Samsung UN46C8000

Audio Quality (6.00)

The audio quality of the Samsung UN46C8000 is about average for a mid-sized HDTV. That is to say, the built-in speakers will suffice for people that don’t necessarily fancy themselves AV gearheads or movie buffs. For those with a more ‘refined taste,’ the built-ins will never match a dedicated surround sound system.

There are several audio presets, just as with the video settings. Strangely, while the Movie Mode preset is the most accurate for video calibration, the audio settings Movie Mode does not sound all that great. It seems to suck all the low end out of the mix. We liked the Standard settings best, then making personal equalizer settings.

As with most HDTVs, there is a simulated surround sound feature. On the Samsung UN46C8000, it’s called SRS TruSurround HD. There’s really no comparison to an actual surround sound system.

Menu Interface (6.50)

The Samsung UN46C8000 offers the same great menu that you’ll find on most of the high-end Samsung HDTVs this year. With simple organization and clear, clean type, it’s easy to find what you need and tough to get lost in the backwaters of sub-sub-submenus.

It’s good, but not perfect. First, the remote control is your primary interface device with the menu, so we must repeat our gripes with the remote. Because of the unibody faceplate with no proper ‘buttons,’ it’s hard to breeze through the menu without constantly looking down at the remote to reposition your fingers. We definitely did not have this problem with the Sony remotes.

The other issue, a minor complaint, is that the picture quality menus take up a huge chunk of real estate in the middle of the screen. If you’re sorting through each of two dozen settings, you might like to see the picture underneath and how those settings affect the picture.

Instruction Manual (7.00)

The manual that ships with the Samsung UN46C8000 is fairly comprehensive, which is entirely necessary given the lengthy list of features. Of course, we always wish there were more details, but most people should find this satisfactory. You can find the Samsung UN46C8000’s manual online here.

Other Models in the UNxxC8000 Series
For more information on other models in this series, check our Series Comparison Page.
Samsung UN55C8000 55 in.