The Samsung UN55B8000 – The Pros and Cons of an Edge-Lit HDTV
In many ways – style, picture quality and price, for model – the Samsung UN55B8000 is a cut above other LCD HDTV models, thanks largely to its innovative edge-lit LED lighting equipment. Are you wondering what an edge-lit HDTV is? Read on.
Before we try to be with you the concept of edge-lit HDTVs, let us first take a look at how LED televisions work. As you probably already know, most LCD televisions use a fluorescent lamp for a backlight, which is the main reason why they cannot produce black levels as deep as Plasma televisions. But, with LED-based televisions, as the term implies, hundreds of LEDs or small bulbs are used to light up the panel. These bulbs are arranged in clusters that can be turned off individually, resulting in outstandingly deep blacks. Other advantages of LEDs contain lower energy consumption, durability and longer shelf life.
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, importance 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 forwards, they project it to the center of the screen to a light guide plate which then focuses it forwards.
So what is so fantastic about an edge-lit HDTV? For one, edge-lit LED equipment allows HDTVs to be made thinner and lighter. Just take a look at Samsung’s latest LCD HDTVs. They are very slim, simple to carry and mount on the wall, and look more striking than other models. The UN55B8000 is a perfect model, measuring only 1.2 inches deep at most.
More significantly, edge-lit HDTVs consume the least amount of electricity among current HDTVs. Just reckon, LCD HDTVs are already painstaking 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.
Edge-lit televisions have disadvantages, too, though, such as the heat generated by the frame – mainly the top and bottom part – and problems a propos screen uniformity. Samsung claims to have solved these issues, though, and indeed, the UN55B8000 is an well-organized piece, with the issue of screen uniformity only appearing during dark scenes, and even then, is trying to discern.
Aside from the fact that it is an edge-lit HDTV, the Samsung UN55B8000 is an exceptional HDTV for other reasons, such as its 240Hz processor, which consequences in clear and crisp images even during quick-moving scenes and its accurate colors, which contribute to making incredible picture quality. It comes with interactive facial advent, 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 excellent, too, with four HDMI inputs, a PC input and two USB slots to name a few.
By and large, the Samsung UN55B8000 is a fantastic 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 fantastic facial advent and spectacular images, it might as well be Samsung’s best LED TV yet.
