iSymphony LC42iF56 42-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV, Black Review

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(More customer reviews)Last edit: 08 Feb 2011
I've waited to post a review for a few days to avoid writing something that just reflects the afterglow of upsizing from a 32 to 42 inch screen. The BF lightning deal price was just AWESOME. Thank you Amazon for saving me from standing in line in the 20-degree rain at Target!
The bottom line: while there are a few shortcomings in this TV compared to higher end models, it is a functional entry-level screen.
Pros:
- Gorgeous color and detail - an immersive experience from 8 feet away. Well-lit scenes are its forte: to my eye as good as any other screen. The first movie we watched was Up, at only 720p through VGA from my laptop but it seemed almost 3D at times compared to our previous 32-inch Vizio (E320VL). Blu-rays look GREAT as well, no problems connecting. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful.
- Menus are well organized and aesthetically well-designed.
- Channel tuner works great. Found everything my old tv did, and a few more!
- Included remote has all the options you want to be there, and is pretty forgiving about where you point it (30 degree window on either side of straight on). Separate buttons for every input, buttons to shuffle through picture and sound profiles, CC button on the remote (unlike Vizio where you had to dig in menus). Very well-designed remote, and I love how slim it is.
- TV speakers are as good as any other I've heard (not real high quality but functional).
- Lots of types of inputs.
- Matte screen reduces glare.
Cons:
- As others have mentioned, blacks on 1080i HD channels through the coaxial (antenna) input are REALLY dark sometimes. I should note that this doesn't affect 720 or 480 channels from the antenna, DVD, HDMI or VGA inputs; those black levels are fine, if not as dark as higher end models. I need to play with the picture options more to see if I can fix this...
EDIT: I am now much happier with black levels. I have Contrast and Brightness in the 70s, with the other settings still at 50 (I take Sharpness down to 20 for filmed Blurays because of the standard grain issues). This seems to be the ideal compromise. By trying others suggestions and not seeing good results, I wonder if each TV may be a bit different - certainly viewer's eyes are. But the good news: black level problem largely fixed by adjusting the picture!
- A bit of over-redness sometimes through the VGA - I deal with it in the short term by setting Color to "Cool". This only happened with one movie one time, and I'm not sure why... maybe didn't have the VGA hooked up completely.
- Only 2 HDMI inputs may be a con to some.
- Menus lack some options in higher end models, but enough to play with.
- Unit gets pretty warm - power consumption is 300W (150 is more average for this size in leading brands). But it's only $19/yr. more in energy costs if the TV's on 3 hours a day average (way more than we use). Decided I can live with that.
- The connection method of the base won't support side-to-side movement of the monitor very much - gotta be careful to set it down square when you move it.
Responses to others' cons:
- Like a cheap plastic toy: There are no pieces of extra plastic on the edges of my unit, and it's glossy, smooth, elegant, and solid. The only weak area is the base connection.
- Packaging is poor: Other than the box being a little more plain than others, it is packed very securely and well. Not sure what some people were referring to.
- Backlight leakage at corners of the screen: I turned off all the lights in the room and do not see this at all... seems fine to me!
EDIT: Okay, I've seen the "corner leakage" now, but have to have all lights off and be displaying a completely black screen (noticed while watching credits of Jurassic Park)- it's faint in the upper corners. Actually though, I don't think it's backlight leakage, as by changing your viewing angle it moves around a lot, and even inverts to darker black. There is also a light sheen or cloudiness randomly distributed across the screen that shifts as you move around. It seems to be the matte surface of the screen is not completely flat, and in a dark room it becomes apparent as a little bit of light from the LCDs leaks through and catches the matte texture. Something to be aware of, but no noticeable effect on picture quality in almost all viewing conditions. It's least visible when you are watching straight on to the screen.
- Bug in remote buttons: The channel changing buttons on the remote are sensitive. It seems to have a quick-scan feature that quickly switches over 2 channels, then two more if you hold it down too long. I don't see this as a bug though, just don't hold down as long and problem solved :-)
Additional tidbit: I somehow unlocked the Tint control! It may have had something to do with accidentally unpluggling a VGA cord while TV and computer were running. It's after that I noticed the change. TV still works great in every way. Good news: the default "0" setting it was frozen at before is about the best anyway - leaving it there.
Owner's manual now online at iSymphony's website: [...]
For someone on a budget the $300 price tag was awesome, though I'm not sure I would buy it at the $449 price when you can do much better for just a hundred or two more. I grabbed a 3 year warranty from Squaretrade since this is a totally unproven brand. 40% off with code SLICK. Let's hope it lasts!

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The iSymphony LC42iF56 is a 42-Inch 1080p HD LCD Television. The TV has 1920 x 1080 native resolution and wide-screen (16:9 aspect ratio) for a complete home theater experience. The super high picture quality has been realized by VIORE engineering with high brightness for a vivid and brilliant picture and with high contrast for deeper blacks and brighter whites. The ATSC TV tuner is integrated for over-the-air HDTV broadcast reception. HDMI input is provided so that the digital signals for both video and audio will be transferred without any degradation from Blu-ray Disc Player, DVD Player, Game Player, or Cable/Satellite Box. A VGA port is also provided so that you can use the TV as a computer monitor.

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Pro-Techgroup Profesional Quality 25 ft HDMI 1.3 24AWG Category 2 CL2 rated Gold plated - 10.2 Gbps 1080p Deep Color - White Review

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(More customer reviews)What can I say, it seems to work just fine. I have not noticed any picture degradation or other issues related to this cable.

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LG 47SL90 47-Inch 1080p 120 Hz LED HDTV, Glossy Black Review

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(More customer reviews)If you are looking for a latest technology LED HDTV you probably have come across this LED panel from LG. I read the other reviews on here and am a little suspicious some of these people might work for LG?
O.K There is good as well as bad and it certainly isn't all bad, but don't be fooled by some of the over zealous reviews on here about this product. It looks great in the stores but might not do as well in the realities of your home. Please read on.
The Good!
The panel looks great cosmetically, its slim, the boarder is there (its just that it doesn't protrude from the screen like most its contained within the glass panel it self. The price is competitive.
Picture clarity under ideal viewing conditions is impeccable. 1080P and 1080I modes ee this TV perform at its best. Connected to a Blu-ray player playing 1080P, with the all the blinds closed is top notch!!
The Not so Good.
The screen has some serious glare issues (as it's a glass screen) If you have this screen anywhere near a window(s) especially behind you the viewer, it's really difficult to get your eyes to focus out the images reflected from behind you. My much older Westinghouse LCD has an anti-glare screen and copes much better than the LG does in usual viewing situations like this. The 120 Hz True-motion setting just doesn't work and causes some serious pixel issues. This effect can be seen clearly around people on screen. The Panel works O.K when this feature is turned off. Calibration and cinema mode settings seem to work just fine.
Low resolution viewing (lower than 720P) is not that great and again is out performed, in my personal opinion, by my much older Westinghouse TV)
I have found some strange issues watching recorded programs on my DVR such as "Flash Forward" the other night which had a great deal of dark scenes. It seemed almost like I was watching in Low resolution, the picture quality was not at all good. However watching the latest Star Trek on Blu-ray is just outstanding - so I don't know if this is an issue with resolution, black levels or 1080I versus 1080P settings.
Conclusion:
If you are looking for a LED panel and have ideal viewing conditions and your primary input is going to be HD sources especially DVD's on Blu-ray, then this is the TV for you. If you are going to be watching multiple TV programs in more realistic household settings you may want to look at other options with screens that are less glossy.


