Samsung HLN507W 50-Inch Widescreen Projection HDTV with DLP Technology
By: Samsung Average Rating: 4.0 Total Reviews: 16
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 On: 2007-11-03
Before you buy, call your local Samsung authorized repair service and ask them how parts and service are these days. If they check out, then fine, buy the TV. My Samsung DLP was wonderful for 12 months, then the sound crapped out. Ill keep the story short. All 3 closest (60 miles plus) service facilities will no longer service Samsung because they cannot get parts in a timely manner and the poor receptionists are getting ulcers from all the irate customers yelling at them for having their TVs broken for 2 months. My picture is still great, and I can route my receiver through my HIFi system. Once it totally fails I am buying Sony and never anything else.
 On: 2007-08-02
I was lured by the gorgeous HDTV picture. I loved this tv until it started to make a grinding noise. It came and went until it became unbearable. Research on the web revealed a common issue: failure of the color wheel. This, an archaic technology going back to the invention of the color tv, is a complete waste. It seems to have a life of 2-3 1/2 years. You need to replace it. It is expense to replace. I did so, but it would not go on. I replaced the lamp as suggested, it would not work. Then it was suggested to change the ballast. This still did not do it. I believe the DLP technology will go the way of the 8-track tape, the cassette, the VHS, the Edsel, the dodo...My Sharp Aquos LCD HDTV is amazing and a good value.
On: 2007-03-30
Consumers should be aware of serious design flaws which exist in Samsung DLP televisions. Cooling fans and color wheels are highly susceptible to failing. (As a non-techniocal person I should have no idea what these parts are, but alas, I bought a Samsung DLP) Expect these to fail within 1-2 years. Expect to pay approx $400 to replace the color wheel and $200 to replace the colling fan. That is, if your service technician can find them in stock anywhere. These parts are commonly in a national backorder because of the very high failure rates.
You should also expect the lamp to fail sooner than advertized. Many people need to purchase a new lamp between 1-2 years, and some more often than that. The lamp costs approx $150-$250 depending on your model, but you should be able to replace it yourself without too much difficulty. This cost will be in addition to replacement costs for the color wheel and colling fan. Please remember that these maintenance costs are recurring, and you will have to fix them again in another 1-2 years.
While I was very satisfied with the quality and performance of my DLP, my color wheel failed very early. I called tech support to report a grinding noise, and was told to "turn it off", wait 15 minutes, and turn it back on like this would fix the problem. After doing this for a while, the color wheel finally failed, actually shattered! Now I am out of warranty, and Samsung wants nothing to do with me. I have even tried ordering the part myself from two different online vendors, and they are both backordered indefinitely! It has been 6 weeks and they have no estimate for when this part will be available. Samsung cannot even give me an estimate when the supply of replacement parts is expected to meet demand. I have had my TV for 18 months, and apparently there is a national epidemic of them breaking at the same time!
I have a 42" Samsung Plasma which is a beautiful set along with a 26" CRT. Both are wonderful products, but Samsung is selling DLP LEMONS and will not stand behind them. DLP is a great bargain up front, but a maintenance NIGHTMARE! You will pay in the long run, and by the long run I mean every 2 years. If you still want to purchase a DLP television, PLEASE BUY THE EXTENDED WARRANTY! IT WILL SAVE YOU A TON, BUT YOU WILL STILL HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE CIRCUIT CITY TECH TO FIND PARTS WHICH MAY TAKE MONTHS!
I expect Samsung to abandon their design flaw riddled DLP sector, and focus on their beautiful plasma line. Expect DLP prices to drop even further, but please...LOOK BEFORE YOU LEAP!
On: 2006-03-25
I have owned this model for almost three years. This model is flawed. I will be replacing the color wheel for the second time. I have yet to replace the lamp. My repair man states that this is a common problem with this model. Samsung has yet to resolve this issue.
I will have to replace the color wheel ($350) every three years...this is not worth it.
 On: 2005-10-20
Awesome picture, easy to move, shallow depth and great quality over all.
