Hi-end TV watching at its finest

I have always placed emphasis on high-quality TV sets with best picture. After my old TV the way went earthly everything some time ago and therefore decency buying a new one, two nearly the same price models came after extensive research in professional journals and Internet, various dealer visits and "sample look" ultimately in the immediate buying decision: the Panasonic Plasma TX-P55VT30 and the here-reviewed Edge LED Samsung UE55D8090. For this series devices (Panasonic ... VT30er series and Samsung ... 8000 series, all screen sizes) is mE to the current best consumer TV's in the German market. The decision for the Samsung was ultimately because it is in my opinion the better "all-rounder" and I liked his style better.

Caveat:
The review refers to the model UE55D8090YSXZG in (current) software version 1013 for the German market. The otherwise identical, technically identical (and usually priced lower offered) EU model UE55D8000 has definitely not on the HbbTV feature and do not have the 2-year manufacturer's warranty! Whether more functional limitations / product variations exist, I do not know.
To improve comparability, my "general conditions": the installation site in (with side light bright but completely darkened) living room, room size about 25 square meters, wall mounted, tilted / centered on seat, about 3,10m seat pitch. When TV signal are for technical reasons only DVB-C (= digital SD cable TV without HD channels or pay TV) and DVB-T (high no alternative ...) available.

Transport, installation, initial installation:
The packaging is very large, approximately L150 x H85 x B20 cm. In a normal car a standing transport is virtually impossible. Although the weight of about 25kg "portable" would, the cardboard can hardly move due to its dimensions of a person. Even getting out of approximately 17kg (without stand) relatively light, but huge device out of the box as well as a possible installation on the stand or alternatively the wall mounting are standing, or alone did not create.
In a wall mounting Wiring of the unit should be done before the hanging in the wall bracket, otherwise some bushes not, others only extremely difficult reachable. The ports themselves have to side, are varied and precise fit, and marked clearly and mixed up.
After the first time you turn a Erstinstallationsprogramm expires. This works very simply, quickly and largely automatically. There are only a few queries by country, language, signal source etc. to answer. After the device is ready for operation.
Apart from the fact that a second person is required for safe transportation and construction, the initial installation designed quickly, simple and unproblematic.

Product and processing quality:
Design is a matter of taste. The ultra-slim, narrow with only 1cm, comprising the entire front aluminum bar is in my opinion pure and noble designed Samsung not only a TV, but a "jewel". Small drawback: the jet-black, anti-reflective glossy panel reflected in extraneous light but relatively strong. The body is made of black plastic, the heavy foot in chromed metal. Everything is processed and an exact fit without joints.
In purely visual inspection without measuring equipment I consider subjectively the illumination of the panel for very uniform. No "leaking" in the corners or on the edges. Unlike some previous speakers my device shows no "banding", vertically or horizontally. Also, no discoloration "or" stitches ". Edge type of construction occurs (only when completely dark screen) slight clouding on that is not visible during normal operation.
I consider myself quite a well-informed and "critical" customers and know which details should I look to assess Quality. Maybe I've caught a "good" device at the upper end of the series dispersion. Since I do not have measuring equipment available, I can only describe my subjective quality impression: except in more expensive devices with other material insert (Loewe, Bang & Olufsen) I have "technical" seen no better product quality and basic image quality. In direct comparison to the approximately same price, also known beautifully finished Panasonic devices of Samsung can keep forever. They are at best difficult, but not really better ...

Connections, functions:
The huge range of functions can be described here in detail hardly. I therefore refer to the Samsung website. Connectors are plentiful, such as 4x HDMI-in, 2x Scart-in (via adapter) and a CI + slot for Smart Card (with adapter), which the direct reception of cable TV, HD + (via satellite) or PayTV without external Receiver allows.
In addition to pure TV mode the connection of various signal sources such as BluRay / DVD player, receiver or external storage devices such as recorders, external hard drive, USB flash drive is of course possible. Also the connection of a sound bar or a surround system is possible. If the external devices can be connected via HDMI and also have the corresponding function (ie with Samsung Anynet +), done all mutually necessary settings and adjustments automatically by "handshake".
This also applies to the 3D mode, which works perfectly, however, and brings very good pictures. No ghosting, no artifacts or aberrations.
Unfortunately, only a settled (via Bluetooth very stable tailed) shutter glasses, goggles additional cost depending on the model between 50 and 120 Euro per piece.
In addition, the Samsung has in connection to the Internet (via LAN cable or wireless) with the so-called. "SmartHub" through an Internet access to selected services and App's, including fully functional Web browser. This works for simple installation properly and quickly, can, however, about the "normal" remote control is very difficult to use (required text entries are lengthy and difficult).
With the "AllShare" feature available on PC, external data storage devices or the network photos, videos and music can be streamed and played back on the TV. With a suitable app enables Samsung even alternatively use also means Samsung mobile phone or tablet as a remote control.
Overall, therefore, all the necessary connections are available in sufficient numbers. The functional scope is huge and meets all conceivable requirements.

