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Samsung LNT4661F 46-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV | 
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| Brand: Samsung
Category: CE
List Price: $2,199.99
Buy Refurbished: $1,449.98
You Save: $750.01 (34%)
New (2) from $1,719.00
Avg. Customer Rating:  313 reviews
Color: Black
Media: Electronics
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Batteries: 2
Batteries Included: Yes
Display Size: 46
Shipping Weight (lbs): 64.4
Dimensions (in): 4.1 x 43.5 x 27.8
Legal Disclaimer: Warranty does not cover misuse of product.
MPN: LNT4661F
Model: LNT4661F
UPC: 036725246591
EAN: 0036725246591
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Features:
| • | 1080P (Full HD) | | • | 10,000:1 Contrast Ratio | | • | 16x9 Aspect Ratio w/ PIP | | • | (3) HDMI, (2) Component Inputs | | • | Swivel Stand |
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| Accessories:
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| Similar Items:
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com Product Description
For people looking to step up to full 1080p resolution in a 46-inch flat-panel LCD, Samsung's 2007 model LNT4661FF is a good choice. Besides offering full 1080p resolution the LNT4661F also features a 10,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio for rich blacks and subltle texture display, an 8ms response time panel for smooth motion, hidden side speakers, an NTSC tuner, and 3 HDMI ports. Compared to other Samsung Models
The primary differences between Samsung's LNT4661F and the step-up LNT4665F LCD HDTV is in the contrast ratio and video processing power. The pricier LNT4665F offers a 15,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio compared to this model's 10,000:1 ratio, and also offers full 10bit video processing over this model's 8 bit system. The more expensive model should display finer gradients of shading making for more detail in darker scenes. The video processing difference should ensure smoother motion in fast moving scenes for the LNT4065F. Video Processing
The Samsung Digital Natural Image engine (DNIe) Video Enhancer refines all analog NTSC and wideband video inputs for an overall improvement in picture quality. DNIe improves contrast, white level, picture detail and incorporates digital noise reduction to improve lower quality video inputs. The 3D Y/C digital comb filter constantly analyzes the three dimensions of picture height, picture width, and picture changes-over-time to dramatically reduce edge image artifacts while improving transition detail. Connections
- HDMI (version 1.3): 3 (1 CEC cabaple)
- Component video: 2 (Y, Pb, Pr)
- S-Video input: 1 side/1 rear
- A/V inputs: 1 side/1 rear
- PC inout: 1
- Headphone Jack: 1
- USB 2.0: 1
Audio Features
High-quality virtual surround sound can be experienced with just the speakers built into the TV. SRS TruSurround XT technology delivers an amazing, simulated 3D effect with clear dialog and powerful bass through hidden side speakers. TruSurround XT audio adds three audio enhancement technologies to produce an amazingly immersive sound experience. - Dialog Clarity brings movie dialog into Focus during the playback of any surround-encoded material to make speech much clearer and crisper.
- TruBass creates incredible deep rich bass allowing a person to perceive significantly deeper, richer low bass tones that are far beyond the physical low frequency capabilities of the speaker itself.
- The SRS WOW feature widens the soundstage by processing standard two-channel stereo material as well as multi-channel encoded material for a dramatic improvement in the playback of any stereo audio over a two-speaker system.
What's in the box: Samsung LNT4661F 46-inch 1080P LCD TV, remote control, 2 AAA batteries, Power Cord, cleaning cloth, owners manual, warranty card.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 308 more reviews...
 BUY THIS TV!!! July 25, 2007
364 out of 369 found this review helpful
I don't usually write Amazon reviews, but in researching LCD TVs, I found the reviews so helpful that I felt compelled to contribute. If you are searching for a high-quality LCD TV, look no further: it doesn't get any better than Samsung. I work in IT, and every fellow geek whom I surveyed recommended a Samsung LCD or DLP. Since DLP won't fit in the space available in our bungalow's living room, we went with LCD.
Review after review on Amazon and CNet rank the LNT4661F and the LNT4555F as best in class. After looking at the sets side by side with LG, Sharp, and Sony models in local stores, the Samsung's superiority became apparent. I quickly eliminated other brands from consideration and focused on the Samsung LNT4661F vs. LNT4665F. If you're in a quandry over which is best, here's what I found:
1) The LNT4665F does has a marginally better picture and contrast ratio than the LNT4661F. I reviewed the sets side by side and noticed the biggest difference during very dark scenes. The LNT4665F handles those slightly better than the LNT4661, but the LNT4661 still looked better than any other LCD nearby.
