Samsung UN55B8500 LCD HDTV Review.

Features

Type: LCD
Screen Size (diagonal, inches): 55
Native Resolution: 1080p
HDTV Tuner: Yes
Rated Half Life: Not specified
Wall Mount or Stand Included?: Stand
Dimensions (W x H x D, inches): 52.1 x 31.4 x 1.6 (without stand); 52.1 x 34 x 12.1 (with stand)
Weight (pounds): 61.7 (without stand); 77.6 (with stand)


Price: $4,500   ==> Go to Specail Price

Connections

Inputs: Video: HDMI 1.3 (4), component video (1, shared), composite video (1, shared), antenna, PC (VGA)
Audio: Stereo analog (1), PC/DVI audio (1, shared, mini-jack)
Outputs: Audio: Stereo analog (mini-jack), optical digital
Additional: EX-LINK (service), USB (2), LAN

Company Info
Samsung Electronics America, Inc.
(800) SAMSUNG
 

Introduce

Samsung, it seems, goes LED in a big way. Thirteen of his sets on the screen 6, 7 and 8 series LED backlight instead of CCFL (cold cathode fluorescent lights), which until recently were almost universal flat-panel LCD HDTV. Although LED backlighting offers the potential for better color rendering, lighting the screen, more uniform illumination screen,thin, and consume less energy, its biggest advantage is that LEDs may be switched on-off almost immediately. With the suitable implementation, this capability opens the door to a level considerably improved black levels.
The technique is called local dimming. Not all LED backlighting are local dimmers, but two of the new Samsung. At the top of the line is 55-inch UN55B8500.
Samsung was the first company in the market local-dimming LED models. We reviewed the first generation (LN-T5281F l ') in April 2008 and the second generation (LN55A950) in November 2008 and again in a four Set-Face Off in February 2009. On each occasion, these sets made a deep impression on us, with black levels that we never thought possible in a LCD screen design. The opportunity to spend quality time with the third generation, which includes all the refinements of the technology in Samsung's flagship series today was a breeze.

Local Dimming

Only the LCD screens do not produce light, why all the series of LCDs require backlighting behind the LCD panel. The individual pixels in the LCD panel simply act as gateways, either pass or block light from the backlight illumination as the source of images requires. But the LCD's ability to block the light is limited. Some of the losses through, even if the image requires total darkness. This is why LCDs traditionally medium black levels and shadow detail.
However, LED backlight with a new wrinkle is possible. Since the LED can be turned on or off and can be arranged in clusters or individually addressable areas behind the screen, you can select DIM or darken parts of the screen to match the light and dark areas of the image. It is still the work of the LCD to produce the real image at the pixel level. However, different selectively dimming LEDs areas, we can help you overcome the LCDs of their limitations to block light and provide a contrast level that even the best conventional LCDs can not offer. This process is called local-dimming or Samsungese, Smart LED.
Of the 13 series of Samsung using LEDs for backlighting, these two-this one and 46-inch sibiling-employ local dimming. The rest all the time their control LED backlighting at once.

Design

Although UN55B8500 may not be so thinness in Samsung stable, 1.6 cm thick, is not far away. And at 78 pounds with its swivel, you should not corral two linebackers in the NFL to unpack and configure it. Two average couch potatoes will do. The stand has a brushed metal surface and a transparent system, rotatable stand to keep the  thin panel suspended above the surface and allow viewers to the TV point to different areas of the room - a good design because if you want to stay closer to the dead-center position on the screen as possible.
The Samsung has four selectable picture options, and can be set separately for each entry. I tested the video mode with settings appropriate for the sharper picture. It also hid a day and night option calibrator adjusts the service menu, block (if desired), and turn to appear as the user menu selections. (There are not STF option, Samsung has not signed the ISF certification).



There is a different button on the remote Samsung 8500 models. The features included RF Clicker capacity, allowing you to work without having to rely on television, or even be in the same room. RF has worked extensively in our testing once we were compare with the TV remote control (a simple step first), and we really appreciated the comfort.
Another major difference is the rotary scroll wheel control, extra that we're not big fans. Although the wheel was better than last year, a half turn or so in most cases to respond first when we select the menus. In combination with the slow widget it was not a user experience that we enjoyed. In addition to the wheel distance is good, with buttons that are large, backlit and easily depending on the size and shape. We liked the dedicated tools key provides quick access to the e-manual, and audio mode, the sleep timer, and PIP controls. We did not like the remote glossy black finish, however, that keep up more than its share of blunting fingerprints after a few minutes. The company also includes a small nearly useless hockey-puck-style remote that only controls the channel, volume and power.



