The Samsung UN55C7000 ($3299) is among the vanguard of first-generation 3D TVs. As you might guess, as a first-generation product, not quite all the pieces are in place yet. A 3D display screen is one thing, but in order to use it you need the proper glasses, a Blu-Ray player that supports 3D content, and most importantly, something interesting to watch. This last element will understandably be the slowest to trickle out (after all, there's only one Avatar for every hundred Piranha 3-D), but even the elementary component, the glasses, was not available at the same time the television was released. Though Samsung has managed to catch up with the initial supply problems, the UN55C7000 still feels like a product released before it was ready.
First, we should specify what exactly we're talking about when we say "3D." The Samsung UN55C7000 and similar models released in 2010 make use of a new technology, different from the old red/blue (or anaglyphic) 3D effect of years ago. And unlike recent theatrical releases, they require a different, much more expensive type of glasses (average price of $130 - $175 per pair). Don't have the glasses? No problem, these TVs can easily switch back to a regular 2D display. This means you can purchase glasses for the whole family over time instead of all at once (or simply choose to skip the whole 3D craze, in which case, you can stop reading the review now). We'll talk more about the actual 3D performance further down the page.
The UN55C7000, along with most of the 2010 Samsungs, are among the most attractive TVs we've seen. Eschewing the aesthetic of "shiny, black rectangle," Samsung is attempting to make the TV a thing of prominence. The base has been redesigned as a 4-legged, polished "metal" stand, like a piece of furniture. The frame of the TV is incredibly thin, so much so that it almost disappears when you look at it from the side. And this isn't even the thinnest TV that Samsung is releasing this year.
If you put the 3D capabilities aside, the Samsung UN55C7000 is still a high-end TV, with all the requisite bells and whistles. It features a 1080p display with edge-lit LED backlighting. There are loads of special processing features, many of which are unnecessary. The UN55C7000 thin frame doesn't allow for an abundance of ports, but all the important connections are present, including four HDMIs, two USBs, and an ethernet port. WiFi access requires the additional purchase of a USB dongle. Samsung's streaming video content selections has expanded rapidly in the last few months, and now includes Netflix, Amazon on Demand, Blockbuster on Demand, YouTube, Pandora, Picasa, Skype, Twitter, and more.
As we stated in the introduction, the Samsung UN55C7000 didn't quite feel ready for release. The 3D glasses were not available for the first two weeks after the TV's release, which simply seems short-sighted. It was within that two week period that most of the reviews (including ours) was written. Secondly, we noticed some issues with firmware failure when we tried the photo playback function. There have already been some firmware upgrades, but it definitely feels like this was rushed out to beat the competitors.
Performance (Read the full lab performance results at Televisioninfo.com)
We'll cover the traditional, 2D testing first. The Samsung UN55C7000 is an excellent performer in all respects. The black levels couldn't quite match a plasma display, but for an LED television, we were pleased. The peak brightness was likewise very good, resulting in a strong contrast ratio. The color performance was equally impressive. We noticed some color banding in the brighter parts of the spectrum, which means that gradual color gradations in things like sky and leaves might have a less than perfect smoothness.
The 3D performance is certainly better than the days of the drive-in, but it fails to match up to the latest theatrical releases. Part of the problem is the frequency of crosstalk, instances in which data intended for one eye bleed over into the other eye, creating ghostly doubles and destroying the 3D effect. (See sample images of crosstalk.)
Samsung includes a feature on its 3D TVs to instantly upconvert 2D to 3D content. The effect, on the whole, is flat and unimpressive. If they want to really sell you on 3D, they should provide you with some coupons for free 3D Blu-ray discs rather than subject you to this half-cocked processing. Native 3D content looks better, but suffers some inevitable problems caused by the glasses. In addition to the crosstalk, the glasses cause an overall drop in brightness, as well as creating a color shift. Because the glasses are designed exclusively for the C7000/C8000/C9000 series, the TV recalibrates for color correction, but there's still a loss of color fidelity.
All in all, 3D HDTV is new and requires more time for perfecting the technology, not to mention the price.
Comparisons (Read more in-depth comparisons at Televisioninfo.com)
To create a framework of comparison, let's briefly run down three similar TVs. First, there's the Panasonic TC-P50VT20, released one day after the Samsung C7000s. As a plasma display, its performance differs in a number of ways. The black level performance was much deeper, but the whites couldn't get nearly as bright. Side-by-side, the contrast with the Samsung UN55C7000 is startling, though both are excellent TVs. In its favor, the Panasonic ships with one pair of 3D glasses. We also found the Panasonic's 3D effect more immersive.
The Sony KDL-46EX700 ($1699) is not a 3D display, though its a strong performer in its own right, and much less expensive. An edge-lit LED, it also offers an outstanding selection of streaming video and music content, as well as having an attractive exterior design. Finally, we picked last year's Panasonic TC-P50G10, another non-3D, plasma display. It's much cheaper than the Samsung UN55C7000, and offers a performance right in line with the newer Panasonic TC-P50VT20. If you feel comfortable skipping out on the first-generation 3D technology, both the Panasonic TC-P50G10 and Sony KDL-46EX700 are worth investigating.
Overall, the Samsung UN55C7000 is a strong performer, but with first-generation products come headaches. The less-than-perfect firmware, lack of bundled 3D glasses, and standard "early adopter price premium" driving up the cost, it's understandable if you're not leaping to make your purchase just yet.
For a more in-depth review, visit the Samsung UN55C7000 Review at our partner TelevisionInfo.com
