Samsung UN46B8500 LCD TV Review

While Pioneer’s Kuro is still the best HDTV out there, if you can find it, the new Samsung UN46B8500 is easily the best 46 inch LCD out there, despite its poor off-angle viewing. Samsung’s ultra-thin LED-based LCDs have been released throughout the year and have garnered a lot of attention. The company’s B6000, B7000, and B8000 models, are all solid sets, but the most recently release, the B8500 series, of which the UN46B8500 is part of, has snagged the top spot for best LCD TV on the market for the moment. This model differs from the other LED sets in that its LED backlighting is not arranged along the edge of the screens. It is instead equipped with local dimming LEDs arranged throughout the screen. Aside from the superb picture quality, its many interactive features give the UN46B8500 plenty to love.

Brief Specifications of UN46B8500

• Resolution: 1080p (standard), 1920×1080 (exact)
• Contrast ratio: 40000:1 (native), 7,000000:1 (dynamic)
• Refresh rate: 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 Samsung UN46B8500 boasts a 240Hz refresh rate. While the motion resolution compared to 120Hz models is technically better, most consumers will never see the distinction. Samsung also added a different type of motion control to the UN46B8500, a LED Motion Plus control designed for chronological backlight scanning. This feature is aimed at boosting motion resolution, though it does reduce light output in some areas.

LG and Sony sets seem to interact better with Yahoo’s widgets than Samsung sets overall. This includes the UN46B8500, though there is more widget content available for Samsung’s sets. Viewers will have to decide if speed outweighs content for themselves. Samsung UN46B8500’s widgets are downloadable and can be geared towards news, Flickr photos, stocks, YouTube, weather, Yahoo video, Twitter, games, and sports scores. One of the newest widgets is Rallycast, a multipurpose widget that lets users Facebook message, text message and track a fantasy sports teams from various providers, though it charges a monthly payment of $15, and has a slow reaction time overall. Another new widget that users can get is TV Guide, giving viewers the ability to browse local TV listings.

Samsung’s set also has some content already built into this model, like workout guides, a slideshow of high-def art and photos set with music, recipes, and games. Users are even offered the ability to download more premade content. The UN46B8500 gives users the ability to stream music and videos, as well as playback music from DLNA-certified devices over an Ethernet connection. The two provided USB ports allow users to attach their USB thumbsticks, digital cameras, and MP3 players to the set as well.

Samsung included its patented Auto Motion Plus dejudder processing in the UN46B8500 as well, even tweaking that system to include a custom setting that allows users to adjust judder and kill blur.

While the UNB85000 series is equipped with localized dimming, a method of dimming or increasing brightness independently throughout the screen based on what images are shown, this isn’t the first set that the company attempted this technology with. Back in 2007, Samsung became the first LCD TV brand to manufacture an LCD with LED backlighting. This model, the LN-T4681F, and its heir, 2008’s LN46A950, both addressed the concept of localized dimming. This method not only provides better black levels, but they outperform Samsung’s edge-lit models in color accuracy as well.

At times, blooming can occur on the UN46B8500, though much less frequently than any other LCD on the market. And while its localized dimming is a great benefit to the set, the LED lights behind the UN46B8500’s screen don’t quite equal the number of pixels in the set, which is around 2.1 million overall. So in actuality, the dimming could be more local, which opens up the possibilities for other companies to swoop in and steal the crown away from this set.

Connectivity

The UN46B8500 has plenty of connectivity options for its users. The set offers little support for analog devices, including just one input, so users may need an external receiver to add anything more. There is an Ethernet port, an optical digital audio jack, and an RF input for antenna or cable. With four HDMI inputs, on the back of the set and two USB inputs there are a lot of combinations possible. Samsung offers an optional wireless adapter at $80, though users could buy a cheaper third-party wireless adapter if they’re looking to save money after dropping a lot on this set. Samsung also included a single component-video input capable of being converted to accept composite video. There is also a VGA PC input included.

Design

Samsung UN46B8500 menu system mirrors 2008’s and it includes very clear descriptions throughout to keep users from head scratching. The UN46B8500 remote gives users quick contact for the picture, and sound modes, picture-in-picture controls, and the E-manual. The remote also has RF capability, which saves users the effort from having to occupy the same room as the set when operating it. Samsung even included a mouse-like remote that is limited to channel, and power volume controls, which seems a bit pointless in hindsight.