2) The shiny screen on the LNT4665 will DEFINITELY create glare issues in any room where you cannot control direct or ambient light. The set I looked at in Circuit City had no problems with glare, but it was located in a home-theater type viewing room. The set at Best Buy was in an area facing windows and overhead light, and the glare was very noticeable. As my living room gets light from a ceiling fixture, two lamps, and three windows, I feel that I made the right choice in going with the LNT4661F given its matte screen.
3) Eagle Global Logistics was a PAIN regarding delivery. Were shipping not free, I would have been REALLY ticked. Basically, they would only deliver the set on Tuesdays or Thursdays, which is hard to accommodate if you work full-time and those are your busiest days of the week. I went to the warehouse to pick up the unit and found the warehouse staff to be professional. The packaging was compact considering the size of the item, and it fit easily into a friend's Ford Escape.
4) You can't beat the LNT4661F for the price. Circuit City and Best Buy were both around $800 more than Amazon when sales tax was factored in. Interestingly, both Circuit City and Best Buy were charging $2495 for the LNT4665F and $2595 for the LNT4661F, despite the LNT4665F being the "lower" model.
Overall, I couldn't be happier with this purchase. The TV looks AWESOME, and we've had tons of fun watching colorful movies like Finding Nemo, PBS in hi-def, Harry Potter/Lord of the Rings movies, etc. BUY THIS TV: YOU WON'T BE SORRY!
 Good picture, problem with poor sound April 22, 2007
77 out of 88 found this review helpful
I'll start off by saying the 4661F has a very good picture. No complaints there.
The problem I had is when the volume is turned up, the down firing speakers cause the TV's plastic cabinet to buzz. I did a little research on some Audio/Video forums, and found there were other owners of this particular TV who were experiencing the same problem.
I ended up fixing the problem myself by taking off the rear panel of the TV set. I then intalled small rubber O-rings in the screw holes between the front and rear panels.
Amazing Picture Quality, Great Features and Fantastic Price April 27, 2007
77 out of 79 found this review helpful
I think my title about sums it up. I was initially going to purchase a Samsung LN-S4695D because the price had dropped so low, but then I saw this set. After doing some comparison research I decided that the extra $130 was well worth it for this set.
I was a little apprehensive about purchasing a TV online, but the process was extremely smooth. Eagle White Glove service gets perfect marks in my book. The TV was ordered on a Thursday night and arrived the following Wednesday. They helped me up the stairs with the TV, took it out of the box and plugged it in to make sure it worked properly.
Now on to the TV, some people have mentioned poor audio quality, but really, I don't think it's bad at all, but I always use my surround sound so its a moot point for me.
Enough about the speakers though, it's the picture that really makes this set shine. It looked great right out of the box, maybe a little bright, but after turning down the back light and making a few other settings it looks fantastic. I have COX cable using an HD DVR over an inexpensive HDMI cable (Cables Unlimited 6FT HDmi Cable). Picture quality is amazing!!! Be sure to set your HD box to just output 1080i and let the TV do the rest. The 'Just Scan' setting on the tv gives you 1:1 pixel mapping. I also have an x-box 360 plugged in via VGA, which also looks fantastic. The most pleasant surprise for me though was the amazing quality of SD channels. I had a 26" LCD that was several years old and the difference between the two is immediately noticeable. The Samsung does a great job with SD and an amazing job with HD.
This is just my initial impressions after using the set for a week. So far, I'm very pleased though.
Outstanding! No bands, No Clouds... Just 1080P Glory March 24, 2007
44 out of 57 found this review helpful
This set replaces a cloudy Sony 46V2500 I had and it is outstanding. I ordered directly from Vanns and it was delivered in under a week. If you are in the market for a new TV, this is a great choice. I have no regrets for swapping my Sony for this set.
What you need to know before you buy July 14, 2007
43 out of 54 found this review helpful
avsforum Official Samsung LN-TXX61F/65F/66F Owner's Thread
UPDATED: July 5, 2007.
Latest known software firmware: 1029. May 30, 2007. (not available for download)
Latest known mainboard firmware: 1009.
