Samsung PN51D8000 51" Plasma SmartTV Review

For the past few years we've started asking ourselves "What's important in a TV?" Is it the black levels? How thin it is? Color accuracy? Media streaming? Apps? I mean, what is it that people look for in a new flat panel? And more importantly, what should YOU look for? Well, honestly we can't answer the question. Some want one thing over another, but some people want it all. And I guess that's what Samsung had in mind with its new D8000 Series plasma TVs. It really does seem to have it all.

The TV is first and foremost, a plasma - so it's got excellent black levels. But Samsung also figured out a way to make it incredibly thin. The TV is 1-1/2" at its thickest point, but most of the TV is right around 1". For a plasma this is incredibly impressive - it's kinda like a supermodel. We had first seen this TV at the 2011 CEDIA Expo in Indianapolis, but getting our hands on it, it's a real work of art. The outer bezel is glass, with an inner black brushed aluminum frame. It's a great look made even more impressive with the touch-capacitance controls located on the lower left of the glass frame.

But I think it's the inside that makes the D8000 series plasmas so impressive. And there are two aspects to this: first is the picture quality, which is - for lack of a better term - flawless. The blacks are, well... black. Whether the TV is on or off, the black levels seem to be about the same. Colors are vibrant and the image is crisp with lots of detail. We were also impressed with the level to which you can calibrate this TV. All color controls are available that we could ever dream for, including custom white balance, color space and RGB controls.

The second thing that's impressive about the Samsung D8000 is, as you might imagine, the SmartHub. We've talked about the SmartHub in other videos, but it bears repeating that this is Samsung's way of pulling together all aspects of its streaming media partners, apps and network features - all into one easily-accessible screen. You've got Netflix, Hulu Plus, VUDU, YouTube... the usual suspects, plus dozens of game, lifestyle, educational and other apps. You can also stream videos, photos and music from your DLNA-enabled computers. It's even got built-in WiFi, so you don't need to physically connect it to your network. If you're looking for a one-stop shop for everything media - this is it.

Now, this is also a 3D television, and the way Samsung does this is actually pretty forward-thinking. Instead of just the usual IR, or infrared syncing of the glasses to the TV, they use Bluetooth technology. The D8000 doesn't typically come with 3D glasses, but you can get them for just $30, or opt for a rechargeable pair for $80. We picked up one of each. Both pairs correctly dialed in the 3D image without any annoying dropouts or glitches. Battery life is around 70 hours and Samsung even has a free "Explore 3D" channel that gives you access to dozens of free 3D documentaries and other films. Just make sure you have a fast wired Internet connection, cause it's a bandwidth hog. The D800 also has real-time 2D-to-3D upconversion for 2D movies and shows. It's actually pretty impressive, though it's not something we recommend using on a regular basis.

Now this TV isn't without its glitches. We attempted to log into Facebook and apparently entered a wrong password. The system kicked us completely out and back to the SmartHub rather than giving us another try. Turns out it really wanted us to register under Account Settings in the Smart Hub. Bottom line is that this TV has a certain "PC" aspect to it, with the apps and web-enabled content. The result it that you are susceptible to the occasional crash which will dump you back to the SmartHub. Each app also has its own way of working and accepting input. Some, like Netflix and YouTube for example, won't let you use Samsung's QWERTY remote to enter text when searching. You use to use the on-screen hunt & peck keyboard. Others, like Facebook, won't let you use the SmartHub button in-app - so you'll have to back out of it using the 'Return' button on the remote. Because there isn't a single set of rules that all developers have to follow, this is the inevitable result when piling all these apps under an umbrella like SmartHub. At least until somebody steps up and creates a more unified platform.

So is this TV for you? Well, it's actually one of the best TVs we've ever reviewed in terms of picture quality. It's also reasonably priced and we've seen it online for less than $1500. With a ton of network features, 3D, infinite calibration options - this is the perfect TV for those who want it all. You should audition it if you get a chance, we doubt you'll disagree.

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Unless otherwise indicated, this is a preview article for the featured product. A formal review may or may not follow in the future.