AVS › AVS Forum › Display Devices › Plasma Flat Panel Displays › Looking at Samsung 8000 series, any comments positive or negative appreciated
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Looking at Samsung 8000 series, any comments positive or negative appreciated

post #1 of 25
1/3/11 at 1:11pm
Thread Starter 
I'm replacing a Pio 910 Elite 43" and am thinking about a 50" Samsung 8000 series (PN50C8000). I've read good reviews on it at CNET. I specifically like the 8000 series because its only 1.4" thin. Initially, I wanted an LED (because of the razor thin size, energy efficiency, and light weight) but I've grown concerned about off-angle viewing. Being that I will have the panel mounted above a fireplace in a Great Room, good off-angle viewing is critical.


Any thoughts, comments, or suggestions (positive or negative) would be most appreciated.
Reply
Reply

AVS Top Picks

post #2 of 25
1/3/11 at 1:31pm
I really have no other HDTV to compare to as it's our first one, but so far, it's very nice. Although, there are buzzing issues, blinking issues, and for at least me so far, some .avi movie issues that I haven't got to the bottom of.

However, Panasonic and LG both have issues common to their sets as well.

Personally, unless you must buy right now, waiting to see what the manufacturers will show at CES 2011 would be the best idea. That way you could decide if buying a 2010 set is what you want to do over getting a 2011.

Chuck
Reply
Reply
post #3 of 25
1/3/11 at 1:37pm
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1251005

I know its long but no reason to start another thread.
Reply
Reply
post #4 of 25
1/3/11 at 1:38pm
You should just follow the "The Official Samsung PNxxC8000 Owner's Discussion Thread!!" and the "The Official Samsung PNxxC6500, PNxxC7000, and PNxxC8000 Owner's Discussion Thread!!" A LOT of information there.

In brief I would say this:

pro:
+ image quality, amazingly accurate colors, contrast is great
+ slick design 1.4" thick
+ can do 1080p/24 cadence
+ 3d is better than LCDs/LED-LCDs (a lot less ghosting)
+ wide viewing angles... plasma
+ not too expensive, cost less than a 50VT25

cons:
- lots of minor reported bugs/issues with quality control
- you might get a buzzing one
- image retention
- glasses loses sync in 3d
- line bleed
- gaming sync issue on some sets
- some people reported their sets turn off and on randomly
- some people have interference line when hooking their Wii to the component video input
- blacks not as black as VT25
- black level rises when engaging Cinema Smooth
- whites not as "white/bright" relative to other LCD TVs.
Reply
Reply
post #5 of 25
1/3/11 at 1:41pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by chucky2 View Post

I really have no other HDTV to compare to as it's our first one, but so far, it's very nice. Although, there are buzzing issues, blinking issues, and for at least me so far, some .avi movie issues that I haven't got to the bottom of.

However, Panasonic and LG both have issues common to their sets as well.

Personally, unless you must buy right now, waiting to see what the manufacturers will show at CES 2011 would be the best idea. That way you could decide if buying a 2010 set is what you want to do over getting a 2011.

Chuck


Yeah, but even after you see what's out at CES for 2011... there's no way of knowing if these issues will still be there until mainstream masses starts buying them, David Katzimeyer from CNET tests them, and other tester and reviewers online post their findings... and even so if you want a good deal on 2011 TVs... you might have to wait to post black friday of 2011...

Question is can you wait that long? And if there's still problems... you gonna wait till CES 2012?
Reply
Reply
post #6 of 25
1/3/11 at 1:41pm
Thread Starter 
yeah, I'm reading over those threads now, although it's taking sometime and there is a lot of stuff that doesn't relate to me...I thought this thread might be more focused.
Reply
Reply
post #7 of 25
1/3/11 at 1:44pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by junkmail View Post

Yeah, but even after you see what's out at CES for 2011... there's no way of knowing if these issues will still be there until mainstream masses starts buying them, David Katzimeyer from CNET tests them, and other tester and reviewers online post their findings... so if you want a good deal... might have to wait to post black friday of 2011...

Question is can you wait that long? And if there's still problems... you gonna wait till CES 2012?

