It's been really fun building up a circle of HD TV buddies! I know it all sounds a bit geeky, but HD TV people get really excited about things like new TVs and they love to share their epxeriences so if you keep in contact with these people, you tend to find out first had what's good and what's not, after all a personal referral is so powerful!
Perhaps some of the TV manufacturers should bear that in mind...anyway, I digress.
So, I loved it when I got a call of wild excitement from one of my HD TV Buddies, Bryn in Seattle. We met at a TV trade show in Seattle about two years ago and hit it off. Del, "I've gone 3D" he bounded! I knew he was thinking about it as I'd told him about my 3D demo in London a few months back.
"Yeah, I've got myself a Samsung UN55C8000 55 Inch 3D LED TV" he enthused, "It's amazing"!
I found out he'd had it a couple of weeks and that it had taken a little bit of work to configure so it was "totally right" for him, but now he'd got it working properly he was totally blown away.
So, after listening to him wax lyrical for 20 minutes he said...
"Anyway Man, I know you write reviews on HD TVs so I've written you a full report on it - thought you'd like that"!
What a star! So here, without any editing or amendment from me is Bryn's report on his new Samsung UN55C8000 55 Inch 3D LED TV...take it away Bryn.
Having taken that big step to "go 3D" I was couldn't hide my excitement when my new Samsung UN55C8000 actually arrived.
Here it was...a new Samsung "C" range, what would it be like to watch? Well the sales material promised "full real life 3D", "get immersed in the action" and a jack pack that offered more connectivity than you could ever possibly need. This TV has it all, well that's what Samsung say anyway. As it gradually slid out of the box...a sharp intake of breath.
Oh Boy, it's beautiful with it's slate gray surround and the backest screen I've ever seen.
The family were completely awe struck by the sheer beauty. "Put it on Dad" cried an excited Jayne, "Yes, now, now, now" added Jordie. Come on then said a smiling Teri looking at the mass of wiring and components, "sort it out"!
"Errr, I'm gonna need some time" I protested. With the ample jack pack now in full view (4 HDMI, Anynet+, 2 x USB, PC Input, Ethernet, Optical Sound and Component Video) and a hefty set of manuals I knew it might take some time!
So, be warned if you're gonna get one of these beauties, be pepared for some initial pain. Make sure the family know it will take some time to configure, especially if you've not attempted a new TV, Blu-Ray and surround sound install before.
So, being the structured and organized sort I am, I sat down to read the manual, I'm glad I did.
With the amazing plethora of connectivity, including wireless connectivity to add to the surround and Blu-Ray, it was a big job. There are also a whole stack of "widgets" you can set up as well, such as Yahoo, YouTube and Flickr. I found the manual to be pretty good - but then I am technical, so I think that made it easier for me as I'm used to technical manuals!.
One of the things that attracted me to the Samsung UN55C8000 55 Inch 3D LED TV is that it has the built in
ability to make normal 2D images into 3D. Getting this to work was a little awkward though and took a bit of time.
Now I'm glad I went through the full configuration and took the trouble to get this right up front. Why? Well the converted 2D images are not the best. There was quite a bit of image blurring...I think the technical term is "crosstalk".
It was more than watchable but not brillaint, so our hopes weren't as high as they might have been for true native 3D. But, when we switched to a true 3D source...WOW! That's all - WOW!
Here again there is a configuration issue. As with all 240Hz HD TVs there is the "Spanish Soap Opera" look. What? That's what I thought. It's an effect that is supposed to make the viewed image look more like it does at the cinema. I know many people are big fans of this - not me. So, the Samsung UN55C8000 55 Inch 3D LED TV has to be configured again. I like a crisp picture, full clarity, so that had to be switched off, and I did need to dig into the menu system a bit to make that happen.
However...once I got the 3D picture working as I wanted, it was almsot beyond belief - it is fantastic!
The picture is robust and crystal clear, the 3D is amazing and the kids just loved it, they've hardly stopped watching Monsters v Aliens, and that bit with the paddle made us all jump. And the space scenes at the start are simply stunning. Star Trek is also amazing in 3D. There was still the odd bit of "crosstalk" even in native 3D, but I was hugely impressed that the 3D stays really true even if you sit quite a long way to the side of the screen.
On normal 2D TV the full 1080p and 240Hz make for simply stunning pictures. As I said earlier the screen is so incredibly black, but when it comes to life, I am still in awe of the pciture it produces. Brilliant, crystal, vibrant, sharp, bright, rich color, stunning contrast...add whatever superlatives you like it the best TV picture I have seen.
Overall in my opinion the Samsung C Series produces TV that's a new and higher level. Despite the odd bug here and there which Samsung say will be fixed (via a software upgrade) I am blissfully happy with my Samsung UN55C8000 55 Inch 3D LED TV.
So, for my money, I am cool with being into 3D TV early. It's true it wasn't cheap to upgrade everything (3D Blu-Ray and of course, remember you have to buy 3D glasses for the entire family).
But all in all, for around $3.5k we have home entertainment far and above run of the mill TV. I don't know how long the "WOW" factor will last? To be honest at the moment I don't really care...I'm having way too much fun because it all seems so very worthwhile right now!
Go 3D, I don't think you will regret it!
For more information on the Samsung UN55C8000 55 Inch 3D LED TV and Great Internet Prices - Click HERE
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