Samsung LNT4665F 46″ 1080p LCD HDTV

January 18, 2010 — Led HDTV

Product Description

For those who are ready for the clearest, brightest LCD picture on the market today, Samsung presents the LN-T4665F. Full 1080p resolution is just the beginning: the color-saturated 46″ picture boasts a 15000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, displaying rich blacks and capturing subtle nuances. A fast 8ms response time ensures smooth, lifelike motion. SRS TruSurround XT sound from hidden side speakers is enhanced by the premium audio sound of 2.2 channel dome speakers. Enjoy connectivity with all your other digital devices, with 3 HDMI ports and a full complement of inputs. And the handy HMDI-CEC feature lets you control all your CEC-enabled peripherals using just one remote.

Product Details

  • Amazon Sales Rank: #15276 in Consumer Electronics
  • Color: Black
  • Brand: Samsung
  • Model: LNT4665F
  • Dimensions: 27.30″ h x 46.30″ w x 4.10″ l, 50.00 pounds
  • Display size: 46

Features

  • 1080P (Full HD)
  • 15,000:1 Contrast Ratio
  • Super Clear Panel
  • (3) HDMI, (2) Component Inputs
  • Swivel Stand

Customer Reviews

No better 46″ LCD – period!5
I searched for a flat-screen tv for a couple of months, and finally chose the 4665. I chose the size of the TV based on my room, and decided 50 was too big and 42 too small. This left me without a decision on plasma vs lcd, which was ok with me. Plasma has more basic issues, and going LCD was not a sacrifice – except I had yet to see a LCD with black blacks, so I was not sure what I would see in the 46″ range.

As for price range, I decided that I was going to buy the tv that I was happiest with. It was not that I have unlimited budget, just that I wanted to make sure that I would going to be completely satisfied with a 2-3k purchase. I really only knew about the plasma tv’s in 42″ 720p, so I had a lot of research to do to understand what to buy.

After reading hundreds of reviews and going to several stores to comparison shop, I was basically down to three Samsung models. I was considering the LN-T4665F, LN-T4661F and the LNS4696. Going straight by the specs, the 4665 looked to be the best because of the 15000:1 dynamic contrast ratio. With this in mind, I was confused to see that BestBuy has the 4696 in their Magnolia section and not the 4665 – my only guess is that it is because the 4665 does not have a cableCard slot.

After lots of playing I was more than happy with each of the TVs, and my choices were narrowed down by wanting more hdmi’s right on the set, wanting the best possible contrast, and the glossy screen on the 4665. I have seen several complaints about the glossy screen, however this was a selling feature for me – for the same reason that I ordered a MacBook Pro with the glossy screen – I just think that it makes moves look better. I can deal with reflection during the day to get a picture that I am happier with when watching a movie at night.

I must say that I am extremely impressed so far. I have not had a single image problem yet, and the setup was clearly the worst part of this tv. All-in-all, I am 100% satisfied with this purchase.

So here’s my brief summary of the high/low points:

Pros:
1. (3) HDMI inputs
2. Excellent contrast – forget the numbers, as they are fiction – the blacks are black
3. Glossy screen – movies spectacular – Toy Story is mind-blowing!
4. Weight – This is one of the newer, lighter sets
5. Price – Not that this set was cheap, but I liked this over the Sony and would have spent another $1,000 to get a comparable Sony – and I hate the glass around the Sony’s

Cons:
1. No cableCard slot – really only matters if you want to mount it on the wall

That’s how I see it. I give this TV my highest endorsement.

Here’s why I bought this, here’s why I’m even happier now.5
I’m the guy everyone in my family comes to for product advice, so hopefully my story will help people if they’re on the fence. Most of the decision points are the same as other reviews, but here’s how I came to my conclusion, and the unbelievable bonus that makes the purchase even better than I could have hoped.

Do I pay extra for 1080p? In the end I voted yes for this. Why? Because at my core I’m a tech guy. I may cheap out when buying certain clothes or pack my own lunch, but when it comes to technology, I want to be ahead of the curve. I buy extra ram for my computer so it will take longer to become obsolete, and the same goes for getting the newer technology for my TV.

LCD vs. Plasma: I’m a huge sports guy so this one was tough for me. But in the end, I decided that the blurring on fast sports was probably imperceptible (I was right), I read some real stories about burn in, and I wanted the option to hook up my laptop if I wanted.

Brand: Sony is too expensive, and I eliminated the lower models like Philips, LG, etc, and went between Samsung and Sanyo. For this, I looked at them side by side in the store, and the Samsungs were just brighter and crisper.

4665 vs. 4661: Because I had been leaning somewhat toward a plasma, I went with the 4665 because it was brighter, more “glass-like” in appearance, and well, performed more like a plasma. I live in a small NYC studio apartment with only 1 window. So while this sucks for natural light, it’s a perfect scenario for this TV. Glare is non-existent.

