Samsung PS51D6900 review

Like all Samsung TVs that support 3D video, the PS51D6900 comes with a single pair of active shutter glasses. We had to turn off the fluorescent lights in our lab before we could start watching our test footage, as with them the 3D image had a distracting flicker. The 3D depth effects were impressive, but like all plasma TVs, images weren’t quite as bright as on an LCD. Even so, the plasma panel showed none of the crosstalk we’ve seen in Samsung’s 3D LCD TVs. The PS51D6900 only includes a single pair of 3D glasses, so you’ll need to buy further pairs when more than one person wants to watch at once (part code SSG-3100GB, £37 from www.amazon.co.uk).

Picture quality was impressive in 2D mode. The TV handled motion incredibly well – its fast 600Hz refresh rate meant the action sequences of Casino Royale looked fluid, even with the optional Film Mode smoothing feature disabled. Colours were accurate, if slightly muted, and there was plenty of contrast, but black levels weren’t quite as pronounced as they were in some of the Panasonic TVs we’ve seen this year such as the TX-P42GT30B. However, using the extensive picture settings menu, we could still adjust the image to the point that films looked excellent.

Going from Blu-ray to broadcast TV, there was a noticeable drop in quality, but the PS51D6900 still managed to avoid some of the more common problems on cheaper TVs. Even lower-bandwidth channels such as BBC News didn’t suffer terribly from compression artefacts, although there was a definite loss of detail. Higher quality channels such as BBC One fared much better, while Freeview HD channels looked great on the 51in screen.

Although it’s not perfect, the PS51D6900 is still one of the best-value plasma TVs available right now. If you don’t mind the plain looks and would like a prettier-than-average user interface, the Samsung is a compelling choice compared to the competition from Panasonic. However, if you value image quality above all else, the more expensive Panasonic Viera GT30 range just has the edge.