LCD TV Reviews

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

Philips is one of the well known producers of electronic goods. It has been producing great gadgets for a long time. It has tried its luck with the LCD TVs and sort of succeeded well. But it had to hit the TV market with a stunning TV because the competition from the other manufacturers has been serious of late. So, now, with all the new features and a great looking design, it has launched the Philips 32PFL7404. Is this going to be a hit? Does it suffice all the requirements that make it a perfect LCD TV for your living room? Let us see.

Design:

Its good look:

The 32PFL7404 LCD Television is definitely going to wow you when it comes to the design. Its design has created a great first impression in the minds of even the greatest of critics. It measures about (H x W x D) 953 x 604 x 199 mm in dimensions and also weighs just about 9.8 kg, without the stand. The screen is absolutely flat and the front part of the TV marvels you. The edges are not overly curved and they look almost perfect. It almost appears like an LED monitor for your computer. To get such a design for such a relatively cheap rate is very commendable on the part of Philips.

An art piece:

Exploring deeper into the details of the 32PFL 32-inch LCD TV, it looks very rectangular in shape and would certainly be ideal for your living room. The outer translucent covering over the actual TV makes it look more wondrous. It has a small but sturdy stand so that you can erect it on a table. Coming to the back panel, it is made of plastic and looks quite good. Here is where all the terminals and the ports reside. We will discuss about them in detail in the coming paragraphs. Overall, it is a wonderful design and it also stands as one of the best ones produced by Philips.

Display:

This is the most significant aspect of any TV in the world. In fact, many people skip all the other parts of the reviews and come directly to this one, because it so crucial in deciding for or against any television. But one has to be really insane in order to go against this TV after looking at its display facets. First of all, the 32 inch wide screen is wonderful for watching movies and it is an ideal TV for making a home theatre system. It also has great viewing angles in addition to it and hence you are comfortable watching it because there is no reduction in the picture quality or intensity even if you are at the corner of your room. All these are ideal qualities of a TV that is good for family viewing.

Connectivity:

First up, there are three HDMI connections available. The other connectivity ports that are featured in the 32PFL include  HDMI v1.3, S-video in, CVBS in, Audio L/R in, Headphone out, USB 2.0. Other common connections include PC Audio in, Analogue audio Left/Right out, PC-In VGA, S/PDIF out (coaxial), Common Interface Plus (CI+), Common Interface RGB, Ext Scart: Audio L/R, CVBS in, RGB, Ext 3: YPbPr, Audio L/R in, Scart: Audio L/R, CVBS in. So, you have scores of opportunities to get your TV connected to external devices or sources and easily transfer and play the files.

Features:

With such a fabulous design and a very good display mechanism, it would be great if you are bestowed with some of the best features. This statement seems to be true when it comes to the Philips 32PFL7404 Wide screen LCD TV. It has provided one of the better features you will see, so that there is more value for your money. Here is a list of the features available on the 32PFL and their details.

Pixel Precise HD:

This is one of the latest technologies that are being used as of now in many of the TVs. With the Pixel Precise HD technology, the picture quality is enhanced to a greater extent and also the pictures are more candid with minimal disturbances. Particularly from the Blu Ray discs, the pictures are so well read and well projected by this new technology. There is an updated and a more advanced version of this picture technology, called the Perfect Pixel HD technology. But the TV consumes a lot more power than normal; in fact double than normal, with this new technology. This is the reason why Philips has stuck to the older one. The main function of this feature is that it minimises all the sundry activities in the TV and uses all the power to amplify the picture quality and thereby producing great pictures for you. It is like the power saver option that gives much attention to the most important activity. So, this feature has a valid reason for its presence and is also one of the pluses to the Philips 32PFL.

Customisation:

This means that you have an array of options that allows you to customise the picture quality and other aspects of TV, all by yourself. Although the TV can automatically set itself for the optimum performance, you are given the opportunity of improvising all the picture features using the different options. So, you can fine tune almost all the pictures that belong to the picture processing engine. This is happy news to those who love to set the performance of the TV in their own style.

Memory Stick Slot:

This is one of the most common features of the TVs today. You can just insert a memory stick into the port that you will find at one of the sides of the TV and then all the files will be read. This feature is particularly useful when it comes to playing the music files. The 32PFL is engrafted with a special kind of software that reads files such as mp3 music, AVI and mp4 videos and JPEG pictures. This is one of those cool features that you will see on the 32PFL and it is really a useful feature.

Hence these features are obviously unique in their own terms and are also pretty useful to many. As the features section of any gadget is very vital, Philips has taken all the care in the world in order to produce great results.

