Compare: TCL C855 vs Blaupunkt UGC5500S

Once again, the manufacturer demonstrates that although it is a relatively young player in Poland (but not worldwide) in the RTV market, it certainly cannot be said that it is a second-tier choice. The television TCL C855 is an incredibly versatile device that performs well in various applications and excels in its price class. Thanks to the Mini LED backlighting, the results of contrast and blacks are very solid, allowing for a deep and vivid image. It is worth noting that the television's algorithm effectively manages to maintain black uniformity, and blooming effect is rarely noticeable. This backlighting is also a strong point of the television in HDR materials, although with some caveats. TCL C855 can achieve a brightness of up to 1800 nits, which is an impressive result; however, brightness can drastically drop to around 200 nits when a bright but small element appears on the screen. Another drawback is the boost in mid-tones, which can lead to a loss of contrast and a decrease in image fidelity with the director's vision. The television also performs excellently when connected to a console or powerful PC. In this category, TCL C855 truly showcases its power, offering incredibly low latency and high-quality gameplay, made possible by the full implementation of HDMI 2.1 features. The Google TV operating system is another advantage, providing users with nearly unlimited installation options for applications, even those from outside the official store, thanks to support for APK files.

In summary, TCL C855 is the ideal choice for those who know what they expect from a television. It is a good, versatile piece of equipment that, although not perfect, offers excellent picture quality, low gaming latency, and a flexible and robust operating system.

Blaupunkt UGC5500S is a textbook example of a very cheap television that has primarily two huge advantages: the Google TV system and an extremely low price. It is these two elements that make it an appealing option for many people. During testing, we also found a great alternative use for it, which is working with a computer. Thanks to the exemplary legibility of fonts and good viewing angles of the IPS matrix, Blaupunkt surprisingly performs well as an inexpensive monitor. However, one must be aware that this device is typically budget-friendly, and this cost-saving is evident in the image quality. The matrix is simply dim, making it difficult to excel in challenging lighting conditions, not to mention creating any real HDR effect. Additionally, despite good viewing angles, the black level on this model leaves much to be desired – in the evenings, it will be rather dark grey, which is a typical characteristic of the IPS technology used here. Viewed through the lens of price, this is a device that aims to compete in the market not based on image quality, but rather on the amount on the receipt. Blaupunkt UGC5500S will fit perfectly as an additional television in the home, equipment for the holiday home, or in a less important room where the image simply needs to be present, and we want to enjoy all the benefits and applications that Google TV offers.

TCL C855 uses a high-contrast VA panel. The ANSI contrast (without dimming) was a very decent 5238:1, which allows for at least very good black levels. Additionally, the panel itself is equipped with multi-zone Mini LED backlighting, which is divided into 1344 independent dimming zones for the 65-inch model. Such a number allows for very good results in our tests. It is worth noting that TCL, as one of the few manufacturers, offers such a specification without spending excessively large amounts of money, unlike the classic quartet of manufacturers. As you can see, in the vast majority of scenes we prepared, the results are impressive, particularly in the first three, as even in the third one, with a score of 54,000:1, it cannot be said that the black levels and contrast are weak, as they are more than satisfactory. These deteriorate in two scenarios: scenes with film stripes and when there are many elements surrounded by black on the screen. And while the last of the test scenes still has excellent contrast, the final tested scenario shows some blooming in the blacks. The frame from the film "Oblivion" performed exceptionally well on the TCL C855, with the level of black comparable to OLED screens, which is quite an achievement. It is also worth noting the good separation of lights, which is not easy to achieve. Our flagship scene from "Sicario 2" performed equally well in terms of contrast, but it is clear that details in the blacks on the first, second, and third planes tend to disappear. The operation of the backlight control algorithm also deserves praise, which minimizes the halo/blooming effect to an absolute minimum. However, it is worth noting that very small elements, such as stars, the TCL C855 can sometimes completely dim.

To put it bluntly: when it comes to blacks, it is simply very poor. Our measurements on test screens have only confirmed what we saw with the naked eye – a result around 1000:1 is disappointing nowadays, even in this price range. In cinematic conditions, this "black" simply does not exist. To be more specific, we fired up one of our favourite test scenes – a helicopter flyover in “Sicario 2” (you can see this in the video we’ve included below). Instead of a pitch-black, deep night, we got an image that is... navy blue. Everything that should be dark and mysterious on screen actually shines a dark blue. This is the price we pay for using an IPS panel. On one hand, we get fairly decent viewing angles, so if you’re watching television with the whole family from different angles, the picture doesn’t lose much saturation. On the other hand, if you plan to have evening screenings with the lights turned off, this lack of contrast will hit your eyes from the first minute.