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Toshiba 37E200U 37-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV (Black Gloss) Review

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(More customer reviews)I guess I'll break the ice and be the first to review this TV.
I searched for a decent 37" TV at a reasonable price and looked at several different brands. I almost bought a Vizio because of the price, but then I found this Toshiba for less than 600$. Here is what I can say about it so far:
This TV has a very good picture especially on the Directv hi-def channels. It has some interesting features that I have not yet used such as:
the ability to play picture files (like a giant digital photo frame, and
the ability to play MUSIC files, like a giant Mp3 player.
When I press the "mute" (to mute the sound)button, it will mute half way, then another press of the button mutes the sound completely.
It has a computer terminal for connecting a PC.
It has 4 HDMI inputs.
The reason I gave this TV 4 stars is the viewing angles--like most LCDs, you need to sit almost directly in front of the screen. If you try and watch it too far off to one side, the colors get a bit washed out.
For an auxillary TV, this one fits the bill. My home theatre TV is a 50" plasma, and that TV blows this one away. But if you just want a fairly large TV for everyday watching and not the whole "home theatre" experience, you will be pleased with this unit. I think Toshiba is a decent brand and most of the reviews on other Toshiba models have been pretty good.

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Enjoy a stunning picture bursting with color and clarity with the 37-inch Toshiba 37E200U LCD HDTV (37.6-inch diagonal screen size), featuring a 1080p Full HD resolution that provides twice the pixel resolution of 720p HD models. It provides a number of convenient home entertainment options and key picture quality features, including DynaLight dynamic backlight control for deeper black levels and four HDMI digital inputs for simple high quality connection to cable/satellite boxes, DVD players and more. Plus, the HDMI ports feature fast InstaPort switching for quick changes from one source to another.
With the Gaming Mode function, you'll experience reduced game control delay and improved reaction time--perfect for PC gaming--and the Photo Frame capability with Auto Slide Show enables you to display slideshows of your favorite images when not watching TV programming.
Boasting a slimming tapered bezel and attractive front panel gradation, the new Horizon design creates a more modern, elegant appearance that also adds a subtle luminance to the logo to further its stylish appeal. Other features include MP3 playback via the integrated USB port, a PC input, and a removable stand.

Key Features
1080p HD resolution (1920 x 1080 pixels)
60Hz screen refresh rate
CineSpeed LCD panel with a fast response speed necessary for cleaner high-action home theater images. A wide viewing angle ensures that you'll have the best seat in the house.
DynaLight Backlight Control utilizes advanced image processing to monitor the brightness of each video frame, and adjust the backlight intensity accordingly. This precision creates seamless transitions with deep blacks for increased detail and depth analysis.
Photo Frame capability allows this HDTV to act as both a TV and a digital photo frame. You can showcase your favorite memories as a clear, crisp slide show on the high-resolution television screen--all controlled with just the TV remote.
Gaming Mode takes the gaming experience to a new level by reducing game control delay, thus giving the player improved reaction time and a more realistic playing experience. This is great when used with popular gaming consoles, or with PC games using the TVs PC Input.
Built-in ATSC/NTSC/QAM digital tuning allows for tuning of standard cable channels as well as off-air digital broadcasts, in addition to digital "cable-in-the-clear" broadcasts.
Native Mode restores the size of the picture by the 3-5 percent that is generally lost during the normal over-scanning that occurs on traditional sets.
Cinema Mode 24 fps (3:2 Pulldown): This HDTV performs 3:2 pulldown detection and reversal, too--a handy feature for watching progressive-scan movie programs in their native 24-frame format. To adapt 24 frames-per-second movies to 30 fps video, frames in the original movie must be duplicated; 3:2 pulldown digitally corrects this duplication by removing the redundant information to display a frame-accurate picture.
Color Temperature Control enables you to adjust white balance to achieve the best television picture possible in any viewing environment, or simply adjust the picture to suit your personal tastes. The "Warm" setting delivers a redder image that is ideal for display in a dimly lit room, while "Medium" and "Cool" provide a progressively bluer image for the best picture as room light levels are increased.
Three TheaterWide modes are ideal for displaying HDTV signals as well as enhanced for widescreen television DVDs.

TheaterWide 1: Letterboxed image is digitally expanded 33 percent horizontally and vertically. Useful for reproducing Academy Standard (1.85:1) formatted software.
TheaterWide 2: Letterboxed image is expanded 33 percent horizontally and 42 percent vertically. Particularly of use when viewing narrow letterboxed images originally filmed in Panavision or CinemaScope.
TheaterWide 3: Letterboxed image is expanded 33 percent horizontally and 24 percent vertically. Can be utilized when displaying letterboxed images that incorporate narrow bands at the top and bottom of the picture.


MP3 audio and JPEG image playback via USB port on the side.
REGZA-LINK (HDMI-CEC) allows peripheral AV devices such as a DVD player to be controlled by the remote control.
InstaPort fast HDMI switching between A/V components: Typically, when you switch HDMI inputs, there can be a five or six second delay. With InstaPort, as soon as you select an HDMI source, it will connect in a fraction of the time.
Bottom-mounted invisible speakers integrated into stylish Horizon bezel design (20 Watts total power; 10W + 10W).
Channel Browser allows you to easily scan through the last 32 channels you have viewed, with screen images for the last five channels displayed, by channel, by favorites, and by input, at the touch of a button.
Channel Labeling allows you to put station call letters on the screen along with the station numbers, so you always know what channel you're watching
Input labeling enables you to name the individual inputs to denote usage, such as "DVD Player" (instead of having them display as just "HDMI 1" and "HDMI 2").
Removable stand for wall mounting (200mm x 200mm VESA mounting pattern)
Tri-lingual onscreen menu (English, French, Spanish)
Warranty: 1-year limited warranty on parts and labor

Toshiba 2010 REGZA HDTV Comparison
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Ultra Series 25 Ft High Speed Hdmi Cable - Ver. 1.4, Premium Hdmi Cable with Ethernet - Black & Purple Nylon Brading 25 Ft Review

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(More customer reviews)work as described.......the AWG size is a little small for the lenth
and i'm not a fan of the little black interfernce things on each side of the cablei returned the item MY FAULT thou.....they were way tooo long....i reordered some 15 footers

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Toshiba 46G300U 46-Inch 1080p 120 Hz LCD HDTV (Black Gloss) Review

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(More customer reviews)A good TV at a very good price; it does have a couple of issues, which may be no big deal for you, depending on your needs.
Good: The picture is very good, comparable to much more expensive sets, in both standard and high definition. The 120Hz refresh does make a difference, although if, like me, you're accustomed to the slight jitter of high-speed motion on a 60Hz set the smooth motion will seem a little unnatural at first!
It has a good selection of input ports. No real internet connectivity, but I figure that functionality will be obsolete in a couple of year anyway, so it makes more sense for that to be built into a dedicated component or blue-ray player or something similar in any event.Bad: Power cord is hardwired into the back of the set, rather than being detachable - that was a real nuisance when I was trying to run the cables. More importantly, the internal speakers are pretty poor. Compounding this problem, it has neither analog audio out nor a headphone jack! If your external speaker system/receiver takes digital optical SPDIF ("Toslink"?) connections (most recent ones do), you're good - otherwise you'll need an adapter (Somthing like this: Digital Audio To Analog Audio Converter, although mine is still on order so I can't vouch for it yet.)
Still, if you want really good sound, no flat-panel will deliver that, and you could add a $200 soundbar to this to get a system that will have as good a picture and much better sound than more expensive sets. If you already have a good sound system (especially one with optical inputs), this is a very good option for the money.

