Samsung 2014 H5000 and H7000 PDP

[Robert Zohn]

Just received an update from Samsung that their 64" H5000 2014 PDP series will be launching in very limited supply the week of 2/24/14. Just 7 weeks after Samsung's CES announcements the 2014 PDP series shipments will commence and we have a good sized allotment allocated to us.

Just want to share with you one very interesting fact, videophiles asked for the best possible picture quality and further said we don't care much for 3D or Smart streaming features, just give us value and picture quality performance. So here it is launching on sale for $1,399, the 2014 64" H5000 1080p PDP with Samsung's well respected Real Black Pro panel.

Just built this website with more details on this highly anticipated 2014 PDP! Anyone want to jump in and be first?

Enjoy!

-Robert

[tommyboy81]

is the H5000 like the Panasonic ST60 or better that you know of?

[Robert Zohn]

Hi Tommy, I don't know for sure as we have not received our allocation of 64" H5000s. We will have our first one calibrated by one of our Shootout expert calibration/panelists and we'll publish a full evaluation report.

My guess is Samsung's new 2014 H5000 will be very similar to Panasonic's ST60 series. The H5000 series is a designed to be a high volume one size only, 64" price/performance leader. The H5000 series is a no frills high performance PDP, no Smart streaming features or 3D, but you can make any TV a Smart Wi Fi streaming TV by adding Samsung's new $70 BD-H5100 BD player, which has WI Fi built-in and 18 of the most popular apps and Opera TV.

Enjoy!

-Robert

[tommyboy81]

I feel like I'm stuck at a crossroads. lol I got 51in F8500 on my mind but then this pops up. Just don't know if the 64in is too big for my room. lol

[Suntory_Times]

Originally Posted by tommyboy81

I feel like I'm stuck at a crossroads. lol I got 51in F8500 on my mind but then this pops up. Just don't know if the 64in is too big for my room. lol

What is your viewing distance?

[tommyboy81]

Originally Posted by Suntory_Times

What is your viewing distance?

with the 50in I got now. 7ft.

[Robert Zohn]

I like large screens so I may not be the best person to take advice on regarding screen size. But the CE industry recommends between 1.5 to a max of 2x the diagonal measurement of the display for the optimum viewing distance. So a 60" TV is 5' and is best viewed between 7.5' to a max of 10' from the screen.

-Robert

[Suntory_Times]

Originally Posted by tommyboy81

with the 50in I got now. 7ft.

If you are going to remain 7 foot away 64" should be fine (slightly closer then what thx recommends). I would go for the larger tv, I sit around 7 to 8 foot (can't recall the exact distance but it was between the two) from a 65" and it is fantastic. However I only use my tv for watching films and the very occasional game if it is cinematic like the latest Tomb Raider. It will probably seem very large at first, but it will shrink to felling normal in no time. Now if you casually watch a lot of tv, a larger tv may not suit you. So I guess the question is, do you want a cinema like experience in terms of relative screen size? If the answer is yes then the larger is the way to go.

[tommyboy81]

Originally Posted by Suntory_Times

If you are going to remain 7 foot away 64" should be fine (slightly closer then what thx recommends). I would go for the larger tv, I sit around 7 to 8 foot (can't recall the exact distance but it was between the two) from a 65" and it is fantastic. However I only use my tv for watching films and the very occasional game if it is cinematic like the latest Tomb Raider. It will probably see very large at first, but it will shrink to felling normal in no time. Now if you casually watch a lot of tv, a larger tv may not suit you.

I guess the question is, do you want a cinema like experience in terms of relative screen size. If the answer is yes then the larger is the way to go.

8ft is as far as I can go back. Luckily the stand looks like it doesn't extend as long as the tv.

[Robert Zohn]

Originally Posted by Suntory_Times

If you are going to remain 7 foot away 64" should be fine (slightly closer then what thx recommends). I would go for the larger tv, I sit around 7 to 8 foot (can't recall the exact distance but it was between the two) from a 65" and it is fantastic. However I only use my tv for watching films and the very occasional game if it is cinematic like the latest Tomb Raider. It will probably seem very large at first, but it will shrink to felling normal in no time. Now if you casually watch a lot of tv, a larger tv may not suit you. So I guess the question is, do you want a cinema like experience in terms of relative screen size? If the answer is yes then the larger is the way to go.

Good ^^ advice.

-Robert

[Wingman1977]

Hey Robert, is it safe to say that the H7000 will be 3D? Also, I love to town of Scarsdale. It has a very home feeling when I go there for the flat panel shootout. It's very quiet (a huge farcry from the city). If I could, I would move up there in a instant.

[Robert Zohn]

Yes, the H7000 will be 3D and Ultra Smart with a new processor that can split the screen with different content on two, three or four ways.

