Earlier this year, Samsung announced a veritable bounty of new LED TVs for 2011. There were ones built big enough to captivate a crowd or a little something like the 19-incher, which is more suited for a party of one (maybe two, if you snuggle up). One of the company's larger models, the Samsung 55-inch UN55D8000 1080p 3D LED TV, has distinguished itself not just because of its super-thin profile (about 0.3 inches deep), but also in its feature set.
After the UN55D8000 made its public debut back in March in New York City, it quickly became a sought-after model. This set uses active 3D technology, which promises double the resol\ution of passive 3D TV models. That's basically a 1080p picture for each eye. However, it doesn't tease with the promise of 3D at some point. It actually delivers that big-screen 3D experience to owners right out of the box with two pairs of 3D glasses included with each set.
In case you forgot, earlier this year, Samsung made some major announcements to help the active 3D TV push. The company said they would drop prices on all of their 3D glasses across the board (and they did). They also dropped a bomb (a good one) that they would include two pairs of 3D glasses with every 3D TV purchase. That fills in at least one of the 3D puzzle pieces. Now, all you need is content -- and Samsung is helping out with that as well, with bundles that include exclusive Blu-ray 3D titles as well as apps that deliver high quality 3D content.
Although we have not yet published a formal review of the D8000 series TVs, editor Chris Boylan had one in the BPBS labs for a time, and found that the set offered a bright detailed image, even in 3D mode, with excellent color accuracy and a plethora of picture adjustments to dial that picture in for best performance.
Now, if you don't have a 3D-capable cable or satellite box or a Blu-ray 3D player, you may want to get one of those sooner, rather than later. Until that magical moment happens, however, Samsung has included a little 3D love inside its Smart TV platform. We'll cover more of what Smart TV can offer in a bit, but just know that if you're looking for 3D content at home, look no further than Samsung's Explore 3D app.
First announced back in May, the Explore 3D app is one click away under Samsung's SmartHub interface. From there, this app allows users to access dozens of pieces of free 3D content, including movie trailers, music videos, TV shows and other content. Last we checked there were even a couple of full length films included for free (IMAX 3D titles), so you get up and running with good 3D quickly. The company also expects to offer a library of sreaming pay-per-view options at some point. Our editor checked several of the Explore 3D titles out first hand and found the quality to be quite good, assuming you have the network bandwidth to stream them.
And speaking of high bandwidth requirements, the Samsung TVs (including the D8000) are among the few to support VUDU's high quality 3D HDX streaming option. 3D feature films such as "Drive Angry," "Tangled," and "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" are all available to rent in high definition 3D on VUDU on this TV. To watch these, you will need a pretty fast network connection (5 MBPS download), but if you have that, you're in for a treat.
Of course, this set also does Smart TV (or any other content, for that matter) in 2D -- and with a full 1080p HD picture, when it's available on your source, of course. YouTube may not always give you demo quality material, but it does offer hours of entertainment. If you're looking for something a little more high-def, the Smart TV platform allows you to stream content from web-based services such as Netflix, VUDU and Hulu Plus. There's also audio from Pandora, web-based calling from Skype (with Samsung's CY-STC1100 Smart TV Camera), and tons of other downloadable Samsung Apps. Just know that subscriptions and fees for certain services may apply. If you want to surf the web while surfing channels, that's also an option. The Smart TV platform includes a web browser, so you can check email, news and the occasional eBay auction or even browse Big Picture Big Sound's home page.
Once you run through the Smart TV content, well... you may want to walk around the block. After you get back, though, you can use the set's DLNA and AllShare support to stream content -- audio, video and pictures -- from compatible devices that are connected to your home network.
All of those web services are insanely easy to access, too. Besides an Ethernet jack, the UN55D8000 also features built-in Wi-Fi. That way, you don't have to plan your AV setup around the available Ethernet jacks in the house or even cable lengths. Besides the networking setup, the navigation has been made a lot easier, thanks to the included QWERTY Remote Control. While every HDTV has its own remote, this nifty add-on allows you to type search terms, as well as flip through channels and other available content.
The UN55D8000 also has plenty of other perks. Samsung's Micro Dimming Plus LED technology promises more lifelike pictures with deep blacks and pure whites. It's not as effective as a full array LED backlight in terms of picture unifomity and contrast, but it is impressive considering the set's fashion-friendly slim design. Adding to that image is a Clear Motion Rate (CMR) of 960. This is very similar to what you may have previously known as the panel refresh rate, but adds the image processor speed and backlight technology into the set's overall rating. Other highlights include AllShare and ConnectShare Movie features, Wide Color Enhancer, Ultra Clear Panel, Anynet+ (HDMI-CEC) support, and a Game Mode.
Also, believe it or not, this set is almost as pretty when it's off as it is when it's on. It has an ultra-slim bezel, remarkably slim depth and a design that's ultra-clean and "virtually edgeless," meaning that there's more screen and less bezel.
Besides the aforementioned LAN port, the UN55D8000 offers up plenty of other connection possibilities. Four HDMI inputs allow you to plug in a Blu-ray 3D player, a streaming set-top box, a receiver, and more. It also has one component input and two for composite video, a PC input, and three USB ports.
It's pretty easy to see why Samsung's UN55D8000 has been a top seller. It makes for a nice pick whether you're interested in 2D or 3D, or aren't quite sure yet. We certainly wouldn't mind seeing this under the tree this holiday season -- and the two pairs of 3D glasses that are included make for a very nice (and very easy) stocking stuffer!
BUYING TIP: because of the manufacturer's MAP (Minimum Advertised Pricing) policies, you will rarely find low advertised prices on the D8000 LED TVs. We've seen some of the best deals on this and other Samsung sets on Amazon, but you need to place the TV in your shopping cart and proceed to check-out in order to see the final price. Combine free shipping, price protection and a generous 30-day no questions asked return policy and Amazon is a terrific place to buy a Samsung TV.
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