Samsung HL-R4266W 42-Inch Widescreen HDTV DLP TV
By: Samsung Average Rating: 4.5 Total Reviews: 39
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 On: 2008-02-18
Had the tv for 2 years now. The month before the warranty ran out the tv became pixelated like a digital dish during a bad storm. The digital controller went out ($600), luckily it was still under warranty. Not even 2 months later, the tv went dark. I cant remember what piece went out, but it was another $600 part. Unfortunately that came out of pocket as its no longer under warranty. Not a bad looking tv, if you want to spend $600 a year to keep it working.
 On: 2007-11-11
The picture quality is really what I wanted in a HDTV. I bought it for "no screen burn" when viewing 4:3, for the fact that the picture looks better then most other DLPs, connections and of course price when compared to LCD and Plasma. Overall, great piece of equipment, speakers are truly exceptional. We have had it for about 2 years and the brightness seems to be fading, quick adjustment and it looks like when new. Though, be sure to buy the extended warranty-the mirror device that spins to produce the picture shattered right after warranty expired, but we bought an extended warranty (for the bulb replacement option, priced at $400 per bulb when we purchased) and I am so happy we did. After the replacement, there are artifacts as I am sure due to the glass shattering into a million pieces inside the box. The tech vacuumed the box, but it looks like he missed a few pieces of glass because we can see white spots when a black picture shows. I will have to call them to fix the picture problem. Overall, very satisfied with picture quality.
 On: 2007-08-23
For the price this TV is outstanding. I own a 52 JVC DILA, Panasonic 100xu 720p projector and this model. The Samsung is hands down the brightest of the bunch and the cheapest. We have owned it for over a year and not a single problem. XBOX 360 and DVDS are amazing. Loved this TV so much I referred this to my cousin and best friend. They love it as well.
For the ordinary consumer just entering the HD world, this is the TV for u. Normal people dont see eggshells and distorted blacks etc.....
Take this TV and run for $600
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: 2007-01-11
I purchased this TV shortly before Christmas at the sale price (which was amazing) and at first I was extremely uncertain about it. A 42" TV with new technology for such a low price seemed a bit strange, and I had somewhat of a hunch that maybe they were dumping them off at a low price because of poor quality. That has all since subsided.
However, when I first received the television the FIRST DAY of usage I had a big problem with it. After a few hours of usage the TV shut off by itself. I had originally thought that I may have laid on the remote control, so I turned the TV back on to only have it shutoff again about 30 seconds later. I noticed the lights in front of the television flashing, and having remembered seeing something about that in the manual, I looked to find out the bulb is defective. This seemed to confirm my aforementioned fears, and so I immediately called Samsung to have a repairman come fix the thing. A defective bulb is no big deal, but annoying nonetheless. Well needless to say, I dont like their method of appointments, they put in a "ticket" and then have someone call YOU back to make the arrangement. It took them almost 5 days (including saturday and sunday) to call back, and the appointment was 10 days from the day I arranged it.
It was a definite inconvenience to have a large television sitting in the middle of a room completely unable to function, but taking into consideration that it was the holiday season, I suppose it can be excused. The repairman came mid-morning, took his shoes off at the door, was quiet and polite and immediately went to work on the television. He left no doubt in my mind that he was an expert at what he does, and after replacing the bulb realized there was a problem with some internal component so he replaced that as well.
Although it was an inconvenience to have to go through that process for the television, I couldnt be happier with what I paid for it and the resulting picture. I have the TV connected through a Monster Cable HDMI (if you want top of the line, go with Monster even though its extremely pricey) with a Comcast DVR-HD box. Sports are clearly the superior quality, but the overall quality of the HD channels is amazing. I also have a Playstation 2 connected through the component cables and it looks just as good considering its not an HD output. But if you are going to connect a non-hd system (xbox, ps2) I suggest getting the component cables because using the RCA plugs was horrid, blurry, and not even worth playing.
Beyond all of that this television was a great buy, and even though the price has since gone up its still not THAT bad. Id have given it 5 stars, but to me 5 stars would be a 1080p output. If youre looking for a good TV for a decent price, Id say this is definitely it.
