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Samsung UN46B8000: Review

Posted to Televisions 2009-11-23

The Samsung UN46B8000 LED HDTV is a 46-inch 1080p model. It features a 240Hz refresh rate for faithfully recreating fast action scenes, ultra slim 1.2 inch profile and Internet TV, which provides content from Yahoo, YouTube and Flickr using your broadband Internet connection. The unit includes 4 HDMI 1.3a inputs, 1 component video input and 2 USB inputs.

Other features include an Ethernet connection, a PC input and an optical digital audio output. The set uses 40% less power than its LCD counterparts, and produces brighter, sharper images. The unit also comes with a detachable swivel table stand. The UN46B8000 has other impressive specs, too - a 2ms response time and an amazing 5,000,000:1 contrast ratio. Also featured is a game mode which enhances dark areas, sharpens the picture and speeds up the image processing time.

Rating:

4.0 out of 5

Features

The UN46B8000 is jam-packed with features. In addition to those already mentioned, the unit features PIP, two down-firing speakers, each with 10W output and a subwoofer. It also features SRS TruSurround HD and a Content Library which includes 2GB of dedicated storage. It's DLNA compatible and Energy Star compliant. This makes the UN46B8000 one of the most feature rich sets in the medium priced LED range. It has all of the features you're likely to need, whether you plan to use it standalone or as the centerpiece for a higher-end home theater system.

Ergonomics

This is one of the most handsome sets on the market; with it crisp front view and slim profile. It's easy to place in a room or mount on the wall, and it weighs less than comparable LCD models. It gets high marks for the power savings offered by the LED technology as well. And the user interface is intuitive and easy to see. It's much brighter than an LCD model, and can be viewed in most any lighting conditions with little glare.

Summary

If you haven't seen an LED TV, you owe it to yourself to visit the electronics store just to see one. The image quality is truly outstanding, and this unit is better than most of the competition at this price. Make no mistake - the technology is still expensive, but if you want the best image quality available, it's the only way to go. All of the included features are an added bonus.

Pros

46 inch 1080p LED HDTV
5,000,000:1 contrast ratio
Only 1.2 inches thick
Internet TV feature
Plenty of I/O options

Cons

There are no cons for this product