2D Calibration
Note: Our Samsung PS51E8000 review sample was calibrated using Calman Professional, the industry-leading video calibration software.
Greyscale
The “Movie” mode is the most accurate preset mode on the E8000, so we selected this. We did have to reduce Sharpness from the default “20” to “0” for HD content (to avoid ringing artefacts), and enter the [Screen Adjustment] menu to select “Screen Fit” when we had a 1080-line signal input (to get the best quality image without cropped edges). To our eyes, picture quality was good with these basic corrections made, but compared to a calibrated HDTV, the perceived depth of the image suffered due to a red tint.
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Pre-calibration RGB tracking and delta errors (dEs) |
Measuring grey test patterns revealed that our “red tint” observation had a bearing in scientific reality, and also told us that brighter shades were taking on a blueish tint (which is harder for the eye to spot). What’s more, dark areas were also tinged blue. This isn’t terrible by any means, but it’s a little bit messy, and isn’t as good as the out-of-the-box quality on Panasonic’s THX-certified GT50 and VT50 series.
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Post-calibration RGB tracking and dEs in [Movie] mode |
Since this is Samsung’s most expensive range of plasma TVs, we hope that E8000s will make their way into home cinema environments where they’re more likely to receive the full calibration treatment. It’s definitely worth doing so: after a few hours of adjustments, we had greyscale measuring perfectly. We made a huge improvement to the overall picture neutrality by using the standard 2-point [White Balance] screen to offset errors we measured with the Klein K-10 meter, and then used the 10-point white balance screen to make more localised corrections. As with Panasonic’s plasmas, some small deviations from perfectly neutral grey still appeared in practice, but we don’t imagine this will have too much of a negative effect on content.
On the American equivalent model, the PN51E8000, it’s possible for calibrators to unlock two extra picture modes in the TV’s menu: CAL-DAY and CAL-NIGHT, which can be used for storing day and night settings. On the US model, this is accomplished by entering the service menu and entering the “Expert” submenu. Although “Expert” is visible in the service menu on our European review unit, nothing would allow us to actually access the option (it was greyed out). Hopefully Samsung can unlock this feature in the next firmware revision.
Gamma
We also achieved flat 2.4 gamma tracking by a) calibrating greyscale (above), b) shifting [Gamma] to “-1”, and c) flattening out the remaining peaks and dips using the 10-point greyscale control. The result is very natural images that don’t have clipped, nor excessively visible/boosted shadow details.
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Pre-calibration gamma tracking (2.2) |
Post-calibration gamma tracking (2.4) |
Pre-calibrated gamma came in at a reasonably flat 2.2, which is the recommended gamma setting for use in everyday environments with a bit of ambient light present. The slight depression downwards on the right side of the chart is caused by the slightly aggressive plasma ABL (automatic brightness limiting).
Colour
Pre-calibrated colours were actually a little UNDER-saturated, which is rare for an out-of-the-box preset. In other words, the greens were a little too yellowish, and the reds were a little too orangey. Strangely, the luminance level of red was much too high in the out-of-the-box mode, causing this colour to appear lacking in depth and punch:
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Pre-calibration CIE chart with reference to HD Rec.709 |
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Pre-calibration colour luminance (coloured bars = targets; black bars = measured values) |
All of these problems were correctable with Samsung’s colour management menu:
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Post-calibration CIE chart with reference to HD Rec.709 |
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Post-calibration colour luminance (coloured bars = targets; black bars = measured values) |
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Post-calibration colour saturation tracking |
No manufacturer has (yet?) added multi-point colour adjustments (although we expect that feature to appear on off-board external video processors sooner rather than later). Fortunately, few flat-screen displays feature grave inaccuracies here, and the Samsung PS51E8000 is no exception. On the HDTVs we’ve measured so far, Panasonic has been taking the crown in this department, but we ran one of their plasmas beside the PS51E8000 and saw nearly no differences in colour reproduction the whole time. Although some colours saturate a little too slowly, they are always on hue.
3D Calibration
We enabled the tri-dimensional mode, and first did basic setup. For some reason, the Samsung E8000 ships with the [Black Tone] feature on “Dark” in the 3D Movie mode, which has the same effect as setting the [Brightness] control too low (it tosses away shadow details). Given that shadow details are hard enough to see through the darkness of the glasses, we’re not sure why Samsung would set the 3DTV up to throw away even more, but it’s easily correctable. Contrast is also set too high (at the maximum setting), which doesn’t crush out white details, but does tint them red.
3D Mode Greyscale
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3D Pre-calibration RGB tracking and delta errors (dEs) |
Through one of the sets of supplied glasses, it was actually the “Warm1” preset which gave the best quality. Although too red tinted, “Warm2” was even more so.
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3D Post-calibration RGB tracking and dEs in [Movie] mode |
Attempting to calibrate Samsung 3D plasmas only tends to bring average improvements, so we don’t recommend anyone goes out of their way to do it. Yes, it improved the image quality, but the standard is still far behind the rich 2D images.
3D Mode Colour
The PS51E8000 features a separate colour management memory for the extra-dimensional display mode, meaning that full adjustments can be made to this aspect of performance:
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3D Post-calibration CIE chart with reference to HD Rec.709 |
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3D Post-calibration colour luminance (coloured bars = targets; black bars = measured values) |
Benchmark Test Results
Dead pixels |
None |
Screen uniformity |
Excellent |
Calibrated black level (black screen) |
N/A, screen shuts off |
Calibrated black level (ANSI checkerboard) |
0.055 cd/m2 (24p and 50hz content), 0.05 cd/m2 (60hz content) |
Black level retention |
Subtle “floating blacks” |
Primary chromaticity |
Excellent |
Scaling |
Excellent |
Video mode deinterlacing |
Very effective jaggies reduction |
Film mode deinterlacing |
Failed 2-2 PAL film mode test, passed all NTSC |
Viewing angle |
Excellent, but screen filter lessens vertical viewing angle |
Motion resolution |
900 |
Digital noise reduction |
Undefeatable noise reduction blurs fine motion details |
Sharpness |
Defeatable edge enhancement |
Luma/Chroma bandwidth (2D Blu-ray) |
Full Luma, chroma horizontally blurred |
Image retention |
Very little, clears quickly |
Posterization |
Mild, more visible with non-60hz output modes |
Phosphor trails |
Very mild |
1080p/24 capability |
No judder |
Input lag |
31ms compared to lag-free CRT |
Full 4:4:4 reproduction (PC) |
Yes, with “PC” input label and 60hz input |
Power Consumption
Default [Standard] mode (2D) |
276 watts |
Default [Standard] mode (3D) |
313 watts |
Calibrated [Movie] mode (2D) |
291 watts |
Calibrated [Movie] mode (3D) |
264 watts |
Standby |
1 watt |
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