Samsung Series 8 B8500 LED LCD HDTV Review

Samsung Series 8 LED LCD includes the B8500 models (55 inch UN55B8500 and 46 inch UN46B8500) as well as two earlier B8000 models (55 inch UN55B8000 and 46 inch UN46B8000) . The Samsung 8500 models have the best performance of any Samsung LCD HDTV and feature full array backlighting which allows local dimming which supercharges black levels (without blooming) and contrast ratios. The B8500 has a 7,000,000:1 contrast ratio bringing it into the performance range of plasma HDTV. A small concession to full array backlighting is a slightly deeper (1.6 inches) panel compared to the edge-lit B8000 models (1.2 inches).

Samsung Series 8000 LED HDTV

Samsung have addressed motion blur reduction aggressively with the B8500 models including its Auto Motion Plus 240Hz technology which provides a quadrupling of the refresh rate with interpolated frames being inserted between existing frames of the video source. When you appreciate that the video processor is generating some 180 frames of over 2,000,000 pixels each every second, one can only be impressed at the raw processing power. Advanced users will appreciate the new option to customize Auto Motion Plus by adjusting for judder and motion blur independently.

Samsung Media 2.0 and Media Stream

The B8500 LED HDTVs are more of an entertainment hub than just a broadcast receiver coming with Samsungs Media 2.0 and Media Stream feature suites.

The Internet@TV Content Service provides onscreen access to web-based content from a host of Yahoo! properties (Flickr, News, Weather, and Finance), and well-known names like USA Today and others. The interface is a widgets-based scrollbar across the bottom of the screen for easy browsing. Widgets can be added after purchase and Samsung have a widget development kit available to content providers to expand the content offerings.

With 2 GB of flash memory available you can move some of your digital pictures, audio files and videos from devices such as cameras or USB drives to your HDTV. The USB 2.0 Movie: Multi-media Center feature helps you quickly connect to your digital camera, USB drive or MP3 player. The USB 2.0 interface allows you to access videos, playlists and pictures with your remote. Utilizing the wired and wireless DLNA compatibility one can locate photos, music and videos from a networked PC from your HDTV.

The preloaded content library is a multimedia collection including photos, artwork, games, recipes and more.

Connectivity options for the Samsung B5800 models are good with no less than 4 HDMI ports. Sound has not been overlooked by Samsung with twin 10W down firing speakers with subwoofers and SRS TruSurround HD for virtual surround sound.