Lg oled 55 c9 review in Spanish (complete analysis)

LG is perhaps the leading manufacturer of OLED TVs on the market today along with Samsung. Although it takes advantage of offering us devices with an excellent quality / price ratio such as the LG OLED 55 C9 television that we will analyze today. A television with OLED technology on a 55-inch panel better calibrated than the previous generation and with superior model features. We will also test it with the LG SL9Y 500W sound bar.

As is its hardware, since the Alpha 9 CPU with 14-bit processing is found in higher models such as the Z9, W9 and E9, as well as the 10-bit panel that is mounted. It has been the only manufacturer to introduce HDMI 2.1, so we could now stream 4K content at 120Hz without compression. Could it be the best OLED TV in quality / price? We will see it below.

But first, we thank LG for trusting us by temporarily releasing these products to us for review.

LG OLED 55 C9 technical characteristics

Unboxing

We start of course with the Unboxing of the LG OLED 55 C9, a television that has come to us in a huge rigid cardboard box of standard thickness. It has their faces printed in vinyl style with a nice colored background indicating the main characteristics of the television.

We open the box at the top and we will find the television placed vertically, its natural position, and with two molds of expanded polystyrene cork to hold the equipment. Various other panels will protect the screen and sides of the TV. In turn, the screen comes in a poly foam bag and with a plastic protector attached to the panel.

The bundle has the following elements inside:

• LG OLED 55 C9 TV Separate aluminum base Rear TV stand Screws for assembly Installation manual and stand Remote control + AA batteries 3-pole female RCA Jack converter Power cable Optical audio cable

So we have several elements that we will have to assemble ourselves if the after-sales service of the store in question does not include assembly. For the rest, the included cables are appreciated, although we miss a HDMI cable, since with the new 2.1 standard that the television implements, this cable should be of very good quality to ensure bandwidth.

From the LG SL9YG bar it will arrive in a rigid cardboard box similar in appearance to that used on TV, with all the speakers in the same bundle. Its weight oscillates 15 Kg and it has a protection of polystyrene cork as in the previous case.

The bundle has the following elements inside:

• Bar LG SL9YG (We have been sent by LG to do it together with the review) Subwoofer LG SL9YG (We have been sent by LG to do it together with the review) Optical connection cable Power connector Jack cable to connect the subwoofer Instruction manual Remote control with AAA batteries various installation

The bar can be installed on a table just in front of the TV or directly on the wall with the elements it includes. It is important to note that the rear speakers that are discussed on the official LG page are not included , only bar and subwoofer.

LG OLED 55 C9 design

The design of the LG OLED 55 C9 stands out aesthetically for being extremely thin thanks to implementing an OLED panel inside and a new central base that goes perfectly with the aesthetics of the set in plastic and aluminum mainly.

In this case we analyze the 55-inch model making it the smallest panel of the three available, finding 65 and 77 inches. The usable floor space is always huge on LG TVs, and polished aluminum frames in unibody structure (all in one piece) are being used on the C9. Seeing in them an excellent machining with rounded edges and a great overall finish.

It is a great bet of the manufacturer to achieve a more premium aspect of their product, since in the lower models and of course in the IPS, simple black plastic is used as discreetly as possible. In this way it has managed to increase the packaging of the screen and gain an extra aesthetic for our living room.

Of course, the rear area of ​​the LG OLED 55 C9 itself is built in hard plastic with a brushed effect finish, quite common in LG televisions. The thickness of this equipment is minimal with only 4.6 cm in the thickest area, and barely 1 cm at the edges and top where there is no hardware. Another benefit of not having a backlight, the panel shrinks to a few layers only, leaving more room behind for hardware, connectors, and speakers.

Base and mounting

We moved to the lower area of ​​the LG OLED 55 C9 to see in more detail the base of the TV. In this case and the rest of the OLED models from the B9 to the E9, a central base has been used instead of the traditional side legs, which although they provide extra security in the support of the TV, are aesthetically basic.

For this reason we find a base made up of two elements. The front visible part is a brushed aluminum plate with enough support surface that takes at least 2/3 of the width of the TV. An excellent finish for this foot that combines perfectly with the aluminum frames of the screen.

The back is the one that really takes care of holding the TV vertically. It is a foot of considerable size that increases the depth of the set to 251 mm, with approximately 35-40 cm in length. It features a smooth plastic casing on a metal chassis that is responsible for giving rigidity. In the vertical area, which is quite narrow, is where the panel will be caught, while in the lower area the aluminum base will be attached.

With this type of support we achieve a good stability of the set, and we imagine that the grip of the panel on the 66 and 75-inch models will be wider, since it gives us a little insecurity with such sizes. This LG OLED 55 C9 model seems stable enough to use this method, so we can also use tables a little less long since they do not have legs at the ends.

