[ใหม่] Top Price Samsung UN60ES8000 60-Inch 1080p 240 Hz 3D Slim LED HDTV (Silver)
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Technical Details
Size: 65-Inch
- Two pairs of 3D glasses included in box
- Auto Motion Plus 240Hz with Clear Motion Rate, Built-in WiFi
- Full HD 1080p resolution,4 HDMI Inputs
- Samsung Smart TV
- 2-inch thin bezel (NOTE: not the same 0.2" thinness as the 46D8000 and 55D8000)
For the ultimate TV enthusiasts, incredible picture quality and advanced connectivity are just the first step; the Samsung UN65D8000 LED TV goes a step beyond, adding elegant design to the formula. On the commanding 65-inch screen you can enjoy Samsung' Smart TV, which puts the web, a wide range of apps, Skype video calling, and plenty more at your fingertips. Or connect a Blu-ray 3D player to get immersed in cinema-quality 3D programming--two pairs of active glasses are included.
Toshiba Regza 42ZV635DB , Samsung LE37R87, Sony KDL40Z4500, Dyon Delta 24 FULL, Samsung LE55C650, Samsung UE55C6505, Samsung LE32B650T2 , Samsung LE46B650T2, Philips 26PFL3606H, Samsung UE40B8000, LG 60PZ570T, LG 32LD690 , Sony Kdl-22ex320baep, Sharp LC60LE831E, TX-P50UT30B, Panasonic TX-P50VT20B , LE-32D403, TECHWOOD T42PXFHD12, Sony KDL55EX503U, Samsung LE40M87BDX, Samsung UE55B7020W, Samsung PS59D6900, Panasonic TX-P50S10B, LG 47LX6900, Toshiba 32AV504, SAMSUNG UE22ES5000, Panasonic TX-P42UT30B, Panasonic TX-P50X10B, Samsung UE46B6000 , SONY KDL-40EX720, Panasonic TX-P50X20B, Sony KDL40EX603U, Samsung LE32B530P7WX , Samsung PS-43 E 490 B1WXZG, LG 42PQ3000, Philips 47PFL9664H, Sharp LC19SH7EBK, Samsung UE46D5000, Samsung LE40A656A1F, Sony KDL40V5500U, Samsung UE40C7000XKX , Panasonic TX-L32D28BP, LG 50PJ550, LG 37LV3550 , Sanyo CE32LD08-B, LG 42PG3000, LG 55LX9900, Toshiba 32SL753B , Sony KDL-46W4500
Product Description
For the ultimate TV enthusiasts, incredible picture quality and advanced connectivity are just the first step; the Samsung UN65D8000 LED TV goes a step beyond, adding elegant design to the formula. On the commanding 65-inch screen you can enjoy Samsung' Smart TV, which puts the web, a wide range of apps, Skype video calling, and plenty more at your fingertips. Or connect a Blu-ray 3D player to get immersed in cinema-quality 3D programming-two pairs of active glasses are included.
This review is a little long winded. Skip to the bottom for just the pros and cons. Or, keep reading to waste 10 minutes of your life.
Over the last 5 years, I have been using a 58" Panasonic Plasma TV. Not a bad TV, but not the greatest either. It was only 1080i, it got hot pretty fast (which made the room hot and the air condition kick on too often), and the dimensions were weird (I looked at entertainment centers that should fit a 60" TV, but the TV still wouldn't fit.). I felt an upgrade was in order.
I'll have to admit, shopping for a TV was pretty fun. A lot of work though. The research was overwhelming at times. Websites upon websites, magazines, books, different people's inputs, salesmen trying to sell you different things depending on which store you went to, etc. I narrowed it down to one of many Sony HDTVs or a Samsung C or D series. After narrowing it down to those 2 brands, it was a little easier. I went to about 4 different Fry's Electronics and 7 different Best Buys to check it out in different situations. After that, it came down to the UN55D8000 (boy, did I memorize those numbers). To make the decision easier, I was looking on Amazon, and to my amazement, they had it for 0 less that everyone else, plus free shipping. Score!
