Samsung LE40F86BD/ LE52F96BD

Samsung LE52F96BD

Samsung’s exhibition stand covered the largest area among all the HDTV manufacturers I’d visited at IFA Berlin 2007. Strategically positioned near one of the main entrances, it was crawling with dealers, journalists and consumers… like they were holding a trade show of their own. This is probably a testament to the popularity (read: value-for-money) of their products, not to mention their financial clout as the world’s leading consumer electronics company.

Being someone who avidly follows all the advancements in the high-definition television industry, I naturally hustled and bustled my way through the crowd to home in on a pair of LED-powered LCD TVs, the 52″ Samsung LE52F96BD and the 70″ LE70F96BD. Armed with an array of local-dimming LED matrix, the backlight can – theoretically – be shut off totally to produce an absolute black level that’s even lower than the Pioneer Kuros, resulting in an extremely high contrast ratio (Samsung have quoted us a figure of 500,000:1).

Samsung LE70F96BD

While across the pond US consumers have been able to buy and enjoy these LED LCD TVs since 2 weeks ago, here in the UK I probably would still have to wait for a little while longer before getting my hands on a sample to review in the home environment. What I have received though is a Samsung LE40F86BD LCD TV, which is the next step up from the LE40M86BD with 100Hz Motion Plus technology and a higher claimed dynamic contrast ratio:

Samsung LE40F86BDX

Initial tests looked promising: absolute black level on the LE40F86BD indeed measured slightly lower than the 40M86; and it successfully processed 1080p/24 signal from the PS3 without any telecine judder. Now that I’ve finished reporting on what I’d seen at the IFA, I can devote my time to calibrating and testing this television… hopefully the full review will be up over the weekend.

40 comments

  1. Hopefully the new Samsungs can take in 24p AND have native 1080p at the same time. I went to a store to check out the new Panasonic 700 series and the Samsung 46M86BD and they both looked stunning. The Samsung won for me because of 24p and LCD, since I’m a gamer and (also if I haven’t had any problem until today) there’s always this little tought: “Hopefully I don’t get any burn in” in the back of my head…

  2. So how did the Samsung LE52F96BD and the LE70F96BD look? Any initial verdict from seeing them at the show?

  3. man, you are a tease!
    whats your inital impression?

  4. I go to buy 46F86BD, but not yet it has in Portugal: (. Which the price of 46F86BD? somebody knows?

  5. Vincent, when you do your review, could you specifically look for the freeview “judder” that has been such a problem for many M86/7 users on the AV forum. Sometimes it takes an hour or more of watching to manifest itself apparently.

    I’m sorry for this obvious request, I’m sure you would have mentioned this and the other bugs that were in your LE52M87 review.

    Very much looking forward to the review.

  6. hollyjoint, the TV is pretty new and even in the large UK market its only in the last few days been available (and then only small quantities with a few retailers).

  7. Can’t wait to see the review… looking at getting one of these TVs this month and I’m getting like a kid at xmas. =)

  8. Funny – I can view 1080p/24 just fine on my 40M87 set since the 1.90 PS3 udpate. I did not notice any judder either. I tried the info button to check :)

  9. I’ve been hanging out for a HDTV and I cant wait any longer!
    It’s either going to be either a Samsung LE40F86BDX or a Pioneer PDP428XD Kuro.
    I’ve been put off up to now by pixelated and juddery ‘normal tv’ so hopefully these are the 2 TV’s to get it sorted!
    Keep up the good work – cant wait for the conclusion!

  10. I’m really really looking forward to your review. After months and months of putting of buying i’m ready to make make the jump.

    Just hoping for a great review from yourselves!

  11. We’re all looking forward to your review!!! Hopefully it corrects the errors from m86! This is the best site on the HDTV ive ever found!!!

  12. Hi, after a long time of reading reviews and forums, I got to the point to buy my first LCD-tv (Samsung M8). But now when i want to buy it, then the stores that sells these models (with fw 2000 or higher) are waiting for delivery. And now F86 is on its way. I’m really looking forward to your review. Perhaps the F86 is the way to go for me.

  13. Hi

    I can’t wait for the review. I have been keeping an eye on the F86 range for some weeks via the Internet, as I am set the get the 46″ version of the set.

    Would it be possible for you to publish your recommended settings to get the most out of DVD/HD material.

    I used to own an F71 but there are so many new features on these newer Sammies now, that some advice on where to start would be great (and may save hours of constantly tinkering!)
    Cheers.
    Mike.

  14. For now for me Samsung sucks…
    To: Monochronomicon Says:
    “Funny – I can view 1080p/24 just fine on my 40M87 set since the 1.90 PS3 udpate. I did not notice any judder either. I tried the info button to check :)”

    …so what? Is Movie Plus realy works on this set up?
    I don’t think so. From PS3 the comming out signal is in 60HZ(film on Blue-ray) and the Movie Plus works only in 50HZ mode. That’s way Samsung sucks. I believe this problem will be fixed in F86 series.

  15. Hi,

    Here from the netherlands i also can’t wait for you review of the LE40F86BD. i’m also looking for a good Full-HD TV. The M86 is a candidate, but now i’m waiting for the F86. I this point i already like to thank you for your review.
    Compliments.

