Samsung's latest LED-packing HDTVs get official prices, availability

Finally, we can stop playing hide and seek with Samsung's 2009 lineup of edge lit LED HDTVs, now that its loosed official pricing and availability details for screens hitting shelves between now and June. They've already been busy popping up everywhere -- around the world, in stores near you, on Best Buy's website, and Samsung's made sure to mention how eco friendly the LED scheme is compared to the old power munching CCFLs and local dimming methods in other manufacturer's screens. The list appears to match up with earlier leaks, so if the 8000, 7000 and 6000 series are screens you've just gotta have, click the read link for all details currently available.

Gallery: Samsung's latest LED-lit TVs

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[Patriks7 @ Mar 31st 2009 11:13AM]

So do I have to sell out my whole family, house and car for this?

[Seneca @ Mar 31st 2009 11:15AM]

They said Samsung LED LCD's, not Apple.

[Ry @ Mar 31st 2009 11:45AM]

TVs are at the lowest price points now a days..if you cant afford a decent tv now, your probably never will..

[Patriks7 @ Mar 31st 2009 1:52PM]

My bad. Thought it was OLED or w/e the technology is. Plus, I have two new TVs recently, both from Samsung.

[Name @ Mar 31st 2009 11:14AM]

I don't like Samsung TVs. They generally have a thick bezel, but this one seems to do a better job with the design. I've still never been impressed with their actual picture quality relative to Pioneer plasmas or higher end Sharp or Sony LCDs...

[Dez @ Mar 31st 2009 11:26AM]

you need to take a look at their LED DLP sets, or the new LED LCD's. Samsung can swing with the best of em, but they also make value sets for those that aren't that concerned (I am, so that's why im saving up for the nicer sets)

[Blackfield @ Mar 31st 2009 7:14PM]

You don't know what you are talking about.

[Jim @ Mar 31st 2009 7:20PM]

Last years Samsung Series 6, 7 and 8 sets were the best LCDs on the market. I'd bet the new LED sets are even better. I've a 52" 7 Series (after a lot of comparisons) and its been superb. The Kuro plasmas were the gold standard but also gold-priced.

[nighttime__ @ Mar 31st 2009 11:16AM]

are there any OLED TVs in production or at least in a concept stage?

[Dez @ Mar 31st 2009 11:28AM]

there's some concept ones, but theres some engadget stories that recently stated that samsung didnt plan any consumer OLED's until like 2011 i think.

[pal @ Mar 31st 2009 12:38PM]

There is a sony for that ;)
http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&productId=8198552921665327724 only $2499.99 for an awesome 11".... I mean all 11" of it.

pal :)

[Shinigami @ Mar 31st 2009 6:23PM]

Samswung showed off its prototype for years now. I think I heard they made a new prototype though.
And if I heard it right, "OLED will blow up TV market in 2011". Expect $3,000 or more for 40-inch model.
I guess LG said they'll start the race in 2010, but I'm not so sure.

The only thing I want to say about these sammy TVs:
Give us OLED TVs with reasonable price tags already, Samswung!!!

[why not the LS2LS7? @ Mar 31st 2009 11:19AM]

Two things:
1. I'd still rather have local dimming.
2. How quickly do these turn on? A recently as a year ago, Samsung's TVs took forever to turn on, I swear it seems like 30 seconds or something. Did they ever fix this?

[Khattab @ Mar 31st 2009 11:29AM]

Local Dimming will be featured in the upcoming 9000 Series (comming to IFA '09).

http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/2276/neuesbild4copy.jpg

[majortom1981 @ Mar 31st 2009 12:33PM]

khattab the link you post shows the 9000 local dimming to be to black. It completely gets rid of the reflections on the water of 2 of the buildings. I dont want to sacrifice picture quality for black levels.

[Hooterman @ Mar 31st 2009 12:59PM]

@ majortom1981

No it doesn't. That 3rd picture definitely looks the best of the three.