With the free shipping, it usually takes a little longer. I would say, from the time the order was placed, until it got to my front door, it took about 1.5 weeks. It came delivered from Home Direct, USA and had no issues with delivery. They were going to set up the TV, but I told them not to, since my entertainment center hadn't come in yet. I opened up the box, put the TV on a soft cloth (our bed's comforter) and installed the stand. Eight screws, piece of cake. I connected the Directv receiver and a PS3. There are a few settings you will set in the beginning when the TV turns on. Takes about 2 minutes, literally. After that, the fun begins! Going from 1080i to 1080p is a huge difference! I had a recording of Chuck on the DVR and it almost looked live. I also watched some regular satellite programming and even the non-HD channels looked amazing.
LG 42LE5300, Samsung UE46ES6800UX, Cello 24inch, Philips 32PFL4606H, Panasonic TH-37PX80B , Samsung PS63C7000, Hannspree SV42TMNB, Finlux 46S8030, LG 32LE5300, Panasonic TX-P42V20B, LG 60PZ950T, Samsung PS-43, Sony KDL-40L4000, Samsung UE46B7020W, Panasonic TX-L42ET50B, Samsung UE40D5000, Toshiba 42RV635DB, Panasonic TX-P50G10B, Samsung UE40B6000 , LG 60PV250, LG 19lv2500, Samsung PS43D450, Philips 46PFL6606K, Sony KDL40EX713 , LG 47LD950, TOSHIBA 23EL933F, Sony KDL46W5500U, Sharp LC40LE511E, Panasonic TX-L47ET50B, Panasonic TX-P42UT50B , Panasonic TX-P42VT20B, LG 42LD690, Finlux 47S7010, Samsung UE32D6510, UE46D8000 46 , Panasonic TX L24C3ES
After wiping the drool off the floor, I wanted to check out the 3D part of the TV. I popped in the free copy of Shrek the 3rd in the PS3, put on the glasses and waited to be amazed. Aside from the amazing colors, it looked exactly like 2D! WTH?! Then, I remember reading somewhere that the PS3 does indeed play 3D movies, BUT with an upgrade. I waited about 30 minutes for the upgrade to finish. After that, loaded up the dvd again, and there was the movie with that funky 3D image. Hey wait, I have 3D glasses on, how come I see that. Oh, oops. Batteries need to be installed in the glasses. Finally! The 3D image was awesome! Seriously, watching TV in 3D is amazing. I can't wait `til there's more media in 3D. As it stands right now, the only real movies in 3D are either documentaries or cartoons, with the exception of a few regular movies (i.e. Resident Evil, Step Up 3, etc.)
I just set it up last night, so I can't give you a whole lot more information. But, even if I did have more time, I don't think I can give you the detailed specs that you might be looking for. I'm not an expert on home theater. Here's an overview of pros and cons:
PROS:
* The lack of a bigger bezel really does make a difference. Not only aesthetically, but in terms of functionality, too (better 3D viewing. It looks like you're looking thru a window.).
* Images are spectacular. Whether it be regular programming, HDTV programming, or Blu-Ray.
* Price on Amazon was very good!
* Delivery was pain-free.
* A lot of settings options, so you can set up the TV to your preference and the viewing scenario (i.e. movie, standard, etc.)
* 3D movie watching is stunning! I just wish Panasonic didn't have exclusive rights on Avatar.
CONS:
* SmartTV is a cool feature. But, not a necessity. I really doubt that I'll Facebook or Tweet from the TV.
* Audio isn't great, but it's adequate. I wasn't really expecting much from a flat screen TV.
* Did not come with the touch-screen remote as was supposed to be the case in the beginning of the year.
* Have to mail in the vouchers (or register online) in order to get the 3D glasses. True, you do get a 3D starter kit with this TV, which has the glasses, but those glasses are a little different and use batteries. Also, you have to send out to get the free copy of Shrek Forever and Megamind. I really shouldn't complain, though, since these are free.
* Needs a more detailed manual on how to use most of the features. The manual it comes with is thick, but it's just because it's the same thing in different languages.