Folks giving it one Star prolly cannot figure out how to turn one on. DLP is a great solution because there is Zero Burn in concern. Meaning you can watch all your favorite shows in the correct format without worrying about burning in. Also means you do not have to deal with distorted "Fat People".
Its also nice that the DLP does not dominate the room unlike all of the older bigscreens this thing is easy to move and only 17.5" thin.
Good Stuff.
On: 2004-10-31
I was so excited to get my Samsung HLN507W 50" DLP and the Samsung DVD-HD841. Now that I have had them for a week, I could not be more disappointed. I will start with the good things. The picture. The picture is incredible. I am using the DVI video and optical audio interface for the DVD player and component video/optical audio for the HD Digital Cable. Both look stunning. I do get surround sound from the DVD player with the optical cable. So much for the good stuff.
The audio and picture are not in sync on most of the regular cable channels when listening to the TV speakers. The HD channels seem to be OK. Most of the time. I called Samsung the first day I had the TV and they told me it was a known problem with this model and when can they send someone out to fix it. The local repair guy said the "lip sync kit" (on backorder) has not corrected the problem on other units he has worked on. Even the DVD audio is not quite in sync on the TV speakers.
It was very difficult to get the DVD - DVI picture on the screen. You have to connect the component cables and go through the menu to change to the DVD output, and then complete the process on the DVI output. That took a while to figure out.
The DVD player freezes, then continues, freezes, then continues, freezes, then continues, freezes, then continues, many times on DVDs that play fine on my older players. It is going back tomorrow.
I guess they havent quite figured out all this new technology. I really hope someone out there is having better luck than me.
Now I am also having a horizontal hold problem. After about 10 minutes of warm up time the picture stops flipping.....
 On: 2004-09-29
Weve had our TV for about a week now and although it looks great and we love it, Im extremely annoyed by the humming sound it makes. Has anyone else experienced this problem?
On: 2004-09-28
Weve had our TV for about a week now and although it looks great and we love it, Im extremely annoyed by the humming sound it makes. Has anyone else experienced this problem?
by: gadgester On: 2004-09-20
Typical of Samsung products, the TV has poor build quality. The image looks washed out, and the TV itself feels cheaply made. People who claim to love it probably work for the company. Id go with a better brand like Sony or Panasonic.
On: 2004-08-17
I love this TV. I purchased a Plasma EDTV, also Samsung.. I was really displeased. I traded it in on this model, and it is night and day.
On: 2004-08-16
I love this TV. I purchased a Plasma EDTV, also Samsung.. I was really displeased. I traded it in on this model, and it is night and day.
On: 2004-04-20
Iv had this for three weeks and still think this is the best HD moniter on the market. The picture quality really stands out in comparison.
I looked at DLP TV from RCA - Thomson and it looked like a lower resolution display, even though they say they use the same device from TI as Samsung.
The minor things noted in other reviews;1. not the best at standard broadcast TV. Yes, if your only watching this - and no HD or DVD - than save your money. Especially if you view from 12 ft. away or less.I have Directv HD with a Pansonic receiver and a progressive scan DVD player hooked up and use them to get widescreen and HD programs.
Play the new Digital Video Essentials DVD on this system to see how good a picture can get. 2. Minor issue with audio timing to the picture when watching cetain broadcasts using the built in analog tuner. Using the Mute button repeatedly brings this out on my set. This should be fixable with a software upgrade from Samsung - when they are ready. 3. horizontal viewing angle is great - just as they say. But the vertical viewing angle is about 90 degrees max.(45 up or down), like other rear projection TVs. Set the TV at seated eye level and you wont even notice this. I would have been nice to get a digital TV tuner built-in. Since Directv and cable make you use their tuners for DTV, its not worth waiting for this feature. I have not yet used the DVI and PC interfaces. I like the split-screen display using the PIP ( two tuners) in the set. Even the PIP as a window is clear. 2.
by: Anonymous On: 2004-04-15
Very sharp picture (when viewing HD broadcast or DVD). Vibrant colors right out of the box. No calibration needed. Regular analog broadcasts, however, are inferior (which I believe is more a function of the larger screen size magnifying the imperfections of a non-HD signal). Highly recommend obtaining HD cable service with this set. Locally, Comcast is offering HD service at $5/month. Plus they provide their own box with no charge for installation.