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Enjoy a stunning picture bursting with color and clarity with the 46-inch Toshiba 46G300U LCD HDTV (46-inch diagonal screen size), featuring a 1080p Full HD resolution that provides twice the pixel resolution of 720p HD models. It also boasts Toshiba's ClearFrame 120Hz feature, which doubles the video frames from 60 per second to 120 per second to virtually eliminate motion blur--making this a perfect set for watching fast action movies and sports.
It provides a number of convenient home entertainment options and key picture quality features, including DynaLight dynamic backlight control for deeper black levels and four HDMI digital inputs for simple high quality connection to cable/satellite boxes, DVD players and more. Plus, the HDMI ports feature fast InstaPort switching for quick changes from one source to another.
With the Gaming Mode function, you'll experience reduced game control delay and improved reaction time--perfect for PC gaming--and the Photo Frame capability with Auto Slide Show enables you to display slideshows of your favorite images when not watching TV programming.
Boasting a slimming tapered bezel and attractive front panel gradation, the new Horizon design creates a more modern, elegant appearance that also adds a subtle luminance to the logo to further its stylish appeal. Other features include MP3 playback via the integrated USB port, a PC input, and a removable stand.

Key Features
1080p HD resolution (1920 x 1080 pixels)
ClearFrame 120Hz screen refresh rate virtually eliminates motion blur, making this HDTV a great choice for fast action movies and sports. Toshiba's ClearFrame 120Hz system doubles the frame rate of an LCD TV from 60 frames per second to 120 frames per second using superior Motion Vector Frame Interpolation technology.
DynaLight Backlight Control utilizes advanced image processing to monitor the brightness of each video frame, and adjust the backlight intensity accordingly. This precision creates seamless transitions with deep blacks for increased detail and depth analysis.
Photo Frame capability allows this HDTV to act as both a TV and a digital photo frame. You can showcase your favorite memories as a clear, crisp slide show on the high-resolution television screen--all controlled with just the TV remote.
Gaming Mode takes the gaming experience to a new level by reducing game control delay, thus giving the player improved reaction time and a more realistic playing experience. This is great when used with popular gaming consoles, or with PC games using the TVs PC Input.
Built-in ATSC/NTSC/QAM digital tuning allows for tuning of standard cable channels as well as off-air digital broadcasts, in addition to digital "cable-in-the-clear" broadcasts.
Native Mode restores the size of the picture by the 3-5 percent that is generally lost during the normal over-scanning that occurs on traditional sets.
Cinema Mode 24 fps (3:2 Pulldown): This HDTV performs 3:2 pulldown detection and reversal, too--a handy feature for watching progressive-scan movie programs in their native 24-frame format. To adapt 24 frames-per-second movies to 30 fps video, frames in the original movie must be duplicated; 3:2 pulldown digitally corrects this duplication by removing the redundant information to display a frame-accurate picture.
Color Temperature Control enables you to adjust white balance to achieve the best television picture possible in any viewing environment, or simply adjust the picture to suit your personal tastes. The "Warm" setting delivers a redder image that is ideal for display in a dimly lit room, while "Medium" and "Cool" provide a progressively bluer image for the best picture as room light levels are increased.
Three TheaterWide modes are ideal for displaying HDTV signals as well as enhanced for widescreen television DVDs.

TheaterWide 1: Letterboxed image is digitally expanded 33 percent horizontally and vertically. Useful for reproducing Academy Standard (1.85:1) formatted software.
TheaterWide 2: Letterboxed image is expanded 33 percent horizontally and 42 percent vertically. Particularly of use when viewing narrow letterboxed images originally filmed in Panavision or CinemaScope.
TheaterWide 3: Letterboxed image is expanded 33 percent horizontally and 24 percent vertically. Can be utilized when displaying letterboxed images that incorporate narrow bands at the top and bottom of the picture.


MP3 audio and JPEG image playback via USB port on the side.
REGZA-LINK (HDMI-CEC) allows peripheral AV devices such as a DVD player to be controlled by the remote control.
InstaPort fast HDMI switching between A/V components: Typically, when you switch HDMI inputs, there can be a five or six second delay. With InstaPort, as soon as you select an HDMI source, it will connect in a fraction of the time.
Ethernet port for connecting to wired home network.
Bottom-mounted invisible speakers integrated into stylish Horizon bezel design (20 Watts total power; 10W + 10W).
Channel Browser allows you to easily scan through the last 32 channels you have viewed, with screen images for the last five channels displayed, by channel, by favorites, and by input, at the touch of a button.
Channel Labeling allows you to put station call letters on the screen along with the station numbers, so you always know what channel you're watching
Input labeling enables you to name the individual inputs to denote usage, such as "DVD Player" (instead of having them display as just "HDMI 1" and "HDMI 2").
Removable stand for wall mounting (200mm x 200mm VESA mounting pattern)
Tri-lingual onscreen menu (English, French, Spanish)
Warranty: 1-year limited warranty on parts and labor

Toshiba 2010 REGZA HDTV Comparison
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Which Size HDTV is Right for My Room?

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Proscan 42LED55SA 42-Inch LED Backlight 1080p 120Hz LCD HDTV, Black Review

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(More customer reviews)My brother just bought one of these, we hooked it up to my Blu-Ray player, it looks fantastic. Deep blacks and bright whites, with quick 120 Hz refresh. I am mostly writing this to counteract the other review left on this product that is not actually related to this producty, but rather one consumer's beef with Proscan. (look at the comments on Bob's Review) I called Proscan's customer support to ask about their warranty (wanted to ensure that it started the day my Bro bought it, not the manufacture date). Anyway, I think i might get one also, great value.

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42 Inch LED Backlight Full HD LCD TV120Hz, 1.5 inch-thick, LED TV plus 120Hz, Tuner Mode : ATSC, 4 HDMI, Resolution: 1920 x 1080, Dynamic Contrast: 1,000,000:1, Brightness: 450cd/m, Response Time: 5ms, Digital 3D Comb Filter, Black

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Samsung P2570HD 24.6-Inch Full 1080p HDTV LCD Monitor - Black Rose Review