LG 42LW5500 , Sony KDL-26EX320, Toshiba 46WL863B , Sony KDL-40BX420, Panasonic TX L24C3E, Toshiba Regza 42XV635DB, Sony KDL-32EX310, Samsung P64FP, Sony KDL46EX724, LG 42LS3400, Panasonic TX-P50UT50B, Sharp LC46LE831E, LG 47LW980T, AOC L22W981, SAMSUNG PS51D8000FUXXU, Samsung PS50C6900, PHILIPS 42PFL3507H, Samsung LE32B541P7 , Sony KDL-37V4000, Sony KDL-40W4500, LG 47LE7900, Toshiba 32XV555DB, Panasonic TX-P42GT20B, Avtex L185TR, Sovos SVKTV15 , TOSHIBA 32RL933, Panasonic TX-L32C20BA, Finlux 55S6040-T , Samsung UE46C5100, Philips 32PFL5405H , Philips 32PFL5406H, Finlux 32H6030, TOSHIBA 26EL933F, Samsung UE55D6100, Samsung UE-40 EH, Toshiba 26DL833G
Sorry for the long review. Us Yelpers write a lot of gibberish, don't we?
UPDATE: After playing around with the TV a little more this weekend, I noticed that the top of the screen had some light flickering (around where the bezel meets the screen and it was about 1/16" tall and went almost across the whole TV. I'm hoping it's not the "edge lighting.") It only did this on some channels on Directv. Most channels were fine and Blu-Ray was fine. I'm thinking it's either the receiver or possibly the cheap HDMI cable. I have a Monster M1000 series cable coming in later this week, so I'll switch it out and update.
Also, there has been talk all over online about people having problems pairing the remote. I had zero problem and did it about 5 feet away from the TV.
One last thing, one of the glasses in the free 3D kit didn't seem to work. I changed out batteries and nothing. Then, the next morning, I tried it again, but this time turning off the bluetooth in my phone, and it worked. Whether this had an effect on it, I don't know. But, just thought I'd throw that out there.
BTW, this weekend, I watched Tangled in 3D and played MLB2K11 on the PS3...... WOW! I'll have to admit, I liked 3D, but I thought it was just a novelty. No way. 3D is much different now than when we had those blue and red glasses. It changes the whole experience.
UPDATE #2: Didn't have to do anything to get the line gone. It just went away one day.
Also, I finally got the 3D glasses from the voucher that's in the TV. Unfortunately, they are the 3300s and not the 3700s that I kept seeing from people at CES. I won't knock the rating down, but I am a little disappointed that the glasses and the remote that were advertised earlier in the year didn't come with the unit, nor even thru mail. Also, the charger for the glasses is 9! No, thanks. I'll just charge it using the USB cable.
Over the last 5 years, I have been using a 58" Panasonic Plasma TV. Not a bad TV, but not the greatest either. It was only 1080i, it got hot pretty fast (which made the room hot and the air condition kick on too often), and the dimensions were weird (I looked at entertainment centers that should fit a 60" TV, but the TV still wouldn't fit.). I felt an upgrade was in order.
I'll have to admit, shopping for a TV was pretty fun. A lot of work though. The research was overwhelming at times. Websites upon websites, magazines, books, different people's inputs, salesmen trying to sell you different things depending on which store you went to, etc. I narrowed it down to one of many Sony HDTVs or a Samsung C or D series. After narrowing it down to those 2 brands, it was a little easier. I went to about 4 different Fry's Electronics and 7 different Best Buys to check it out in different situations. After that, it came down to the UN55D8000 (boy, did I memorize those numbers). To make the decision easier, I was looking on Amazon, and to my amazement, they had it for 0 less that everyone else, plus free shipping. Score!
With the free shipping, it usually takes a little longer. I would say, from the time the order was placed, until it got to my front door, it took about 1.5 weeks. It came delivered from Home Direct, USA and had no issues with delivery. They were going to set up the TV, but I told them not to, since my entertainment center hadn't come in yet. I opened up the box, put the TV on a soft cloth (our bed's comforter) and installed the stand. Eight screws, piece of cake. I connected the Directv receiver and a PS3. There are a few settings you will set in the beginning when the TV turns on. Takes about 2 minutes, literally. After that, the fun begins! Going from 1080i to 1080p is a huge difference! I had a recording of Chuck on the DVR and it almost looked live. I also watched some regular satellite programming and even the non-HD channels looked amazing.