40″ TV vs. 46″ TV: I went back and forth on this, and to be honest, if Samsung had made a 42″ like every other brand, I would have probably settled on that. But the guy in the apartment before me had a 47″ Vizio in here. What was I supposed to do, go with 40″ after that? So even though my last TV was a 30″ Toshiba tube HDTV, and the 46″ looks somewhat ginormous in my studio, I said what the hell and went with bigger is better. I think the quote that got me was, “I’ve never met anyone that wished they had gotten a smaller TV, but I know several that regretted not going with a bigger model.”

Buy local or through Amazon: Well, we tried. My friend and I went to a local retailer here and said if he could come close to the Amazon price, factoring in shipping and tax, we would buy from him (both my buddy and I were buying TVs at the same time). They couldn’t come close. Read on for the money factor…

Bonus: Here is the tip that you probably didn’t know. So not only was the initial price ($2049) lower than the local retailer. And not only was shipping free. And not only was the tax free. And not only did I get multiple $25 gift cards because I used my Amazon credit card.

But Amazon has a policy that you can call up unlimited times and get a price reduction if you see a lower price on the product. So I bought my TV for $2049 on Nov 1. A week or so later, it had dropped to $1999 and I called and they credited my account. I set a reminder in my work Outlook to check every day at lunch. It dropped again to $1949. Call. Refund. I definitely made sure to check on Black Friday. And Black Monday. And again. Call. Refund. And again.

So in the end for me the price has dropped from $2049 to $1799, saving me $250 off my original price. Oh, and my friend’s TV dropped $50, my HD DVD player dropped $10, and even my wall bracket dropped $20.

But wait you say, I don’t have time to sit on hold all that time. Well, you don’t. If you go to Amazon’s help page, there is a feature called “Call me now.” You type in your phone number and literally 5 seconds later, your phone rings with a live person on the other end, and 2 minutes later you have your savings. And no, I don’t work for Amazon. Like I said, I’m the bargain guy, and I know every trick to get a good price. And if one end of the spectrum is creepy commissioned salespeople in Manhattan and the other is a flawless customer experience, it’s a no brainer.

All this would be irrelevant if the performance didn’t live up to the hype. Well, it does. In a word, the TV is stunning. End of story.

Supposed to be excellent 5
I don’t normally write reviews without owning a product, however.. I have ordered (the 4661) based off the following:

If you’ve never been to avsforum .com, it is a purely message board/forum style website where every manner of A/V is discussed. There are entire forums dedicated to discussing the various technical aspects of LCDs to Plasmas to projectors. Long story short, there is a month old, mile long thread that has nothing but glowing things to say about Samsung’s LNTXX61 and LNTXX65/66 series of TVs — how it’s refreshing to have a TV that doesn’t have clouding/banding issues. AVSForum is pretty much the site for technophiles, and the positivity is consistent, so it’s not just one or two jokers from Samsung trying to make their product look good.

THAT is the reason I placed the order for this. It has been a long time since a product line has received that much positive review on that site.

Most have said the detail improvement by bumping up to the XX65/6 over the XX61 is subtle. The 4661 has more of a matte finish around the edge whereas the XX65 has a shinier edge — which most have said is not bothersome when watching a show (some were concerned at first because they could see themselves while watching TV but have said overall it doesn’t bother them).

DO NOT get wrapped up in the whole “15000:1 versus 10000:1 contrast ratio” marketing difference. The differences are again much more subtle than manufacturers would have you believe. There are whole articles about how anything over 500:1 in anything but a _completely dark_ room is not noticeable to the naked eye.

Probably the main reason to perhaps go with the XX65 series is due to the apparently “lacking” speakers on the XX61 series. If you do NOT plan to hook this TV to an external sound system, then it may be worth considering the XX65 for the improved built-in speakers. The 65 has them on the sides, the XX61 has them underneath facing downwards and apparently the sound isn’t ideal. Although one might say for the 300 price difference between the two, buy the 61 series and apply that 300 towards a nice stereo receiver like a Yamaha.

I hope this information is helpful, I will add once I receive one myself. But if you’re on the fence, rest assured you are buying the latest and greatest at a great price (come on.. <2500 for a 46″ LCD! Just a year ago that was unheard of) and will NOT be disappointed.

If you need more reassurance, head to AVSForum and read the forum on this TV, but let me save you the trouble, I’ve summarized everything of interest in the above and you’ll find pages and pages of “What a relief it is to have a TV that doesn’t have the problems that plagued the last generation of LCD panels”. The technology has definitely matured with this release.

Take a look at Sony’s V462500, which is a year old. It was a great model from Sony, but at a year old it’s still several hundred more than this set. So the point I’m trying to make is you can feel good about this price.