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(More customer reviews)UPDATE; July 2010: It has been nine months since I have been using the monitor and thought it was time for an update. The monitor has been used heavily; an average of 18 hours per day for work and recreation. Several things have changed; the computer that drives the display was substituted for a new one running at 64 bits with the new Intel I-5 (3.2 GHz) processor. The new graphic cards is a NVIDIA GT 260 with 1.8 GBs of memory and the RAM installed in the computer is 8GBs. The VGA cable was substituted for a DVI and said changes result in a total Windows Experience Index; WEI of 5.9. The limiting factor for such a relatively low number is the HDD since the video card WEI is 7.1. The resolution that the monitor currently has is 1370 x 768 (which is the optimum for my needs of side by side screens). The SyncMaster has not had any problems in spite of such heavy use and it is regularly enjoyed as a second TV. The current price for this device on Amazon is $271.00.
The comments received on the original review have been greatly appreciated and hope that this & other reviews continue being useful to all consumers.
ORIGINAL REVIEW: Samsung's SyncMaster P2570HD offers plenty of inputs, a descent HD-TV monitor, basic speakers, and a remote control with all necessary features. Also, great style and very good performance are included in a panel less than 2" deep. But, no VGA cable included, no height or tilt adjustment and Samsung's website does not have an updated driver for Windows 7. Best for those of us that need (or want) a new big screen monitor that might be also be used as a TV.
It is an LCD Display with 24.6 diagonal inches of screen and I paid $339.00 On Line. After searching on the Internet for reviews on the new Samsung's (not many found), decided on giving a try to this new product. Has multiple inputs; from VGA to HDMI that and an integrated TV tuner, speakers and even the power supply (connects directly to an outlet) in a fairly light device.
Is an attractive device with lots of shine, transparent surfaces and a matte screen. The base is a glossy black oval with hues of red on the perimeter. A transparent glass bluish neck anchors the monitor [pic1]. The aspect ratio is 16:9 which makes it very modern looking when compared to the Apple products. The borders of the screen have a 5/16" clear area [pic4] and on the rear, all input jacks are recessed about one inch and face backwards, not downwards like other monitors/TVs [pic6]. This can make hard flush wall mounting the device. Two small speakers face downward and there is an 18" area on the rear upper part for heat dissipation (remember that the power supply is inside the device).
I tested the monitor with a 2002 Dell XPS running Windows 7 [pic3]. Tried to get an updated driver for the new OS but none yet available. Refresh rate was awesome, colors were bright, blacks were not seen and no distortion or bleeding of the screen was noted. In order to "stress" the video card to its limits (plus the shared RAM), was able to work with eight screens at the same time and even play a DVD trough the WMP-11 and at the same time, play that same movie stored on an External HDD trough VLC [pic5]; no problems!
Then decided to customize the settings for the display and used the remote control for this (instead of the touch sensing buttons on the lower R front area). The Remote [pic5] is quite intuitive and settings were very easy to adjust for optimum viewing. Brightness and contrast had to be decreased to 67% compared with the factory settings which were 80% for both. Something unexpected, when switching from a regular 17 inch LCD monitor to this big screen, the mouse needs more area to properly work. Otherwise, adjustments need to be made for said device but I'll try that later.
After one month of using my Samsung P2570HD solely as a Computer Monitor, I connected it to the cable TV and DVP player to evaluate its performance. Because neither the DVR nor DVD player had more than one HDMI outputs, the comparison needed to be done by stages. The cable from my Cable TV provider [not the DVR/descrambler] was directly connected to the TV input of the Samsung and auto scan was programmed [pic7]. Then, searched for a TV transmission in High Definition [pic9].
Connected the Philips DVD player to the Samsung and to my 40" Sony Bravia LCD. First trough Composite [pic3] and later trough HDMI [pic 10]. Compared picture quality and trough the "custom" setting, tried to make the image of the Samsung as close as possible to the Bravia [pic 11]. The screen adjustments were made using a specific scene from Zefirelli's Traviatta because the only illumination for Violetta's party scene is by candles. On the second configuration [pic12] adjustments were not necessary since the Samsung had been connected through its HDMI input.
Results:
1. As a stand along TV set, the television picture quality is great with plenty of adjustments for us to customize to specific room/ambience[s].
2. The TV itself took about seven minutes to scan the 900 channels of my Cable TV provider and classify them as High Definition or "normal". Worth to mention that the auto scan did not select any inactive or scrambled channels; great!
3. The audio is not the best on the lower frequencies since the speakers are fairly small and face downwards. But, this device is intended to be used mainly as a TV/Monitor with external speakers and supplemental bass boost. So the bass module or subwoofer of your computer's audio devices compensates those modest integrated speakers.
4. Having so many input alternatives, users can select the one (or the best one) for the source device(s) be HDMI, Composite, S-VHS or even the regular three prongs A/V [pic6].
Compared with the LCD Sony Bravia:
1. The screen of this 25 inch (24.6 actually) monitor/TV is almost 2/3 the size of the 40 inch Bravia.
2. As expected, trough Composite, picture quality of the Samsung is lower than the Sony [pic10]but thanks to the many adjustable settings, I was able to almost have the same display in both devices [pic11].
3. Trough HDMI, the Bravia picture is still better [pic12] because of its size and Sony markets the Bravia as a TV, not a TV/computer monitor.
Conclusions:
As a stand along TV, the p2570HD is a great device and will not disappoint anyone as long as they do the proper connections and setting adjustments. As a video playing device it performs excellently especially through its HDMI input. Composite is almost as good but you have to see what output capabilities your specific equipment has. As a computer monitor has been performing in an excellent way, especially with a new inexpensive EVGA GeForce card that increased the WEP from 3.5 to 4.9
Having stated all this I would recommend this device to be used for anyone who wants a great Computer Monitor to be used in a home office that occasionally will become a guest room. Have not mentioned but the Remote is quite handy allowing users to switch between devices and even adjusting picture, contrast and so many other features that will take users to the optimum viewing situation. If you are looking for a TV that can be used as a monitor or hooked to your computer, perhaps, there are some other better alternatives but that was not my need. Pic2 shows you a size comparison with a 10" NetBook and the I-Phone.
In September, read that a specific warehouse was selling this device for $350.00. I called all of them within a 50 mile radius of downtown Seattle and none had it. While you decide on which monitor/TV is best for your needs, here are some photos of the monitor so you can see what it looks like since obviously, you are considering it. As a monitor and DVD playback device, I would give it five stars. As a TV, would give it only four because of the speakers.
Overall, the Samsung p2570HD is a great device and most of the consumers will find a place/setting for its optimum use. And also, works perfectly with Windows 7. Have fun searching for your next Monitor/TV and hope that this review was useful for your selection.


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Panasonic VIERA TC-L42E3 42-Inch 1080p LED HDTV Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The Panasonic HD TVs receive very good reviews both here on Amazon and on other sites. I am not going to go into all the details that are already in the other reviews since I don't find redundancy useful. I purchased this model after viewing the 32 $ 37 inch versions in local stores. I couldn't find the 42 inch model locally so I ordered from Amazon at what I consider a fair price along with the free return policy. The set is performing flawlessly after a month and a half. Both my wife and I are very happy with the picture and over all performance. We added a Blu Ray player and 1080p discs look excellent. I don't have a negative thing to report at this time. I haven't upgraded to a home theater system yet so I can't comment either way on external audio system compatibility.

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LG 47LH40 47-Inch 1080p 120 Hz LCD HDTV, Gloss Black Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)First thing I want to say here is that I spent 2 weeks in and out of different electronics stores, comparing technologies and brands and features to narrow down the best HDTV's in the 46-47" range. Of coarse the Sony Bravia was the #1, but it is over $[...].
This TV came in on my #1, for it's 120Hz "TrueMotion" picture, and true 1080p quality. So I bought it.
For three weeks now I have had the pleasure of owning this HDTV, and let me make some things straight about other reviews.
1. The TrueMotion 120Hz feature is a little strange at first. What it does, is it puts a skinny Blur around the outline of an object in motion, causing that object to look LIFELIKE when it moves. This applies to people walking, trees swaying, and footballs flying. After about two days of watching, you may get used to it. I got used to it, and LOVE IT. It is now weird for me to watch other TV's without this. However, if you do not get used to it, you can turn off the TrueMotion feature and just have a 120Hz refresh rate.
2. The lip-sync. The LG TV is as smart as they come. It will take about 4 hours of TV time for it to calibrate itself to your cable-box or satellite-receiver. Also, depending on your HDMI cable usage, the problem can be solved by going on Amazon.com and buying a $[...] "Digital Audio Cable" and using that for your TV sound rather than the HDMI cord. Again though, easy fix once you get to know your TV.
3. The 47LH40 has smart picture capability. Which kicks Butt. My TV Room has two great big windows directly across from this TV. By enabling the Smart Picture feature ON, it will sense the light in your room, and adjust its backlight accordingly. I do NOT get any glare, and the picture is always razor sharp!
4. Little-known fact, is that LG makes the TV tuners for Samsung, Sony, Sharp, and Toshiba. So naturally, they will put the best technologies in their own TVs, making it one more reason to love LG.
5. It has 4 HDMI inputs! Which means virtually every component you want to connect (PS3, XBox, DVD player, Blueray, etc...) can connect with the best HD picture.
6. The 80,000 : 1 contrast ratio is deeper blacks for dark-shows and movies. This is truly noticeable. I replaced my 4 year old Samsung 32" HDTV with this one, and can not believe how much this actually can be noticed once you have another TV to compare it to. My old one had 60,000:1, and deep-blacks would appear "pixelated"... but any scene, day or night, a lot or a little detail, looks just as good (or better) than it would in person!
Now that I have given you a few reasons to consider this TV, I just want to say that in the past 3 weeks of me owning this, it has been nothing but excellent. My TV shows have never looked more realistic... Football and (preseason) Hockey make you feel like you are in the stands! And Video Games (PS3 specifically) make you feel part of the game. It is truly a great TV, at a great price, and I highly recommend it. Just have patience, if your lip-sync is off for the first two days, give it time to adjust, or watch the owners-CDROM they give you, you'll find out how to fix that. Everyone's cable input is different so the Tuner needs time to adjust itself.
Hope this helped!

