LCD TV Reviews

Ever since we were small, all of us had been a gadget freak with our interests being on TVs and the then radios. Later we all shifted to computers when we reached high school and to laptops and mobiles when we stepped into the Uni. But still, the craze behind TVs is a never ending one. As the time passed by, TVs evolved a lot in their shape, design and framework. What was once a massive CRT monitor has evolved to flat panels LCDs and to date the new generation LEDs with 3D display. With TVs becoming an inseparable component in our lives, for instance, at school where discussions focused on TV shows and major FIFA events surpassed the listening to some boring lectures. Much of our craze could be accounted to the discussions we shared among friends who too would race along with us to procure the latest technology.

From the time we know about TVs, Panasonic has been one of the favourite ones. They have dominated this area with high quality styles and finishes. The model we are discussing here is the TX -L32G10 series, belongs to LCD TVs category and with its subtle, sneaky design it is sure to capture the masses. This review is about this 32″ beauty which comes with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels offering you a stunning picture quality.

Design:

Display:
The Viera TX-L32G10 LCD TV comes with a 32″ inch display. It supports full HD including 780p, 1080i and 1080p formats. Set to use the IPS panel, it has a wide viewing angle making those sitting at the corners to see a picture with fewer colours and contrast loss. For movies to be played to its maximum clarity from a blu ray disc or PS3 support, it could be achieved by using this 1080p resolution which is the maximum. High definition broadcasting is supported in the 1080i resolution. Hence this display satisfies with excellent delivery of images you could wish for. With this system comes the Eco mode through which the panel responds to ambient light surrounding the screen, brightening or dimming the picture according to the environment.

V 4 real:
V4 real is the new form that Panasonic’s V real picture processing engine has taken. With this, the screens inner circuitry has been designed such that, the incoming Standard Definition source is filtered so as to improve the High Definition presentation. Pictures that this G10 series delivers are much more presentable. The HD pictures whether it is from your favourite DVD player or from your satellite tuner, they are exceptionally sharp on its full HD screen.  The IFC helps the motion look sharp and fluid provided it is placed to its low levels. With the alpha screen design watching it from a really wide angle would never be a problem. The black level is certainly good to give pictures a mixture of dark and light shades.

Ports:
As with the ports and connectivity there are 4 HDMI ports, an SD card slot which allows JPEG to be played in TVs and a D Sub PC port. There is also an Ethernet port for broadband connection through router or other freesat services. The HDMI interfaces could be used to control similarly enabled devices through a remote control. The Viera link could be used to support digital cameras.

Features:

100Hz Motion:
This is one important feature that would stick into your minds when you think of this TX L32G10 32″ LCD Television. The 100Hz motion improves the rate at which the scenes appear on the plat panel screen.  Earlier the flat panels had a problem in display which was the loss of detail or the motion blur during fast moving scenes like a sports or action sequence. 100Hz is aimed to remove this flaw by increasing the number of frames, thereby improving the appearance of motion in the screen.

Processor:
Processor is the main master brain behind processing pictures. As we just mentioned, this Panasonic Viera LCD has a 100 MHz processor. It is amazing to think of technology that has incorporated processors in Television. The processor helps in blending the pictures smoothly and making it lucid giving the users a wonderful experience. This comes to action while you watch High definition movies or pictures through satellites. Hence, no jarring or blurring of pictures would be observed.

Contrast Ratio:
Contrast ratio is a fact that determines the clarity of the picture on your TV. What makes you spellbound is the humungous contrast ratio of 50000:1 offered here. It implies that pictures are quite sharp and you would never experience the conventional problems you have with low quality LCD TVs.  So what is more? It gives you a superb home theatre experience; just enjoy your weekend with your latest Blu ray movie or with the new high definition satellite channels.

24P True Cinema:
Imagine yourself watching a movie resting in a cosy bed rest with your favourite drink and popcorn by your side. There is nothing so relishing as enjoying your favourite film in your home cinema system. Provided, if you are a fan of movies, make sure you have this 24 p True cinema that comes along with this TXL32G10 package. Interestingly, with the 24P true cinema the TV works in sync with your movie player and shows each frame without any delay, meaning that, the frames are shown the same rate at which it was filmed. This is a big leap over the technology considering the fact that earlier TVs were unable to handle the speed and had to adjust the speed of movies to match with that of TVs. This means that 24P shows films at the same rate you would get in a movie theatre. And that is why it is called the true cinema experience.

Energy saver:
One reason any person would opt for an LCD despite its cost is due to its energy efficiency.  The upper hand these displays hold over their CRT predecessors are due to the chemical properties of the Liquid Crystals. This Panasonic Viera TX-L32G10 Full HD LCD TV model has all the necessary energy saving features which are designed to cut down the E bills and protect the environment.

Freeview:
One of the major concerns that consumers had was the absence of free view and free sat in LCDs since it was restricted only among plasmas. But finally, they have their prayers answered, as of now they can enjoy the access to digital television stations without a set top box.  This freeview is the UK standard version to access the free TV stations like ITV, BBC, E4 and many others. Unlike the Sky or many others, there were no subscription charges and no need for a dish. The G20 series allows you full access to all stations through the television antenna or Ariel. Though built-in, it never affects the TVs ability to work with any TV provider. Overall, the free view has simply rocked.

World of Games:
No matter what type of gamer you are and what you like to play, playing a game in this TX-L32G10’s 32 inch screen makes it a wonderful experience. Whether you are paying DOOM 3 or if it is the Punisher this screen simply enhances the dark areas and sharpens the picture. Given its high speed of frame rate it lets you speed up image processing. Whether you perform a combo move in Ninja turtles or choose a weapon from the inventory the frame rate gives you a honey smooth experience. The game mode in this model optimises the image and sound quality giving you a chunky and sweet experience.

Freesat tuner:
With Freesat service and the availability of 140 digital channels all you need to do is buy a dish on your home and connect the dish feed to the rear of our device and then run the auto tune mode. A perfect HD TV requires channels which are of high digital quality. Only this can improve the film experience. With an inbuilt freesat tuner you have an easy way to view around 140 digital channels and radio channels, some brilliant HD programmes from BBC and ITV free of cost or without paying the rent. In addition to these free services the free sat feature provides super fast digital text, subtitles, audio description and ensures expansion of services to maximum limit. It guarantees undaunted picture clarity and surround sound on every channel. It has a single remote that allows interconnected operations of various devices which are connected through the HDMI cable.

SD Memory card:
Connect the camera’s HDMI output to VIERA to control the playback of images stored in it using the remote. Alternatively, you have an SD card reader that allows you watch and show the stills and video just after a superior picture quality is taken. The procedures are quite simple: Just insert the SD memory card into VIERA TXL32G10 and watch them in full HD coming live on this magnificent screen. Also you could choose among the 3 background types and 4 display effects while you playback your media.

Audio Connectivity and Accessories:
The audio delivery is taken care by the V Audio Surround system which gives depth sound image effect by actual measurement of the room based on the reflection data generated from a digital signal processor. Connectors are responsible for the flexibility and versatility. Some of the connectivity included are 1 x PC Input, 2 x SCART, 4 x HDMI, 1 x Composite, 1 x S video, 1 x RF and 1 x Coaxial Cable Digital audio. The accessories that come with the package include Remote control, batteries for the remote control, camper, cleaning cloth, 4 x assembly screws for pedestal.