The advanced picture menu offers more settings. Some are useful, while others are avoided. These include dynamic contrast, flesh tone, and Digital NR (you do not need noise reduction with a good source). The black tone control, black, darker, and darkest settings, seems to be one of them, to avoid adjustments. However, I found that less aggressive setting(Dark), is subtly improved the picture on some programs and not to clip the blacks.
The Blue setting(available only in video mode and Standard mode) will be can turn off red and green. This allows you to set the color and hue without resorting to color filters, which can be inaccurate on the LCD screen set up.

E-Motion Control

The UN55B8500 is a 240 Hz, operating at a refresh rate of 240 Hz constant for all sources. If the source is a film based and transferred to 1080p/24, part of Samsung repeats every nine times (10:10 pulldown) to get the frame rate of up to 240 Hz If the receives a source of film other except than 1080p/24-that is,one masteres with 3:2 pulldown, that it recognizes and converts it to 24 Hz (eliminating 3:2), and repeat frames that the rate of 240 Hz refresh. If the source is not a movie based, the whole is repeated if necessary, at a refresh rate of 240 Hz images.
The UN55B8500 also offers frame interpolation, which its calls 240Hz to reduce the real time movement. When the switched on, the whole interpolates add extra frames instead simply repeating, which eliminates motion blur dramatically. Some viewers as a result, others hate what it does to the look of the film, which is smoothed to such an extent that they end up watching movies like soap operas. However, some films that might be appropriate!
Real 240Hz offers four modes. The most intriguing is custom, which has separate controls for reducing Judder (for film-based sources) and blur reduction (for on video-base material). Despite the specific name , each frame interpolation control dials. But they allow you to set up different levels of interpolation for each type of source. When custom is engaged, the difference between a series of films and video source and automatically dials the selected set up , as suitable. If you do not like what it did for the film interpolation in any set up, you can set up to 0 and Blur Judder to perhaps 7 or 8. The set up will switch turned on the frame interpolation for video programming, like sports, but leave it off for movies.

Performance

The Samsung has navigated through all our HD video testing without a hiccup. The Video graphics benchmark standard definition upconversion (all tests are VTB 1080i 1080p, except for the scaling, which is 480p to 1080p), but Samsung has achieved a passing grade on this level too. It only showed a result that borderline 3:2 HD pulldown, and had some difficulties in the original  in the DVD letterbox of Titanic- extremely test.
Although many series of LCDs have matte finish screens, Samsung are reflective. Like most LCDs, the picture degrades gradually UN55B8500 as you sit further off axis. But while you picky videophiles, and require dibs on the seat, most viewers will not be disturbed as living within 30 degrees or so from the center. It will cover any place on a sofa that is typically about 10 meters overall.
Before adjustment, black level, the Samsung was impressive in a way that sets the models out of local-dimming. In a dark room, a fade to black in the source program surrounded the room in total complete darkness, as if all had been the set were off. In fact, it is, or at lest the LED lights were. The adjustment raised the black level a bit. Now, I could clearly see the screen in a black cast, although it was very dim, and the black bars on widescreen movies flow were visible when I looked for them. There was also a slight variation in the uniformity of blacks. The pictures are a bit lighter side of the screen toward the center. But these changes were barely visible. They showed that when both the image on screen and the room was very dark.
After reviewing the local-dimming sets that going a bit darker than the Samsung, but the visual impact of the Samsung black level was always first class. In addition, the result has been measured as low as our means reading tests tools. My favorite scenes to test the black level of Spider-Man, Stargate: Continuum, and King Kong (2005) have been convincingly dark, with shadow detail is good and some tracks of dim gray covering that afflicts most ordinary LCDs. The Samsung can run head to head with the discontinu and fast disappearing KUROs in terms of color, resolution and adjustment.it can also easily accessible to brightness and energy efficiency. But as the Samsung approaches the Kuros black levels and shadow detail, and does in the impressive, it still fall short, like all other series setting, we review to be honest.
Although the position of color calibration of the Samsung is good, not exceptional, this distinction does nothing to compromise its color performance subjectively. When the program material is good, the result could be surprising. Home Alone 2: Lost in New York is a film that does not like it much, mainly because of the Cartoons act chaos three. But it is full of bright colors. Inside Plaza Hotel, Duncan's Toy Chest, and the shots of Christmas decorations in New York were all jaw dropped. you will not be disappointed the performance of the color of Samsung.
You will not find your short in the details, either. While the transfer of Home Alone 2 is a bit soft here and there, the scenes moreover, all the above and more, were fresh and clean. Do you want more? Check the accumulation of battle scenes in Braveheart transfer almost perfect. There is no trace of the smootness of Samsung in these scenes, even the longest of long shots of the English and Scottish armies.

Conclusions

The Samsung UN55B8500 not only offers a wide range of parameters and other useful features. It also provides a natural and something struck me and all those who have had the opportunity to see. Yes, it's a bit "expensive, but there is more to be a high state of the cluster-set the blue light special. The  UN55B8500 HDTV is superb.