Samsung 8000-series LCD/LED 3D TV (TPV 88)

Samsung unleashes 3DTV, with a bonus that just might cement their lead

April 7th, 2010 -- by David Birch-Jones
Source: The Perfect Vision

And, the range of 3D adjustability is nothing short of sensational, with a full suite of 3D adjustments that were entirely unexpected, based on earlier peeks at show samples. That Samsung has already added an important new 3D adjustment via a firmware upgrade less than three weeks after the product's market introduction shows an astonishing nimbleness that belies the corporate inertia that one might expect of such a large company.

SPECS & PRICING

Samsung UN46C8000 LCD/LED 3DTV

Screen size: 46” diagonal
Pixel resolution: 1920 x 1080
1:1 Mode: Yes
Video inputs: 4 HDMI, 1 component, 1 composite, 1 RGB PC
Other connections: 2 stereo audio inputs, 1 PC audio input, 1 stereo audio output, 1 optical digital audio output, 1 ATSC/NTSC/ClearQAM RF input, 2 USB ports, 1 Ex-Link control port, 1 LAN port
Dimensions (W x H x D): 42.9” x 26.1” x .9” (w/o stand)
Weight: 37.5 lb.
Warranty: 1 year parts & labor
Price: $2,800

SAMSUNG
(800) 726-7864
www.samsung.com/us

Comments

RichardK (not verified) -- Thu, 04/08/2010 - 12:08

1. I don't know anyone who stays glued in front of the tv and doesn't multitask or otherwise move around. This alone will render 3D to a "cute, but who needs it" status. For example, you can't knit (like my wife), read or even grab a snack with 3D glasses on.

2. Someone will come up with an add on box that allows 120/240 Hz refresh LCDs or plasma to alternate frames wit shifted content and send a signal to blinker glasses for a 3D experience. This was done years ago with video games. I had one and grew tired of it in about 2 weeks.

3. The loss in brightness and detail is not worth the 3D addition. A really good high contrast picture provides 3D type information anyway.

Why don't the gurus that come up with these advances add things that would be potentially useful such as built in DVRs (for off air HD sets) or devices to interface with a home server?

mjbauer -- Mon, 08/23/2010 - 13:33

Richard, I suspect a lot of movie buffs stay glued to the screen. Also, there are certain events in sports that I really stay engaged with. Just my $0.02 worth

mjbauer -- Mon, 08/23/2010 - 13:33

Richard, I suspect a lot of movie buffs stay glued to the screen. Also, there are certain events in sports that I really stay engaged with. Just my $0.02 worth

nickerjo -- Sun, 10/31/2010 - 20:32

Richard - Sorry you are so negative -

I do/have done sports (scuba diving, skiing, surfing, endurance cycle racing) but I have never enjoyed watching any sort of team sports on TV. However, since getting the new Samsung 8000 set I upgraded (with great aggrivation and time - since 3-D is so new) my Comcast set top box so I can receive ESPN 3-D - My son-in-law will enjoy the game and the 3-D and I'll just enjoy the 3-D.

If you don't like something - please don't buy it - My experience with the 8000 series has been fantastic - The above mentioned son-in-law and wife watched a movie and then a 3-D demo and stated it was the best toy I had ever purchased in the last 20 years.

I wish you the best

Robert Goodell (not verified) -- Thu, 04/08/2010 - 18:55

Always the question in this pursuit. Having been on the bleeding edge of DVD-Audio and other AV "next big things", I wonder if it is time to pull the trigger. I have been persuading myself that my Mitsubishi DLP is god enough for now- but I know I will have to make a commitment eventually. I would truly appreciate a review of the Samsung Plasma equivalent set when it arrives; my watching area is designed to be low light.

Adrian (not verified) -- Fri, 04/09/2010 - 01:00

Why does Samsung appear to have abandoned their true backlit LED 9000 model, with the new 9000 series being side-lit? Surely this is a major step backward? It now starts me to look elsewhere such as Sony, LG or Toshiba as they have back-lit displays, which is disappointing, as Sumsung seemed to be the leader in so many different ways.

Charles Gordon (not verified) -- Fri, 04/09/2010 - 09:38

I fear the fake 3D hype will be taking over all sides of the industry, including movie producers. Most people don't seem to realize what stereo optics is all about...it is NOT about shifting an image 2.5" and calling it a day. There is MORE DATA in 3D and it cannot be simulated. It isn't even complicated to explain.

For example, if you are having a conversation with someone, your right eye sees details of their right ear that your left eye cannot, and vice-a-versa. Furthermore, a single lens will be missing detail of both ears.

Trying to simulate this will simply result in a flat picture of someone's face, placed at whatever fake "distance" from the viewer the producer wants.

Robert Goodell (not verified) -- Fri, 04/09/2010 - 17:41

Very interesting. I was curious how quickly this technology appeared ready for the mass market. So these early sets are simulating? Is this like upconverting a std. DVD by interpolating data?

Chris Martens -- Mon, 04/12/2010 - 15:38

Robert,

It is very important to note that, while the 8000-series Samsung sets can do 2D-to-3D upconversion (bear in mind that this is a switch selectable feature), they **also** can play real 3D content (i.e., Blu-ray material originally captured in 3D). So, the set is not always "simulating" 3D.

The point is that the set can play true 3D content in the here and now, but it also provides a mechanism that allows you to enjoy 2D content that is processed in real-time for 3D viewing. The choice is yours.

Best,

Chris Martens

Chris Martens
Editor, Avguide.com/Playback/The Perfect Vision

Chris Martens -- Mon, 04/12/2010 - 15:45

Charles,

I think you're absolutely right that there are some (perhaps many?) misconceptions about stereo optics, 3D viewing, etc.

For an interesting expansion on this discussion, you may want to take a look at David Birch-Jones' "Special TPV Report: Hollywood Post Alliance Technology Retreat 2010", which covered, in part, a presentation that focused on issues and challenges surrounding 3D viewing.

Here's the link: http://www.avguide.com/blog/special-tpv-report-hollywood-post-alliance-t...

Best,

Chris Martens

Chris Martens
Editor, Avguide.com/Playback/The Perfect Vision

Charles Gordon -- Fri, 06/04/2010 - 18:39

Chris, thanks for that link. Exciting times!

nickerjo -- Sun, 10/31/2010 - 20:02

I have always been an early adopter:

Retired from the IT rat race my wife and I purchased a Daweoo 42" EDTV model over 6 years ago. At the time it was the best quality (from then DVD) that we had ever seen. We watched 15 to 20 movies a month - Then we got tired of it - Netflix disks would sit for six months to a year before we returned them. We found ourselves spending a lot of time sitting on the bed watching a 37" Hdtv.

Last month my wife turned to me and said (guys - don't be jealous) why don't we upgrade our media room to "state of the art". So being the good husband I immediately started buying. The monitor end of this, after many weeks of research, was the Samsung 8000 series (55") LCD-LED". (I won't bore you with speakers or AV receivers at this point.) We couldn't be happier - the limited 3-d content is fantastic - the Bluray and wifi HD from Netflix are also astonishing.

In my retirement years I do art photography for shows and galleries - so I am used to looking for good color and resolution. This set is as good or better than when I couple a 5D Mark II to a 500 f 4.0 L series lens. (Sorry if non-photo types are left out here ).

Bottom line - It is well worth looking into.

All the best,

Nickerjo,
leaningpalmstudio.com