In addition to the installation on its base, the TV is compatible with VESA mounts of 300 × 200 mm, to be able to place them directly on the wall without major problems. The support will have to be bought apart naturally.

LG OLED 55 C9 Wireless Connectivity and Ports

After seeing the general design of the LG OLED 55 C9, we cannot forget the back where we will have all the ports on the TV, which in this case comes with interesting news:

• 4x HDMI 2.13x USB Type-A1x Optical digital output for audio1x 3.5 headphone jack1x Coaxial antenna connector1x RJ45 Ethernet1x PCMCIA slot

The most important thing about connectivity in terms of novelty is the implementation of the new HDMI 2.1 standard, which is only available on these LG models and no others on the market. Of course it makes all the sense in the world, since it is an interface that raises the bandwidth to 42.6 Gbps to reach 4K @ 144 Hz without compression and 240 Hz with DSC.

Recall that this LG OLED 55 C9 has a native 120 Hz refresh, something that will come in handy for the new generation Xbox and Playstation 5 (PS5) consoles that will also carry this type of connector for sure.

On the other hand we see vitally important the optical connector to integrate high resolution sound bars in these televisions, as well as a 1000 Mbps Ethernet port. However, the TV integrates WiFi connectivity under IEEE 802.11ac and Bluetooth 4.2.

LG SL9Y technical characteristics

LG SL9YG Soundbar Design

The design of the LG SL9YG sound system does not keep too many secrets except what can be seen in the images. It consists of two elements in total, a bar with a width similar to that of a 55 ”television, with 1220 mm, 57 mm in height, thickness or whatever you want to call it and 145 mm in depth, so it is not exactly small.

In this bar is where we have the thickness of the electronics, with the high-quality DAC that is responsible for supplying high definition sound and the ports, which in this case will be the following:

• 2x HDMI 2.0, for input and output 1x optical port 1x USB 1x Jack

The connection to the television will be made in this case with the optical digital port, as it offers lower latency and better features, provided that the television itself is compatible. But it can also be done through HDMI, which will come in handy if you have Blu-Ray players and more.

As for its aesthetics, it is a bar built essentially in smooth aluminum for the outer casing with a metal chassis as is obvious and a perforated grille in the speaker output area. Generally quite standard although it shows quality in its finishes, not for nothing is worth 500 euros.

It has a total of 6 integrated speakers, which when viewed in a horizontal position we have: two upper ones of 50W and greater diagonal, two front ones of 50W and other two lateral ones (on the edges) of 40W that make the function of surround sound. A more rear pair can be added to the system to achieve the full surround effect, although they will have to be purchased separately. Like the subwoofer, these speakers will connect wirelessly to the central system.

On the part of the subwoofer, since it is nothing more than a wooden box in its interior structure with a gray finish in the visible part. Only the power must be connected to it, since the audio connection is totally wireless. We will have the breathing hole in the back to improve the frontal aesthetics.

OLED display and features

Before looking at our experience of using the LG OLED 55 C9 and its calibration, it is worth mentioning all the technical characteristics of the panel that LG has installed.

And fortunately it is not too different from the higher models, justifying this by mounting a 2nd generation Alpha 9 processor capable of processing 14 bits of color at about 120 Hz like those of this model. They are already activated from the factory, although if we prefer, we can select the typical 60 Hz for consoles of this or previous generations.

The mounted panel is OLED technology, specifically with WRGB cells, something that we will see clearly if we zoom in on a capture. We see that, in addition to the red, green and blue subpixels, it also adds a white one next to the blue one. Among the advantages of this additional sub-pixel, we have the advantage of achieving greater panel longevity and less degradation of the blue sub-pixel, which is always the one that suffers the most in OLED and one of its Achilles tendons. It also poses fewer production issues and generates larger panel sizes, as adding an extra sub-pixel increases the area significantly without compromising resolution.

Another advantage of OLED technology is that its viewing angles are equal to IPS technology, with 178 ^or achieved without major problems at least in this panel. Color calibration is becoming more natural and less saturated in OLED televisions, with more natural colors and less stridency, especially in reds and greens. It also provides a more neutral image in whites, and perhaps that is why we do not see as much difference as in previous generations with IPS, undoubtedly the reference in terms of color accuracy yet.

As for the brightness and color performance, this new generation of panels of the LG OLED 55 C9 generates quite high values in maximum brightness with HDR activated. In fact it offers a full range of support for HDR Dolby Vision, HDR Technicolor, HDR 10 Pro, HLG and HFR technologies. The color table is generated using 33x33x33 3D LUT cubes, much more accurate and with a greater capacity to generate colors than the 17x17x17 LUTs as it is a cube of much higher resolution and in need of greater processing capacity. Other technologies that are implemented are Deep Learning, AI Brightness and Ultra Luminance Pro.

