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AVClub Addicted Member
Samsung C8000 / C7700 review
http://www.flatpanelshd.com/review.php?subaction=showfull&id=1283773778
...After calibration I measured a black level of 0.06 cd/m2. Before calibration I measured a black level of 0.18 cd/m2. Let me include some words to this strange result that is very uncommon on Plasma-TVs because they tend to have almost identical black level before and after calibration.
On this TV I saw very different black level values before and after calibration so I dug deeper to examine why this was happening. I found that the TV has far worse black level reproduction in the Standard picture mode. When you switch to the Movie mode black reproduction is improved considerably.
I also tested on different signals such as 24 Hz, 50 Hz and 60 Hz and found another strange thing here. With a 60 Hz signal I got deeper black levels than with a 50 Hz signal. This obviously have something to do with the driving method and sub-pixel refresh but it’s not supposed to do this.
However, the biggest change in black levels still occurred when switching between the Standard and Movie mode. On the Standard picture preset I measured 0.18 cd/m2 black with a 60 Hz signal. The black level was improved drastically when I switched to the Movie mode.
After I selected the Movie picture mode I measured 0.06 cd/m2 (with 60 Hz) which is not as low as last year’s B850 (that had 0.05 cd/m2) but probably what we have to settle with on the new 3D panel that is brighter and a bit different. This is a compromise from Samsung in the process of chasing that 3D picture quality. We can live with it but we also have to say that Panasonic is now in front again when it comes to black levels with their VT20 / VT25.
You have to be sure to select the movie preset, however. Also, don’t activate the Cinema Smooth option during Blu-ray playback as this will do the same thing. If you’re a European you have a 50 Hz TV-signal coming in. With a 50 Hz input on the Samsung TV the black level is not as low as with a 60 Hz or 24 Hz (Blu-ray) input. This is a potential problem but again; the most significant change was between the Movie and Standard preset so I don’t regard this as a critical problem. Just stay on the movie preset.
Conclusion
Samsung’s first 3D plasma TV has a lot of media functionality and we have also come to expect this from Samsung in the recent years. It incorporates Internet Apps, the best DLNA from any TV manufacturer, USB recording (on the EU model) and many calibration setting options. We did hear some very low buzzing but in practical use I never found it irritating.
Picture quality is in the elite of flat panel TVs today. The B850 from 2009 convinced us and C8000 (in the US) / C7700 (in EU) build on that foundation. I don’t see it as a major improvement compared to B850 but that’s not a bad thing because it puts it in the top of the picture quality scale today.
We saw very good picture characteristics such as accurate colors, low response time and low phosphor trailing. The picture is very detailed and HD picture quality is just beautiful. However, black reproduction is slightly higher than on the B850 and you have to use the Movie preset to get decent black levels. Also, retention has not yet been eliminated on C8000 / C7700.
The 3D picture quality is very good and very close to that of Panasonic VT20 / VT25. We saw only very little crosstalk, the 3D depth is good and the overall 3D picture quality is much better than on Samsung’s LCD/LED 3D models such as the C8000 LED model. The colors in the 3D mode are not very accurate but this is true for all 3DTVs at the moment. The new panel can also output enough light for decent 3D viewing during the day.
Samsung has once again released a very interesting plasma-TV and it’s definitely competing with some of the flagship models, and is an alternative to the highly praised Panasonic plasma-TVs. The very slim design, impressive picture quality and 3D picture quality at a very attractive price, makes C7700 (in EU) / C8000 (US) extremely tempting.
http://www.flatpanelshd.com/review.php?subaction=showfull&id=1283773778
...After calibration I measured a black level of 0.06 cd/m2. Before calibration I measured a black level of 0.18 cd/m2. Let me include some words to this strange result that is very uncommon on Plasma-TVs because they tend to have almost identical black level before and after calibration.
On this TV I saw very different black level values before and after calibration so I dug deeper to examine why this was happening. I found that the TV has far worse black level reproduction in the Standard picture mode. When you switch to the Movie mode black reproduction is improved considerably.
I also tested on different signals such as 24 Hz, 50 Hz and 60 Hz and found another strange thing here. With a 60 Hz signal I got deeper black levels than with a 50 Hz signal. This obviously have something to do with the driving method and sub-pixel refresh but it’s not supposed to do this.
However, the biggest change in black levels still occurred when switching between the Standard and Movie mode. On the Standard picture preset I measured 0.18 cd/m2 black with a 60 Hz signal. The black level was improved drastically when I switched to the Movie mode.
After I selected the Movie picture mode I measured 0.06 cd/m2 (with 60 Hz) which is not as low as last year’s B850 (that had 0.05 cd/m2) but probably what we have to settle with on the new 3D panel that is brighter and a bit different. This is a compromise from Samsung in the process of chasing that 3D picture quality. We can live with it but we also have to say that Panasonic is now in front again when it comes to black levels with their VT20 / VT25.
You have to be sure to select the movie preset, however. Also, don’t activate the Cinema Smooth option during Blu-ray playback as this will do the same thing. If you’re a European you have a 50 Hz TV-signal coming in. With a 50 Hz input on the Samsung TV the black level is not as low as with a 60 Hz or 24 Hz (Blu-ray) input. This is a potential problem but again; the most significant change was between the Movie and Standard preset so I don’t regard this as a critical problem. Just stay on the movie preset.
Conclusion
Samsung’s first 3D plasma TV has a lot of media functionality and we have also come to expect this from Samsung in the recent years. It incorporates Internet Apps, the best DLNA from any TV manufacturer, USB recording (on the EU model) and many calibration setting options. We did hear some very low buzzing but in practical use I never found it irritating.
Picture quality is in the elite of flat panel TVs today. The B850 from 2009 convinced us and C8000 (in the US) / C7700 (in EU) build on that foundation. I don’t see it as a major improvement compared to B850 but that’s not a bad thing because it puts it in the top of the picture quality scale today.
We saw very good picture characteristics such as accurate colors, low response time and low phosphor trailing. The picture is very detailed and HD picture quality is just beautiful. However, black reproduction is slightly higher than on the B850 and you have to use the Movie preset to get decent black levels. Also, retention has not yet been eliminated on C8000 / C7700.
The 3D picture quality is very good and very close to that of Panasonic VT20 / VT25. We saw only very little crosstalk, the 3D depth is good and the overall 3D picture quality is much better than on Samsung’s LCD/LED 3D models such as the C8000 LED model. The colors in the 3D mode are not very accurate but this is true for all 3DTVs at the moment. The new panel can also output enough light for decent 3D viewing during the day.
Samsung has once again released a very interesting plasma-TV and it’s definitely competing with some of the flagship models, and is an alternative to the highly praised Panasonic plasma-TVs. The very slim design, impressive picture quality and 3D picture quality at a very attractive price, makes C7700 (in EU) / C8000 (US) extremely tempting.
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