The Samsung UE65HU8500 looks cool, and the image quality is excellent. Native 4K content in particular is a real feast with this television. Here's our Samsung UE65HU8500 review.
Samsung UE65HU8500
Price: € 4.999,-
Image diagonal: 65 inch
Resolution: 3840x2160
3D support: Yes
Speakers: 20W
Connections: 4 x HDMI, CI slot, 1 x component, 1 x composite, ethernet, optical digital out, scart, 3 x usb
Dimensions: 145.07 x 84.82 x 11.5 cm
8 Score 80- Pros
- design
- 4K is awesome
- software
- Negatives
- Impact curved screen
Samsung calls the launch of its 65-inch curved flagship 4K TV as nothing short of the dawn of a new era of TV. The Samsung UE65HU8500 is certainly notable, and not just for its unconventional Pringle-shaped panel. The set also has an integrated HEVC decoder, making it the first 4K screen to support Netflix Ultra HD. We are extremely excited.
Ultra HD television
If this particular second-generation Ultra HD set isn't quite right for you, it's also available as the 55-inch UE55HU8500 and the 78-inch UE78HU8500. All three are packed with functionality, including the latest iterations of the brand's gesture and speech technology.
Interestingly, the HU8500 has a modular design. Since 4K standards have not yet been established, Samsung has linked the screen to an external Smart Evolution One Connect tuner box. This is where all sources are connected, including antenna and dual satellite feeds.
Input options include four HDMI ports (with 2.0 support for high frame rate 4K and MHL 3.0 for mobile devices), three USB (one up-to-date as USB 3.0), Ethernet, component video via adapter, optical digital audio output and CI -slot.
The device also has super-fast 802.11ac Wi-Fi. The Smart Evolution box is connected to the panel via a single thick cable. No separate power supply is required.
A pebble-shaped Bluetooth cursor remote control is included in addition to the standard IR remote control. It's very similar to LG's Magic Remote, and is intended to make browsing easier, although it's a hassle that you have to bring up a virtual keyboard on the screen to look at the general menu. Using it is not easy.
Samsung Smart TV
Samsung has made some minor changes to its Smart portal for 2014. A games panel and split screen Multi-View feature have been added. You can also do more with the dual tuners this year, including watching non-tuner content (streaming media, Blu-ray, etc.) while recording two channels.
In view of the World Cup, the brand has also updated its Football preset, which now automatically records match highlights to an external USB HDD, triggered by crowd cheers.
Beautiful display
The image quality, both with full-HD and 4K content, is beautiful. The HU8500 offers dynamic, punchy contrast and vibrant colors. The upscaling may be a little less refined and convincing than that on the Sony 4K screens, but all 1080p content clearly benefits from the lack of visible pixel structure on the screen. The image is sharp and photographic.
The HU8500 really comes into its own with 4K content. Netflix is currently streaming House Of Cards Season 2 in Ultra HD (not yet in the Netherlands by the way), along with a selection of travel stories. However, you will need a fast fiber broadband connection to view them as they run through 15.6Mb/s.
After watching Kevin Spacey walking around Capitol Hill in 2160p, regular high definition looks a bit blurry. The screen can also play 4K YouTube content, but here you have to deal with a lot of compression artifacts, although clips with a lot of detail can be impressive.
Curved display
However, the advantage of a curved screen is debatable. Samsung insists the curvature makes for a more panoramic, cinematic viewing experience. Which is true if you sit close (less than 2 meters from the screen). But there is also a clear optimal spot for viewing; if you sit a little to the side, the screen seems to contract.
In addition, every TV guide on the screen looks distorted, whether it's the Smart portal of the set itself, or the Planner on a Sky box. The curved screen should be seen as a design and novelty rather than a performance advantage.
The set has support for Active Shutter 3D, and comes with two glasses. There is some double imaging, but the dimensional imaging is clear and immersive.
The moves are potentially excellent, provided you use the correct interpolation setting. We prefer a mix of the Motion Plus Custom mode with Blur Reduction set between 8 and 10, and Judder Reduction at zero.
The audio performance is good, with a full pleasant presence of mids, although there isn't an abundance of volume.
Conclusion
All in all, the HU8500 can be considered a real eye-catcher. While we're not entirely convinced of the added value of a curved screen, we have to admit that it does look cool. Picture quality is excellent, especially with native 4K content streamed via Netflix. Once you've enjoyed UHD it's hard to go back.