Performance:

Picture quality:
The 100 Hz technology has been the latest innovation, the result of years of toil by manufacturers. Addition of this new technology to the LCD TVs has been eyed to deliver smoother motion and also to get some major benefits. Set it to high, this along with the Intelligent Frame Creation gives an over processed look with pictures with fast motion sequence. Whether set to strong or medium better performance, it can be recorded overall with IFC turned off.  The TX L32G10 produces a picture which is free of external influences and is clean and sharp. HD broadcast renders absolutely stunning quality on the sets coupled with superb sharpness. With the extra 1080 P resolution you could separate each and every minute detail in the picture even in the case of a long range shots.

Display performance:
High Definition on the 1920 x 1080 pixels resolution screen is simply awesome. The picture drawn on this screen rarely misses any details making it an engrossing home experience.  Along with a good black level response and with the processing abilities of V real 4 facial tones are presented with full realism that remains a Herculean challenge for other LCD TVs to beat.  With a glorious vibrancy scenes comes alive and never appears over saturated.  But still it is unfortunate that the black levels cannot be matched with V real 4 engine. Though good the black levels appear grey in darker scenes with subtle fine details. One problem that disappoints you irrespective of the display is with the sound. Its short comings are realised once it is pushed to its limits. The basic problem with the sound is that the bass it delivers is simply not up to the mark.

Along with free-view broadcast, you could also have some terrestrial broadcast which would be handy incase we are peculiar about a particular channel.

When it comes to Standard definition, the TVs the performance falls well below the mark that its predecessors managed to surpass. The set features of the Ethernet located at the rear is currently unused and the other fact is that, this would not media stream from a PC. With an HD signal and additional freesat HD tuner, this show stopper allows you to access widest possible range of free channel without any box.  The prices are a bit unfriendly and the performance of SD is not quite as impressive.

Verdict:

Customers face a dilemma while making a decision between Plasma and LCD TVs. These two Flat panels available in the market have their own pros and cons.  Though, the pros over-weigh the cons, the TX L32G10 leans towards the expensive side which could reduce this market value of this flamboyant product. Added to this comes the fact that, Standard definition falls short of the expected level. The Black level is just close to average and the sound quality is typically poor. But, if you consider the other side, the resolution is one thing that pulls you to it. Along with it, comes the HDMI and umpteen connectives that comes with it. Built-in with a freesat HD tuner, the performance it delivers is top notch. Overall, we would say that if you are adamant to have an LCD with a freesat and you have the budget required, then do not wait, the new Panasonic VIERA TX-L32G10 is the one you are looking for.

Check other Panasonic LCD TV Reviews, Daewoo LCD TV Reviews in this website.

Panasonic Viera TX-L32G10 Specification Table

Manufacturer	Panasonic
Model Name	TX
Model Number	32G10B
Dimensions (H X W X D) in mm	831 x 579 x 225 mm
Weight	18 Kg
Colour	Piano black
Stand type	Table top swivel
Display size	32 inch wide screen
Display technology	LCD
Display Format	1080p
Resolution	1920 x 1080
Contrast Ratio	50000:1
Analogue TV Tuner	NTSC, PAL
Digital TV Tuner	Yes
HD Ready	Yes
Input Video Formats	AV 1, AV 2
Picture Status Mode	Normal, Cinema, Eco, Dynamic
Remote Control	Universal remote control - Infrared
Supported Devices	TV and VCR, DVD , Satellite or Cable
Sound Output Mode	Stereo
Sound Status Mode	Automatic
Speakers Included	2 Speakers
Audio Output	2 x 10 W
Parental Channel Lock	No
Child Lock	Yes
Image control	Yes
Clock Timer	Yes
Clock Sleep timer	Yes
Connectivity	4 x HDMI - 1 Port PC Mode 1 x Component video input 1 x VGA input 1 x USB 1 x Audio line-out 1 x Ethernet port 1 x Digital audio output (optical) 1 x SD card reader
Power Device	Power supply - Internal
Power consumption	138 W
Warranty	1 year

LED edge lit TVs make the fashion statement in TVs these days.  Their success is attributed to the fact that they offer a better quality of images and consume lesser power than conventional televisions. They are more expensive and are usually top of the range models. The Philips 40PFL8664H is the company’s answer to the increasing demand for such televisions. The 40 inch television is packed with a host of features that are considered as ‘high end’.  It has Ambilight Spectra 2 ambient lighting technology, Net TV for streaming Web content and multimedia playback as well.

Design:

Ultra Slim!
The 40 inch 40PFL8664H LCD television uses exclusive technology that makes it ultra slim. It has a frame of 2.8 cm enabling it to fit into compact spaces. The thin profile of 3.9 cm gives it a minimalist appearance that goes well with any interior.

Attractive:
It is human tendency to get attracted to things are that are slimmer. The televisions are no exception. The Philips PFL8664 LED LCD TV sports a black stylish bezel with a black narrow panel frame and a transparent finish. The entire television is upheld on a glass stand with a curvaceous V shaped shaft.  The Philips logo is embossed on the bottom part of the bezel.

Rather Awkward Controls:
The TV controls present on the right side of the television are non backlit push buttons. There is a USB port present on the left.  While these are at the right places, we had issues with the location of the auxiliary AV inputs and headphone jack. They were present at the rear placing them at a rather inconvenient location to use.

Stylish Remote:
The remote is a long candy bar like device with an arched bottom.  It has a black matte and glossy finish making it a great counterpart for the television. It has a brushed metal surface and has no multifunctional controls. There is a pretty chrome directional pad available that did look rather odd initially. On the remote are keys such as Home to access the Main menu and Options to access the important AV settings. However, the remote could have been better if there was room for video switching with only a source and TV buttons for toggling external inputs and digital TV channels.

Connectivity:
When it comes to connectivity, Philips scores points as well as loses points here. There are four 24p ready HD inputs and 1080p support for component video. Six PC sockets are present to support high definition sources. The 2 SCART terminals and a component video socket are also available. We would also want an optical version of the coaxial audio output.

Interface:
The Philips 40PFL8664 Full HD LED LCD TV features an activity based menu that is coloured and caters well to people who are new to such interfaces as well as the tech savvy ones. The Interface has options like WatchTV, User Manual, Setup and Browse USB. The Setup has a plethora of basic as well as advanced AV configurations within six picture (Standard, Vivid, Natural, Cinema, Game and Personal) modes.  However, we did not find any options to adjust the backlight or white balance.  There is a Personal mode as well which allows one to save presets according to their choice by using a wizard.

Features:

100MHz processing:
The Philips 40PFL8664H TV runs on 100MHz processing that makes viewing fast on screen motion pictures even better. The high refresh rate increases the sharpness of motion to more than twice that of the conventional LCD. So, the images of objects in motion such as racing cars are clearer. We put on a football match and the players in motion were far clearer than an ordinary LCD TV. Even those advertising sign boards that are usually blurred were more readable.

Pixel Precise:
The award winning feature of Pixel Precise HD improves picture quality by allowing reproduction for over 4 trillion colours. This combined along with HD motion makes movies sharper and more fluent. While the Pixel Precise HD system does not make SD pictures look as sharp as they do on Pixel Perfect HD TVs, they still manage to hold up pretty well considering its competition in the price range. The motion handling does not remove blur completely but its fluidity and motion sharpness are pretty good.