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47" LCD HDTV, 1920 x 1080 Resolution, 120 Hz, 70,000:1 Contrast Ratio, ATSC/NTSC/Clear QAM - 1 Tuner, SRS TruSurround XT, 4 HDMI input

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Samsung P2370HD-1 23-Inch LCD HDTV Monitor Review

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(More customer reviews)I'm cheap, I play a fair number of video games, and I love to tweak my TV settings to be as "accurate" as possible using reference images and calibration discs. The Samsung P2370HD exceeded my expectations (especially once I noticed an alternative way to fix the HDMI "blurring" issue others have mentioned).
Right out of the box, color accuracy and black/white level are close to perfect. Like most TV's these days, settings for edge enhancement and dynamic contrast are on by default. Disabling those settings and dialing down the brightness 5 ticks put the grays, blacks, and whites where they needed to be. The only annoyance for me, and it's a minor one, is that the backlight is still brighter than I'd like even on its lowest setting. That's not a problem in a room with any light, but you do notice the glimmer in pitch dark.
Game lag isn't an issue with this TV. If you use a digital camera to take photos of certain reference tests, you'll notice some frame drops here and there. In actual play with my own human eyes, I'm able to pull off precise combos in Super Street Fighter 4 and Tekken 6 without problems. There is a "game mode" option in the setup menu that reduces the frame drops; at least, according to my digital camera; but I can't actually discern any difference when my own hands/eyes are involved.
Many people have complained about blurry, overly sharp edges and text when using the HDMI input. The popular solution is to change the name of the input in the source list to read "PC." This works, but you lose access to some very handy image and color adjustments, as well as the game mode toggle. You also end up with a gamut of gray shades, which can make the image seem soft (although some people prefer it).
An alternative solution is to go into the Picture Options menu and change the "Size" setting from 16:9 to Screen Fit. By default, the P2370HD stretches and clips about 2 to 3% of the image from the HDMI source for overscan. The Screen Fit option enables 1 to 1 pixel mapping, just like changing the name of the HDMI input does, but it leaves you able to access the whole range of picture adjustments.
It makes sense when you think about it: Samsung's engineers probably figured if you're hooking a PC up to it, you can make all of the display-related tweaks you need to in the computer's display panel.
Regardless of how you choose to make the HDMI input look nicer, you'll enjoy how your games look on this TV. The colors are pure, the details just pop, and there's absolutely no "ghosting." Oh, and if you're watching actual TV, I can vouch that the off-air decoder inside this TV is very strong. Much stronger than the 42" Vizio in my living room.

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Cmple - 10ft Ultra High Speed HDMI Cable, Version 1.3, Category 2, Support 3D, 1080p, Black Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)There are such a range of prices to be found for these types of cables out there that I think most users can get easily confused. The retail world does not help the situation much. Whats worse, the old logic from the speaker wires and other component connections are being translated into the HDMI cable world - incorrectly!
The bottom line is that any time you get a digital signal coming across a wire, as long as the signal gets where it is going, you are going to get a great quality picture. In the old days of cables having to carry an analog signal, the argument could be made that high quality, gold plated cables would make things "Better".
The folks at a major retailer are not likely to give you the real skinny here. They may not really be aware of the real deal. Now, in this case, I chose to put my money where my mouth is. I purchased two cables from my local electronics store (think blue shirts) and bought one $99 HDMI cable and one $49 HDMI cable. I was assured by the retailer that I could return these cables if the did not pass muster. I also bought this cable from Amazon for a bargain price.
I rotated all the cables through duty over the course of a few weeks. Each got a turn being the method of connection between my Samsung 8500 55" LCD HD and the following devices:
- DirecTV HD with DVR
- Sony Playstation 3 serving as game system, Netflix Player and Blu-Ray player
In several cases, I would even watch a portion of a movie, swap out the cables and continue on. I was not able to see any difference in the quality of what was presented.
If you have a bad HDMI cable, it is not going to be like it was back in the good old days. There will not be a partial picture with static, etc. With digital, you get a picture, or you don't. Quality may play into it with you getting strange big blocky artifacts on your screen with a really stinky cable, but even that argument has been dismissed by folks who really know what is going on with a digital signal.
So the bottom line is that you do not need to blow all your happy time money on some overpriced HDMI cable. So order up these less expensive beauties, enjoy the picture and sound and then take the family out for a high priced dinner... cuz after buying 3 of these cables for your system, you have probably just saved yourself about $170 bucks in cable costs with no loss in quality!

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Toshiba 32E200U 32-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV (Black Gloss) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I bought mine from Buydig when they had it for $399.99 with a coupon code and free shipping last month. I am using it as a computer monitor and as a secondary TV at home. Instead of writing in paragraph, I will just enumerate the things I wanted to say...
As a Computer Monitor:
1. It has a native mode, but it will leave about an inch of space/border, from the side and 1/2 inch on the top and bottom. The quality is super crisp! Just like a CRT (with 1080p PC mode on)!
2. Natural mode will stretch it out and leave about a 1/4 inch on each side. and it's still pretty crisp.
3. There is an option in this tv called 1080p PC mode, which makes the letters very crisp and clear. You will need to enable it to make the letters not look distorted or fuzzy.
4. To get to the 1080p computer mode, go to menu > picture settings > noise reduction > turn on 1080p PC mode.
5. by default, it is extremely bright as a computer monitor, so lessen the back light.
6. NO DEAD PIXELS!!!!!
7. Using the 15-pin computer plug, max resolution possible is 1360x 768, and instead of native mode, it has a dot by dot mode (which is essentially native mode.)dot by dot mode will leave a hefty border on the tv which is about 3 inch on the top and bottom and about 5 inches per side. Although the text is as clear as it any CRTs out there, losing about 40% of your monitor's real estate isn't that great. Also in PC ode, you can't change the picture settings.
8. I have been able to use audio over HDMI using an ATI card (4670)
9. To avoid screen tearing when playing PC games, make sure v-sync is turned on your PC.
As a TV:
1. switching through channels is painless, not like some other brands that I've tried, this takes less than a second to load to the other channel. There is a slight delay when switching through HDMI and cable or HDMI to another HDMI which is only about a second.
2. very crisp picture and superb colors. The black levels are one of the best I've seen. and this is coming from a former plasma TV user.
3. The sound is pretty decent. Don't expect heavy bass. no tv has that. that's what home theatre set ups are for.
4. The remote is solid, not fancy. no problems picking up the signal.
5. has a usb port that can play music and pictures.
6. NO DEAD PIXELS!!!!!!
7. I have my Dynalight function off so I can't comment on it.
Power consumption (using a P3 Watt meter)
off
>1 W (about .3 W for me)
on Sports mode (torch mode)
~95 W
on Standard
~59 W
on movie mode
~55 W
on PC mode (using the 15 pin VGA)
~54 W
on preference (it seems to be on Sports mode by default)
~95 W
As I've said, it is very bright to use as a computer monitor so what I did was I went on movie mode and customized it by putting contrast and brightness @ 50 and put the backlight @ 0 (yes I put it @ ZERO!) if it's too dark for you put it around backlight 10.
With backlight at zero, the Power Consumption is @ 36 W. Backlight @ 10 is about 43 W.
The unit on standard mode, is a little warm to the touch when you feel the back panel but it doesn't heat up the room at all.
I haven't tested it on input lag but from what I can see, it's pretty good. Game mode helps a lot.
EDIT!!!
being an ATI user, never had the chance to test this TV with an NVidia card. It seems with Nvidia, native mode works perfectly, with all the TV's screen real estate being used. on other modes though, the NVidia chip was actually a little big since the display also had the overscan. It seems ATI chips natively shrink their TV output.