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Samsung LN46A550 46-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV

January 18, 2010 — Led HDTV

Product Description

The SAMSUNG LN46A550 has full 1080p HD resolution and an astounding 30,000:1 dynamic-contrast ratio for the sharpest, most realistic picture quality ever, all on a 46-inch screen. Samsung’s innovative DNIe technology delivers a crisp, lifelike picture that is closer to film. (Both analog/digital) SRS TruSurround XT – produces virtual surround sound with the left and right speakers Amplifier watts per channel – 10 Watts x 2 Built-in digital tuner – ATSC / Clear QAM Picture-in-Picture mode Wide color enhancer optimizes a color’s hue resulting in more natural colors Bottom speakers Sound leveler Hook up your MP3 player or digital camera via the Wiselink USB 2.0 connection HDMI-CEC allows peripheral devices such as a DVD player to be controlled by TV remote control Auto wall mount compatible 3-dimensional operation via TV’s control; no external IR receiver required Stereo broadcast reception (MTS & SAP) with 181-channel capacity. TV dimensions without stand weight – 51.4 lbs TV dimensions with stand – 44.4 x 30.2 x 11.0; TV dimensions with stand weight – 60.8lbs Black finish

Product Details

  • Amazon Sales Rank: #5166 in Consumer Electronics
  • Brand: Samsung
  • Model: LN-46A550
  • Dimensions: 30.20″ h x 11.00″ w x 44.40″ l, 60.80 pounds
  • Display size: 46

Features

  • Full HD 1080p resolution
  • Wide color enhancer
  • 3 HDMI inputs
  • USB 2.0 HDMI-CDC

Customer Reviews

Great TV at a Great Price4
First things first, I ordered this TV directly from Amazon and within a few days the price dropped and Amazon refunded the difference. Awesome! Amazon’s White Glove delivery service delivered as promised and was OK to deal with; no issues at all. So for those of you wondering whether it is better to spend a few hundred bucks to order this set from a brick and mortar store; keep your money in your pocket and order from Amazon.

As for the TV, I am not a video expert type, but I do research big ticket items thoroughly before buying. This set and the previous generations received great reviews. However, I was torn between plasma and LCD. Being a big sports fan (lots of fast moving action on the screen) I had been leaning towards plasma. But the reviews of this set and the benefits of LCD over plasma (lighter, uses less energy, no risk of burn in and better for well lit rooms) made me make the plunge.

Overall, I am extremely satisfied. This is my first HDTV and I am using Directv HD service and the picture is outstanding. It is sharp, bright and overall beautiful. The only issue I have, which I was worried about with the LCDs, is that I do notice some pixelation when scenes move very fast (Thus 4 instead of 5 stars). However, it is not distracting but I do notice it.

The speakers are not as bad as some of the reviews would indicate. You just need to set the equalizer to the right settings. I have a home theatre set up so this is not a big issue, but to some it is so I thought I would comment on them.

The set looks great, is easy to set up and I am very, very, very happy with my purchase. Especially at this price. With my extra money I was able to buy a nice stand for the Samsung.

I hope this helps.

5 star performance, plus a few personal thoughts and tips5
Why I bought this set:
My old tube TV suddenly burnt out, I guess it sensed that the change was in the air… I originally wanted to go with a 42″ 720p set, but my partner insisted on getting a 1080p TV so “We’d be ready for the (near) future.” After reading many reviews, I learned that you won’t appreciate the 1080p hi-def on a set that’s less than 42″. So I started to look for a 46″ 1080p TV, and my budget was [$...]. I first looked at 4661/4665 models, but soon realized that they were being replaced by the 46A550. Even though this is a 5 series TV that replaced two 6 series TVs (well, sort of, consider the 4/5/6/7 classification is new for 2008), the 46A550 trumps its predecessors in specs, mainly the contrast ratio. You might have read that the contrast ratio varies from one manufacturer to another since there’s no standard for measuring, so it didn’t matter too much for me. I also read that 4661/4665 had some firmware issues, and at the time of purchase, they were actually more expensive than 46A550 on Amazon. So 46A550 became the clear winner.

Performance:
So far so good. It’s important to note that I currently do not have any HD input-just the standard cable signal and Wii via composite cables. Of course the picture quality is OK at best, but I am hardly complaining as I have faith in the set. Because this set is new (mine was assembled on March 31st and arrived to my house 10 days later), there aren’t many extensive reviews online yet. Usually, the Sony sets lead the pack in comparison reviews, but they usually cost [$...] more than the runner-up. To my eyes, the Sony tends to display more details and Samsung does a better job delivering vibrant color and contrast. One might look slight better than the other, depends on your preferences, when they are next to each other. But either one would look fantastic just by itself.

