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  • Introduction

  • Tour & Design

  • Blacks & Whites

  • Color Accuracy

  • Motion

  • Viewing Effects

  • Calibration

  • Connectivity

  • Audio & Menus

  • Multimedia & Internet

  • Power Consumption

  • Vs Sony KDL-46EX700

  • Vs Panasonic TC-P42GT25

  • Vs Vizio M470NV

  • Conclusion

  • Series Comparison

  • Introduction
  • Tour & Design
  • Blacks & Whites
  • Color Accuracy
  • Motion
  • Viewing Effects
  • Calibration
  • Connectivity
  • Audio & Menus
  • Multimedia & Internet
  • Power Consumption
  • Vs Sony KDL-46EX700
  • Vs Panasonic TC-P42GT25
  • Vs Vizio M470NV
  • Conclusion
  • Series Comparison

Introduction

Tour & Design

Front


The front of the Samsung UN46C6300 showcases the large screen and attractive, grey-tinged bezel. If you get up close, you can see tiny, horizontal lines that run behind the plastic of the bezel, another eye-catching facet. Along the bottom, there's a series of touch-sensitive areas for controlling volume, channel up/down, etc. Because the bezel is so reflective, this area is a fingerprint magnet.

Back


The back of the TV is unadorned, for the most part. The ports are gathered in an L-shape. Those on the side are easy to access. Those facing down can be quite tricky to use. For information about the ports on the back of the Samsung UN46C6300 see our Connectivity section.

Sides


From this angle, you can see how incredibly thin the TV is. For information about the ports on the sides of the Samsung UN46C6300 see our Connectivity section.

Stand/Mount


The base allows the TV panel to swivel back and forth. We also like the sleek, minimalist look to the base.

Controls


The onboard controls are a series of touch-sensitive areas along the bottom of the bezel on the TV's facade. Using them will result in fingerprints all over the bezel, so you may want to stick with the remote control.

Remote Control


The remote control that ships with the Samsung UN46C6300 is colorful, 45-button affair of average size and shape. We love the backlight feature for operating the remote in a dark room. The d-pad is made of a hard plastic that's not as comfortable as the rest of the rubbery buttons, nor does it allow the backlighting to shine through, but it does the job well enough.  

The remote can be used to operate any other Samsung AV device bearing the "Anynet+" logo, but it's not a programmable, universal remote.

In The Box*(6.5)*


The Samsung UN46C6300 ships with the stand, remote control, batteries, instruction manual and other documentation, some bits of plastic for cable management, and a cleaning cloth for the screen.

Aesthetics*(7.0)*


Samsung makes good looking TVs, there's no doubt about that. It's become a real differentiator for them, and makes a huge difference in how people perceive them compared to Panasonic and Vizio, in particular, both known for their ugly TVs. That doesn't say anything about screen quality, but you'd be fooling yourself if you thought people don't judge a book by its cover.

 

Blacks & Whites

Black Level*(8.23)*


The Samsung UN46C6300 produced a decent black level, measuring 0.09 cd/m2. This was better than the other LED-backlit LCDs, but not as dark as the Panasonic plasma TV. You may want to jump to our calibration page to see exactly how we set up this TV, as black level can be adjusted pretty dramatically. Of course, you never make a gain in one aspect of performance without affecting another. We feel that our calibration settings offer the best overall performance.  (More on how we test Black Level.)

Peak Brightness*(8.79)*


The Samsung UN46C6300 has no problem with screen brightness. At its brightest, we measured 343.27 cd/m2. That's more than bright enough for watching TV in a sunny room. (More on how we test Peak Brightness.)

Contrast*(8.53)*


The Samsung UN46C6300 has a reasonably strong contrast ratio of 3414:1, according to our testing. Of course, this trails far behind the 4,000,000:1 reported by Samsung, but in our books that's pretty good score. It's also much closer to what you'd experience in the real world. (More on how we test Contrast.)

