What makes the Samsung 120hz look so good?

Question

...Compared to other manufacturers' 120hz TVs?

The Samsung 550 series, which are 120hz, look amazing when playing Blu-Ray movies. I don't know how to explain it, but they look very true-to-life, it makes it look like you're watching a play instead of a movie. But the Sony 120hz don't have the same effect. The Sony ones look good, but they don't have that "looks like real life" effect the Samsungs do.

What exactly is it with the Samsungs that make them look like that? Is it the 120hz, or something special that only Samsung has developped?

I've been told it isn't the 120hz on the Samsungs that causes that effect, that the 120hz only takes away motion blur. But if that's not it what is it?

A technical explanation would be most welcome! Thanks!

Answer 1

I think you may be confusing the A550 with the A650.  The A650 has what Samsung calls their "ultra clear panel" which produces a picture that really pops both in clarity and color.  That picture really stands out amongst a wall of matte or semi-matte(like the A550) TV's.

It's not the 120hz.  The difference between 60hz vs 120hz is not that apparent.  If you were watching the A650, then it could have had the AMP (Auto Motion Plus) turned on, which gives film more of a video look (some like it, some hate it).  That may be the effect you're talking about, or it could simply be the clarity of the clear panel - more like looking through an extremely clear window vs a slightly etched glass window.

Answer 2

First, the Samsung A550 series are NOT 120 Hz machines. These TVs are only built with a 60 Hz refresh rate. The A650 and A750 are 120 Hz machines and both exhibit the characteristic you describe. I'm going to assume you are referring to either the A650 or A750.

Second, the affect has nothing to do with 120 Hz. You can turn off 120 Hz (Motion Flow) on the Samsung A650 or A750 and the effect remains.

Third, turn down the back lighting and you will see this TV return to normal. This, I believe is the key to the characteristic you describe in your question. The SONY XBRs do not exhibit this characteristic because they do not have the contrast ratio nor the brightness of the A650 or the A750. The 2008 SONY Z, W and V also do not approach the contrast ratio of the A650 or A750. I believe that the main characters are separated so distinctly from the background because of the extreme brightness of the background and the contrast between the foreground and background images. At times it makes the actors look like they are not part of the scene, but instead they were filmed in front of blue screen and the background was added later. It is an interesting & attention getting characteristic; one that I personally tire of and like to neutralize by turning down the back light setting.