[jonandabby]

The 8500 is about $1500 more than the 650. I went to a BB, and while the geniuses there have the 650, 6000, 7000 and 8000 running off the same signal, they have the 8500 running off a Blu-Ray SAMPLE disk that changes scene every 5 seconds. And they aren't within 50 feet, so you can't look from one group to the other. I therefore can't look to see if there is a real difference between the 8500, the lesser LEDs and the better regular LCD. Stupid people.


So, OTHER THAN the pleasure of saying "I have a local dimming 8500 that CNET loves," is there a real world reason to spend double for the 8500 than the 650, or $1000 more than the 8000?


My general usage will be in a den, not home theater, so the tv will have everything from Elmo to sports to movies, with more high def tv viewing than movies. Also, I have some angle issues - the den is a rectangle, and some times people won't be sitting directly in front of the set.


THANKS!

 

[qpham]



Quote:
Originally Posted by jonandabby /forum/post/18145122


The 8500 is about $1500 more than the 650. I went to a BB, and while the geniuses there have the 650, 6000, 7000 and 8000 running off the same signal, they have the 8500 running off a Blu-Ray SAMPLE disk that changes scene every 5 seconds. And they aren't within 50 feet, so you can't look from one group to the other. I therefore can't look to see if there is a real difference between the 8500, the lesser LEDs and the better regular LCD. Stupid people.


So, OTHER THAN the pleasure of saying "I have a local dimming 8500 that CNET loves," is there a real world reason to spend double for the 8500 than the 650, or $1000 more than the 8000?


My general usage will be in a den, not home theater, so the tv will have everything from Elmo to sports to movies, with more high def tv viewing than movies. Also, I have some angle issues - the den is a rectangle, and some times people won't be sitting directly in front of the set.


THANKS!

I picked the 55B650 for $1500.00 and verry happy with this set.

 

[Steve S]



Quote:
Originally Posted by jonandabby /forum/post/18145122


The 8500 is about $1500 more than the 650. I went to a BB, and while the geniuses there have the 650, 6000, 7000 and 8000 running off the same signal, they have the 8500 running off a Blu-Ray SAMPLE disk that changes scene every 5 seconds. And they aren't within 50 feet, so you can't look from one group to the other. I therefore can't look to see if there is a real difference between the 8500, the lesser LEDs and the better regular LCD. Stupid people.


So, OTHER THAN the pleasure of saying "I have a local dimming 8500 that CNET loves," is there a real world reason to spend double for the 8500 than the 650, or $1000 more than the 8000?


My general usage will be in a den, not home theater, so the tv will have everything from Elmo to sports to movies, with more high def tv viewing than movies. Also, I have some angle issues - the den is a rectangle, and some times people won't be sitting directly in front of the set.


THANKS!

If you have a large Sears store near you try going there. If they're following the nationwide planogram (company dictated plan telling each store where to display each set) you should find the 8500 just to the right of the edge lit 8000 with the 6000, 7000, B650, and an LG just to the LEFT of the 8000 arranged in a square with the 650 on the upper left of the square, the LG just below the 650, the 6000 on the lower right of the square and the 7000 at the upper right of the square. The remotes should be near the sets so you can play with them, but the store feed is pretty bad with way too many segments being screenshots from video games--the Wii demos looking especially bad.


My gut reaction is that the 8500 is gorgeous in the bright lighting of the store, but the 650 is also very nice and a lot cheaper. If your room is not lit up like a refrigerator showroom take a look at the Samsung PN58B650 plasma just to the right of the 8500.

 

[jonandabby]

One additional to consider - the 8000. Any thoughts?

 

[tbird8450]

The 8500 handily stomps on the others you've listed, especially if you watch movies in low-light/darkness - where the difference can be dramatic.


Whether the extra performance is worth the extra dollars to you is something no one else can answer for you.


None of them will be perfect off-angle, but the LEDs tend to drop off faster than the others when you move off-center.

 

[emelius]

i'd have a look at the 52" b750...


or try to find an lg 55lhx at best buy...if they still have one, they may offer it for the sale price (see this thread )...the convenience of wireless shouldn't be overlooked...that model is being replaced with the 55LE9500...


but really, if you can swing the 8500 at its new price (bb, sears, fry's, onecall, amazon) that's what i'd get as far as lcds...

 

[jonandabby]

I've heard from a few folks that color consistency is not as good on the 8500 compared to the 8000. Any truth to it? Most of the time I'll be watching the set will be in "normal" den lighting with the standard handful of high hat lights in the ceiling.

 

[gwsallen]



Quote:
Originally Posted by jonandabby /forum/post/18152074


I've heard from a few folks that color consistency is not as good on the 8500 compared to the 8000. Any truth to it? Most of the time I'll be watching the set will be in "normal" den lighting with the standard handful of high hat lights in the ceiling.

for normal den lighting watching area, LN55B650 should do you good http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-LN55B650-55-Inch-1080p-Touch/dp/B001WHICF0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1266418987&sr=8-1


anyhow, UN55B8500 http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-UN55B8500-55-Inch-1080p-HDTV/dp/B002HDZNSC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1266419129&sr=1-1 is a newer technology with faster refresh rate at 2ms and more HDMI inputs.

 

[jonandabby]

It is unfortunate that the 750 didn't have a 55" size....