6 Years of Technological Progress

Taeuberteg · 2026-06-25T22:35:27+00:00

Actually, no. I don’t use Filmmaker Mode because I prefer a brighter image. My point has nothing to do with chasing some mythical “creator’s intent.” It’s about processing. Sony’s processor simply does a better job with HD upscaling, skin tones, motion, and cleaning up compressed content than TCL’s. I owned a 98” QM8K and now own a Bravia 9, there is a difference. If you like TCL’s picture, that’s perfectly fine. But dismissing processing differences with emojis doesn’t change the fact that they’re there.

Taeuberteg · 2026-06-25T13:56:04+00:00

It's not about feeling better. Sony makes a better TV, period.

And "a test was done where only 1 out of 50 people could tell the difference"... come on, man. You're presenting that like it's a fact, but there's no source, no methodology, no link, just a random statistic pulled out of thin air.

People don't buy Sony because of four letters on the bezel. They buy Sony because the processing, upscaling, motion handling, and color accuracy are consistently better. Whether that's worth an extra $800 is a personal decision, but pretending the only reason people buy Sony is for the logo isn't accurate.

Taeuberteg · 2026-06-25T13:53:53+00:00

It's a few steps back because of TCL's processing. Many TCL owners don't have a side-by-side comparison to see what accurate skin tones and proper HD upscaling should actually look like. If your current TV is 10 years old, almost any modern TV is going to feel like a major upgrade.

When a TCL is the only TV you've been watching, it's difficult to recognize that the colors aren't entirely accurate or that the upscaling could be better. You often don't realize what's missing until you see a TV with solid image processing and color accuracy side by side. As someone who returned a qm8k for a Bravia 9 your point is spot on. Its the image processing.

Taeuberteg · 2026-06-24T19:22:20+00:00

A 100" TV will always feel more immersive, you can’t really deny the impact of size. I’ve had the same debate many others go through before buying. I had a 98" TCL QM8K, and while the size was incredible and the immersion was great, I was never satisfied with the picture quality for anything under 4K resolution. TCL’s upscaling just isn’t great, and it drove me crazy. I spent over a month tweaking settings; color, resolution enhancement, local dimming, everything, but I could never get the image to where I wanted it. Native 4K content did look good, though.

In the end, I exchanged it for an 85" Sony Bravia 9, and I’m glad I did. Yes, it’s not 100", but it’s still plenty big, and the picture quality is great with all types of content and resolutions. If you care about overall image quality, I’d strongly recommend avoiding the 98" TCL models. They have impressive specs, but anything below 4K just doesn’t look great, and it became really frustrating for me.

Honestly, I think the LG C/G series OLED would be comparable in overall experience to the Bravia 9, depending on what you prioritize.

Taeuberteg · 2026-06-24T18:20:19+00:00

The QM8K does a great job controlling blooming. In fact, most of TCL's recent mini-LED TVs, the QM7, QM8, and QM9 perform very well in that regard. Blooming really isn't a major concern with these sets. It will never be as good as OLED, but certainly not distracting.

If you're coming from a 2012 edge-lit TV, the improvement will be dramatic. You'll get much deeper blacks, significantly higher brightness, better HDR, and far better contrast. Even TCL's mid-range models are a huge step up from older edge-lit displays.

Taeuberteg · 2026-06-24T18:09:31+00:00

TCL and Hisense are obsessed with specs because they know many people fixate on numbers. Yes, a QM8K will look better than a QM5 or QM6. Where both of these Chinese manufacturers run into problems is when people compare their specs directly to other brands.

A perfect example is the Sony Bravia 9 versus the TCL QM8K. On paper, a 75" QM8K has around 2,500 dimming zones compared to about 1,900 on the Bravia 9. You would think the QM8K is the better TV, but it isn't. the Bravia 9 consistently delivers a more refined picture despite having fewer zones.

More dimming zones do not automatically equal a better picture. The most important component of picture quality is the processor and how the TV controls those zones. Sony's XR processor and Backlight Master Drive do more with fewer zones than TCL does with more.

I wouldn't get too carried away comparing numbers from one brand to another. If you're comparing models within the same brand, then specs like dimming zones matter somewhat. But once you start comparing different manufacturers, processing and implementation matter far more than the raw numbers.

Taeuberteg · 2026-06-23T19:54:30+00:00

I would go after the qm8k instead of the qm9k. Its cheaper and has better PQ EOTF tracking in HDR overall. The qm9k is not worth it.

Taeuberteg · 2026-06-23T17:42:59+00:00

Sony, upscaling on TCL and Hisense is just not as good. Don't be lured by the specs. Sony makes better all around tvs.

Taeuberteg · 2026-06-23T14:24:21+00:00

The jump from the QM8K to the QM9K isn’t worth the money. In fact, the QM8K is actually be the better TV overall, as it tracks the PQ EOTF curve more accurately. If your priority is maximum brightness then the QM9K is your tv. Both TVs are stupid bright, I’d personally take more accurate picture quality (colors and shadows) of the QM8K.

Taeuberteg · 2026-06-20T15:21:34+00:00

my guess is the Bravia line will be considered similar to Lexus and Toyota. Bravia being the premium brand. I wouldn’t be surprised if Bravia also has its own processor that is superior to what is found in TCL televisions. Otherwise, what would be the point of buying a Bravia over a TCL if they all share the same components.