LG 42LE5300, Samsung UE46ES6800UX, Cello 24inch, Philips 32PFL4606H, Panasonic TH-37PX80B , Samsung PS63C7000, Hannspree SV42TMNB, Finlux 46S8030, LG 32LE5300, Panasonic TX-P42V20B, LG 60PZ950T, Samsung PS-43, Sony KDL-40L4000, Samsung UE46B7020W, Panasonic TX-L42ET50B, Samsung UE40D5000, Toshiba 42RV635DB, Panasonic TX-P50G10B, Samsung UE40B6000 , LG 60PV250, LG 19lv2500, Samsung PS43D450, Philips 46PFL6606K, Sony KDL40EX713 , LG 47LD950, TOSHIBA 23EL933F, Sony KDL46W5500U, Sharp LC40LE511E, Panasonic TX-L47ET50B, Panasonic TX-P42UT50B , Panasonic TX-P42VT20B, LG 42LD690, Finlux 47S7010, Samsung UE32D6510, UE46D8000 46 , Panasonic TX L24C3ES
After wiping the drool off the floor, I wanted to check out the 3D part of the TV. I popped in the free copy of Shrek the 3rd in the PS3, put on the glasses and waited to be amazed. Aside from the amazing colors, it looked exactly like 2D! WTH?! Then, I remember reading somewhere that the PS3 does indeed play 3D movies, BUT with an upgrade. I waited about 30 minutes for the upgrade to finish. After that, loaded up the dvd again, and there was the movie with that funky 3D image. Hey wait, I have 3D glasses on, how come I see that. Oh, oops. Batteries need to be installed in the glasses. Finally! The 3D image was awesome! Seriously, watching TV in 3D is amazing. I can't wait `til there's more media in 3D. As it stands right now, the only real movies in 3D are either documentaries or cartoons, with the exception of a few regular movies (i.e. Resident Evil, Step Up 3, etc.)
I just set it up last night, so I can't give you a whole lot more information. But, even if I did have more time, I don't think I can give you the detailed specs that you might be looking for. I'm not an expert on home theater. Here's an overview of pros and cons:
PROS:
* The lack of a bigger bezel really does make a difference. Not only aesthetically, but in terms of functionality, too (better 3D viewing. It looks like you're looking thru a window.).
* Images are spectacular. Whether it be regular programming, HDTV programming, or Blu-Ray.
* Price on Amazon was very good!
* Delivery was pain-free.
* A lot of settings options, so you can set up the TV to your preference and the viewing scenario (i.e. movie, standard, etc.)
* 3D movie watching is stunning! I just wish Panasonic didn't have exclusive rights on Avatar.
CONS:
* SmartTV is a cool feature. But, not a necessity. I really doubt that I'll Facebook or Tweet from the TV.
* Audio isn't great, but it's adequate. I wasn't really expecting much from a flat screen TV.
* Did not come with the touch-screen remote as was supposed to be the case in the beginning of the year.
* Have to mail in the vouchers (or register online) in order to get the 3D glasses. True, you do get a 3D starter kit with this TV, which has the glasses, but those glasses are a little different and use batteries. Also, you have to send out to get the free copy of Shrek Forever and Megamind. I really shouldn't complain, though, since these are free.
* Needs a more detailed manual on how to use most of the features. The manual it comes with is thick, but it's just because it's the same thing in different languages.
LG 42LW5500 , Sony KDL-26EX320, Toshiba 46WL863B , Sony KDL-40BX420, Panasonic TX L24C3E, Toshiba Regza 42XV635DB, Sony KDL-32EX310, Samsung P64FP, Sony KDL46EX724, LG 42LS3400, Panasonic TX-P50UT50B, Sharp LC46LE831E, LG 47LW980T, AOC L22W981, SAMSUNG PS51D8000FUXXU, Samsung PS50C6900, PHILIPS 42PFL3507H, Samsung LE32B541P7 , Sony KDL-37V4000, Sony KDL-40W4500, LG 47LE7900, Toshiba 32XV555DB, Panasonic TX-P42GT20B, Avtex L185TR, Sovos SVKTV15 , TOSHIBA 32RL933, Panasonic TX-L32C20BA, Finlux 55S6040-T , Samsung UE46C5100, Philips 32PFL5405H , Philips 32PFL5406H, Finlux 32H6030, TOSHIBA 26EL933F, Samsung UE55D6100, Samsung UE-40 EH, Toshiba 26DL833G
Sorry for the long review. Us Yelpers write a lot of gibberish, don't we?
