LG OLED65C9PLA
Despite all its What Hi-fi? Awards, LG is in a tricky position with its OLED TVS. According to accepted wisdom, OLED panels hit their performance limit in 2017 and, from a hardware perspective, these 2019 OLEDS are similar to models from then.
Releasing the same sets every year won’t keep LG on top, so the company has looked beyond the panel hardware. Last year, the Alpha 9 processor was the focus – this time LG is making lots of noise about AI and the benefits to the picture, sound and user experience. While LG has overplayed the impact of its AI tech, the C9 is still a cracking set.
The C-class OLED gets you all of LG’S advanced picture and processing tech in the most affordable package. But even though it's the most basic model, the C9 is a lovely looking set. From the side, it looks striking, with a thin panel and compact plastic appendage for the connections, processing technology and the speakers. Even at its thickest point, the C9 measures just 4.7cm.
From the front, the speakers are near-invisible. All you can see is a thin, black bezel around the screen, which isn't far off being a floating display when wall-mounted. Those who aren’t wall-mounting will appreciate the subtle, low-profile stand.
Most manufacturers are adding HDMI 2.1 features to the HDMI 2.0 inputs of their 2019 TVS, but LG is so far alone in including HDMI 2.1-certified sockets. Whether that’s actually a big deal is debatable. The likes of EARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel) and VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) are currently of niche appeal and manufacturers, such as Samsung, offer them via their HDMI 2.0-certified ports anyway. But it’s nice that the full spec is officially confirmed.
As well as those four HDMI 2.1 sockets, the C9 has three USBS, ethernet, optical and headphone outputs, and aerial and satellite connections. Under the skin is the second-generation version of last year’s Alpha 9 processor, which adds AI technology designed to optimise the picture and sound, based on the content played and the room in which the TV is located. It’s also designed to make the TV smarter by offering more intelligent voice interaction via LG’S own Thinq, Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, as well as providing content recommendations based on previous viewing choices and the time of day.
Interface additions
LG’S webos operating system looks and operates broadly the same as before, with boldly coloured ‘cards’ representing sources and apps. New this year are ‘AI Preview’, which adds a row of relevant content above the app you’ve highlighted, giving you access to specific shows or films on Netflix or Amazon, and ‘Intelligent Edit’, which automatically reorders sources and apps based on usage.
The selection of apps is one of the most comprehensive out there. Netflix and Amazon Video are on board, in 4K and with Dolby Vision HDR (HDR10 and HLG are also supported, but not HDR10+), and movie streaming is available via Google Play Movies & TV and Rakuten, both also in 4K and HDR.
All the UK’S main catch-up apps are here, Now TV gives subscription-free access to Sky content, and Plex allows for streaming of your own digital media files. The C9 will also offer Airplay 2 support in the future, allowing you to stream content from your Apple device.
LG’S remote remains one of the most ergonomic out there, combining traditional buttons with a pointer function that allows you to highlight TV options by simply aiming at them. It’s an intuitive way to operate the TV, but the option to disable it would be appreciated.
Confusing menus
While webos’s front end is bright, welcoming and responsive, the menus are less well thought out. Processes such as adjusting picture settings, for example, are trickier than they need to be.
LG seems intent on overwhelming users with picture settings. With standard dynamic range (SDR) content, there are no fewer than 10 picture presets to choose from, while there are six for HDR and five for Dolby Vision.
The settings within these presets are confusing, too, with some options being located in different parts of the menu system depending on which picture mode is selected.
Make a move on motion
The good news is that you can avoid much confusion by sticking with the standard preset, which needs only a few tweaks to look its best.
Once adjusted the C9 produces a lovely picture. We play Star Trek: Discovery from Netflix and black depth is as good as we’ve come to expect from OLED, while the ability to independently light or dim each individual pixel results in stunning contrast. Absolute brightness is limited compared with most high-end Lcd-derived sets, but even the Samsung Q90R, which achieves black depth hitherto unseen from a NON-OLED, can’t quite match the C9’s blackness.
Colours are also lovely, the slight richness lending a charming, organic warmth to skin tones and real splendour to sunrises and sunsets. Detail levels are up there with the best in class but, again, without suggesting any artificial enhancement. Freckles, wrinkles, scars and spots are mercilessly resolved, as are the intricacies of the Discovery itself when viewed from space.
Shutting down shimmer
Motion isn’t perfect, the Trumotion processing adding extra shimmer, but with Dejudder switched off and Deblur at its maximum, you get a performance that is a little sharper, yet devoid of the horrible soap opera effect.
Our only criticism of the LG C9 with HDR content is a slight lack of detail at the two extremes of the brightness scale. There's not much in it, but the Samsung Q90 digs up a little more detail in the brightest and darkest parts of the picture. Blanket blacks and whites are stunning on the LG, but areas that should be more nuanced aren’t quite there.
We watch Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol.2 and in the view of the Sovereign planets, the large golden panel of the main planet is a little washed out, while the dark areas of space lack some of the subtler hues that the Samsung reveals.
This isn’t an issue with SDR content, presumably because the LG isn’t stretching itself as much in this format in terms of overall contrast. Here the TV’S rich but authentic approach to colours works wonders, with a natural picture.
Throw some upscaling into the mix, whether from a Blu-ray, DVD or one of the onboard tuners, and the C9 provides an astonishingly clean, smooth image with more detail than you should reasonably expect. Some rivals go a little sharper with 1080p and 576p content, but none is more balanced or controlled.
Experience tells us that the Dolby Atmos logo on a TV is no guarantee of sound quality, and it’s rare that completely hidden speakers sound great. So, it’s a surprise that the C9 is a real sonic upgrade on its predecessor and a more accomplished audio performer than rivals such as the Samsung.
The Dolby Atmos mode adds width, weight and dynamism, while voices are projected effectively. It’s an atmospheric sound, though it doesn’t stretch into the room in the way you might expect from Dolby Atmos. That said, it’s an impressive delivery by the standards of integrated sound solutions.
Even when the signal being received isn’t Atmos, the LG has an AI Sound mode that has a similar, atmosphereenhancing effect, particularly with the Sound Tuning, which tailors the audio presentation to your room.
Standard, two-channel TV sound is generally best left unprocessed by LG’S sound modes, but even this is weighty and open, with greater directness than last year’s screens.
Stretching the limits
We may be close to OLED’S hardware limitations, but each year LG produces a picture that defies expectations – and this year is no different. The C9 is a superb performer, majoring on naturalism while adding an extra dollop of dynamism in terms of colours and contrast. Its audio is impressive, too.
What's more, in this company the LG C9 looks like very good value. The Samsung might go brighter, but it costs £500 more, and while the Sony is prettier and sounds better, it will set you back even more than that.
Given its exhaustive features, punchy but natural performance across all sources and that very competitive price, you're probably wondering what the Samsung and Sony can possibly do to tempt you to spend even more.