Samsung HLN437W 43-Inch Widescreen Projection HDTV with DLP Technology
I love this HDTV but I�m returning it.
I love this HDTV but I'm returning it. <BR>Although I did over a year of research and I'm happy, I picked this over a flatscreen LCD (not taking a chance on dead pixels), Plasma (not taking a chance on burn ins and they don't last long enough) or LCD projection (dead pixels), or LcOs (technology is not perfected) I'm returning it. First of all the HLN437W you see at Circuit City is not what gets delivered to your house; I called Samsung and what you'll get is actually the upgraded HLN437W1XX (does not say so on the box, its on the sticker to the right of the screen) THE SALES PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THIS! The menu is improved and the remote control is different but the real change has been made to the component inputs in the rear. They now all support all input resolutions (1080i, 720, 480p, 480i, etc.). The sets that come out this June are just slightly different but the technology is the same.<br />So why am I returning it?<BR>Well the HD picture is stunning but regular broadcast is very poor. I've tried a bunch of different connections and called Samsung. The Monster S-video connector is the best but the clarity of detail is worse than what I get on my 12 year old ProScan and that is not acceptable. DVDs look great but most of my use will come from watching regular broadcast. Now keep in mind that THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH HD BROADCAST STATIONS TO WARRANT A $3,100 PURCHASE (TV plus warrantee). Even though the major networks broadcast in HD the original format (Beta) is simply broadcast as HD. True HD (Discovery Channel) if far superior and widescreen but there are not enough stations like Discovery. One other thing to mention is that you can only view this TV at eye level. It is unviewable from above or from the sides.<br />DVI warning.<BR>They are going to try to sell you a DVI cable for $100 and sure it is great but your eye won't tell the difference between that and component. Also the dirty little secret of the DVI connection is that it defaults to 1080i ONLY, that means that your regular broadcast will look horrible because the native resolution (see the Cnet.com review of this unit) is 720 and with the DVI hookup you can't change it on a Pioneer Voyager 3510 box. Period. Also Time Warner does not support DVI, so you're back to either component which is poor or S-video which is just okay. <br />Ghosting, Rainbow Effect. Fan Noise. Picture-in-picture<BR>Have seen ghosting on some stations and it is very annoying. No rainbow effect. Only a little fan noise that I can live with. PIP does not work because you're using a cable box.<br />Pushes Red.<BR>Yes but overall the colors are vibrant the blacks are great and there is no screendoor effect you just have to deal with the pixilization from poor broadcast viewing.<br />A Plea to Samsung, The Cable Companies (TimeWarner), HD box makers (Pioneer) and Merchants (Circuit City)<BR>TALK TO EACH OTHER! There is a lack of understanding as to how things work together and the consumer-yes even we techno savvy guys-should not have to spend hours on the phone (if you don't work from home try getting Samsung on the phone at night or during the weekend when you want to tweak your set; the people at Time Warner really don't know much; Pioneer posts no phone numbers on their website and the sales people only know what the reps tell or fail to tell them). Samsung Customer Care people are great and very knowledgeable but it is quite disconcerting that none of them (Samsung employees) own DLPs or any of their high end TVs. It turns out that these guys say they can't afford them-that is truly sad, almost shameful on Samsung's part.<br />Do not enter your Service Menu.<BR>If you make and changes you immediately void your Warrantee. Period.<br />I simply can't see spending the money when the broadcasters have not caught up to Samsung. I'm buying a 27\\" analog CRT this weekend and waiting for two years.