Samsung 55in. UN55B8000 LED HDTV

Product: Samsung 55" LED 1080p HDTV
Provided By: Samsung Canada
Price: Find Lowest Price Online

Introduction:

The world was impressed when Samsung unveiled their LED back-lit HDTV's over a year ago and while this technology was incredibly expensive at launch, it's dropped a bit in price over the past few months.  That doesn't mean that a new LED HDTV is affordable, their largest unit will still let you back almost $2,400, but they are much cheaper than they were at launch.  Today we are looking at their flagship model from the "8" series - the UN55B8000 and this TV offers incredible contrast ratios, stunning blacks and a fast 240Hz Auto Motion Plus technology that guarantees that you're sports will look crisp and clean.  Just for kicks and giggles, Samsung also includes Medi@2.0 and combined with some Yahoo Widgets, you'll be able to do a lot more than watch TV on your TV.  

Before we really begin, let's take a quick refresher course on LCD TV Technology.  Remember, this is not a "LED" TV, it's backlit by LEDs, but still uses an LCD panel.

Thin film transistors are usually used for constructing an active matrix so that the two terms are often interchanged, even though a thin film transistor is just one component in an active matrix and some designs have used other components such as diodes. Whereas a passive matrix display uses a simple conductive grid to deliver current to the liquid crystals in the target area, an active matrix display uses a grid of transistors and capacitors (which are called the thin film transistors) with the ability to hold a charge for a limited period of time.  

Big Box

In Box

A couple of months ago when I received the 50" Plasma TV from Samsung, I thought that box was huge.  While the Plasma TV certainly outweighed its stylish big sister, the box that the 55" LED HDTV comes in is almost too big to fit sideways in the back of my Ford F350.  It's large.  It comes well packaged though and arrived in great shape.  It was nice to see that the stand was attached and I didn't have to install anything before I set it up - in front of my 40" TV - redneck style.

Features:

Before we get too in depth with technical details, let’s take a quick look at the published specifications for this TV. Keep in mind that these numbers are produced under ideal circumstances and are not always indicative of real world performance.

Samsung ultra-slim LED TVs combine breakthrough picture quality, eco-friendly design and advanced connectivity options that will keep you entertained 24/7. The LED series 8 Black Touch of Colour™ TV features Mega Contrast Ratio, Ultra Clear Panel, Auto Motion Plus 240 Hz™, and Medi@2.0 networking suite. Plus, it also makes it easy for you to be green with up to 40% less power consumption than conventional LCDs.

Picture Perfect
For images that are stunningly true to life you need the 3 Cs: contrast, colour and clarity. Ultra-brilliant Samsung LED Series 8 TVs have them all. 5000000:1 Mega Dynamic Contrast provides an incredible range of brightness - from pure blacks to pristine whites.
Advanced Colour Processing enables a wider range of natural colours and provides greater depth for a vibrant, captivating picture - even with subtle colours. Plus our Auto Motion Plus 240 Hz technology eliminates virtually all motion blur, leaving your picture smooth and crisp - and your jaw dropped.

Depth without depth.
Our most advanced HDTV technology contained in a razor-thin silhouette. Stunning and only 29 mm in depth, Samsung LED TVs are our slimmest HDTVs yet. Supported by a unique stand with an elegant, crystal-clear neck, you'll have no trouble finding a place for one in any room.

Thanks to our innovative, optional Wall Mount (WMN1000B), our astonishingly slim LED TVs can be hung just like a picture frame - less than 15 mm from the wall. Only this frame is made with a hint of amber. We call it a Touch of Colour™. One look at it and its soft, square corners is all it takes to see that this isn't just a TV you're hanging. But a work of art.

Green works in any room.
Samsung LED TVs are easy on the planet, using 40% less power than conventional LCD TVs. Additionally, they contain mercury free back lights, and have eliminated CO2 and VOC emissions in the manufacturing process of their TV frames by eliminating the use of spray paint. So you can put your feet up and relax, knowing you're leaving a smaller carbon footprint.

Auto Motion Plus 240 Hz
There's a big difference between seeing the game and seeing every split second of it. That's where Auto Motion Plus 240 Hz technology comes in. All the action in every frame is analyzed and then adjusted so nothing goes by in a blur. The smoothest, sharpest images are always available, even when images are moving at the highest speeds.
   
Wide Colour Enhancer Pro
Offered exclusively on our LED TV's, Wide Colour Enhancer Pro represents the pinnacle of Samsung's colour enhancement technology. Covering the widest colour spectrum to date, it delivers rich, vibrant, and subtle colours for the ultimate in colour expression.

The world wide web just got wider.
Can't decide if you'd rather watch TV or your favourite sites on the web? Do it all on Samsung LED Series 8 TVs. An easy to use widget lets you watch, add or delete content. View it all on the roomy sidebar or across the incredibly wide screen. With our LED Series 8 TVs, TV goes way beyond just TV.
   
Getting on TV made easy.
Samsung LED Series 8 TVs take the struggle out of sharing your talent with the world, or at least with your family. Access your videos, music and photos from your PC or from your DLNA mobile device - wirelessly and effortlessly - and enjoy them on your TV. Our LED TVs can even link to multiple PCs. Who said you need connections to get on TV.

Your audience awaits.
There's no excuse anymore for leaving all those great digital pictures and videos in your cameras or storage devices. Thanks to the USB 2.0 Movie: Multi-media Centre feature on all Samsung LED TVs you can connect your digital camera, thumb drive - even your MP3 player - quickly and easily. The smart, user-friendly USB 2.0 interface allows you to access videos, playlists and pictures with your remote. Now anytime can be showtime.
   
Library hours extended.
Suppose you feel like playing a game of chess or cooking instead of watching TV. Samsung LED Series 8 TV's Content Library Flash feature lets you do just that. Enjoy hours of built-in entertainment features, and then personalize it by adding content that's available online. And downloading is easy. There's so much you can do with our LED Series 8 TVs.