Ambilight Spectra:
This is a feature that is unique to only Philips televisions. Around the television are present in built LED lights that emit coloured light in sympathy with the colour of the image shown. Since there is a new timing delay present, the light reproduction is more pleasant emphasising the movement. It is capable of automatically adjusting the colour and brightness of the light to create an immersive experience. However, more than relaxing, it seems to be just an aesthetic add.

Net TV:
Net TV is another prime proposition offered on the PFL8664. It allows one to stream Web content and services such as YouTube and Internet radio via the inbuilt Ethernet port. One can navigate throught the web and select whatever wanted with the remote. It has charged marginally ever since the previous model. The television is also capable of playing multimedia files from USB devices and DLNA compatible PCs on a home network.

Performance:

SD content:
The overtly sharpened pictures even on analog TV had to be toned down. The hues were too saturated and that resulted in pinker skin tones. The graininess and mosquito noise were reduced to minimum. When we switched to digital broadcast, image clarity as well as stability increased. DVD movies were reproduced aptly with mostly clear visuals. Even greyscale tracking was well maintained.

HD content:
The 40PFL8664H 1070p Digital TV surpassed our expectations when it comes to HD content. Even subtle details were very sharp and clear during playback of television shows. When we played Pixar’s UP, the model was able to deliver extremely sharp and fluid images. The resolution is flawless except for some slight flickering.

Multimedia Performance:
The 40PFL8664 delivers smooth and stunning graphics. It had time lag issues like the earlier 4PFL9704. We checked out a couple of games both on the PS3 and the Xbox 360 and graphics were prominent on the former. While the JPEG playback and audio streaming were great, the MP3 audio quality was rather mediocre and fast paced music lacked fidelity and rhythm.

Audio:
The speakers being located at the rear deprived the TV of audible stereo. The light bass extension and a decent treble range were able to fill an average room with no sound distortion. So, most users would have no issues with audio here.

Energy Efficient:
The Philips 40PFL8664 is a whopping 40 percent more energy efficient than conventional flat TVs. Thanks to the LED Backlight technology, the model consumes lesser energy as well as lasts longer. Also like CCFL, LED LCD TVs do not use mercury in their manufacture making them more environmental friendly.

Warranty:

There is a warranty of one year on the Philips PFL8664 for its parts and labour.

Verdict:

We absolutely loved the stunning design of the Philips PFL8664. It looked gorgeous and is easily one of the best looking televisions in the market. Its decent connectivity bundled along with a host of features such as NetTV and web browsing are sure to attract a lot of people out there. The Ambilight Spectra was a great aesthetic add and makes viewing even more pleasurable. The performance of the television was above average and will suit to the tastes of most people. If you are looking for a stylish television with a decent performance, this is a must buy.

Check Latest LCD TV Reviews, other Philips LCD Television Reviews, Specs in this website.


Philips 40PFL8664H 40″ LCD TV - Technical Specification Table

Manufacturer	Philips
Model Name	40PFL8664
Dimensions (H x W x D)	580 x 958 x 39mm
Weight	15kg
Aspect Ratio	Widescreen
Viewing Angles	176 degrees H and V
Panel Resolution	1920 x 1080p
TV Type	LED edge lit LCD TV
Screen enhancement	Anti-Reflection coated screen
Brightness	500 cd/m2
Colour processing	4 trillion colours (14-bit RGB)
Video Input	S Video, VGA, Composite Video and Component Video
Contrast Ratio	50000:1
Response time (typical)	3 (BEW) ms
Audio effects	Incredible Surround
Output Power	10w x 2
Picture Enhancement Features	Pixel precise HD 3/2 - 2/2 motion pull down 3D Combfilter Active Control + Light sensor Digital Noise Reduction Dynamic contrast enhancement Luminance Transient Improver Progressive scan 2D/3D noise reduction 100 Hz LCD1080p 24/25/30 Hz processing 1080p 50/60 Hz processing HD Natural Motion LED backlight Display
Ambilight Features	Ambilight Spectra, Lounge light mode
Dimming Function	Manual and via Light Sensor
Multimedia Applications	Multimedia connections: Ethernet-UTP5, USB Playback Formats: MP3, WMA v2 up to v9.2, Slideshow files (.alb), JPEG Still pictures, MPEG1, MPEG2, MPEG4, AVI, H.264/MPEG-4 AVC, MPEG-Programme-stream PAL, WMV9/VC1
Additional features	IDTV; 100Hz engine; Ambilight Spectra 2; Net TV; DLNA-compatible; onboard MP3, LPCM, WMA, JPEG, MPEG-1/2/4, AVI, H.264, WMV, VC1 playback via USB and Ethernet; EasyLink (HDMI-CEC); 1080p24 input-ready; four HDMI 1.3 terminals
Output power (RMS)	2 x 10 W
Sound Enhancement	Auto Volume Leveller, Incredible Surround, Treble and Bass Control
Sound System	Nicam Stereo
Connectivity	Ext 1 Scart: Audio L/R, CVBS in, RGB Ext 2 Scart: Audio L/R, CVBS in, RGB Ext 3: YPbPr, Audio L/R in Front/Side connections: USB PC network link: DLNA 1.0 certified Other connections: A/V Audio L/R in (value), Analogue audio Left/Right out, S-Video in, Composite video (CVBS) input, HDMI, Headphone out, S/PDIF out (coaxial), Common Interface Plus (CI+) HDMI 1: HDMI v1.3a HDMI 2: HDMI v1.3a HDMI 3: HDMI v1.3a EasyLink (HDMI-CEC): One touch play, Remote control pass-through, System audio control, System standby
Mains Power	220-240V 50/60Hz
Power Consumption when Idle	0.15W
Warranty	1 year

Sony is one of those companies that need no introduction. It has been one of the prime producers of the electronic goods. It had unleashed a series of fabulous LCD televisions and named it Bravia, which stands for ‘Best Resolution Audio Visual Integrated Architecture’. This is not named so just for the sake of fun. The Bravia series TVs produce the best pictures ever. Now, there is so much in store for us to review and decide over this new range of TVs. Let us, in this case, take a look at one of those, the Sony KDL-32EX403. For the sake of convenience, let use refer to this TV as the EX403, in short. We will detail only about this particular 32” version of the TV in this article. On your marks, Get set and Go!

Design:

Enamouring:
Sony has not stopped the unremitting production of very good designs. The trend seems to be continuing since the KDL-32EX403U LCD Television is a wonderful piece of workmanship and looks quite attractive from all angles. It has a very rectangular shape, that gives a perfect look and moreover, the curvaceous body makes it more adaptive to almost any kind of background. The glossy black finish, as always with the TVs from Sony, has been a great attraction. Measuring about 80 x 53.2 x 22 cm (W x H x D), and weighing about 11 kg, this has to be one of the sleekest TVs in the current market. Wall mounting is supported, and this is the best way of placing this TV; it would look stunning to your neighbour’s envy. Overall, hopes are high this time round on this captivating series of Bravia TVs.

Display: Cannot quit staring
Since the display part of the TV is the most important of all, Sony has taken utmost care in providing display technology that provides epic pictures. This particular KDL-32EX403 TV has a 32 inch screen that uses the TFT active matrix technology. Now, with this, you will get a 1080p output, which is pretty much ideal for watching sports, HD movies or any other videos. Another important thing to notice here is that, the screen aspect ratio is made to be 16:9 and this will make sure that the display is perfectly rectangular, and also more of a comfortable perfect landscape view for watching movies. Hence, with all these supplements, the EX403 has no other go but to provide you a wonderful visual experience.