Performance:

As this is the most important aspect anyone would look at while buying any TV, Philips seems to have taken some care in improving the performance and also the quality of its TVs. When you relate the 32PFL with its precursors, you will definitely find that there is a lot of improvement. While everything inside a TV is important, the three main aspects that are more or less the prime factors in completely deciding the quality of a TV are the video and the audio performances of the TV and the connectivity of it as well. Let us see whether these two are as good as expected and also whether or not they maintain the reputation of Philips in producing qualitative products.

Video Performance:

There are lots of things that you need to know when it comes to the video performance of the 32PFL. Many new features that are included in the 32PFL are intended to mainly improve the video or picture quality. The high quality video outputs that you get from the very good LCD display of the TV are the main attraction in the 32PFL. With this TV, you get 720p, 1080p, 1080i type of high quality outputs. The brightness of the TV is also pretty good with 500 cd / m2. The 100 Hz picture engine avoids all kinds of blurs and optimises the picture clarity. There is also the option called FreeView, that makes the videos smoother and the pictures blend so well and unnoticed. The contrast levels are also great along with excellent viewing angles that are already discussed earlier.

The picture detail is almost perfect and you will be admiring the ability of the TV to provide pictures with such good depth in detail. The cinematic realism is also seen on the 32PFL so that you feel that you are watching HD movies even if you are watching satellite or cable TV. The only thing that worries you is that the pictures flicker a bit when the frame rate is too high. But this is not such a big problem when compared to the surplus pluses that enhance the video performance.

Audio Performance:

The audio on the 32PFL is not as great as expected. But as a matter of fact, you do not expect great surround sounds or the so called three dimensional sound effects on the LCD televisions. The reason is that these new LCD TVs are so lean that there is not enough space in order to place good quality speakers. So, although not substandard, the speakers that feature on the LCD TVs are not as good as the speakers you see on the normal TVs. But even then, Philips has tried to improvise on the sound quality by providing few features like the Pretend Surround Sound and some sundry sound effects. These sound effects make you feel comfortable while watching movies and all stuff. Particularly, the Pretend Surround sound effect, as the name suggests, gives you an apparent surround sound effect so that there is good support for the videos, which already look great on the 32PFL.

So, to conclude precisely, the Philips 32PFL7404 is expected to give you more than reasonable performance, which is very satisfactory because it is very economical when it comes to the cost. But the only that disappoints many is the fact that there is no kind of facility for internet connection. As we already know, many of the present day TVs from Sony, Samsung and other stalwarts of television market, had the facility for internet connection. Even if there no WLAN connector, there should have been Wi-Fi in order to easily watch videos online. But never mind as this is the only negative aspect of performance. Otherwise, the Philips 32PFL is very good.

Power Consumption:

The Philips 32PFL consumes power at the rate of 88 watts when in the normal mode. This is slightly below the average power ratings of the LCD TVs nowadays and so it saves you more money even while producing fine performance. In the standby mode, however the TV consumes only 0.15 watts of power, which is also, by any standards, on the lower side. So, it saves your money and also the environment.

Warranty:

Philips guarantees the 32PFL with a warranty period of two years. This is good news since most of the TVs from the other prime companies in the market have got only one year of warranty period.

Verdict:

The 32PFL7404 is one of the better LCD TVs from Philips. Philips has ensured that there are lot of pluses and minimum minuses in this TV. The design part of it is definitely a great plus to it. Added to this is the display. The features that are included in it are pretty useful and also unique. The video part of its performance is very good but the audio is just about okay. Coming to the negative aspects, one of the solid weak points of the 32PFL is that there is no Wi-Fi or internet connection facility. This may cost many customers to Philips.

With all the fine aspects that are discussed above, it would have been great if the TV also included a wireless internet connection feature. But nevertheless, the TV is fine. In fact it is a pretty good cost for such a low cost when compared to the other similar TVs is   the market. This TV is recommended over many others if you plan to spend less on your TV. If you have other ideas, then it is better that you choose a TV that also has Wi-Fi. You can go with the latest TVs from Sony or LG.

Check other 32″ LCD TV Reviews, Latest Philips LCD Television Models in this website.


Philips 32″ 32PFL7404 LCD TV - Technical Specification Table

Manufacturer	Philips
Model Name	Philips 32PFL7404
Model Number	PFL7404
Display type	LCD Display
Dimensions (W x H x D)	953 x 604 x 199 mm
Weight	9.8 kg
Colour/Finish	Glossy Black
Screen Resolution	1920 x 1080 pixels
Speakers	2 x 10 W
Video Output	1080p
Screen Size	32 inches
Features	Pixel Precise HD, Customisation, Memory Stick Slot, HDMI v1.3, S-video in, CVBS in, Audio L/R in, Headphone out, USB 2.0. Other connections: PC Audio in, Analogue audio Left/Right out, PC-In VGA, S/PDIF out (coaxial), Common Interface Plus (CI+), Common Interface RGB, Ext Scart: Audio L/R, CVBS in, RGB, Ext 3: YPbPr, Audio L/R in, Scart: Audio L/R, CVBS in
USB interface	USB 2.0
Contrast Ratio	80000:1
Tripod stand	No
Digital Tuner	Yes
Power Consumption	88 W
Warranty	Two Years