As for the sound that integrates the LG OLED 55 C9, we have a configuration of 2.2 channels, which implies the presence of 2 woofers and 2 speakers with a total power of 40W. Its benefits are correct, although the difference in quality with the LG bar that we also tested is very noticeable for obvious reasons. However, it offers a positive experience for most users, with good volume, obtaining good detail and balance in highs, mids and lows.

The end result is a very good feeling in terms of fluidity of movement, superior to previous models due to the improvement in image processing, and more natural colors. The rtings.com medium in its input lag measurements has obtained response speeds of around 13.9 ms maximum, which is not bad for a 4K OLED.

Advantages of having an OLED vs IPS

After seeing the characteristics of the OLED panel of the LG OLED 55 C9 many will be wondering if it is worth today the extra outlay of 700 euros with respect to IPS televisions of the same diagonal.

First of all it should be said that OLED panels have greatly improved both in color representation and in reliability and longevity. Now let's say that there is not as much color difference between an IPS and an OLED except the true blacks of the latter and its incredible typical contrast, that's why in these parameters an OLED wins.

In addition we will not have problems like bleeding, which usually appears on low quality IPS panels. Technologies such as Local Dimming are also not required, as OLED pixels are self-luminescent and individually controlled. However, they are much cheaper panels and with similar longevity, so acquiring an OLED television still does not provide advantages in this case. Perhaps here a tie between the two would be the most consistent.

Another issue is the response time and the fluidity of the image, which OLED technology gains in a television, specifically here we have native 120 Hz and a very good response of less than 15 ms. This generates much more fluidity, less blur, and faster image transitions, earning an OLED again.

Finally, the outlay of money is much higher in an OLED, and this coupled with its lower life expectancy and its problems with Screen Burn-In or burned screen sometimes make IPS even more attractive to the general public.

Panel calibration

Now it is time to analyze the color and calibration performance of the LG OLED 55 C9, verifying that the technical parameters required in most panels are met. For this we will use the X-Rite Colormunki Display colorimeter together with the DisplayCAL 3 and HCFR software for calibration and profiling, verifying these properties with the sRGB color space, DCI-P3 so as not to change with respect to PC monitors.

Contrast and brightness

Measurements	Brightness Max.	Gamma value	Color temperature	Black level
@ 100% brightness without HDR	390 cd / m 2	2.19	10, 049 K	0 cd / m 2

Where we most notice that it is a television is undoubtedly in color temperature, showing much colder colors in the standard configuration than the ideal set at 6, 500K. However, it should be said that it has quite a few different image modes, among them the one that we liked the most and also the one with the best neutral calibration is the cinema mode. Of course, you can see that it is an OLED panel as it has real blacks for the simple fact of directly turning off the pixels.

As for the brightness and uniformity, it should be perfect to have an OLED panel and self-lighting pixels, but we see that the brightness is quite variable between the central areas to the sides, with differences greater than 100 nits. Obviously it is not a PC monitor, and therefore uniformity is not so good.

SRGB space

Where it does demonstrate a high level of color performance is in calibration, especially in sRGB, where we see an average Delta E of 2.35, very close to 2, which would already be a good reference. Although it is true that in saturated colors the Delta rises a little, possibly due to that misaligned color temperature. The coverage in this space is 93.3%, which is quite a lot.

Again in the color graphics it is shown that blue is clearly the predominant one, but it will not be a problem with a profiling lowering the "B axis" of the monitor. Otherwise we have a very good gamma and luminance as well as good black and white references.

DCI-P3 space

We now continue with the DCI-P3 space, which demonstrates having better registers in the gray scale, although it does have a higher Delta E in saturated colors, which raise the average register to 2.42. Coverage in this space reaches 66.4%, which would be approximately 72% NTSC, normal and current.

The graphics do not have much to comment, since they are very very similar to the previous case. With a clear predominance of blues and a good level in gamma, black and white.

Result after calibration

Delta E over sRGB after calibration

Finally, we have carried out a quick calibration of the television with its respective profiling and have been able to lower it to a Delta E sRGB less than 1, reflecting the excellent capacity for improvement of the television.

LG SL9YG Soundbar Features

Let's talk a little more about the functions of the LG SL9YG, a 4.1.2 system that supports 24-bit audio at 192 kHz high resolution. Behind is a firm such as Meridian, which works together with LG for most of its sound devices, in our experience we can say that its hand shows.

The system implements Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital Plus, DTS: X audio technologies, as well as Hi-Fi DAC, HDCP 2.2 Wireless Surround. Thanks to the latter it is how the subwoofer is connected, and the possible rear speakers to the system, providing enormous versatility and fewer cables getting in the way. Altogether they are 500 RMS from factory, so of course we will not have too many problems.