Features: A list as long as the Nile

After reading this section, you will understand how amazing the Sony Bravia KDL-32EX403 is. A staggering number of features reveal the exact arsenal of the new TV. This is not hyperbolism, but so many features in a single TV are unforeseen. But, you may wonder if all of them are really of any literal use to the average user. Well, why doubt? Have a look at the features as we reveal them one by one.

Bravia Engine 3:
This very special engine or processor that is brought to you by Sony, has a great deal of technology involved in it. This engine provides you pictures that are of optimum clarity. The main function of Bravia engine 3 is to make the pictures clearer and increase the detail, so that they look more natural. In other words, problems such as tailing and also improper illumination are also greatly reduced.  The contrast of the pictures is also altered according to the conditions and also according to the signals that the TV is receiving so that you always get the same excellent visual experience. Another important feature of this very engine is that, it has the capacity to produce true colours. This means that, there is no change in the colour spectrum of the images and you will receive optimum coloured pictures.

DLNA:
DLNA is a wireless service offered by Sony that makes your TV stream movies from any other electronic device in your house and that too, without the use of any cables. Just like a Wi-Fi network, the DLNA network searches and syncs with compatible devices in its vicinity such as, a music player, mobile phone, iPod, laptop, etc., and searches for media in them. You can just open the files in your TV just as if they are connected and the files can be played just as usual. No matter where in your home these devices are, the DLNA feature finds them and connects to them. This is a wonderful feature and you will not see such a thing in any other similar range TV in the market. The elimination of wires also ends up being a very satisfying feature, as the last thing you want is a chaos created by the connection wires.

Wi-Fi Ready:
Another wireless feature of the EX403 is its Wi-Fi Readiness. This is nothing but the fact that your TV can work like a laptop, when it comes to wireless internet connectivity. All you need to do is, attach a wireless adapter or USB dongle and this will be enough for your TV to connect to the internet and then, you can stream movies and music through the internet. This is also possible if you have a Wi-Fi port in your home. This feature also eliminates the use of wires. Although there is an Ethernet port provided, more often than not, the Wi-Fi Ready is preferred because of the positives that are aforementioned.

Bravia Internet Video:
This is one of special features you will only find on high end televisions. All you need here is an internet connection, wire or wireless. After your TV is connected to the internet, you can open the Bravia menu and select the Bravia Internet Video option. This will take you directly to the web and there you are; you will have a set of videos to choose from. You can select your favourite ones and play them. Hence, if not all, this option allows you to browse for photos, music, videos and movies. As mentioned earlier, this feature is only available on the highly priced TVs from Sony and Samsung.

Ambient Sensor:
One of the technological incorporation of the Sony EX403U 32-inch LCD TV is this newly sounding Ambient Sensor. There is a sensor inside the TV that receives the light that is inside the room where the TV is, and this sensor estimates the luminosity of the room and then decides the brightness and contrast of the pictures that are displayed on the screen. This feature comes in as an aid as the TV automatically alters the picture settings, so that the eyes of the viewer are not affected much. Hence, it keeps the eye a little healthier. Now, this time around, Sony has taken the same technology to another level. This very sensor is now able to detect the colour of light in the room, in addition to the intensity and hence alters the pictures accordingly. Hence, the sensor only got better.

Live Colour:
Many of you might have already felt that the so called high definition LCD TVs are not very good at presenting pictures with their natural colour. A natural change in the colour spectrum occurs because of the use of the liquid crystals. Hence, Sony has introduced a new dynamic system, which is known as the Live Colour system that enables you to view almost all the colours visible to the naked eye. This system comprises an engine that reciprocates the signals without adding noise so that the colour pretty much remains the same. This facility really makes the EX403 a very interesting TV as lively pictures are brought home.

24p True Cinema:
Watching normal TV programs is always different from watching HD movies on your TV. These high definition movies always require a speedy processing of pictures so that there is no lagging or dragging. Especially, the action packed movies always require a faster frame rate so that it looks more dynamic than normal. Hence, the 24p True Cinema feature has been introduced by Sony. This particular feature enables you to watch dynamic and free flowing movies whose pictures blend smoothly into each other. You must set this option for yourself whenever you want to play a movie. This will greatly improve the quality of the pictures. Hence, you can ease on to your couch and watch great action movies and never worry about picture quality.

Photo TV HD:
Now, since the TV has come with a lot of connectivity options, it must also be able to play various contents like, for example, photos. Hence, the Photo TV HD feature comes into play if you want to play photos from your camera on you TV screen. All the photos from the synced camcorder or the inserted USB or memory card will be read by the TVs processor automatically, and they are played in a slideshow manner by default. This will be a great way of looking at your pictures as there are very few other better ways than watching your photos on a screen that is as good as this one and also as big.

Now you can see why the EX403 is considered as one of the best TVs in the market. With features as many as these, you will have scores of options for entertaining yourself and through its features, Sony has shown it to the world how technology can be used to make your lives better.

Performance:

A True Performer:
‘Why leave the performance aspect of the EX403 when all the others are exceptionally good? Let us take care of it.’ This must have been in the minds of Sony because, it has put in a great deal of effort in providing a wonderfully performing television and its performance, as always, complemented the already attractive features.

Video Performance of KDL32EX403U:
Regarding the video quality of the TV, Sony has taken care of three aspects, namely; Resolution, Picture and Contrast.

Full HD 1080:
For the first time ever in the market, Sony has introduced the 1080p or the 1920 x 1080 pixels resolution for its pictures. Hence, from now, you can enjoy high resolution pictures even from your favourite cable TV channels. Such High Definition pictures are really possible, and they are very good for watching high quality Blu Ray movies or for playing games. Now, with this particular feature, it is also possible for you to make the TV as a monitor for your Xbox or PlayStation, so that your games look even more fantastic.

Intelligent Picture:
Intelligent picture chooses the picture modes and settings automatically for you so that the pictures are always adjusted according to the conditions in which the TV is in. It automatically adjusts the colour and contrast of the pictures so that they always look the same, with the same quality and contrast, which in turn keeps the eye from straining.

Dynamic Contrast:
The mega dynamic contrast of the Sony KDL-32EX403 Full HD LCD Televison allows a spectacular distinction of pictures so that you experience digital clarity. Of late, the contrast ratio of the LCD TVs has been increasing gradually and Sony has continued that trend. Therefore, there is more clarity along with depth in the pictures and also, there is no over pixilation of some of the HD channels. This means that the pictures on the EX403 are not only smooth, but there are also very lucid.

Thus, the picture quality is upgraded and is top notch now.

Audio Performance:
Invisible Speakers:
Yes, it is now possible to make the speakers invisible. The speakers are placed under the outer bezel so that they remain inconspicuous but still produce good quality sounds. The reason behind hiding the speakers is that, a little bit of space can be avoided. They are also positioned in a very special manner, so that the sounds are elevated wherever necessary. This helps you in giving a perfect sound and image fusion, which is ideally necessary for movie watching and high end gaming. Thus, even though the speakers are physically invisible, they can still make their presence felt.