Earlier, TVs were very big in size and were confined to a particular place. But now the tables have turned as the new technologies came into picture. Technology has helped in making electronic goods execute more than just one function. As a result of it, not only the TVs became more chic and portable but they also have become multipurpose. In the recent past, features and extra options that were introduced by various companies made them more than just televisions. The outward aspect of these televisions has completely changed. Hence, this has led to the rise of new levels of competition among the prime producers of televisions all around the globe.

Sanyo has been one of such companies that are striving to keep their positions in this great tussle of producing the latest and the most qualitative televisions. It has been one of those who have been underrated and its potential has remained undiscovered for a long time. To put an end to all this and in a view of renovating the reputation it has had in the past, Sanyo has announced that its well equipped LCD television, the CE22LD90DV-B is all in readiness to hit the LCD TV market. This has popped up a few questions from the critics in the beginning relating to its consistency in its performance and its ability to attract the public, but it has managed quite well to answer almost all of them. It also came up with new features like Built-in DVD and the Digital Tuner. Here is a thematic description that may give you a bird’s eye view of this TV from Sanyo.

Design:

Neatly Designed:
The overall design of the CE22LD90DV-B is quite normal for an LCD TV. Looking at it on the outset, it gives you an impression that there is nothing so special about it. But if you take a closer look and examine it, you will find that it has been engineered quite well and that there is something special. It is perfectly sleek for an LCD television. The piano black colour makes it more attractive to look at. The edges are not perfectly smooth but they do not slew as well. An important thing here is that the Sanyo  CE22LD90DV-B LCD TV has a removable stand. So, you can stand the TV on the table as usual. But if you want to affix it to your wall, you can always do so by manually removing the stands. This removal process is as easy as chewing a candy. So you do not need to wait for an expert.

It measures about 532 mm in width, 347 mm in height and 60 mm in depth (without the stands) and so, you can hang it to the wall as if it is a photo frame and comfortably watch it sitting in the couch in your living room or while cooking in the kitchen. But when you put in on the TV stand, its support stands increase its dimensions. Another important feature when it comes to the design part of it is that it looks perfect for a monitor of your computer. Overall, the design is very estimable.

The LCD Screen:
This is the most important part of the TV as the first thing anybody expects from their TV is more than good display. The CE22LD90DV-B’s 22 inch widescreen HD Liquid Crystal Display is very commendable and Sanyo has particularly attended to the viewing angles of the display. The CE22 has very good viewing angles and this means that your pictures are very candid even if you are watching from different angles. This is sweet news for the big families. It means that all of them can sit and watch the TV without any complaints regarding the disruption of the pictures. The 1366 x 768 pixel screen resolution and 400 cd/m2 brightness level gives you an excellent picture quality. In addition to these, the 8000:1 contrast ratio helps you in giving crisp and vivid pictures, almost equal to those you see in the HD movies. When you try to compare the display of the CE22 with the other contenders in the market, you will find that this one is not behind many, as it is as good as any other TV, except the Sony and Samsung LCDs which are on the top of the list. So, it is guaranteed that you always experience digital video performance from the CE22’s Display.

Features:

Since Sanyo started the production of televisions, it has always introduced new features every time a new one is released. Each one of them has been very well appreciated by its customers and they are also interesting. Though in the past, Sanyo has introduced some features that are of no big use, it is now using a lot of technology in its features and hence receiving compliments from its users. This time around, Sanyo has tried few new features that really made the CE22 more utile than ever before.

DVD Player:
When the news broke out that the Sanyo CE22LD90DV-B is coming with an in-built DVD player, it has surprised many. It was thought that a TV with an in-built DVD player may look awkward and that the DVD player may also not work well and ultimately you will have to use an external DVD player to play your movies and videos. But every remark of this sort turned to be wrong as Sanyo has managed very well in placing an in-built DVD player inside the TV. This player is positioned at the top on the left hand side of the TV. All you need to do is just place the disc you want to play into the slot provided there and, just enjoy watching your favourite movies or videos or pictures. It is a good thing that a slot is provided instead of the conventional system. This ensures that the discs do not fall off while inserting. Since you do not need an external DVD player, it means that you do not need any connections and wires. So, you can save a lot of space and also make the TV more portable. You can also carry this TV anywhere and then you can play your favourite videos wherever you want; be it in the bedroom or at the backyard. Hence, this ends up being the best, most surprising and the most attractive feature of all.