I'm not purchasing before the 6th but I don't expect anything revolutionary from Samsung in the plasma dept, especially since I've pretty much limited myself to their "thin" sets. But I wont be making any decisions before this weekend in any case.
Reply
Reply
post #8 of 25
1/3/11 at 3:22pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by agogley View Post

yeah, I'm reading over those threads now, although it's taking sometime and there is a lot of stuff that doesn't relate to me...I thought this thread might be more focused.

still not right... and selfish of you
Reply
Reply
post #9 of 25
1/3/11 at 5:51pm
Thread Starter 
yeah, I know. I'm too lazy to read 138 pages of posts.
Reply
Reply
post #10 of 25
1/3/11 at 7:06pm
PN63C8000 owner. Extremely happy and I will admit to bias because I don't have any of the buzzing or line bleed issues reported by others. I did my own calibration with the Spears and Munsil Blu-Ray and the PQ is fantastic. Movies look spectacular, 3D is fantastic with almost no crosstalk 99% of the time, gaming is excellent with zero lag in game mode and no noticeable difference in PQ that I can detect. I was torn btwn this TV and a Panny VT25 and couldn't overlook the price difference. I really can't say anything negative so far. I even like the remote......
Reply
Reply
post #11 of 25
1/3/11 at 7:22pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by rcandiloro View Post

PN63C8000 owner. Extremely happy and I will admit to bias because I don't have any of the buzzing or line bleed issues reported by others. I did my own calibration with the Spears and Munsil Blu-Ray and the PQ is fantastic. Movies look spectacular, 3D is fantastic with almost no crosstalk 99% of the time, gaming is excellent with zero lag in game mode and no noticeable difference in PQ that I can detect. I was torn btwn this TV and a Panny VT25 and couldn't overlook the price difference. I really can't say anything negative so far. I even like the remote......

Thanks, I'm happy to hear it. It reinforces my decision to purchase.
Reply
Reply
post #12 of 25
1/3/11 at 11:31pm
I spent a lot of time researching and came down to VT-25 or C8000. Both sets have some issues but decided
VT-25 was over priced especially for the issues it has.

10 days into this set and I think I've seen maybe 3 blinks but can't say for sure it was the TV. It's been on
almost 24/7 because I just wanted to get a good look at it before return date expires. Picture quality is stunning
and I've been around and owned HDTVs as long as I've been a member here. No buzzing or other issues so far.

If you're not interested in 3D and buying a 50" the Panny G25 is another set to look at. Great picture
for the money. I have a 42G25 in the bedroom but the 8000 is definitely the winner for PQ and looks.
Reply
Reply
post #13 of 25
1/4/11 at 12:36am
Quote:
Originally Posted by junkmail View Post

You should just follow the "The Official Samsung PNxxC8000 Owner's Discussion Thread!!" and the "The Official Samsung PNxxC6500, PNxxC7000, and PNxxC8000 Owner's Discussion Thread!!" A LOT of information there.

In brief I would say this:

pro:
+ image quality, amazingly accurate colors, contrast is great
+ slick design 1.4" thick
+ can do 1080p/24 cadence
+ 3d is better than LCDs/LED-LCDs (a lot less ghosting)
+ wide viewing angles... plasma
+ not too expensive, cost less than a 50VT25

cons:
- lots of minor reported bugs/issues with quality control
- you might get a buzzing one
- image retention
- glasses loses sync in 3d
- line bleed
- gaming sync issue on some sets
- some people reported their sets turn off and on randomly
- some people have interference line when hooking their Wii to the component video input
- blacks not as black as VT25
- black level rises when engaging Cinema Smooth
- whites not as "white/bright" relative to other LCD TVs.

Plasma = image retention.

50'' Samsung c7000/c8000 0.009-0.010ftl - D-Nice

"Black" on the VT25 went from 0.004 to 0.007 footlamberts (ftl) after 1543 total hours (the equivalent of 297 days at the average daily rate of 5.2 hours)'' - CNET.
Reply
Reply
post #14 of 25
1/4/11 at 6:21pm
Thread Starter 
@DanL -Thanks. Very helpful. Most other sets are out for me because I really want a "thin" set. If Samsung or the thin Panny aren't good, then I'll be waiting longer. I really wanted an LED but reviews talking about poor off-angle viewing really have made me shy away from that technology.


@Danny Victory: I'm am not as readily familiar with the black level measurements. Can you translate that into a conclusion, please?
Reply
Reply
post #15 of 25
1/4/11 at 9:39pm
If you want thin I would just go for the 8000. After reading all the threads and reviews my only real concern was
possibly getting a buzzer. I didn't see any floor models that buzz and talking to a friend that sells them turned up no
buzzers either. Not saying it doesn't happen but if it did just return it.

I think it's more common to hear about shipping damage [cracked glass] in the weeks leading up to Christmas as everything gets
drop kicked all over the country.

