Samsung 8500 series LCD TVs feature local-dimming LED backlights, Yahoo! widgets
Sure, we might all just be getting used to LED-backlit LCD HDTVs, but this train ain't stopping, Chico -- Samsung just got official with the 8500 series, which features the next-generation of local-dimming LED backlights. The 54.6-inch and 45.9-inch 240Hz sets are just 1.6 inches deep and offer a 7,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, a 2ms response time, and an Energy Star 3.0 savings mode that continually adjusts the picture and backlight to optimize both picture quality and power savings. You're also getting Samsung's usual suite of connected TV features, like the Yahoo! Widget Engine, DivX playback, and DLNA support, but you'll be paying handsomely for all this newness -- the 45.9-inch UN46B8500's MSRP is $3,599, while the 54.6-inch UN55B8500 will run you $4,499.






















Holy crap that's overpriced.
Nice set, but aren't we passed $4k 50+inch sets?
holy crap, I could get two LN52B750's for the price of one 54.6in set...and the LN52b750 is just as good if you dont need to be in the "im so cool look how thin my tv is" crowd
Yeah the rational thing to do would be probably to get a B750 if you had to go LCD, but I'm sure with the local-dimming the 8500 will have better contrast, not to mention thin profile, energy efficiency and 3in bigger. But yeah, definitely over priced.
I was able to pickup a 46" 6000 series from Fry's for $1650, awesome tv! Only difference between the 6000 series and the 7000 series is the useless widgets. These sets blow the sony's out of the water for the price.
If i had the money....
I would probably spend it elsewhere! But by the hair on my chin that looks sexy, sadly overpriced.
These dynamic contrast numbers are getting ridiculous. I get the feeling they are pulling numbers out of their asses. Can you even measure 7,000,000:1 contrast?
no you can't. any higher than say 500,000:1 or so and the difference becomes really muddy. the point here is that this set produces a damn good contrast ratio. that's what you need to take from this.
I think 7,000,000 is equivalent to the sun!
@arizcats
what the hell does that even mean? are you suggesting the 7,000,000 is a measure of brightness, like lumens or ftL? Its not. you can get a 7,000,000:1 contrast ratio with 7 ftL of brightness, and a black level of .000001ftL and get 7,000,000 to one.
but ya who could measure .000001... and thats why they can just make up numbers.
No you cannot measure that high, especially when you never give out on-screen or native contrast ratios on the tvs, Samsung talks out of their asses, they have a whole different measuring system of contrast than any other company.
WTF! Can anybody make a quality modern LCD flatscreen larger than 60in. please? You can get a beautiful Samsung 63in plasma set right now for under 3000$. I can't wait for OLED to become mainstream so the prices of LCD won't be so inflated for a 54.9in. set. Please!
Sony just released a 65" W Series LCD TV, for $5000. From everything I hear its a nice piece.
Here is the Sony, and it is even on SALE!!
http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?sku=A2943757&cs=19&c=us&l=en&dgc=CJ&cid=24471&lid=566643&acd=10495476-1371119-
What happened to the 9000 series? I thought that was going to be the next LED-backlit with local dimming.
They didn't get to it yet?
9000 > 8500.
And so someone else can't, "WHAT? NINE THOUSAND?"
The prices will fall. Samsung LCD TVs seem to be aggressively eating up the market. I've one of last years 52" 7 series bought at a great price and it has excellent PQ. Some people don't like the reflective glossiness of the screen, but it portrays colors much better than matte screens.
holy expensive... this set was a possible plasma alternative... not at those prices though
LED backlights are only really useful with local dimming. Local dimming greatly enhances black levels and contrast ratio! This new TV is absolutely high-end and therefore worth the high cost. If you want cheap, there are more than enough alternatives. Quality has always been pricey.
