I know we typically think BIG, and BIG is BETTER when it comes to screens. However, I used some reverse logic with this decision. In addition to cost considerations, I made quality considerations. The set I opted for is the 55" curved front 9000 Samsung curved front TV. You may be saying, curved front, Why? Well, I have my reasons.
4K Television: UN55HU9000
Manufacturer: Samsung
Screen lines of resolution 2160P
Remote Controls: 2 (1 typical backlit rectangular full function remote, also included a half egg shaped combination remmote and pointer) See pointing Functionality:
Inputs: 1 component via dongle
2 composite (Really?)
4 HDMI (6 would have been better)
1 USB port (2 would have been better)
Media card slot (no)
LAN physical input
Outputs: Optical Digital Audiio
Aspect ratio 16:9
Screen size: 54.6" (straight line)
Screen type: curved UHD 4K
Weight 52.5 pounds
Surround modes (DTS Prremium Sound 40 watts) (Premium sound is debatable)
Optical digital output for audio is active across all digital inputs)
Wi-Fi (Yes) As yet, mine has not connected. Gave up on Day 1 and went hard wired.
Warranty: 1 year parts and labor
Pointing functionality: The hub activating "egg" enables the user to point at things, and control cursor movement in a web browser. I admit, learning some of this functionality has not been 100% intuitive, but I am getting there. The pointing device activates a white beam of light on buttons and such, you move it around like a wand and press the activate button when you are positioned on something you want to select. No really...
First, I'm not at this time putting this TV in my main viewing area where my 59" plasma is located. Rather, I am putting it on a new console cabinet at the corner of my great room next to my kitchen. It's the perfect viewing location for my kitchen nook computer workstation viewing. The curved front plays into the location as well, as in being slightly more visible to my angled viewing area. I have the set sitting on a slight angle facing my seat. I also setup a BD 3D player at the location on a small table behind my console cabinet. I have an OTA RCA amplified antenna that is capable of receiving local channels. I also got the temporarily at least included USB drive, that comes with several movies on it, and the ability to download more content from Samsung, I presume at a cost.
I'll come back and do a full review as I get this set burned in, and become more familiar with it. Already tonight, I located an enhanced black level setting, and whoa, it took it to a new level of viewing. Outstanding and VERy film like. no sharp edges, no dot crawl on edges. I looked considerably at Sony, Sharp, and Samsung. Of course, I have had confidence in Samsung display technology for a while. But I have also found that they do not give their best stuff away on the lower end. They typically have 2-3 grades, and there are visible differences.
Yes, it was more expensive than a Sharp, or other lower line brand name. Note I do not say lower quality. I choose to let each buyer look at their set in terms of quality that meets their expectations.
The up convert is outstanding from BD. I watch very little non 1080p content now. So I won't even make that a consideration really. The 3D, I am on the fence about. I have watched 1 3D movie. That could be my player, or it could be something else, or it could even be a player setting. There's so many settings to consider nowadays.
I did get the digital audio for my USB drive ported to my home theater via optical, check. I have ran Directv 1080p with it, check. There's a few cool featueres that in theory at least should be useful. But there are some gotchas too. I'll explain later.
I have had difficulty with wireless internet connectivity, so I just connected via wired. But then I try to log into HBO or Showtime connections, and have issues. HBO wants you to sign up for some new account. Showtime flat out wouldn't allow me to do it with their web based login, it said it was operating system incompatble. So, bleeding edge.
But getting more and more happy with the overall quality of my 54.6" diagonal 4K Samsung 9000 as I get it fine adjusted some, including black levels optimized for LCD. They don't come optimized out of the box.
My plan is later, much later, I will update with a larger 4K when they become more cost efficient for my great room main viewing area, but I think this set has a spot regardless. I spend a lot of time at my kitchen desktop computer. It's comfortable, and it's my lifestyle. I don't just sit in front of a TV and do nothing. I have never liked notebook computers in my lap a whole lot, it just isn't very comfortable for me. So here, I have fantastic viewing of my curved front, to the right of my main straight ahead vision at monitor, with everything slightly oriented to the right.
Oh, this set features something called One Connect. (I think that's the right name) What that means is, all the processing power is in a small narrow box. all the USB/HDMI/component video, etc... connect via the one connect. It came with a single component video dongle, that plugs into the one connect, everything else is HDMI. There is a optical digital audio output, and USB connectivity. Then there's a single cable that goes to the TV. The advantage is, if there are significant software or firmware updates down the road, I can buy a new One connect box for around $400.00. It also keeps the heat down in the display, making it more of a dumb 4K terminal. Another advantage is shorter HDMI cables to components located close at hand, and those are pricey as you know...