S-Force Front Surround:
In order to produce real and virtual 3D surround sounds, a special feature is available with the Sony Bravia KDL-EX403. This is a combination a special speaker technology and a very unique software that gives out a three dimensional digital sound effect. Again, this arrangement is ideal for watching action packed movies.

Clear Voice:
Clear voice is one of those unique features that make the EX403 a most wanted TV. Now, what this feature means to you is that whenever you are watching TV and especially movies, of all sounds that are emitted out, the voice sounds will be the ones with the best clarity. This makes the speech understandable and this is possible by reducing the noise and also sometimes the background music. This is indeed a very good idea and it works quite well.

Connectivity:
There are many connectivity options with the EX403, just like any other HD TV. Though most of them are very common, like the cable TV/ satellite TV connection port and the Ethernet port, there are also a few ports that may be very new to many. The three most significant of these are the HDMI ports, USB media player port and Bravia Sync.

HDMI:
There are four HDMI ports provided at the rear side of the KDL-EX403. With these, you can connect various HDMI supporting devices like your camcorder or the Blu Ray Player and play videos or movies that are of the finest quality.

USB Media Player:
Of late, this feature has been one of those that are very popular among almost all the devices. As with the Sony EX403, the USB media player helps you on reading pictures, music and also videos from your USB flash drive and they can be played on the screen at your will. The facility for playing videos is a recent addition and it is not seen in most of the previous Bravia TVs. Hence, now enjoy all the action by just plugging in your USB.

Bravia Sync:
This is the most influential part of the Connectivity of the Bravia TVs. The Bravia Sync allows you to sync your TV to almost all the entertainment devices at your home and also allows you to control them all devices with a single universal remote that is provided along with the 32EX403. This makes connection to any other device very easy and it also saves time, as all the devices can be synced at a time so that you will have multiple options for entertainment.

If all the above aspects are true and are really working, then any such TV is be one of the best. For heaven’s sake, they are true and the fact that the EX403 performs wonderfully also turns out to be true.

Power Consumption:

After having provided many options in each section of the Bravia KDL-32EX403 Wi-Fi Ready LCD TV, Sony seems to have not left the power consumption section aloof. You will have three different modes to which the TV can be set depending upon the energy requirements. When the TV is in the standby mode, you can play slideshows of your photos and this will need only about 0.2 W. For the normal functioning of the TV as well, there are two different modes of operation namely, Home and Shop, which take in 66 and 114 W of power respectively. The former is a minimal setting of features and settings while the latter is a condition where the settings and options are set to the maximum.

Warranty and service:

The Sony KDL-32EX403 LCD TV comes with a parts and labour warranty for a period of 12 months from the original date of purchase. Sony has introduced a new option for all its users. After you buy the television, you will be allowed to register yourself to ‘My Sony’. From that minute onwards, you will be provided free tutorials, and will be given special offers such as extension of the warranty period or may be even discount on the prices. This is such a welcoming offer and it could even help boost up the sales for Sony.

Verdict:

You can say that there is certainly no other TV in the market that is better than the one from the Bravia series, and particularly the KDL-32EX403. If ever there was one, it must be from Sony itself.  The EX403 has got it all regarding each and every aspect of a high end HD TV. Attractive design, Great features and very good performance, they all make this TV one of the best in the world. Though the price tag may seem to be a little heavy, you can still afford to buy this one after looking at the options that it provides.

Check other Sony LCD TV Models, Reviews, Specs in this website.

Sony KDL-32EX403 32″ LCD TV - Technical Specification Table

Manufacturer	Sony
Model Name	Sony Bravia
Model Number	KDL-32EX403
Display type	LCD Display
Dimensions (W x D x H)	80 x 53.2 x 22 cm
Weight	11 kg
Colour/Finish	Glossy Black
Screen Resolution	1920 x 1080 pixels
Speakers	2 x 10W (Dolby Digital and Analogue stereo)
PC  Sync	Yes
Screen Size	32 inches
Video signal	576i, 480p, 576p, 1080i, 720p, 1080p and 24p input
Picture features	High Dynamic Contrast CCFL Backlight BRAVIA ENGINE 3 Advanced Contrast Enhancer (ACE) Intelligent Picture MPEG Noise Reduction Input Skip Ambient Sensor Live Colour Theatre Mode CineMotion/Film Mode/Cinema Drive 24p True Cinema PhotoTV HD USB Player Auto Photo Mode (DLNA/USB/HDMI™) Picture Frame Mode Photo Map AFD (Auto Format Detect)
Timer	Clock, sleep timer, on/off timer
Connectivity	Digital Audio Output (optical), HDMI™ Inputs HDMI™ PC Signal Capability, PC Input (15pin D-Sub) + Audio In Component Inputs, Composite Video In ,USB 2.0 Input Mini Jack (Head/Earphone) (mm) ,RCA AV Input, BRAVIA Sync DLNA ,Photo (jpeg)/Music(LPCM/MP3)/Video(MPEG2/AVCHD) BRAVIA Internet Video, Wireless LAN, FreeView HD Tuner.
PC interface	USB
Contrast Ratio	Mega
Stand	Yes
Digital Tuner	Yes
Accessories	Operating instructions VESA mounting holes VESA hole spacing VESA screw Table top stand: RM ED035 Remote Commander: SU-WL500 USB WiFi Adaptor: UWA-BR 100
Power Consumption	66-114 W
Warranty	One Year

LCD TVs are the talk of the town now and Panasonic is back with full vigour with a new range of LCD televisions. Generally, Panasonic has produced some of the finest LCD televisions in the past, be it the conventional CRT TVs or the Plasma TVs or the LCD TVs. The recent release was the Viera series which comprised a wide range of excellent and unique LCD televisions. While the other manufacturers of stunning LCD and LED TVs are blowing their trumpets about the quality of their TVs, Panasonic has silently released an array of LCD TVs that are quite qualitative and also cheaper than their counterparts.

Simple Design:

Panasonic has always tried not to overwhelm the design part of its TVs and particularly the LCD TVs. Probably the reason is that you would always want your TV to look great when it is switched on rather than when it is switched off. Hence, as always the design is quite simple but superb nevertheless. The special feature of the TVs from Panasonic is that they look quite different from others. The screen is not perfectly rectangular, but slightly hyperbolic in shape on its sides. This makes it look very cute in most of the conditions. It also looks great with the statistics. The TX-L37G10 37 inch television measures about (H x W x D) 831 x 579 x 225 mm and weighs about 18Kgs. The glossy black finish is always pretty and the overall compilation has been simple and neat. This makes sure that the TV fits into any kind of atmosphere, be it on the wall or on the table or anywhere else.

Display:

This has to be deciding factor when one wishes to buy any TV. However good a TV is on the outside, it has to prove its mettle when it comes to the display. The Viera TX has not at all compromised in giving a great detail of pictures. There is a range of display sizes available in the Viera TX range such as 32 in, 36 in, 40 in, 42 in, and so on. The Viera TX’s brilliant display makes it a tough competitor. With a resolution of 1080p, the picture clarity has been excellent especially in the HD channels. Added to that, this TV uses an IPS panel, a panel that has a wonderful backlight system. With the help of this panel, the TV has increased its viewing angles to greater extents and they are better than ever. Normally, LCD TVs have poor viewing angles, but this technology made it a little better. The viewing angles go up to 178 degrees with the help of this panel, which is really great. Overall, the display of the Viera TX has been quite good.

