Samsung LNT2653H 26-Inch LCD HDTV Review

I've already learned one important lesson in my limited experience with HDTVs - it's not all about the picture.In the case of this unit, the picture quality was very comparable to the 23" Sony Bravia HDTV I had recently bought (slight pluses and minuses for both), but the Samsung is far more well thought-out and user-friendly.I'm really surprised at how big of a difference that makes, but it does.

This TV will change channels fairly quickly (about the speed of a non-HDTV), whereas the Sony Bravias (and I assume others) are painfully S-L-O-W.This was irritating enough when I was just using the relatively small number of over-the-air channels, with cable it can drive you absolutely crazy.

Also, the Samsung will sense what inputs are actually being used, so that it will only go to the ones that are hooked up to a VCR, DVD, etc. and not S-L-O-W-L-Y cycle through them all, as does the Bravia (where it's a real drag if you hit that button by mistake).

Another nice feature is that the LNT2653H has separate coax inputs for antenna and cable.If you, like me, want to use both, this makes life much easier.

There are actually a few other smaller items that are superior on the Samsung as well, but the real epiphany to me was that usability is so significant an issue in these HDTVs.Don't get me wrong, picture quality IS important too and this one looks to me as good as any, but you can't really judge that aspect very well in a showroom anyway.Once you get it home you have to actually use it - and the differences there are striking.

I'll also mention that, at the time of purchase, the price at Amazon was significantly better than at any other reputable dealer I could find.The unit came quickly and in good shape.

I'll give it 4 1/2 stars, because as good as it is, it's still not perfect.


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Product Description:
Offering an unparalleled sleek design and one of the best 720p LCD panels available, Samsung's 2007 model LNT2653H 26-inch flat-panel LCD HDTV is an updated successor the super popular 2006 model LNS2651D. Compared to the previous year's model this one offers an updated cosmetic design, a better contrast ratio at 5000:1, hidden speakers, side A/V inputs, and 2 HDMI connections.
The Samsung Digital Natural Image engine (DNIe) Video Enhancer refines all analog NTSC and wideband video inputs for an overall improvement in picture quality. DNIe improves contrast, white level, picture detail and incorporates digital noise reduction to improve lower quality video inputs. The 3D Y/C digital comb filter constantly analyzes the three dimensions of picture height, picture width, and picture changes-over-time to dramatically reduce edge image artifacts while improving transition detail.
High-quality virtual surround sound can be experienced with just the speakers built into the TV. SRS TruSurround XT technology delivers an amazing, simulated 3D effect with clear dialog and powerful bass through hidden side speakers. TruSurround XT audio adds three audio enhancement technologies to produce an amazingly immersive sound experience.

Dialog Clarity brings movie dialog into Focus during the playback of any surround-encoded material to make speech much clearer and crisper.
TruBass creates incredible deep rich bass allowing a person to perceive significantly deeper, richer low bass tones that are far beyond the physical low frequency capabilities of the speaker itself.
The SRS WOW feature widens the soundstage by processing standard two-channel stereo material as well as multi-channel encoded material for a dramatic improvement in the playback of any stereo audio over a two-speaker system.

Connections:

HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) 2
R/F in 1
Component (Y/Pb/Pr) in 2
S-Video input 2(1 side/1 rear)
A/V input 2(1 side/1 rear)
PC input 1
Headphone jack 1

What's in the box: Samsung LNT2653H LCD TV, remote control, 2 AAA batteries, Power Cord, wall mount kit, cleaning cloth, owners manual, warranty card.

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Panasonic Viera TH-42PX80U 42-Inch 720p Plasma HDTV Review

Price was a significant contributor to my decision to buy this TV.Conversations with tv-guys made me think that I needed to pony up for a 1080, but I just could not justify the premium over the 720p.Now that I have it, I am glad I saved my money.The picture quality is great, both in high def and for normal (low def?) viewing.Whenever I have guests and the TV is on, they are blown away by the quality and ask my questions about it.

I also like the anti-glare screen.At first I was a little concerned that the anti-glare picture would look "dull" compared to your average plasma, but that is no longer a concern - it looks great.

Another big plus for me was the appearance of the TV.Like other Panasonic models, this TV is sleek.Vizio and other manufacturers seem to incorporate larger speakers that look clunky in comparison.The size of the tv relative to the picture size is great - looks nice on the wall, and doesn't take up any more room than it needs to.

In fact, the reason why I am writing this review is because I am going to buy another one for a different room in the house.Panasonic has definitely won my repeat business with this one - I think that says it all.