UPDATE: After playing around with the TV a little more this weekend, I noticed that the top of the screen had some light flickering (around where the bezel meets the screen and it was about 1/16" tall and went almost across the whole TV. I'm hoping it's not the "edge lighting.") It only did this on some channels on Directv. Most channels were fine and Blu-Ray was fine. I'm thinking it's either the receiver or possibly the cheap HDMI cable. I have a Monster M1000 series cable coming in later this week, so I'll switch it out and update.
Also, there has been talk all over online about people having problems pairing the remote. I had zero problem and did it about 5 feet away from the TV.
One last thing, one of the glasses in the free 3D kit didn't seem to work. I changed out batteries and nothing. Then, the next morning, I tried it again, but this time turning off the bluetooth in my phone, and it worked. Whether this had an effect on it, I don't know. But, just thought I'd throw that out there.
BTW, this weekend, I watched Tangled in 3D and played MLB2K11 on the PS3...... WOW! I'll have to admit, I liked 3D, but I thought it was just a novelty. No way. 3D is much different now than when we had those blue and red glasses. It changes the whole experience.
UPDATE #2: Didn't have to do anything to get the line gone. It just went away one day.
Also, I finally got the 3D glasses from the voucher that's in the TV. Unfortunately, they are the 3300s and not the 3700s that I kept seeing from people at CES. I won't knock the rating down, but I am a little disappointed that the glasses and the remote that were advertised earlier in the year didn't come with the unit, nor even thru mail. Also, the charger for the glasses is 9! No, thanks. I'll just charge it using the USB cable.
I wanted to give this TV a glowing review; after all, it has some of the latest LED technology, and the style is trend setting. After a week with this TV, I am less than satisfied with the 'Samsung Experience'. Let me get this off my chest first. Did you ever go to an event, like a county fair, early, when not all the rides and attractions were open? You're excited because it looks like it can be a lot of fun, but it's just a bit too early for the full experience. Well, that's the way I feel about this TV. First of all, the 3d glasses that are supposed to ship with this TV were not in the box. Instead, there is a voucher you may mail in, or go online to order (which I did). After a week and no response, I called to find out why the delay. I was told to read the voucher's fine print, which said there was a 10-12 week wait for the glasses. Not good. Secondly, I found an issue with the remote control unit, which is not a fun thing to have in your hand. It is sort of short and stubby, with two sides. One side has a QWERTY keyboard for text entry, and a touch-sensitive pointer. I find that the up, down, right, left controls do not work correctly with my unit, and called support to report this. They seemed very interested in the matter and told me they would call back in 45 minutes (after they set up a testing unit) for further info. There was no call back. Another reviewer mentioned the difficulty in pairing the remote with the TV, via Bluetooth. I also found this to be a problem and not consistently easy to do.
Panasonic TX-L42U3B, Toshiba 42YL863B, Cello C4211DVBLED-3D, Sony KDL32EX713, Panasonic TX-P50G20B, Panasonic TX-P46G20B, LG 32LE5900, Panasonic TX-L32DT30B, Hitachi 42MX70, Toshiba 40VL758B , Toshiba 37BV700B, Panasonic TX-32LZD80 , Samsung UE46C6530, Cello 24 FULL HD , Toshiba 42WL863B , LG 55LW450U, Special Edition Visua Glossy, Samsung PS51D495, LG 42LH4000, Linsar 26LED905T, Samsung LE46D550, Samsung PS43D450, Panasonic TX-L37V20B, Sony BRAVIA KDL40S5500U, Panasonic TX-L42DT50B , Panasonic TX-L19D28BP, Samsung UE37C6530, Toshiba 32 AV, Philips 22PFL3606H, LG 37LE4500 , Toshiba 22DV714B, Sony KDL22EX302U, Samsung LE40B650T2 , Toshiba 40WL753B,
Samsung has incorporated a feature called Smart Hub into their 'Smart TV'. This is a portal that has Netflix, Vimeo, YouTube, Facebook, Pandora, a web browser, and several games and applications that are either free or paid for. The feature is nice and I look forward to seeing it develop. You need to register your TV and create an account, similar to an Apple ID, before you can purchase any of the apps. You would think you could do this from the TV, but you can't; you need to go online to do this. Not a big deal, but it was confusing. The Samsung website is not ready for prime time either. The discussion board is not yet running. One nice thing is the Live Help, which works VERY well. However, I was not able to get the level of help I needed.