Update: July 5, 2007
The HDMI crisis is now "officially" over. If you are STILL having HDMI issues as described in this post, you MUST get in contact with Samsung , options, 4, 1, 1, and get a BOARD replacement for your set. For the most part, new LN-T TVs are shipping with 1008 mainboards or HIGHER, which should resolve the problem. If you are still having issues with 1008 boards, get it replaced (again). Apparently some boards can be finicky.
More and more people are getting board replacements that are fixing the HDMI issue, so I feel it's fair to call the crisis over.
Update: July 5, 2007
I can report that I had my main-board replaced (1004 board, with 1024 firmware) with a 1005 board with 1022 firmware. I'm happy to report that for me, my HDMI issues are now gone after several weeks of use with zero flashes/drops etc.
HOWEVER, it is still VERY possible to have a 1005 board with HDMI issues. The current official fix from Samsung is a 1008 board, with 1024-or-higher firmware. There ARE several people who claim to have issues with 1008/1024 combinations, but I firmly believe another replacement is therefore needed. I also firmly believe there are 1008/1024 problematic boards out there, and 1008/1024 working boards. So hang in there folks!
(The bottom of this post explains the above numbers for the new people around these parts!)
Update: June 23, 2007
As fellow board member Sam Relishe has noticed, after a mainboard swap some of the settings might be wrong. I own an LN-T4661, and my replaced mainboard was set up for a LN-T4665. This meant the color palette was completely wrong (everything was red and orange and green), and I had a menu option to turn the blue light on and off (only the LN-T4x65 series has the blue light). The way to fix this is as follows:
(Make sure to make a note of your picture calibration settings, as mine were reset after going into the service menu)
With your TV off, press MUTE, 1, 8, 2, and then POWER
Then, choose the OPTION BYTE.
IMPORTANT: DO NOT MESS WITH ANY OTHER SETTINGS THAN THE ONES LISTED:
Make sure the SCREEN SIZE is correct: Panel Option = 46AMW for LN-T4665 displays, and 46AM for LN-T4661 displays.
Make sure that if you own an LN-T4x65 that your Lvds Tx Bit = 10bit.
Make sure if you own an LN-T4x61 that your Lvds Tx Bit = 8bit.
If you own an LN-T4x65, your should change your model so it says "Tulip Side."
If you own an LN-T4x61, you should change the model so it says "Tulip."
After changing these options, turn your TV off, and then on.
Update: June 22, 2007
One of our fellow AVS members, axmode, came across a way to check what firmware version you'll get, before you open the box! This might be a smart way to check before you buy the TV.
To check what firmware version you have
The 8th character in your S/N (pertinent to all 2007 LN-Txx6x models) is a letter P which stands for 2007. The 9th character which follows that letter P will be a number which denotes the months of assembly. For those of you who want to ensure having a 1024/1008 at the very least, that number should be a 6 at the very least (to be sure).
Axmode verified this with his own S/Ns and the 4665 which went back was a P4 (1016/1004). The current 4061 is a P5 (1024/1008). This info may help those of you who are considering a purchase through a big box store, prior to opening up the sets.
Thanks axmode!
Update: June 21, 2007
As of June Wednesday, June 20th, Tier 2 representatives at Samsung tech support have stated that the fix for ALL HDMI issues is a board replacement for those that do NOT have 1008 main boards with 1024 firmware. See the bottom of this post for instructions on how to check your version. Until we have confirmation from more people that this is the fix, this remains only SPECULATION on the part of the skeptical consumer. However, this is official and has been confirmed as the "fix" by several Tier 2 specialists.
Update: June 18, 2007. Fellow forum member dkwong has compiled a spreadsheet so we can keep track of who has what TV, and what firmware information and issues they are having. Thanks dkwong!
PLEASE send him any information you can so he can update his spreadsheet. You can view it here:
Samsung Spreadsheet
Update: June 15, 2007. 1028 is the latest firmware, with no confirmation of the HDMI issue being fixed.
Update: June 1, 2007. How to use an XBOX 360 with the VGA cable, to resolve the "Mode Not Supported" message:
1. Reset the resolution of the console to 640x480. To do this, start the console, hold both triggers, and then press and hold the Y button as the console starts.
2. If this resolves the issue and you receive a picture on the display, you can continue to use the 640x480 resolution. Or you can try to use a higher resolution setting. If this does not resolve the issue, continue to the next step.