Your ignoring perhaps the most important benefit of LED over CCFL, that being the true white color of the light emitted by an LED opposed to the Blue of a CCFL. Samsungs previous attempt at Local Dimming flickered a lot, hopefully they have that worked out.
You can get a 46" in the 8000 series for about $2500.
I don't see really much of a difference in the models that would warrant a $1000 price hike.
The TV set is great though. Definitely in the top 3 of big screen LCDs on the market today.
Hey a bicycle cost $6600 and you are complaining about a nice high-contrast display? Weird
Hey, if you have $6600 to spend on a bike, it probably wouldn't matter for you.
A few thing's concern me. One being is this TRUE full LED Backlighting? The article is hazy on this (samsung likes to play with words, ie. "LED Backlighting" source and "True LED Backlighting" may mean different things; But I also don't see anything saying it is just LED Edge Lighting like the 6000 and 7000 series. True Backlighting will make a huge contrast improvement for sure!
Another being Samsung progressively releasing higher model TV's throughout the year. Tech savvy people who have already purchased the 7000 or 7100 may be annoyed; Especially since they are STILL selling at $4499 (cdn), at least in my store.
A Panasonic V Series Plasma will blow any LED LCD away for clarity and realism. The 120HZ and 240HZ tv's absolutely suck at displaying any type of CGI, and there are a lot of flaws in any regular motion.
What are you talking about? You can turn off the temporal interpolation on any of the 120Hz or 240Hz TVs if you'd like. In fact, I'd recommend it. So how can it not display CGI well?
Does anyone know of a comparable set with local dimming? It'd be nice to compare...
These TVs are about as close to the sharp blacks from OLED as you'll ever get in an LCD.
When you say yahoo don't you mean yamicrohoosoft?
or miyacrohosoft or myiachrosooft
or 'bing! you have ad-mail'
Thanks... that was funny.
Well.. they can't all be winners, plus I'm, not getting paid for these performances you know.
i want some xtasy, at least this way i can be happy and not think about the price after i paid for it.
It's a TN screen. Waste of money. I'm gonna wait till they release a local-dimming IPS or PVA version.
LMAO
Huh?
How do you know its a TN panel?
I don't know if it's TN or not, but they all are buying the same panels from the same vendors. And the panels are the same technology they were last year, and they'll be the same technology next year. So if this is a TN, my 4 year old Sharp is a TN too and I'm pretty happy with it.
From the viewing angles it doesn't feel like a TN though.
1. B.F.D.! So what is new? Abt has had these for several weeks for pre-order. The 46-incher is now on Bestbuy's website.
2. I believe the 8500 is the 9000-series without the wireless connection to the panel from the gizmo.
That's good, because I don't need a wireless connection. It might be useful if it didn't also have a power cord, but since it does, I still have to run wires.
I've had one on pre order since the 7/21, from magnolia for way under list, look around there are deals....
Funny, Samsung is pulling a Sony. Premium TV for a premium price.
Hold on, are you implying that someone of higher quality costs MORE? This is an incredible concept! We must tell everyone!
My head is spinning, looking at the rate at which LCD TV tech is changing. I guess I'll stay put with my Vizio 42" for little longer and buy when this becomes more affordable...
Considering you can get a Panasonic 54G10 for $1500 this is a terrible, terrible, deal. I'm sure some idiots out there will buy it though.
Honestly, for swanky sex-appeal you usually have to go Sony but this is beautiful. Way to go Samsung!
I am quite happy with my Samsung PN50B650 plasma... I'm one of the weirdos that still prefers a good plasma picture quality over (any) LCD.
dynamic contrast is a joke...only an asshole would buy a tv based on that figure. For the price you could get many of the V10.
Damn, just picked up a 52inch xbr9 for the price of the 45inch a month and half back. Working at an electronics store I have seen people who are just spending their money on these led tvs for the size and not even even care about the features.
No thanks Samsung, I'll keep my Pioneer KRP-500m
Thank god for employee discounts!
Dont, worry price will come down... :-)