Interface:
The menu is pretty easy to navigate through, and options are where you’d expect. However, because there’s no dedicated PIP button, it was a little difficult to activate that. You’d have to either go through Menu or press the Tool button on the remote, then go down the menu and activate that feature. Also, I am not the biggest fan of the remote. It has back-lit feature, but in order to have all the buttons lit-up, Samsung gives us big soft rubbery buttons. Some of these buttons can get stuck if you press hard, and I am yet to use the back-lit feature cuz I usually have a light on in the room. The IR sensor can also be improved. It is located at the bottom right corner of the frame. My room isn’t huge, so sometimes I am a little “too close” to the TV, and the remote wouldn’t work because it is not aiming straight at the sensor. If the sensor was in the middle of frame, it’d probably work better. The aforementioned “imperfections” are definitely not deal-breakers.

Experience with Amazon and EGL shipping:
Like last time, it was a good experience this time. Amazon had very competitive price in the first place, and the 30-day price protection feature was a plus.
EGL shipping came on time. They delivered the TV to the room, put it on my stand and plugged in to make it worked fine. Noting to complain whatsoever.

Tips on extended warranty:
This TV comes with a 1yr service/labor warranty. If anything goes wrong, you do not need to ship it back. Instead, call Samsung and they will send a technician out to repair it on site.
I thought it’d be a good idea to get some extended warranty (say, 3 year?) on this [$...] toy. At the time of purchase, Amazon offered two 3-yr ext. warr. options on this particular model-Option 1 is from a 3rd party vendor (with the envelop and seal logo) and Option 2 one from Samsung (with a Samsung logo). Option 1 was slight cheaper, but didn’t receive very good ratings on Amazon, while Option 2 had no ratings at all. Option 2 didn’t even have thorough explanation on what’s covered and what’s not.
After lengthy research, i found out that the “Samsung ext. service” was really offered through Service Net ([...]), and they told me the fine prints of the warranty can be found at ([...]). The 3-yr Samsung plan through Amazon overlaps the first year manufacturer’s warranty, so really you are only getting 2 extra years out of the deal. Service Net sells their versions of the “Samsung 3yr ext. warranty”, which really gives you 3 additional years after the first year, but is way WAY more expensive. Don’t know why…
None of the above sounded like a sure-sell to me, so here’s what I did. I found out that my Visa card has a feature called Warranty Protection. Basically it extends the original manufacturer’s warranty for another year. ‘n at the end of the 2nd year if you wish to extend the warranty even further, Visa offers an additional 3-yr plan that’s about [$...]. You can call your bank and/or Visa regarding this feature.

Hope my review helps…

My review of the Samsung LN46A550P5
Well, here’s my review of the Samsung LN46A550P 46-inch 1080p LCD HDTV.

A little over a year ago I bought a Samsung 214T-21.3″ monitor for my big computer.

I’ve been extremely happy with its performance and quality. So much so, I decided on a Samsung monitor for my movie watching experience.

I bought the LN46A550P to replace a 20 year old 50″ Mitsubishi. The 50″ TV was excellent in its day but it was old and had some issues. Obviously, it was time for retirement.

After doing a week and a half’s worth of research I decided on the Series 5 for four main reasons:

1) 30,000:1 Dynamic Contrast Ratio – The higher, the better picture quality.
2) 5ms Response Time – The amount of time any given pixel on the screen takes to change from one color to another. For game playing this is a must.
3) Appearance – it is a handsome looking piece of furniture!
4) Price

The day the monitor arrived I took the lid off the shipping container and felt that the monitor was cool to the touch. After all, it spent about 10 days in a cold truck and 3 more days in a warehouse before it was delivered to my home. Because of that, I opted to unpack the monitor and let it sit in my living room for a day or so before plugging it in.

I live in a mobile home that has a moderately sized living room. If I had purchased a bigger set, I’d be too close to the action. It would be like being too close to the screen in a movie theatre. (not good)

For optimum viewing it is best to place the monitor at the same height as your head if you were sitting in your favorite chair about 6 to 8 feet away. I’ve seen pictures of this monitor mounted on a wall much higher up and further away from the viewing perspective and wondered if the people watching a movie would get a sore neck. Having such a setup reduces the movie watching experience as well.

The monitor’s subsystems are accessed through a Microsoft Windows-like menu making it easy for anybody to access its features.

I do recommend disabling the monitor’s speakers within the monitor’s menu system.
The monitor’s speakers are fine for average viewing but fall short in providing booming sound for movies.

I have my monitor connected to an amplifier. This is done by connecting cables from the left and right audio channel output jacks behind the monitor to the amplifier’s audio input jacks.

My Nintendo Wii is connected to my monitor via a Component cable for maximum video clarity. The Wii’s audio cables are also plugged into the monitor and the sound the Wii makes is routed through the monitor’s electronics to the amplifier. I included this information in my review for all you gamers.