TCL C855 delivers a highly varied HDR effect. On one hand, the television truly shines, while on the other, it resembles a lower model with FALD backlighting. This situation is, however, regularly observed in this brand, so it was not a surprise to us. The first and last scenes, featuring large elements of light, look almost phenomenal, "shining" with brightness levels of 1470 and 1820 nits respectively. Such effects will certainly cause more than one person to squint, while simultaneously feeling the extraordinary dynamism of the scene itself. You can truly feel as if you are inside the film. The situation changes dramatically when small or minor elements with high luminance surrounded by black appear on the screen. The TCL C855, in order to avoid the halo effect, significantly reduces brightness to a level of even 240 nits, which is a disappointing result, causing the film to not appear as if it was recorded in HDR. The HDR effect in the TCL C855 makes watching dynamic scenes more engaging, allowing the viewer to feel as though they are part of the action. Even with smaller elements of high luminance, the television manages to maintain details without excessive dimming. Moreover, the TCL C855 test shows that the brightness of the image is adjusted for scenes with a large amount of detail, which enhances viewing comfort.

Here, too, we will not mince words – if you are looking for a television strictly for cinematic experiences in HDR, you have come to the wrong place. The Blaupunkt UGC5500S is unfortunately not a machine designed for such challenges. This is primarily due to its very low brightness, which we measured during our tests. A result of around 250 nits on film scenes speaks for itself. It is simply too little to even talk about any real HDR effect. Quite frankly, everything displayed here in this format can be confidently regarded as a somewhat “enhanced” SDR mode. We expected this, as virtually every device in this price range falters in this area, but we feel obliged to warn you about it. Manufacturers love to boast about HDR compatibility with stickers on their boxes, but in reality, this format simply does not exist here – it lacks the “fuel” of brightness.

The situation is particularly difficult for Blaupunkt, as we are dealing with a panel that has a very basic coverage of the DCI-P3 colour palette, reaching only about 80%. You will not find any advanced coatings to extend these capabilities (such as quantum dots), which means that scenes that should ideally burst with richly saturated colours appear simply under-saturated on this screen. Therefore, we have a specific piece of advice for you: do not force the HDR mode on this model. If you have the option in the streaming app settings – simply turn it off. By sticking to the classic SDR mode, you can be sure that the television will not attempt to “enhance” something that it cannot handle hardware-wise.

The best factory mode for the TCL C855 is "Film," and it is on this mode that we conducted all our tests. Like any mode predefined by the manufacturer, it had its drawbacks that are worth correcting to achieve an image as close as possible to what the film producer intended. We will examine the colour characteristics in both SDR and HDR materials. Looking at the first, we see a noticeable dominance of green in the white balance, which, as you might imagine, resulted in an unpleasant greenish tint across the entire image. Observing the very important gamma chart, which is responsible for the image's contrast, we see a significant deviation from the reference line marked at 2.4. From the left, we can observe a strong spike in the measured value, which at this point caused the image to be overly contrasted, merging details into a dark blob. This situation persisted for quite some time, up to 20% of the chart's value, before then dipping below the reference. This, in turn, meant a brightening of the image and a significant drop in contrast. The factory mode performed slightly better in HDR materials, as the white balance looked quite good, except for the second half, where green once again took precedence. Looking at the EOTF curve, which, unlike gamma, shows the rate of brightness increase, we see primarily two errors: the darkest scenes were too dark, and the brightest ones were overexposed. This was something we could also observe in the scene from the film "Pan" in the paragraph checking the TV's HDR.

We also took a close look at how Blaupunkt handles colours in movie mode, and here the matter is, in short, twofold. Once again, we need to clearly separate what we see in standard SDR format from what happens when HDR is turned on, as these are two entirely different worlds. Let’s start with the better side of the coin. If you plan to watch classic television, YouTube, or older films on this television, you can count on really reasonably well-tuned colours. In our test unit, the white balance in movie mode performed exceptionally well, which honestly surprised us. Of course, to avoid being overly optimistic, we did notice some shortcomings. Looking at the gamma charts, we observed that the processor struggles with appropriately dimming the image in its brightest areas. Additionally, there is quite a strong, at times excessively aggressive red saturation, which resulted in visible errors in reproducing certain shades. Nevertheless, in general terms, the image in SDR is simply solid and can be watched without a grimace on one’s face. Unfortunately, the charm disappears the moment we again enter the HDR world. Here, Blaupunkt behaves as if we suddenly switched it to shop mode, and in its worst version. The excess blue in the white balance is so significant that it is almost blinding, ruining any realism of the scene. Moreover, the television interprets brightness very loosely, which, when analysing the EOTF curve, clearly showed that for most of the time, the colours appear simply washed out and lacking in depth. This is, by the way, perfectly visible through the colour errors that become evident in this mode. Once again, we are left with the same conclusion: Blaupunkt in SDR mode looks significantly better and more natural than in HDR, which feels forced and lacking appropriate refinement.

