LG OLED55B7

August 2017

What Hi-Fi Sound and Vision

FOR Awesome OLED picture; natural presentation

AGAINST The Sony A1 is a punchier performer

LG’s 2017 OLED range is pretty unusual. Rather than ramping up the picture processing features as you go up the range, all 10 TVs (five models, each in two sizes) have the same panel and the same processing and features. The differences come in the form of the aesthetic designs and built-in speakers.

Perhaps stranger still, there’s not a single most-affordable model, but two identically priced and specified ones: the C7 and this B7, both of which are available in 55in or 65in versions.

These models even have the same speaker systems, the only real difference being the shape of the stand. The point, it seems, is exclusivity, as the C7 is available only through Currys.

Clean and simple

The OLED55B7 (along with the C7, of course) has the most basic sound system of the range. This leaves the face of the chassis entirely free from speakers. Instead you have a clean and simple display, surrounded by a thin bezel and an elegant, crescent-shaped pedestal stand, the C7 swapping this for what LG calls a “stiletto” stand.

Most TVs these days are pretty intuitive when it comes to picture settings. The LG B7 takes things a step further by automatically selecting a different array of presets, depending on the type of programme you’re watching. These are generally pretty good, but there are some quick and easy adjustments you can make to get even better picture quality.

Many modes

The default picture mode is Eco and the Energy Saving feature is switched on. We’d recommend switching to Standard mode, turning Energy Saving off and reducing the contrast to reveal more detail in whites. Switching Dynamic Colour to Medium also adds extra punch.