I have Sony and Panny HDs in the house also and I'm really impressed with this set. I've yet to find anything
I don't like about it but I'm still looking.
Haven't tried 3D yet but I really bought it for 2D.
Reply
Reply
post #16 of 25
1/4/11 at 10:05pm
pros:
- Probably has the best colors you can buy
- Day scenes look very good
- Feature set is exceptional, it does everything

cons:
- Poor black level performance on the 50, it doesnt really do black, it does gray
- Dark scenes look pretty bad
- A majority if not all sets buzz loudly seemingly at random times

I think I am going to take back my 50C7000 and get a VT25, I just cant get over the blacks every time a dark scene comes on, its like a wash of gray. Not to mention it buzzes. Its tough though because the feature set is so great and I love how it plays every movie file I throw at it. Whatever TV I get Im going to have to live with for years so the I need to be satisfied with the picture (features tend to fade in importance over time).
Reply
Reply
post #17 of 25
1/4/11 at 10:09pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by idividebyzero View Post

pros:
- Probably has the best colors you can buy
- Day scenes look very good
- Feature set is exceptional, it does everything

cons:
- Poor black level performance on the 50, it doesnt really do black, it does gray
- Dark scenes look pretty bad
- A majority if not all sets buzz loudly

I think I am going to take back my 50C7000 and get a VT25, I just cant get over the blacks every time a dark scene comes on, its like a wash of gray. Not to mention it buzzes. Its tough though because the feature set is so great and I love how it plays every movie file I throw at it. Whatever TV I get Im going to have to live with for years so the I need to be satisfied with the picture (features tend to fade in importance over time).

I think you must have a defective tv. That Samsung has around .008-.009 blacks. It shouldn't look grey at all! Unless you prevoiusly owned a Kuro, it should seem VERY black.

My G10 blacks rose to .024!, now thats grey...


It must be:

-Cinema Smooth enabled / causes blacks to get much worse
-Have a 50hz signal?
-Defective tv


-
Reply
Reply
post #18 of 25
1/4/11 at 10:22pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by XxHoosierdaddy View Post

I think you must have a defective tv. That Samsung has around .008-.009 blacks. It shouldn't look grey at all! Unless you prevoiusly owned a Kuro, it should seem VERY black.

My G10 blacks rose to .024!, now thats grey...


It must be:

-Cinema Smooth enabled / causes blacks to get much worse
-Have a 50hz signal?
-Defective tv


-

Those must be the levels for the 63", the 50" has the worst black levels, Ive seen the mll rated at anywhere from .02 to .06 for the 50" (.06 is probably using Standard picture mode which was terrible). Im using Movie Mode @60hz, HDMI level set to low when possible, no cinema smooth.
Reply
Reply
post #19 of 25
1/5/11 at 11:38am
I don't doubt your word but have to wonder how the specs could be so different from the 50 to the 58 and 63.
Have to agree with the other poster about a possible defect.
Reply
Reply
post #20 of 25
1/6/11 at 4:50pm
Thread Starter 
Keep in mind that I'm going from a 2004 Pioneer 910 Elite to whatever I choose. I've got to believe the Samsung 8000 series is better than a 2004 model of anything.
Reply
Reply
post #21 of 25
1/6/11 at 5:54pm
It's not even a worthy comparison. Modern plasmas are so much more superior to anything several years prior that it's really a no-brainer.
Reply
Reply
post #22 of 25
1/6/11 at 8:44pm
why dont you just buy a panasonic.
Reply
Reply
post #23 of 25
1/7/11 at 7:38pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by fschris View Post

why dont you just buy a panasonic.

TC-P54VT25 dimensions: 32.9" x 52.0" x 3.6". This is pretty typical of all Panny models, except the TC-P54Z1 which has a 1" depth. Of course, the TC-P54Z1 is a 2009 model and is quite ugly.

The Samsung 8000 series boasts a 1.4" thin panel which rivals LED thickness.

Any other questions?
Reply
Reply
post #24 of 25
1/7/11 at 7:52pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by agogley View Post

Thanks, I'm happy to hear it. It reinforces my decision to purchase.

Count me in as a satisfied customer. I have absolutely no problems. I just hope they find a fix for ghosting.
Reply
Reply
post #25 of 25
1/7/11 at 8:13pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by jbug View Post

Count me in as a satisfied customer. I have absolutely no problems. I just hope they find a fix for ghosting.

So you have absolutely no problems but you want them to fix something you don't have a problem with?
Reply
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Plasma Flat Panel Displays

AVS Top Picks

AVS › AVS Forum › Display Devices › Plasma Flat Panel Displays › Looking at Samsung 8000 series, any comments positive or negative appreciated