I knew the old tube television in the living room was on the way out. Video was mediocre and the audio combated a losing war against static. Then I was informed the television had died while I was at work (earning money for a new television, I now suspect!). That is how I came to own the
Samsung 32" 720p Flat-Panel LCD HDTV - Model # LN32A450.
DescriptionThis is a beautiful television set with its glossy black frame and stand. It is a wide-screen television that has a 32" screen size (measured diagonally corner to corner) with 178-degree horizontal and vertical viewing angles. The television has hidden bottom-mount speakers with SRS TruSurrount XT sound technology.
Resolution is 1366 x 768 pixels, and it supports 720p signals. The aspect ratio is 16:9. Response time is 6ms, and it has a 10,000:1 contrast ratio. This television also has an array of inputs and outputs, which I'll mention in the specifications at the end of this review, and it includes 3 HMDI inputs.
Along the right side of the television is a discrete vertical line of buttons. From top to bottom they are labeled: Source, Menu, Volume, Channel, On/Off. At the front lower right corner is a tiny dot that glows red to show the television is powered.
Without the stand, the television measures 20 7/10" high x 31 1/2" wide x 3 7/10" deep. With the stand, the measurements are 22 7/10" High x 31 1/2" wide x 9 9/10" deep. This television can be wall-mounted if desired (we elected to attach the stand).
What Comes in the Box* The Samsung television
* Stand with hardware (Philips head screws) and cover
* Remote control with 2 AAA batteries
* Power cord
* Cleaning cloth
* Owner's manual
As an aside, the box fit great in the backseat of my Toyota Camry.
Setup - Wall Mount or Television Stand?Note: If you want this television wall-mounted, then you will have to purchase a wall-mounting kit.
Since I don't have the appropriate dedicated wall space or ideal wall location for a television in the living room, I opted to connect the stand to the bottom of the television. The instructions that come with the television are easy to understand and follow. It wasn't long before I had the stand assembled, and the television plugged in to the digital cable box.
The instructions are picture/illustration friendly ... so much so that it is easy to miss the cautions. Thank goodness I have good instincts, because I didn't notice the cautions before beginning the assembly.
First, assemble the stand before removing the television from the box. This is important since the box protects the screen from damage while the stand is being assembled. Also, make sure to note which side of the stand is the front since the components are front and back matched. You will also need two people to lift and move the television onto the stand. One person will need to steady the television while the other person uses a Philips head screwdriver to insert the screws, anchoring the television to the stand.
First you will need to snap the Cover Neck into the groove of the stand. Make sure to match the arrows marked on both pieces. Then place the Guide Stand into the stand (the stand is the piece you attached the Cover Neck to). There are three Philips head screws that anchor the two pieces together. The stand is now completely assembled.
Next, carefully lift the television out of the box (and its protective wrapping). I recommend following the recommendation of having two people hold the television. It is large, heavy and awkward to slide onto the stand without having two sets of eyes and limbs. You will feel the television slide into the stand; make sure it is secure. Next, there are four Philips head screws that are attached at the back. The holes are deeply recessed, and it may feel like the screws are not screwing in properly. Just keep the screwdriver in motion until the screws no longer turn.
When finished, the television should feel secure on the stand. It will also swivel from side-to-side to accommodate viewing preferences.
Our ExperiencesThis 32" flat-screen television replaces a 32" tube-style TV. Despite the widescreen of the new television, the two TV's take about the same amount of horizontal space ... so this new television fits great on the oak television table. The LCD is much slimmer, though, and it looks great. This 32" size is recommended for medium-size rooms. Our living room is not huge (it's a ranch house where the living room, kitchen and dining room are in an open style).
It was a breeze to assemble the stand and attach the television screen to it. I also had the digital cable box plugged in within seconds. The remote control that comes with the television is slim, easy to hold and use, with all the usual features. We decided, though that we wanted to use the universal remote that came with the cable box. It took a few tries to stumble on the correct television code to type into the remote, but once the code was entered, the cable box remote handles everything.
As you can imagine, there are multiple ways to configure this television to work with peripheral equipment. Several guides/booklets are included with the television that discuss the various setups, and there are plenty of diagrams. The television also has an On/Off tune that plays. It's a musical chirping sound that we like. However, if you don't like your television greeting you, there is an option to disable the TV On/Off sound. (This can come in handy with children. When you tell them to turn off the TV, you'll actually be able to hear the On/Off sound signaling the television is really off and not just muted.)
