If Home Theaters’ Could Dream, This Would Be What They Would Dream About
Written: Jan 26 '04 (Updated Feb 03 '04)
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Pros: High contrast levels - Does not have a large footprint
Cons: Price is still considered high
The Bottom Line: Samsung finally showed some muscle this go round, and are possible contenders in the electronics future
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| vandalz's Full Review: Samsung HL-N437W 43 in. HDTV DLP TV |
Right out of the box this set is ready to amaze. When I first pulled this unit out of the box, I immediately realized just how well this unit was designed. There is hardly a body to this machine, as well as the fact that it barely weighs enough to be considered a paperweight. Samsung has finally caught on, and they have decided that DLP (Digital Light Processing) is a great way to go. The HLN437W is a visual pleasure. The contrast on this machine is awesome. Instead of looking black images looking gray, they actually look black. Never before have I ever seen such a great picture in contrast. Of course with all sets, there are the benefits and disadvantages.
- - - WHAT IS DLP ? - - -
DLP for DUMMIES
DLP, or Digital Light Processing, is fairly easy to understand. A light is projected through a spinning disc with three colors of red, green, and blue. The light then passes to many moving mirrors on a chip, and is then projected onto a visual screen.
DLP for GEEKS
A, DMD, or better called a semiconductor with 1.3 million micro mirrors is the main piece of equipment within the DLP framework. This is where all the action takes place. Each mirror moves independently of each other, up to 1024 times per second, and has up to a ten-degree positive or ten-degree negative tilt. When light hits the tilted mirrors it produced a certain amount of white or black, or a gray pixel. Then a projector lamp shines onto a spinning color wheel that has red, green, and blue on it for colors. When the colored light hits the mirrors, depending on the tilt and the color a pixel is created. By doing this a single DMD chip setup is able to created over 16 million colors. Each pixel is then projected onto a screen surface of any size with little to no distortion.
- - - Features - - -
Anti-Reflective Shield
Projection sets have been plagued with the problem of high glare when lighting is present, and finally they are making sets with an Anti-Reflective shield or cover. No more problems when there are normal to low light configurations, but if you are around high lighting situations such as a retail store, then you may come across some blurred glare; nothing huge but still not as attractive. By using this the images are easier to see, and sometimes even clearer.
Samsung has incorporated the Anti-Reflective Shield into this unit, and it seems to work fairly well. When the lights in the Home Theater room is down on low, there isn’t any glare, but if the lights are at their fullest potential, then you can see some blurred images of lighting on the screen. This is still nothing like the old screens that literally you couldn’t see an image due to the reflection of lights in the picture.
Big Screen – But Doesn’t Have Any Junk In The Trunk!
“I don’t want anymore furniture in this house!” That is the concept behind projections screens for the past; now there is a new concept and that is thinner is better. The butt is only 15.7 inches big. Just slightly larger than a foot and smaller than some people that I know. Also this set only weighs 67.2 pounds. If it weren’t so large then moving it alone would be so easy.
Take It Easy
For the most part, the highest maintenance that you will have to do is replace the projector lamp when it goes out within a time span of three to five years. (The lamp is approximately $250).
If It Had Room To Put Anything Else, It Would Be Immoral
If you have inputs, people will use them. So does this machine have any? Oh yeah! For inputs you have the option of DVI, Standard Component, two HDTV Component, three RCA A/V, 3 S-Video, and two RF or Coaxial Connections, as well as a spot to hook your PC into the television. The unit does have one RCA audio output that can be run to an external receiver for a home theater system. I personally used the HDTV Component for my Satellite connection, and I used the Standard Component for my Cable connection. Both seemed to work flawlessly.
Setup
If it were any easier, I wouldn’t have done it at all! Setting this unit was so easy. I pulled the box open, slid the television out, unwrapped the unit and placed it on a stand. Then I took the plug and undid the wrap around it and placed it in the wall socket. Run my satellite receiver into the unit using component video cables and then hooked the unit up to my Onkyo home theater system. I then turned the television on, and opened the input list. A neat feature of this television is that whatever inputs you have hooked up, the television will automatically detect the active inputs, and display them for you. You don’t need to change any of the visual settings, but you can if you would like.
Avalanche!!!
Of there is a downside. This set, while capable of a 1080i signal, doesn’t seem to display a picture as clear as that of the Sony Grand WEGA. I will admit that this is one of the best pictures that I have ever seen, but not the best.
If a pixel burns out, or the mirror quits working, well then you have some problems. When a pixel burns out, it leaves a white dot on the screen that cannot be removed. I have asked around, and the only answer that I have received is that the DMD, or semiconductor, would have to be replaced. I still have not found out a price on the semiconductor at this time, but will update as soon as I am given a price (probably by Samsung).
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 3199.99
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vandalz
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Location: Pascagoula, MS
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Freelance programmer finishing up a project shortly. Watch for updates!
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