Features:

Like many other manufacturers, Panasonic also always tries its best in providing a good range of features in its appliances. Since the television market has a stiff competition and also one of the most profitable one, any good manufacturer is supposed to do that; bring out something new. Even though there are not many new features in the TV, they are good enough to make it a very good choice if you are in a dilemma.

Processor:
The primary function of the processor is to process the pictures. Particularly in the LCD TVs, this processor plays an instrumental role in producing smooth pictures. The Viera TX-L37G10 LCD TV comes with the usually seen 100 MHz processor or engine. This is the best available engine in the market and almost all the best televisions in the market feature this. This special processor helps in blending the pictures pretty smoothly and gives lucid pictures, which give the viewers a wonderful spectacle. Especially, while viewing the HD movies or the pictures through the satellite, you will definitely notice vast difference as the processor makes its presence count. Therefore, no more jarring or blurring of pictures as you will enjoy a high definition experience.

Contrast Ratio:
The contrast ratio decides the clarity of the pictures on your TV. The Viera TX boasts a contrast ratio of 50000:1. This is above the average contrast ratio of the LCD TVs at present. It means that your pictures are quite sharp and you will not see the conventional auras around the pictures, like the ones that you will see on most low quality LCD TVs. This means that even though the pictures are blended smoothly and also at a pretty fast rate, they are still sharp enough to give you a cinematic experience. But for unknown reasons, Panasonic has stopped at this ratio and had not increased it further. Some of the LED televisions that are released of late have a staggering contrast ratio of 200000:1. But, nonetheless this ratio is quite good enough to play your Blu Ray movies or watch the high definition satellite channels.

Freesat:
Another telling feature that has appeared on the Viera TX is the built in Freesat service, which helps you connect your TV to the satellite dish. If you already have a dish at your home, all you need to do is just connect the dish feed to the input port on the back side of the TV. After that, you need to select the auto tune option and all the channels will be auto tuned within seconds. This is actually a new trial from Panasonic and it came out to be very utile. HD channels like BBC HD and ITV HD look really great, thanks to the Freesat service. Before the inclusion of this feature, it used to be a little difficult to set up the connection to the satellite dish but now, it has become a lot easier.

Ethernet Connectivity:
This has been one of the latest advents in television technology. The Ethernet connection has now extended its empire from computers to the televisions. In fact, today, all the finer HD TVs in the market are featuring this option as it will aid in enhancing the TVs potential. Now, regarding the Viera TX, all you need to do is simply plug in the Ethernet cable to the TV and there you are, you are connected to the internet. From there, you can search and browse for movies and stuff and play them according to your own taste. This will really be fun and also very useful as it is a lot easier to watch movies online rather than playing them from storage devices. May be for a very good HD TV like the Viera TX, there must have been Wi-Fi, so that it would be great browsing without the messy wires, but nevertheless, there is an option to connect to the internet, which few other HD TVs do not have.

Viera Image Viewer:
If you ever wished to see a 37 inch photo frame, then your wish has been fulfilled by Panasonic. The Viera Image Viewer is a special option that allows you to play all the pictures, either from the DVDs or from the cameras or mobile phones. You can play slideshows of all the pictures and make your TV a huge photo frame. If you have your TV fixed to the wall and then if you let the photos play, you will be amazed by the quality of the pictures as you will wonder whether if it is your own camera that has clicked all of them. Such is the clarity of the Viera TX.

Performance:

Panasonic has had a wonderful reputation of being a loyal producer of televisions over the years and it has lived up to the expectations once again by producing one of the finer quality televisions that you will ever see. Regarding the performance of a television, the main aspects that one would like to check are the video or picture quality, audio quality and the interfaces or the connectivity of the TV with other hardware. Let us have a look at all these aspects to know more about the Viera TX’s performance.

Picture Quality:
As we have already seen above, the Panasonic Viera TX-L37G10 combines a great display technology and a wonderful processor. So, expect high quality pictures from the TV.  Normally you see unclear pictures on the LCD TVs without powerful processors. But since this TV has one of the best processor, the clarity is increased. As discussed earlier, the satellite channels will be of the highest quality and a lot better than the normal channels. The Viera TX also plays movies with wondrous clarity. Especially, it is quite suitable for watching HD movies and Blu Ray movies. They are played at a pretty high resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. You can also enjoy high end gaming with this TV as can also feature as display for gaming consoles like Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii, and PlayStation 3. The 1080p resolution means that your games look even more realistic than ever. Hence you really have got a solid display mechanism and your pictures will be played with the highest of claritiy.

Audio Quality:
Normally, in many of the LCD televisions you will find out an important flaw. This has been common many of the LCD and LED TVs. This is the audio quality. It is an evident fact that the sounds on these TVs are not as impelling as those on the conventional CRT or plasma TVs. The main reason behind this is that there is not enough space in these TVs in order to embed qualitative speakers. Not only this TV, but any TV faces the same problem. But nevertheless, Panasonic has tried its level best to provide one of the best speakers so that the difference can be bridged at least to some extent. Even then, if you are used to the woofing sounds of your old TV and cannot adjust to the comparatively passive sounds of this TV, it is better that you connect the audio output to a set of external speakers such as the home theatre. This will completely solve the problem. Even if they are not there, there is nothing to lose. They are only a luxury but not a necessity.

Interfaces:
Interfaces decide the connectivity of the TV with the other hardware. Quite surprisingly, The Panasonic Viera TX-L37G10 LCD TV has a lot of connectivity ports. When you have a glance at the back side of the TV, you will find that it is not smooth. Almost all of the back side is filled with ports. Hence you have scores of opportunities to connect your TV to almost any other hardware. Here is a complete list of all the ports available: A set of three HDMI cable slots and a fourth on the side of the TV, a PC connector, so that it can act as monitor for your computer, Audio out, Audio in components, Ethernet port, Digital Audio Out, AV 1 and AV 2 components, S Video ports, SD card reader, and a common interface. That really is a huge list of interfaces. Hence with the help of all these, you can connect to any hardware and therefore, entertainment is at its best with the Viera TX.
Now, after considering the above three aspects of performance, one can conclude that this is one of the better performing LCD televisions on the market today. If you are looking for a consistently good performance from your TV at a mid range cost, then you will be happy to have the Viera TX.

Power Consumption:

The Viera TX-L37G10 consumes about 138 W of power at normal mode. This is good news as this value is below the average power consumption ratings for LCD TVs. There is also a power saving option, called the Eco Mode. When the Eco Mode is switched on, then the TV changes the settings for itself. This means that all the features and options will be minimised, such as brightness, virtual surround sound, and others, so that minimum power is consumed. This setting is not suitable for normal viewing because it makes you feel uncomfortable as the pictures are darker. This option can be set when you wish to play just music from the discs so that you can not only save your money, but also help save the environment from pollution so that you contribute to making a better world.

Warranty:

The Viera TX comes with a warranty for parts and labour for a period of twelve months from the original date of purchase. This warranty is officially announced by Panasonic. But you can visit a few websites that are offering warranty for a period of up to five years. Just Google it and find out more details regarding the extension of warranty, both with Panasonic and with other dealers. This parts and labour warranty is valid until there is any physical damage. If one of the parts is really completely defective or malfunctioning, then it will either be replaced or be rectified depending upon its condition. All the other information is provided either in the warranty leaflet or on the website of Panasonic.

