 "Nice TV for a while..." | |
| - Reviewed By An Amazon User |
I bought this television in early 2006 when I moved into my new home. I needed to get rid of my tube HDTV due to space constraints, and I needed a panel to mount above the fire place.
I spent a very large amount of time doing homework on the specifications, and narrowed my search based on price and my requirements (1080p, LCD, etc), and arrived at either the Sony XBR or the Samsung LNS4695d. After hitting the pavement, and seeting the set in the proper viewing places (avoide Best Buy and other big box stores, as they split the signal too many times, and have varying signals between different sets depending on where they sit on the daisy chain) and decided the Samsung offered virtually the same picture quality and specifications as the Sony, and for less money.
The set treated me great for 3 years, with only one exception. During very fast motion, such as a football game (American) where the ball was thrown past the crowd, or a car race, I would experience macro-blocking, and the set's 60hz simply could not keep up with very fast moving HD broadcasts (via cable). There were other issues related to this, but suffice it to say, the TV processed too slow to keep up, and artifacts and other symptoms showed that. I also had minor ghosting in some circumstances, but I find that is visible to the experienced eye even on the Sony sets and other CFL backlit models.
After 3.5 years, just out of warranty, the set recently started showing horizontal white and colored lines. flashing and intermittant at first, over 8 weeks, they slowly became more static, and eventually made the TV unwatchable. The condition appeared across all sources, and after much troubleshooting and time on the phone with Samsung, the TV was determined by them as "at the end of its useful life." For the price I paid, I found this conclusion utterly unaccetpable. After further research, I've determined the board that processes the horizontal information had failed. The part is $500 from Samsung and a handful of other providors, which equates to what I could purchase the same television for now on ebay. There are essentially zero Samsung service centers, and no in-home service options. I would have been forced to ship the television out of state for analysis and service, with no guarantee it could be repaird. I decided not to bother attempting to repair it, as purchasing another working set would have been the same or cheaper than other options.
I've since upgraded to another brand, with more current features, and have been very pleased.
While the failed hardware isn't a widespread issue (though it does exist if you look closely online), i simply couldn't reccomend this product to anyone any longer, primarily because of Samsung's determination that a $x,xxx television set should only last 3 years. The other issues were annoying, but I was able to live with them, however the set I use now is flawless, and cheaper, and more advanced. My advice, continue to avoid paying for the Sony brand, and Samsung is not the solution. With some homework, you can do much much better for the money. |
| |
 "Great TV" | |
| - Reviewed By An Amazon User |
This was my 2nd LCD tv purchase. My first TV was a 32" Samsung purchased in 2006. I decided to upgrade in 2007 from 32" to 46" because 32" was too small for the living room. After 2 years of use, I can say this TV has been great and provided us with many hours of entertainment.
If you are shopping for TVs now (2009) and run across this TV at a really good deal, pick one up. Some advantages to current models is that the standard HDMI inputs are 3-4 whereas this model has only 2. I only use 1 input since I channel everything through a reciever anyways. The newer models are also 10-20 lbs lighter (and even more if you are buying an LED). Lastly, the new models may provide a little better contrast ratio. If buying a used TV, you need to find out how many hours of use the TV has been through and check the condition.
In today's market, the top competitors in the LCD market seem to be Samsung and Sony. Other companies like Pioneer, Toshiba, Visio, and Panasonic also have a considerable market share, but Samsung and Sony lead the way in sales due to excellent picture and competitive pricing. Comparing Sony and Samsung, Samsung seems to provide more vivid colors while Sony's colors are more natural and less vivid. As far as which TV is better, it's a matter of preference. I picked a Samsung because it was at a lower price-point than the Sony I wanted (Z-Line).
My next upgrade (52" 120hz) will probably be the same (based on prices/deals at the time). I would not hesitate to buy another Samsung. |
| |
 "Best Bang For Your Buck" | |
| - Reviewed By An Amazon User |
Got this TV awhile back and it is an outstanding TV for the price. The picture is crystal clear. Very good features for a TV in this price range. The sound really stands out with rich bass and enveloping surround effects. I have both an XBox 360 and a Playstation 3 running on full 1080p and they look incredible! Blu-Ray HD movies playing on the PS3 look amazing on this TV's 1080p resolution. With 2 HDMI ports I have the PS3 and a cable box, The 2 Component inputs connect the 360 and a DVD Recorder, S-Video input houses a Playstation 2, and there's still 2 coax antenna inputs left! This tv not only looks great but has the hardware to hold all of your electronics, making a perfect foundation for any home theater.
The only thing I don't care for is the high gloss black finish surrounding the screen. It reflects a lot of light but that's just a minor gripe.
Shipping was an issue. We paid for expedited shipping and it took a week to get here. I had to call the seller and they refunded the price of expedited and only charged me standard shipping. Very nice to work with. They corrected the issue without hesitation.
If you're looking for a TV that gives the most bang for your buck, this is it! |
| |
| "Awe inspiring picture" | |
| - Reviewed By An Amazon User |
| This TV has one of the highest quality pictures on the market. It makes my Blue Ray and Videogames look great. The game mode feature is also a definite plus. |
| |
| "NICE TV" | |
| - Reviewed By An Amazon User |
| The TV is very functional and looks amazing with Blue Ray and HD TV. Hook up a surround sound system and you are good to go! |
| |
 "Stand broke" | |
| - Reviewed By An Amazon User |
| The neck of my Samsung LN-S4695D supplied TV stand broke after 8 months and the 75 pound TV came crashing to the floor. Others have reported the same problem, the neck is all plastic and cannot support the weight of the TV. I have to give their service 5 stars they replaced the TV with a brand new LN-T4661F which has a stronger neck and stand. |
| |