Digital Tuner:
The new Digital tuner introduced by Sanyo helps you in tuning the channels digitally. The previous TVs from Sanyo have analogue versions of it, but as the world knows, digital always has an edge over the analogue. So, from now onwards, you can tune your channels easily. This one is also simple and very easy to set up and then to use.

FreeView:
The FreeView menu is candid and also user friendly. This menu has all the options in it for you to choose from. All the functions of the TV are displayed in this FreeView menu. It enables you to choose between the features and options that are needed to be function. The very look of this menu attracts the users and the way it functions also makes it a good feature.

Picture in Picture:
This is one of the most common and illustrious features nowadays. You will see this feature on most of the TVs at present because it has proved its importance. This one first featured in computers and video games but of late, it has been imbibed by the televisions also. It certainly enhances the performance of the TV owing to the reason that it can play multiple channels on the screen at a time. So, while watching sports, you can also simultaneously view the headlines in the news channels. In a way it allows the option for multi viewing.

Broadcast:
The Sanyo CE22LD90DV-B Widescreen LCD TV has both the digital and the analogue broadcasting facilities. They both have the option for full auto tuning. This means that everything is tuned automatically by the TV itself and it leaves out nothing for you to attend to. All you need to do is select the option for auto tuning and then watch all your favourite channels. The channel swap feature does not need any introduction as it is not a very uncommon feature now because you see it every TV in the market. The Auto Logical Channel sort function is there to sort the channels on your TV and then arrange them in a nice order. You can also select the option for manual sorting of the channels so that you can choose the order of the channels according to your wish. The TV can sort out about 200 analogue channels and at the same time, 100 digital channels. In the end, you have three hundred channels in all to watch.

Picture Options:
The colour temperature control feature enables you to choose between the four options available. The temperature of the colour refers to the shades that add to the picture colour. Other than the normal temperature, you can choose the colour tone of the pictures you see on the TV. If the option is set to warm, then the pictures appear as if they are captured in sunny conditions. If the option is set to cold, then it means that the pictures look as if they are captured in a rather cool and cloudy atmosphere. These options are there to correct the colour intensity of a particular channel because sometimes the colour of the pictures in a particular channel may not seem good to the eyes. The less the temperature of the pictures, the better they are to your eyes. There is no wide picture mode but there is the Auto Wide Picture selection feature so that you have the option to choose the width of the picture, either normal or wide. The Picture selection mode allows you to choose between the four options that change the modes of watching the pictures on your TV. These four options, namely; Eco, Dynamic, Natural and Cinema, change the screen colour and picture options accordingly.

Miscellaneous:
The Timer is a very common feature of the modern TVs. This is helpful in saving power and is also similar to the sleep mode that is featured in televisions and computers. There are two options; namely the off timer and the on timer. This means that you can set the time after which the TV is switched off and on automatically. The Child Lock option is another feature that helps in locking the channels so that the children cannot access them. There is a USB terminal in the TV so that you can watch media by just plugging in the USB drive. There are also slots for the HDMI cables.
Overall, the features section of the TV is hunky dory and will certainly attract many a customer.

Performance:

Video Performance:
However great are the features, the first and the foremost thing anyone would expect from a TV is a very good performance, because the basic element of a TV is its performance. Otherwise, if this aspect is not taken care of, any TV under the sun will not be a complete one. Sanyo has kept this in mind and it also seemed to have corrected the subtle errors that were seen in its previous TVs. This time around, everything seems to be almost perfect from Sanyo. The pictures on the CE22 are great. Every picture is of DVD quality and is crystal clear. The pictures on the other LCDs are not as qualitative as on this one. The 3D Comb filter and the SD definition features sharpen the pictures and give you digital video output. Although there are not many options, the picture quality of the CE22 is absolutely fine. When you play HD movies on your TV, it gives you stupefying video performance, making you feel that you are watching the movies in the cinema.

Audio Performance:
To make the videos look greater, you need a good audio performance too. The sounds are great from the Sanyo CE22LD90DV-B 22-inch HD Ready LCD TV. They back up the pictures very well. The Digital Audio performance gives you sound outputs that are of high definition quality. There are two speakers in all, each of 6 W. There are two stereo systems that help in enhancing the audio performance. They are the A2 stereo and the NICAM stereo. These two features make up for the absence of the subwoofer and the Bass Enhancer. There is also a headphone jack that is provided in case if you want to hear the sounds through a headphone. The automatic volume controller automatically manipulates the loudness of the sounds of a particular channel because all the channels may not have the same sound levels. The sound systems that are used are BG-DK-II’, BG-DK-LL’. The quality of the sounds is so good that the TV can be used as a radio all day. So, on the whole, the audio performance of the CE22 is fantabulous.

Talking about a few other miscellaneous points, the response time of the CE22 is very commendable. The plug and play option, the EPG and the OFDM Demodulation only enhance the performance of the Sanyo CE22. So, with these and also with also the features and the options that are discussed above, you are assured of an excellent performance from it.