3. Disconnect the VGA HD cable from the display, and then remove the console power cord from the power outlet.
4. Wait five seconds.
5. Reconnect the console power cord to the power outlet, and then turn on the console.
6. Reconnect the VGA HD cable to the display. If this resolves the issue and you receive a picture on the display, you can continue to use the 640x480 resolution. Or you can try to use a higher resolution setting.
1.) The entire 2007 Samsung 1080p LCD lineup is suffering from HDMI handshake issues. This is the LN-Txxxx line. This is not just video-game related, but reported units giving trouble include the Playstation 3, XBOX 360 Elite, HTPCs, and various STBs. Also reports from people with drops/flashes:
"Mac Mini (Intel); PowerMac G4 DP (with a Radeon 9xxx(?) video card); Denon 2910 - upscaling (1080i) DVD Playler (this a pure HDMI connection)" - (courtesy of Ted Todorov)
1.b.) These issues manifest themselves as dropouts (picture loss), momentary green or pink flashes etc. These may not happen for hours and hours, and then suddenly you can get hit with two or three flashes/dropouts in a short time. There appears to be no rhyme or reason to the issue.
2.) Several tech people from Tier 1 and Tier 2 support said that Samsung ARE aware of the issue and are working to fix it. There is currently NO fix available.
3.) Design issues:
There are numerous reports of what is known as "clouding" or "mura." Nobody knows exactly what causes this, but it manifests itself as blotches of lighter areas on the screen or in the corners (corners are also known as "flashlights").
There are several reports of people wiping the area with a cloth from the cloud to the edge of the screen to remove the issue, but I can't verify this. To do this, grab a dry cloth and wipe the cloud fairly gently. If it moves, keep moving it!
Please refrain from asking questions about clouds, as this post should cover it. I personally understand the frustration of having had really bad clouds, but it bogs down the thread to discuss it ad nauseam. If you can't clear the clouds, and they actually bother you, exchange your set at your vendor. It is possible to get a completely cloud-free set, but don't drive yourself crazy. If you can't notice them during "normal" viewing, you've nothing to worry about!
3.b.) Another issue affecting these sets is something known as "pillaring." I personally haven't seen pillaring but it is visible as bands of light on the left and right of the screen. Apparently this can be fixed by properly calibrating your set: i.e. turning down brightness/contrast/backlight to NORMAL levels. If you have this problem, adjust your settings. If this doesn't fix it, return the set to your vendor. At this point, I believe it's simply calibration issues.
4.) Some forum members are recommending HDMI port savers to take the strain off their TV's HDMI ports from the heavy cable connecting to your devices. Some have even said it fixed the handshaking issues they've been having but this is NOT proven as of yet (I can say they didn't help for me at all). You plug the port saver into your TV, and then your actual HDMI cable into it. I can speak only for myself when I say that port savers did NOT fix the handshaking issue.
To check your firmware version, here are the instructions:
1. Turn on your TV.
2. Press the MENU button on your remote.
3. Select SETUP, and then press ENTER.
4. Select Function Help, and then press ENTER.
5. Use the Up or Down arrow button on your remote to move down to Function Help to ON, and then press the ENTER button.
6. With Function Help ON highlighted (don't actually push ENTER on it), press the INFO button on the remote. Your firmware revision will be listed as two lines of information. The TOP line is your software firmware. The BOTTOM line is the hardware revision number.
So, I have 1024 firmware (software), and 1004 hardware (mainboard).
If I haven't had any problems should I bother trying to get samsung to upgrade my board/firmware from 1008/1028 to 1009/1029?
The only reason to change would be if the 1009/1029s had somehting the 08s were lacking. Ie when CNET tested the 61/65 both failed 2 of their 1080i tests and introduced anomalies with certain scenes of movies. Samsung contacted them after and said they had fixed this in a new firmware, they didnt specify which one but if that fix is in the 09/29 and not the 8/28 then thats a reason to switch.
"It also behaves exactly the same as the 65F in our resolution tests--failing to resolve every detail of a 1080i test pattern, for example, and failing both of the Geek Box 1080i deinterlacing tests (although it passed the video test when in "16:9" as opposed to "Just Scan" mode) from the HQV HD DVD and Blu-ray discs. We didn't see any evidence of those failures in Apes, but we did find a scene in Ghost Rider, where the grille of the RV at the end of Chapter 6 evinced some diagonal moiré along its horizontal grille. We don't consider failure at deinterlacing a deal-breaker for HDTV picture quality, although if you have access to 1080p content, we recommend choosing it to avoid the chance of seeing these sorts of artifacts.
