Having stunned the audio visual world with a sophisticated 'LED Array' (locally dimmed) based TV last year, Samsung recently introduced a more affordable series of 'Edge' based screens, indicating a change of approach. The Korean manufacturer has now announced a return to 'LED Array' systems with the 8500 series launching this September.

The innovative LE55A956 was the first mainstream LED TV from Samsung to enjoy the benefits of LED technology, promising Plasma levels of black level ability. While the black level ability of the LE55A956 fulfilled some of this promise, there were some disappointing flaws in that graduated detail across darker scenes was lacking.

Earlier this year, Samsung's 6000, 7000 and 8000 series signaled a move away from the more sophisticated 'LED Array' systems to more affordable 'Edge' based screens. Commentators were rather sceptical when Samsung claimed that edge-mounted LED's could produce better contrast than locally dimmed LED's if set up correctly and could actually react faster to changes in picture brightness.

Confounding the sceptics, Samsung's 6000, 7000 and 8000 series offer black levels which are comparable, if not better than Samsung's and other manufacturers implementations of  'direct' LED TV's. Furthermore, the superb contrast levels are delivered alongside a wonderfully rich colour palette along with surprisingly bright elements sitting comfortably alongside darker elements.

Surprisingly, Samsung have now signaled a return to the more technically advanced 'locally dimmed' LED TV technology. Without having seen the new 8500 series in the flesh we can't comment on its performance. What we are hoping, is that that Samsung have refined the technology to produce an even more capable implementation of the technology.

The 8500 series boasts a claimed 7,000,000: 1 contrast ratio along with a 2ms response time, Auto Motion Plus frame interpolation which adds a 200Hz refresh rate and an Ultra Clear Panel that "works to improve image clarity and brightness regardless of a room's ambient lighting.".

If you would like to find out more about LED technology you might like to read our LED TV guide

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