HDTV - Samsung's Line
Samsung is at the pinnacle of home electronics and their line of HDTVs is no exception. Like most manufacturers the plasma models tend to be more expensive than either LCD or DLP, but prices in all three lines are dropping. That trend is expected to continue for at least another year. Offsetting those price drops are an emphasis on larger screens and higher resolutions. Several 42" plasmas are still available and can - theoretically - display 549 billion colors. 'Theoretically' since the human visual system can't discern that many differences anyway. The 42" HP-S4253 plasma, for example, sports a 10000:1 contrast ratio. In general, higher is better - though, here again there's a limit to what humans can perceive. Any set within the range of 4000:1 to 10000:1 is likely to offer very black blacks and vivid, realistic colors. Most of the differences among plasmas, like other types, is size and price but some carry extras. The 50" HP-R5072, for example, comes with an in-built card that (in some cases) makes an external cable box unnecessary. There are a dozen different models to choose from, ranging from 42" to 63" with several 42" models available. Differences lie mostly in the small details. Some have more input/output slots and ports, some have PC card slots or SD slots, others have more speakers than another. Several offer hidden speakers. The LCD line is a good option for those wanting to spend a little less and willing to accept a 'smaller' screen in exchange. Sizes range from 32" to 46", with the smallest considered small only in the past few years. The 46" LN-S4692D offers a great viewing angle, 178 degrees, in a flat-panel display on a swivel stand. Contrast ratio is very good at 5000:1. Even the smaller 40" LN-S4051D would be enjoyed by gamers using an Xbox. At a contrast ratio of 4000:1 with 8 ms response times, blacks will be great and motion blur undetectable for most content, whether game or TV. Like any LCD it's important to view from the proper distance. For this size, seven feet would be the minimum recommended. Whatever size you choose, be sure the model includes a HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) and component ports. Without it, you may be frustrated by the poor picture quality from your DVD player. With it, even 480p DVDs can display an impressive picture quality. Samsung has a variety of DLP style TVs, ranging from as 'small' as the 50" HL-S5065 to the enormous 71" HL-R7178W. All offer excellent picture quality, though some reviews question Samsung's reliability. The 71" HL-7178 sports a digital cable ready card and supports 1080p video, which no current Panasonic model does. Even the smaller 56" HL-S5688W offers a great 1080p picture and a 14,400 rpm color wheel to minimize 'rainbow' effects that some DLP models suffer from. The 'i' stands for interlaced, a technique in which the pixel rows are illuminated every other line, a complete screen 'painted' in two passes. 'p' types make one pass across the screen. While, all other things being equal, 'p' types offer a superior picture, interlaced models are still excellent. Older technology suffered from some flicker with interlacing, but that's largely no longer true. Many HDTV's are offered in HD-ready types. That indicates the receiver has no in-built HD tuner. That isn't necessarily a deal-killer, since many cable or satellite boxes have tuners that can perform just as well. HD-ready is generally less expensive, all other things being equal. Prices are affected by screen size, obviously, but also by resolution (720p vs 1080p for example), extras and a host of other factors. Check your favorite price comparison website for details. As with any TV, be sure to view under good lighting conditions before deciding.