Okay, enough with the gripes. This is one fine TV. It is very light, has a narrow profile and includes a nice, chrome-plated stand that lets you to rotate the TV about 30 degrees in either direction. A big factor for me was the thin bezel, which allowed me to fit a 46" set into my 43" wide cabinet. The TV has plenty of inputs, including some strange connectors that let you to connect component and composite video. I do have a non-HDMI DVD that uses the component connectors, and it worked well. The setup of the TV is not difficult if you have some experience with hookups, and I was able to get all the components and my receiver working in short order. As I mentioned above, I am not a big fan of the shape of the remote, and I am trying to duplicate most of the functionality in my Harmony universal remote.
One thing I did was hook up my TV to my iMac to show photos to my photo club. I was not expecting the quality to be better than my 27" iMac, but it was FAR better. The color was most natural in Movie mode, Warm 1 setting. The sharpness was uncanny. I saw no obtrusive artifacts on the screen and was pleased as punch at the jaw-dropping quality of my photo images (and so were the club members). The TV is connected to our UVERSE system, and the HD quality is very good. I have no measurement or calibration tools, but I have a fine eye for photography. The color balance, contrast, and sharpness are excellent. The only thing I need to get a handle on is the 'Film mode', which can turn watching Modern Family into a strange experience; it almost makes some programs look like they were videotaped like a soap opera. I leave this feature 'off' for the time being. Tonite we watched the 10 Commandments (1956), and the quality was incredible! I have yet to see any Blue Ray DVDs, as I haven't purchased a player yet. And, of course, I don't have the glasses for 3D. I do plan to update my review as these things change.
This TV merits at least a 4-star rating. I may add another depending on how things develop.
Panasonic TX-L32S20B, Sony KDL32V5500U, LG 50PZ950T, Samsung LE32C580, Sharp LC60LE636E , SAMSUNG LE32D403, Sony KDL32EX310BU, Dyon Delta 19, Sony KDL22S5500U, Hello Kitty HET001Y, Samsung UE40C5100, Samsung PS43D490, Panasonic TX-L32G20B , LG 42LM615T, Sony KDL-26S4000, Panasonic TX-L37DT30B, LG 47LD450, Toshiba 32DB833B, Panasonic TX-P42S20B, Samsung UE32D4000, Toshiba 37XV555DB, Panasonic TXL37D28BW, LG 42LE5900, SAMSUNG UE32ES5500, Samsung LE19C451 , Finlux 55S8040, Sony KDL32EX703U, Samsung UE46D5000, Panasonic TX-L55ET5B, Toshiba 32AV635DB, Samsung UE46EH5300, LG 42LH3000, Samsung PS59D550, Panasonic TX-P50U30B , Panasonic TX-L37D25B
Update 6/8/2011
Finally received my 3d glasses from the 'Samsung Fulfillment Center'. They are active-shutter type glasses and come with standard USB cords to charge them. You can plug the cords into the back of the set and the glasses will recharge when the set is ON. We watched our first 3D movie together last night. The 3d effect was excellent and I could see no artifacts. The glasses fit over my lenses and were comfortable. They turn on automatically when they sense a 3d broadcast, which is nice.
The chunky remote usually just sits waiting to be used, as I have programmed a Harmony Universal remote to allow me to use SmartHub and control most of the functions. SmartHub is still evolving and there are many update messages that indicate it is constantly upgraded. I do enjoy the Vimeo and Vudu sites, as well as Netflix. The gamed, browser and other 'apps' are not appealing to me yet.
I continue to laud the picture quality on this set. I can't say it is better than a Sony or Panasonic or other brand, but I have no reason to look further. I can only describe the HD quality as 'rich' and brimming with tonality. The shadow detail amazes me, and the blacks are truly black. I never find the the picture to be overly contrasty or saturated. I also find no reason to fiddle with the controls, once they are set. After over a month of viewing, I still find myself saying 'that's remarkable' when I watch high quality broadcasts. Again, I use ATT Uverse as my cable provider, and our signal quality is very good. I don't expect to buy another TV of this caliber for a good long time, and feel confident that this Samsung will grow with us for years to come.