Power Consumption:
A power supply of 220-240 V and 70 W is required. There is a standby mode that will be automatically on if the TV is not used for a long time after it is switched on. In this mode, only 1 W of power is consumed, hence saving power and also your money. When verified with the other TVs in the market, the power consumed by the CE22 is considerably less.

Warranty:

Sanyo offers parts and labour warranty for a period of 1 year. You can also extend this warranty period by visiting the official website and then subscribing there.

Verdict:

The CE22 has been one of the dazing TVs in the recent past. It has come out with good design and its customisability makes it a tailor made TV for any place. The removable stands make it much more customisable. The easy options also make it very user friendly. The display has been one of the prime features of the CE22. The Widescreen HD LCD display is very good and the viewing angles are pretty much the best from Sanyo. This is a TV that suits family viewing better than many others. Then there come the features that are so unique and exhilarating. The best of the features is the built in DVD player. It is sure that this feature is definitely going to allure many customers. All the remaining features were also very good. The performance levels of the CE22 are excellent. With all the exciting features that are there, you would expect the performance to be below par but it is not the case with the CE22. The features add to the performance of the TV. Both the picture quality and the sound quality are great and you will experience a theatrical experience with the HD pictures and the digital sounds. Taking these and everything else into consideration, the CE22 is a very good and a buyable TV that makes your home more lively and turns your home into a cinema.

Check other 22-inch LCD TV Reviews, Best Selling LCD Television Reviews, Specs, Ratings in this website.


Sanyo CE22LD90DV-B LCD HDTV - Technical Specification Table

Manufacturer	Sanyo
Model Name	Sanyo
Model Number	22LD90DV-B
Dimensions (H X W X D) in mm	532 X 347 X 60
Weight	6.0 Kg
Colour	Piano black
Stand type	Table top swivel
Display size	22 inch wide screen
Display technology	LCD
Display Format	720p
Resolution	1366 x 768
Image Aspect Ratio	16:9
Brightness	400 cd/m2
Contrast Ratio	8000:1
Analogue TV Tuner	NTSC
Digital TV Tuner	Yes
HD Ready	Yes
Input Video Formats	AV1
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 6 W
Parental Channel Lock	No
Child Lock	Yes
Image control	Yes
Clock Timer	Yes
Clock Sleep timer	Yes
Connectivity	2 x HDMI - 1 Port PC Mode 1 x Component video input 1 x VGA input 1 x USB 1 x Full scart 1 x Half scart 1 x Audio line-out 1 x Remote control 1 x Digital audio output (optical)
Power Device	Power supply - Internal
Power consumption	70 W
Warranty	1 year

The Great recession had not much impact on this company – LG.  Their trademark TVs with advantageous features and proper functioning ones for a competitive price are responsible for great sales numbers. Their strategy of selling well featured TVs has always been the reason why they are the market leaders.  LG is well known for its top end and mid range models but it has not been that successful in the entry level televisions. So, when the LG 32LH3000 was launched, we were not expecting something great. However, we were in a pleasant surprise, as the LH 3000 confounded our expectations and merely refused to be humbled by any of our tests.   The 1080p LCD TV is a stunningly well designed piece with 3 HDMI ports and blu-ray quality of images. So has LG delivered yet another great model? Read the review to find out.

Design:

Appealing Design:
The LG LH 3000 is a stunningly beautiful television with a slim line frame. The 32 inch TV is surrounded with a bezel of almost 2 inches width making it look large.  The external part has the medium width shining black on the top and sides with the bottom being thickest.  And The LG logo bulges out and there is the power indicator button on the panel.

Few Buttons on the LH 3000:
The front side of the 32LH3000 HD Ready LCD TV has no buttons and looks too big and empty.  The only buttons present on the TV are on the back of the right side of the TV. Though it looks well built, it feels cheap. But with a remote control in our hands, who would use the buttons anyways?

Invisible Speakers:
On the sides of the smooth and stylish frame there are “invisible” speakers that provides a wide field to get optimum sound quality from the TV. Designed by the renowned audio expert Mark Levinson they are deemed invisible because the speakers are actually hidden under the bottom of the panel. Perfect for watching action packed scenes and the league finals.

Infrared Remote control:
Included with the LG 32LH3000 32″ LCD Television is a remote set that works on Infrared rays. Like most other remote controls it features the usual set of buttons and is easy to get used to. The Menu button is oddly placed on the lower left of the big cursor control and the prominent Energy saving button (the green coloured button with the leaf on it) is another key present on the remote.  The rubbery feel of the buttons and the relatively well designed remote make it attractive.