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Product Description:
PRODUCT FEATURES:42" class (41.6" diagonal) widescreen VIERA Plasma 720p HDTV with anti-reflective filterDeep color technologyGame modeBuilt-in SD card slotGalleryPlayer ready to view3 HDMI inputsVIERA Link HDAVI control

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Sony Bravia M-Series KDL-26M4000 26-Inch 720p LCD HDTV Review

I just bought this model, and I also own a Sony 40" S model.I was tempted to get Sony's S model in this size, but the M is a newer model, and $50-$80 cheaper.Picture quality is, overall, equal to my larger set, (though fleshtones are more natural on the "S") which cost twice as much.However, I was surprised that it does not come with the stand attached.Not a big deal, but I've never seen this practice before.Also, unlike the S series classy flat black matte finish, this M model has the "Samsungy" glossy piano black finish.Again,not a big deal..but still.Anyway, despite all my nitpicking, it is the picture that really matters, and in that area, this set delivers in Sony tradition..excellent.For the money, a great set, a great value, but it will remind you it is entry level, something the S models did not do...of course, Sony's least, is still better than it's competitors best.

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Product Description:
Want a small LCD TV that still brings a lot to the (kitchen) table?The KDL-26M4000 is Sony's answer. With three HD connections (including an HDMI™, component, and PC input), a sleek design, and the picture quality you've come to expect from Sony, the KDL-M4000/S is designed give you the performance you do want without turning your bedroom or kitchen into a second home theater you can live without.

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Toshiba 26AV502U 26-Inch 720p LCD HDTV Review

I just got this TV when Amazon dropped the price.I am very pleased with it, its a terrific value.The picture is amazing, its highly energy efficient costing only $1.14 a month to operate based on 6 hours viewing a day.Its an Energy Star TV.Sound is also good for what it is it has 2 X 5 watt speakers.I saw the other review here and am a little perplexed as I've found this TV to be a great value for a standard 26" LCD TV which is what it is.I'd highly recommend it.

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Product Description:
720p HD LCD TV

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Toshiba 37AV502U 37-Inch 720p LCD HDTV Review

Like many shoppers who buy their first HDTV, I did my homework. I determined what size screen I needed (37 inches to 40 inches) what size screen would fit in my space (40 would been tight) and whether I needed a 720p or 1080p LCD. When a TV salesman told me I wouldn't be able to tell the difference between 720 and 1080 on a 37-inch screen - and I verified that in his store - I found myself basically left with a brand-name issue.

Fortunately, I was able to view my major brand name choices - LG, Sharp, Sony - side by side. That's when I discovered the Toshiba 37AV502U. Compared to off-brands and the LG, it had a distinctively radiant picture. Could have been the settings in the store. I'll never know. But it did give me the confidence to include the Toshiba in my online shopping.

Even in the stores, I cold see the Toshiba was priced lower than the Sharp and the Sony. When I found it online (Amazon and elsewhere) for about $150 lower than in-store prices, I was sold.

The TV came promptly and was easy to set up with the clear and concise manual. The on-screen adjustments and choices of inputs are simple to follow. The variety of inputs (component, composite, HDMI, PC, S-video, audio, cable) and outputs are complete enough for most users. The only complaint I have is that the remote's electronic commands seem to be a little weak.

That ends up not mattering a whit because in today's environment you actually interact much more often with the cable receiver through its remote than with the TV. In fact, I am surprised that more manufacturers are not producing monitors without tuners for use with cable and satellite feeds.

The Toshiba works perfectly with my cable receiver and, so far, has produced clear, sharp images from analog, digital and HD sources. And I have about $150 extra in my pocket.

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Product Description:
720p HD LCD TV

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Sony Bravia S-Series KDL-40S4100 40-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV Review

This is a remarkable TV for the money, with a great picure and resolution up to 1080p (P for progressive scan -- 1080 lines of resolution with no interlace), and also support for 24 frames-per-second movie playback with Blu-ray high definition DVDs.

Setting up is straightfoward -- you set up the stand where you want it, lift the TV onto it, and tighten 4 screws. It can also be wall mounted. On the back are the large range of inputs: three HDMI, two component, one S-Video, two standard video (RCA jacks) and one VGA port. You can guarantee that whatever you have, you'll be able to connect it to this TV.

The best quality of output and convenience comes from HDMI connections (order some low cost HDMI cables from Amazon; my local stores wanted $50-$179!) A Blu-ray DVD player connected to the TV via HDMI delivers outstanding picture quality at 1080p, with amazing detail. It's so good, in fact, that I found myself noticing film grain more often -- you can practically count the grains!

This TV supports 24 frames-per-second ("24p" in the jargon), which matches the screen refresh rate to that used in movies. The visible difference shows up in shots where the camera pans (moves parallel to the scene). With regular TV playback, panning makes the scene blurry and you can't see much detail because extra "interpolated" frames are inserted to match the TV frame rate. Panning shots in "Casino Royale" blu-ray DVD were clear at 24p, revealing some visual jokes I missed before (e.g. the Richard Branson cameo at airport security). For movies like The Bourne Ultimatum with lots of camera movement, 24p makes the whole movie clearer.