For what it's worth, Samsung sent us a firmware update that worked with both sets to fix the deinterlacing of video-based, but not film-based, 1080i content and to show every line of a 1080-resolution test pattern. "
Samsung LN-T4661F
At a glance
* Release date: April 1, 2007
* Editors' rating: 7.9 Very good
* The good: Flat-panel LCD HDTV produces deep black levels; accurate color after adjustment; clean image; numerous picture controls; beautiful styling.
* The bad: Less shadow detail than some LCDs and plasmas; image discolors somewhat when seen from off-angle.
* The bottom line: Although not quite the best of its breed, the Samsung LN-T4661F delivers very good picture quality with plenty of style and functionality.
The LN-T4661F is Samsung's least-expensive 46-inch flat-panel LCD with 1080p native resolution for the 2007 model year. We recently reviewed another 46-inch 1080p LCD HDTV from Samsung, model LN-T4665F, so you may be wondering why we chose to review this one so soon afterward. The answer is shine. We complained about the 65F's shiny screen because it reflected lots of ambient light, acting more like a mirror than any TV screen we'd seen yet. The 61F's screen has the standard matte finish, which really cuts down on glare. But between the two, we did feel the LN-T4665F offered slightly better picture quality despite the shine (more on that below), making it a better choice for real home theater buffs and others with a lot of control over room lighting. On the other hand, the LN-T4661F should satisfy people who just can't stomach glare, and its picture quality, feature set and exterior design are still a cut above most LCDs on the market.
Design
We really liked the futuristic look of the Samsung LN-T4661F. While both Samsung LCDs, along with most other HDTVs from all kinds of manufacturers lately, are clad entirely in glossy black, the LN-T4661F has a few different styling cues of its own. The speakers hide on the bottom, as opposed to the sides, and sound is deflected into the room by a narrow lip that runs along the bottom of the frame. The swivel base, which allows the panel to move about 20 degrees to either side, is oval instead of rectangular. And fans of the company's prominent circular power button will be thrilled to see it's back in full effect here.
Including the stand, the LN-T4665H measures 43.6 inches wide by 30.2 inches high by 12.8 inches deep. Without it, the panel measures 43.6 inches wide by 23.8 inches high by 4.1 inches deep.
Samsung's remote is almost the same as last year, and we generally found the slender wand easy to operate. Only the keys for volume, channel, and device control (the universal clicker can command four other pieces of gear) are illuminated, but that's better than most TV remotes, which skip backlighting altogether. All of the buttons are nicely separated and differentiated, with the exception of the secondary controls clustered at the clicker's base, which kind of blend together. We'd like to see dedicated buttons for each input, although since the set automatically senses and skips inactive inputs, cycling between sources is less arduous than usual.
Features
Readers of the LN-T4665F review will experience some deja vu when reading the below because the two reviews' Features sections, like the two TVs' feature sets, are basically identical.
With a native resolution of 1,920x1,080 pixels, popularly known as "1080p," the Samsung LN-T4661F has enough pixels to resolve every detail of 1080i and 1080p HDTV sources, although it falls a bit short in real life (see Performance for more). All other sources, including 720p HDTV, DVD, computer, and standard-def, are scaled to fit the pixels.
The LN-T4661F includes HDMI 1.3-compatible inputs, which have higher bandwidth than the older versions. In itself that doesn't mean much, but it does enable the LN-T4661F to offer a menu selection labeled "xvYCC," which refers to a wider color space that supposedly comes closer to human vision's capabilities than the current HDTV color space. Of course, you'll need an HDMI 1.3-compatible source (the player and disc, for example), and as far as we know, there isn't any xvYCC content available. In other words, we classify xvYCC and HDMI 1.3 inputs, at least as implemented on the LN-T4661F, as "no big deal." The set's spec sheet also mentions 10-bit processing, but when we asked Samsung, they said that the panel itself doesn't deliver 10-bit color--just that the processing is capable of it. Extra bit depth can allow less false contouring, among other issues, but again, it requires a 10-bit source and display.
