Samsung's 6 Series H6400 Full HD fleet represent its high-spec, mainstream TV offering. Streets away from the contentiously curved world of UHD flagships, these models are Smart TVs for the rest of us. They combine catch-up TV services with mobile integration and social media frippery. They're also 3D compliant. Replacing last year's best-selling F6400 line, the new models come in 32-, 40-, 48-, 55- and 65-inch screen sizes (UE32H6400, UE40H6400, UE48H6400, UE55H6400 and UE65H6400 model numbers respectively). For this review, we'll be concentrating on the popular 40-inch screen size. Competition comes in the form of Sony's W8 series and Panasonic's incoming AS740 models.
Clean lines, classic Samsung
From
a design standpoint, the H6400 is refreshingly conventional. It's a
relatively slim set with characteristic translucent edging and chromed
pedestal stand. The panel itself is thin enough but bulges toward the
base to accommodate two downward firing stereo speakers. Connections
will cover most needs. There are four HDMIs, one of which supports ARC,
plus legacy Scart/component/composite inputs with stereo phono audio
inputs, Ethernet and three USBs. There's also a digital audio optical
output, headphone output and CI slot. A single Freeview HD tuner
provides over the air content. Wi-Fi is built-in. Alternatively there's a
Wi-Fi direct mode for non-network wireless connection as well as Screen
Mirroring for Android phones.
Features
As you might imagine, this Samsung is well equipped when it comes to connected functionality.
While
Samsung's Smart Hub doesn't look overly different this year, there have
been a number of changes upfront and behind the screen. The set now
boasts a Quad core processor. Screen animations can still appear jerky,
but the extra processing power provides a relatively nippy ride. Onscreen
the Smart Hub now boasts a Trending window which presents full screen
tweets from what appear to be largely random TV shows, as well as a
Timeline thumbnail TV guide built upon viewing recommendations. Samsung
is also keen to ride the casual gaming bandwagon, offering a dedicated
slate of titles.
Football mode own goal
While
Samsung has traded extensively on the fact that it offers viewers a full
complement of big channel catch-up TV services, at the time of writing
neither iPlayer or Demand 5 were available on the H6400 and the company
was unable to specify just when they'd land. It's a certainty they will
be added at some point, though. Also
new this year is a revamped Football Mode. In addition to 'optimised'
picture settings (which are positively hallucinatory), the set can auto
record match 'highlights' to a USB device, triggered by crowd noise.
Multimedia
playback support from USB and networked devices is comprehensive, with a
wide selection of file types supported including AVI, MOV, MKV, and
WMV; audio compatibility covers WAV, FLAC, MP3 and WMA.
The UE40H6400 certainly delivers plenty of onscreen ooh-ah.
Fine detail performance is excellent and the set positively radiates
vibrant colour, courtesy of an effective, but ultimately mysterious,
Wide Colour Enhancer Plus algorithm.
The basics are
sound. Edge lighting is largely even, with no overt light pooling in the
corners of the screen, and while the screen doesn't go pitch black,
overall contrast is high; there's very little in the way of pixel noise
either. It seems the lack of local dimming tech is not a drawback.
That
said, the TV is unable to display deliberately dark scenes. During Kill
Bill Volume 2, as Uma Thurman is buried alive, the backlight threshold
is such that the panel switches on and off. Traditionally,
Samsung has specialised in fairly hideous presets but there have been
obvious improvements made this year. Neither Standard nor Movie modes
disgrace themselves, while motion handling can be excellent provided you
select the right interpolation.
We found the Motion Plus
Clear mode to be the most effective general-purpose setting. This
retains a full 1080 lines of moving resolution and avoids inflicting
noisy halos around moving objects.
Also recommended (as
usual) is the Motion Plus Custom setting, with Blur Reduction set
between 8-10, and Judder reduction parked on zero. Alternatively, if you
want a more cinematic image, just turn Motion Plus interpolation off
altogether. While there's some penalty when it comes to motion
resolution, the relatively small size of this screen mitigates against
the shortfall. You'll also be free of the video-style soap opera effect
common to LED picture processing.