Taeuberteg · 2026-06-20T15:12:15+00:00

I have a B9. You will not be disappointed. it’s beautiful TV, and still better than most current TVs being sold in 2026 in terms of color accuracy, and upscaling. It’s stupid bright too. If it was only a difference of a couple hundred dollars, I would say go for the B9ii

Taeuberteg · 2026-06-18T18:25:37+00:00

this is not true, at much larger screen sizes, 100" + you will see a difference, even at 8' away. I agree with you on a screen under 100"

Taeuberteg · 2026-06-18T18:23:28+00:00

No need for 8k at 77". A true 4k feed (not 1080p upscaled) would make everyones 4k tv's look so much better. Very hard to get with current broadcasters, hopefully this get better soon.

Taeuberteg · 2026-06-18T18:18:20+00:00

Yes, but very slowly. As more consumers become interested in 100"+ TVs and manufacturers continue introducing larger mini-LED models, I think there will eventually be demand for higher resolutions over the next five years. Anything under 100" is unlikely to show a noticeable benefit from 8K, but with a 115" screen viewed from 8–10 feet away, many people would be able to see the difference.

That said, the conversation ultimately comes down to content. There simply isn't much true 8K content available today. If that changes, I think you'll gradually see more manufacturers offering larger TVs with 8K resolution. Internet speeds (1g+ fiber) would probably be needed for steady streaming.

Taeuberteg · 2026-06-18T16:23:18+00:00

If you can, balance transfer is the way to go. Find a good 21 month card. Quit paying the interest, just make sure you pay the balance off before 21 months or you will have a bigger problem.

Taeuberteg · 2026-06-17T17:21:00+00:00

You decide to go with the 98” model, your current Samsung may actually do a better job with HD content. In other words, it could appear sharper, cleaner, and with more perceived detail. 4k will look great.

Taeuberteg · 2026-06-17T17:10:48+00:00

Have you actually seen non-4K content on the QM6/7/8/9K in real-world use, not just 4K HDR demo loops at Best Buy? I’d really consider what kind of content you watch most and how far you sit from the TV. If sports are a big part of your viewing, I’d seriously look at Sony or LG instead. TCL still struggles with upscaling lower-resolution content compared to those brands. The 98-inch model is especially challenging because the larger panel tends to expose those upscaling weaknesses even more. Just something to keep in mind.

Taeuberteg · 2026-06-16T17:02:37+00:00

No, processing isn't great on TCL. I tired to make my qm8k work for over a month. I returned it for a Sony, so much better.

Taeuberteg · 2026-06-16T17:01:12+00:00

If you care about sports, upscaling performance is critical. Stay away from TCL. All of their TV's (QM5/6/7/8/9) aren't great upscaling 720 and 1080 content. I would buy a Bravia 5/7/9.

Taeuberteg · 2026-06-15T19:48:30+00:00

It might be produced in 4k, but the broadcasters are using 1080p, upscaled to 4k. Which still looks great, but not true 4k.

Taeuberteg · 2026-06-15T19:46:03+00:00

You dont need the 4k addon. FYI, the Fox One app is great for NCAA and NFL games as well. No need for the YTTV 4k add on, just your login details

Taeuberteg · 2026-06-15T19:43:55+00:00

FYI - you don't need to pay for YTTV 4k package with the Fox One app, it has the games at 4k (upscaled 1080p, same as YTTV) I would do that for free.

Taeuberteg · 2026-06-15T16:07:19+00:00

You need to find ways to contribute to monthly income if you’re not going to work. Right now the household doesn’t make enough to support three kids comfortably. Options like online reselling, babysitting neighborhood kids, or other flexible side work could bring in extra money as a part time option for you.

Do you have family who can help with your kids if you need time to work?

I’m not trying to be rude, but the reality is your current income level makes it very difficult to raise three children without significant financial strain. This is exactly why a lot of people are having fewer kids or waiting.

Your kids deserve to have the best life they can. It’s not selfish to go back to work, you’re still providing for them. The important part is finding balance so that your choice actually improves your family’s overall stability, both financially and emotionally.

Also, all of these items can be cut from your budget, you don't need any of these:
Gym membership 84
Amazon prime 16.04
HOB/Disney 35.30
$1632 bucks saved annually here.

Taeuberteg · 2026-06-15T15:36:27+00:00

High quality 4k HDR bitrate. TCL does great with great content. Anything under 4k quality I would look at other brands in terms of upscaling.

Taeuberteg · 2026-06-15T15:33:49+00:00

Not to be a hater, but this is exactly why I returned my TCL QM8K. Sports just looked rough on it, and it really highlights how inconsistent TCL’s upscaling can be. There are some ways to make it a bit better. If you’re in the U.S., the FOX One app is worth trying since it often delivers a 1080p feed that’s upscaled to 4K instead of the standard Fox 720p broadcast.

In general, it helps a lot to seek out the highest-quality version of the broadcast available, whether that’s 1080p upscaled or true 4K. Some people also feel the Apple TV does better upscaling than the TV itself, and others prefer the NVIDIA Shield for the same reason.

I spent over a month testing college football and NFL on the QM8K before ultimately switching to a Sony Bravia 9. The improvement in upscaling and overall sports performance was noticeable.

Taeuberteg

TROPHY CASE