The Samsung UN55B8000 – The Pros and Cons of an Edge-Lit HDTV
The high-performing Samsung UN55B8000 LED HDTV is one of Samsung’s most talked about LCD HDTV models, not just because of its price – 00 to 00 – but also because it is at the top of the line of Samsung’s edge-lit LED televisions. But what exactly is an edge-lit HDTV?To understand the concept of an edge-lit HDTV, first, you have to know how an LED TVs works. While a regular LCD television uses a single fluorescent lamp as a backlight, an LED-lit LCD television uses hundreds of small bulbs (called light emitting diodes or LEDs) covering the back of the screen. Because of this, LED-based televisions are brighter and can produce more vivid colors and in particular, deeper blacks – a result of the fact that a group of LEDs can be totally turned off while part of a fluorescent lamp can only be dimmed. LEDs also consume less power but can last much longer.
Because of this, many want to buy an LED-based HDTV. And now, there’s one more reason why they should – edge-lit HDTVs. While regular LED-based HDTVs are direct-lit, meaning to say their panels are covered with LEDs, edge-lit HDTVs, like the Samsung UN55B8000, have only a few rows of LEDs covering the top and bottom of the panel. Instead of projecting the light forward, they project it to the center of the screen to a light guide plate which then focuses it forward.
So what is so great about an edge-lit HDTV? For one, edge-lit LED technology allows HDTVs to be made thinner and lighter. Just take a look at Samsung’s latest LCD HDTVs. They are very slim, easy to carry and mount on the wall, and look more attractive than other models. The UN55B8000 is a perfect example, measuring only 1.2 inches deep at most.
Also, while LED-based televisions are already known to consume about half the energy consumed by conventional LCD televisions, those that are edge-lit consume even less. In particular, according to tests, the UN55B8000 consumes up to 40 percent less energy than it normally would.
As for the cons of an edge-lit HDTV, these are basically issues on screen brightness, uniformity and the heating of the frames, especially along the top and bottom where the LEDs are situated. Samsung has done a good job of minimizing these, though, so that with the UN55B8000, you can only notice the lack of uniformity during dark scenes, and only if you have a trained eye.
Aside from the fact that it is an edge-lit HDTV, the Samsung UN55B8000 is an excellent HDTV for other reasons, such as its 240Hz processor, which results in clear and crisp images even during fast-moving scenes and its accurate colors, which contribute to creating amazing picture quality. It comes with interactive features, as well, such as an extensive library of built-in content and Yahoo widgets to keep you posted on the latest updates in the weather, news and stock market. Connectivity, though not its strongest point, is quite good, too, with four HDMI inputs, a PC input and two USB slots to name a few.
Overall, the Samsung UN55B8000 is a great buy, that is, if you can afford it. After all, it is not only an edge-lit LED-based LCD HDTV. With an eye-catching design, a bunch of great features and breathtaking images, it might as well be Samsung’s best LED TV yet.
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