Segueing to features that actually matter, the LN-T4661F has an excellent selection of picture controls. It offers three picture modes that are each independent for each input, allowing you to customize each source with three different groups of picture settings. Only Movie mode allows full adjustment, however, so we recommend using it for the most demanding viewing conditions. In addition to the standard brightness, contrast, etc., sliders, there's a full-fledged backlight control, which is also independent per input.
In addition to the five presets for color temperature, there's a full set of detailed color temperature controls. Labeled "white balance," they offer both gain and offset adjustments for red, green, and blue, which allows slightly more advanced users to really zero in the set's grayscale. The My Color control, on the other hand, doesn't seem to do much of anything, so we left it in the default positions. The selection of secondary picture controls includes items labeled "black level," which affects shadow detail; dynamic contrast, which adjusts black level on the fly; gamma, which affects the rate of progression from dark to light; and a selection for color gamut, which controls the range of colors the display can reproduce.
We appreciated the solid selection of aspect-ratio controls, which include four choices for HD sources. Just Scan is the mode best suited for 1080i and 1080p sources, because it introduces no overscan and displays the image with no scaling. Standard-def sources allow four choices as well, including two zoom modes you can adjust vertically, to see subtitles or obscure tickers, for example.
The back panel includes the usual array of jacks.
Like more and more 2007 HDTVs, the Samsung LN-T4661F offers three HDMI inputs as opposed to just two. Two are located on the back, while a third can be found in a recessed bay along the panel's left side. The Samsung's commendable connectivity continues with a pair of component-video inputs, an AV input with S-Video, two RF inputs for cable and antenna, and a VGA-style RGB input for computers (maximum resolution 1,920x1,080). That recessed bay offers an additional AV input with S-Video as well as a USB port that can interface with thumbdrives to display photos (JPEG only) and play music (MP3 only). Software upgrades can also be applied via the USB port.
The side panel offers a USB port for music, photos, and firmware updates.
Performance
Overall, the Samsung LN-T4661F came close to the picture quality of its slightly more expensive brother, the LN-T4665F, but the latter earned a better performance score for a couple of reasons. The first is its superior detail in shadows, and the second is its significantly better off-axis viewing characteristics. In most other aspects of picture quality, including depth of black, resolution, color accuracy and saturation, the two were very similar. If you're more of a home theater stickler who turns off the lights for movies and can control your room's ambient light in most other situations, then the shiny-screened 65F gets the nod. But if you're stuck with a bright room or simply don't want to contend with the glare from the 65F's screen, the 61F makes a solid choice.
During setup, as usual, we adjusted the picture settings to levels ideal for our darkened theater. We chose the Gamma -2 mode because it seemed to provide the best balance between preserving shadow detail and delivering a smooth, realistic rise out of black. We'd have liked to go with -3 mode, as we did with the 65F, but that ended up obscuring too much shadow detail. After reducing light output to around 40 ftl, we used the extensive color temperature fine-tuning controls to improve quite a bit upon the Warm2 preset (see the Geek Box below). For a complete look at our user-menu picture settings, click here or check out the Tips & Tricks section above.
For this review, we set up the LN-T4661F next to a few other HDTVs we had on hand, including its aforementioned "shiny" step-up brother, the LN-T4665F, along with the Sony KDL-46S3000, the Panasonic TH-42PZ700U, and the Pioneer PRO-FHD1.
We began, as usual, with a good look at the LN-T4661F's black-level performance, and the set did not disappoint. We had it right next to the LN-T4665F and, despite Samsung's "true black" advertising (which pertains to the 65F and not the 61F), after calibration it was often difficult to tell which one displayed a deeper color of black. Our measurements told us it was the 65F by a hair, but that set did have slightly brighter edges compared to the middle, making the 61F appear darker in certain scenes, especially predominantly dark ones like the void of space in the beginning of Planet of the Apes. For the record, both Samsung LCDs and the Panasonic plasma evinced about the same level of black, while the Sony LCD and the Pioneer plasma appeared visibly lighter.
When calibrating the TVs in our comparisons we adjust the relavant controls to achieve the best combination of black level and shadow detail. In the case of the 61F, we felt this combination was best achieved by sacrificing some detail in shadows to get the blacks deeper -- a compromise we didn't have to make with the 65F. The effect of that compromise with the 61F was the most-visible difference between the two sets. When Mark Wahlberg's ship first crashes on the planet, for example, we could see less of the leaves under the darkest parts of the jungle foliage on the 61F. Gradations from light to shadow, which were evident in the hallway of shadowed plant husks outside the ape city, also appeared a bit more realistic on the 65F and the plasmas. The 61F's shadow detail was still a cut above that of most LCDs however, including the Sony.
