How I optimized the cheapest 98-inch TV available to look and sound incredible (and it’s $1,500 off)

TCL makes some spectacular TVs utilizing superior show applied sciences, specs, and optimizations for one of the best image high quality attainable. But generally, they put all that apart and say, “Hey, let’s simply make a very huge TV for the sake of creating a very huge TV.” And that is what this 98-inch set is all about.

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This TV, a member of TCL’s lower-end S5 sequence, is at present on sale for $1,500 off its regular value of $2,999, bringing the associated fee right down to $1,999. TCL was sort sufficient to let me learn about this deal in an e mail just a few weeks in the past, and I used to be wildly intrigued, to say the least. “A 98-inch TV for lower than $2,500?” I believed to myself. That appeared not possible.

I have been residing with the 98-inch TCL S5 Sequence, and here is how the expertise has been.

Establishing a 98-inch TV

The most important problem this TV poses is becoming it in your house. This factor is gigantic; it is 85.7 inches broad, 49.1 inches tall, and the toes are 68.5 inches aside. When you’ve got a wall large enough to mount it on, then you definitely’re all set. However should you do not, you may be scrambling to search out an leisure middle large enough to accommodate this behemoth.

The latter was me, by the best way — I used to be the one scrambling. My brothers helped me unbox the TV (which felt not possible since our drop ceilings stopped us from lifting the lid straight up within the air), and after we ripped by way of all of the Styrofoam and plastic wrap, we wanted to determine a spot to set it up in our comparatively small front room. 

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My first thought was to go away it on the bottom, however who needs to look down to look at TV? Then we thought of ditching our present leisure middle and transferring our 65-inch LG TV some place else to caddy nook it (once more, on the bottom), however that meant we would should dismember our whole front room.

So, we got here up with a compromise: we arrange two folding catering tables, pushed our sofa and loveseat in opposition to the wall, and plopped the 98-inch mammoth proper in entrance of our hearth. Is it excellent? Probably not, however it works for the sake of this evaluation.

Probably the most immersive expertise accessible (except you discover one larger)

None of us have been fairly ready for simply how huge this TV is. Certain, I had a way of how huge it was earlier than we plugged it in, however as soon as that 98-inch display screen lit up, we have been all stunned. Many individuals dream of getting a movie show of their residence to take pleasure in their favourite cinema flicks and video games, and shopping for a TV like TCL’s 98S550G will get you as near that actuality as attainable.

Perhaps it is as a result of we’re sitting so near it, possibly it is the change from watching on a 65-inch TV for therefore lengthy, however regardless of the purpose, the sensation of immersion you get from watching this 98-inch TV by no means appears to fade away. Every little thing you tune into will really feel extra lifelike than you may think about — that goes for motion pictures like “Oppenheimer” and “Spider-Man: No Method House” to cable TV like “Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives”. 

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My solely want is that I had gotten to see Tremendous Bowl LVIII on it. That being mentioned, I can already inform this TV would be the excellent match for anybody who makes use of multiview by way of NFL Sunday Ticket.

I imply it once I say that your jaw can drop at any second when watching this TV. When you’ve got a favourite film or TV present, it merely makes it higher because it’s simply so huge. It is easy to see irrespective of the place you’re within the room, and it ensures there is not a foul seat in the home.

Atypical specs, however stable image high quality nonetheless

Past its magnificent 98-inch measurement, the remainder of the 98S550G is fairly primary, a minimum of in the case of high-end TVs. It makes use of a QLED panel which helps ship brighter colours and higher distinction, and I can confidently say it is among the best LED TVs I’ve ever seen. Nonetheless, you will not get the identical luxuries as one thing like an OLED or Mini LED TV with native dimming, richer distinction, and elevated brightness. On the intense facet, you will not get any mild haloing round your content material because it makes use of one large backlight.

The TV has a 4K decision and helps refresh charges as much as 120Hz, which is a pleasant contact for any avid gamers who wish to take pleasure in silky-smooth gameplay on the panel. I’ll say although, 4K on a 98-inch panel does not really feel the identical because it does on a 65-inch panel; pixel density is not practically as excessive since they’re scattered throughout a a lot bigger canvas, and should you get near the TV, you may undoubtedly see particular person pixels. It isn’t a difficulty by any means, however I discovered it fascinating nonetheless.

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The image high quality is first rate total. “Oppenheimer” regarded nice enjoying off the 4K HDR DVD I bought, whereas 1080p upscaled cable exhibits weren’t too shabby, both. You’ve got loads of choices to manage how every part appears within the settings menu, and when you set it up, I might extremely advise turning off movement smoothing. On 98 inches of tv, the added frames doesn’t do most content material justice.

With the 98-inch S5, TCL made certain to incorporate a variety of specs and options clients may be enthusiastic about, together with HDR Extremely (consisting of Dolby Imaginative and prescient IQ, Open HDR, HDR10, HDR10+, and HLG), a devoted Sport Accelerator 240 for 240 VRR assist, Dolby Atmos, AirPlay, Chromecast, voice assistant integration, and even dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi. There are 4 HDMI ports to benefit from, together with optical audio and Ethernet ports. 

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Sound high quality can also be stable. At greater volumes, mids and highs can begin to screech, however the built-in subwoofer helps anchor every part with a stunning quantity of bass, one thing that may be tuned within the settings if you’d like roughly increase throughout your motion pictures. I might nonetheless go for a dedicated sound system if you’d like a real movie show setup, however my household and I have been proud of what the TV kicked out.

ZDNET’s shopping for recommendation

At $1,599, it is onerous to disregard TCL’s 98-inch Class S5 Series TV for very lengthy. When you’ve got a spot in your house the place you may match a TV of this measurement and magnitude — and you do not thoughts dropping $2,000 — I can see this TV making a variety of sense for an immersive leisure setup. Granted, you will not get one of the best image high quality on the market, however it’s essential to keep in mind that something higher than what TCL provides you’ll run you a minimum of $5,000 to $10,000.

Ultimately, I had a variety of enjoyable reviewing this large 98-inch TV, however I am able to ship it again. For our residence, it is a bit too intrusive and will get in the best way as a rule. (Let’s keep in mind that it is blocking my whole hearth.) However if in case you have the house for it, a part of me needs to let you know to hurry out and seize one whereas the deal’s occurring. I believe you may dig it, and your whole family shall be hooked on it. And on the finish of the day, is not that what we’re all after when shopping for a brand new TV?