We should point out here that the Samsung UN46C6300 does a very heavy handed job at auto-dimming, which affects contrast. As the screen content changes from darker to brighter scenes, the backlights go up and down, up and down... it's quite annoying and there's no way to disable it. 

Tunnel Contrast*(8.85)*


The Samsung UN46C6300 had some slight troubles maintaining a consistent black level as the amount of black content on the screen increase or decreased. As you can see in the chart below, the line doesn't show a trend, like we might see in plasma TVs. It's just inconsistent. Fortunately, the degree of change is small enough that you probably won't notice. (More on how we test Tunnel Contrast.)

White Falloff*(7.42)*


The Samsung UN46C6300 had no problem maintaining a consistent screen brightness. There was a slight falloff when it became as extreme as 5% white / 95% black, but even then, we don't think you'll see a problem. (More on how we test White Falloff.)

Uniformity*(7.0)*


The Samsung UN46C6300 showed some minor problems with screen uniformity, especially on mostly-black screen. In those circumstances, you could see streaks of light that started at the edge of the screen and moved inwards towards the center. On a mostly-white screen, there was some slight dimming in the corners. (More on how we test Uniformity.)

Greyscale Gamma*(7.28)*


The Samsung UN46C6300's greyscale gamma test results tell us something about how well the TV transitions from black to white. Look at the chart below. The first thing we're looking for is a smooth curve. The curve below is not smooth. The lower-left-portion, representing the shadow details, is crumpled and flat. That indicates that the TV showed some difficulties displaying smooth shadow transitions. The rest of the curve is quite smooth, though. (More on how we test Greyscale Gamma.)

The second thing we're looking at is the slope of the curve. An ideal gamma curve is somewhere between 2.1 and 2.2. The Samsung UN46C6300 has a slope of 2.65, which is steeper than we'd like. As a result, expect that you're going to miss out on some of the finer transitions in the grey scale. 

Color Accuracy

Color Temperature*(3.86)*


The Samsung UN46C6300 showed some clear problems with maintaining a consistent color temperature. As you can see in the chart below, there's a point in the signal range where the color temperature suddenly warms considerably. Then it cools off a little, then it warms again. Because of this, the TV garnered a low score. ( More on how we test Color Temperature.)

RGB Curves*(7.89)*


The Samsung UN46C6300 showed a good performance in our color tests. As you can see, the color curves are fairly smooth. Each of those squiggles in the line is an instance in which you might see instances of color banding, but the squiggles are so small that you probably won't notice a problem. We also liked that the red, green, and blue channels move in near-unison.  (More on how we test RGB Curves.)

The only noticeable problems were a slight lack of detail in shadows, and some "peaking" in the highlights of the blue and red channels, which means it simply can't resolve detail above a certain brightness.

The strips below are digital representations of the color performance of the Samsung UN46C6300 and three similar TVs, along with an ideal response curve. Notice how few TVs deliver the shadow detail that we're really looking for. Sigh. 

 

 

Color Gamut*(5.53)*


The Samsung UN46C6300 did well matching up to the rec. 709 color standard. As you can see in the chart, the green and blue points are nearly perfect. So is the white point (that circle in the middle). The red point is the only one that's off a little. (More on how we test Color Gamut.)

The table below has all the nitty gritty details of the Samsung UN46C6300's performance.

 

Motion

Motion Smoothness*(7.5)*


The Samsung UN46C6300 showed a similar motion performance to what we've seen in most middle and high-end LCD TVs. There's some standard blurring of detail in fast moving objects, but nothing terrible. If you want improve smoothness, specifically, there's a feature called Auto Motion Plus that does just that. We warn you, though, that it creates a very bizarre look. Film looks like cheap video. Beautiful actors become real people! It's shocking and disarming, and difficult to describe if you haven't seen it yourself. We recommend that you disable the feature, but it's there if you want to experiment. Because it's an option, we give this score a few extra points. (More on how we test Motion.)