[why not the LS2LS7? @ Mar 31st 2009 1:15PM]

majortom:
The reflects are supposed to be that dark. They are visible in the 3rd pic, just dim, like they're supposed to be.

Also keep in mind you are viewing this image on a conventional LCD. So if it wants to show the increased contrast, they have to do it by making the comparison pictures look worse, because your LCD cannot display the high contrast levels that a local dimming display can and thus the "after" picture would just look normal otherwise.

The question is how much will this TV cost?

[james @ Mar 31st 2009 11:21AM]

Does anyone know if they've fixed their poor up scaling? I've seen a handful of Samsung LCDs that have really poor effects - it looks like parts of the image move before other parts. I've heard it's due to their crappy scaling that's built in. HD seems to look OK. standard def stuff looks really goofy - to me anyway.

[why not the LS2LS7? @ Mar 31st 2009 11:28AM]

That would be a fault with their motion enhancer. So turn off the 120Hz frame interpolator and if you're not watching a movie, turn off the 24fps reverse pulldown too. Better yet, turn both off and leave them off and watch your movies as native 24fps from Blu-ray.

Basically, what's happening is the TV is trying to make up extra frames between the ones on screen. It does this by looking at the image and trying to guess what parts of the image are moving in which direction. Sometimes it'll guess wrong. Given that it is guessing over 3500 times a minute, it's going to guess wrong often enough to be noticeable.

[Khattab @ Mar 31st 2009 11:39AM]

Yep, they did fix the poor upscaling qualities of the Axxx Series. All Bxxx(x) models use a brand new samsung upscaling chipset which is far supperior to its predecessor.

Check: http://www.hdtvtest.co.uk/Samsung-LE40B650/Conclusion.htm (CCFL model)

[dan2600 @ Mar 31st 2009 11:52AM]

I hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate 120Hz It gives that ugly ass smoothing effect. It only looks good for CG movies...

I watch movies for artistic value, and i think 24FPS gives a good artistic effect, I don't need hyper-realism. 30 or 60FPS@120Hz looks like cheesey Made for TV or Personal Camcorder Quality movie.

I pray the movie industry doesn't go this route.

[Shinigami @ Mar 31st 2009 6:25PM]

Poor TV upscaling? Make DVD-BluRayplayer-PC do this job instead. Turn the brains on and problem gets fixed before you need to post it ;)

[Andyvp @ Mar 31st 2009 11:42AM]

If Sammy puts out an remote iPhone app I'll buy one.

[Mr. Ford @ Mar 31st 2009 12:28PM]

You should expect a gimmick like that to come from the likes of vizio first.

[Rick Winkler @ Mar 31st 2009 11:29AM]

My HTPC would like to use 240Hz, but my crappy Westinghouse is holding it back.

[crescentdavid @ Mar 31st 2009 11:51AM]

I wouldn't worry. You're going to have to use a special program to even determine the difference between 240 and 120 ... your eyes certainly won't be capable of doing so. It's an "improvement" on the order of additional megapixels with an inadequate sensor. Marketing rules.

[Shinigami @ Mar 31st 2009 6:28PM]

@crescentdavid
240 and 120 are marketing numbers, ok, but there is a dramatic difference between "normal" mode and "120hz" mode on a TV I've seen in the shop. When the object is moving, 120hz leaves smaller trace behind it. And textures look better. Seemed identical when stationary.

OLED should have no problems with 50/60hz - it doesn't have ghosting of LCD. Or so I heard.

[Ry @ Mar 31st 2009 11:46AM]

Nice..the prices are not too bad for MSRP..

[ryan @ Mar 31st 2009 12:25PM]

I understand a lot about HD, but I'm baffled why LED backlighting is so esoteric and expensive. LEDs are not new technology; why is using them for backlighting considered cutting edge?

[why not the LS2LS7? @ Mar 31st 2009 1:12PM]

Because they're expensive in the number of them needed to light a 52" screen.

LEDs are common as you say, they've been around for 20 years. But in an average day, how many rooms do you go through where the primary lighting is LED-based?

