Official Samsung LED UNXXC6300, UNXXC6400 & UNXXC6500 Owner's Thread

Thought I'd start this thread even though I won't be receiving my UN55C6300 until Wednesday (3/17). In case someone already has one of these & cares to give the 1st input, please do so. This should include the 6300, 6400, 6500 & 6800 since their specs should be similiar & also not 3D models.
Rather than insult "felsi" by stealing his comparison image just (1) post below, I will defer everyone to that..again, just one post below this one. When you review his comparison pic, for the most part it lays out the differences between the (3) units. Quite honestly the UN55C6300 was chosen by Samsung to replace a LN55B650 with which I had had panels issues with. One reason I feel I will be happier with this one over at least the 6500 in this series is the bezel design, also as I mentioned in a post below. The chrome crows-foot design of the 6500 as well as in the Series 7 & 8 just doesn't look appealing to me as something I'd want in my HT. And I don't care anything about the 3D feature as in the Series 7 & 8.
Bottom line though is that I didn't select the 6300...it was selected for me, but from what I've read, which includes various reviews, I feel it will be a great choice. As I have also mentioned, when I receive my unit this Wednesday, I will post more specific details along with pics, etc.

EDIT: See post # 20 for initial sets of calibration settings.

Ken

The bezel design is one feature that I'm glad to see remain on the 6300 & 6400 as it was in the 2009 models. Something about the chrome crows-foot design that just doesn't make sense. First of all it's chrome which is not usually seen in a HT set-up. Either black, smoke or clear would ceratinly make more sense, IMO.

Ken

Sorry about that, but actually I did ask pretty much this same question over on the thread entitled UNXX6300, C7000, C8000 before I started this one. I felt this thread would more valuable & appropriate than the one the 6300 was in. I was not familiar with protocol, which is why I asked the question, waited awhile & received a couple of responses from folks suggesting I start the thread since these (3) models are similiar but very much different from the C7000 & C8000. I was not aware that the initial post should include the items you stated. Most I've seen do not contain the info you mention. (Take a look at The Official Samsung LED UNXXC6300, UNXXC7000 and UNXXC8000 Owners Thread) which was started by Cleveland Plasma. This is an example of several. Most look like they were started for the same reason I started mine...just to get the info started. I'm finding very few which have the specs & details you talk about in the initial post.
Believe me, I did not start this thread so my name would be shown as the initiator; I could care less about that. But to satisfy protocol, I will do exactly as "felsi" did & post a comparison matrix. Hopefully he won't mind me using his comparison although it does seem a little foolish to do so since his is the 2nd post after mine. I will do that & then state why I chose the 6300.

Ken

Here's a little more data on the 55C6300 which includes the physical dims, etc. Tomorrow's the day & pics will follow sometime after that.

Technical Information:
Screen Size 55"
Backlight Technology Direct LED
Aspect Ratio 16:9
Video
Digital Tuner ATSC
Analog Tuner NTSC
Video Signal Standard HD TV 1080p
Maximum Resolution 1920 x 1080

Audio:
Speakers Yes
RMS Output Power 20 W
Sound System Dolby Digital
Sound System DTS
Interfaces/Ports
Number of HDMI 4
HDMI Version 1.3
Component Video Yes
Digital Audio Output Yes
HDMI Yes
USB Yes
VGA Yes

Physical Characteristics:
Color Black
Height 30.20"
Width 50.60"
Depth 1.20"
Height with Stand 32.60"
Width with Stand 50.60"
Depth with Stand 1.20"
Weight 45 lb
Weight with Stand 55.30 lb

Miscellaneous:
DLNA Certified Yes
Green Compliance Yes
Green Compliance Certificate/Authority Energy Star

Ken

For those who may be interested, the 6300 does not have Samsung's Internet@TV feature, which consists of 4 parts:

InfoLink (news, weather, stocks), USB2.0 (thumbdrive media access for music, pictures and video), Medi@2.0 (which are your widgets, such as YouTube, RallyCast sports, Blockbuster and other interactive features) and DLNA which allows PC Streaming from your laptop or desktop.

So far, that, the different bezel design & a slightly lower contrast ratio are the only differences I've found between the 6300 & 6500. And on the 6400, just the Internet@TV feature is the only difference I've found between the 6300 & 6400.

Ken

Also see Post # 9..

Ken

Well, I gotta say I am not a happy camper! When my UN55C6300 was delivered and set-up, the very 1st thing I did was check the side label for the panel version. Here's where I saw RED! The panel version is another "CN01" just like the previous 2009 models (LN55B650) that I had so much trouble with. I just assumed Samsung would knock off the panel lottery with the 2010 models, but no! And nothing has changed! With the inferior C panel, the off-angle viewing is still just as washed out when moving anywhere beyond 15-20 degrees off center. I don't care if it's LED or not, it's just as bad!!
I myself had no choice in taking this model because this is what Samsung sent me to replace my other unit. But if I can keep anyone else from making a horrible mistake, listen up! If you are buying this model or any of the units in Series 6 from a local retailer, make sure you check the panel version on the box-end before you leave with that set. If it's anything but a "S" version panel, do not buy it!! Period!! You will regret it..
Since I've given up getting Samsung to do the right thing, I will still have to do the best I can with the user settings, etc. So I will post those as soon as I get through tinkering. I will also post pics..But do yourself a favor; I don't know if all in the Series 6 are equipped with "C" panels, but if they are, jump up to at least a Series 7. Unfortunately for me, if all listens to this advice, I may be the only user on here with a Series 6 2010 model, so I'll have noone else to share settings and calibrations with.

