Samsung UN46B8000 LCD TV Review

Samsung UN46B8500 and UN46B8000 have a 240Hz video processing refresh rate, unlike the remainder of the company’s edge-lit line, which retains a 120Hz rate. The fact is, that most users won’t see any noticeable difference in the processing rate when compared side by side. The company’s edge-lit LED LCD TVs, the B6000, B7000, and B8000 series differ from the B8500 series because the latter is equipped with localized dimming and manages to produce deeper blacks. Even so, the B8000 series, including UN46B8000, is quite capable of competing with the best HDTVs out there.

Note: Samsung’s UN46B8000 shares the same features and performance as all models in the Samsung UNB8000 LCD HDTV series. This review here is slightly shorter than the Samsung UN55B8000 review. If you want to find out a bit more about this model (especially about its features), feel free to consult that review as well.

Brief Specifications of UN46B8000

• Resolution: 1080p (standard), 1920 x 1080 (exact)
• Contrast Ratio: 20000:1 (native), 5,000000:1 (dynamic)
• 240Hz Auto Motion Plus processing
• Ethernet: YES
• Picture-in-Picture: YES
• Anti-glare filter: Ultra Clear Panel
• 24p cinema mode: YES
• USB: Yes (2 on side)
• Yahoo Widgets
• Energy Star 3.0 rated
• Four HDMI Inputs

Features

The UN46B8000 has three power-saver modes and an “E-manual” on a USB stick. There is even a customer care screen that has the firmware version listed, and a picture-in-picture feature. The 2009 sets can download firmware updates directly to the set. Users can even recall the last firmware version in case the newest update is causes problems. There are four aspect ratio modes for HD sources added to the set, and one such mode, dubbed Screen Fit, is designed to scale 1080i and 1080p sources based on the set’s pixels with no overscan present, which seems to give the set the best picture.

Performance

Samsung UN46B8000 has plenty of picture adjustments for viewers. Its Movie mode does tend to tinge toward blue, but with the amount of adjustable fields that Samsung provides, users can correct almost any picture issue. Overall it has good color accuracy and black levels. The off-angle viewing of the set could be better, however, a significant hit on picture quality being visible when watching from an angle.

Black Levels

The UN46B8000 contrast works well in darker scenes, but the set isn’t the best out there for black levels. The Panasonic V10 & G10, Pioneer’s Kuro plasma TVs, Sony XBR8 ad even Samsung’s own UN46B8500 are much darker, but the UN46B8000 is as dark as its sibling, the B7000 and darker than most sets on the market. However, the shadow detail is much weaker than other models.

Color Accuracy

Samsung UN46B8000 has unflinching accuracy with primary and secondary colors, yielding good accuracy overall. At times its grayscale can head toward blue during scenes with lots of skin, and the overall saturation doesn’t pop like on the Pioneer Kuro plasma or the Sony XBR8. And while the UNB8000’s dark areas are mostly neutral, they can’t touch most plasma displays.

Video Processing

Users of the UN46B8000 will find that using the dejudder feature during a film, causes sources to seem more video-like. But the set does give users each line of 1080i and 1080p sources. Its 240Hz refresh rate reacts similarly to Samsung LN46B750, LG 47LH90, and similar sets from Toshiba, though distinguishing the difference from 120Hz models is nearly impossible.

Standard definition

The UN46B8000’s standard-def picture quality is decent, killing jaggies from video-based sources well. The provided noise reduction does its job well and the set handles 2:3 pulldown just fine. Compared to some models, especially those from Panasonic, the SDTV performance is better.

Glare and Reflections

Samsung UN46B8000 does react better in ambient lighting than most plasmas, and matte LCDs in some ways, retaining black levels and contrast. But Samsung 8000’s glossy screen can’t touch Sony and LG’s matte-screened LCDs in stopping annoying reflections.

Conclusion

Much like its siblings, the 8500, 7000, and 6000, the Samsung UN46B8000 has plenty of interactivity with features such as Yahoo widgets that include Flickr photos, stocks, games, news, sports scores, weather, YouTube, Yahoo video and Twitter. There is even a plethora of built-in content. The set’s remote has RF capability, so users can change settings on the set from another room. Its super slim design stands at 1.2 inches thick. All those, plus the solid picture quality make this HDTV a valid choice for those looking for high quality.