After reading the countless of threads over here, I thought I better just give in my two cents before there are more confusions in the future.

What is advertised and marketed by Samsung as LED TVs are just LCD TVs which uses LEDs as their source of backlight.

The advantage this brings to you would be lower power consumption, more compact design (slimmer, borderless etc) as well as being lighter (so that the pencuri can run away with it easier).

Here are a few links to better understand the terminology of the technologies involved.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LED-backlit_LCD_television

http://www.ledtele.co.uk/whatisledtv.html

So all in all, there is no such thing as a true LED TV or what ever marketing terms. Essentially they are just LCD TV with a different backlight.

The different type of LED styles are as follows:
Edge Lit LED: These are LCD TV with White LEDs on the edge of the panel to light it up. Advantages = Thinner Panels

Back Lit LED: These are LCD TV with White LEDs behind the panel.

Local Dimming LED: These are LCD TV with LEDs that can be individually dimmed and brightened to adjust brightness at some part of a scene. Advantages = Blacker blacks

And the only one that I know off.. that is Local Dimming RGB LED, that I only know the Sony Bravia X450 to have. This is the same as Local Dimming LED, but instead uses Red Green and Blue LEDs to create a broader colour range.

Edit:
One more link for further reading.
http://www.ledtv.net.au/

Edit:
For those who are wondering what is a true LED Display.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LED_display

Edit:
A good comparison between "LED TV" and "LCD TV" as well as the technologies involved. Just take note under "Contrast and Black Levels" section of this article, they are talking about the RGD LED Backlights of the Sony's XBR range. Samsung 8500 series is similar to the Sony XBR in this department, except that Sony's XBR usus RGB LEDs while Samsung is still using only White LEDs.
http://www.ledtele.co.uk/ledvslcd.html

Edit:
An external forum topic that also discusses about "LED TV" and to not get confused.
http://www.avforums.com/forums/lcd-led-lcd...technology.html

This post has been edited by dxreaper: Jan 6 2010, 01:00 AM

Mmmhmm, the real one that is to be watched in a living room that is. =)

There are LED Displays, but they're usually used as those large outdoor TVs and such.

Edit:
Since you mentioned OLED, better mention that it is a whole different technology all together as well. =).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organic_light-emitting_diode


This post has been edited by dxreaper: Jan 1 2010, 04:45 PM

Mmmhmm =)

If they're ignorant even after this post, then they deserve to get their money cheated from them =).

I guess mods could sticky this for the sake of new readers.

Edit: Spelling

This post has been edited by dxreaper: Jan 1 2010, 04:48 PM

You think that's funny?

If we were to use Samsung's marketing term, even all those old 3210 uses LED LCD screens man... lol.. just black and white LED la =P

This post has been edited by dxreaper: Jan 2 2010, 09:24 PM

The reason I started this post is to bring aware to the public to not be drawn into the hype caused by this waves of marketed 'LED TVs'. I mean Malaysians are suckers for falling into hypes la honestly. Rotiboi la, the doughnut phase la.. I mean even cars also.. wait list here wait list there.. everyone Kiasu.. But back to the topic.

Correct me if I am wrong, but only does the Samsung 8500 series have local dimming LEDs and not the Samsung 8000.

Also, correct me if I am wrong, but the only two ranges I know with local dimming are the Samsung 8500 series as well as the Sony XBR x4500 series, in which Sony's LEDs are also RGB as opposed to Samsung's white.

So judging from this fact alone, the majority of the LED TVs that most Malaysians would be buying would just be an edge-lit LED, and following the links I have posted, edge-lit LED TVs do not bring about much improvements over other types of TV.

I can modify a 5 year old LCD to use LED as well and advertise it as LED TV. I am not wrong, following the 'defination' that is being used, but then the picture quality is going to be that of a 5 year old LCD.