In studying the manuals you will notice right away that the quick setup guide warns that if you experience any difficulties with the monitor NOT TO SEND IT BACK TO THE PLACE OF PURCHASE. Instead, it instructs you to call SAMSUNG. Samsung offers in-home service for monitors larger than 30 inches during the warranty period.

In the near future I plan to purchase a Sony Blue Ray player (BDPS300). It is a second generation BD player that steps DVD movies up to 1080p.

Care and Maintenance:

ALWAYS use a micro fiber clothe to clean an LCD display to avoid scratching its surface. Samsung includes a micro fiber clothe with the monitor but no cleaning solution. You will need some good cleaner, like; “Monster ScreenClean LCD Display Cleaner 2 Bottle Screen Clean Mini Package (MPC CLNKIT-SM)” found here on Amazon.com.

I use that cleaner to keep my computer LCD monitors clean. It leaves no dirt or dust behind after cleaning.

I gave this monitor 5 out of 5 stars with only one recommendation for Samsung; keep the audio output jacks in the back of the monitor but remove the built-in speakers. People who buy such a monitor have amplifiers and movies in mind.

One Special Note:

On the shipping container you will see a liquid-filled sticker in the shape of a pyramid that says, “Tip & Tell”. If the tip of the pyramid is blue it means the monitor was tipped over during shipping. In that case, make sure the delivery company makes note of it on the delivery invoice!!! My monitor was tipped but I saw no damage to the container at all. My monitor has no visible damage either and works perfectly. Makes me wonder what happen? Either way, I’m cover under warranty!

Register the monitor with Samsung as well and keep the receipts in a safe place.

Roger. (40 y/o)

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Samsung LN46A650 46-Inch 1080p 120 Hz LCD HDTV with Red Touch of Color

January 18, 2010 — Led HDTV

Product Description

Samsung has reinvented the traditional LCD bezel and gave it a stylish, unique look with the exclusive Touch of Color. This truly exceptional TV also includes InfoLink RSS feature which lets you enjoy instant access to news, weather, sports and stock information. And action scenes have never looked so real with Auto Motion Plus 120Hz and Ultra Clear Panel technology. With too many features to list, the Samsung LN46A650 takes your home entertainment to another level.

Product Details

  • Amazon Sales Rank: #4246 in Consumer Electronics
  • Color: Black
  • Brand: Samsung
  • Model: LN46A650
  • Dimensions: 28.10″ h x 3.70″ w x 44.50″ l, 49.20 pounds
  • Display size: 46

Features

  • Touch of Color Bezel
  • Full HD 1080p Resolution
  • 120Hz Auto Motion Plus
  • 4 HDMI Inputs
  • Super Clear Panel

Customer Reviews

Simply Amazing5
I just got my TV last Friday and it is everything that I have expected. Unlike the first reviewer on this site, I have not experienced the overheating issues (fingers crossed). If you read his review he did admit the TV was great until that started happening. I just hope I don’t get the same issue.

On to my review:
I spent over a year and a half researching flat panels. I came close to purchasing a Samsung 71F series, but when the salesman told me that new 2008 models were coming out in March, I decided to hold and do more research on those models. I almost purchased the 5 series, but when I found out that it does not have 120hz refresher rate, I decided to research the 6 series and ended buying the 46A650.

I briefly looked at the 7 series, but when I found out the only difference between the two was that the 7 series has a USB port for your MP3 player and 1 GB of cache, I figured it was not for me. I use a dock connected to my receiver when I play my MP3, so to me that was a useless function to fork over extra $$$ for. In addition, I have a PS3 so I don’t really need the 1GB of cache to use the TV as a multimedia center. If you don’t have a PS3 and plan to use your TV to view pictures and play music then the 7 series might be for you.

Pros:
I have the 46″ and I was amazed at how light it was. I was able to pick it up by myself and put it on the stand. The red is absolutely amazing. That’s the favorite thing my Fiancée likes about this TV. Personally, I like the red because it is very subtle and goes great with our family room.

The first night we got it we watched the movie Ratatouille on Blu-Ray Disc. Let me tell you after watching the movie my jaw was sore because I think I spent more than 3/4ths of the movie with my jaw open from the amazing picture. The picture was so clear and concise that we paused it and we were able to even see the little freckles on the mice throughout the movie, including the separate hairs.

As I said earlier I play video games with my PS3, so the 120 hz refresher rate was critical to have. MLB the Show 08 is insane. Just looking at the players faces and even the fans blew me away. My brother has a 46″ inch Vizio 1080P and he recommended it to me saying that there is not much difference from the two so I am better off saving. Let me tell you, he is absolutely wrong. I’ve watched his Vizio and to be honest, it can’t even hold the jockstrap of the 46A650 if it was a male. There is a big difference believe me. The only TV that could probably match-up to this one is the XBR Bravia with 120HZ. That would’ve been what I would have purchased if I had not gotten this one. Up until now, I have absolutely no regrets.

