Pros: Capable of very accurate color if the CMS (Color Management System) is calibrated properly. Great feature set, and good setup and calibration utilities right in the Advanced User menu. 

Cons: Black level performance although good is not quite as good as the Panasonic TC-P58V10 (Panasonic TC-P58V10 TweakTV Quick Review ).  

 (click image for TweakTV Settings)  

To Buy Or Not To Buy? Definitely recommended. One advantage over the Panasonic TC-P58V10: this set is capable of being a lot brighter while maintaining its color accuracy.

Samsung has long been behind the pack in terms of picture quality with their Plasma panels. The PH58B860 is the first Samsung plasma that can produce a good enough picture to be included in TweakTV’s “Recommended” list of plasmas. Color accuracy is reasonably good at the factory settings in Movie mode, and quite good if properly calibrated. While its blacks are not quite as good as the Panasonic TC-P58V10, the Samsung PN58B860 is capable of much more light output than the Panasonic V10, and it can maintain its color accuracy at high brightness as well. Furthermore, the PN58B860 is not hampered by a THX mode that limits its light output. 

Contrast Ratio: As stated above its high light output coupled with good blacks gives the PN58B860 very good contrast ratio. Even in the Movie mode, which produces the most accurate picture overall as a preset, the 860 is capable of good brightness levels. This is in sharp contrast to the Panasonic TC-P58V10 that has very limited light output (about 28 to 30 fTLs) in the THX mode, which is the only picture mode that has accurate color gamut (primary and secondary colors). 

Color Accuracy: Overall color accuracy, grayscale tracking and color gamut, are reasonably accurate at the factory presets provided you put the panel in the Movie mode. However, there is room for significant improvement on both the grayscale and the color points with professional calibration.  The grayscale is somewhat blue even in the Warm 2 Color Tone, and the color points are significantly off the reference in both Auto and Native in the Color Space menu. All the white balance or grayscale and the CMS (Color Management System) controls are in the Advanced menu for use by a qualified technician with the right equipment. The results for both grayscale tracking and color gamut post calibration are excellent.  

Video Processing: The Film modes work quite well, and switch automatically from Cinema Smooth for 24p Blu-ray material to Auto 2 for optimizing 60Hz video sources on cable and satellite to Auto 1, which engages 2:3 pull-down for film based material on cable or satellite sources. 

Wrapping Up:  Samsung’s PN58B860 plasma, including all the B860 series sets, are excellent plasma panels. They are also the slimmest on the market looking very similar in footprint to the new Edge lit slim LCD panels from Samsung and other manufacturers. The Panasonic TC-P58V10 is superior to the Samsung in black level performance, and delivers a more accurate picture at the factory preset THX picture mode than the Samsung does in its Movie mode. The Samsung on the other hand is capable of significantly brighter images while maintaining its color accuracy. It is a close call on which of the two is the better panel. If you good control over ambient light then the Panasonic is the best, but if you have a multipurpose room where ambient light is going to be an issue then the Samsung is the better choice.

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Samsung 8 Series plasma HDTVs represents their finest innovations in design and performance. E-Panel technology combined with Samsung's Ultra FilterBright Plus provides a stunning high contrast picture even in bright rooms. It's not just the images on screen that capture your attention--the ultra-slim cabinet with Touch of Color design adds beauty to the bezel and stand. Plus new This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it connectivity offers customizable online content right on your TV.

The finest innovations in plasma design and performance. Click to enlarge.

Ultra-Slim Touch of Color Design
Stunning at only 1.2" deep and supported by a unique stand with an elegant, crystal-clear neck, you'll have no trouble finding a place for this plasma in any room. And Samsung's Touch of Color design features a hint of color naturally blended into the traditional piano black frame, transforming their already stylish TVs into a work of art.

E-Panel Advanced Technology
Samsung's e-panel technology makes sure you get superior picture quality. FilterBright minimizes glare and reflections for optimal viewing any time of day. 600Hz Subfield Motion delivers a clear picture for sports, action, and other fast-moving scenes. 1080 Full HD Motion delivers better resolution during fast motion. And .001ms response time minimizes blurring in motion in sports programs and movie content.

Crystal Full HD Engine with Cinema Smooth
Indulge in images with incredible clarity. By unifying all of the TVs advanced imaging technologies, the Samsung Crystal Full HD Engine expands performance, enhances all aspects of the image, and takes picture quality and image integrity to new levels of excellence.Cinema Smooth contributes by creating a picture that's more lifelike and much closer to film quality.

Samsung's Touch of Color design features a hint of color naturally blended into the traditional piano black frame.

600Hz Subfield Motion delivers a clear picture for sports, action, and other fast-moving scenes.

ENERGY STAR Compliant
By being ENERGY STAR compliant you are assured that your Samsung model is helping the environment by using less energy while saving you money. ENERGY STAR is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy promoting energy efficiency.

Full HD 1080p
Enjoy outstanding clarity and resolution with this Samsung plasma HDTV. Images are crisper, sharper, with superior details.

Built-In Digital Tuner (ATSC/Clear QAM)
All Samsung Plasma HDTVs have an integrated digital tuner. So, whether you're watching over-the-air HD digital broadcasts or connecting to cable/satellite service, Samsung has got you covered.

Game Mode
Get in the game with enhanced blacks, sharp picture quality and optimum audio. At the touch of a button, game mode speeds up the image processing response so you get the most out of your gaming experience.

SRS TruSurround HD
Assisted by the PN58B860's two 15W bottom speakers, this creates an immersive, feature-rich surround sound experience from two speakers, complete with rich bass, high frequency detail and clear dialog.

What's in the Box
Samsung PN58B860 58-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV, Remote control, Cable holders and stand, TV stand and hardware, Cover bottom, Program CD, Cloth clean, Quick setup guide, Warranty card