Samsung UN55B8500 LED TV
If you watch football, chances are you’ve noticed ads for Samsung’s so-called LED TVs. The company has released three series of these super-thin LED-based LCDs so far this year, the 6000, the 7000, and the 8000 models, but it’s saved the best for last. The fourth series is dubbed UNB8500, but you can remember it best as the king of LCD–for now.
Unlike the other three Samsung models, which use LED elements arranged along the edge of their screens, the company’s two 8500 models employ a full array of local dimming LEDs behind the screen, yet maintain an ultraslim profile. As a result, this expensive HDTV handily outperforms its brothers and, yes, every other LCD-based display we’ve ever tested. It still can’t match the best plasma, the legendary and discontinued Pioneer Kuro, and its off-angle picture leaves plenty to be desired, but people who claim the sweet spot in front of a Samsung UNB8500 will be treated to the most impressive flat-panel picture quality of the year.
Series note: We performed a hands-on evaluation of the 55-inch Samsung UN55B8500, but this review also applies to the 46-inch Samsung UN46B8500. The two share identical specs aside from screen size and should have very similar picture quality.
Strengths: Deeper black levels than any HDTV available aside from Pioneer Kuro; solid shadow detail; reduced blooming compared with other local dimming LED-based LCDs; accurate, highly saturated color; excellent video processing with adjustable dejudder; numerous picture adjustments; extensive interactive features including Yahoo widgets; beautiful styling with 1.6-inch deep panel; extremely energy efficient.
Weaknesses: Expensive; poor off-angle viewing; some blooming effects; benefits of 240Hz difficult to discern; glossy screen reflects ambient light.
Summary: It costs a mint, but Samsung’s local dimming, LED-based UNB8500 series delivers the best picture quality of any LCD we’ve tested.
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