High-output white LEDs are expensive right now. That's why they are considered cutting edge.

[paperless @ Mar 31st 2009 11:59AM]

It's really gorgeous.

[Iridium @ Mar 31st 2009 12:04PM]

They are really expensive compared to other models. You can now buy a 46" XBR6 for under $2000. I'll pass on $2700 for a 46" TV.

Just wait until September when these will be selling for half.

[Hooterman @ Mar 31st 2009 1:01PM]

Why not just wait till April '10? The new models will be sooo much better than these!

[devi @ Mar 31st 2009 12:07PM]

i work at currys in uk as warehouse and i had the honor of putting out our ue40b7000 on display on satorday, although the hefty £1599 pricetag is off putting the display was georgeous and very thin

[devi @ Mar 31st 2009 12:08PM]

sorry for spelling

[xValentine @ Mar 31st 2009 12:16PM]

Pretty neat design.

[justin @ Mar 31st 2009 1:10PM]

Are these ToC sets? I've been shopping around for a tv, but i'm not sure i like the ToC. These do look damn sexy though

[Nick @ Mar 31st 2009 1:46PM]

Why not just get a Kuro for these prices? (Actually, less than these prices since the 50" kuro is like $2200 nowadays.) -- And I know they're going away, but they still exist right now.

[plush0g @ Mar 31st 2009 2:02PM]

These are place holder models.
I was about to purchase one of these new 55" Samsungs when I started reading on AVS forums and other locations about the PQ, the washed black levels and when compared to the 55A950 which is multi zone LED they do not stack up. At first I did not realize that these new “ultra slim” models do not use full LED backlighting. Instead they use LEDs around the edge of the display and then use tricks to accomplish the same thing as a full multi zone led tv.

In essence for these new sets Samsung invested R & D for a thinner form factor, rather than on display, led & processing technology. If you are in the market for an ultra thin tv, then these are a good deal, however if you want near Kuro quality levels, then buy the 55A950 or wait until the fall when Samsung introduces the successor to the 55A950 and other sets with multi zone LED backlighting, more LED zones, 240hz, led motion plus etc.. Hopefully at some point they will intro a LED backlit tv with the ability to control each LED rather then by zones of LEDs like Sim2 has done.

[why not the LS2LS7? @ Mar 31st 2009 4:16PM]

They use full LED backlighting. You are conflating local dimming with LED backlighting.

[SHAPIRO2 @ Mar 31st 2009 2:29PM]

Now this would be a nice recession antidote!

[plushog @ Mar 31st 2009 6:21PM]

LS2

The 6000, 7000 and 8000 use edge-lit LED, not a full backpanel of LED zones like the A950.

http://ces.cnet.com/8301-19167_1-10135347-100.html


"Like the step-up UNB7000 series, the UNB6000 uses a so-called edge-lit LED backlight system, which allows it to achieve such a thin cabinet depth. The downside is that it can't utilize the local dimming technology we liked so much on the A950 series"

Like I said, the A950 uses the entire back of the set with zones of LEDs, the new 6000, 7000 and 8000 use "edge-lit" LEDs. How good edge lit turns out remains to be seen, but so far I like the 55A950 as the closest thing to the Kuro. These units are more about the form factor then a breakthrough in picture quality.

Lots of info in this thread on the new models

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1097746&page=8

[Newpunk @ Apr 1st 2009 1:44PM]

These have been available for about a week @ Future Shop in Canada. Retail prices are $3799.99 CAD for the 46" and $4499.99 CAD for the 55". Amazing picture quality and super quick refresh rate makes for an AMAZING experience.

[Daimyo Nintendo @ Apr 2nd 2009 12:31PM]

I was never really impressed with LCD TV, they were either way to slow when processing and therefore had a tone of ghosting or they were way TOO high in sharpness and looked terrible, but LED LCD...the picture quality really impresses a plasma lover like me. But I am will only get rid of my 50" plasma when I can buy a 60-70" OLED.