I setup a small table right behind my console the TV sits on for my components. Well, the Directv box is sitting on the end of the console, the DVD player and one connect are on the table beside. All that is still fluctuating. I am attempting to bring basic cable into the picture too, more on that later. so far, it's not working due to a Comcast issue. I am pursuing possibly dropping directv and their 120.00 a month bill for something less. I'm tired of that big bill.
I watched
Life of Pi
Two Star Treks,
some nature documentaries
watching a WWII movie now, not sure the title.
I have downloaded nothing so far.
My packing box is 100% reusable, and is already stored away for safe keeping. If I ever want to move my curved front, I can put it back like the factory packed it, likely.
One reason I did not like the Sony 850 XBR personally was the 4 legs located at the end or 3/4 way. I tend to not like "pronge" based feet. I like a flat, streamlined stand, such as on the 9000 pictured. :-)
A comprehensive review is going to be several pages long guys. Bear with me as I explore and have time to write up my findings. I'll keep adding to the review here.
Sunday night 12/7, watching Homeland on Showtime via Directv, and some show called the Affair. It's filler while waiting on the new Homeland tonight...
1080P upconversion: One of the things that attracted me about the Samsung sets, especially the 9000 curved front is the smoothness of the upconversion of a 1080p signal. In the showroom, the canned viewing makes it a little hard to extrapolate all the information you need to make an informed decision. But I spent enough time there, to realize, that there were some differences in upconversion algorithms going from Sony to Samsung. Sony, I found had some artifacts showing on the faces as it transitioned movement of people. Part of this may be the clear motion rate, and part of it could be the upconversion formula. I'm not 100% certain.
The Clear Motion rate on the Samsung 9000 series is 1440, that is the highest that I saw. Now, in the Sony's defense, I am comparing a set that was $1000 less in money to the Samsung. I wanted the 65" Samsung, but it was $3700-3800, and that was OOB. But once I stopped and thought about where I wanted the curved front, I decided the 55" was in fact, the optimal size for that location! Therefore, I pushedd myself up to the $1K higher level, to gain the best black coverage, the smoothest image transfer, and the highest clear motion rate. Even among the Samsungs, the same image compared on the 9000 vs the 8700 series was visibly improved on the 9000. Even blades of grass were more clear on the 9000 than the 8700. Color, is outstanding. Of course, it takes a little getting used to LCD vs Plasma. It's not a compromise that you win everywhere, as we all know. But the benefits of 4K, even on 1080p upconversion, are pretty striking on the right set.
More later!
Doug
4K Television: UN55HU9000
Manufacturer: Samsung
Screen lines of resolution 2160P
Remote Controls: 2 (1 typical backlit rectangular full function remote, also included a half egg shaped combination remmote and pointer) See pointing Functionality:
Inputs: 1 component via dongle
2 composite (Really?)
4 HDMI (6 would have been better)
1 USB port (2 would have been better)
Media card slot (no)
LAN physical input
Outputs: Optical Digital Audiio
Aspect ratio 16:9
Screen size: 54.6" (straight line)
Screen type: curved UHD 4K
Weight 52.5 pounds
Surround modes (DTS Prremium Sound 40 watts) (Premium sound is debatable)
Optical digital output for audio is active across all digital inputs)
Wi-Fi (Yes) As yet, mine has not connected. Gave up on Day 1 and went hard wired.
Warranty: 1 year parts and labor
Pointing functionality: The hub activating "egg" enables the user to point at things, and control cursor movement in a web browser. I admit, learning some of this functionality has not been 100% intuitive, but I am getting there. The pointing device activates a white beam of light on buttons and such, you move it around like a wand and press the activate button when you are positioned on something you want to select. No really...
First, I'm not at this time putting this TV in my main viewing area where my 59" plasma is located. Rather, I am putting it on a new console cabinet at the corner of my great room next to my kitchen. It's the perfect viewing location for my kitchen nook computer workstation viewing. The curved front plays into the location as well, as in being slightly more visible to my angled viewing area. I have the set sitting on a slight angle facing my seat. I also setup a BD 3D player at the location on a small table behind my console cabinet. I have an OTA RCA amplified antenna that is capable of receiving local channels. I also got the temporarily at least included USB drive, that comes with several movies on it, and the ability to download more content from Samsung, I presume at a cost.
I'll come back and do a full review as I get this set burned in, and become more familiar with it. Already tonight, I located an enhanced black level setting, and whoa, it took it to a new level of viewing. Outstanding and VERy film like. no sharp edges, no dot crawl on edges. I looked considerably at Sony, Sharp, and Samsung. Of course, I have had confidence in Samsung display technology for a while. But I have also found that they do not give their best stuff away on the lower end. They typically have 2-3 grades, and there are visible differences.