Image sharpness is best
kept limited to 15. Pictures can be given a little more crispness by
engaging low levels of Dynamic Contrast and turning on the Dark Tone
setting. Less pleasing is LED Clear Motion, which adds overt flicker. 3D
aficionados will most likely be disappointed though. The H6400, which
uses Active Shutter technology, offers a rather uncomfortable 3D
experience. Crosstalk is rife, with white double imaging pervading the
picture. As it transpires, 3D on a 40-inch screen isn't immersive
anyway, so this failing is unlikely to be a deal breaker. Two pairs of
shuttering 3D glasses are supplied in the box.
Initial guided set-up is clear and intuitive, with
hand-holding from tuning to networking. To make the most of the
connected experience, particularly the increased gaming provision, two
remote controls are bundled.
There's a standard IR remote
and a Bluetooth pebble known as the Smart Touch Control. With a touch
sensitive pad and integrated microphone for voice control, the latter
can be used to change channel and volume or open and control apps. While
there's only a limited number of buttons on this Bluetooth remote, you
can call up a full virtual remote onscreen and navigate from there. On
the off chance that both 'doofers' disappear behind the sofa, the rear
of the set also offers physical controls for navigation and menu
selection.
While the UE40H6400 doesn't offer the gesture
control found higher up the pecking order, this isn't really missed. A
voice command option is there for those that want to impress the
neighbours.
Sound
Audio is the traditional
Achilles' heel of all thin screens, although it must be said that the
H6400 is far from the worst offender you'll find. While not exactly
high-fidelity, it does make a reasonably articulate noise, and offers
some semblance of stereo separation.
While most buyers
would probably opt to augment the set with a soundbar solution at some
point, the integrated audio is good enough to live with out of the box.
Onboard amplification is rated at 2x10w, although the set can't be
driven particularly loud.
Value
Overall, there's plenty to like about this well-connected mid-ranger. The screen's anonymously cool design will fit pretty much anywhere, while the connected portal provides plenty of streaming options, including Netflix, and YouTube. Hopefully catch-up will be up to full strength soon. Image picture performance is vivid and consistently enjoyable.
While some of Samsung's new season wheezes aren't exactly compelling – the soccer mode has 'gimmick' written large all over, and the attempts at social media just bring a frown. But these problems are not enough to dampen our enthusiasm.
The Samsung UE40H6400 can be considered an extremely well
equipped internet-connected mid-range Full HD flatscreen. From design to
image quality, it barely puts a foot wrong. Although not exactly fresh,
the translucent-edged frame remains perennially popular and Samsung's
penchant for razor sharp, vibrant images is well represented here. The
brand's Smart Hub portal also largely delivers in terms of navigation
and content (albeit currently short of a couple of Catch-up services).
Even the new Bluetooth remote is quite intuitive to use. The TV is less
successful when it comes to 3D, which proves uncomfortable to watch,
while pointless social media applications curry little favour. However,
these missteps don't diminish our opinion that this is a solid,
competitively priced premium flatscreen.
We Liked
It
may be unable to display deep blacks, but crowd-pleasing clarity and
some decent presets keep this set's images looking pristine.
Samsung's
Smart Hub portal, with integrated multimedia playback and a healthy
smattering of streaming services, ensures you'll not miss out on much.
The set's universally acceptable cosmetic design makes it easy to accommodate, while the two remotes cover all bases.
We disliked
Clunky
attempts at social media won't persuade anyone to abandon their second
screen, and that dedicated Football Mode looks awful. The H6400's Active
Shutter 3D implementation proves difficult to watch, which may
disappoint the kids.
Final verdict
The
UE40H6400LED has all the right credentials to become a best-seller for
Samsung. Set up right, its crispy Full HD pictures, rich colours, and
punchy contrast look great with most types of content. The brand's Smart
Hub proposition remains strong, although some of the latest tweaks are
less than compelling.
Casual gaming and social media
feel crowbar'd in from the mobile playbook. With Sony stealing the
performance high-ground with its W8 series, and Panasonic offering
arguably the slickest Smart environment with Freetime, this set is up
against serious competition. Overall though, it comes recommended with
only minor caveats.
Also consider
Providing the
UE40H6400 with some stiff competition is Sony's 42-inch KDL-42W815,
which combines excellent image quality with an almost cookie-cutter
collection of Smart connected features. If you're looking for a rather
more seamless connected viewing experience, then LG's incoming LB730V
42-incher with Passive 3D wi