On: 2004-04-08
What a picture!!!!!!!when you watch a dvd on this baby...you will be in heaven!! I will be getting hdtv thru directv soon..and after that I may never go to the movie theater again..it is that good! The only problem i have is the set is in my bedroom and when i have it on late at nite and the volume is low i can hear the fan...but dont let that stop you from buying this t.v.
On: 2004-04-03
Got my set last November, 2003 and I have had nothing but pure pleasure and enjoyment watching my digital cable feed, with HDTV, on this set. The bright tight colors are breathtaking. This is my first widescreen set and Im glad that I waited and research this product. I also paired this with the Panasonic SC-HT900 and the DVD playback on this TV is mind boggling. Its that good. You can forget all your regular rear-projection TVs with the old-fashioned BIG BOXES (eg, Mitsubishi, Pioneer, etc.). This set is so sleek, light, and can be practically placed anywhere.The one thing that I had to do extra was tweak the service menu and lightened up on the green colors which was a little abnormal with my set. This process is a little bit critical so save all your service menu settings before updating them. Changing the service menu data is a breeze, but I recommend talking to a Samsung rep if you are not sure which data fields to change. After my initial tweakage, it was television nirvana! Forget direct-view, forget LCD, and really forget regular projection TVs. This set is the way to go. Its got DVI input and tons of features that I cant even begin to rattle off its many fine goodies! My one little peeve is its remote control. Its just okay. It could have been built more intuitively. That joystick is a little annoying to use. But this is just a minor flaw compared to its main power - its picture quality. Check it out at your local B&B and C&C. The picture doesnt lie.
On: 2003-08-17
I bought this mainly for gaming and high quality movie watching.
It is utterly AMAZING! It has 3 s-videos, 3 components and even a DVI input for a computer. Let me tell you, Warcraft 3 or Starwars Galaxies in 50" High-Res format is BREATH-TAKING! It only weighs 80 lbs and I can carry it around like a suitcase!
Ive had mine for awhile now since I got it through a wholesaler, but it is still the greatest t.v. out there.
PLASMA tvs may hang on a wall, but years from now when a plasma screen is looking distorted, the DLP will still look as fresh as its birthday!
The gaming is superb on this set. Anything from Neo-Geo to X-box looks like your playing it on a computer monitor. If you have the 4k get this!
On: 2003-07-22
Bob Jordan is impressed that there are 10,000 mirrors in here. Actually, there are 921,600. This is a great TV. An important feature: it has DVI-HDCP. In the future, possibly near future, this interface will be REQUIRED for premium HD content like Pay-Per-View movies, Showtime, HBO and perhaps even broadcast. If your HDTV doesnt have DVI-HDCP, it will be obsolete much too soon. Whether you buy this amazing DLP projector or another HD set, make sure you get that feature.
by: Anonymous On: 2003-05-30
We purchased our set in April, and are very happy with its size (narrow enough to fit and turn into our basement), and its nice light weight. I also found the projection TVs to look like a large, heavy, black plywood box...mostly box and not that much TV. We are very happy with the DLP TV and its clear sharp images.
On: 2003-05-11
If you associate Samsung with so-so quality sold cheap, forget it. This set produces a very impressive picture. I bought mine on the recommendation of the Chief Engineer of the television station we both work at. What makes this set so special is the DLP technology. There is no CRT. Instead, the picture is produced by a beam that strikes a chip thats about the size of a postage stamp into which 10,000 tiny mirrors have been imbedded (I have no idea how they pulled that off). The set, although a 50-incher, weighs only 80 pounds. My only complaint: the remote is flimsy. If youre out to buy an HD set, check out DLP (Samsung is not the only manufacturer with the technology). Not long after buying the Samsung, I bought a 34-inch 16:9 Sony WEGA HD set for another room in my house. Its picture is on par with the Samsung, although the sound is superior. Whod ever thought Samsung would rival Sony? Sort of like Lexus and Mercedes.
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