Verdict:

Hence, the Viera TX is one of the better LCD televisions you will find in the market. At a mid range cost, it is almost affordable to everyone and that too, the cost is pretty reasonable for such a good performer with great display and fantastic features. Therefore, if you are really in need of a very good LCD TV and you are planning to buy a reasonable one, then is one of the options for you to choose. But if you are going for the best of the TVs with more and more features and TVs using better technology and if you are also ready to bear great costs, then you can go for Sony Bravia LCD Televisions or other equivalent products.

Panasonic Viera TX-L37G10 LCD TV - Technical Specification Table

Manufacturer	Panasonic
Model Name	TX
Model Number	37G10B
Dimensions (H X W X D) in mm	831 x 579 x 225 mm
Weight	18 Kg
Colour	Piano black
Stand type	Table top swivel
Display size	37 inch wide screen
Display technology	LCD
Display Format	1080p
Resolution	1920 x 1080
Contrast Ratio	50000:1
Analogue TV Tuner	NTSC, PAL
Digital TV Tuner	Yes
HD Ready	Yes
Input Video Formats	AV 1, AV 2
Picture Status Mode	Normal, Cinema, Eco, Dynamic
Remote Control	Universal remote control – Infrared
Supported Devices	TV and VCR, DVD , Satellite or Cable
Sound Output Mode	Stereo
Sound Status Mode	Automatic
Speakers Included	2 Speakers
Audio Output	2 x 10 W
Parental Channel Lock	No
Child Lock	Yes
Image control	Yes
Clock Timer	Yes
Clock Sleep timer	Yes
Connectivity	4 x HDMI - 1 Port PC Mode 1 x Component video input 1 x VGA input 1 x USB 1 x Audio line-out 1 x Ethernet port 1 x Digital audio output (optical) 1 x SD card reader
Power Device	Power supply - Internal
Power consumption	138 W
Warranty	1 year

Samsung Electronics is a leading electronics major that is known for its innovation, expertise and excellence in the field of technology. Amongst their products, their LCD televisions outsell most other manufacturers in most parts of the world. Their success can be amounted to a lot of factors: Sleek and stylish design, plethora of features and great picture and audio quality.  Post recession Samsung has launched a whole new range of HDTVs that include conventional LCD TVs to LED backlit ones.  One of their products is the Samsung LE40B650 LCD TV, a 40 inch television with internet@ TV function, Full HD display resolution and high dynamic contrast ratio that promise pristine quality images.  It happens to be UK’s first LAN equipped wireless ready TV to offer web “widgets” as an additional calling card. Considering that the company was able to attract masses with the midrange 6 series models last year, will they be able to pull it off this time?  Read the review to find out if they succeed at it.

Design:

Glossy and curvy:
The LE40B650 40″ LCD Television has an impressive design with a slim line frame. The 40 inch television TV is surrounded by a thick bezel that makes it look larger than it actually is.

This model retains the Ultra Clear Panel screen which is surrounded the glossy black finish bezel. It has the layer of clear plastic extending beyond the frame on all the sides and the polished rear surface was something previously found on A646 series.  It has a curved lower edge of Samsung’s Le40B650 that provides relief from the more rectangular flat TV’s on the market. This horse shoe shaped droop is designed as an aesthetic add and makes it look better off than the usual rectangular LCD displays.

The table top stand is separately packed and assembly is not a tedious task. All you need to do is to lower the LE40B650 onto the translucent pedestal that There is a matching swivel stand provided along with the television. The slim and the perfectly rectangular pedestal joining the TV with a conical translucent column is another stunningly silent aspect of the design.

There are touch panels on the bezel that are almost invisible and allow you to change the channels or the volume and switch off or on the television.

Infra Red Remote Control:
The LE40B650 Full HD LCD TV sports a bulky bottom remote with a well sized buttons and a glossy black coating on its front surface and resembles the one provided with the A656 series.  Apart from the usual bunch of keys, there are a couple of new keys so that you can take advantage of the networking prowess of the television. There is the Internet@ and Media Play keys that give access to those respective functions on the model. Another welcome feature is the backlighting function that allows users to be able to use the remote even in dark conditions and this can be toggled on and off as required.

Connections:
On the side of the television is present the twin USBs and an HDMI. The back side has 3 more HDMI ports, PC D Sub, component video input, two SCARTs and analogue optical in/outs.  The most important of the lot is the DLNA LAN socket that allows one to connect the TV to the home network that is directly to the internet or a PC and be able to play multimedia files. The USB ports allow one to play JPEG, MP3 and other movie files on USB sticks or USB HDDs as well. One can even connect an optional wireless connectivity USB dongle to the port and use it.

User Interface:
The user menu on the Samsung LE40B650 100hz LCD Internet TV is more comprehensive than ever.  The main menus are not only clear, unfussy and react fast, but also are jazzed up with loads of animated icons and contextual explanations at the bottom of the screen.  The navigation was however slower than that of the A656 series perhaps due to all the bling.  Like the rest of the Samsung HDTVs the settings on the LE40B650 can be saved independently per input. In the Picture menu, there exists an Advanced Settings submenu which has options to alter the white balance controls and colour management system. The White balance controls allows one to adjust the RGB cuts and gains for grayscale calibration.  By setting the Colour space to custom one can tweak the hue of each of the primary and secondary colours by adjusting the amount of red, blue and green components that make up each colour.  To attain a 1:1 pixel mapping one can set the Size to screen fit in the Picture options sub menu.

There are 3 presets available for the important 100MHz motion plus: Clear, Standard and Smooth. There is also a custom setting that allows one to fine tune the amount of motion interpolation to be applied specifically for blur vs. judder reduction.  When you engage the Game mode on the television, the options are restricted to Standard mode and feature such as 100 Hz Motion Plus are disabled. But one still has access to basic picture settings such as brightness, sharpness and contrast. But the Application Menu is where one can unleash the networking potential of the TV.  The Media play allows one to play music, video and view photos.

Features:

Internet@TV Feature:
Amongst the several features of the LE40B650, the one that caught the attention of most users is the Internet TV.  This is not “actual” internet access but is access to Samsung’s special portal that allows one to access online content. Samsung has incorporated the widget platform of Yahoo! on to the LE40B650.  By plugging either an Ethernet cable or a USB dongle and configuring the network settings, one can launch the selected widget applications such as Flickr, YouTube, news, stock quotes and weather from a taskbar at the bottom of the screen. The only widgets we found useful were the ones that were already installed. There is an option to sign into a Yahoo account so we can presume that basic emailing could be soon possible. There were a few problems with content such as YouTube.  Though the fact that a Yahoo centric platform restricts the feature from becoming a major USP, it is better than rival applications found on other televisions.

Electronic Programming guide (EPG):
Samsung has retained the same layout that it had on the A656 series. The only notable exception was that the programme time progress bar found on the previous models has been omitted. There is a small live window on the top left of the screen which looks fantastic and offers a glimpse on what the new scaling chip on the LE40B650 is capable of.

Content Library:
Another innovation from Samsung is the Content Library concept where the TV comes with a host of preloaded interactive content such as screensavers, kitchen recipes, children’s stories and songs and even a game as well.  The Content Library flash allows one to view content ranging from children games to fitness stored right inside the TV’s 189 MB inbuilt memory. There is the Content Management option in the Interface that allows one to delete existing contents or even add new contents that can be downloaded from the Samsung site to the TV via a USB device.

