Samsung's Series 7000 LED TV Keeps You Connected

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Samsung is never a slouch when it comes to connectivity, and with this model you can attach a cable, satellite, or TiVo (TIVO) set-top box, PS3, and standalone Blu-ray player on the four HD multimedia inputs. There's also a pair of component video inputs, a single RF input for cable and antenna, a VGA input for personal computers, and two USB inputs. It's all the more impressive that Samsung could squeeze in so many connections to the thin frame.

The sets also come with a great master remote that features backlit keys for operation in darkened rooms. It fits in the hand nicely and is easy to operate with the onscreen menu, which stands out by giving users a brief one-sentence description of each of the plethora of picture-adjusting features.

Tinkering with the Picture

Those features are led by a 120Hz screen refresh rate and "dejudder" processing, which are designed to eliminate blurring and picture shakes in movies and TV shows. Users can choose between four modes, including a custom setting that lets you tinker with the picture. Strangely, Samsung names the initial three settings "Clear," "Standard," and "Smooth," which doesn't offer much in the way of explaining the differences between the three modes.

The odd thing about LED-backlit sets is that the color and picture quality look so crystal clear that the viewer's eye catches much more judder than in older-technology HDTVs.

In the James Bond movie Casino Royale, for instance, there's noticeable judder as the flags wave in a scene where a consular limo pulls away. When you boost the judder-reduction technology, though, you can get other types of artifacts in the picture: I saw telltale halo effects around characters in television shows even when they weren't moving much. It takes quite a bit of trial and error with the AutoMotion Plus 120Hz technology to clear up these flaws.

One thing you can't clear up is image uniformity. That's because rather than opting for the more expensive full LED technology across the entire screen, Samsung uses edge-lit LEDs. When viewed from the side in particular, there are areas of brightness that should not normally show up in the darkened areas. Samsung corrects this flaw in new models now hitting store shelves with a technology called local dimming that turns off the backlight in areas where it is not needed. Would the average user notice even without this technology? Probably not, but it's worth noting if you're a picture purist.

Given these flaws, the Series 7000 doesn't rate as well as my previous-generation favorite, the Series 8. Yet, environmentally conscious consumers, or those concerned about energy efficiency, might be pleased to own one of the most energy-efficient LCDs on the market; with its backlit LED technology, the set passes California's tough proposed 2013 energy-efficiency standard, and it is rated Energy Star 3.0-compliant. And most consumers will love the terrific picture, wealth of features, and stunning design.

Edwards is a correspondent in BusinessWeek's Silicon Valley bureau.

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