Stunningly beautiful and a strong contender for the best plasma model for 2011, the Samsung PN51D8000 uses sleek styling to initially catch buyer’s attention, and holds them in awe long afterwards with its impressive picture quality and topnotch features. It is not perfect, of course, as some minor glitches come to fore, but overall, this plasma 3DTV is simply one of the choicest TV this year.
Design
While plasmas are generally bulkier than LCDs, the PN51D8000 nonetheless looks stylish and can very well compare to the superbly designed cousins in the UND8000 series. Fitted with a metallic ‘titanium’ body
Samsung PN51D8000
with narrow bezels on both sides, the 3DTV features a panel that is basically similar to last year’s top plasma, atop a chrome-colored swivel stand and four-footed base that some may find campy.
The remote shipped with the PN51D8000 is a two-sided flipper with standard remote buttons on one side, and a full QWERTY keyboard on the flipside. The one-line screen in the QWERTY side is a thoughtful add-on along with the automatic sensing capability that makes the clicker detect what side is facing up, although the lack of backlighting on this side is quite a major flaw as it makes typing in dimly lit rooms really difficult. Still, using the Bluetooth remote with the revamped Samsung menu interface is hassle-free, with the better-looking texts and illustrations quite helpful in guiding users through the maze of choices.
Screen/Picture Quality
The high expectation for the Samsung PN51D8000 is certainly well-deserved. The 3DTV gives lifelike images in both 2D and 3D, thanks mainly to its deep blacks that is just a shade below the legendary blackness of Kuro, near-perfect color accuracy, and overall picture quality that is just spectacular. The unparalleled screen uniformity, excellent filtering of external illumination and comprehensive picture controls are added bonuses that make the TV much more exciting, although Samsung has to work on improving the rendering of shadow details in really dark scenes.
The PN51D8000 handles 1080p/24 materials well, although proper film cadence is problematic when not in the CinemaSmooth mode, as objects appear to move in stuttering fashion. Engaging the CinemaSmooth mode, on the other hand, adversely affects black levels and makes screen images a little less punchy. But 3D rendering is best in this TV, as it showed better depth, brighter images and less crosstalk compared to other top-of-the-line units.
Features
Consumers would surely appreciate the generous goodies heaped on the PN51D8000, ranging from the two free active shutter 3D eyewear (that syncs via Bluetooth) to the built-in WiFi, web browser and easy access to rich online content. The still-evolving Smart Hub portal includes standard fares like Vudu, Hulu and Youtube and newer apps like Fandango and Gymbox. The built-in browser is well-suited for light Internet use, such as accessing social networks and video-calling through Skype using the optional camera.
Connectivity choices for the Samsung PN51D8000 includes four HDMI inputs, one each component/composite video inputs, one VGA-style PC input, three USB ports and Ethernet port.
With a relatively hefty price tag, ordinary consumers may find it hard to decide to buy the Samsung PN51D8000. But for true videophiles who have the cash, spending a bit more is definitely worth the buck if one wants high-quality images, solid performance and great features in a 3DTV.
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