Samsung's cheapest SUHD TV is still too expensive
Samsung's cheapest SUHD TV is still too expensive
2:05

Samsung's cheapest SUHD TV is still too expensive

TVs
[MUSIC] Hi everybody, this is the Samsung UN 65 JS8500. It's a 65-inch 4k LCD tv with a brand new name that Samsung reserves for only its most expensive 2015 sets, SUHD. The S doesn't stand for super or even Samsung, instead it's just to denote a premium product according to Samsung Sort of like it's Galaxy S phones. SU HDTV's use futuristic-sounding nanocrystals to help make color, and are compatible with new fangled HDR, or high dynamic range, content. I was excited to check out how those new extras affected picture quality, but in this case, they didn't seem to make much of a difference. The tv design and features are superb however. It's face is metallic and very slim. And if you're wall mounting, you'll appreciate the fact that it's flat rather than curved like most of Samsung's other expensive tv's. If you're not wall mounting, the slick stand makes the tv seem to hover over the table. Another extra on this set is the One-Connect box which is an external device that you plug all the HDMI units into. In the future Samsung says you can buy new One-Connect box to upgrade features and connectivity. The redesigner mode and smart TV system have their plusses and minuses. The new clicker is even simpler and has fewer buttons, motion control and a nice tiny size. But it can be confusing to move between its two main cursor controls. Smart TV, now powered by Samsung's Tizen operating system, is less overwhelming to use than before. And offers plenty of apps, as well as a decent web browser. On the downside, it also has a prominent add that you can't disable. In terms of picture quality, the TV is very good. But some other less expensive TVs I've tested are better. Samsung's black levels don't get quite as deep despite it's local dimming. And those nanocrystals don't really improve color with today's 4K and HD sources. The early HDR I checked out, from Amazon for example, also suffered from those lighter black levels. Maybe future HDR and wide color gamut sources will take advantage of those SU HD extras, but for now the JS 8500 isn't as superior as the S implies. That's a look at the Samsung JS8500 SUHD LED LCD TV. I'm David Katzmaier for CNET. [MUSIC]

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