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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Hitachi P50V701 50-Inch Full HD1080 Plasma HDTV with Power Swivel Stand Review

After a week of looking in the local stores and then browsing on-line, I still wasn't sure what to buy.It was easy to pick the size, the exact features and specs was a tougher process.I settled on a 50 inch, 720p I saw in a store and set it as the base model.For a lower price, I picked this Hitachi model that gave me the higher 1080p resolution.

Setup was fairly easy with the help of my wife.We used the stand instead of wall mounting.A little tricky to install the stand because you have to have the TV off the ground for the base to clear.Used a couple of blankets and the packaging foam and it was easy.No problems getting it up on the table for the two of us.Lots of room for wires and the imput panel is easy to read.With HDMI cables, you can eliminate quite a few wires.

The picture looks really good, especially after being a tube TV viewer all my life.Once I added HD TV programming, it was just amazing.I actually will watch programming I'm usually not interetsed in because of the HD quality.Standard definition viewing is much better as well, but the TV shines when using its full HD capabilities.

Menus are clear to read and navigate.Lots of different settings available.The power swivel stand works very well and we've decided that we're not going to bother with wall mounting because we like it better.It does come with a built in TV Guide function, but with satellite service it doesn't work and it's not necessary either.So, I haven't tried to set it.

Overall, I'm very pleased with this TV.I think it's a great deal for the price.In the brick and mortar stores, I couldn't find any comparable size and resolution TVs that came close to the price.

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Product Description:
The Hitachi P50V701 is a 50-inch plasma HDTV that has full 1080p resolution and uses Hitachi's new Reel60 film processing to achieve fluidity that matches the motion of movies.
Outstanding Picture Quality
As a full 1080p HDTV, the P50V701 provides a 1920 x 1080 resolution that is razor sharp with more than 2 million pixels. Picture quality is further enhanced, thanks to ClearWindow technology that reduces the visibility of a grid structure and maximizes brightness and clarity.


ClearWindow technology reduces the visibility of a pixel grid structure for a better picture. View product details.

Timed swtiching allows picture settings to automatically adjust for changing ambient light conditions. With the new PictureMaster HD V processor, all video inputs are scaled up to match the full 1080p resolution of the unit to ensure a detailed picture no matter the source. The processor also performs noise reduction and other picture enhancements for a better picture quality. Users can select between four HD and six SD aspect modes, and three color temperature settings. The television can also be put in a split-screen mode so that two programs can be viewed simultaneously.
Hitachi's exclusive Reel60 technology has the ability to interpolates frame in order to match up the motion of film in a movie screen for display on a television. The result is a more theater-like experience in your home.
Well Connected
The P50V701 has three HDMI SimplayHD inputs (two rear, one front), the highest quality connection available that has both high definition video and audio in one cable. It also has two component video inputs, one S-Video input, four A/V inputs, one RF/Antenna input, one CableCard interface, and an SD card input that allows you to view your photos on the screen. Outputs include one AV monitor output (fixed audio), one S-Video monitor output, and one optical digital audio output. You can connect the optical digital audio output with your home theater system to obtain surround sound when the built-in 20-watt speaker system isn't quite enough. The TV speaker can then be used as a center speaker.
The HDTV also has built-in ATSC/NTSC tuners, both of which are combined into one tuning memory for seamless selection of channels, regardless of format. The unit is also QAM-digital-cable compatible. TV Guide On-Screen is also built-in for an always available programming guide.
Day and Night Differences
The P50V701 allows for three custom settings that match the picture settings with accompanying ambient light conditions so that you get the optimal picture and contrast settings no matter the hour. Additionally, the anti-reflective screen has a unique black stripe screen filter that ensures a quality picture by blocking ambient room light for added brightness and deeper blacks. The television also features multiple screen saver and power saving modes for efficiency when not in use. A power swivel stand is included that rotates the screen up to 30 degrees in either direction so an optimal viewing experience is available for every seat in the room.
The P50V701 is backed by a 1-year parts and labor warranty.

Full HD1080

2.07 million pixel array perfectly matches the 1080i HDTV resolution standard (1920 x 1080 panel resolution).

PictureMaster HD V

Proprietary digital video processor optimizes picture performance of all incoming source material.