So please be more aware when making claims such as "I'm putting LED's on top of my list" that LED in itself does not make a better TV and that there are TVs out there which does not use LED but still have fantastic picture quality.

Edit: Of course, essentially, it is the consumer's money and their choice to what they want to buy. So if you want to be drawn into the hype and just look at everything LED only, go ahead, but don't go and spread your false propoganda to others, that is all.

Edit: Here is a review on a 46" Samsung Series 8 as well as the 46" Sony Z5500 (Z550A for us here in Malaysia)

Take note that the Samsung's review is earlier than the Sony's as well. The Sony is also not using LED backlight, yet it is on par if not better in most areas when it comes to picture quality and speed (200Hz)

http://www.whathifi.com/Review/Samsung-UE46B8000/

http://www.whathifi.com/Review/Sony-KDL-46Z5500/

This post has been edited by dxreaper: Jan 2 2010, 11:17 PM

Yep. I was looking through the forums to get some information to help find a new TV for my dad, but more than half of the recommendations and suggestions here are all parroting false information.

But just the fact that the Sony 46Z5500 is as good as if not better than the Samsung UE46B8000 should hopefully cause future buyers of TVs to actually look carefully before falling for the LED TV marketing hype.

Yeah, I know you did mention the Series 8, but you also did mention that it's either LED TVs or nothing and those kind of statements are misleading to others, that's all.

What I am just trying to get here is that LED is not what makes a good TV. It still depends on the other parts as well, and this is proven with the 46Z5500 (46Z550A here) with it's equal if not better quality to the Series 8 even though it does not use LED.

Plasmas technology is another example as well. I was always had this idea that Plasmas will always have better black level/contrasts when compared to LCDs... but after seeing the newer LCD TVs, a lot of Plasma models are losing in this department against the better LCD TVs.

This post has been edited by dxreaper: Jan 2 2010, 11:40 PM

Yeah. Just sad that they don't have the Bravia XBR X4500 here though. That one is really a leap in performance.

I saw one right next with the Z5500 at JB-HiFi in Australia... seriously super nice contrast and all. Just that it costs 2x more.. and you thought the Z550A is expensive =P

They should be coming out with a replacement for that soon though, the X4500 is still using Bravia 2 Pro and 100Hz.

The fuss is that a lot of average consumers don't see LED TV as just LCDs with LED backlights, but something more. Average uncles also don't know and see LED TV and just buys it because it's 'new'. And a lot of stores don't set up the TVs properly so you can't judge from what you see in stores as well. That's pretty much it.. lol..

Isn't there newer cheaper LED TVs out there now? Sorry arr.. haven't really looked at TV prices.. Also considering that there's already Series 8, wouldn't the Series 6/7 be cheaper too?

LoL... And this is the advertisment at the top of this page =P

Samsung LED TV advertisment

I myself was confused as well. I first heard of these LED TVs when I saw the Sony XBR in Australia. The colour and contrast level was really good compared to the other models (Z5500 included) and that's where I started looking and coming across the use of LED TVs.

When I saw Samsung's LED TV logo (as shown above), I initially thought they were using the same technology/method as Sony, only to find out that it's only just LED Backlights on the edge, not even behind (until the Series 8.5).

Just the fact that yourself and myself were confused at first shows that there are many out there who would be as well, better to just put the facts down for people to see.

Found this other forum which also talks about LED LCDs in detail as well. Linking it here as well as updating first post for future reference for others.

http://www.avforums.com/forums/lcd-led-lcd...technology.html

Edit:
Modified topic/description to assist forum readers as well as added some further explaination into my initial post.

This post has been edited by dxreaper: Jan 6 2010, 01:01 AM

You must remember where you get the 40% figures from though.

My Sony 46Z5500 (Z550A) uses 185Ws in operation and from Samsung's site, the UA46B7100 uses 170W.

But that aside, power saving is useful if you use your telly a lot. I know someone who has theirs switched on whenever they're awake for their kids and all, lol...