In what turned out to be a very close vote, Samsung’s new flagship 8000 series plasma TV was voted the winner by one vote.
The 64-inch version of Samsung’s plasma TV offering was pitted against Panasonic’s newest flagship plasma model the 65-inch FullHD 1080p TCP65ZT60, Panasonic’s step-down 65-inch FullHD plasma model the TC-P65VT60, and three LED LCD TVs, including Sony’s new 65-inch 4K Ultra HD the XBR-65X900A, Samsung’s FullHD 55-inch UN55F8000 and Panasonic’s FullHD TC-L55WT60.
Plasma, LCD and 4K Ultra HD models from LG and Sharp were not included in the shootout.
Robert Zohn, Value Electronics’ proprietor and self-declared video “enthusiast/businessman,” told TWICE, “The results came out so close that it is difficult to award one winner. The ZT60 won the popular vote in important categories, black and overall [picture quality], but the F8500 had the highest scores overall and also won in important categories, like contrast ratio and day modes. In the past nine years it has always been very clear who won our Flat Panel Shootout event.”
According to the vote tabulations, attendees liked the higher light output of the F8500.
“They saw the F8500 as even sharper, which I would assume is also because of the brighter image in low and high ambient light conditions,” Zohn explained in a statement announcing the winner. “Many participants told me the Samsung F8500 whites looked cleaner, brighter and in their opinion, whiter.”
Zohn added that the panel of experts, including certified calibrators and testers Kevin Miller, founder of TweakTV; David Mackenzie from HDTVTest, and Dewayne “D-Nice” Davis of AVS Forum fame, selected the Panasonic VT60/ZT60 as their personal choice.
“The three top contenders are all so very close this year that I don’t see a clear winner and these three panels deserve our top recommendation equally,” Zohn said. “In fact, all of the 2013 displays in our event this year are exceptional and have made significant advancements in picture quality, build quality and design advancements.” He said.
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