Reel60

Exclusive film processing technology creates interpolated frames that perfectly matches the motion of movies.

3 HDMI SimplayHD 1080p Compatible Inputs

Multiple high-end digital interfaces for optimal connectivity of home theater components.

ClearWindow Plasma Technology

Smoother image reproduction with higher brightness output and less visible grid structure.

Day/Dynamic/Night Memory by Input with Timer

Three customized settings for each input that match the picture settings to the ambient light conditions of the viewing environment.

SD Card Photo Viewer

Front panel input for viewing jpeg images from a SD card.

Power Swivel Stand

Motorized power swivel stand that rotates the screen up to 30 degrees to the left or right in order to optimize the home entertainment experience.
What's in the Box
P50V701 plasma HDTV, remote control, two AA batteries, 6-foot AC power cord cable, power swivel table top stand, power swivel cable, two IR blaster cables, and wire clamp.


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Samsung LN32A550 32-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV Review

I've been wanting a new flat-panel TV for some time and, though I do make a lot of purchases on-line, I felt like I actually needed to look at a TV in person.My wife and I were looking at the TV's in Wal-mart when another customer pointed out that the better TVs had a higher contrast ratio and he thought that was the most important factor.Sure enough, the one we thought had the best picture was the one with the highest contrast ratio - it was 3200:1, the best 32-inch in the store.(I really wanted something with 1080p resolution, but they only had 720p in the 32" size TVs.We decided to get that one, since we had seen it and felt like we could enjoy it - but they didn't have one in stock...

I came home and began to research.It turns out that there are only a very few 1080p TVs in the 32" model, this being one of them.In looking at the contrast ratio I found that this one was rated at 15,000:1 - almost 5 times better than the best one at Walmart. (High contrast ratio seems to give you darker darks and whiter whites - lower contrast ratios have a milky looking gray where it's supposed to be black...)My research combined with what I saw in the store gave me the confidence to purchase a TV on-line.I settled on the Samsung LN32A550.

The TV arrived in good working order and I had it set up and running within 30 minutes.(The biggest problem was unhooking and moving the old one!) The picture is everything I could have imagined it would be - far better than anything I saw in the store.The crystal clear picture and crisp, well defined images make this simply the best picture I have ever seen on a TV.I saw a bit of a NASCAR race on this unit and the motion was unbelievably smooth - no after images at all.

I debated a bit on giving this unit a five-star rating.I felt like the picture quality so outrated the sound that I had to bump it up a bit.But if sound is an issue you may want to consider this to be a "four-star" unit.While the TV has a built in equalizer function (with some presets based on your listening preferences) I found the sound, even in the best adjustment leaves a lot to be desired.It has a tinny sound much like you would expect from an old transitor radio.I would suggest investing in a good pair of external speakers to enhance this unit.(If you already have a home theatre set-up sound is not an issue anyway...)

So far I'm glad I made this purchase.If Samsung can improve the speakers on this TV they will have the perfect TV!

*****
UPDATE:

OK....Now that I've owned this thing a few months I'll tell you how it's going:

First, it was pointed out to me in a post that the contrast ratio on 27- and 32-inch TV's was 15,000:1 instead of 30,000:1 as I incorrectly surmissed from the somewhat unclear (to me) product update.I have edited the initial review to reflect the correct information.I'm sorry for any confusion it may have caused.(If you want the higher ratio and have the room, you could consider going with a larger screen size.15,000: is still a pretty amazing ratio though...)

Overall I am happy to report that I am just as satisfied today as I was the day I first turned it on.I did purchase a set of Creative GigaWorks T40 Premium 2.0 Speakers (available at Amazon.com) for around $125 - and this dramatically improved my viewing experience.(I'm sure the best option would be to use a home theatre set-up - but this unit is in my bedroom...)

I still recommend this TV - just don't expect too much out of the sound - without a little help.


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Product Description:
32" widescreen HDTV (16:9 aspect ratio) * high-gloss black finish * built-in digital (ATSC) and analog (NTSC) tuners for over-the-air TV broadcasts (antenna required) * built-in QAM cable TV tuner receives unscrambled programs without a set-top box (cable service required) * 1920 x 1080 pixels *

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