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Introduction
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01.Tour & Design
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02.Blacks & Whites
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03.Color Accuracy
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04.Motion
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05.Viewing Effects
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06.Calibration
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07.Remote Control
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08.Connectivity
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09.Audio & Menus
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10.Formats & Media
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11.Power Consumption
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12.Vs Panasonic TC P50U1
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13.Vs LG 47LH90
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14.Vs Sony KDL 52XBR9
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15.Conclusion
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16.Series Comparison
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17.Ratings & Specs
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18.Comments
Samsung UN46B8500
Previous: Page 12
Vs Panasonic TC P50U1Next: Page 14
Vs Sony KDL 52XBR9
LG 47LH90 Summary
• Samsung a better performer, overall
• Samsung better choice for serious home theaters
• LG is much less expensive
Value Comparison Summary
The LG 47LH90 is much less expensive than the Samsung UN46B8500. Much of the performance couldn't quite match the Samsung's, mostly because the processing engine on the Samsung is so good. The additional cost can be accounted for by the Samsung's slender profile, internet connections, and high number of multimedia ports. As we said elsewhere in the review, the internet features on the Samsung are pretty bad, but the overall viewing experience on the Samsung is better.
| Comparison Specifications | ||
 |
 |
|
| Samsung UN46B8500 | LG 47LH90 | |
| Size | 46 inches | 47 inches |
| Price | $3599 (MSRP) | $1300 |
| Type | LED-Backlit LCD | LCD |
| Format | 1080p | 1080p |
| Other | Internet connectivity | None |
Blacks & Whites
The LG 47LH90 had no problem producing bright whites, but it could not match the great black level performance of the Samsung UN46B8500. Because the Samsung's black level was so low, it ended up garnering a great contrast ratio, far better than the LG.
| Blacks & Whites Comparison Chart | |
 |
|
| Samsung UN46B8500 Score: Black Level: 8.48 Peak Brightness: 9.03 Contrast: 8.96 |
LG 47LH90 Score: Black Level: 5.1 Peak Brightness: 9.78 Contrast: 6.32 |
Color Accuracy
In our battery of color tests, we found the Samsung UN46B8500 to be pretty evenly matched with the LG 47LH90. It maintained a more consistent color temperature than the LG. The RGB color curves were more or less the same, and the LG had a slight lead in matching up to the rec. 709 color standard.
| Color Temperature Comparison | |
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|
| Samsung UN46B8500 Score: 9.35 | |
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|
| LG 47LH90 Score: 8.47 | |
| RGB Comparison | |
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| Samsung UN46B8500 Score: 8.07 | |
   |
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| LG 47LH90 Score: 7.94 | |
| Color Gamut Comparison | |
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| Samsung UN46B8500 Score: 4.22 | |
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|
| LG 47LH90 Score: 4.65 | |
Motion
The LG 47LH90 offers better motion performance than the Samsung.
| Motion Scores | ||
| Samsung UN46B8500 | LG 47LH90 | |
| Motion Smoothness | 6.25 | 7.88 |
| Motion Artifacting | 5.25 | 7.13 |
Viewing Effects
Neither the Samsung UN46B8500 or the LG 47LH90 performed very well in the viewing angle test. The LG's was a little wider, though, at 23 degrees.
| Viewing Angle Comparison | |
 |
|
| Samsung UN46B8500 Score: 2.48 | LG 47LH90 Score: 3.15 |
Connectivity
The LG 47LH90 has more ports than the Samsung UN46B8500, especially for analog signals. The Samsung is better geared for an ultra-modern home theater system, where most of the connections are digital. The Samsung also includes all the internet connectivity, though it's quite bad.
| Connectivity Comparison | ||
| Samsung UN46B8500 | LG 47LH90 | |
| HDMI | 4 | 4 |
| Component | 1 | 2 |
| Composite | 1 | 1 |
| S-Video | 0 | 1 |
| VGA | 1 | 1 |
| Analog Audio In | 1 | 4 |
| Digital Audio Out | 1 | 1 |
| Analog Audio Out | 1 | 1 |
| LAN | 1 | 0 |
| USB | 2 | 0 |
| Memory Card | 0 | 0 |
| Other | Ex-Link, DLNA Support | None |
Other Comparisons
The Samsung UN46B8500 has a slew of multimedia and Internet features, which the LG lacks. Some of the Samsung's features are pretty cool, but others are terrible, so you have to ask yourself if the steep buy-in is worth it.
Shop for the Samsung UN46B8500
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