Samsung UN46C8000

Value Comparison

The Samsung UN46C8000, along with the rest of the C8000 series, has a thinner frame (0.9 inches versus 1.0 inches) and a different finish (brushed aluminum versus Mystic Earth) than the UN55C700 and the rest of the C7000 series. There’s also this mysteriously named ‘Precision Dimming’ feature on the C8000s. To our chagrin, this was a dynamic contrast ratio feature that could not be disabled. As you’ll see in the section below, it had a big impact on the testing. As a rule, we hate processing features that you can’t turn off, especially when you’re paying this much money.

Overall, these are both really excellent TVs. Aside from stylistic differences, there’s no compelling reason to buy the C8000 over the C7000.

Core Attributes Comparison
	Samsung UN46C8000	Samsung UN55C7000
Size	46 in.	55 in.
General Type	LCD	LCD
Format	1080p	1080p

Blacks & Whites

The Samsung UN46C8000 showed a much wider contrast ratio than the UN55C7000. Part of this may be explained by the simple fact that the C8000 series is a step up from the C7000s, and may contain higher quality parts. But there’s the additional issue of dynamic contrast ratio changes, which were quite heavy handed and could not be disabled on the C8000. Because of the way we test, the dynamic contrast ratio should not have played too much of a factor, but it’s clearly an inherent part its overall performance, precisely because it can never be turned off.

Color Accuracy

The Samsung UN46C8000 showed a slight improvement over the Samsung UN55C7000 in color temperature maintenance, as the C7000 tended to warm more dramatically as it approached shadows. The C7000, however, showed an advantage in the RGB testing because it did not peak early, as the C8000 did.

Color Temperature Comparison
Samsung UN46C8000 (Score: 8.01)
Samsung UN55C7000 (Score: 6.39)

RGB Comparison
Samsung UN46C8000 (Score: 7.77)
Samsung UN55C7000 (Score: 8.00)

Motion

The motion performance was, more or less, equal on the Samsung UN46C8000 and Samsung UN55C7000.

Motion Scores
	Samsung UN46C8000	Samsung UN55C7000
Motion Score

Viewing Effects

The Samsung UN46C8000 has a terrible viewing angle. The Samsung UN55C7000 showed about twice the viewing angle.

Viewing Angle Comparison
Samsung UN46C8000: 1.59	Samsung UN55C7000: 4.95

Connectivity

The Samsung UN46C8000 and the Samsung UN55C7000 have exactly the same set of ports. Neither are stellar, and both require a large collection of proprietary adapters to fit into the tiny jacks on these super-slim TV.

Connectivity Comparison
	Samsung UN46C8000	Samsung UN55C7000	Panasonic TC-P50VT20	Sony KDL-46EX700
HDMI	4	4	4	4
Component	1	1	2	2
Composite	1	1	2	1
S-Video	0	0	0	0
VGA	1	1	1	1
Analog Audio In	1	2	4	4
Digital Audio Out	1	1	1	1
Analog Audio Out	1	1	0	1
Ethernet	None	Yes	Yes	None
Wi-Fi	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
USB	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Memory Card Types	None	None	SD/SDHC/SDXC/SDXC	None
DLNA	Yes	Yes	Yes	Unknown

Other Comparisons

The 3D performance between the two TVs was largely the same, as expected. They use exactly the same technology, and there was not enough difference in their brightness levels to have an impact on the contrast ratio when wearing the glasses.