd Anderson glad you made it to Sony's projector demo, they also had an excellent flat panel demo room next door that had my friend and very favorite Sony engineer presenting.

I don't expect HDR10+ on the 2016 OLED, but I'll check and get back with what I learn.

Our calibration results are truly excellent and we get a lot of great feedback from our clients. We use a dedicated specialist for our calibrations as I want the best possible work and no one on my staff has enough time to dedicate to this rapidly evolving science.

 

[Robert Zohn]

As of this moment all 2016 LG OLED TVs that have the latest firmware received the HLG HDR update.

No word on HDR10+, but personally I doubt we'll see that upgrade as LG and Sony TVs employee frame by frame dynamic metadata when it's decoding HDR10 content. LG's and Sony's dynamic HDR10 processing tells the TV how to tone map for each frame, which is what HDR10+ offers to the existing HDR10 HDR protocol.

 

[Robert Zohn]

Here's the updates on LG's and Sony's price moves on OLED TVs.

Let's get the bad news out of the way first:

LG OLED TVs:
- LG's Black Friday promotional prices for the 55" and 65" B7 are gone forever. Today's best buy is in the C7P series that have maintained the lowest prices of the year.

Here's the good news:

LG's OLED TVs:
- As stated above LG has maintained the Black Friday prices on the C7P series and the 77" G7 and even the W7 are enjoying a strong and steady sales pace with their new lower selling prices.

Sony's A1E series OLED TVs:
- 1st, Sony has also decided to maintain the Black Friday promotion on 55" and 65" A1E series OLED at $2499 and $3499 respectfully. With some authorized dealers offering additional incentives this has become a good choice for may video enthusiasts.

- 2nd, beginning today, Sunday, December 3 and until further notice Sony is reducing the "SURE" price on the stunning 77" A1E to $12,999, and again with select authorized dealer incentives this beauty is expected to sell to a wider market base.

 

[Todd Anderson]

Robert -

First off, thank you for being a VIP Supporter! Thank you so much, my friend!

Second, very interesting on the pricing front. I guess the A1E is more comparable to the C series... and LG is hoping to push sales to their higher price point by making that price point look more attractive?

Such amazing TVs all the way around. And to add in dealer incentives... sounds like buyers need to give you a call!

 

[Robert Zohn]

Today I tested a new video wall scaler/controller with three portrait mounted 55" B7A OLED TVs to make a 100" 16:9 aspect ratio display. Here's a quick pic to show off the project.

This makes a 100" OLED TV at a moderate price.

 

[Todd Anderson]

Interesting... what’s the total cost on that...$4500 to $5500?

 

[Matthew J Poes]

Today I tested a new video wall scaler/controller with three portrait mounted 55" B7A OLED TVs to make a 100" 16:9 aspect ratio display. Here's a quick pic to show off the project.

This makes a 100" OLED TV at a moderate price.

Wow a few more generations of bezel reduction and that would be a viable home theater display. One of my dreams is to realize true HDR at 100" or more with over 1000 bits of peak brightness.

I just saw the Sony OLED in action last week and was truly impressed. I plan to change my aging plasma with an OLED as soon as I can.

Thanks for all these updates.

 

[Robert Zohn]

@Todd, These three vertically mounted OLED panels are B7A so the TVs total around $4500. I used a high-end professional video wall scaler/processor that retails for just under $2k and the portrait video wall mounts are very high end and precision adjustable in every imaginable position tweak and they cost around $700 each. So all in all the TVs, processor and wall mounts would retail for $8600 plus cables and instillation.

@ MjPoes12, I can get the panels a little closer together to minimize the two vertical black bars. I can tell you that most folk don't even notice the black bars as the image is stunning and with many scenes the bars are not as noticeable as they are in the image I posted.

I also used 55" B7As with black tape on the silver trim, however, with the all black C7P bezel the video wall will be cleaner and have a smaller frame.

This is not for everyone, but it is a very very cool 100" UHD OLED display and in the very few hours we've had it on display it drew a lot of serious attention.

 

[Tony V.]

WOW, the price for that kind of multi display is getting close to affordable! the beauty of such a setup is that it can be used even in well lite environments without sacrificing quality.

 

[Talley]

I dream of the day I can buy a 130" OLED display for less than 20k....

Till then I'll stick to my projector.