Samsung LN40A530 40" 1080p LCD HDTV
Many average consumers are still on the fence on whether to take the plunge and invest in an HDTV, some with the impression that cost is a big barrier to enjoying the benefits that high definition television can provide. But new LCD models like Samsung's 40" LN40A530
will likely change this.
The LN40A530 is one of Samsung's new LCD models for 2008, building upon the innovations that the company has made over the past several years as it built its reputation as a leading LCD maker vs. the likes of Sony, Sharp, Toshiba and other big players. Those advancements are now making their way into sets like the LN40A530, with price tags that put this technology within the reach of the average person.
Of course, Samsung's 2008 lineup of LCDs features several series, and the 530 sets are on the lower price side of the price and feature scale. A comparison of the LN40A530's major specs vs. the 40" LCDs in Samsung's new 650 and 750 serie shows that the LN40A530 includes 3 HDMI connections versus the 4 on the higher-end models, a 5ms vs. 4ms pixel response rate, and a 20,000 vs. 50,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio. Plus, the higher series sets include 1 GB of internal memory, an integrated woofer, and DLNA compatibility.
These differences shouldn't be deal-breakers, unless you believe the AV geeks when they say a high dynamic contrast ratio can greatly enhance the picture quality. And what would the geeks say about the 1080p full HD resolution the LN40A530 displays? Overkill, since on a 40" TV, the difference between 720p and 1080p is nearly imperceptible. Still, for a modern LCD priced as affordably as the LN40A530, it's hard to complain about getting to much high definition.
In fact, just a few years ago all the features the LN40A530 packs into its slim frame would have cost you a heck of a lot more. You'll get integrated digital and analog tuners, which make you instantly ready for the required switch to digital TV in 2009. Plus the LN40A530's QAM digital cable tuner allows you to scrap your cable box and view channels directly unscrambled by the TV on its own.
The LN40A530's 40" display deliver the aforementioned "Full HD," which means its screen consists of 1920 x 1080 pixels, creating a 1080p picture. 1080p is the max resolution you'll get from content on high-definition television channels, Blu-Ray discs, plus some games on the newer videogame consoles (Playstation 3 and Xbox 360).
The LN40A530 includes Samsung's proprietary Digital Natural Image (DNIe) engine, which it says will enhance picture quality by delivering better contrast, detail, white balance, and noise reduction. Reviews of this feature are mixed, but you have the option of turning this setting on or off based on your personal taste.
With a 5ms pixel response rate, the LN40A530's screen is quick to change its pixels in order to display even the fastest moving of action scenes. While this spec is lower than the 4ms response rate the Samsung's 650 and 750 series models boast, but then, a 5ms rate still bests some of the most popular TVs from the biggest brands.
Still not convinced? By all means check out more reviews on the Internet, but be sure to check out what other consumers like you think about the LN40A530. Check out their user reviews at Amazon.com.
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