Review: Samsung 46-inch 3D TV

Samsung's tricky software can turn 2D into 3D.

As a kid growing up in the 70's on a diet of sci-fi comics, I was led to expect that in the year 2000 we'd all be wearing shiny silver suits, driving flying cars and watching 3D TVs.

While I (and many others) are relieved that I'm not clad in shiny lycra, I (and many others) are still pretty bummed out about the lack of flying cars and 3D TV.

Thankfully Samsung, Panasonic, Sony and a growing number of other manufacturers have become aware of this plight and are in bringing 3D capable TVs to market.

Having spent the last week with Samsungs latest 46-inch UA46UA46C7000 Series 7 3D-capable television, I'm pleased to report that after taking one or two minor bug bears into account, I'm definitely impressed.

Look and Feel

Design-wise, the Samsung UA46C7000 LED TV is a real treat. Its glossy black bezel and chrome accents not only hint at sophistication but also act to minimise viewing distractions.

Mounted atop of a slick chrome base with more than a passing resemblance to a Cylon base star, the UA46C7000 will fit in with most lounge decors with relative ease.

The slick looks don't end with the TV either. Its bundled remote is also a stylish wee number thanks to its brushed metal finish and Motorola-esque light-up keys. Being LED backlit, the UA46C7000 comes from the Jenny Craig school of design at a mere 26.5mm thick, making it ideal for wall mounting.

Third dimension

On the bells and whistles front, about the only thing missing from this set is the kitchen sink. Its biggest drawcard, however, is its ability to display 3D using LCD shutter glasses.

These work by synchronising with the screen which displays alternating and separate images for each eye. When a frame of video for one eye is displayed on the TV, the lens for the opposite eye blocks the view. By rapidly alternating this effect, your brain is tricked into 'seeing' 3D.

The UA46C7000 happily plays back 3D movies when paired with a compatible 3D Blu-ray player (over 30 movies in already production are being filmed in 3D).

It packs enough raw computing power to construct convincing 3D from 2D content. This worked well with broadcast TV, DVDs/Blu-rays, photos and best of all games, greatly extending its usefulness as a 3D TV.

Having now caught my fair share of up-converted 3D sport, I can see it being a big hit when the Rugby World Cup cranks into high gear. The added depth 3D gives really does allow you to see who is where in ways that had previously required guesswork. With Samsung charging no discernable premium for 3D functionality beyond additional 3D glasses, going 3D if you're in the market for a new telly makes a whole lot of sense.

This said, the only real downside was the cost of extra 3D glasses. Buying additional 3D goggles over and above the two already bundled for family members definitely adds extra cost to the TV. At $199 a pair, the glasses are not cheap, especially should you accidentally break a pair.

Other Cool Stuff

3D wowness aside, the UA46C7000 also has media and internet connectivity options in spades. Hooking it up to a home network gives you access to an application portal where you can download a raft applications ranging from Skype, through to Google Maps, Twitter plus a growing pile of games and news services.

Equally nice, it can also play audio, video and photos stored on networked PCs or hard drives. Additionally, in a move that could signal the eventual demise of separate hard drive recorders, the UA46C7000 also transforms into a Freeview-capable HDD when an external USB hard drive is plugged into the rear.

On the connectivity front, there is plenty of scope - kicking off with 4 HDMI 1.4 ports, the set also includes a return audio channel (which is pretty handy as my Onkyo amp couldn't parse the latest HDMI 1.4 signals required for 3D Blu-ray playback).

Add an Ethernet port plus optional wireless via a USB adaptor and the UA46C7000 quickly transforms into a fully fledged media centre. Owing to its 26mm thin form factor, it also requires you use bundled adapter cables to hook up component, composite or VGA inputs.

Performance

As a 2D LCD TV, the UA46C7000 displayed bright, vivid and detailed on-screen images. Video looked great with both broadcast HD content and Blu-Ray movies, with LED backlighting delivering accurate colour and crisp brightness/contrast levels.

As with previous Series 7 LCD TVs, it sports a lot of image tweaking options, all of which are easily accessible. For those not wanting to fiddle with picture settings, its top level settings menu gives access to basic adjustments, but digging deeper reveals acres of options to tweak nearly every aspect of video output.

The UA46C7000's polished picture output also carried over to 3D viewing. Whilst there were a few instances of 3D cross-talk (distortions around on screen images), these were easily corrected using built in 3D image depth settings.

The demo 3D Blu-ray of Monsters vs Aliens delivered eye popping 3D footage.

Two dimensional broadcast TV and DVDs can be up-converted into surprisingly accurate and convincing 3D and literally add new depths to digital photos. That 2D-3D up-converted video tended to have less depth, which wasn't totally surprising as most dedicated 3D Blu-Ray titles such as the bundled Monsters vs Aliens demo incorporate flashy effects designed to showcase 3D.

Verdict

Over and above its obvious 3D drawcard, there's a whole lot to like with the UA46C7000. As with previous Samsung LCD TVs, it's a stylish piece of equipment that delivers an impressive picture.

Add to this a slew of useful online and connectivity options along with the ability to become a hard drive recorder, and there's definitely a lot to like.

Drop in the UA46C7000's impressive 3D capabilities (for which Samsung don't appear to be charging any significant premium) and there really isn't any reason not to buy if you're in the market for a new TV.

Samsung 46-inch 3D TV
(UA46C7000)
RRP$ 4,799

Specs
Resolution: 1,920 x 1,080
Sound Output (RMS): 10 watts x 2
Size (WxHxD): 1,092.3 x 653.2 x 26.5mm
4x HDMI
1x Digital Audio (Optical)
1x Audio Out L-R (Mini Jack)
1x PC input (D-sub)
1x PC Audio Input (Mini Jack)
1x DVI Audio Input
1x Component (Y/Pb/Pr)
2 x Composite AV
1x Ethernet (LAN)
2x USB