In many ways - style, picture quality and price, for example - the 55-inch Samsung UN55B8000 is a cut above other LCD HDTV models, thanks largely to its innovative edge-lit LED lighting technology. Are you wondering what an edge-lit HDTV is? Read on.
An edge-lit HDTV is a type of LED-based HDTV, so first, you have to understand how LED-based televisions work. Compared to usual LCD televisions which use a fluorescent lamp for a backlight, LED-lit ones use hundreds of tiny bulbs called light emitting diodes (LEDs), hence the term LED-based TV. These bulbs do not only use less electricity and last longer than the fluorescent lamp. They are also arranged in clusters that can be turned off entirely, resulting in black levels as outstandingly deep as those on Plasma televisions.
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.
Edge-lit HDTVs have a few advantages, one of which is that they can be made thinner and lighter - something Samsung is definitely taking advantage of. Indeed, Samsung’s latest LCD HDTVs are very slim, and therefore, more stylish, especially when mounted on the wall. In fact, the UN55B8000 is just 1.2 inches deep at most.
More importantly, edge-lit HDTVs consume the least amount of electricity among current HDTVs. Just think, LCD HDTVs are already considered energy savers compared to other types like Plasma, and LED-based ones consume far less. Edge-lit HDTVs consume even less, since they use less LEDs.
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.
So, is the Samsung UN55B8000 a good buy? This is something you shouldn’t be asking any longer after reading this. After all, you already know the reasons why it is very expensive, the same reasons that make it not just a good but a great HDTV, a true cut above the rest.
Edward McKellen is an HDTV expert who writes hdtv reviews for HDTVreviewlab.com. To read more about the Samsung UN55B8000 LED HDTV or check out the latest Panasonic HDTV reviews visit HDTVreviewlab.com