The picture is gorgeous on this television! I remember when comparing this Samsung television in the store to other 720p models that I was impressed with the image. This television shows subtleties of the various color shades. For instance, the greens look green in all their many hues, and the blue sky scenes display depth of color that the lower model televisions could not handle. Text is easy to read on the screen, too. If one wanted to use this television with a computer, it would make a great monitor. The picture is crisp and clear.
However, if you are heavy into gaming or want to use the television's HD capabilities ... I can't help you there because we don't have a gaming system attached to this television, and we don't have an HD cable box. My understanding, though, is that for those types of uses you might want to consider a higher model television than this (one with 1080p).
Now for audio. Here is my one big complaint. Our household contains one person who has slight hearing loss. At times he hears conversations happening two rooms away, but then he can't hear someone talking near him unless that other person raises their voice. A hearing aid is not an option since he won't consider even trying one. This television has audio that is fine for someone who has "regular" hearing. The sound is moderate. This television will not blast sound at any level. If you like audio that is loud enough to part your hair with pulsing sound waves ... give this television a go-by unless you have an audio system to compensate for the lack of volume. (See my update below regarding the audio.)
I considered various options for jacking up the volume. (We loved the television and did not want to return it.) One thought was to buy headphones for the person with hearing loss. But I wasn't sure how that would impact others who wanted to hear the TV. I also considered using our radio that receives television stations. He could mute the volume and use the radio for audio. However, the radio only picks up local channels ... not much good for hearing the many other channels our digital cable box provides. So I settled on the idea of external speakers.
After consulting the store where I had purchased the television, I learned that I would need an adapter and cables to attach speakers to the television audio in/out ports. I already had two Altec Lansing computer speakers that were not currently being used (I upgraded to new Altec Lansing speakers for the computer ... great buy!). So no money was lost on my experiment, and the additional connector and cable only cost $15.00 at my local Radio Shack. I'm pleased to say that the external speakers jacked the volume a noticeable amount. Now everyone in the family is happy with the audio. Mind you, these speakers I am using still won't part the hair on your head, but the audio is louder. In case you are wondering, I used a 6-foot Shielded Audio Cable (Radio Shack part 42-2483) and a Coupler - 1/8" stereo female to 1/8" stereo female (Radio Shack part 274-886).
PurchasingI bought this television set from my local
Best Buy store. While I'm not a big Best Buy fan, I have to say that my last few experiences there have been good. The television set normally sells for $799.99, but I bought it on sale for $749.99.
SummaryOur family loves this
Samsung 32" 720p Flat-Panel LCD HDTV. The image quality is perfect for our needs. And with a bit of tweaking, the audio is at a good level of sound. If you are looking for a quality basic television set, I recommend this one. If you plan to game, watch HDTV, or if you are a heavy movie viewer, then you might want to consider a higher model set ... but for us, this one works well!
Update -- January 8, 2009
After I was given a
50" Samsung Plasma Television, I relocated this 32" LCD TV into a bedroom. Once I moved the 32" television from the larger living room into the smaller bedroom, the sound works great! It's the craziest experience I've had regarding audio. The only thing I can figure is that having the smaller television in a larger room somehow "swallowed" the sound. Now that this 32" Samsung is in the bedroom, the audio works great along with a beautiful picture!
I hope you found this review useful.
Enjoy your day,
Dawn
http://dlstewart.com
Specifications:* Built-in HDTV Tuner
* 32" widescreen LCD / 178-degree viewing angles
* Resolution 1366 x 768 / supports 720p signals
* 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio
* DNIe (Digital Natural Image engine) circuitry
* Wide color enhancer and CCFL (Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamp)
* Contrast 10,000:1
* Response time 6ms
* SRS TruSurround XT Sound system (2 built-in 10W speakers)
* Inputs: 3 HDMI (1 side, 2 rear), 2 component video (rear), 2 composite A/V (1 side, 1 rear), 1 S-video (side), 1 PC (rear) and RF antenna
* Outputs: 1 optical digital audio (rear), 1 headphone jack
* Sleep Timer
* V-Chip parental controls
* Energy Star qualified
Please read my other reviews:
Altec Lansing SpeakersPhilips Portable DVD Player with screen LiteOn DVD Recorder/PlayerAPC UPS Emergency Battery Backup with 10 outletsEntertainment Weekly (magazine)TV GuideCopyright 2008 Dawn L. Stewart