The LN-T4661F has accurate primary colors in common with its shinier brother, and other areas of color accuracy, including grayscale performance, were very similar. After calibration the 61F, like the 65F, evinced a grayscale that tended to redden dark areas of the image. This issue was evident, for example, when Walhberg's face and, especially, his dark hair appeared a bit redder than on our reference Pioneer plasma after he's thrown to the ground during the apes' dinner and looks back at his tormentor. Overall, however, colors were still quite well-saturated and vibrant, from the green of the jungle plants to the apes' various skin tones to the red cushions and tapestries in the main ape's bedchamber. Even with its less-accurate grayscale, the LN-T4661F's color accuracy is among the best we've seen from a flat-panel LCD.
As we expected, the Samsung also delivered a very clean image. We didn't notice any false contouring during the film, even in tough areas like the sunlight in the misty jungle that showed slight contours on the Panasonic plasma. Video noise, even in skies and shadows, was also not a noticeable issue.
Although Apes appears a bit softer than many Blu-ray titles, it still packs plenty of detail, which the LN-T4661F conveyed faithfully. We enjoyed the weave in the carpet under the card-playing soldiers, for example, and the individual golden strands of Estella Warren's hair during a close-up. It also behaves exactly the same as the 65F in our resolution tests--failing to resolve every detail of a 1080i test pattern, for example, and failing both of the Geek Box 1080i deinterlacing tests (although it passed the video test when in "16:9" as opposed to "Just Scan" mode) from the HQV HD DVD and Blu-ray discs. We didn't see any evidence of those failures in Apes, but we did find a scene in Ghost Rider, where the grille of the RV at the end of Chapter 6 evinced some diagonal moiré along its horizontal grille. We don't consider failure at deinterlacing a deal-breaker for HDTV picture quality, although if you have access to 1080p content, we recommend choosing it to avoid the chance of seeing these sorts of artifacts.
For what it's worth, Samsung sent us a firmware update that worked with both sets to fix the deinterlacing of video-based, but not film-based, 1080i content and to show every line of a 1080-resolution test pattern. (This update is not reflected in our Geek Box results.) Update 06-20-07: We originally reported here that the firmware update would be available as a download from Samsung's web site. Now we hear from the company that the update may instead only be available to owners who call the Service Center and ask to have it sent. We'll update this section again when we're told more. New TVs equipped with the updated firmware will arrive on store shelves, according to Samsung, by mid- to late July 2007.
Flat-panel LCDs often display imperfect uniformity across the screen, although the LN-T4661F was better than most in this regard. We've mentioned that the screen of the 65F appears brighter along the edges than the middle, especially in darker areas. The 61F does as well, but the difference is quite a bit smaller, and its rightmost edge is the only area that was visibly brighter in black fields, such as the shots of the orbiting space station from the beginning of the film. In dark gray test patterns (15-20 IRE fields), we did notice a very slightly brighter area across the screen's middle as well, but it wasn't apparent in any program material we watched.
One area where the LN-T4661F falls a good deal short of its shiny cousin is in off-axis viewing. All LCDs, including the 65F, wash out a good deal when viewed from somewhere farther than a seat or two away from the sweet spot right in the center of the screen, but the 61F (along with the Sony) also acquired a slight reddish tinge when seen from off-angle to either side, an issue the 65F does not have. The washed-out blacks and red coloration became more apparent the farther we moved off-axis.
On the flip side, the LN-T4661F's matte screen reflected far less ambient light than the shiny screen of the 65F. With the room lights turned up, the 61F actually delivered a darker apparent color of black, and of course, we didn't see nearly as much of the room--including a watcher's white shirt or the coffee table in front of the TVs.
