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Samsung UN46B8500

Television Review

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Samsung UN46B8500
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Color Accuracy Summary



Editorial Note: This is a review of the Samsung UN46B8500. Test results are for this model, but should indicate the general performance of other sizes in the UNxxB8500 series. The UNxxB8500 series includes the following models: UN46B8500 and UN55B8500.  Read here for more details on series differences.

• Consistent color temperature
• Smooth color curves
• Testing done using DisplayMate Software

Color Temperature (9.35)

This test measures how well the TV can maintain a consistent color temperature, regardless of how intense the source signal gets. In the best of cases, you'll see a chart like the one below. The picture gets a little warm or a little cool, but it rarely strays into the range of 'perceptible' to humans. Only at the end, in the very brightest signal, does the temperature spike.

Color Temperature
Compare the Samsung UN46B8500 to other HDTVs
Panasonic TC-P50U1
50 inches
LG 47LH90
47 inches
Sony KDL-52XBR9
52 inches

RGB Curves (8.07)

This test looks at how well the TV can produce every shade of green, then red, then blue. What we're looking for here is a smooth curve, Every little stair-step is an instance where, in real life, you could expect to see color banding. And that flat bit at the top on the right-most edge... that's the Samsung UN46B8500 peaking out, unable to produce detail in the very brightest values.

Overall, this is a very good performance and a high score, compared to the top performers from other manufacturers.

RGB Curves

The color strips below are digital recreations of how the televisions performed when required to produce the entire range of the red channel, green channel, and blue channel. What you want to look for here is evenness and enough detail in the shadows. Clearly, none of these TVs match the ideal response, but theSamsung UN46B8500 stacks up very well.

Red Response Comparisons
Ideal Response
Samsung UN46B8500
Panasonic TC-P50U1
LG 47LH90
Sony KDL-52XBR9
Green Response Comparisons
Ideal Response
Samsung UN46B8500
Panasonic TC-P50U1
LG 47LH90
Sony KDL-52XBR9
Blue Response Comparisons
Ideal Response
Samsung UN46B8500
Panasonic TC-P50U1
LG 47LH90
Sony KDL-52XBR9

Color Gamut (4.22)

The Samsung UN46B8500's performance was matched up a popular color standard called rec. 709. As you can see from the chart below, the TV could match up to the red point of the triangle, but the green and blue were noticeably off. Also, the white point (circle in the center), leaned towards the greens. 

Color Gamut

The chart below gives the techy details of the performance.

  u' (rec.709/measured) v' (rec.709/measured) Error
Red 0.4501 0.5233 0.0007
Green 0.1364 0.5536 0.0144
Blue 0.1777 0.1839 0.0261
D65
(white point)
0.1934 0.4586 0.0106
Other Models in the UNxxB8500 Series
This is a review of the Samsung UN46B8500. The other sizes of HDTVs in this series should be similar in terms of performance and usability. For details about any differences, click on the image to jump to the Series Comparison page.
Panasonic UN46B8500
46 inches
Panasonic UN55B8500
55 inches

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Samsung UN46B8500
Television Review

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