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Enjoy a stunning picture bursting with color and clarity with the 32-inch Toshiba 32E200U LCD HDTV (31.5-inch diagonal screen size), featuring a 1080p Full HD resolution that provides twice the pixel resolution of 720p HD models. It provides a number of convenient home entertainment options and key picture quality features, including DynaLight dynamic backlight control for deeper black levels and four HDMI digital inputs for simple high quality connection to cable/satellite boxes, DVD players and more. Plus, the HDMI ports feature fast InstaPort switching for quick changes from one source to another.
With the Gaming Mode function, you'll experience reduced game control delay and improved reaction time--perfect for PC gaming--and the Photo Frame capability with Auto Slide Show enables you to display slideshows of your favorite images when not watching TV programming.
Boasting a slimming tapered bezel and attractive front panel gradation, the new Horizon design creates a more modern, elegant appearance that also adds a subtle luminance to the logo to further its stylish appeal. Other features include MP3 playback via the integrated USB port, a PC input, and a removable stand.

Key Features
1080p HD resolution (1920 x 1080 pixels)
60Hz screen refresh rate
CineSpeed LCD panel with a fast response speed necessary for cleaner high-action home theater images. A wide viewing angle ensures that you'll have the best seat in the house.
DynaLight Backlight Control utilizes advanced image processing to monitor the brightness of each video frame, and adjust the backlight intensity accordingly. This precision creates seamless transitions with deep blacks for increased detail and depth analysis.
Photo Frame capability allows this HDTV to act as both a TV and a digital photo frame. You can showcase your favorite memories as a clear, crisp slide show on the high-resolution television screen--all controlled with just the TV remote.
Gaming Mode takes the gaming experience to a new level by reducing game control delay, thus giving the player improved reaction time and a more realistic playing experience. This is great when used with popular gaming consoles, or with PC games using the TVs PC Input.
Built-in ATSC/NTSC/QAM digital tuning allows for tuning of standard cable channels as well as off-air digital broadcasts, in addition to digital "cable-in-the-clear" broadcasts.
Native Mode restores the size of the picture by the 3-5 percent that is generally lost during the normal over-scanning that occurs on traditional sets.
Cinema Mode 24 fps (3:2 Pulldown): This HDTV performs 3:2 pulldown detection and reversal, too--a handy feature for watching progressive-scan movie programs in their native 24-frame format. To adapt 24 frames-per-second movies to 30 fps video, frames in the original movie must be duplicated; 3:2 pulldown digitally corrects this duplication by removing the redundant information to display a frame-accurate picture.
Color Temperature Control enables you to adjust white balance to achieve the best television picture possible in any viewing environment, or simply adjust the picture to suit your personal tastes. The "Warm" setting delivers a redder image that is ideal for display in a dimly lit room, while "Medium" and "Cool" provide a progressively bluer image for the best picture as room light levels are increased.
Three TheaterWide modes are ideal for displaying HDTV signals as well as enhanced for widescreen television DVDs.

TheaterWide 1: Letterboxed image is digitally expanded 33 percent horizontally and vertically. Useful for reproducing Academy Standard (1.85:1) formatted software.
TheaterWide 2: Letterboxed image is expanded 33 percent horizontally and 42 percent vertically. Particularly of use when viewing narrow letterboxed images originally filmed in Panavision or CinemaScope.
TheaterWide 3: Letterboxed image is expanded 33 percent horizontally and 24 percent vertically. Can be utilized when displaying letterboxed images that incorporate narrow bands at the top and bottom of the picture.


MP3 audio and JPEG image playback via USB port on the side.
REGZA-LINK (HDMI-CEC) allows peripheral AV devices such as a DVD player to be controlled by the remote control.
InstaPort fast HDMI switching between A/V components: Typically, when you switch HDMI inputs, there can be a five or six second delay. With InstaPort, as soon as you select an HDMI source, it will connect in a fraction of the time.
Bottom-mounted invisible speakers integrated into stylish Horizon bezel design (20 Watts total power; 10W + 10W).
Channel Browser allows you to easily scan through the last 32 channels you have viewed, with screen images for the last five channels displayed, by channel, by favorites, and by input, at the touch of a button.
Channel Labeling allows you to put station call letters on the screen along with the station numbers, so you always know what channel you're watching
Input labeling enables you to name the individual inputs to denote usage, such as "DVD Player" (instead of having them display as just "HDMI 1" and "HDMI 2").
Removable stand for wall mounting (200mm x 200mm VESA mounting pattern)
Tri-lingual onscreen menu (English, French, Spanish)
Warranty: 1-year limited warranty on parts and labor