When we checked out the HP-T4661F's standard-def picture quality, using the HQV disc at 480i resolution via component video, the set performed exactly the same as the 65F--which is about average. According to the color bars pattern, the set resolved every detail of the DVD format, and the grass and bricks of the detail test were relatively sharp. On the other hand, it allowed many moving diagonal lines, such as the stripes on a waving American flag, to appear more jagged than we like to see. The four noise-reduction settings did a progressively better job of removing random motes of snowy noise from the disc's low-quality sunsets and shots of skies, but as usual, there was a trade-off, and details were softened somewhat as we increased NR. The Auto setting didn't really work well to automatically adjust the NR, especially in the "motion-adaptive" scenes with the roller coaster, so we recommend choosing one of the manual modes when you'd like to fight the noise. The LN-T4661F did engage 2:3 pull-down quickly and accurately.
As a PC monitor via the VGA input, the LN-T4661F performed exactly as its 65F counterpart. According to DisplayMate test patterns, the set resolved every line of vertical resolution and nearly every line of horizontal resolution with our video card set to 1,920x1,080 output. We detected a slight bit of softness in PC text at font sizes smaller than 10-point, but it certainly wasn't overt. The desktop filled the screen perfectly, and overall, we think most viewers will be happy with its capabilities as a big computer display.
Geek box
TEST RESULT SCORE
Before color temp (20/80) 7006/7088K Average
After color temp 6398/6490K Good
Before grayscale variation +/- 623K Average
After grayscale variation +/- 126K Average
Color of red (x/y) 0.641/0.327 Good
Color of green 0.296/0.578 Good
Color of blue 0.149/0.068 Good
Overscan 0% Good
Black-level retention All patterns stable Good
Defeatable edge enhancement Y Good
480i 2:3 pull-down, 24 fps Y Good
1080i video resolution Fail Poor
1080i film resolution Fail Poor
Samsung LCDs promise six-figure contrast
In addition to the Samsung LCDs detailed here, the company is introducing two more expensive series of LCDs in August 2007. The new sets incorporate step-up features designed to improve picture quality: 120Hz refresh rates and, in the most expensive series, LED backlights said to boost contrast ratios beyond anything seen before. We haven't reviewed any of the new models yet, but we can give you information on how their specs stack up. When we do get one of these televisions in for review, we'll update this information.
Samsung LN-T71F series
The big step-up feature for this series is a 120Hz refresh rate, which is said to cut down on the motion blur sometimes seen by sharp-eyed viewers in fast-moving scenes. Again, we haven't tested this feature yet, and it's not exclusive to Samsung (Sony and Toshiba, among others, have 120Hz LCDs out this year), but it might be worth the extra cash over the step-down 65F and 61F series to some discerning viewers. Compared to the 65F series, the 71F series also boasts a higher contrast ratio, which might mean better black-level performance, but we doubt if the improvement is all that noticeable despite the very high 25,000:1 spec. Styling is also a bit different, too, incorporating chrome plating to accent the standard glossy black. Of course, these models include the same shiny screen we complained about in the LN-T4665F review, which Samsung calls "Super clear panel."
Models (estimated selling prices)
* Samsung LN-T4071F (2 699)
* Samsung LN-T4671F (3 399)
* Samsung LN-T5271F (4 399)
Step-up features (over the LN-T65F series)
* 120Hz refresh rate
* 25,000:1 contrast ratio
* chrome plating
Samsung LN-T81F series
Samsung LN-T81F series
Samsung LN-T81F series
(Credit: Samsung)
Samsung's highest-end LCD-based HDTVs for 2007, the LN-T81F series, includes the first widely distributed flat-panel LCDs that replace the traditional fluorescent backlight (the TV's light source) with LED technology. The benefits, according to Samsung, include more-accurate color and better black-level performance, to the extent that the company is claiming a 100,000:1 contrast ratio, the highest yet for a shipping flat-panel set. The TVs are said to achieve these deep black levels because the dark areas of the display can be turned off completely--traditional LCD backlights are always on, which causes "black" areas of the picture to brighten a bit as the light leaks through--with so-called local dimming technology. All this pretty-sounding technology costs a pretty penny compared to the 71F series (from $300 to $600 extra depending on screen size), but it has the potential to really improve picture quality. Needless to say, we're excited to review one of the 81F series and check out the claims for ourselves. Aside from the LED backlight, the LN-T81F series is pretty much identical to the 71F series in terms of specs and includes the same shiny screen.
Models (estimated selling prices)
* Samsung LN-T4081F (2 999)
* Samsung LN-T4681F (3 999)
* Samsung LN-T5281F (4 999)
* Samsung LN-T5781F (6 999)
Step-up features
* LED backlight
* local dimming
* 100,000:1 contrast ratio
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