Samsung LN55B8000 1080P LCD

This LCD is is many respects very similar to last year's crop of LCDs from Samsung with a few notable differences. Perhaps the best way to review this display is to simply refer you to my review of last year's LN-52A750 and I will simply note here the areas in which the 2009 "B" model has changed.

1. First, this particular model, part of Samsung's misleadingly titled LED TV series, uses LED technology for its backlighting source rather than the more common cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL) design. The advantage of LEDs is that they use less energy and they allow the manufacturer to create thinner displays. Some models use LEDs arrayed directly behind the screen that can switch on and off individually. This technology called "local dimming" and provides extremely good black levels. However, this model uses LEDs along the edges of the screen and does not use local dimming. Samsung also continues to sell the standard CCFL backlit LCDs for those who do not yearn for the latest technology available.
2. Second, this model's processing uses a dubious technique called auto dimming. This means that the display detects the level of the incoming signal and when it falls below a prescribed level it automatically lowers the light output of the backlighting. The purpose of this is to artificially lower the black level on dark scenes and boost the measured contrast ratio. Fortunately, this "feature" can be disabled in the service menu.
3. Third, this model is somewhat more susceptible to uneven lighting than last year's version. If you look closely you can see that the corners of the display are brighter than the rest of the image. This is undoubtedly the result of the LED backlighting coming from around the bezel's edge. Also, the problem that plagues all LCDs—poor off-axis performance—is somewhat more pronounced on this set than it was with last year's model. Again, fortunately, both of these problems can be nearly eliminated by simply lowering the backlighting from its default level. I found that 3 offered a good compromise between deep blacks, decent screen uniformity, and satisfactory light output.
4. Finally, this model offers a very sophisticated 120 hz mode designed to provide smoother and higher resolution images when the display portrays movement. In particular, it offers a custom mode in which you can individually make adjustments for both video sources (blur reduction) and film sources (judder reduction).
5. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, Samsung has made great strides in lowering the black level (and thus increasing the contrast ratio) of these displays. This is no small feat in light of the fact that last year's CCFL models already offered admirably low black levels for LCD. I measured an incredibly low black level of 0.004 fL for a contrast ratio of approximately 9000:1. This is equivalent performance to the 8th-generation Pioneer Kuro plasmas and the current crop of Panasonic plasmas.

In all other respects, this LCD is much the same as last year's. It still offers an industry-leading array of calibration adjustments conveniently located in the user menu. This includes a full complement of White Balance controls for obtaining accurate gray scale tracking, a gamma adjustment, and, most importantly, a Custom Color Space option that provides a full-featured color management system that allows a calibrator with the skills and proper equipment to dial in nearly perfect color. If anything, the gray scale and gamma performance of this set were even better than what I obtained from the 2008 A750. With the display set to 3 Backlight, 45 Brightness, 90 Contrast, 15 Sharpness, Movie mode, Auto color space, Warm 2 color temperature, and 0 gamma, you can get 80% of what is possible with a professional calibration.

The auto dimming should definitely be turned off. First, calibration is greatly complicated with it turned on. Second, it lowers the black level by simply lowering the overall light output of the panel. On scenes in which the overall level is low enough for the feature to kick in but in which there is still some well-illuminated objects on the screen, the image will lose considerably pop and realism.

The 120 hz mode is a mixed bag. I found that the blur reduction feature was moderately helpful in reducing motion artifacts for video sources. However, the judder reduction control made film sources look unnaturally video-like in a way that was much more offensive to my eye than any possible problems with motion-induced artifacts it was designed to fix.

I still prefer plasma for the much better off-axis performance and what appears to me as generally more natural images, but LCD has gotten so good, especially these new Samsung models, that there is no longer a substantial gulf between plasma and LCD performance.

Here's an indication of how good the grayscale is using the proper presets and how post-calibration it is nearly perfect.

The chart also shows why we should stop portraying grayscale performance with color temperature figures. As you can see, the color temperature hardly improved at all, but the grayscale was almost twice as accurate. Delta-E and RGB balance are both much better indications of accurate grayscale tracking than color temperature.

The story with color accuracy is similar: very good using the preferred presets and nearly perfect post-calibration.