If you want the best plasma TV then the Samsung PND8000 plasma will definitely come in to the equation. When deciding which plasma to opt for your choice will be between the best Panasonic plasma and the best Samsung plasma because no other brands come close. At the moment the decision is between the Samsung PND8000 and the Panasonic VT30. This Samsung PND8000 review should help you make your decision.

Available Models

The Samsung PND8000 is available with 3 different display sizes, other than screen size they are identical in specification and performance.
Samsung PN64D8000 – 64 Inch Display
Samsung PN59D8000 – 59 Inch Display
Samsung PN51D8000 – 51 Inch Display

Samsung PND8000 – Video Performance

The Samsung PND8000 is regarded as one of the best plasma TV models ever, simple as that. It produces very deep blacks and the color reproduction is perfect. It performs well in brightly lit room conditions, 3D TV picture performance is excellent and naturally it knocks the socks off any LCD or LED TV in terms of wide-angle viewing and levels of picture uniformity.

The Samsung PND8000 has an extensive range of user adjustable picture settings which provide superior controllability which will allow you to achieve picture perfection for color saturation, contrast and gamma levels.

Many users report that other plasmas suffer from audible buzzing something which is inherent with plasma technology, but fear not because this in not the case with the Samsung PND8000.

Color reproduction

Out of all the many qualities of the Samsung PND8000, its ability to produce accurate stunning colors is its greatest strength. It produces wonderfully realistic colors that slightly edge its performance in comparison to the VT30 which has a very slight green tinge to it, something which is characteristic to Panasonic Plasma displays.

Blackness levels

With exception to the more expensive Panasonic VT30, the Samsung PND8000 plasma produces the best levels of black seen in any TV on the market. It results in fantastic contrast levels which bring out the finest details. Whilst the Panasonic VT30 performs slightly better in comparison to the Samsung PND8000 in this area, it is only a very marginal difference and can be somewhat subjective to preference.

Samsung PND8000 3D TV Performance

If 3D TV is your thing then the Samsung PND8000 will certainly meet your requirements. One of the biggest complaints of active 3D TVs is with 3D crosstalk and the PND8000 excels in this area reducing 3D crosstalk to a minimum, its is almost as good as Samsung’s best 3D LED TV (the UND8000) in this regard. In reference to Panasonic’s equivalent model the VT30, the PND8000 produces less 3D crosstalk and 3D color reproduction is of comparable high quality.

The latest revision of Bluetooth Samsung 3D glasses are a big improvement over previous generations both in terms of design and usability. The use of Bluetooth as the method for synchronising the 3D glasses with the TV ensure that they remain in sync much better than the older infrared versions of last year.

Samsung PND8000 Design

Whilst the Samsung PND8000 is never going to be able to live up the standards of its LED counterparts in terms of aesthetics, it surpasses all other competitor plasmas TVs with its stylish design. It is slimmer than other brands of plasmas and it has a reduced bezel compared to previous generations of Samsung plasma TVs.

The remote control uses Samsung’s double sided design with the TV controls on one side and the Bluetooth QWERTY keypad on the other. The small display on the QWERTY remote allows you to see what you are typing without having to look at the TV which is a simple addition that makes its operation simpler. Also because the remote can detect which side is facing upwards it will disable the buttons on the opposite side to avoid any unintentional button presses of the buttons on the underside.

Superior Samsung Smart TV

The Samsung PND8000 has improved internet TV capabilities and uses both the Samsung Apps Smart Hub and Yahoo Widgets to implement the connectivity options available. All of the commonly used applications such as Netflix, Vudu, Facebook, YouTube, Hulu, Pandora, Skype, Twitter and web browser are presented as Samsung Smart Apps and the less common connectivity options are presented as Yahoo Widgets. If you plan on using Skype the webcam is optional, but a welcome standard feature is the integrated Wi-Fi which comes as an optional Wi-Fi dongle (costing approx $75) with other brands and models of TVs.

The interface of Samsungs Smart Hub has received a facelift which has improved its appearance and usability. The range of Smart apps available is superior to other brands of TV and the web browser performs well for regular usage (something that can’t be said about the web browsers included with other brands and models of TVs). Operating the Smart TV features with the QWERTY remote control works well but if you want for an even slicker experience a Samsung remote app can be used from an Android phone.

Samsung PND8000 Review – Summary

Without even considering all of its other strengths, the Samsung PND8000 is worth every penny simply based on the picture quality that it produces. The combination of the deepest blacks combined with the most accurate and immersive colors and perfect picture uniformity make it a serious contender for the title of best plasma TV, only the Panasonic VT30 can rival it.

It is equipped with the most extensive range of features and picture controls out of all the plasma TVs available on the market. If Smart TV is a desirable feature for you, then the Samsung PND8000’s capabilities in this department only add weight behind its claim of being the best plasma TV because it trumps the opposition in this area also.

The Samsung PND8000 comes with an exterior which is superior in design to all other competitor models making it the complete package. There isn’t anything bad to say about the PND8000 and when you consider that the larger 59 inch Samsung PND8000 will cost you less than the Panasonic VT30 is hard make an argument to opt for the Panasonic over the Samsung PND8000.