"local dimming" - Blu-ray Forum

jamal2 · 12-31-2009, 02:57 AM

I have been doing some research on LED TV's, because I want to purchase one soon.

Is it correct that the current top-of-the-line LCD technology is an LED set with local dimming? I guess what I'm asking is, is that basically the pinnacle of LCD technology right now? If I were to go out with the desire to purchase the best TV available, aside from a Kuro, would I be looking for one of these local dimming sets?

Thanks!

EMAGDNIM · 12-31-2009, 04:42 AM

Yep you'd be looking at a set that has local dimming. The Samsung B8500 and the Sony XBR8 (if you can still find one) are at the top of the list of the best looking LED sets on the market.

Bluubyu · 12-31-2009, 03:50 PM

Or a Samsung LN55A950 if you can find one.

Junior1683 · 01-17-2010, 11:48 PM

lg lh90 has it as well

blu-Is · 01-18-2010, 01:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jamal2

I have been doing some research on LED TV's, because I want to purchase one soon.

Is it correct that the current top-of-the-line LCD technology is an LED set with local dimming? I guess what I'm asking is, is that basically the pinnacle of LCD technology right now? If I were to go out with the desire to purchase the best TV available, aside from a Kuro, would I be looking for one of these local dimming sets?

Thanks!

I for one never drank the Kuro Kool-Aid. I looked at both the Kuro and the XBR8 and purchased the Sony. Haven't regretted a moment. I haven't looked at any new units so I can't speak to the Samsungs or any of the others but there are a lot of new products getting great reviews. Maybe it's time to put the Kuro to rest with all the other quaint technologies of years gone by!

ImaZero13 · 01-18-2010, 01:45 AM

I love my LN46A950!
Here is a link to a place where you can still get the Ln55A950 though.http://www.electrozone.com/product.aspx?pf_id=LN55A950

lojack1976 · 01-18-2010, 02:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blu-Is

I for one never drank the Kuro Kool-Aid. I looked at both the Kuro and the XBR8 and purchased the Sony. Haven't regretted a moment. I haven't looked at any new units so I can't speak to the Samsungs or any of the others but there are a lot of new products getting great reviews. Maybe it's time to put the Kuro to rest with all the other quaint technologies of years gone by!

I looked at both the Kuro and the XBR8 and purchased the Kuro. Haven't regretted a moment. Long live the Kuro!

To the OP...there are some very good choices out there. The Samsung B8500 is the best LED LCD out there and according to highly respected ISF calibrator Chad B. its the 2nd best TV behind the Kuro. He places the LG 55LH90 at number three. He states in his B8500 review that these are reference quality sets.

If money is no option the 55" B8500 is the way to go, but the 55LH90 is extremely close and an excellent choice if you like the idea of saving about $1500 over the B8500 since it is consistently available for around $2400-$2500 shipped. Even Best Buy carries it for this price. I've seen the 55LH90 as low as $2000 at times online.

Memnoch · 01-18-2010, 01:02 PM

Yes, back lit, local dimming, LED LCDs are the top of the line right now. If I had the money and had to buy a TV today, I would get the Samsung UN55B8500 hands down. Aside from the screen size being less than I want, that is the best LCD on the market. But it is almost $4,000 and kind of hard to find (a patent lawsuit against Samsung has stopped production on some of their nicer TVs, including the 8500, so not many have been made). A cheaper alternative is the LG 55LH90. If money is no object, you can always go with an older KURO, like the Pioneer Elite KURO PRO-151FD.

I personally spent a lot of time with the UN55B8000. It is not back lit and doesn't have local dimming, but I really have a hard time justifying another $1,000 or so for the difference between "edge lit" and "back lit". Just not worth the extra money. I've seen the 8000 in action. I know it is a flawless TV. So I am cool with that. Everyone has their own opinion on the matter, so you just have to make up your own mind. Go to a local TV store, put the 8500 and 8000 side by side and watch the opening 10 minutes of The Dark Knight. Take home which ever set you think looks better.

CES just ended and everyone displayed their TVs that are coming out later this year, so make sure you think about that too. If you have to get a TV before April, go with one of the above choices. If you can wait, the new Samsungs (up to 65") will most likely start hitting in April and there is 72" Vizio hitting in Aug (if we are lucky). These new models will also drive down the price of last year's models.

The new Samsungs are bigger than last year's model, so that's nice, but there are no back lit sets in this line. They are all edge lit, just like the 8000, but somehow they also have local dimming. Only people who attended CES know how the picture quality compares, but everything so far has been good. All the people currently complaining about the differences between the back lit 8500 and the edge lit 8000 are going to be scratching their heads over this one. But supposedly the new Samsungs have even better picture quality, but are edge lit with local dimming, not back lit with local dimming like the 8500.

cawgijoe · 01-18-2010, 06:37 PM

How does edge-lit with local dimming even work?

If there are no LED's behind the panel, how are they "locally" dimmed?

Memnoch · 01-19-2010, 01:48 AM

I am sure Samsung will release more details on their TVs in the coming months. But one of the major ways they were able to make all of this year's screens so thin was due to them all being edge lit and having no more back lit sets. So I do look forward to the local dimming clarification.

lojack1976 · 01-19-2010, 03:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cawgijoe

How does edge-lit with local dimming even work?