Motion Artifacting*(6.0)*


The Samsung UN46C6300 has no troubles with motion artifacting beyond the usual. Fine details, like faces in motion, can become a little blocky with compression artifacts. There's minor haloing or color trailing in high contrast areas. Overall, though, we thought it was fine. 

3:2 Pulldown & 24fps*(8.5)*


The Samsung UN46C6300 has no problem displaying native 24fps content, like you might get from a Blu-Ray movie. (More on how we test 3:2 Pulldown and 24fps.)

Resolution Scaling*(9.42)*


The Samsung UN46C6300 has a native 1080p (1920 x 1080) resolution, so any other format needs to be upscaled by the TV's internal processing to fit the screen. Fortunately, the TV's very good at this task. (More on how we test Resolution Scaling.)

480p

The TV did its worst job with 480p content. It lost 2% of the sides and 3% of the top and bottom due to overscan.

720p

The Samsung UN46C6300 showed some minor problems with high contrast, high frequency patterns, which had a tendency to create Moires. 

1080i

The 1080i content looked perfect on the Samsung UN46C6300's screen. 

 

Viewing Effects

 

Formats*(10.0)*


The Samsung UN46C6300 has a native 1080p resolution, but can handle all standard NTSC content types.

 

Viewing Angle*(3.72)*


The Samsung UN46C6300 has a bad viewing angle – there's no kind way to say it. You lose a significant amount of contrast after just 20 degrees from center on either side (41 degrees total). All the TVs we pulled in for comparison, including the Sony and Vizio LCDs, performed better. (More on how we test Viewing Angle.)

Reflectance*(7.0)*


The Samsung UN46C6300 has a strange reflection pattern, in which strong ambient lights are reflected back with five, rainbow-colored versions of the light in a star pattern. You can avoid the problem if you manage to move the light source or the screen. Also, if the light source is not particularly concentrated (i.e., not a bare bulb), you probably won't notice as much. (More on how we test Reflectance.)

Video Processing*(5.0)*


The Samsung UN46C6300 has a number of special processing features that alter the picture performance. Whether or not they improve the picture – that's a different story. 

 

Calibration

Calibration


[

](http://www.displaymate.com/)The Samsung UN46C6300 was calibrated under our standard procedures. We turn off all the special processing features that we're able to turn off. Note that this TV had an aggressive auto-dimming that could not be disabled. 

Video Modes


The Samsung UN46C6300 has several video modes if you're not interested mucking about with all the finer settings. One touch and you're done. 

 

Connectivity

Input Ports*(5.5)*


The ports on the Samsung UN46C6300 ports are arranged in an L-shape on the back of the TV. The TV's frame is incredibly thin, but the designers wanted the cables to come into the TV from the side rather than stick straight out the back. As such, there's a shallow depression into which the cables must fit. It can be a little awkward to artfully manage the cables once everything's plugged in.

 

There's plenty of cables for owners that have newer AV devices, but legacy devices that need composite and component inputs come up a little short. There are also lots multimedia ports that allows you to connect to streaming content, a DLNA home theater network, and USB storage devices and hard drives. See the table below for complete details.

 

Output Ports*(2.0)*


The Samsung UN46C6300 has a digital audio output and an analog audio output, which means you'll be able to use both older and newer sound systems for your home theater. 

Other Connections*(7.0)*


The Samsung UN46C6300 has an ethernet port and is WiFi-ready (requires separately purchased USB dongle) to connect to the internet for streaming content. You can also use this connectivity for a DLNA home theater network. More details on the Multimedia & Internet page. 

Media*(2.0)*


The Samsung UN46C6300 has two USB ports. Both can connect to USB mass storage devices or the optional WiFi dongle. One the USB devices is capable of reading a full-fledged USB hard drive (provided its FAT16, FAT32, or NTFS). 

Placement*(6.5)*


The ports placement makes it easy to access those that face the side, but very difficult to access those that face the bottom. The TV panel can spin on its base, which certainly helps, but it's not perfect.