Settings and ease of use:
For ease of use is one of a good remote control for me. Now meet the all the features one might expect from it, properly and comfortably. It lies well in the hand, can be after a short use intuitively, has nice big, meaningful grouped and well labeled keys which can be illuminated. In Internet mode is useful even as a "touchpad" replacement. And operated by "Anynet +" and many other Samsung devices. Quite stable it seems. Everything could be fine just: Unfortunately, the part is plug ugly ... and fits not that the noble design of the TV's.
Practically can to this equipment set everything on the circumstances or the personal taste. And as long as you have this done something wrong, easily again reset to default values. The screen menus are sorted clearly and well. Too many menu items onscreen declaration is equal to a (not always helpful though) included. The operation is basically simple and intuitive. The handle for the manual is therefore usually not necessary. These can be found as "eManual" integrated into the software. Many settings can be started immediately, tested and possibly retained or discarded out of it. Permanent zap between manual and menu is not therefore necessary. Good solution! Sorry, no printed manual is available, only a Quick Start Guide. On the Samsung website to find an alternative a manual as .pdf.
The Tuning automatically produced by the system at first installation is unfortunately very poorly sorted. (Rearrange channels, lock, delete, sort them into favorites lists) Manual intervention is possible, but very cumbersome, unnecessarily complicated and lengthy. After all, can the laboriously produced, adapted Tuning external store and recall them. The example may be helpful for a software update, because the TV while possibly is reset to zero.
Each source can be controlled / adjusted separately. This is basically fine. It would be helpful, however, a "copy function", because, unfortunately, one begins for each connection / each source again from scratch with the settings.

Image Quality:
The factory settings for the image are not particularly sparkling in almost all presets. Far too bright and colorful and over-sharpened. In addition, they are locked in large part to changes. Remedied by the preset "Film". This is basically quite succeeded in bringing a fairly natural image on the screen and can be a complete overhaul. I'd even appreciate, with this preset without any changes you have already reached 75-80% of the technically possible image quality.
Further 15-20% can be achieved little "tweaking" of the countless configuration options with a. To tease out even the last 5-10% image quality, a professional (and expensive) calibration with measuring equipment by an experienced professional would be required.
After searching the Internet, in relevant forums and journals as well as some self-tests I trust myself again and give my settings out. Of course due to the series dispersion and different installation conditions without guarantee and without any liability! Whoever rumbastelt on his TV without knowing what he is doing, is also responsible if it goes wrong!
Set with high-quality image signal in high resolution (BluRay 1080p) via HDMI, in a darkened room with natural low-light, at about 3m pitch.
To my mind after setting these values, the image quality in both 2D and 3D operation is beyond reproach. So I got an almost perfect picture (even with mediocre signal sources) never seen before! Desirable side effect: the anyway low power consumption is reduced to a minimum ...

Mode (preset): movie
Backlight: 10 (for bright rooms and 12-15)
Contrast: 95
Brightness: 45-55 (depending on the ambient brightness)
Sharpness: 0 (with mediocre signal such as DVB-C about +10, with inferior signal such as DVB-T still higher, but image is then "grieselig")
Color: 40-50 (depending on taste)
Tint: G50 / R50 (beam center)
Submenue screen adaptation:
Image Size: automatic width
Positions:
4: 3 Display: 4: 3
Submenue advanced settings:
Black Tone: Off
Dynamic Contrast: Off
Shadow detail: +1 to +2
Gamma: -1 to +1 (depending on ambient brightness)
Expert Mode: Off
Only RGB mode: Off
Color Space: Custom
Color Space Submenue:
Red: R 60, G 0, B 0
Green: R 10, G 50, B 10
Blue: R 0, G 5, B 60
Yellow: R 50, G 50, B 0
Cyan: R 5, G 50, B 50
Magenta: R 40, G 5, B 40
White Balance Submenue:
R-Offset: 20
G-Offset: 20
B-Offset: 20
R-Gain: 30
G-Gain: 30
B-Gain: 25
10p White Balance: A
10p White Balance Submenue:
Interval 1: R 2, G 2, B 2
Interval 2: R 0, G 0, B 0
Interval 3: R 1, G 1, B 1
Interval 4: R 3, G 3, B 3
Interval 5: R 5, G 4, B 3
Interval 6: R 7, G 5, B 5
Interval 7: R 5, G 5, B 5
Interval 8: R 3, G 3, B 3
Interval 9: R 1, G 1, B 1
Intervall10: R 0, G 0, B 0
Skin Tone: 0
Antialiasing: Off
Motion Lighting: Off
xvYCC: Off
LED Motion Plus: A
Submenue image options:
Color: Warm2
Digital Noise Filter: Off (at low quality signal such as DVB-T: a)
MPEG Noise Filter: Off (at low quality signal such as DVB-T: a)
HDMI Black Level .:
Movie Mode: Auto2 (in TV mode: off)
Motion Plus: Custom
Blur Reduction: 10
Judderminderung: 0 to 2

Sound Quality:
For such a slim case of Samsung already brings a surprisingly good sound quality. Bass can not be expected, of course. Here are several presets for different application situations for selection, which can be further customized. My personal Faavorit is the setting "Movie" with virtual 3D surround sound. But that's besides the conditions of the installation site a matter of taste.
At such a TV set almost inevitably heard at least one soundbar, better a surround system. The technical connection of such devices is abundant thanks to suitable connections including an HDMI socket with Audio Return Channel and the adjustability of all necessary parameters under all conceivable constellations possible (but a science in itself).

Conclusion:
An absolute HiEnd-TV in an elegant design for a proud (but in any case justified) with a price (after some refinements) displayed extraordinary image quality, decent sound quality, very good workmanship and enormous range of functions, which leaves no wish unfulfilled. Simple, logical and intuitive operation with easy "quirks" at the station sorting. The only real drawback: technically good, but ugly, the TV remote control is not appropriate. Crystal clear buy recommendation for this state-of-the-art cars with blazing six out of five stars ....

Final tip:
- To go Christmas shopping, as from October, fall regularly prices for consumer electronics. And then again to the "changing of the guard" in the spring, when the next generation waiting in the wings is ...