The reviewer says that Edge Mounted LED panels DO NOT do local dimming.

http://reviews.cnet.com/flat-panel-t...-33248636.html (http://reviews.cnet.com/flat-panel-tvs/sony-bravia-klv-40zx1m/4505-6482_7-33248636.html)

Product summary

The good: Ultrathin panel creates a high-tech design; hidden cords; relatively accurate color; numerous picture controls; energy efficient.
The bad: Extremely expensive; subpar black-level performance and color saturation; uneven screen uniformity; scant connectivity with just one HDMI input.
The bottom line: As the first large-screen edge-lit LED-based LCD, Sony's KLV-40ZX1M looks stunning turned off, but it falls short when powered up.
Specifications: Product type: LCD TV ; Diagonal size: 40 in ; Dynamic Contrast Ratio: 20000:1 ; See full specs (http://reviews.cnet.com/flat-panel-tvs/sony-bravia-klv-40zx1m/4507-6482_7-33248636.html)
Price range: $2,795.00 - $3,499.99 (http://reviews.cnet.com/flat-panel-tvs/sony-bravia-klv-40zx1m/4014-6482_7-33248636.html)


Excerpt:

"Edge-lit LED-powered displays such as this Sony and upcoming (http://reviews.cnet.com/flat-panel-tvs/samsung-ln-46b6000/4652-6482_7-33488069.html) Samsung (http://reviews.cnet.com/flat-panel-tvs/samsung-ln-46b7000/4652-6482_7-33490412.html) models (http://reviews.cnet.com/flat-panel-tvs/samsung-ln-46b8000/4652-6482_7-33490417.html) announced at CES do not employ local dimming, so, as you might expect, their black-level performance can't match that of displays that do."

Maybe true for the klv-40zx1m but here is a thread for the Sammy one.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1127577

Samsung UN55B7100 VS Panasonic TH-50PZ800U VS Panasonic TC-P50G10 (Fully Calibrated)


Our guy just left and he said if the screens were the same size and same cost he would walk out with the Samsung. :eek:

-The Samsung had better contrast.
-The Samsung had higher light output
-Subjectively sharper image although the test pattern showed about the same.
-Punchier picture on the Samsung
-Better blacks on the Samsung :eek:

( At first look these differences in contrast can only be found in the movie mode on the Samsung. On other modes on the Samsung, these differences could not be found)

Panasonic was calibrated in THX mode.
Samsung was calibrated in movie mode.

I can personally attest to the uneven screen uniformity on the Samsung 7100,I saw this in person at Best Buy,I couldn't believe that on such a high priced television they still haven't addresed that problem

3500 for a 40 inch...rated at 6 out of 10...epik fail.

elite 3000 50" 9.3 out of 10.

The reviewer says that Edge Mounted LED panels DO NOT do local dimming.

Excerpt:

"Edge-lit LED-powered displays such as this Sony and upcoming (http://reviews.cnet.com/flat-panel-tvs/samsung-ln-46b6000/4652-6482_7-33488069.html) Samsung (http://reviews.cnet.com/flat-panel-tvs/samsung-ln-46b7000/4652-6482_7-33490412.html) models (http://reviews.cnet.com/flat-panel-tvs/samsung-ln-46b8000/4652-6482_7-33490417.html) announced at CES do not employ local dimming, so, as you might expect, their black-level performance can't match that of displays that do."

Local dimming is a bad idea anyway when the zones are so large. All that "feature" will do is destroy shadow detail or fine detail in dark areas. Starfields will all but disappear with this effect. If I had a set with local dimming it would always be set to OFF anyway. It is not a substitute for good contrast, it is a marketing gimmick. It would be like putting a piece of smoked plastic in front and claiming "great black levels" even though other aspects suffer.