Ken

Yes...I would say that the blacks are an improvement over the B650. I am also finding no flashlighting (back-light bleeding) whatsoever. This is one advantage I've found with the "C" panels and that is you get minimal (if any) flashlighting. So you get no bleeding, but terrible off-angle viewing. With "S" panels, there seems to be more flashlighting, but better off-angle viewing. So choose your poison! To be honest though, when you are watching full HD material, the wash-out when moving off-angle is not as bad as when viewing SD material. This was not the case with my previous LN55B650.
Actually I've worked on some basic calibrations using "DVE" & "Avia" and am posting the user settings I've come up with so far below. I am also posting "Tia's" calibrated settings below:

Hearrean's Calibrated Settings:

Mode: Movie
Backlight: 8
Contrast: 93
Brightness: 46
Sharpness: 4
Color: 49
Tint: G50/50

Eco Solution:
Energy Savings: Off
ECO Saver: On (Depend's upon your room's ambient light; might need to set to Off)
Min Backlight: 4
No Signal Power: Off (Your preference)

Advanced Settings:
Black Tone: Off
Dynamic Contrast: Low to Medium (Your preference)
Shadow Detail: -1
Gamma: -1

Color Space: Auto

White Balance:
R-offs 28
G-offs 26
B-offs 27
R-gain 26
G-gain 20
B-gain 26

10p White Balance: Off
LED MP: On

Flesh Tone: 0
Edge Enhancement: Off
xvYCC: Off

Picture Options:
Color Tone: Warm 2
Size: 16:9
Digital Noise Filter: Auto
Film Mode: Auto 1 (passes 3:2 cadence in 1080i sources)
Auto Motion Plus: Standard (Your preference)

One point about the ECO Saver feature. In theory, it should be a great feature. But I find that with it on, unless you bring up it's "Min. Backlight" setting, the overall picture darkens much too quickly as the light in the room darkens. I still prefer it on, but you'll probably want to do what I did & bring up the separate "minimum backlight" setting. Please don't confuse this with the normal backlight setting. This is something else entirely. And lastly, I prefer the Auto Motion set to Standard. I'm one of the weird ones who prefers a little of the "soap-opera" effect on some programming. But you can turn this off or set it to Custom w/o affecting any of the other settings.
Over the next few days I'll post some pics of some of the program material.

Add'l info; I use a 6500K natural bulb for bias lighting positioned directly behind the TV and facing the wall. Our HT is situated in a dark viewing room and the 6500K enhances the overall effect and, IMO, deepens the blacks even more. This may or may not affect the user settings for those who don't use bias lighting.

Ken

Squishy Tia's Calibrated Settings:

Mode: Standard
Backlight: 14
Contrast: 85
Brightness: 50
Color: 50
Eco Solution: All Off

Advanced Settings:

Black Tone: Off
Dynamic Contrast: Off
Shadow Detail: 0
Gamma: +3 (Calibrated for a 2.2 gamma curve)
Color Space: Auto
White Balance: Defaults
10p /white Balance: N/A
Flesh Tone: 0
Edge Enhancement: Off
xvYCC: N/A

Picture Options:

Color Tone: Cool
Size: Screen Fit
Digital Noise Filter: Off
MPEG Noise Filter: Off
HDMI Black Level: Normal
Film Mode: N/A
Auto Motion Plus: Smooth <- When Game Mode is not active
Auto Protection Time: Off

Plug&Play:

BD Wise: Off
Menu Transparency Bright (Samsung needs better translators - they should be naming it OPAQUE)

The panel version is actually found in (3) places. On the end-flap of the box, on the TV on the right-hand side right around the back; there are (3) labels here..one is the model #, one is the serial # & the last one says "version." These labels are positioned one on top of the other with the panel version always being on the bottom; in my case, it says " Vers: CN01." It is also located inside the TV at the back bottom, which you won't be able to get to. Make the salesman show you the box before you buy. I cannot tell you that any of the 6 Series have panels other than the CN01 yet. Until we hear from others, we just won't know. But if Samsung does as they have been doing, they will have (3) panel versions; the C, A & S. The S version is the only true (made-by-Samsung panel). The others are contracted (farmed out). Quite honestly, if your viewing position puts you within 10-15 degrees max of center, you will have no problems whatsoever. Wash-out begins to occur past this point & at 45 degrees becomes really bad. Hope this helps.

Ken

Well, here goes with my 1st pics. The straight-rainbow effect shooting down that's seen in pic's 2, 5 & 9 are not the TV; they are from my digital camera. I'm not the best at taking stills w/a digital using a flash. I also forgot to clear the display of the camera so the date & time is shown in one of the pics. Hopefully though you'll still be able to tell a little about the 6300's PQ with my current settings as shown above. Digital pics just don't do justice to the set's PQ though. It really is terrific as long as you're sitting in the sweet spot range as I indicated above.

Ken

Here are (3) more...I should point out that all these pics so far are taken off my Dish HD SAT. I haven't tried a Blu-Ray yet, but I'll do so this weekend & post a few more then.

Ken

I believe the black level is great & yesterday was my first run at user-settings calibration. With more tweaking, I believe I can get everything even better. And again, keep in mind the digital pics just don't do justice to the set's actual PQ.

Ken

See my post # 20 above. The feature you are referring to is called "ECO Saver." And yes, it can be turned off. As you'll read in that post, I believe in theory it's a good feature, but unless you bring it's min. backlight setting up, you'll find the auto dimming is just too drastic. You can actually see it dim w/o anything around you such as your ambient lighting getting dimmer.

As to sports, I'm not much into most, but I was watching a little tennis yesterday & the AMP feature seemed to work great. I did not see any trailing, etc nor motion issues.

I will take some remote pics as soon as I can.

Ken