Update 11/18/11
After months of use, I still like this TV. Samsung, it appears, is trying to be like Apple and even sent me a survey ploying me with questions about why I liked Apple computers, iPads, iPods, etc. I can see they are trying to formulate a strategy. Let me say that SmartHub is their way of giving TV users an 'app' experience. It has fallen short IMHO. The apps they have are rather cheesy and I'd rather use an iPad while watching TV, than switch to Smarthub and turn off the programming. Another failing, they don't give you access to Amazon streaming for movies (they used to, but not in the 2011 TVs). Why? AppleTV is a good accessory for Netflix, Youtube, and many other features and it has a far better interface. The only thing I like about SmartHub is the 'Explore 3D' feature that has several creative 3D features on it. With the current dearth of 3D source material on DVD, it's nice to have a handy place to experience it and show it to friends. You should really check that out.
Panasonic TX-L42U3B, Toshiba 42YL863B, Cello C4211DVBLED-3D, Sony KDL32EX713, Panasonic TX-P50G20B, Panasonic TX-P46G20B, LG 32LE5900, Panasonic TX-L32DT30B, Hitachi 42MX70, Toshiba 40VL758B , Toshiba 37BV700B, Panasonic TX-32LZD80 , Samsung UE46C6530, Cello 24 FULL HD , Toshiba 42WL863B , LG 55LW450U, Special Edition Visua Glossy, Samsung PS51D495, LG 42LH4000, Linsar 26LED905T, Samsung LE46D550, Samsung PS43D450, Panasonic TX-L37V20B, Sony BRAVIA KDL40S5500U, Panasonic TX-L42DT50B , Panasonic TX-L19D28BP, Samsung UE37C6530, Toshiba 32 AV, Philips 22PFL3606H, LG 37LE4500 , Toshiba 22DV714B, Sony KDL22EX302U, Samsung LE40B650T2 , Toshiba 40WL753B,
Samsung has incorporated a feature called Smart Hub into their 'Smart TV'. This is a portal that has Netflix, Vimeo, YouTube, Facebook, Pandora, a web browser, and several games and applications that are either free or paid for. The feature is nice and I look forward to seeing it develop. You need to register your TV and create an account, similar to an Apple ID, before you can purchase any of the apps. You would think you could do this from the TV, but you can't; you need to go online to do this. Not a big deal, but it was confusing. The Samsung website is not ready for prime time either. The discussion board is not yet running. One nice thing is the Live Help, which works VERY well. However, I was not able to get the level of help I needed.
Okay, enough with the gripes. This is one fine TV. It is very light, has a narrow profile and includes a nice, chrome-plated stand that lets you to rotate the TV about 30 degrees in either direction. A big factor for me was the thin bezel, which allowed me to fit a 46" set into my 43" wide cabinet. The TV has plenty of inputs, including some strange connectors that let you to connect component and composite video. I do have a non-HDMI DVD that uses the component connectors, and it worked well. The setup of the TV is not difficult if you have some experience with hookups, and I was able to get all the components and my receiver working in short order. As I mentioned above, I am not a big fan of the shape of the remote, and I am trying to duplicate most of the functionality in my Harmony universal remote.
One thing I did was hook up my TV to my iMac to show photos to my photo club. I was not expecting the quality to be better than my 27" iMac, but it was FAR better. The color was most natural in Movie mode, Warm 1 setting. The sharpness was uncanny. I saw no obtrusive artifacts on the screen and was pleased as punch at the jaw-dropping quality of my photo images (and so were the club members). The TV is connected to our UVERSE system, and the HD quality is very good. I have no measurement or calibration tools, but I have a fine eye for photography. The color balance, contrast, and sharpness are excellent. The only thing I need to get a handle on is the 'Film mode', which can turn watching Modern Family into a strange experience; it almost makes some programs look like they were videotaped like a soap opera. I leave this feature 'off' for the time being. Tonite we watched the 10 Commandments (1956), and the quality was incredible! I have yet to see any Blue Ray DVDs, as I haven't purchased a player yet. And, of course, I don't have the glasses for 3D. I do plan to update my review as these things change.
This TV merits at least a 4-star rating. I may add another depending on how things develop.
