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Best 55" LED local dimming TV now that Samsung 8500 is impossible to find?

post #1 of 186
3/31/10 at 4:40am
Thread Starter 
Well... I had my heart set on a UN55B8500 Samsung, but so far this month, I've ordered it 3 times from 3 different places that all assured me that it was in stock, but each time that was not the case. Apparently I missed the boat and they are all gone.

So... the question now becomes, What is the next best TV? My budget was $3000-3500, so please offer some suggestions. I'm only interested in local-dimming backlit models... none of the side-lit garbage please.

Thanks.
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post #2 of 186
3/31/10 at 4:55am
There's a good chance that they're at a Magnolia store in Bestbuy, if you can find one near you.

Sony's HX900 coming this summer will probably be the new local dimming champ. I think it goes to 52" though, but may just make it into your budget.

The LG 8500 local dimming set is probably the new king of local dimming, although it's been said to have some minor screen uniformity issues.
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post #3 of 186
3/31/10 at 4:57am
The LG LE8500 has just hit market & David K over @ CNET states it's a winner. Plus it looks like it's in your price range. Here's a thread talking about all the new LG LED Tv's including the LE 8500

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1202652

Plus a couple of pictures posted by a new owner





[/quote]
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post #4 of 186
3/31/10 at 5:50am
Here are the most prestigious 55 inchers in the Milky Way which are dimming absolutely everything including their default local dimming
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post #5 of 186
3/31/10 at 5:54am
LG LE8500 > Samsung UNXXB8500 according to preliminary reports by AVS Forum owners in terms of off-angle viewing (used to be a horrid issue with any LED backlit panel... LG seems to have resolved this significantly), PQ on par with the Sammy B8500, and a better colour gamut reported by CNET...

At a better price point too (upon original release MSRP)!
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post #6 of 186
3/31/10 at 6:00am
Quote:
Originally Posted by irkuck View Post

Here are the most prestigious 55 inchers in the Milky Way which are dimming absolutely everything including their default local dimming

I'd smack anyone who purchases anything from Stuart Hughes. I don't care how much money you make.
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post #7 of 186
3/31/10 at 6:39am
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Samsung+...=1218096179500


order at best Buy online. Plus theres a 10% mover coupon at your post office.

thats $3,000 - 10% , not bad.

scary how prices on these have sky rocketed my buddy got his for $1,800 a few months back
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post #8 of 186
3/31/10 at 7:07am
As has been pointed out, you should be able to order the UN55B8500 from Best Buy. My local Best Buy has one on display. But personally, I don't think I'd choose it over the 55LE8500. Cleveland Plasma has the LG, FWIW.
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post #9 of 186
3/31/10 at 7:32am
Quote:
Originally Posted by MechanicalMan View Post

Cleveland Plasma has the LG, FWIW.

In fact, they are currently offering it at a price below your stated price range
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post #10 of 186
3/31/10 at 7:55am
Have you considered the Sammy 55C8000? I have not seen any good reviews yet regarding the "pinpoint dimming" used on C8000 vs the local dimming on the 8500 but maybe worth waiting to see how it stacks up.
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post #11 of 186
3/31/10 at 8:24am
Quote:
Originally Posted by compcentral View Post

Well... I had my heart set on a UN55B8500 Samsung, but so far this month, I've ordered it 3 times from 3 different places that all assured me that it was in stock, but each time that was not the case. Apparently I missed the boat and they are all gone.

So... the question now becomes, What is the next best TV? My budget was $3000-3500, so please offer some suggestions. I'm only interested in local-dimming backlit models... none of the side-lit garbage please.

Thanks.

Quote:
Originally Posted by hvr123 View Post

Have you considered the Sammy 55C8000? I have not seen any good reviews yet regarding the "pinpoint dimming" used on C8000 vs the local dimming on the 8500 but maybe worth waiting to see how it stacks up.

Great thread, I'm in the same boat as well. In my case, I couldn't order the B8500 as it is not available in Canada. The more comparable choice to LG's LE8500 would be the C6800 (w/o 3D but all else identical) rather than C8000.

I am currently looking at the following sets:
Local Dimming: LG LE8500 or Samsung's C6800
3D w/ local dimming: LG LE9500 or Samsung's C8000

If there are other sets worth looking at from other makers, please chime in.
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post #12 of 186
3/31/10 at 9:48am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ice Cold View Post

order at best Buy online. Plus theres a 10% mover coupon at your post office.

thats $3,000 - 10% , not bad.

It's on the web site still but if you actually try to order it in NJ, it's not available. Nor is it stocked anywhere. Maybe some areas of the country (different warehouses?) still have stock.

My local store had a display UN55B8500 that I bought 2 weeks ago for $2900. It did not show up as in stock on the BB web site.
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post #13 of 186
3/31/10 at 10:02am
If you have a Brandsmart by you, they seem to have a few and they are being sold for $2398.
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post #14 of 186
3/31/10 at 10:23am
Quote:
Originally Posted by oatmeals View Post

Great thread, I'm in the same boat as well. In my case, I couldn't order the B8500 as it is not available in Canada. The more comparable choice to LG's LE8500 would be the C6800 (w/o 3D but all else identical) rather than C8000.

