Samsung PN59D7000

3D Effect & Experience

Television manufacturers desperately wish they were in the future, and the only means they know to get there, besides simply waiting, is to produce a TV that can display 3D without making you want to vomit. We can say beyond a doubt that their efforts have improved dramatically since 2011. We have seen admirable attempts, particularly with second-generation plasmas like the Samsung PN59D7000. Still, we cannot say we are behind the technology just yet. While plasmas’ high refresh rate diminishes the constant flicker that can make LCD 3D nauseating, this one still exhibited some flicker with extreme foreground objects and fast movement. The frame rate of the display is limited to the video encoding, so even though the plasma appears very smooth for slow-moving objects, racing cars still look a bit flickery and ethereal. Additionally, crosstalk issues occasionally give the picture an even more “not right” feeling with ghostly halos of double-vision.

3D Black & White

Active 3D is all about having its glasses alternate “open” and “closed” lenses. Displaying an image only half of the time results in less light reaching your eyes; in essence, they are high-tech sunglasses. That’s why donning them reduces the perceived luminance of the screen by 111 cd/m². The black level remains the same, but not only does the screen go very dim, the contrast ratio is reduced from a spectacular 6,200:1 to a measly 340:1. The main issue this causes is that shadow details will be lost, as the TV is less able to produce a visible difference between similar values.

3D Color

Color temperature is more erratic in 3D mode than it is in standard 2D. However, its cool and warm spikes were not severe enough to detract too badly from picture quality.

The main difference in the RGB response curves of the Samsung PN59D7000 in 3D was their jagged nature. This means they have difficulty differentiating between colors that are similar. This exhibits in gradients on the screen; a smooth sunset might be broken up by bands of color. On the upside, the curves are straight and relatively uniform, meaning that they transition evenly between bright and dark colors.

The color gamut doesn’t quite match up to Rec.709 standards in 3D, but it’s not terribly wrong. The white point runs a little blue, and reds and greens are a bit oversaturated. This TV definitely performs much better at color accuracy in its 2D mode, however.

3D Crosstalk

Crosstalk occurs when the image intended for one eye “leaks” into the other. It results in a second image transposed slightly to the side of the first: a halo formed from double-vision. Our tests revealed, in congruence with our observations during a 3D movie, that crosstalk doubling occurs mainly with certain color patterns. Black on green and black on white caused the biggest problems, followed by black on grey.

3D Glasses

The Samsung PN59D7000 will likely not come with any 3D glasses unless you get it in a package deal. As for the 3D glasses for 2011, there are two options.

The first pair is the SSG-3100GB, a battery-operated budget model. Not only do they cost less than last year’s glasses at $130, they are weighted more comfortably away from the bridge of your nose. They are also more understated, with small side shields.

The SSG-3700CR pair is more expensive at $220, presumably because it recharges with an included micro-USB cable and has a lightweight, albeit odd, design. Two polarized lenses hang off of a thin strip of metallic plastic, resembling the plain circlet you might see adorning the forehead of a renaissance fair-goer. At its ends are two plastic knobs; the power button and status-indicating LED are situated on the right one. Because of the round nature of the frame, the glasses could feel loose if its knobs are not firmly resting behind your ears. However, they have the advantage of fitting over prescription glasses easily, a common problem with 3D glasses.

NOTE: Our 3D HDTV testing is under development, which is why these sections have no scores. You caught us mid-rubric. We can collect data and share it with you, but the results in this section have no bearing on the overall score of the television. For more about how we score, read our How We Test article.

Other Models in the PNxxD7000 Series
For more information on other models in this series, check our Series Comparison Page.
Samsung PN51D7000 51 in.	Samsung PN64D7000 64 in.