Design and Features
Although the 8000 series boasts Samsung's Touch of Color design, it is a much different implementation than that of the Samsung LN55C650 ($2,099.99,
). Instead of the familiar red-accented finish, the 8000's plastic bezels are done up in a cool metallic-looking brushed titanium and are framed by a strip of clear trim. With its 1.4-inch deep cabinet, the 8000 is the thinnest plasma set we've seen and is nearly as slim as the ultra-thin LG Infinia 47LX9500 ($4,299, 
), an LED-backlit model. The sturdy rectangular base sports the same finish and complements the cabinet well, plus it has a nice stiff swivel mechanism that keeps the 73-pound panel firmly in place. The remote control sensor and 3D transmitters are embedded in the lower bezel, as are five touch-sensitive controls: Power, Channel, Volume, Input Select, and Menu.The two down-firing, 10-watt speakers positioned under the bottom bezel are loud and provide good mid- and high-range output, but could use a bit more bass response. Setting the SRS TruSurround feature to Standard and boosting the lower frequencies via the equalizer helps add a bit more low-end and provides a reasonably well-balanced audio experience.
As with the Sharp Aquos LC-52LE820UN ($2,999.99,
), the PN58C8000's most frequently used connections are located on the left side of the cabinet where they are easy to get at once the set has been mounted on a wall. Here you'll find four HDMI ports, two USB ports, two audio outputs, and a PC audio input. At the rear of the cabinet are component and composite A/V ports, a coaxial TV cable/antenna jack, a wired network port, and a PC (VGA) port. These rear ports are positioned in a recessed area that allows you to get the TV as close to the wall as possible without being limited by cable connectors. The sleek 8.25-inch remote sports a brushed metal face with chrome trim, and is better looking than your typical bundled HDTV remote. It's 47 touch-sensitive keys are flush with the remote's face adding to its attractiveness. The keys are responsive and well-marked, and they're illuminated so you can identify them in the dark. In addition to dedicated Web App and BD Live keys, there's a key for toggling between 2D and 3D viewing modes along with a backlight button to light up the keys.
The Samsung Apps suite is one of the more extensive catalogs of TV Internet applications out there. Its streaming video lineup includes Netflix, Vudu, You Tube, Hulu Plus, CinemaNow, Explore 3D, and DailyMotion. You also get several lifestyle apps such as Twitter, Facebook, Picasa Web Albums, Napster, and Pandora Radio, as well as a slew of GalleryonTV art channels. Information channels include an AP news ticker, Accuweather, Google Maps, and USA Today, and for the kids there are several installments of Dibo's Storybook, Word Magic, and Math Magic.
As with all Samsung TVs, the user interface is designed with ease of use in mind. The Picture menu offers six viewing modes, including Dynamic (bright room), Standard, Relax (reduced eye strain), Movie (dark room), Cal-Night (calibrated for dark room), and Cal-Day (calibrated for daytime). The latter two settings are where you can save your own custom picture settings. As is usually the case, I thought the Movie setting delivered the best all-around picture with very good shadow detail, regardless of the lighting environment. Basic picture settings include Cell Light, Contrast, Brightness, Sharpness, Color, and Tint, while advanced settings allow you to fine tune white balance, RGB saturation, gamma levels, and color and black tones.
Performance
The 8000 series uses Samsung's proprietary Real Black Filter technology, an advanced anti-glare feature that, according to Samsung, helps deliver very deep blacks and enhanced shadow detail by filtering out ambient light. In my testing, Real Black delivered the goods. After performing a basic calibration using DisplayMate's HDTV setup tool, the PN58C8000 produced an incredibly dark black level of 0.01 cd/m2, joining the discontinued Pioneer KURO PDP-5020FD as deliverer of the darkest blacks in any plasma set we've seen.
Shadow detail in my 2012 Blu-ray test disc was excellent, as was the overall HD-detail quality. Colors had pop and were very accurate, and the backlighting was uniform across the entire screen. Results from the HD HQV video benchmark were also very good; the set passed all the tests without issue. Standard-definition quality was equally good; noise-free and sharp. Plasma panels are known for their excellent viewing angles, and this set is no exception; colors remained vibrant and the picture did not darken at all, even when viewed from the most extreme side angle.
The PN58C8000 does a very good job of displaying 3D content. While it does produce a degree of crosstalk (a double-image effect) it was not as pronounced as what I observed with the Sony Bravia KDL-55HX800 ($3,399,
) and LG 47LX9500 models, both of which are LED-backlit models (it's likely that LED blooming issues may be the culprit here). The 3D effects in Monsters vs. Aliens 3D on Blu-ray produced the desired "look out" reaction that should come with 3D, especially during a paddle-ball scene in the beginning of the movie. On my golf and soccer clips the 3D action was certainly more realistic than the animated content, and makes you feel as if you're part of the crowd, but as with the Sony and LG sets, I found it difficult to concentrate on the action while watching in 3D mode. If you simply can't wait for your favorite movies to be converted to 3D, the PN58C8000 features processing technology that converts 2D content to 3D, but the effect is watered down and not as realistic as you'll get with real 3D content. For example, I noticed considerably more crosstalk in the simulated 3D mode, and background images appeared soft and out of focus. In my opinion, you're better off waiting for real 3D rather than settling for a subpar 3D experience.
Samsung's SSG-2100AB 3D glasses (149.99 list, per pair) that work with the PN58C8000 are both unattractive and uncomfortable, and they're not included in the price of the TV. However, the lenses are fairly light and don't darken the image like Sony's 3D glasses do. Samsung does offer a more stylish set of specs for $199.99 as well as glasses designed for kids for $179.99, but it remains to be seen if they are more comfortable than the $150 pair.
As with most plasma HDTVs, the PN58C8000 consumes a good deal of energy. It averaged around 289 watts while displaying Blu-ray content in Movie mode, which comes out to about $5.10 per month based on 5 hours of daily usage at the national average of 11.55 cents per kWh. That's a high number when compared with the latest LCD models like the Vizio XVT553SV ($2,199,
), which averaged 127 watts. Still, that's right in line with the LG 60PK750 ($2,099, ), a 60-inch plasma set that draws 290 watts. At $3,000, the Samsung PN58C8000 may cost more than other like-sized plasma HDTVs such as the $2,100 60-inch LG 60PK750, but you do get 3D support, which at this point, you'll still pay a premium for. And compared with other 3D sets such as the $4,300 47-inch LG 47LX9500 and Sony's Bravia $3,400 55-inch KDL-55HX800, it's a relative bargain. With its sleek, well-designed cabinet, rich feature set, and outstanding performance including incredibly dark blacks, the PN58C8000 sets the bar for all other plasma TVs, which makes it a shoo-in for our Editors' Choice award.
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Samsung PN58C8000 from amazon.com