TCL, like the vast majority of manufacturers, provides advanced calibration tools in its televisions. Here we find 2- and 20-point adjustments for greyscale as well as an advanced colour management system. The results, as you can see, are very good, and in SDR materials we have significantly approached the reference image. We eliminated both the green tint and the gamma issue, although there is still a slight "kink" at the very beginning. The performance with HDR materials was somewhat poorer, as the TCL C855 did not allow us to model them adequately. We were only able to slightly adjust the EOTF curve and significantly improve the colours themselves.

It may sound like a joke – pulling out professional measuring equipment for a television costing around a thousand złotys / 250 dollars, but we wouldn’t be ourselves if we didn’t check it out. The question is: does such cheap equipment give us any room for manoeuvre when it comes to calibration? To your surprise, the answer is: yes, and very much so. In the Blaupunkt UGC5500S menu, we found surprisingly many options that allowed us to really work on the picture. These are not just empty sliders; they are specific tools that we could utilise using our measuring sensors and software. In SDR mode, the effects were visible to the naked eye. We successfully eliminated the problem we mentioned earlier – that excessive, almost artificial red saturation. We also fixed the issue of improper dimming in the brightest parts of the image. After calibration, the standard format image became significantly more balanced and simply correct. When it came to HDR, the situation was again more complicated. While we managed to 'tame' that aggressive blue tint in the white balance, it was clear that we were fighting somewhat in vain. Even after adjusting the settings, the television still tried to interfere with the image in its own way, as if the electronics knew better than us how the scene should look. Additionally, there is a hardware barrier that no slider can overcome – colours in HDR still remain under-saturated. This is simply due to the quality of the panel itself; it physically cannot produce the most vibrant colours. To sum up this topic: if any of you ask whether it is possible to calibrate a television for a 'thousand', we answer with full conviction: it is possible.

Nevertheless, an important aspect in assessing image quality is tonal transitions. To obtain a clear image free from posterisation effects, the television must demonstrate very good algorithms for smoothing out colour gradations. We must admit that the one used in TCL C855, named "Gradual Smoothing," is among the best we have had the opportunity to test. Practically every scene performs very well here and there is nothing to criticise. The best example of this is the scene from "The Green Knight," which is the most demanding due to the vast amount of fine and subtle transitions in the mist. The C855 effectively smooths out everything contained in the scene and allows the full suspense to be felt. The only moment where a slight posterisation can be observed is in a shot from the film "The Green Knight," where the reds in the upper left section of the screen stand out from each other.

Looking at our test photographs, it's really hard to criticise anything. Most of the colours in the attached images blend together almost perfectly, creating smooth gradients without noticeable "steps". And indeed, in most scenes where we captured these shots, it looked surprisingly good. However, the problem arises when we stop analysing still frames and simply start watching the films. In motion, the situation changes dramatically. During dynamic scenes on screen, artefacts begin to appear, which are a direct result of simply using a poor image processor here. Unfortunately, a static photo cannot convey this "jarring" of colours, but you must take our word for it: what looks clean and smooth in the picture can stand out harshly during the screening and is simply annoying. This is precisely why we have a rather low rating in this category.

Once again, we will take a look at the function of smoothing tonal transitions, but this time also at image scaling. The latter is particularly important when watching lower-quality materials, such as certain television programmes or older films. We will focus on the function responsible for tonal transitions. Interestingly, just like in the scenes of the previous test, it performed excellently and smoothed out practically all the inconsistencies; however, here it had problems. Using the menu responsible for this function, we found that no setting - even the strongest - was of any help.

Image scaling in TCL C855 is described as one of the best we have had the opportunity to test so far. The image is sharp, but in a way that could be described as natural for our eyes. Even the small, fine branches do not have jagged edges, and there is no white halo around figures, which is characteristic of inferior scaling systems.

