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Samsung has three series of super-thin LED-based LCDs, the 6000, the 7000, and the 8000 models. The 8500 models employ a full array of local dimming LEDs behind the screen. The 8500 is basic black accented by a transparent border. A subtle blue power indicator can be disabled. The stand has a brushed metal surface and a transparent, swivel-topped stalk.

Samsung has a big menu system, highly legible text is set against transparent blue backgrounds that occupy almost the whole screen. There’s helpful explanatory text along the bottom of the menus, and the context-sensitive menu that provided more options depending on current activity. The 8500’s remote has a clicker features RF capability, which can be used without having to aim it at the TV, or even be in the same room.

The remote has a rotating scroll wheel, big buttons with backlit, and easily differentiated by size and shape. The “Tools” key offers quick access to the E-manual, picture, and sound modes, the sleep timer, and the picture-in-picture controls. There’s also a small hockey-puck-style remote that only controls channel, volume, and power.

The 8500 has more LED elements or dimmable zones, and 240Hz refresh rate resolution. Unique to the UNB8500 series is an LED Motion Plus control that engages a sequential backlight scanning system to further improve motion resolution, at the expense of some light output. Samsung’s Auto Motion Plus dejudder processing is onboard, and a nicely implemented custom setting that lets us tweak blur reduction and judder.

Samsung’s main interactive capability is supplied by Yahoo widgets. This 8500 came with widgets for stocks, weather, news, and Flickr photos, plus YouTube, Yahoo video, sports scores, games, and Twitter. New widgets include TV Guide, which features local TV listings, and Rallycast, a sort of superwidget with access to text messaging, Facebook messages, and, most interestingly, the ability to track sports teams from a number of providers.

Other attractive features are can be used to stream videos, photos, and music from DLNA-certified devices via the network connection, as well as from its USB ports, which can connect to MP3 players, USB thumbsticks, and digital cameras. There’s also built-in “content,” such as recipes, games, workout guides, and a slideshow of high-def art and photos with music. The content section also features a download option, allowing us to get more content, such as additional galleries, games, recipes, etc., using an interface on the TV.

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Samsung offers myriad picture adjustments with four adjustable picture modes that are all independent per input. This model features a pair of picture modes, called “Cal-Day” and “Cal-Night, that require activation and adjustment by a qualified calibrator. The five color temperature presets are augmented by the ability to adjust each via a custom white-balance menu. Other adjustments are three varieties of noise reduction plus an automatic setting, a film mode to engage 2:3 pull-down (it also works with 1080i sources), a seven-position gamma control that affects the TV’s progression from dark to light, a dynamic contrast control that adjusts the picture on the fly, a “black tone” control that affects shadow detail, and a color space control that lets us tweak the Samsung’s color gamut.

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There are four aspect ratio modes for HD sources, two of which can be used to move the whole image across the screen horizontally and vertically. The 8500 has three power-saver modes which further reduce energy use, picture-in-picture mode, an “E-manual” on a USB stick that displays the manual onscreen, and a customer care screen that includes the firmware version for when we need to call the company.

The UNB8500 series offers good connectivity. The highlight is four HDMI inputs, arranged vertically along the shallow connection bay on the back of the TV, two USB inputs, a VGA-style PC input, and a single component-video input that can be converted to accept composite video instead. It’s nice to be remembered that fat cables might not fit the nearly flush sockets very well. An RF input for antenna or cable, an optical digital audio jack, and the Ethernet port complete the picture. We can use a switcher or an AV receiver if we want to connect more than one analog device

Plus:

This 8500 has a deeper black levels than any HDTV available, solid shadow detail, reduced blooming compared with other local dimming LED-based LCDs, accurate, highly saturated color; excellent video processing with adjustable dejudder numerous picture adjustments;,extensive interactive features including Yahoo widgets, beautiful styling with 1.6-inch deep panel, extremely energy efficient, and good connectivity.

Minus:

Expensive, poor off-angle viewing, some blooming effects, benefits of 240Hz difficult to discern, glossy screen reflects ambient light, and a glossy remote.

Detail Specifications :

• Product type LCD TV
• Diagonal Size 55 in - Widescreen
• Technology TFT active matrix
• LCD Backlight Technology LED Backlight technology
• Resolution 1920 x 1080
• Display Format 1080p (FullHD)
• Progressive Scan Progressive scanning (line doubling)
• Pixel Response Time 2 ms
• Additional Features Ultra clear panel , Auto Motion Plus frame interpolation technology
• Digital TV Tuner QAM , ATSC
• Multi-channel Preview Picture-in-picture (PIP)
• Video Interface HDMI , Component
• HDTV Ready Yes
• Speaker(s) 2 x Right/left channel speaker - Built-in - 15 Watt
• Sound Output Mode Stereo
• Surround Mode Yes
• Sound Effects SRS TruSurround HD
• Audio Controls Balance , Bass , Treble
• Output Power / Total 30 Watt
• Connector Type 4 x HDMI ( 19 pin HDMI Type A ) - Side , 2 x USB ( 4 pin USB Type A ) - Side , 1 x Component video input ( RCA phono x 3 ) - Rear , 1 x VGA input ( 15 pin HD D-Sub (HD-15) ) - Rear , 1 x Network ( RJ-45 ) - Rear , 1 x Digital audio output (optical) ( TOSLINK ) - Rear
• PC Interface VGA (HD-15)
• Functionality Digital audio playback , Digital photo playback , Digital video playback
• Connectivity Wired
• Connectivity Protocols USB
• Supported Audio Formats MP3
• Supported Video Formats DivX , MPEG-4
• Supported Pictures Formats JPG
• USB Port Yes
• Remote Control Remote control - Infrared
• Stand Included Yes
• Stand Design Tabletop
• Stand Features Swivel
• Flat Panel Mount Interface Yes
• Power Device Power supply - Internal
• Compliant Standards EPA Energy Star 3.0
• HDCP Compatible Yes
• CNET Power Saver Yes
• CNET Labs: Operational power consumption 136.16 Watt
• CNET Labs: Calibrated power consumption 123.99 Watt
• CNET Labs: Power Save Mode power consumption 77.66 Watt
• CNET Labs: Power consumption Stand by / Sleep 0.08 Watt
• CNET Labs: Estimated Annual Energy Cost 29.39 US Dollars
• EPA Energy Star Compliant Yes
• Greenpeace policy rating (Sept 2009) 6.9