The presence of Google Assistant and Google Chromecast integrated makes it possible to communicate with the TV or our smartphone as one more smart speaker. With its own remote control, we can send you instructions comfortably, as well as show music from the phone. For this it has WiFi 802.11ac and Bluetooth 4.2.

The integrated USB connector allows you to connect storage units to play audio in most formats on the market, such as MP3, OGG, AAC / AAC +, WAV and FLAC, among others.

WebOS 4.5 features and system

Here our best ally is going to be the remote control that integrates the LG OLED 55 C9, quite renewed and increasingly simple to manage the menus on our screen. It integrates a wheel and a D-Pad to better navigate menus, websites and television on demand, something necessary and welcome to the increasingly complete functions of a SmartTV like this.

LG continues to bet on the WebOS operating system, this time in version 4.5, which is practically at the level of Android TV in almost every way. Its quick, simple interface, together with the enormous number of applications available to it, make it one of the best options on the market. Netflix, Spotify, Youtube, Prime Video or Apple TV.

The system has LG ThinQ Artificial Intelligence, as well as Google Assistant and Alexa integrated. To interact we only have to speak to the remote control and it will communicate our instruction to the television. Menus can also be controlled with the iOS AirPlay App, one more way to increase versatility.

Among the available image modes, the Cinema mode seems the most faithful to us, does our colorimeter also consider it the best option? It is the most balanced of all, although if you want to gain more liveliness you can choose the HDR effect option.

Connectivity is key in this device, we can link via Bluetooth any external sound device. This is very useful to use our sound bar or wireless headphones so as not to disturb our family at night.

Final words and conclusion about the LG OLED 55 C9 and the LG SL9YG bar

The LG OLED 55 C9 TV and the SL9YG sound bar have left us with a great taste. We believe that LG has done a very good job with the need to have its own ecosystem of products, due to their compatibility and quality of each one of them.

TV provides us with an excellent experience watching 4K movies, series on netflix and APP like Youtube or Amazon Prime. This is thanks to the fact that it mounts one of the best OLED panels of 2019, which as we have explained to you in our analysis, the quality of blacks is perfect and very much enjoyed.

Perhaps the integrated sound is the most improvable part of this television, although it listens well, when we compare it with the sound bar, we do not want to return to it. The LG SL9YG sound bar is synchronized by Bluetooth, HDMI or fiber to our television. If we have an LG TV, we can use the same TV remote to lower and increase the volume. Everything is very intuitive!

WebOS has improved a lot since we tested it for a few years. Now it has a more intuitive, more modern interface, we can use the command as a pointer to configure the entire television, we also have access to the main APPs: Netflix, YouTube, Amazon Prime or Apple TV, among others. What a job!

We recommend reading the best monitors on the market

Is it worth playing? Yes, at least on console. Thanks to its 120 Hz, we can enjoy playing with our next next-gen consoles or with our PC. Although we currently prefer a good monitor to get the most out of our PC Gaming and avoid input lag. At CES we already saw monitors from the main television manufacturers with Nvidia with G-Sync and 144 Hz. The thing promises!

Without a doubt, this LG OLED 55 C9 TV is a 100% recommended purchase. 55 inches, OLED panel, a good internal operating system (WebOS), very good viewing angles, with optimal sound and a multitude of internal connections. It has barely been seen on Amazon for 1050 euros on sale, its usual price is 1250 euros.

While the sound bar costs 499.99 euros and we see it less justiciable its purchase. We know that there are better but also more modest, in the end it will depend on your budget. But perhaps for these prices we would look at a Home Cinema 5.1 to have a greater experience. We are very sorry that they pick it up, but it has given us about 10 days of happiness.

ADVANTAGE	DISADVANTAGES
+ VERY GOOD AUDIO QUALITY WITH MERIDIAN	- HIGH PRICE
+ GOOGLE ASSISTANT AND CHROMECAST	- DOES NOT BRING AN INTEGRATED EQUALIZER OR FROM THE APP
+ DESIGN AND TOUCH BUTTONS
+ WIFI, BLUETOOTH AND OWN APP
+ COMPATIBLE WITH OTHER IOT DEVICES

The Professional Review team awarded him the platinum medal:

LG WK7 - Speaker with Artificial Intelligence and Google Assistant in Spanish Integrated (Hi-Res Sound with Meridian Technology, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Chromecast Integrated) Color Black

• MERIDIAN Technology Hi-Res Hi-Res Audio Integrated Google Assistant Integrated Chromecast Wi-Fi and Bluetooth

93.25 EUR Buy on Amazon

LG OLED 55 C9

DESIGN - 90%

PANEL - 92%

BASE - 80%

MENU OSD - 80%

GAMES - 81%

PRICE - 89%

85%

4K OLED TV Quality / Market price