The UN46B8500 is just 1.6 inches deep and it lighter than most sets, which led to Samsung creating an exclusive wall mount designed for the set. The UN46B8500 leaves behind the red glow of Samsung’s edge-lit LED line, retaining a basic black inflected with a translucent rim. The UN46B8500 retains a cooler operating temperature than most other HDTVs, most notably plasmas. The stand is see-through and has a swivel top, which is a key addition, as this set doesn’t have the best off viewing angles.

Performance

Samsung’s strong points are often in their sets’ secondary and primary colors. But besides the now discontinued Pioneer Kuro plasma from 2008 and Panasonic V10 plasma TVs from 2009, Samsung UN46B8500 delivers some of the most intense black levels of any display on the market, definitely the best in LCDs. However, if viewers leave the set’s sweet spot, the blacks dramatically degrade. Its color video processing, as well as its color accuracy and shadow detail, is superb, however. While the fine color temperature controls are not as detailed as LG’s sets, which always seem to have more than needed, the grayscale on the UN46B8500 is concrete.

Black Levels

It has outstanding black levels, however at times the UN46B8500 can create some blooming effect, which is when a brighter object melts into a darker neighboring area. This is only an issue for local dimming sets, so plasmas, edge-lit LCDs, and standard LCDs won’t yield this issue for viewers. This effect is less apparent with the UN46B8500 than on other similar backlit sets, like the Sony XBR8. While Pioneer’s plasma has unyielding black levels, the UN46B8500’s blacks decrease as the viewer moves toward off screen angles. The UN46B8500 almost outperforms Panasonic V10 plasma TVs when viewed directly on-axis. In almost completely black scenes, this LCD TV shines, though its shadow detail doesn’t quite touch that of plasmas, like the Kuro or Panasonic V10.

Color Accuracy

The dark areas are mostly impartial, which differs from LG LH90 and other Samsung LCDs that tinge toward blue or even green like the Sony XBR8 is known to do. The UN46B8500 may not touch LG’s LH90 or the Kuro in color accuracy, adding a bluish grayscale at times in some midrange tones, but that’s not to discount it at all. Samsung’s primary and secondary colors are always its strongest points, and the UNB468500 is no exception to that rule. Because of the set’s black levels, colors are deep and vivid, creating amazing images.

Video Processing

The UN46B8500 gives users plenty of options for processing. Its motion resolution outperforms many HDTVs and is as good as the Pioneer Kuro and Panasonic’s V10 plasmas. The UN46B8500 has a new customizable dejudder processing that allows users more flexibility than many other brands in reducing problems with processing. This model works best with the Auto Motion Pro 240Hz and LED Motion Plus functions turned on. Its Blur Reduction slider offers users even more options in perfecting picture.

Standard Definition Performance

The UN46B8500 interacts well with standard definition content. It can take a DVD source and not lose much detail at all. It also kills jaggies from video-based sources at a decent rate. The set’s noise reduction functions well and it kills moire with its 2:3 pull-down. Compared to models in Panasonic V10 plasma TV series, against which it competes, Samsung UNB8500 series can handle SDTV content better.

Glare and Reflections

The UN46B8500 glossy screen mirrors the reflective effect of all of Samsung sets. Sony and LG’s matte-screens work to better reduce reflections. Even Panasonic’s V10 and the Kuro work harder to reduce distractions from ambient lighting. Though Samsung’s set retains contrast and black levels in ambient lighting better than the matte LCDs in some ways, and much more so than both plasmas.

Conclusion

The problem with a lot of LED LCD sets is off-angle viewing greatly reduces the quality of the viewing experience overall. Its blacks dramatically brighten and the colors don’t pop the same.  Luckily the rest of the set is quite solid, giving users the best viewing experience for LCDs on the market, as long as they’re in the sweet spot of course. Samsung also offers plenty of interactivity, like built-in content and the option to download more, as well as tons of Yahoo widgets that give users all types of information. The set also has plenty of connectivity, with four HDMI inputs, two USB inputs, Ethernet, and more. Its Auto Motion Plus dejudder processing is completely customizable, providing complete flexibility for users to adjust for the source. Also the UN46B8500 LED Motion Plus control is designed for chronological backlight scanning. While its color accuracy doesn’t quite touch LG LH90 or Pioneer Kuro Elite, it still has some of the most accurate colors and some of the best black levels on the market. The set’s remote has RF capability, so users don’t even have to occupy the same room as the set when operating it. It is also Energy Star 3.0 compliant for viewers looking to save money on their electric bills. While the hefty price tag may sway some away from this magnificent set, those who will buy it will not be disappointed.