Audio & Menus

Audio Quality*(6.0)*


The audio quality of the Samsung UN46C6300 is decent, but unremarkable. We noticed no glaring problems, like rumbling or buzzy bass tones. There are plenty of options in the menu to make adjustments, which is certainly a benefit to those not looking to upgrade to a standalone audio system. There's a full 50-channel equalizer, as well as five preset modes, a dialog enhancer, and a surround sound emulator.

Menu Interface*(7.0)*


The menus on Samsung TVs are all similar, and all well executed. The main subsections appears on the left side, in a vertical menu. As you select each one, the items in each menu appear. It's the maximum amount of information presented with the least clutter or wasted space – just like a good menu should be. It's all very clear and simple to navigate with the remote control.

Occasionally, there are some pop-up menus that break the format (like the Picture Options menu, below). Usually, it's still navigable, and you always tap the Return or Exit buttons on the remote if you're lost.

Instruction Manual*(6.75)*


The manual that ships with the Samsung UN46C6300 is comprehensive, covering all the features with a basic explanation, though usually not a thorough one. There's also an online version, which is easier to search by way of keywords. You can find the Samsung UN46C6300's manual online here.

 

Multimedia & Internet

page title="Multimedia & Internet"]

 

Internet Features*(3.0)*


The Samsung UN46C6300 has an ethernet port and optional WiFi (with purchase of a USB dongle). You can use these to connect to a DLNA home theater network. However, the C6300 series does not offer access to Samsung's line-up of internet streaming content features. For that, you'll need to step up to C6500 series or higher, at least in the 2010 models.

 

Photo Playback*(8.0)*


The Samsung UN46C6300 can play back photos that are loaded onto USB mass storage devices, as well as USB hard drives (though only one of the two USB ports can read HDDs). The interface is relatively simple. Once you pop in a device, the TV should recognize it and ask if you want to jump to the media player. Once there, it asks you to choose either movies, music, or photos. Make your selection, and then only files matching that category will appear. You can view photos one at a time, or create a slideshow, including music from files located on the same device.

 

Music & Video Playback*(6.0)*


The music and video playback works just like the photo playback, described above. For a complete list of compatible music and video file formats, read the manual. The Samsung UN46C6300 doesn't support every file, but it's pretty generous.

 

Other Media*(0.0)*


The Samsung UN46C6300 does not play any other type of media. 

Power Consumption

Power Consumption*(9.12)*


The Samsung UN46C6300 does not require a whole lot of power to operate, considering the relative efficiencies of LED backlighting. (More on how we test Power Consumption.)

As you can see in the chart below, the plasma Panasonic is by far the most expensive. The Vizio, another LED-backlit LCD, was unusually power hungry. We're not sure why that is.

Vs Sony KDL-46EX700

Value Comparison Summary


The Sony KDL-46EX700 costs about the same as the Samsung UN46C6300, and offers slightly better performance in almost every one of our tests, as well as the addition of streaming content. When you put it like that, it's kind of a no-brainer. 

Blacks & Whites


The Sony 46EX700 could not get its blacks quite as dark as the Samsung UN46C6300, but the Sony's whites were bright enough that it produced the wider contrast ratio. We'd also like to note that the Samsung performs some aggressive auto-dimming, a feature that cannot be disabled.

Color Accuracy


The Sony clearly had an advantage over the Samsung in color performance, as the Samsung C6300 had a very hard time maintaining a consistent color temperature, which cost it a lot of points. The RGB color curve test was more evenly matched, but the Sony managed smoother color transitions.

Motion


The motion performance was slightly better on the Sony 46EX700, thanks for good processing and some special features that help smooth out the motion.

Viewing Effects


The Samsung UN46C6300 had the worst viewing angle in our comparison pool. 

Connectivity


The Sony 46EX700 has an advantage over the Samsung UN46C6300, in that it offers access to Sony's outstanding collection of streaming content features. The Sony also has an additional component AV input. 

