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.
Standard Dvd Recorders And Hdtv
At those prices, many consumers will wait the two yea...
standard-dvd-recorders-and-hdtv.php
Plasma Lcd And Dlp Hdtvs
CRT...
plasma-lcd-and-dlp-hdtvs.php
High Def Dvd Recorders And Pc
DVD recorders brought that capability in-line with the quality possible with DVD. Panasonic and others have severa...
high-def-dvd-recorders-and-pc.php
Hdtv Sony Line
Sony's products for years have seen reviews ...
hdtv-sony-line.php
Hdtv Signals
HDTV sets display 1080 lines of pixels (small, colored rectangles composing the screen), about twice the...
hdtv-signals.php
Hdtv Sharp Line
Even at the lower end of the range the spe...
hdtv-sharp-line.php
Hdtv Sets
A (very) little Physics...
hdtv-sets.php
Hdtv Pioneer Line
All sets offer Pioneer's version of 3-2 pulldown, which they call Advanced PureCinema. This feature allo...
hdtv-pioneer-line.php
Hdtv Phillips Line
Even the - these days - relatively tiny 30...
hdtv-phillips-line.php
Hdtv Panasonic Line
Like most manufacturers the plasma models tend to be more expensive than either LCD or DLP, but price...
hdtv-panasonic-line.php
Hdtv Lcd Vs Plasma
LCDs produce an image by projecting a light onto a series of 'l...
hdtv-lcd-vs-plasma.php
Hdtv Home Theater Systems
The two basic components are a receiver and set of speakers. ...
hdtv-home-theater-systems.php
Hdtv Hitachi Line
In the LCD type, they wisely keep to the smaller sizes with flat panel models ranging fro...
hdtv-hitachi-line.php
Hdtv Dlp Tv
DLPs (Digital Light Processing) have no electron gun. Instead, the image is formed by shining ti...
hdtv-dlp-tv.php
Hdtv Blu Ray Vs Hd Dvd
Provided you'll be able to obtain any movie or other content you want, it matters very...
hdtv-blu-ray-vs-hd-dvd.php
Hdtv Blu Ray Models Previewed
HDTV sets with the newer, potentially sharper, 1080p resolution will be coming out over the same time frame and ...
hdtv-blu-ray-models-previewed.php
Hdtv And Your Pc
PC monitors and TVs traditionally projected images in entirely different ways. But as digital broadcasting, D...
hdtv-and-your-pc.php
Hdtv And Dvd
DVD formats are - it's sometimes hard to believe - now 10 years old. The initial disc offered many times more storage...
hdtv-and-dvd.php
Hdtv Home Theater Systems
The two basic components are a receiver and set of speakers....
hdtv--home-theater-systems.php
Hd Dvd Toshiba Hd A1
On the plus side, the player sells for half to one-third the expec...
hd-dvd-toshiba-hd-a1.php
Dvd Recorders And Hdtv
At those prices, many consumers will wait the two years or more for the initial bugs to get worked out and price...
dvd-recorders-and-hdtv.php