Screen contrast of the TV is also very good. Blacks appear black, color is not overdone (though there is a "vivid" setting if you want to boost saturation). Lower resolution sources at 480i look pretty good -- they are upscaled nicely by the TV. Connecting a Wii with the standard video cables worked fine and produced a good picture.

For HDTV sources, this TV does excellent noise reduction and yet still delivers crisp detail and good color. This is where other LCD TVs fall down, and Sony really has done a great job with the Bravia engine.

Sound from the internal speakers is very good indeed, with dialogue particularly clear. Home theater speakers are better, but then that's true for any TV.

I am very happy with my purchase -- the TV has a stellar set of features at a great price versus more expensive versions with more bells and whistles... which I don't need. It is not the cheapest LCD TV in the 40" size, but the picture quality and number of source inputs sets it apart.


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Product Description:
Ready for full 1080p HDTV?Sony's KDL-40S4100 is your affordable solution, and comes fully-loaded with 24p compatability for smooth playback of filmed content, and a wide variety of HD inputs (3 HDMI™, 2 component inputs, and a PC input) so you can connect it to a Sony Playstation®, Blu-ray Disc™ player, and up to four more HD-enabled devices. Now you'll be able to watch all your favorite movies, sports, and games with the pristine picture and vibrant sound that you would expect from a Sony, at a price point that is as surprising as the quality.

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Toshiba REGZA 42RV535U 42-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV Review

This is my first LCD TV and I'm very happy with it.Spent a lot of time over the last month checking out various 40-47" LCD TVs and finally decided on the Toshiba REGZA 42RV535U because of its quality and price (total $912).Due to my experience with both Toshiba and Samsung I favored these brands but there's no shortage of attractive LCDs to choose from many companies.Samsung costs more and offered no competitive model or price to this Toshiba.I found the Toshiba XD-E500 upconversion DVD player online for $76, which produces an excellent picture on the 42RV535U.Add the $13 I spent for 3 HDMI 6' cables (online too) and I'm watching HDTV for a grand total Of $1001!The non-HD TV channels look good too (I'm on Time Warner cable) and in my small living room the sound (cranked up) has proven to be more than adequate.I have checked up on the Sony HT-CT100 Sound Bar Home Theater and may add it later.I have no Blu-Ray plans for present - will take some convincing and much price dropping for me to participate.

My wife and I physically set up the TV on its stand and placed it in position.If you know what you're doing, the electronic part of the setup should be brief but I took longer fumbling a bit over the cable box/TV accommodations.But all went well finally.

Let me add perhaps the most important thing.Once set up, I restarted the Marvin Gaye at Montreux DVD that I had been using to hook up the XD-E500 and let it rip.What a reward for all the effort of buying this TV - my TV watching will never be the same.

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Product Description:
Regza 1080p Full HD LCD with SRT

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Sony Bravia L-Series KDL-32L4000 32-Inch 720p LCD HDTV Review

This is my first venture in the HDTV era. I patiently waited for years waiting for price drops. LCD HDTV's have finally become affordable and something rare... Sony has come out with an affortable decent size HDTV. This tv is sharp both aesthetically and the picture. I never saw this tv in person so I had no idea the bottom was clear plastic. It looks like solid silver in the pictures but it is clear in fact. It makes it look that much better. The sound is not great but HDTV's are meant to be paired with entertainment speakers. There are two HDMI slots and tons of component slots. The TV is solid in short. I paired the TV with a sony upconverter (Which I will review as well), and that did wonders to my DVD collection. The picture was not near HD quality but it was without a doubt better than ever before. It did improve the picture and the colors are vivid and bright. I have standard expanded cable service and plugged the cable in before turning on the tv for the first time. When I turned on the tv it automatically searched for chanels and to my astonishment, found 30 digital channels and all local chanels in HD! Straight out of the cable! No box necessary! This made me think cable companies are ripping people off renting out HD boxes. My cable company (Cox) has told me and advertised the HD channels can only be accessed through their special HD box. This is true if you want MTV and 12 other cable channels in HD but not local channels. Needless to say, It was a very pleasant surprise as I don't have to pay 17 bucks a month extra to see HD content.
The second HDMI cable was used by my PS3. I don't need to say anything else but I'm in heaven. Here is the best part, this tv is one of the cheapest on the market and it's a Sony! Morevoer, the shipping was free and no taxes! I checked the best buy website and found I would be paying 70 bucks more at my local store! Highly recommended.

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Product Description:
How about a Sony BRAVIA HDTV that has legendary Sony quality at a price just about anyone can afford?That's what the KDL-32L4000 HDTV represents. Two HDMI™ connections mean this HDTV can connect to the latest HDMI™-enabled sources. Add to that two more component inputs, and a PC input, and you have five ways to get HD quality entertainment to your TV. With wide viewing angles and a fast panel response time, and a beautiful gloss black color with chrome accents, now everyone can enjoy video entertainment no matter where they're sitting and what they're watching.

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