If there are no LED's behind the panel, how are they "locally" dimmed?

I think they are employing something similar to what Sharp is already doing with the LE700UN sets that they have out right now. They are also edge-lit but have some sort of dimming tech in them and apparently it works extremely well based on the review that Chad B. did.

cawgijoe · 01-19-2010, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lojack1976

I think they are employing something similar to what Sharp is already doing with the LE700UN sets that they have out right now. They are also edge-lit but have some sort of dimming tech in them and apparently it works extremely well based on the review that Chad B. did.

Please post a linc to the Chad B. review. I'm very curious as to the edge-lit, local dimming explanation.

Something doesn't sound right.

lojack1976 · 01-19-2010, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cawgijoe

Please post a linc to the Chad B. review. I'm very curious as to the edge-lit, local dimming explanation.

Something doesn't sound right.

HERE is Chad B.'s review.

12-31-2009, 02:57 AM	#1
jamal2 Banned Member since:Dec 2009 Blu-ray collection:602	"local dimming" I have been doing some research on LED TV's, because I want to purchase one soon. Is it correct that the current top-of-the-line LCD technology is an LED set with local dimming? I guess what I'm asking is, is that basically the pinnacle of LCD technology right now? If I were to go out with the desire to purchase the best TV available, aside from a Kuro, would I be looking for one of these local dimming sets? Thanks!

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12-31-2009, 04:42 AM	#2
EMAGDNIM Expert Member Member since:Dec 2009 Location:Toronto, Canada eh! Home Theater Gallery:26 Blu-ray collection:178	Yep you'd be looking at a set that has local dimming. The Samsung B8500 and the Sony XBR8 (if you can still find one) are at the top of the list of the best looking LED sets on the market.

12-31-2009, 03:50 PM	#3
Bluubyu Active Member Member since:Apr 2008 Location:Scottsdale, Arizona Home Theater Gallery:3 4K collection:7 Blu-ray collection:208	Or a Samsung LN55A950 if you can find one.

01-17-2010, 11:48 PM	#4
Junior1683 Member Member since:Oct 2008 Blu-ray collection:103	lg lh90 has it as well

01-18-2010, 01:45 AM	#6
ImaZero13 Member Member since:Oct 2009 Blu-ray collection:313	I love my LN46A950! Here is a link to a place where you can still get the Ln55A950 though.http://www.electrozone.com/product.aspx?pf_id=LN55A950

01-18-2010, 01:02 PM	#8
Memnoch Expert Member Member since:Jun 2007 Location:Northern VA 4K collection:185 Blu-ray collection:185 Trading Score:1	Yes, back lit, local dimming, LED LCDs are the top of the line right now. If I had the money and had to buy a TV today, I would get the Samsung UN55B8500 hands down. Aside from the screen size being less than I want, that is the best LCD on the market. But it is almost $4,000 and kind of hard to find (a patent lawsuit against Samsung has stopped production on some of their nicer TVs, including the 8500, so not many have been made). A cheaper alternative is the LG 55LH90. If money is no object, you can always go with an older KURO, like the Pioneer Elite KURO PRO-151FD. I personally spent a lot of time with the UN55B8000. It is not back lit and doesn't have local dimming, but I really have a hard time justifying another $1,000 or so for the difference between "edge lit" and "back lit". Just not worth the extra money. I've seen the 8000 in action. I know it is a flawless TV. So I am cool with that. Everyone has their own opinion on the matter, so you just have to make up your own mind. Go to a local TV store, put the 8500 and 8000 side by side and watch the opening 10 minutes of The Dark Knight. Take home which ever set you think looks better. CES just ended and everyone displayed their TVs that are coming out later this year, so make sure you think about that too. If you have to get a TV before April, go with one of the above choices. If you can wait, the new Samsungs (up to 65") will most likely start hitting in April and there is 72" Vizio hitting in Aug (if we are lucky). These new models will also drive down the price of last year's models. The new Samsungs are bigger than last year's model, so that's nice, but there are no back lit sets in this line. They are all edge lit, just like the 8000, but somehow they also have local dimming. Only people who attended CES know how the picture quality compares, but everything so far has been good. All the people currently complaining about the differences between the back lit 8500 and the edge lit 8000 are going to be scratching their heads over this one. But supposedly the new Samsungs have even better picture quality, but are edge lit with local dimming, not back lit with local dimming like the 8500.

01-18-2010, 06:37 PM	#9
cawgijoe Special Member Member since:Feb 2007 Trading Score:1	How does edge-lit with local dimming even work? If there are no LED's behind the panel, how are they "locally" dimmed?

01-19-2010, 01:48 AM	#10
Memnoch Expert Member Member since:Jun 2007 Location:Northern VA 4K collection:185 Blu-ray collection:185 Trading Score:1	I am sure Samsung will release more details on their TVs in the coming months. But one of the major ways they were able to make all of this year's screens so thin was due to them all being edge lit and having no more back lit sets. So I do look forward to the local dimming clarification.

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