I am currently looking at the following sets:
Local Dimming: LG LE8500 or Samsung's C6800
3D w/ local dimming: LG LE9500 or Samsung's C8000

If there are other sets worth looking at from other makers, please chime in.

I live in Brampton (Near Toronto & Mississauga) and i ordered a UN46B8500 from a retailer i found over ebay. The TV set arrived in PERFECT condition. I have a 4 year warranty -in home service. I know i can't talk about price here, but if you want more info you can pm me or email me at joe_pinto69@hotmail.com

Cheers,
Joe
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post #15 of 186
3/31/10 at 3:09pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by mfennell View Post

It's on the web site still but if you actually try to order it in NJ, it's not available. Nor is it stocked anywhere. Maybe some areas of the country (different warehouses?) still have stock.

My local store had a display UN55B8500 that I bought 2 weeks ago for $2900. It did not show up as in stock on the BB web site.

Yeah that's what I found... I was just at the store and apparently there aren't any on the east coast.

Thanks for the suggestions. The last place that I ordered the Samsung 8500 TV from is still dragging their feet and I doubt that I will get it... kinda hope that I don't now if the LG is better, but I paid $2750 shipped this last time, so if I get it that's fine too. I just can't stand waiting.
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post #16 of 186
3/31/10 at 3:12pm
Like webman78 said, Brandsmart has'em for $2398.98 ...They're also willing to ship it to you for an additional [shipping] $125.. Send them an email !
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post #17 of 186
3/31/10 at 5:07pm
Thanks for the info about BrandsMArt, but can someone please provide the email address to use for contacting them. Their website suggests I need to contact a particular store, but I live in Texas and need to have the TV shipped.

Thanks.
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post #18 of 186
4/1/10 at 11:26am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by M5Rahul View Post

Like webman78 said, Brandsmart has'em for $2398.98 ...They're also willing to ship it to you for an additional [shipping] $125.. Send them an email !

There are no BrandSmarts around here (PA)... I think I did call them and they wouldn't ship it this far, but I could be mistaken.

It's official though... the 3rd attempt to buy this has failed. I bought it from a place called Lucky Electric Distributors this time around and apparently they were scammed by a drop-shipper that was shipping people shoes instead of TVs... I wonder what kind of shoes I'm going to get... argh! They promised to issue a full refund though so now I'm stuck without at TV again.

Should I just wait for the LG LE8500 or pay more to buy a Samsung 8500 (I found one from a reputable source for $3600... I really don't want to wait another 20 days for the LG to come out.
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post #19 of 186
4/1/10 at 11:30am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by M5Rahul View Post

Like webman78 said, Brandsmart has'em for $2398.98 ...They're also willing to ship it to you for an additional [shipping] $125.. Send them an email !

Don't waste your time. Look on their website... they are listed at $4500 and available in some stores only.
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post #20 of 186
4/1/10 at 11:35am
for the samsung 8500, i saw it on display at sears in new brunswick, nj. it still had a price tag of $4k though. you can probably price match it to the bestbuy website price too.
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post #21 of 186
4/1/10 at 11:37am
Thread Starter 
I tried all the Sears stores around here and they don't have it.
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post #22 of 186
4/1/10 at 11:43am
Quote:
Originally Posted by compcentral View Post

There are no BrandSmarts around here (PA)... I think I did call them and they wouldn't ship it this far, but I could be mistaken.

It's official though... the 3rd attempt to buy this has failed. I bought it from a place called Lucky Electric Distributors this time around and apparently .....


Check your PM in 5 mins..
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post #23 of 186
4/1/10 at 11:43am
FWIW, I was in HHGregg today and had them look up the LG LE8500. They estimated having it in mid May.
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post #24 of 186
4/1/10 at 11:58am
Thread Starter 
Mid-May... argh... i just dont know if i can wait that long.
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post #25 of 186
4/1/10 at 12:05pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by compcentral View Post

Mid-May... argh... i just dont know if i can wait that long.


Pick up the LG 55LH90 from Costco for $1799 to tide you over if the 8500-Gods don't smile on ya!!
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post #26 of 186
4/1/10 at 12:28pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by compcentral View Post

Mid-May... argh... i just dont know if i can wait that long.

What? The LE8500 isn't that hard to find!

In fact, forum sponsor Cleveland Plasma has the 55LE8500 in stock now. It's against the rules to talk price, but it's on their site for a lot less the 3199 mentioned above.
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post #27 of 186
4/1/10 at 12:41pm
The Samsung UN55B8500 is hard to find, not the LG model. With good reason.
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post #28 of 186
4/1/10 at 12:47pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by BFJ 96 View Post

The LG LE8500 has just hit market & David K over @ CNET states it's a winner. Plus it looks like it's in your price range. Here's a thread talking about all the new LG LED Tv's including the LE 8500

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1202652

Plus a couple of pictures posted by a new owner






[/quote]

Wow that's a neck cramp waiting to happen. What a waste of a nice display
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post #29 of 186
4/1/10 at 12:50pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pando View Post

The Samsung UN55B8500 is hard to find, not the LG model. With good reason.

Yes, the reason being that the B8500 is a discontinued 2009 model and the LE8500 was just released.
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post #30 of 186
4/1/10 at 1:18pm
Great Topic!!!
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