    William.

  16. to Kts.

    Nope, movie plus does not work – but I turn it off. People reported it was turning itself on, which is true except in just scan. Since the only time this mode is not available is when you watch TV (which I don’t), motion judder is never a problem. It only appears with motion plus. Thus blu-ray via PS3 in 24p is nice and smooth. Now I’m not saying you should buy the TV, but you should see for yourself first before you say it sucks :)
    I bought it and like it, and I share my experience. When I don’t like something I say it.

  17. It will be nice competition between this,toshiba z-series and philips 9732. I think sony x3000/x3500 is not comparable due much higher price.(maybe against f96)

  18. As we’re approaching the end of the weekend, hopefully this review will be posted soon.

    As this is the next model that has been released after the M8 series, which was both loved and hated by the reviewers on this site ;o) I’d like to see a focus on the the remaining unresolved faults on the M8 series the Freeview Stutter / Judder and the SCART interference to ensure they are not present on this model.

    Also confirmation that the EDID includes 1080p24 as an acceptable input.

    Finally, I’d be interested to read about the effect of 100Hz across all inputs such as Gaming, HD, Blu-Ray (heard no good from an owner on Blu-Ray).

    Look forward to the review shortly.

  19. @Raitzi: Reading the AV Science Forums it appears that the F86 and X3000 are surprisingly comparable (There’s a thread there with someone who had both in their house and did a bunch of comparisons between them).

  20. Im hovering over a website that has this TV in stock. Im dieing to see the review. “over the weekend” you said. Arggh the suspense is killing me !! :)

  21. wHERE iS THE TEST FOR LE40F86BD/ LE52F96BD ???

  22. so one question, is there possibility to update the f86-model via usb-link from computer?

  23. Been waiting pretty much all weekend for this review.. come to daddy! :)

  24. Still no sign of that review??? Really looking forward to it…

  25. @ Damdidam

    Seems like this is possible, according to the manual the USB link can be used to update the software.

    The full manual is available to download now from the Samsung website, on the F86 page.

    Cheers
    Morgan

  26. @Movisman:

    True but there’s still some ambiguity as to whether this is the DTV Firmware / Software only or whether it also includes the main Firmware.

    The reason for this is the last sentence of the update instructions,

    “Please check the firmware version after the upgrades are complete.”

    This implies it is the DTV firmware only as you can’t check the main firmware without entering the service menu which Samsung would not want owners to do.

    The main firmware could be being updated “on the fly” though.

    Perhaps a question to be asked during this review?

  27. Sorry its not quite finished yet but a nice taster of whats to come

  28. Ohh you rotten tease. Good reading so far, cant wait for the rest.

  29. any update on when we can expect the review to be done? at least it will mean i stop hitting F5 to check…:)

  30. No idea I just tried what i thought the url might be and Bingo hit one of the right pages..
    But I would not push them though as with all the reviews I have read here they have been very comprehensive and well thought out, So they must take some time to complete.

  31. @KeanosMagicHat

    Ah, I see what you’re saying, seems a bit strange though as there is another section on page 38 about DTV upgrades and how to perform them, so it does seem to imply that this section (page 24) is for the TV firmware? The first bit of wording certainly makes me think that this is the case:

    “Samsung may offer upgrades for TV’s firmware in the
    future. Please contact the Samsung call center to receive
    information about downloading upgrades and using a USB
    drive. Upgrades will be possible by connecting a USB drive to
    the USB port located on located on the side of your TV.”

    I could be wrong though!

    Movisman

  32. thanks for the great review guys. sounds like I’ll be sittin’ tight until next year, when the next generation brings us “movie plus” the really works. but very good to see that samsung fixed the “bugs” from the M86/87 series.

  33. Excellent. Looks just like what I’m looking for as I don’t really care about the motion plus stuff one way or another. Solid 1080p LCD at a reasonable price. Sold.

  34. I personally will not buy any samsung product again, be careful of their warranties, they use refurbished and my experience has not been good, and had one of their customer service managers, be extremely rude to me on the phone, basically called me a liar, definately the worst customer service I have had experienced

  35. lol, I found tthe LE70F96BD on ebuyer for a astonishing amount of money on ebuyer, check it for yourself http://www.ebuyer.com/product/134563

  36. Well my LE40F86BD has a problem, the TV turns itself off at random intervals, any ideas how to fix-I have been suggested to go into the service menu and change the tolerances on the tv so it can deal with a greater range of power fluctuations………havent tried it so far any ideas??????

  37. Mine LE40F86BD has the same problem, going off and on at random intervals.
    It was ok a year and a half. It happens once or twice a day. Any suggestions?

  38. I have the same Problem regarding the Samsung LE40F86BD turning off & back on I contacted the retailer I purchased the TV from fortunately with a 5 year warranty.

    They seem to think it could be something to do with the signal from my SKY HD box, and asked me to unplug both units and remove the SKY viewing card resetting the SKY HD box to see if this resolves the TV problem, I dont think it will but who knows must be worth a try.

    Failing that they will send out an engineer to investigate as this seems to have happened to several other customer that have HDTV’s.

  39. I want to buy the guide stand for the Samsung LE52F96BD. Could you tell me where to buy it please?