If you expect the processor in this model to magically "fix" the poor-quality signal from cable TV or old films from YouTube, we must disappoint you. The capabilities of this television end at absolutely basic upscaling, which is simply stretching the image to a higher resolution. It does this adequately in that the image is not blurry, but there's no mention of any intelligent sharpening or adding details here. Worse still, Blaupunkt is completely devoid of any features for reducing unwanted tonal transitions. If the material being watched has what is known as banding (that is, ugly "steps" instead of a smooth transition of colours, e.g., in the sky), this television will display it in all its glory. Additionally, the television has a tendency to slightly crop the edges of the image. Instead of displaying 100% of what the source sends, Blaupunkt slightly enlarges the frame, causing us to lose details at the very edges of the screen. In summary: in the category of digital "enhancing" of images, Blaupunkt simply performs poorly. We receive a raw, unprocessed signal, with all its flaws.

The maximum refresh rate we can set on the TCL C855 is 144 Hz. Naturally, this is only possible by connecting the TCL C855 television to a very powerful PC. Otherwise, we will be operating at a maximum refresh rate of 120 Hz, which is recommended if we primarily want to watch sports or content with a lot of motion dynamics. For those requiring high image fluidity, the manufacturer has implemented a multi-stage motion smoother. This has been divided into two separate sliders regulating the sharpness of moving images (Motion Blur Reduction) and flicker (Flicker Reduction). Both sliders can be set in the range from 0 to 10, with each increment affecting the level of smoothing, so everyone can find their sweet spot. We present a setting that allows for slight smoothing without the soap opera effect.

The panel of the TCL C855 features a very good response time. This is particularly important as VA panels often have issues with so-called ghosting, which is the effect where a black halo can be seen behind a fast-moving object.

When it comes to motion fluidity, Blaupunkt has nothing to defend itself with. A 60 Hz panel at this price is standard, so none of us were expecting an impeccably sharp image in fast action scenes or during a match. However, the biggest drawback of this model is that you won't find any digital motion smoothers in the menu. The manufacturer has not given us any room for manoeuvre – nothing can be smoothed out or adjusted to our personal preferences. The image is always "raw," and we receive it exactly as the source transmits it. For fans of cinematic "jumping" of the image, this might be good, but the rest of us simply have to get used to the lack of any motion enhancement.

The TCL C855 television is equipped with full HDMI 2.1 connectors with a full bandwidth of 48 Gb/s. During our tests, we confirmed the seamless operation of all functions that are part of this standard. As can be seen, all checkboxes light up green, which will certainly be appreciated by gamers, both console and those using the television as a monitor for their computer. Additionally, the TCL C855 supports both AMD FreeSync and NVIDIA's G-Sync, which can be easily activated in the graphics card settings. Those with a very powerful setup can send a 144 Hz signal to the C855, which this television handles effortlessly. It is also worth mentioning the implementation of the HGIG mode, which, however, due to the flaw of the “Game” mode, is overly brightened, making it difficult to configure properly on screen. Fortunately, the television performs excellently with the Dolby Vision format.

The TCL C855 is one of the first manufacturers to equip its televisions with a special GameBar, which allows for extensive setting changes on the fly, without the need to exit the game. It features functions such as an additional crosshair grid, black level correction, and settings for people with disabilities. In the picture, we can see the next generation of this solution.

In summary, the TCL C855 television will be an ideal solution for those seeking a screen for all sorts of electronic gaming. Thanks to all the features supporting such entertainment, it is incredibly engaging. It is also important to highlight the very low input lag, regardless of the selected settings, including with the HDR Dolby Vision format.

When it comes to gaming on the Blaupunkt, we weren't expecting miracles, and indeed – the list of features is not very long. However, there are two interesting points worth mentioning, as they might be significant for some of you at this price. The first plus is that the TV quickly detects the connected console. Thanks to the ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode) feature, the device knows when you start gaming and automatically switches to low-latency mode. This is convenient because you don't have to fiddle with settings each time to prevent input lag from ruining the fun. The second point is a genuine surprise that caught us off guard. Although it has a 60 Hz panel, the Blaupunkt can display images at 120 Hz at Full HD resolution. Sure, you lose the details of 4K, but for those playing more dynamic, online shooters where smoothness is more important than resolution, this is a really nice and unexpected addition in such an inexpensive device. Besides these two points, you won't find anything more here. There are no advanced smoothness enhancement systems for gamers or extensive gaming menu bars. This is a simple screen for occasional gaming.

