Samsung LN-R3228W 32-Inch HD-Ready LCD TV
A great first LCD TV
Since this is my first widescreen LCD TV (or HDTV) I'm anxious to give this a 5 star rating since I worried a lot about changing from a regular old CRT (was also a Samsung) with curved glass picture tube to what I considered might be something like my notebook and desktop computer LCD screens. Using the VGA input and a 10' cable connected to the VGA output of my notebook (DELL Inspiron 8200) I was amazed at the clear and colorful image, even though the original screen resolution was being stretched in Wide mode. Makes my notebook LCD look pitiful when both are showing at the same time. <br /> <br />I don't have HD Cable yet, or HD receiver, so Cable (which is STD in menu) is fed through my Samsung DVD-VR325 recorder/VCR combo on either HDMI cable or bypassed (when DVD-R/VCR is off) using just coax cable. This being the case I see the picture typically ghosts a little, but varies in quality going from channel to channel. <br /> <br />Default picture and sound settings needed changes to suit me.  <br /> <br />The color was like looking at neon signs and I prefer muted colors, but heck it was already at 50 (0 or 1? to 100) so I chose 39 and its still colorful. <br /> <br />Sound wasn't stereo or surround so I set it to use that. I also turned auto leveling on. Again, like the color, volume is very loud. I keep it down to 5 or 6 and it remains loud and clear. I tried 30 momentarily just to see if it kept a good quality at higher levels-- which it did-- but quickly lowered it. I don't even know how high it will go. I think Samsung got the speaker design right, because I noticed it isn't so loud (at 5 or 6) once I leave the room but is extremely clear and full otherwise. The sound types Music, Movie, Speech might be useful. Not sure what a 3D Mono setting is in the surround sound setting (SRS TSTX), other choices are Off and Stereo (only stereo sounds 'right' to me) but it sure is different. Took me a while to get the PIP sound set to Sub for when I have the PC as Sourceand want to see and hear TV. A case of not reading the manual. <br /> <br />Something I should point out about the Amazon description is that My Color is said to have 6 possible color changes. Well, apparently generic meant for similar models. It actually mentions the LN-R328W instead. Only 3 colors are changeable in the LN-R3228W, and those are Pink, Green and Blue. The White, Red and Yellow aren't available at all. <br /> <br />Next thing to tell about... Dynamic Contrast. I don't care much for it. Makes darker parts of the picture go black, losing some of the picture. It might help with DVD's, but I'm not seeing anything good from it for standard Cable TV. <br /> <br />Picture modes... Wide works best for me, even if it does squash everything in the vertical direction. Panorama is fun but can be disorienting when looking at the sides. Zoom makes for a nice big picture but I see plenty of checkerboard effects occuring in fast-paced parts. And 4:3 is too ordinary. <br /> <br />Overall, a good TV so I'm happy with the move from CRT to LCD. I definitely believe price is a factor, too, so if I had paid more than the $1498 (shipping included) I might have been a little disappointed about this new TV. The size and weight changes alone is a plus. <br /> <br />Another point... I got this bottom speaker design so it would fit in my fairly new entertainment center, which has an opening only 31 inches. I thought it would have room to stand in front of that opening, being such a thin depth TV. Well, thanks to the delivery/installer guys because they put it in at an angle to slip past the edge moldings where its actually 32\\" or more inside there. I still kept it nearer the front than back though, due to the heat this TV manages to put out the top. <br /> <br />If anything occurs within the next few months to make me want to wish I had rated this lower I'll edit my review to state any problems. I just felt that it deserved 5 stars not 4. <br />