The reason I researched for over a year and a half is because I wanted to get a TV that if something new came on the market a few months later, I would not regret my purchase. I feel very strongly that I will not regret this purchase down the line.

I love having 4 HDMI inputs. This was very important for my purchase also, since I have separate HDMI components. The TV also has an ethernet port, so I have it plugged into the internet. I can get weather, news and stock quotes through it. I’ll admit, I haven’t used it much, but it’s nice to know, I can check the temperature at the touch of the button.

The blacks on this TV are awesome and I can have my curtain open on my huge family room window and I can see the tv clearly during the day. I love the TruSurround feature, since right now I only have two speakers and a subwoofer. This feature is meant to improve the sound quality for people who use two speaker systems. I plan to get a surround sound system eventually, but it’s going to be a while. That’s where this tool comes in handy

The screen is glossy, but I don’t have an issue with it. I like the glossy look and besides, it is meant to make the colors more vibrant and intense. I’ve played with the different viewing modes, but actually, I like standard the best. The movie mode is a little too dark for me and the game one is a little too bright. Standard mode is my desired preference.

The remote is oddly shaped and takes a while to get used to. It also has an ipod like scroll. Some people complain that it is an ugly remote. This is ridiculous; I’m sorry, but I did not purchase this TV for its remote. Anyway, I’m planning on upgrading to an RF Logitech remote this summer anyway.

Cons:

The TV is so good that on the tv stations with weak signals, you can see the weakness of the signal. On some you could see the lines and imperfections, due to having a weak signal. That is only a with a few channels. It’s a negative, but that’s what you get when the picture is very detailed; You will not only get the good qualities, but the bad also, if the signal is not strong. Regardless, that issue will be moot next year when the tv stations will be required to broadcast by digital signal.

Another issue is, that when you turn it on it takes about 3-4 seconds to pick up my digital cable signal from my DVR box. In addition when you switch between sources it takes around the same amount of time to pick up the signal. I’m impatient, which is a negative quality of mine. In our household, it seems like it is an issue only with me, since it does not bother my fiancee at all or any of our friends. Maybe it would not be a con if I was not so stupidly impatient.

Those are really the only two issues I have with the TV and to me they are very minor ones. I just pray I don’t start getting the issues, the first reviewer experienced.

Overall:

I am very happy with my purchase. I am very satisfied and do not feel guilty or have any regrets about making this purchase. Up until now, I feel this TV is worth every penny I paid for it. I’ll be updating my review as I learn more about this TV. I hope my review helped you, even if it was only a tad bit helpful, before making your investment on a flat panel television. Good luck with your search.

About time, Or so I thought.5
:: It seems the Shut off Issue has been corrected on my set!!::

Prior to picking this TV up I had 2 of the 71 series televisions. Both of them had problems concerning a flicker as well as a some dim pixel clusters under the screen. I still had my last 71 under the 30 day policy so i returned it for this years new model: the 650A.

The Tv itself is beautiful. The hint of red is very subdued yet adds a nice touch when you get up close. A warning about the screen, it is glossy. If your room is well lit and you get distracted by reflections, this is not for you. The benefit of the glossy screen is more vibrant colors and contrast. SO for most its worth the glare to have a beautiful picture when you close the blinds. Though in daylight I don’t have a problem at all watching it, but its optimal in dark.

The remote is interesting. It has an Ipod inspired turn wheel in the middle of the remote that is super touchy. It takes some getting used to but its kind of cool. The source input is now a drop down menu where you directly choose the input rather than cycling through them one by one. It also has a motion sensor in it, when activated, auto turns the light on in the remote when its moved. People complain that its an ugly remote, but seriously, its a remote. You dont stare at it like the TV’s picture.

Speaking of which the picture is where the tv truly shines. Vibrant colors, amazing detail, inky blacks. This is the LCD I have been waiting for. Bluray= amazing.

So the TV is very similar to the 71 except 3 new modes which are called “Entertainment Modes” These are Pre-calibrated from the factory and you cannot adjust the picture at all.
1. Sports mode: For high speed sports. This mode is a lot brighter than the others and is designed for faced paced imagery.
2.Game: This is for games obviously. The AMP feature is toned down but the Video Processor is turned up for a smoother game play. Colors are less vibrant than sports, but just a tad.
3. Cinema Mode: Intended for film and is a darker more film like picture. AMP is functioning at normal capacity. Some think this is to dark but I really think its Ideal.

The best part about the Entertainment modes: No judder or stutter and TBE is fairly gone from the 71 series. These modes are amazing and should be the only modes used on the tv for smooth performance.

