Laudatory odes to TCL P-series TVs were sung in the overseas market back in 2017. Those models, of course, had their problems. For example, the uniformity of the illumination and, accordingly, the dimming of the matrix. But the image clarity and color gamut in the P-series produced stunning HDR images. And given the cost of these models, TCL TVs were unmatched in their class.
TCL P6006 review
Despite the release of new TCL TVs, the 6 series got updated models R617 and R615 from the same P series. The company’s strange strategy for the designation and upgrades of the lines. These TVs have increased the number of local dimming zones from 72 to 96 (applicable to the 55-inch model TCL 55R617) and reduced the input lag to 17.7 ms. But today on the UltraHD.su website we are not reviewing the excellent R617 series, so we will stop a little.
If you find an opportunity to purchase an “old” P-series TV “from over the hill” – you can take it (taking into account the lack of reception of our digital terrestrial broadcasting) However, back to the TCL 55P6006 TV. Let’s make a reservation right away that the series is similar to the P6046 , in which we will not see any advanced specifications.
This is the only remark that I would like to draw your attention to. The name of the TCL TV series can be confusing. For example, TCL P6005 models are absolutely similar to TCL P6007, the only difference is the supplied remote control.
Design
Basically, it is generally accepted that TCL’s P-series are mid-range TVs from this manufacturer. Focusing series comes down to image quality. But it is worth taking into account the fact that models are assembled from components “on the spot”, thereby reducing the cost of the final cost. And the “middle” of the entire TCL range of TVs suffers from low rates.
TCL P6006 TVs cannot boast of an advanced design. The soundbar (as with the C-series) is missing. But the plus is support for Dolby Vision, which in some way emphasizes the “HDR preparation”. But how HDR will be played, we’ll talk below. The design of the model is too simple for a mid-range TV. The body is made of gray-dark plastic.
The screen is bordered by a thin black stripe. The lower part of the case under the screen is slightly wider. It has the TCL logo on it. The bottom of the TV is larger than the top. A motherboard with a filling, rear and side interfaces are hidden from prying eyes. The legs of the stand are Y-shaped and are located at the edges of the TV screen. The 55-inch 55P6006 TV looks exactly like the 55P6046.
Mounting the 55P6006 feet is easy. The bases of the legs are rubberized to prevent slipping. The embossed information will prevent you from mounting the stand incorrectly. Start up a new TV out of the box in a few minutes if you have all the connection cables ready.
According to the manufacturer himself, appearance in such TVs is not in the first place. The design definitely falls short of the design of OLED TVs and is more similar to the previous LED models. If you think the P6006 is off-putting because of its design, then TCL C-series TVs are worth a look.
Smart TV
In history, since its release in 2014 (1080p models), TCL has been using the Roku operating system in its Smart TVs. This was a great decision given the ease of use of the Roku platform with a wide variety of different applications. But after the appearance of TVs from this manufacturer on the European market, the situation changed. For these models, a shell was used on a stripped-down Linux-like system with the camouflaged name “Smart TV.3”. For the CIS market, models are supplied with Android 6.x.x.
Smart TV.3 retains streaming apps, but the advanced overseas Roku Ultra and Roku Premiere + are missing. And this is understandable, these applications will be able to work in part (if not to replace DNS). The home screen contains the most frequently used applications – video (sources), broadcast TV, and applications. The settings item is available through the button of the same name on the remote control.
The latest versions of the P6006 have added the ability to “tag” inputs with a name other than just “HDMI 1”. The choice of the name is only available from those programmed at the factory. The TV is powered by a 2-core processor, the memory is limited to 16 GB, while the RAM is 2 GB. Now you can use additional functions of smartphones, added support for Dolby Vision.
Dolby Vision allows for maximum brightness when playing HDR content. There is enough information on the network on the topic “How to get Root on a TCL TV”, so you can find firmware tailored for yourself (this is discussed on specialized forums). But if the 55P6006 is capable of truly displaying HDR, we’ll look at it below.
HD and SDR image
As for the image quality when playing HD and SDR video, you can immediately see the lack of local dimming “Micro Dimming”. Bright areas are too flashy, and dark scenes look fine. Saturation of the color gamut provides ample peak brightness. Its indicator in the series under consideration is 340 nits.
If you watch a specially prepared demo video (namely, such content is reproduced in stores), then good bright colors are noticeable. They are superior in quality when compared to dark scenes. With Direct LED backlighting, this is easily achieved. Moreover, if the TCL 55P6006 TV is in a well-lit room.
Animation generally looks good on screen. It can even be compared with some models from Samsung or Sony Bravia. But it’s a different story when we try to appreciate the deep blacks on the screen. Yes, the installed VA matrix is capable of providing “ink”, but due to blackout (which is practically nonexistent), blacks can turn into milky gray.
The content scaling is pretty decent when we feed 1080p. Sometimes graininess can be seen when the original video is of low quality. Processing dynamics with PPI 1200.
4K and HDR image
Considering 4K and HDR quality, the TCL 55P6006 delivers the best performance when we compare value for money. Good image for low budget option. On the other hand, with a matrix frequency of 60 Hz and a color depth of 10 bits (8 bits + FRC) at a maximum brightness of just over 300 nits. What kind of HDR10 support can we talk about.
With HDR content, color inaccuracy is less and less noticeable. The darker parts of the image try to contrast with the brighter elements. The overall impression is closer to the desired reality. But, unfortunately, the specifications do not include “Contrast Control Zone” and “Wide Color Gamut”. These functions are only available in more expensive models.
Sound
According to the manufacturer TCL U55P6006 is well equipped with sound. But in fact, it has a pair of 8 W speakers and that’s it. The radiators are located at the back of the TV and point downwards. Such a system is quite enough to fill the volume of a small room, but for a huge hall this will not be enough and a separate soundbar will be required.
In terms of tonal balance, all TCL 6 series are made with an emphasis on mids and highs, but bass is nowhere to be found. The TV reproduces sound content well in TV shows and films, where dialogue is the main thing, but when listening to music, this is a clear disadvantage.
Connections
The 55P6006 TV interface offers a standard set of ports. Here we will find three HDMI 2.0 with HDCP 2.2 support, one of the HDMI ARC ports, a pair of USB 2.0. If the TV does not read the USB flash drive or the connected hard drive is not visible, then this problem is solved in the menu through the “developer mode setting”.
There is a 3.5mm headphone jack, digital optical audio output and AV inputs for ancient devices. The built-in Wi-Fi sometimes loses connection with the mobile device. The rest of the information is in the characteristics section. As they say, nothing new.
Conclusion
The 6 series TVs represented by the TCL P6006 line are balanced in terms of price and image quality. Despite the weak specifications, TCL LED TVs can compete in the mainstream segment.
But if we compare with the P6046 series, then we can find little difference. Is that, in the maximum peak brightness and in the matrix backlight option. On the other hand, looking at the TV as a device with which “something can be done” at the software level, the TCL 55P6006 model may be of some interest.