Panasonic TX-L32S20B, Sony KDL32V5500U, LG 50PZ950T, Samsung LE32C580, Sharp LC60LE636E , SAMSUNG LE32D403, Sony KDL32EX310BU, Dyon Delta 19, Sony KDL22S5500U, Hello Kitty HET001Y, Samsung UE40C5100, Samsung PS43D490, Panasonic TX-L32G20B , LG 42LM615T, Sony KDL-26S4000, Panasonic TX-L37DT30B, LG 47LD450, Toshiba 32DB833B, Panasonic TX-P42S20B, Samsung UE32D4000, Toshiba 37XV555DB, Panasonic TXL37D28BW, LG 42LE5900, SAMSUNG UE32ES5500, Samsung LE19C451 , Finlux 55S8040, Sony KDL32EX703U, Samsung UE46D5000, Panasonic TX-L55ET5B, Toshiba 32AV635DB, Samsung UE46EH5300, LG 42LH3000, Samsung PS59D550, Panasonic TX-P50U30B , Panasonic TX-L37D25B
Update 6/8/2011
Finally received my 3d glasses from the 'Samsung Fulfillment Center'. They are active-shutter type glasses and come with standard USB cords to charge them. You can plug the cords into the back of the set and the glasses will recharge when the set is ON. We watched our first 3D movie together last night. The 3d effect was excellent and I could see no artifacts. The glasses fit over my lenses and were comfortable. They turn on automatically when they sense a 3d broadcast, which is nice.
The chunky remote usually just sits waiting to be used, as I have programmed a Harmony Universal remote to allow me to use SmartHub and control most of the functions. SmartHub is still evolving and there are many update messages that indicate it is constantly upgraded. I do enjoy the Vimeo and Vudu sites, as well as Netflix. The gamed, browser and other 'apps' are not appealing to me yet.
I continue to laud the picture quality on this set. I can't say it is better than a Sony or Panasonic or other brand, but I have no reason to look further. I can only describe the HD quality as 'rich' and brimming with tonality. The shadow detail amazes me, and the blacks are truly black. I never find the the picture to be overly contrasty or saturated. I also find no reason to fiddle with the controls, once they are set. After over a month of viewing, I still find myself saying 'that's remarkable' when I watch high quality broadcasts. Again, I use ATT Uverse as my cable provider, and our signal quality is very good. I don't expect to buy another TV of this caliber for a good long time, and feel confident that this Samsung will grow with us for years to come.
Update 11/18/11
After months of use, I still like this TV. Samsung, it appears, is trying to be like Apple and even sent me a survey ploying me with questions about why I liked Apple computers, iPads, iPods, etc. I can see they are trying to formulate a strategy. Let me say that SmartHub is their way of giving TV users an 'app' experience. It has fallen short IMHO. The apps they have are rather cheesy and I'd rather use an iPad while watching TV, than switch to Smarthub and turn off the programming. Another failing, they don't give you access to Amazon streaming for movies (they used to, but not in the 2011 TVs). Why? AppleTV is a good accessory for Netflix, Youtube, and many other features and it has a far better interface. The only thing I like about SmartHub is the 'Explore 3D' feature that has several creative 3D features on it. With the current dearth of 3D source material on DVD, it's nice to have a handy place to experience it and show it to friends. You should really check that out.
Cello C22103F , Avtex L185DR, LG 60PV250K, Samsung UE32C4000, LG 32LV550T, Panasonic TX-P46GT30B, Samsung UE46D5520, Samsung PS43D450, Digihome LCD42913FHD3D, LG 42PJ350, LG 55LW550T , LG 42LV355T, Samsung PS51E490, Samsung PS60E6500EUXXU, SAMSUNG LE32D450ZF, Panasonic TX-L19C20B, Panasonic TX-L42ET5B, Samsung LE46D580, Panasonic TX-L37E3B , Samsung UE32C5100, LG 37LD450, Panasonic TX-L32C3B, Samsung UE40C6510, Panasonic TX-P50C3B, Sony KDL32S5500U, Panasonic TX-P50ST50B , Panasonic TX-L32X3B, Philips 32PFL5606H, Panasonic TX-P50ST30B , Samsung PS51D450, Toshiba 40LV713B, Panasonic TX-P42U30B, Samsung UE40EH5300, LG 32LE4500, Cello 32 3D , Panasonic TX-P42C3B
One negative on this TV, the viewing angle. If you are off-axis, the picture washes out and you lose the experience of seeing really deep blacks.
One negative on this TV, the viewing angle. If you are off-axis, the picture washes out and you lose the experience of seeing really deep blacks.