Connectivity:

Once you are done appreciating the design, just look at its rear, you would be pleasantly surprised to see the solid set of connections provided. The 32LH 3000 LCD HDTV has all the ports you need without you having to spend extra money to connect all devices. There are 3 HDMI input ports sufficient to satisfy the digital demands of a budget TV. There are also a PC port and a component video input that should be able to satisfy most users. The third HDMI port and the second AV output with composite video present on the left side.  There is also an Audio Line in, 2 SCART 21 pins, a VGA port and a Common Interface slot provided as well. A pity considering that there are no multimedia facilities beyond the PC jack.

On the rear side of the LH 3000 there is a USB port, a component output port, 2 SCART ports, I RGB port, a component output port and three HDMI ports

The USB port only for service:
The USB port located on the rear of the TV is only for service upgrades rather than letting one play music, photo and DIvX files on the LH 3000. A minor disappointment considering the price you are buying the television at.

LG’s Onscreen Simple Manual:
The Interface of the LH 3000 is large and yet simple to use. It retains the same excellent graphics menu system used by the brand’s flagship TVs. It is highly legible and so organized that one would have no problems finding their way out of it.  There are buttons such as new easy access Quick menu for access ratio, pictures and images. The Simple Manual button provides access to the basic setup of the TV and function information about the keys.

Options to tweak using the Interface:
Despite having a large number of features the TV has one of the most easy to use interfaces in the market. Apart from that once can tinker with the dynamic color and contrast systems, gamma adjustment and several others.

Features:

High Resolution:
This 32-inch LCD TV has a 1080p Resolution - the highest resolution in the market, meaning one can enjoy the full HD experience. It provides 5 times more picture clarity and detail in comparison to standard detail and twice more detail than the HD Ready 720p. The high resolution means that it is now possible to view movies with maximum detail from Blu- ray discs and DVDs. One more interesting aspect of the LH 3000 is unlike most other budget LCD TVs, the innate sharpness of the High Def Image is not blighted by the motion blur.

Freeview:
Like all LG TVs, the 32LH 3000 also comes built in with Freeview making sure that you are prepared for the switch over to digital signals from analog in 2012.  There are also 40 Freeview TV and radio channels along with 8 day on screen guide and digital interactive services provided.

Dynamic Contrast:
The 32LH3000 Freeview LCD TV uses a Contrast Ratio of 50000: 1 ensuring one can enjoy films and games that use extreme colours and contrast. Even in cases where the scenes have limited colours such as the infamous Joker scenes in the Dark Knight, one can pick apart the colours .All the colours are displayed without loss of detail or depth of field and of course, that is applicable to vibrant bright scenes as well.  The colours are vigorous and yet seldom tip over onto looking cartoonish. They are given some extra dynamism by some respectable black levels that are achieved in spite of being one of the brightest TVs in the market. The incorrect contrast which leads to burnout does not happen in this case.

Scaling:
The 1980 x 1020 resolution TV has several scaling modes such as the Just Scan, Original, 4:3, 14:9, 16:9, Zoom and Cinema Zoom.  The Just scan mode makes the image look as it supposed to look like. The Original mode makes the picture look larger without any signs of stretching.  The Zoom mode allows zooming in to the picture that is the image is stretched vertically and once can see it a bit less or more. However, the image horizontally will remain same. The Cinema Zoom allows you to zoom to approximately 65 percent of the original image.

Amazing Audio:
The 32LH 3000 from LG has SRS TruSurround XT which is capable of producing HD sound that complements the HD images. The Audio is crisp and one can immerse themselves in the action easily. The in built Surround mode and the 2 way speaker are the other add ons to the model. The speakers are pretty loud and the sound is outstanding for its price.

Viewing Angles and Response time:
The Viewing angles are about 178 degrees and colours seem to change from different angles. When viewed from a different angle, the darker places became darker and hence the best position to watch the Television is direct. The response time of the Television is about 5 ms and hence ghosting of images was not noticed either.

Performance:

Amazing Picture Quality:
LG has always had an uncanny knock for winning the hearts of its buyers with aggressive displays of brightness and colour on its TVs.  The LH 3000 is equally adept at it and side steps the familiar dull muted cheap rivals. The television also outperforms its price point when it comes to the sharpness of the HD pictures. Despite the lack of the 100MHz the picture does not succumb to motion blur.  There are minor issues with noise exaggeration, colour tone slippage and softness. Performance wise, the TV has not broken any new grounds, but it is way better than what one expects from its wise.

Great Black level Response:
Another area where the 32LH 3000 side steps all other televisions is in terms of its black level performance. The dark scenes look greyer and less detailed than they do on high end TVs, but they are deep enough to make day to day images look dynamic and predominantly dark scenes look way more natural looking than what is expected from budget level televisions.

