Also one of Samsung’s top-of-the-line models for 2011, the Samsung UN55D8000 shares many attributes with its predecessor, the Samsung UN55D7000, but offers improved performance at a higher price.
Design
Just like the UN55D7000, the UN55D8000 has a lustrous chrome bezel that’s easy to miss, measuring only 0.2 inches wide, allowing the picture to almost spill out of the edges of the screen. It also sports the same
Samsung UN55D8000
four-legged stand, which unfortunately goes against the minimalistic approach of the 1.2-inch deep panel, though it does swivel. As a bonus, the side is equipped with flat, touch-sensitive controls – something you won’t find on its predecessor.
The remote that comes with this model is one of Samsung’s best yet, though it still could be better. Although from one side, it may look like your regular clicker with keys of various sizes and colors, the other side begs to differ, sporting a full QWERTY keypad that even has a small screen, sparing you the effort of having to shift glances between the keypad and the screen. The keypad is equipped with Bluetooth technology, as well, so you can use it even from the next room. Good luck using it in the dark, though, since only the clicker side comes with blue backlighting. As for the menu, it remains easy to navigate and is even easier to understand with small illustrations alongside explanatory text.
Screen/Picture Clarity
The UN55D8000 offers extremely dark blacks – a result of its micro dimming technology – along with a palette of vivid colors. These are marred by problems with the screen uniformity, though, which also affect color accuracy – notice the tinge of blue – and shadow detail even in its optimal picture mode. Faint banding is present, as well, though blooming is not an issue.
In terms of video processing, blur reduction and dejudder adjustment mechanisms are both at par with the best HDTVs in the market, and motion resolution is also at its finest. Rendering 3D images and doubling as a PC monitor are other feats it pulls off without problems, leaving the screen glare from bright lighting the only other issue that Samsung needs to fix.
Features
The UN55D8000 is one of Samsung’s Smart TVs, which means it comes with the much talked about Smart Hub, one of the most comprehensive applications platforms today, though it could have been a dream come true if only it had Amazon Instant and a better organized interface. The picture adjustment suite is also packed with both basic and advanced picture controls, while the connectivity suite offers four HDMI ports and plenty of digital connectivity options. Picture-in-picture and built-in WiFi capabilities have been added, as well.
The Samsung UN55D8000 definitely offers many great features and it looks quite stunning, too. If only its screen was more uniformly lit, it would have been every bit deserving of its hefty price tag. Nonetheless, it remains one of the best LCD HDTVs today, though some consumers might go for less expensive models with better picture quality.
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