100 Hz:
The Television also features a 100 Hz Motion plus processing that enhances video quality in fast paced scenes. Thanks to the processing one can see minute details even when the game is at full pace as every frame is analyzed and adjusted so as to prevent even the tiniest of blurs. This feature actually inserts extra frames to produce a smoother viewing experience by eliminating on screen flicker. Unlike most 100 Hz systems one can actually adjust the working of the 100 Hz processing with Clear, Standard, Smooth and a Custom option. Though this huge level of flexibility does not solve all motion/processing issues it still gives a sense of control that one misses on most other TVs.

Ultra Clear Panel:
Another design marvel is the Ultra Clear Panel on the Samsung LE40B650 which optimizes the light’s phase and increases transparency ratio. With an innovative mix of high and low reflection layers, it is capable of creating deep rich blacks which enhance the entire spectrum of colour.  It features a polarizer that reflects even room light to enable the better reproduction of deeper blacks depending on the ambient conditions. An evolution of the Super Clear Panel, this enables the television set to resolve even the darkest of film scenes that can put most plasma screens to shame. Only LED based LCD TVs can deliver deeper black levels. The fact that black levels hold up better than most other televisions when viewed from an angle was a pleasant surprise.

Performance:

High Definition:
After calibrating, we were able to obtain a black level of 0.04 cd/m2  which is the lowest we have ever got on a non LED LCD TV. This when combined with the depth offered by the Ultra clear panel gives an excellent black level performance that only perhaps the LED backlit LCDs could surpass. Watching The Incredible Hulk on the LCD TV had a wonderful quality of pop and was pure viewing pleasure.  At Screen fit settings, all minute details on the movie were flawlessly depicted without any unnecessary edge enhancement.  Given that in spite of the depth and width of the television, high levels of detail were astounding.  After calibrating, some shots of greenery were utterly convincing and the television handled 1080p/24 video signal from the Sony PS3 without any judder. We did experiment with the 100 Hz Settings and checked out which option was best for film viewing. Standard and Smooth seemed to cause judder and whereas the Clear did not seem not seem to do so.

FreeView TV Picture Quality:
The quality of broadcasts varies from channel to channel and sometimes from programme to programme depending on the transmission bandwidth and compression rate.  Assuming that the broadcast quality is standard, and one views the television from a standard viewing distance, the LE40B650 HD LCD TV is capable of delivering an amazing SD picture thanks to its sharp upscaling and excellent deinterlacing. Sports with fast action such as football matches were benefited from adopting the 100MHz Motion Plus. Engaging the 100 Hz processing made the individual figures in the crowd, the running players and the words on the advertising boards less blurry.  Though there were a few instances of tearing interpolation artefacts even in the least aggressive Clear mode, they were far and fair and do not pose much of a problem.

Gaming:
The impressive video processing is not good news for hardcore gamers. The input lag on the television is a whopping 84ms to 100ms slower than the Samsung F96 LED backlit LCD TV and is as bad as the Philips 37PFL9632D. Most high detailed games were unplayable unless one compensated for the input lag via the in game calibration menu.  Engaging the game mode or using a VGA connection helped in reducing the input lag to between 17ms and 34ms.  Though the input lag is still high, whether this affects you or not will be dependent on your individual sensitivity and the reflexes the game demands.

Sound Quality:
Though the down firing position of the TV speakers was acoustically disadvantageous, the speech clarity on the Samsung was surprisingly clear.  Home speakers are no match for its stereo separation, soundstage or base extension. However, the overall sonic performance was acceptable for regular usage. Enabling the SRS TruSurround HD did expand the sound stage and dynamic range, but it came at the cost of midrange tonality.

Background Noise:
The Television emitted a high pitched buzz from the back of its panel while switched on. However, sitting at a distance of 4-5 feet will ensure that the noise would be masked by the TV volume.

Energy Saving Features:
The launch of the Philips ECO TV in 2008 marked the increasing number of televisions that have been focusing on eco friendly features such as low power consumption etc. Ever since then Samsung has been focusing on incorporating a host of features to cut down on non recyclable material used as well as power consumption.

Crystal TV:
The Samsung LE40B650 Television uses the Crystal TV™ technology that involves the usage of dual injection technology instead of spray paint reducing their impact on the ecosystem.  This method usage produces no Volatile Organic Compounds and the set is 90 percent recyclable. Something that is to be appreciated about.

Low Power Consumption:
Lower Energy does not have to come at the cost of picture quality. The Samsung LE40B650 features an Energy saving mode that adjusts backlight which gives a richer picture while consuming lesser energy.  In the default Standard mode, the television consumed a meager 140 watts.  In a more calibrated Movie mode , 92 watts were burned to produce high definition images.  When on standby mode the television consumed energy lesser than a watt.

Warranty:

There is a warranty period of one year provided on the Samsung LE40B650.

Verdict:

You might assume that the Samsung LE40B650 is just an aesthetic update to the A656 series, but there is so much more to it than that. It easily could list amongst the most accomplished flat panel LCD TVs in the price range.  The design and HD picture performance are outstanding considering its price whereas its SD pictures are reasonably good if not great. Unlike its earlier series, one can use custom settings to activate the 100 Hz processing, adjust picture settings in the Game Mode and play MKV and other online content using Internet function. The Internet@TV function is a bit slow for regular usage and perhaps this is a small hiccup Samsung will take care of soon.   There are probably better and slimmer TVs than this but not without high price tags. With so many features bundled into it, it is hard not to consider the Samsung Le40B650 LCD HDTV as a terrific value for money buy.

Check other Samsung LCD TV Reviews, Latest 40″ LCD Televisions in our website.

Samsung LE40B650 LCD HDTV - Technical Specification Table

Manufacturer	Samsung
Model Name	Samsung LE40B650 LCD TV
Dimensions (W x H X D)	Set size(WXHXD) with stand: 995.1 x 705.9 x 255mm Set size(WXHXD) without stand : 995.1 x 650.4 x 78.6mm
Colour	Platinum Black with occasional transparencies
Weight	Set weight with stand: 18.5kg Set weight without stand: 14.5kg Package weight : 22.8kg
Video	Free-standing
Size	40 inches
Resolution	1920 x 1080
Dynamic Contrast Ratio	Ultra Contrast
LCD 100Hz	Yes
Audio
Sound Effect System	SRS Trusurround HD & Dolby Digital Plus
Speaker	Down Firing
Sound Output RMS	2 x 10 watts
Input and Output (Back)
HDMI	3
Composite (AV)	No
PC input (D-Sub)	1
Component (Y/Pb/Pr)	1
RF Input	1
Headphone	1
RS232C	1 (for service)
SCART	2
Cabinet
Colour	Platinum Black
Swivel	Yes
Features
Picture in Picture	1 Tuner PIP
Other Features	Sleep Timer, Auto Channel Search, Auto Power Off, Game mode, Clock & On/Off timer, EPG, Internet@TV, Content Library (Flash), Teletext
Input and Output (side)
Composite	1
HDMI	1
Headphones	No
Power Consumption	143 Watts in Standard Mode, 92 Watts in Game Mode and 0.1 Watts in Standby
Warranty	1 year