Toshiba 2010 REGZA HDTV Comparison
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Toshiba 40FT1U 40-Inch 1080p 60 Hz LCD HDTV, Black Gloss Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Edit 3/16/2011: No problems at all and three months later I still have not changed my opinion of this HDTV.
EDIT 12/14/2010: I've now had this HDTV for almost a month and I feel compelled to update my review because the picture quality is absolutely remarkable! From the first, I changed the "Pic Mode" to "Movie" and made no other picture adjustment. The apparent depth is just stunning -- as close to 3D as I've seen in a non-3D television. This is particularly noticeable when I switch from watching one of my other HDTVs to this one. With this "Movie" setting, black levels are very intense for movie viewing. But it was watching the football game on Sunday that was so stunning. Realistic is the only word for it.
Otherwise, everything I said previously holds and I won't make any other updates unless some problem should come up.
EDIT 11/12/2010: This review is updated 5 days after purchase. My initial "r:" will appear where I added later comments. I recommend you also read the comments for this review and the comment I made to another reviewer ( http://www.amazon.com/review/RN9YJSLNGTBBF/ref=cm_cr_pr_cmt?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B003XU6D6Y&nodeID=&tag=&linkCode=#wasThisHelpful ). I'm doing this because I am extremely satisfied with this TV and believe it deserves careful consideration whether on sale or list price. My "4 star" review is based on my experience with large (37 - 53 inch) HDTVs at all feature levels. If considering this TV only against other HDTV of the 37 or 40 inch size and at this lowest feature level for standard brands, I would say this is a "5 star" HDTV. r: updated 11/20/10
I was able to get this TV at Best Buy as an "early Black Friday" offer for $400. At that price, this is a fantastic deal. I was also able to stand and compare the video image side by side from very close up (2 ft) with the Sony KDL40EX500 and EX400, the Toshiba 40E200U, and a Panasonic TCL37D2 -- frankly, it was like looking at virtual copies except the Soney EX500 had a SLIGHTLY better image (less edge flicker on football players in motion). Without brand names, you couldn't tell one from the other whether they were turned on or off (they all had a similar matte screen finish). Keep in mind that these TVs were all set in the store to a very hot, bright picture. On the audio side, they all sounded decent with none standing out as "better" (in the showroom at least). With that comparison, it was easy for me to choose to save more than $100 and buy the Toshiba 40FT1U. (The little information I could actually find about the 40FT1U says that it is basically the same as the Toshiba 40E299U but with only 3 HDMI connectors instead of 4.)
Getting it home, assembled (very simple and well-engineered 4 bolt base assembly) and connected (using HDMI), I wasn't disappointed at all by the product when in the quiet and soft natural (window) lighting of my bedroom. The tv has 5 "Pic Modes" with the mysterious names (probably the typical Toshiba names) of Sport, Standard, Movie, PC and Preference (I think this one is customizable). These are really brightness/contrast alternatives with Sport too bright for me -- Movie turned out to be my preferred mode and seems to provide real deep black levels. The audio is clear (w/o much low end), offers plenty of volume and has a really good surround synthesizer.
r: My one real regret about this supposedly "low-end" tv is that Toshiba (like most manufactures with their low-end tvs) does not provide any audio outputs that would allow me to easily plug in some better speakers or a headphone (since this is a bedroom tv for us). They do provide optical digital audio out for a receiver or peramp for use with a sound system.
The menus are pretty clear and easy to move through, but offer far more alternatives than are covered in the manual (r: for a complete manual, see below). Some are not immediately obvious to me and I'll have to explore the Toshiba site just to see what they mean. All in all with only a couple hours experience, I'm very happy with this HDTV and would recommend it even at it's normal price. I'll try to add more after I've had it a while.
r: I did just find a detailed Operators Manual in the Customer Support section of the Toshiba product site. It covers all controls, I/O and menu functions.
r: My main purpose for the edit is to say how, after 5 days and now having finished setting this TV up with full DirecTV Whole-Home capability and spending some time watching familiar programming, my wife and I are absolutely awed by what we got for $400. This tv picture quality is at least comparable to our Sony 37" and 53" rear projection LCDs (3 and 5 years old respectively) and I think the black level is better. DirecTV recognizes the tv as 1080p and properly displays 1080p content. I watch a lot of sports and both football and basketball games are beautifully displayed. The TV handles all lighting levels (from near dark to our bright sunlit windows) without needing any adjustment. Our viewing distance is about 10 feet and the 40" display provides a theater-like view. I have NO regrets (despite the lack of analog audio outs). The only question that remains is reliability -- will it work without problems for the next many years -- only time can tell, but there is no reason to suspect an issue. And at $400, the risk is small.
Here's the published "features":
Product Features
- 40" screen measured diagonally from corner to corner. For optimal viewing in medium to large rooms.
- Ultraslim design (3-1/2" deep). Ideal for wall mounting (with optional mounting kit, not included). 200mm x 200mm VESA compatible.
- DynaLight dynamic backlight control. Uses advanced image processing to monitor the brightness of each video frame and creates seamless transitions with deep black levels.
- CineSpeed LCD panel.Provides smooth transitions between fast-action scenes.
- 24 fps Cinema Mode with 3:2 pulldown. Delivers accurate reproduction of film-based sources.
- TheaterWide picture sizes. Including natural, TheaterWide 1, 2, 3 and fullscreen, 4:3 HD, native and dot-by-dot for custom entertainment.
- Color temperature control and picture preference modes. Including sports, standard, movie, preferences and PC for a customized viewing experience.
- 1080p display. Provides the highest quality progressive-scan picture possible from a high-definition source.
- Invisible speaker system. With mute and half mute options to deliver the volume levels you want.
- Inputs: Include ColorStream component video, 3 HDMI (1 side), 1 PC and A/V (rear).
- Outputs:Include Dolby digital optical.
- 3 HDMI inputs. HDMI cable not included. High-speed HDMI cable is the only connection that can deliver a full HDTV experience with a full 1080p picture and digital surround sound.
PC video input
- Lets you connect your computer to experience high-resolution images.
- USB port. Offers quick connection of a digital camera or other USB devices.
- Gaming mode. For fast game controller response.
- Useful additional features: Including sleep timer, channel/input lock and channel/input labeling.


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Link Depot HDMI to HDMI Cable (25 feet) Review

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(More customer reviews)This cable works great between my Panasonic DMP-BD35-K Panasonic Blu-ray player and Panasonic HD projector.
In my research I had read that there may be problems when running long HDMI cables. I had also read that the issues depended on the devices connected at the two ends. Previously I was using a component-video cable between the two.
The end result of switching to the HDMI connection is just eye-popping. Upconverted DVD's look almost as good as Blu-ray disks.
The connectors hook up comfortably and snug in the HDMI sockets. The cable also survived some harsh tugging as I pulled it through the wall and ceiling on its way to the projector which is mounted on the ceiling.

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This Link Depot HDMI Cable connects easily to your HDMI TV, LCD projector, DVD player, or set-top box. This cable features gold-plated connectors for a long, corrosion-free life. Its generous length gives you the freedom to place components right where you need them.
Connects easily to your HDMI TV, LCD projector, DVD player, or set-top box.

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Toshiba 40G300U 40-Inch 1080p 120 Hz LCD HDTV (Black Gloss) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I ordered this TV from Amazon about three weeks ago, and received it one week later. Although I was concerned about safe shipment of such a large object, it arrived in excellent condition. The packaging, with foam plastic inserts to support the TV at all four corners, was quite impressive.
Set-up was very simple. I only had to look up a few points in the manual. The manual is even written in legible English!
The picture quality on this TV is excellent. I watched a football game on broadcast TV, and that was a completely different experience from watching the same games on my old CRT TV.
I bought this TV for use in my "Home Theater" system that I am still putting together. Playing movies from my HTPC or watching Blu-ray movies really demonstrates the excellent picture quality of this TV. Just as an aside, the remote is easy and fairly intuitive to use. That's not a big point, but a poor remote can frustrate the user of an otherwise excellent TV. This remote works well enough that it doesn't add any irritation to the total experience.
It was when I hooked up the TV to my existing stereo receiver/amplifier that I discovered one point about the TV that is less than perfect. I had not noticed any deficiency in the sound while watching broadcast TV or even watching DVD movies on the TV. But once the stereo receiver/amplifier was hooked up and I could hear the sound over that set with top quality Altec-Lansing speakers, the sound quality was much better. In short, if you want the best home theater experience with this TV, it will need to be supplemented with a good amplifier and speakers. But I expected that going in. I'm not downgrading the TV set just because its audio performance, with its small speakers, isn't quite up to what I get out of my 100 W amplifier and 15" speakers. Heck, each of those speakers cost almost as much as this TV!
This TV set is great for what it does - providing an excellent picture. The fact that it isn't also a professional sound system is irrelevant to its function. Besides, if we have a home theater system, we will have the tuner/amplifier and speakers already for other purposes.
Hooking up the audio output from the TV to a separate amplifier may be a trap for the unprepared. The TV sound out is via TosLink, which is an optical digital signal. I knew that from the Amazon description and pictures of the input/output connections for the TV. I had already ordered a TosLink optical cable and an optical/digital to analog sound converter and two RCA cables to connect to my amplifier. The total cost of those items was about $50. Not a big deal, but just an advance notice to any purchaser of this excellent TV that you really do need the cables and D/A converter, because the sound from your existing home theater or stereo amplifier and speakers will be needed for the complete enjoyment of this TV. If you have a more modern amplifier with optical digital input, only the TosLink cable will be necessary.
All things considered, I don't have any complaints, and I would buy this same TV again. In fact, I'm thinking about buying another one for my bedroom!
Five Stars! No doubt about it!


