The series 8 Plasma from Samsung is a remarkable panel. It isn't perfect but it is about as perfect as Plasma has gotten thus far. The Pioneer KURO, widely considered the best Plasma panel ever made, is quickly looking outdated by this new generation of panels. The Series 8 is ultra thin, feature packed and has incredible image quality. It's only real detractor is what is known as Phosphor Lag, a phenomenon common to most plasmas and one that affects only a very small portion of viewers.
Before singing the praises of the panel, I thought I'd give a quick paragraph or so about its only real issue. Phosphor Lag happens when the different plasma cells are not quite synchronised properly. You see, the image on a plasma TV comes from millions of cells filled with plasma which light up white when electricity is passed through them. It is then filtered through a red, green or blue layer which gives the light its colour. Phosphor Lag happens when all those millions of calculations are happening with a slight lag – so minute that it isn't noticed by most people. However, there are some people that notice it and see, what looks like, flashes of rainbow colours on-screen.
It happens extremely quickly, but it happens often enough that it can be distracting. All plasma panels suffer from this issue, it's just that some do it more than others. It's not a problem at all for most people but since all viewers eyes are different - some can detect it and others can't. The only way to make sure a plasma is right for you is to watch it in-store for a few minutes. If you don't notice it, then it's not a problem. The Series 8 may not be a problem for you but before deciding to buy it, I suggest you check it out.
Now, on to the good stuff. The first thing you notice about the Series 8 is that it is ultra thin making it perfect for mounting on a wall. It has a black and silver design, a slight departure from the all-black Samsung LCD range but it adds an air of modern styling to it and sets itself out from the crowd. The ports at the rear are all easy to access, although you will need to use the provided breakout is you are connecting composite or component equipment.