The delay times of the TCL C855 are remarkably low in every scenario. Even the most avid gamers will surely appreciate the very low input lag of just 7 ms at demanding 4K 120 Hz settings with HDR. Furthermore, the delays at these same settings, but with Dolby Vision HDR enabled, remain at the same level, which is not so obvious in the case of competing models. Consequently, the TCL C855 deserves the highest rating and recommendation.

An important point for every gamer is, of course, input lag, which refers to how quickly the television responds to our movements on the controller. Here, Blaupunkt has something to brag about, although the results are quite specific. At 4K resolution, the lag is just 12 ms. That's an excellent result. With such low lag, gaming feels simply phenomenal, and the response is almost instantaneous. It is a pity, however, that the situation changes when switching to 1080p mode. Here, the input lag increases to about 30 ms. To be clear: this is still not a terrible result. For most people, it will be "more than acceptable," and during casual gaming, you probably won't even notice it. Nonetheless, it is a shame that such good parameters could not be maintained as we saw with full 4K. Nevertheless, in the overall assessment, as a budget screen for consoles, Blaupunkt performs quite admirably in this regard.

TCL C855 when connected to a computer as a monitor performs very well. This is due to the very low latency between the mouse, eye, and screen, as well as excellent font clarity, which results from the correct implementation of chroma 4:4:4 at all resolutions, including 4K@144Hz. The subpixel layout is BGR, which does not negatively impact usage in Windows. However, the situation may change when using macOS or other software that cannot adapt fonts to this subpixel layout. Additionally, the television has minor issues with displaying fonts on a black background, which is why we deducted some points.

If you plan to connect a computer to this television, it is absolutely crucial that you find and enable the PC compatibility option in the menu. Once you do that, magic happens – the implementation of Chroma 4:4:4 and font readability jumps to an exemplary level. The readability of text is simply excellent here. Of course, our editorial meticulousness would not allow us to pass by this equipment without taking a look "under the hood." During very specific tests with thin, dark text, we noticed that the horizontal and vertical matrix masks differ slightly in brightness levels. However, we want to reassure you: this phenomenon is so subtle that during normal use, such as writing emails or browsing the web, you would not be able to notice it with the naked eye. We maintain our opinion that as a monitor strictly for dynamic PC gaming, it is not the ideal choice (as we mentioned in the context of the 60 Hz refresh rate), but if any of you are wondering whether you can comfortably work on such a Blaupunkt – we answer: yes, it is absolutely possible.

A widely known drawback of VA matrixes without an angular coating is their poor performance in terms of viewing angles. The same is true for TCL C855, where even a slight shift off-axis leads to significant image washout and colour degradation.

It’s really very good here. Whether we were sitting directly in front or on the edge of the sofa, the colours did not lose their saturation. This is a big plus if you plan to watch matches or films with a larger group – no one will complain that the picture looks worse for them. Although IPS panels are known for their good angles, in this particular model, when viewed from a sharp angle, the picture noticeably loses brightness. Interestingly, the colour saturation remains intact, but the screen simply becomes darker. This is not something that disqualifies this television, but it’s worth knowing.

The glossy finish of the panel in TCL C855 did not allow for the highest rating in terms of the television's performance during daytime viewing, although it is precisely because of this that the blacks during the day are very good. Thanks to the high brightness in SDR content, the actress's face stands out strongly against reflections. A downside of the panel, however, is that light falling directly on the television "spills" further rather than being contained in one place. Generally speaking, if sun rays do not hit the panel, TCL C855 will be a very good choice for brightly lit rooms.

In terms of daytime performance, Blaupunkt is simply average. It all comes down to the low brightness of the panel, which – as we have mentioned, hovers around 250 nits. This is definitely too little for the screen to "break through" the strong light coming into the living room. As a result, under strong sunlight, the image loses clarity and appears somewhat washed-out. However, there is one bright spot in this category, the satin finish of the panel. Thanks to this, we do not have to deal with the mirror effect, which often means that instead of watching a film, we are seeing a reflection of our own sofa. The satin nicely diffuses reflections, which somewhat saves the situation. Nevertheless, we cannot cheat physics: while the coating bravely fights against reflections, the low brightness ultimately surrenders in the battle with sunlight. If you are planning a screening in the middle of the day in a very bright room, be prepared for the necessity of drawing the curtains.

TCL C855 operates on the Google TV system, which is a significant advantage compared to televisions equipped with proprietary systems from manufacturers, where installing applications from a USB drive may be difficult or often downright impossible. Thanks to Google TV, we have the ability to install practically any application, both from the official store and directly from internet repositories via APK files.