Yes, it was more expensive than a Sharp, or other lower line brand name. Note I do not say lower quality. I choose to let each buyer look at their set in terms of quality that meets their expectations.
The up convert is outstanding from BD. I watch very little non 1080p content now. So I won't even make that a consideration really. The 3D, I am on the fence about. I have watched 1 3D movie. That could be my player, or it could be something else, or it could even be a player setting. There's so many settings to consider nowadays.
I did get the digital audio for my USB drive ported to my home theater via optical, check. I have ran Directv 1080p with it, check. There's a few cool featueres that in theory at least should be useful. But there are some gotchas too. I'll explain later.
I have had difficulty with wireless internet connectivity, so I just connected via wired. But then I try to log into HBO or Showtime connections, and have issues. HBO wants you to sign up for some new account. Showtime flat out wouldn't allow me to do it with their web based login, it said it was operating system incompatble. So, bleeding edge.
But getting more and more happy with the overall quality of my 54.6" diagonal 4K Samsung 9000 as I get it fine adjusted some, including black levels optimized for LCD. They don't come optimized out of the box.
My plan is later, much later, I will update with a larger 4K when they become more cost efficient for my great room main viewing area, but I think this set has a spot regardless. I spend a lot of time at my kitchen desktop computer. It's comfortable, and it's my lifestyle. I don't just sit in front of a TV and do nothing. I have never liked notebook computers in my lap a whole lot, it just isn't very comfortable for me. So here, I have fantastic viewing of my curved front, to the right of my main straight ahead vision at monitor, with everything slightly oriented to the right.
Oh, this set features something called One Connect. (I think that's the right name) What that means is, all the processing power is in a small narrow box. all the USB/HDMI/component video, etc... connect via the one connect. It came with a single component video dongle, that plugs into the one connect, everything else is HDMI. There is a optical digital audio output, and USB connectivity. Then there's a single cable that goes to the TV. The advantage is, if there are significant software or firmware updates down the road, I can buy a new One connect box for around $400.00. It also keeps the heat down in the display, making it more of a dumb 4K terminal. Another advantage is shorter HDMI cables to components located close at hand, and those are pricey as you know...
I setup a small table right behind my console the TV sits on for my components. Well, the Directv box is sitting on the end of the console, the DVD player and one connect are on the table beside. All that is still fluctuating. I am attempting to bring basic cable into the picture too, more on that later. so far, it's not working due to a Comcast issue. I am pursuing possibly dropping directv and their 120.00 a month bill for something less. I'm tired of that big bill.
I watched
Life of Pi
Two Star Treks,
some nature documentaries
watching a WWII movie now, not sure the title.
I have downloaded nothing so far.
My packing box is 100% reusable, and is already stored away for safe keeping. If I ever want to move my curved front, I can put it back like the factory packed it, likely.
One reason I did not like the Sony 850 XBR personally was the 4 legs located at the end or 3/4 way. I tend to not like "pronge" based feet. I like a flat, streamlined stand, such as on the 9000 pictured. :-)
A comprehensive review is going to be several pages long guys. Bear with me as I explore and have time to write up my findings. I'll keep adding to the review here.
Sunday night 12/7, watching Homeland on Showtime via Directv, and some show called the Affair. It's filler while waiting on the new Homeland tonight...
1080P upconversion: One of the things that attracted me about the Samsung sets, especially the 9000 curved front is the smoothness of the upconversion of a 1080p signal. In the showroom, the canned viewing makes it a little hard to extrapolate all the information you need to make an informed decision. But I spent enough time there, to realize, that there were some differences in upconversion algorithms going from Sony to Samsung. Sony, I found had some artifacts showing on the faces as it transitioned movement of people. Part of this may be the clear motion rate, and part of it could be the upconversion formula. I'm not 100% certain.
The Clear Motion rate on the Samsung 9000 series is 1440, that is the highest that I saw. Now, in the Sony's defense, I am comparing a set that was $1000 less in money to the Samsung. I wanted the 65" Samsung, but it was $3700-3800, and that was OOB. But once I stopped and thought about where I wanted the curved front, I decided the 55" was in fact, the optimal size for that location! Therefore, I pushedd myself up to the $1K higher level, to gain the best black coverage, the smoothest image transfer, and the highest clear motion rate. Even among the Samsungs, the same image compared on the 9000 vs the 8700 series was visibly improved on the 9000. Even blades of grass were more clear on the 9000 than the 8700. Color, is outstanding. Of course, it takes a little getting used to LCD vs Plasma. It's not a compromise that you win everywhere, as we all know. But the benefits of 4K, even on 1080p upconversion, are pretty striking on the right set.
More later!
Doug
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