Great Audio:
For the great price it is being sold, the audio was equally good. The Invisible speakers are loud, clear and have great quality. The TruSurround XT made listening to loud music a pleasant treat.  LG has set new standards in the audio segment in budget level television with the 32 LH 3000.

Energy Efficient:
The 32LH300 is another of the energy efficient Televisions form LG that also saves money and the environment. The company also claims that the television consumes up to 20 percent lesser power than its contemporaries. The presence of the Energy Saving mode is another feather in its hat. The Energy saving mode cuts down brightness without compromising on quality and consumes lower power. When operation the television consumes 150 watts of power and when the energy saving mode is activated it consumes just 75 watts.

Box contents:

The 32 inch LG LCD TV, Remote Control, batteries, user manual and power cable are the components included in the package of LG 32LH3000 Full HD LCD TV.

Warranty:

The LG 32LH3000 full HD LCD TV is provided with one year of service warranty from the date of purchase.

Verdict:

There are very few TVs in the market that can do things slightly better than the 32LH3000.  The Television offers everything that users want: HD quality images, great audio and amazing interface.  But perhaps the USP of the television is its great price.  There are some minor issues with the television such as the USB port’s limited use. Apart from that, how many TVs have been able to offer such killer features with a competitive price? Not many.  LG has proved its mettle once again with the 32LH 3000.  But if you are willing to shell out more , we would advise you to go for the 47 inches version of the LH 3000 – The LG 47LH3000.  All in all, the 32LH 3000 is definitely recommended.

Check other LG LCD Television Models, 32 inch LCD TV Reviews, Specs in our website.

LG 32LH3000 Widescreen LCD TV - Technical Specification Table

Manufacturer	LG
Model Name	LG 32LH 3000
Dimensions (H X W X D) mm	805 x 531 x 79.9( without stand) 805 x 583 x 224( with stand)
Weight	10.6 ( without stand) 117 ( with stand)
Colour	Glossy black
Stand type	Table top swivel
Display size	32 inch wide screen
Display technology	TFT active matrix
Display Format	1080p
Resolution	1920 x 1080
Aspect Ratio Corrections	16:9/Just scan/Original/4:3/14:9/Zoom/ Cinema Zoom/full wide
Colour Reproduction RGB bit	10
Dynamic Contrast Ratio	50000:1
Brightness (cd/m2)	500
Just Scan	HDMI/Component: 1080i / 1080p / 720p
Viewing Angle	178 degrees
Backlight Life	60,000 hours
Audio Output	10W+10W
Speaker System	2 way 4 speakers
Dolby Digital Decoder	Yes
Surround System	SRS TRusurround
HD Ready	Yes
Input Video Formats	480i , 480p , 720p , 1080i , 1080p
Picture Status Mode	Vivid/Standard/Cinema/Game/Sport
Colour Temperature Control	Cool/Medium/Warm
Sound Status Mode	5 modes ( Standard/Music/Cinema/Game/Sport)
Remote Control	Universal remote control - Infrared
XD Engine	Yes
EPG ( SI)	8 days
Energy Saving Recommended	Yes
Sub Title	Yes
Parental Channel Lock	Yes
Closed Caption Capability	Yes
Clock Sleep Time	Yes
Connectivity	3 x HDMI ( 19 pin HDMI Type A ) 2 x Component video input 1 x USB (SVC) 1 x PC Audio Input 1 x RS 232 (control/svc) 1 x Headphones 3 x Composite video/audio input Audio line-in ( RCA phono x 2 ) 1 x Audio line-out 1 x Remote control 1 x Digital audio output (optical)
Power Device	Power supply - Internal
Power Consumption	150w
Warranty	1 year

Polaroid has always been famous for their amazing cameras and now beyond that, they have been focusing on a variety of budget priced consumer electronics products including Home Theatres, DVD players and now LCD TVs.  It is a relatively new entrant to the TV segment and occupies a reasonable share of the market worldwide. Perhaps, the main reason for this is that the company has focused on the price conscious user and has struck a chord with many. It now manufactures all sorts of TVs including portable and CRT. But the trend today is going to flat LCDs and Plasma. So, we can safely say that Polaroid fits in the budget brand category, but for that one need to sacrifice quality and a host of features .When it comes to features, Sony and Samsung are way ahead and Polaroid will have to learn a lot from them.

Polaroid has recently launched the Polaroid TLU-51943WU a small set TV with great picture quality thanks to DLTi and DCTi technology that brings true to life and high definition images.  Polaroid claims that its 5ms response time makes viewing action scenes a sheer pleasure.  Read the review to find out if it is really worth all the money.