More pq upgrades are also in store for the H7000 series and sizes, from 51", 60" and 64".

I also love Scarsdale, great community with a friendly and upbeat culture. Looking forward to your participation at our 2014 Flat Panel Shootout evaluation!

-Robert

[Wingman1977]

Originally Posted by Robert Zohn

Yes, the H7000 will be 3D and Ultra Smart with a new processor that can split the screen with different content on two, three or four ways.

More pq upgrades are also in store for the H7000 series and sizes, from 51", 60" and 64".

I also love Scarsdale, great community with a friendly and upbeat culture. Looking forward to your participation at our 2014 Flat Panel Shootout evaluation!

-Robert

Thanks for the reply Robert. Since Panasonic is out of the plasma game, looks like a 51" Samsung H7000 will be my best option (any word on the pricing on the H7000 series). Will Samsung send you a production model H7000, for the shootout (since you have stated that it won't be available until August) or will you push back to shootout until the fall since the competitors have slimmed down a bit? I know you stated that you won't use samples (only actual production models) to compete in the shootout.

[Robert Zohn]

Correct we have a policy that mandates only production TVS that randomly come out of our inventory. I actually go to our warehouse and touch each box as I say eeny-meeney-miney-mo and the TV who has my had touch on "mo" gets into the Shootout.

Not sure what to do this year as LG's OLEDs, Samsung's F7000 and Sony's XBR-65X950B will likely be the last displays launching sometime late summer.

I'd like to have the Shootout mid May, but can't make a final decision at this moment.

-Robert

[dsskid]

Originally Posted by Robert Zohn

Yes, the H7000 will be 3D and Ultra Smart with a new processor that can split the screen with different content on two, three or four ways.

More pq upgrades are also in store for the H7000 series and sizes, from 51", 60" and 64".

I also love Scarsdale, great community with a friendly and upbeat culture. Looking forward to your participation at our 2014 Flat Panel Shootout evaluation!

-Robert

So the H5000 will provide the same panel, filter, and picture quality of the F8500?

Any info on the H7000? The picture will be better than the F8500? Can you give us an idea what the 64" H7000 will go for?

[BaerGriggs]

I'm going to be watching the development of these intently..it will probably be a year or so before I'm ready to buy one but I really think these Samsung plasmas this year will be just incredible.

[dsskid]

If the H5000 is identical picture-wise to the F8500, I'm ready to order now. No need for 3d or smart features. If the H7000 is not too much more with even better picture, I may swing for that instead.

[tommyboy81]

so wait, the H5000 is the bare bones F8500 Samsung was talking about?

[Wingman1977]

Originally Posted by Robert Zohn

Correct we have a policy that mandates only production TVS that randomly come out of our inventory. I actually go to our warehouse and touch each box as I say eeny-meeney-miney-mo and the TV who has my had touch on "mo" gets into the Shootout.

Not sure what to do this year as LG's OLEDs, Samsung's F7000 and Sony's XBR-65X950B will likely be the last displays launching sometime late summer.

I'd like to have the Shootout mid May, but can't make a final decision at this moment.

-Robert

In that case Robert, if I were in your shoes, I would hold off on the shootout until Oct then (even though Scarsdale is beautiful in May). I'm pretty sure everyone will understand because if you hold it May, there wouldn't be many competitors.

[Robert Zohn]

Originally Posted by dsskid

So the H5000 will provide the same panel, filter, and picture quality of the F8500?

Any info on the H7000? The picture will be better than the F8500? Can you give us an idea what the 64" H7000 will go for?

Hi dsskid! Samsung's 2014 H5000 does not have the same panel or processing as the F8500. From what Samsung has shared with me just the Real Black Pro final filter is the same as what was used in the F8500. So the larger pixel structure and internal processing are not the same.

And as you know the H5000 has a plastic bezel, no quad core processor, no 3D and no built-in Wi Fi or any Smart TV features.

Not many folks know this, but the F8500's outer glass panel is bonded to the subtract so no air gap on the F8500. Can't wait to see if they pass that down to the H5000 series.

I expect it to be a price/performance leader. We're likely to receive our first allocation the week of 2/24 and we'll break-in, calibrate and review it by early March. So stand by for all of the details.

-Robert

Originally Posted by Wingman1977

In that case Robert, if I were in your shoes, I would hold off on the shootout until Oct then (even though Scarsdale is beautiful in May). I'm pretty sure everyone will understand because if you hold it May, there wouldn't be many competitors.

I understand and most of me agrees, but I always like being the first to review these great displays and the Shootout is a great way to determine who makes the best display when they are all lined up in a lab environment with the some of the top calibrators, world class special guests and the very talented videophile attendees.

It kills me to think that we may be forced to wait till the last few, but important panels will be available to hold our annual evaluation event.

-Robert