This system also offers many conveniences in terms of control. We can connect a keyboard with a touchpad, which greatly facilitates inputting queries. Additionally, thanks to integration with Google, we can use voice control functions with the remote, which works very well, although there are occasional minor issues with the translation of functions and options. It is worth adding that Google TV regularly receives updates that improve functionality and introduce new options. We can also confirm that according to reports from users of older models, the software can have its bad days, and sometimes it experiences a "bad day".

In summary: Google TV is currently one of the most popular systems on the market. Thanks to an efficient CPU, it operates very smoothly, does not freeze, and does not have issues with lagging for a significant part of its usage. This is definitely the best option for those who want to make the most of the capabilities of the TCL C855 television and value the openness of the system.

In terms of Smart TV functionality, the Blaupunkt UGC5500S is a classic example of a device where the system is both its greatest asset and its biggest flaw. On one hand, we have full Google TV here, which is a huge plus at this price point. We get access to a massive library of applications and basically all the functionality we know from brands that use this software. Nothing has been cut out forcibly, which is truly refreshing in such an inexpensive television. Unfortunately, we must honestly admit that in Blaupunkt's execution, this system simply works clumsily. This is a typical ailment of budget televisions with Google TV – the processor barely keeps up with the software. Navigation through the menu is not as smooth as we would like, and the remote can respond with a noticeable delay, giving the impression of being "dull." Of course, once you launch a specific application and start playing a movie, everything works stably, but just sifting through the interface requires a bit of patience.

As for traditional television features, Blaupunkt doesn't offer anything extraordinary. It is a simple device for basic tasks. The remote control deserves a plus, as it features a classic numeric keypad, which is simply convenient for flipping through cable channels. We also have Bluetooth, so you can easily connect wireless headphones or a speaker. The television also has a physical mini-jack headphone output. At a time when manufacturers are mass removing this connection, the presence of a "jack" is a nod towards those with older audio equipment or simply those who prefer classic wired headphones. It's a little thing, but it’s appreciated.

The default media player on the TCL C855 performs very well with practically all the content we have prepared for it. Virtually every video format is supported. However, a notable deficiency may be the lack of a feature to change the font colour. There are hardly any issues with photos and their maximum resolution. It is worth noting negatively the absence of support for Apple's HEIC and SVG files. On the other hand, audio files can be played without any problems, and we do not believe that a large portion of you uses AIFF or DSD64. However, an undeniable advantage of the C855 and its operating system is that we can download another player from the app store at any time, which will play everything.

In terms of playing files from USB, Blaupunkt performs quite well. We checked several of the most popular formats, and basically everything important worked fine on the factory player. Therefore, you're not forced to immediately download additional software right after taking the television out of the box, as the equipment is simply self-sufficient from the start. Nevertheless, taking advantage of the charms of Google TV, we still recommend that you install something external, like VLC or Kodi. The factory player is adequate, but it is in these external applications that you will find the most configuration options, better subtitle support, or simply a more convenient interface. Since the system gives you such freedom, it is worth taking advantage of it to get as much as possible from your multimedia.

When evaluating the sound on the TCL C855, we pay attention to several key aspects, such as whether the tones are clearly audible and do not clash with one another, as well as whether none of them dominates the others. In the case of the TCL C855, the sound is positively presented – it is balanced and does not evoke any negative feelings. Generally, the sound is simply good.

For those with a home cinema system, the TCL C855 offers a wide range of audio codecs, including the two most important: DTS-HD Master Audio and Dolby Atmos. This ensures high audio quality that will satisfy users seeking better audio experiences.

In terms of audio, Blaupunkt performs really well, especially considering that this is a typical budget television. It’s evident, or rather audible, that the brand has not forgotten its roots, and for such an inexpensive model, the sound is exceptionally good. Of course, there is a noticeable lack of bass, but the overall output is loud, and surprisingly clear. Most importantly for us – even at higher volumes, the sound is not heavily distorted, which is a rarity and a pleasant surprise at this price point.

TCL C855 vs Blaupunkt UGC5500S

Advantages

Disadvantages

Our verdict

TV appearance

Where to buy

Contrast and black detail

HDR effect quality

Factory color reproduction

Color reproduction after calibration

Smoothness of tonal transitions

Image scaling and smoothness of tonal transitions

Blur and motion smoothness

Console compatibility and gaming features

Input lag

Compatibility with PC

Viewing angles

Daytime performance

Panel details

TV features

Classic features:

Smart features:

Apps

Playing files from USB

Sound

Sound Quality Test

Acoustic Measurements