Design:

Budget TVs are often designed ergonomically to cut down costs. Not many budget TVs in the market can even claim to be stylishly designed. Adding to that is the fact that the foray into LCD TVs is new for Polaroid and hence we were a bit skeptical about the design. Housed in a plain white case and with the speaker beneath, this model is sleek and stylish. Underneath the Display is the speaker and just beside the speaker is the power LED. The TLU 51943WU LCD TV model is Vesa compatible which means you can mount the TV on your wall and hence is great, especially if you would want a television in your bedroom. On the right side of the TV are present the large power button, the smaller menu button and the ‘+’ and ‘-’ buttons.

Ports:

The left side of the Polaroid TLU-51943WU 19″ Widescreen LCD TV sports the audio/video ports and a USB port. Apart from that, on the back of the device are present a HDMI port, a VGA (D-Sub) port and a CI Slot.

Remote Control:

The TLU 51943WU HD Ready LCD Television has a versatile remote control that has easy access buttons with one touch control. There are the usual buttons present, the power button at the top and the usual buttons to change your channels and volume.  At about 8 inches, the remote is bulky and yet it has a durable feel to it. It makes initial setup and fine tuning adjustments easy compared to trying them out on the television itself.

Setup and Installation:

Like most LCD TVs in the market these days, the Polaroid TLU-51943WU has a reasonable easy set up. In fact to start watching TV, all you need do to is to plug in the TV to a power source. The Integrated Digital Tuner will automatically detect channels and un-complicates things.

Features:

As expected, the Polaroid is not loaded with features. Nevertheless, there are the standard useful features such as Small picture mode, Good resolution and Integrated Digital tuner

Integrated Digital Tuner:

The TV has an Integrated Digital tuner which means that you would no longer need a set top box for converting the TV signals as the device itself would convert the signals. Digital signals offered have are clearer than the outdated analogue signals and also the tuner means you can get a wide spectrum of channels.  Also note that, if you are in the UK, Analog signal tuners will be off and all signal will turn digital in 2012. Hence, if you want to switch without any hassle, try out a TV with a digital tuner.

High Resolution:

The TLU 51943WU LCD TV is a HD ready 1080i screen with a 16:9 ratio and a contrast ratio of 800:1 . Wait, did we forget to mention that the TV has a resolution of 1440 x 900 ? HD 1080i enables one to enjoy the high definition brilliance when connected to a HD source. For maximum realism, there is the 1080i picture which takes movie viewing to a whole new level. Features such as the Digital Colour Transient Improvement, Digital Luminance Transition improvement enhance the already good picture quality.

Other Features:

The Polaroid LCD TV has a response time of just 5ms which means you can watch super fast action screens without the usual haziness and with crystal clarity. There is the Digital noise reduction feature which reduces irregularities in the audio and compresses them to minimize them.

Performance:

When tested for video after lowering the colour to a balanced level and reducing sharpness, we saw fairly decent images with reasonable detail. The blacks were not as deep as they could be, but this is a budget TV we are talking about. But nevertheless, the content had high definition and picture quality was good. When used as a PC monitor, we noticed that the wide screen image cannot be used. Let’s hope Polaroid rectifies it.  The stereo speakers were pretty decent as the Audio leveling was being done appropriately.

Low power consumption:

The Polaroid LCD TV TLU-51943WU has a brightness of just 300cd/m which means lower consumption than the average CRT TVs. The TV has the Energy Star rating and hence we can safely assume that the TV is efficient and would save not only energy but also money.

Warranty:

Polaroid offers its TLU-51943WU LCD TV one year limited warranty.

Verdict:

Despite Polaroid’s inexperience in the LCD segment, they have managed to release a decent product. Like most other 19 inch LCD TVs in the budget category, the Polaroid TLU-51943WU has features like 1080p resolution, Scaling up DVD content etc. However, there have been innumerable reports questioning the quality of the TV as there have been complaints of the video crashing within months of purchasing the TV. Polaroid should work on improving its Customer service and try including better features and maybe then it would strike gold.

Polaroid TLU 51943WU Television - Technical Specification Table

Manufacturer	Polaroid
Model Name	Polaroid TLU51943WU
Family Line	Polaroid TLU
Screen Size	19 inches
Weight	6 kg
Resolution	1400 x 900 pixels
Screen Format	Wide Screen
Colour	White
Brightness	300 cd/m2
Image Aspect Ratio	16:9
Contrast Ratio	800:1
LCD Response Time	5 ms
Broadcast Format Displayed	720p (HDTV), 480p (EDTV) and 480i (SDTV)
Broadcast Format Supported	1080i
Sound Output Mode	Stereo
Speaker Power	2.5 watt
Remote Control	Standard
Viewing Angle	160 degrees
Connector Type	1 x HDMI input, 1 x component video input, 1 x audio line-in, 1 x composite video/audio input, 1 x digital audio output and 1 x VGA input
Slot Provided	1 x Common Interface slot
Remote Control	Infra-red Remote Control
HDMI Ports Qty	1 port
Warranty	1 year