Vs Panasonic TC-P42GT25

Value Comparison Summary


The Panasonic 42-inch GT25 is priced the same as the Samsung UN46C6300, yet it adds 3D display and internet streaming content. Is that a straight up win? Well, the Samsung is certainly a more attractive TV, with a better interface and a much wider contrast ratio. If you have a wide room, the plasma display from the Panasonic is certainly going to offer a wider viewing angle. There's also the simple fact that some people just love plasmas, and some people just don't like them, at least in our experience. 

Blacks & Whites


The Panasonic, as a plasma, naturally produced a deeper black than the LCD TVs. Of course, not every plasma is better than every LCD, but it's typically the case. Of course, the downside is that the whites are usually not very bright, as was definitely the case with the TC-P42GT25. As you can see in the chart below, the contrast ratio was much narrower.

Color Accuracy


The Panasonic is far better at maintaining a consistent color temperature, but the RGB color curves are more closely matched.

Motion


The motion performances of these two TVs are not necessarily similar to each other, because plasmas and LCDs have different aesthetic qualities. However, we found them to be equally good.

Viewing Effects


Plasma TVs are almost always superior in viewing angle, and the Panasonic TC-P42GT25 was far wider than the LCDs in this comparison pool.

Connectivity


The 2010 Panasonic plasmas lack an analog audio output. It also has one fewer HDMI. On the plus side, it has more composite and component AV inputs, an SD/SDHC card slot, and access to Panasonic's selection of streaming content.

 

Other Comparisons


The Panasonic TC-P42GT25 is a very different from the TV than the Samsung C6300 series. It's a 3D TV, first and foremost, which is either something you really care about or you don't. The Panasonic also offers access to internet streaming content. Panasonic doesn't have as wide a selection of streaming content as Sony, but with Netflix, Vudu, Pandora, and a few more games and apps, it's good enough.

 

Vs Vizio M470NV

Value Comparison Summary


The Vizio M470NV has a slightly lower price, and adds access to Vizio's collection of streaming content and internet apps. The TV itself is certainly uglier than the Samsung, with it's fat, shiny bezel and squat base. In terms of screen performance, it failed to deliver on contrast and the color performance was mixed. We liked the viewing angle, but overall, the Samsung feels like a more solid investment.

Blacks & Whites


The Vizio M470NV had a hard time producing a deep black level, at least according to our calibration settings. Nor was the peak brightness all that good, which made for a weak contrast ratio. The Samsung UN46C6300 was far superior.

Color Accuracy


The Vizio was much better at maintaining a consistent color temperature, but the RGB curve performance was more closely matched. The exception was blue channel on the Vizio, which peaked very early.

Motion


The Vizio was very strong in our motion performance tests. It was slightly better than the Samsung UN46C6300. 

Viewing Effects


The Vizio M470NV was quite good at viewing angle for an LCD display. It was certainly far better than Samsung UN46C6300. 

Connectivity


The Vizio M470NV has built-in WiFi, as well as access to Vizio's collection of streaming content and internet apps.

Conclusion

 

Series Comparison

UNxxC6300 Series


The Samsung C63000 series is comprised of four slender and stylish LED-backlit LCD TVs. There's no streaming content connectivity, but they do have an ethernet port and optional WiFi for DLNA home theater networking. For just about the same price, you can step up to the C750 series that includes 3D display. There's also the C6900, which is probably the least expensive series to include Samsung's "apps" and online content.

Meet the tester

David Kender

David Kender

Editor in Chief

@davekender

David Kender oversees content at Reviewed as the Editor in Chief. He served as managing editor and editor in chief of Reviewed's ancestor, CamcorderInfo.com, helping to grow the company from a tiny staff to one of the most influential online review resources. In his time at Reviewed, David has helped to launch over 100 product categories and written too many articles to count.

See all of David Kender's reviews

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