Televisions

HD footage upscaled to 4K is always watchable, but the Alpha 9 processor of the C9 proves cleverer at separating source noise from real picture information, and better at appreciating the differences in depth between various objects in the image.

Andy Muschietti's trademark pans and zooms around Derry in It Chapter Two also look more compelling/less distracting on the C9 than they do on this display; the more expensive model handles judder better. Implementing the B9's motion processing also finds it less effective at smoothing visuals without generating unwanted digital side effects.

The OLED65B9 tracks closer to the C9 when playing standard dynamic range content, as its reduced brightness becomes less of an issue. I did feel more regularly aware of its slight magenta tinge with dark sequences, however.

Turning finally to the sound quality of my B9 and C9 models, the former holds its own rather well. It doesn't offer as much bass depth as the C9, but its sound – perhaps due to the smaller stand configuration – projects more directly into the room, producing more immediate impact.

(Moving further up the range, LG's E9 OLED series expressly differs from the C9 on sound quality; there's no picture processing difference. So it's no surprise the E9s are sonically punchier, and deliver a far bigger and more detailed soundstage from Dolby Atmos content. Yet the OLED65E9 costs nearly £750 more than the OLED65B9.)

U Can't Touch This
I should probably make it clear that this first step on LG's OLED ladder is outstanding for its money. At the same price or less, I've experienced nothing that can touch it when it comes to deep, cloud-free black levels – although I am yet to audition Philip's newly released entry-level OLED754 series.

Also, while not as bright as most of the upper mid-range and premium LCD displays it's in competition with at this price point, OLED technology's self-emissive nature results in a localised contrast that gives its pictures real intensity.

The lack of brightness versus premium LCDs does mean the OLED65B9 can't craft the same sort of colour volumes or some aspects of the premium HDR experience. But its overall contrast ability ensures that the colours it does display are robust. There's none of that slightly washed-out appearance noticeable on LCD TVs that push for more brightness than their colour performance can really support.

The OLED65B9 also benefits from extremely wide viewing angles, while the majority of LCD rivals are still very limited in this respect, and it stands out from the same-price or cheaper crowd with its slim design and ultra-friendly smart TV system.

Its audio, too, is superb versus the sound of most LCD challengers. Be sure to experiment with LG's AI Sound mode, which I found did an excellent job unleashing the maximum potential of the OLED65B9's speaker array, even with extremely dense, dynamic mixes like the Dolby Atmos track on It Chapter Two.

An Eye On The Prize
Ultimately, though, I have to return to LG's OLED65C9. In what might, in fairness, be a quite specific quirk of post-Christmas tweaking, at the time of writing I found the C9 available from numerous stores for only around £100 more than the OLED65B9. The picture quality differences between the two models make that look like the best £100 you'll ever spend.

It's likely that the B9 series will undergo more price tag tinkering before LG's new OLED models arrive in the spring, so keep an eye out. It's also worth noting that the 55in B9 looks better value overall at just £1,100.

If you want a 65in TV, though, as things stand right now the OLED65B9's step-up C9 sibling is by far the better bet.

HCC Verdict

LG OLED65B9

Price:  £1,800
www.lg.com/uk

We say: Although an excellent TV in its own right, the 65B9 needs to put more price daylight between it and the step-up 65C9 to really come into its own.

Overall: 4/5

Specification

3D: No
4K: Yes. 3,840 x 2160
HDR: Yes. HDR10; HLG; Dolby Vision
Tuner: Yes.Freeview HD (Freeview Play); satellite HD
Connections: 4 x HDMI inputs; 3 x USB; optical digital audio output; headphone jack; Ethernet; RS232; composite AV input
Sound (CLAIMED): 40W (2.2-channel)
Brightness (CLAIMED): N/A
Contrast ratio (CLAIMED): N/A
Dimensions (off stand): 1,449(w) x 830(h) x 46.9(d)mm
Weight (off stand): 25.2kg

Features: Built-in Wi-Fi; Bluetooth (v5.0); USB multimedia playback; Alpha 7 Gen 2 processor; WebOS smart system; Apple AirPlay 2 and Homekit support; ThinQ, Alexa and Google Assistant voice control; HDR Dynamic Tone Mapping; HDMI v2.1