You can read about more of the features but So far this TV has been exactly what I have been waiting for. There have been quite a few reports of random restarts, I have yet to have any. If this is a widespread problem it will be patched on the older models and will come out of the factory with the fix installed. Samsung tvs have had this problem before and it was fixed last time. I have no worries. (And it just restarted, hooray)

Amazing picture, but surprised by some missing features5
I want to say first off that I also experienced the bug where the TV unexpectedly turns itself off, but after I installed the firmware upgrade that Samsung posted on 4/5 the problem has gone away.

I agree with the other reviewers that the picture is AMAZING. I am also happy to see that Samsung has added a 4th HDMI port. I was initially concerned that the “Touch Of Color” might clash with my decor, but it is very subtle especially if you mount the TV inside a cabinet. The “Infolink” feature is cute and easy to set up, but I don’t see it as being extremely useful.

Now for some caveats. I purchased this TV right after setting up an LNT4661F for my inlaws, and I was quite surprised to realize that the A650 is missing several features from the 4661F, despite the A650 costing $650 more. For starters, the A650 does not have a rear S-video port (only one S-vide port on the side). This is probably not a big deal for most people, but if you are using a VCR or older cable box, etc. you will have a cable plugged into the side of the TV. Also there is only one composite port on the back of the TV, plus one more on the side. If you want to switch between three composite input surveillance cams, etc. you’re out of luck. More of a concern to me was that the A650 has only 1 antenna input versus 2 on the 4661F. That means with the A650 you can’t plug in both an antenna and a cable input. I guess Samsung figures everyone is using a set top box so they cut corners there.

By far my biggest complaint is with the Remote control. Again unlike the 4661F, the A650 does NOT have a universal remote! It’s essentially a TV-only remote, although it CAN control Samsung “Anynet+” components connected via HDMI. This seems like a big step backwards and bothers me more than the other features that were removed. Also the remote is not described on the Samsung website so I had no way of knowing that the remote had been “de-improved”. I agree with other reviewers that the navigation wheel is horrible … it spins freely which makes it practically useless … you spin the dial to make your selection, then as you move your finger to press the enter button inside the scroll wheel, the wheel moves and you select the wrong value. You have to wonder “what were they thinking?”. I’ve seen Happy Meal toys with better tactile feedback!

Despite my criticisms and annoyance that some features have been removed, I still rated this TV as 5 stars because in my book, picture quality is by far the biggest consideration and it looks great to me. Also the aesthetics are very nice and the new features such as 4th HDMI and Infolink make up for the removed features and poor remote control.

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Samsung LNT4661F 46-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV

January 17, 2010 — Led HDTV

Product Details

  • Amazon Sales Rank: #15405 in Consumer Electronics
  • Color: Black
  • Brand: Samsung
  • Model: LNT4661F
  • Dimensions: 27.80″ h x 43.50″ w x 4.10″ l, 64.40 pounds
  • Display size: 46

Features

  • 1080P (Full HD)
  • 10,000:1 Contrast Ratio
  • 16×9 Aspect Ratio w/ PIP
  • (3) HDMI, (2) Component Inputs
  • Swivel Stand

Amazon.com Product Description
For people looking to step up to full 1080p resolution in a 46-inch flat-panel LCD, Samsung’s 2007 model LNT4661FF is a good choice. Besides offering full 1080p resolution the LNT4661F also features a 10,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio for rich blacks and subltle texture display, an 8ms response time panel for smooth motion, hidden side speakers, an NTSC tuner, and 3 HDMI ports.

Customer Reviews

BUY THIS TV!!!5
I don’t usually write Amazon reviews, but in researching LCD TVs, I found the reviews so helpful that I felt compelled to contribute. If you are searching for a high-quality LCD TV, look no further: it doesn’t get any better than Samsung. I work in IT, and every fellow geek whom I surveyed recommended a Samsung LCD or DLP. Since DLP won’t fit in the space available in our bungalow’s living room, we went with LCD.

Review after review on Amazon and CNet rank the LNT4661F and the LNT4555F as best in class. After looking at the sets side by side with LG, Sharp, and Sony models in local stores, the Samsung’s superiority became apparent. I quickly eliminated other brands from consideration and focused on the Samsung LNT4661F vs. LNT4665F. If you’re in a quandry over which is best, here’s what I found:

1) The LNT4665F does has a marginally better picture and contrast ratio than the LNT4661F. I reviewed the sets side by side and noticed the biggest difference during very dark scenes. The LNT4665F handles those slightly better than the LNT4661, but the LNT4661 still looked better than any other LCD nearby.

2) The shiny screen on the LNT4665 will DEFINITELY create glare issues in any room where you cannot control direct or ambient light. The set I looked at in Circuit City had no problems with glare, but it was located in a home-theater type viewing room. The set at Best Buy was in an area facing windows and overhead light, and the glare was very noticeable. As my living room gets light from a ceiling fixture, two lamps, and three windows, I feel that I made the right choice in going with the LNT4661F given its matte screen.