Click Here to see more reviews about: Toshiba 40G300U 40-Inch 1080p 120 Hz LCD HDTV (Black Gloss)

Enjoy a stunning picture bursting with color and clarity with the 40-inch Toshiba 40G300U LCD HDTV (40-inch diagonal screen size), featuring a 1080p Full HD resolution that provides twice the pixel resolution of 720p HD models. It also boasts Toshiba's ClearFrame 120Hz feature, which doubles the video frames from 60 per second to 120 per second to virtually eliminate motion blur--making this a perfect set for watching fast action movies and sports.
It provides a number of convenient home entertainment options and key picture quality features, including DynaLight dynamic backlight control for deeper black levels and four HDMI digital inputs for simple high quality connection to cable/satellite boxes, DVD players and more. Plus, the HDMI ports feature fast InstaPort switching for quick changes from one source to another.
With the Gaming Mode function, you'll experience reduced game control delay and improved reaction time--perfect for PC gaming--and the Photo Frame capability with Auto Slide Show enables you to display slideshows of your favorite images when not watching TV programming.
Boasting a slimming tapered bezel and attractive front panel gradation, the new Horizon design creates a more modern, elegant appearance that also adds a subtle luminance to the logo to further its stylish appeal. Other features include MP3 playback via the integrated USB port, a PC input, and a removable stand.

Key Features
1080p HD resolution (1920 x 1080 pixels)
ClearFrame 120Hz screen refresh rate virtually eliminates motion blur, making this HDTV a great choice for fast action movies and sports. Toshiba's ClearFrame 120Hz system doubles the frame rate of an LCD TV from 60 frames per second to 120 frames per second using superior Motion Vector Frame Interpolation technology.
DynaLight Backlight Control utilizes advanced image processing to monitor the brightness of each video frame, and adjust the backlight intensity accordingly. This precision creates seamless transitions with deep blacks for increased detail and depth analysis.
Photo Frame capability allows this HDTV to act as both a TV and a digital photo frame. You can showcase your favorite memories as a clear, crisp slide show on the high-resolution television screen--all controlled with just the TV remote.
Gaming Mode takes the gaming experience to a new level by reducing game control delay, thus giving the player improved reaction time and a more realistic playing experience. This is great when used with popular gaming consoles, or with PC games using the TVs PC Input.
Built-in ATSC/NTSC/QAM digital tuning allows for tuning of standard cable channels as well as off-air digital broadcasts, in addition to digital "cable-in-the-clear" broadcasts.
Native Mode restores the size of the picture by the 3-5 percent that is generally lost during the normal over-scanning that occurs on traditional sets.
Cinema Mode 24 fps (3:2 Pulldown): This HDTV performs 3:2 pulldown detection and reversal, too--a handy feature for watching progressive-scan movie programs in their native 24-frame format. To adapt 24 frames-per-second movies to 30 fps video, frames in the original movie must be duplicated; 3:2 pulldown digitally corrects this duplication by removing the redundant information to display a frame-accurate picture.
Color Temperature Control enables you to adjust white balance to achieve the best television picture possible in any viewing environment, or simply adjust the picture to suit your personal tastes. The "Warm" setting delivers a redder image that is ideal for display in a dimly lit room, while "Medium" and "Cool" provide a progressively bluer image for the best picture as room light levels are increased.
Three TheaterWide modes are ideal for displaying HDTV signals as well as enhanced for widescreen television DVDs.

TheaterWide 1: Letterboxed image is digitally expanded 33 percent horizontally and vertically. Useful for reproducing Academy Standard (1.85:1) formatted software.
TheaterWide 2: Letterboxed image is expanded 33 percent horizontally and 42 percent vertically. Particularly of use when viewing narrow letterboxed images originally filmed in Panavision or CinemaScope.
TheaterWide 3: Letterboxed image is expanded 33 percent horizontally and 24 percent vertically. Can be utilized when displaying letterboxed images that incorporate narrow bands at the top and bottom of the picture.


MP3 audio and JPEG image playback via USB port on the side.
REGZA-LINK (HDMI-CEC) allows peripheral AV devices such as a DVD player to be controlled by the remote control.
InstaPort fast HDMI switching between A/V components: Typically, when you switch HDMI inputs, there can be a five or six second delay. With InstaPort, as soon as you select an HDMI source, it will connect in a fraction of the time.
Ethernet port for connecting to wired home network.
Bottom-mounted invisible speakers integrated into stylish Horizon bezel design (20 Watts total power; 10W + 10W).
Channel Browser allows you to easily scan through the last 32 channels you have viewed, with screen images for the last five channels displayed, by channel, by favorites, and by input, at the touch of a button.
Channel Labeling allows you to put station call letters on the screen along with the station numbers, so you always know what channel you're watching
Input labeling enables you to name the individual inputs to denote usage, such as "DVD Player" (instead of having them display as just "HDMI 1" and "HDMI 2").
Removable stand for wall mounting (200mm x 200mm VESA mounting pattern)
Tri-lingual onscreen menu (English, French, Spanish)
Warranty: 1-year limited warranty on parts and labor

Toshiba 2010 REGZA HDTV Comparison
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Samsung LN32B550 32-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV with Red Touch of Color Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)2 months after receiving this TV the screen has gone black. Samsung instructed us to ship it to a service repair center and shipping is the responsibility of the customer. I called UPS and the cost to custom-pack a 32" televisions is 120 $. I called Samsung to request a box to ship it in and they re-iterated, shipping is the responsibility of the customer - but would send me a return label. So now we have an 800 $ television that's going to cost 120 $ to pack for warranty. We've only had it two months. I see from another reviewer that sending it Samsung is no guarantee the television will come back any time soon.
On a related note - up until 2008 Samsung's 32" televisions received free in-home repair service. As of 2009 32" is now considered "small" and must be shipped to the manufacturer for service.
Great TV just don't throw away the box and if it breaks take a deep breath and don't bother calling Samsung for sympathy.
Update September 17, 2009: It's been a month and we still don't have our TV back. We've called Samsung every week since they received it. Today we were told the replacement part would take too long to arrive and they would begin the process of approving a replacement television. This process entails Samsung repair shipping the TV to Samsung corporate. Once corporate receives the TV they can can process the replacement. If our TV is no longer available they will offer us something "comparable". This new phase should take "less than a month".

Click Here to see more reviews about: Samsung LN32B550 32-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV with Red Touch of Color

With the Samsung 32-inch LN32B550 HDTV, you're investing in ahigh-quality LCD TV that offers top-of-the-line picture quality with 1080p high definition resolution. Enjoy the sharpest details and vivid color with 70,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio for more realistic images and a 6ms (millisecond) response time--virtually eliminating any blurring and providing smooth motion while watching fast-paced sports and action movies. Superb connectivity and networking with a USB port and four HDMI 1.3 ports with Consumer Electronics Control (CEC) means this HDTV plays well with all of your other electronics.

Click here for more information about Samsung LN32B550 32-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV with Red Touch of Color

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