Once you the cross the 43-inch mark on television sets, pricing picks up drastically. Otherwise, it’s as competitive as the budget and mid-segment of smartphones. Recently we had an opportunity to review the 65-inch Blaupunkt television. Many know this company for car audio solutions, especially when it came to bass-heavy output. The brand has an exclusive licensing agreement with the Indian contract manufacturer Super Plastronics, which is quite a popular name on the TV circuit.
The TV that was in for review is the Blaupunkt Cyber Sound 164 cm (65 inch) Ultra HD (4K) LED Smart Android TV (65CSA7030). Of course, all the important details are there in the name. And 65-inch is a substantial size.
While buying a 4K LED TV, one has to take a look at the variety of HDR formats as well as brightness and colour capabilities to make HDR look great. On one hand are things like Calman software and light and colour metre tests and on the other, real-world performance, which often turns out to be different.
The Build
Being a largish set, two people were needed to get the installation done. Though it’s not very heavy but one always has to be careful with the panel. There are a few exciting things to talk about here. First, all the stands for a wall mount is in the box, so that’s a big saving. The table stand too looks good and can be easily fixed. It’s sturdy, looks unique and the silver finish looks great. The bezels are slim enough to compete with any brand. What I like most is the clearance below the television set, which is just about enough to fit in a soundbar and perhaps a few other devices, given that this one is a 65 inch model and takes up quite some space.
Since we are on the subject of build, the remote control also appears fine. The design may appear a little boring but boring is good here because all the function keys that you will ever need is on the remote control. The ergonomic design ensures it’s easy to hold and there are dedicated hot keys for YouTube and other features.
Good performance and more
One has to remember, Blaupunkt has a lot of competition when it comes to 32, 43 or 50-inch TVs. It’s a market that’s slowly being dominated by Redmi and Mi. As soon as it comes to 65 inches, the problem is that most people tend to look at the big players, the trio of Samsung, LG and Sony, which have some of the best display panels in the world. Where Blaupunkt can make a mark is among consumers who may want to experience 65-inch TVs but without having to pay flagship prices.
This is Ultra HD 4K LED TV. A few things to remember. For its price, the display is respectable. Pictures appear super smooth and there are things like HDR10+ to make your viewing experience good. At the same time, what you need to know is that there is no support for Dolby Vision, which makes any smart TV look great, especially 65-inch models. Did I miss it? A little perhaps but at the same time, this is not an OLED panel on which Dolby Vision actually shines. Also, not being an OLED panel, the black levels didn’t get too inky. But there is good brightness and viewing angles. Another thing to keep in mind: This is a 60Hz display panel.
When it comes to colour accuracy, Calman colour calibration software may not always be kind but real-world TV output is something very different. Under ‘vivid’ picture mode, the colours appear warm and excellent for viewing. Also, SDR content shines on this TV.
One area where the TV scores good points is audio, thanks to 60W sound output, which is generally 30-40W on most models. Depending on the size of the room, you will get very good sound keeping volume at 50-60. More than going for bass, Blaupunkt has gone for clarity, which is important because the TV will be used for watching films, news, sports commentary, so dialogues need to be crystal clear. If you do want to add a soundbar, that’s fine but chances are you won’t need it.
The interface is also to be lauded because it’s basic Android, which is clean, free of all gimmicks. Not everyone likes PatchWall on Redmi, so there is an option. To get the TV running it will hardly require a few minutes; it’s that simple. We watched a lot of YouTube content, films like No Country For Old Men and Free Guy… we thoroughly enjoyed it.
Should you go for it?
In case you don’t care much about Dolby Vision technology on LED, then yes. If you want the simple feel of Android TV, then yes. If you want booming sounds, go for it. But don’t forget, there’s Redmi, which is a package deal and it obviously has won the market for quite a few reasons. Another option you can look at is OnePlus TV. But Blaupunkt wins in the audio department. Blaupunkt Cyber Sound 164 cm (65 inch) Ultra HD (4K) LED Smart Android TV (65CSA7030) is a good entry point to the massive 65-inch segment. The TV promises clarity, sound and ease of use… and it delivers.
At a glance
Device: Blaupunkt Cyber Sound 164 cm (65 inch) Ultra HD (4K) LED Smart Android TV (65CSA7030)
Price: Rs 55,999
High notes
• Excellent audio output
• Decent display performance
• Simple Android interface
• Wall mount has been included in the box
Muffled notes
• Dolby Vision tech is missing