3) Eagle Global Logistics was a PAIN regarding delivery. Were shipping not free, I would have been REALLY ticked. Basically, they would only deliver the set on Tuesdays or Thursdays, which is hard to accommodate if you work full-time and those are your busiest days of the week. I went to the warehouse to pick up the unit and found the warehouse staff to be professional. The packaging was compact considering the size of the item, and it fit easily into a friend’s Ford Escape.

4) You can’t beat the LNT4661F for the price. Circuit City and Best Buy were both around $800 more than Amazon when sales tax was factored in. Interestingly, both Circuit City and Best Buy were charging $2495 for the LNT4665F and $2595 for the LNT4661F, despite the LNT4665F being the “lower” model.

Overall, I couldn’t be happier with this purchase. The TV looks AWESOME, and we’ve had tons of fun watching colorful movies like Finding Nemo, PBS in hi-def, Harry Potter/Lord of the Rings movies, etc. BUY THIS TV: YOU WON’T BE SORRY!

Amazing Picture Quality, Great Features and Fantastic Price5
I think my title about sums it up. I was initially going to purchase a Samsung LN-S4695D because the price had dropped so low, but then I saw this set. After doing some comparison research I decided that the extra $130 was well worth it for this set.

I was a little apprehensive about purchasing a TV online, but the process was extremely smooth. Eagle White Glove service gets perfect marks in my book. The TV was ordered on a Thursday night and arrived the following Wednesday. They helped me up the stairs with the TV, took it out of the box and plugged it in to make sure it worked properly.

Now on to the TV, some people have mentioned poor audio quality, but really, I don’t think it’s bad at all, but I always use my surround sound so its a moot point for me.

Enough about the speakers though, it’s the picture that really makes this set shine. It looked great right out of the box, maybe a little bright, but after turning down the back light and making a few other settings it looks fantastic. I have COX cable using an HD DVR over an inexpensive HDMI cable (Cables Unlimited 6FT HDmi Cable). Picture quality is amazing!!! Be sure to set your HD box to just output 1080i and let the TV do the rest. The ‘Just Scan’ setting on the tv gives you 1:1 pixel mapping. I also have an x-box 360 plugged in via VGA, which also looks fantastic. The most pleasant surprise for me though was the amazing quality of SD channels. I had a 26″ LCD that was several years old and the difference between the two is immediately noticeable. The Samsung does a great job with SD and an amazing job with HD.

This is just my initial impressions after using the set for a week. So far, I’m very pleased though.

One of the Best LCD’s on the market…SAMSUNG DELIVERS5
Amazon Experience:

Ordered the TV on amazon using free shipping (total was 2k) and of course I was kind of worried because they use this Eagle EGL company to deliver the item, but they were prompt to call me within a few days (3 to be exact) and scheduled a drop off time…so to sum up delivery I received the item a 5 days after the purchase, which is almost 3 times faster then the estimated two weeks amazon gave me. Happy Service from Amazon and EGL =D

LCD Experience:

The TV out of the box has great style and the casing does not illuminate as much light as many proclaim (and considerably less then her bigger sister the 65f). And also out of the box the settings were pretty but a little too pedestrian for me with too high of backlight and brightness settings and not to mention over saturated…so I lowered some options and tweaked with the backlighting a bit to find the sweet spot for my 1 bedroom apartment…and in all honesty, unless you live in an extremely sunny living room/bedroom then the backlight should only really need to be at 1 or 2…plus it saves energy (less on the bill), it gives you the best black levels (you don’t want your blacks gray) and not to mention a longer life on the LCD =D — Oh and btw the LCD’s black levels are the best (very rich) I have seen on the market (not including Plasmas/CRTs), and I have seen quite a few in real world settings…of course next to her older sister 65f which has a slightly better contrast ratio and brighter image, BUT it also illuminates the smallest of lighting that is reflecting/refracting within the room.

The only issues I had with the TV is that it is not nearly as sharp as the SONY KDL or XBR series and it tends to favor greens and reds with a strange hue of blue…also the sharpness setting can go way too high for the viewer’s own good, you start to see noise and interfence, YES even with digital signals (it has to do with the power signal)…but you can punch the sharpness up and turn on Digital NR (noise reduction) to medium or high if you experience any noise/interference. Also one last gripe; which isn’t really that bad and can be ignored easily, some 1080i sources ghost some of the faster moving images…

Pros:

*AMAZING Blacks PERIOD
*Great Colors (for the most part)
*Sexy as hell
*Very Clean and Clear image (though not as clear as Sony KDL or XBR)
*1080p through component

Cons:

*Sometimes frequency interference will show itself
*Blues are strange
*1080i sources show up with quite a fair amount of ghosting (trails left behind moving images)

Hope this review helps =) — long live Samsung (i love sony too, but this TV has better value and 1080p through component ^_^

Saman K.

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