Is the Samsung UN55B7000 just as good as the UN55B8000?
The Samsung UN55B7000 LED HDTV and the Samsung UN55B8000 HDTV are two of Samsung’s best LED-based LCD HDTVs. As such, both deliver breathtaking images and cutting-edge interactive features without pumping up your electric bill. So which one should you buy?
Let’s take a look at the key differences of both models. For one, you can be able to tell them apart by just a glance, since the UN55B7000 has a distinct amber border on its panel, while the only touch of color on the UN55B8000 is its blue power indicator, which can even be turned off. Both are among Samsung’s thinnest HDTVs, measuring a maximum of 1.2 inches deep, although the UN55B7000 is a few inches taller. Both also come with matching swivelling stands – charcoal grey for the UN55B8000 and red for the UN55B7000.
The difference is even more apparent in the clickers that accompany them. That of the UN55B8000 has a rotating scroll wheel like some previous Samsung models, which is unfortunately, not too responsive, while the remote of the UN55B7000, which has been modified to be more stable on flat surfaces, has more user-friendly buttons of different shapes and sizes, most of which are backlit. Both have the same secondary pebble-like remote, though, that can control power, volume and channel.
As for picture quality, both offer crisp images with vivid, generally accurate colors, although the UN55B8000 offers deeper black levels and brighter whites with a contrast ratio of 5,000,000:1 as opposed to 3,000,000:1. The Wide Color Enhancer of the UN55B8000 is also more advanced, allowing it to stretch each pixel to its three-dimensional limit.
The last major difference is that of the refresh rate. In particular, the UN55B8000 prides itself on its high refresh rate – 240Hz – which is two times better than the UN55B7000. Still, both effectively prevent blurring even with the dejudder processing turned off – a mechanism scarce on Sony HDTVs.
With these, you should be able to tell the Samsung UN55B7000 and the UN55B8000 apart, and better decide which one you should get. After all, they are alike in all the rest, like their interactive features, for example. Both carry the same Yahoo widgets that make it easy to access the latest news, weather and stock market updates, and both are also enhanced with DLNA capability that makes it possible to access videos, photos and music files stored on networked computers.
Both models are highly energy efficient, mainly because they are edge-lit LED-based LCD televisions, which means they consume nearly half less than conventional LCDs and even less than other types of HDTVs. In addition to that, you get three power-saving modes that cut down energy consumption even further. As for connectivity, there aren’t too many analog connections but there are four HDMI inputs provided – enough for your digital devices – as well as a VGA input for your computer and two USB ports that make it easier to share files directly from your thumb drive, MP3 player or digital camera.
So, should you buy the Samsung UN55B7000 or the Samsung UN55B8000? If you want truly outstanding picture quality, you should go with the latter, that is, if you are willing to pay more. On the other hand, the images on the former are not half bad, and are still sure to keep you happy.
About the author – Edward McKellen is an HDTV expert who writes HDTV reviews for HDTVreviewlab.com. To read more about the Samsung UN55B7000 or check out the latest HDTV reviews visit HDTVreviewlab.com
Tagged: HDTV, HDTV review, lcd tv, LCD TV review, LED TV, Plasma TV, samsung, samsung hdtv.samsung LED TV, Samsung UN55B7000, TV review, UN55B7000
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