On: 2007-01-05
This was a rockin TV for the price just a few months ago, but with true HDTV plasma and LCD sets now available at the price point, its harder to make a case for it. Dont forget that youll have to replace the $250 bulb in this set every couple of years and that it is about a foot thick.
Im personally very happy with the picture and it made more sense from a price standpoint when I purchased it. However, if you look here, youll see bigger 46-inch Samsung DLPs for the same price (if your room will support that) and even the 50-inchers are only about $150 more; that is 150 well-spent dollars.
On: 2006-11-23
Well ill have to keep this review short as its getting late.
This is actually the first TV that i have taken to write a review for (Its Currently 12:19AM so my spelling might be a bit off)
Alright enough of the pointless talk, here is my review.
Oh by the way the S4 of this TV is out. (New Color Wheel) its called the HL-S4266W which has a new Color wheel.
Upon first reading about this TV i was a bit skeptical. The whole "The Shell on the bottom of the screen when your seeing black on the scrren." First of all you do see a little what looks like a white shell on the bottom of ths screen. However is is barely noticable unless your trying to pick it out (Had my friend try to find something wrong with the screen when it was all black and he had problems finding the "Shell")
When i was buying a TV i needed one that was less the 40" in width because my wall unit is only 40" wide. So i was looking at a lot of Plasmas and LCDs but all of them were around 41-45" because of the side mounted speakers. This TV however was 39.3" wide which fit perfecly in the space. At first i hooked up my Xbox360 to the system with my friend and booted it up. The TV makes a chime sound which is a little catchy but not positive nor negitive in my opinion. I get to the Xbox screen, set it for 720P/Widescreen. So i start playing a game and my first reaction was it looked like crap compared to my Sony 60" WEGA Tv. After my friend left I was looking over at the Xbox and figured out that the video cable was switched to EDTV instead of HDTV. When i switched it to HDTV i saw a HUGE differnce. The picture was really really sharp and the TV is VERY bright which is good for movies and games. I am really happy with the purchase of this TV and i would reccomend it to anyone that is looking for a good cheap Hi-Def TV.
Pros:
- Looks amazing if you feed it a High-Def source.
- Very nice and bright if you want to play games or watch movies.
- The interface is very clean and neat. (Not importaint but i like it)
- It is a very nice looking TV compared to some others i saw at Bestbuy.
- I like the speakers at the bottom of the TV. It gives the screen a very clean and nice cut.
Cons:
- This TV brings out details from bad sources such as a standard DVD Player (I would just purchase a Upconvert DVD Player which outputs to 720P and you will have a amazing picture)
- The Bulb will burn out in about 2-4 years (Depending on use)
On: 2006-09-18
I HAD SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH TV NOT TURNING ON, AFTER HAVING PURCHASE A YEAR AGO. FOR ALMOST YEAR IT WORKED GREAT !!TRIED ALL SOLUTIONS GIVEN TO ME, AMAZON WAS HELPFUL WITH CONTACT INFO. IT TOOK ABOUT 2 WEEKS TRYING TO GET SERVICE, WHEN SAMSUNG COULD NOT FIX PROBLEM, IT WAS RESOLVED BY OFFERING TO SEND ME NEW REPLACEMENT, THIS YEARS MODEL. I AM COMPLETELY SATISFIED WITH SERVICE.
On: 2006-08-23
Its a great buy. The only problem that I have is the "DNle" wont stay on and no one can seem to tell me how to keep it on. I get a sort of cloudy look, but its tolerable. Other than that its great. Im pleased.
On: 2006-07-17
Pros: Three customizable video profiles (movies, broadcast TV...); Excellent brightness and contrast; good viewing angles L & R of center; Generous input options;
Cons: Big, centered on/off button cries out for my toddler to turn it on/off/on/off. Finally put a 35Lb barbell in front of it.
The biggest con has not to do with the TV but the dearth of HD content. Others comments about broadcast TV looking horrible on HD sets cannot be overemphasized. Same for DVDs on SD DVD players. On the latter note, buy a good upcoverting DVD player (<$150); the visual results were simply outstanding.
Also note that you will need to run component video at a minimum, HDMI preferred; Using S-Video or composite is a complete waste of money you spent on the TV. So the other con is that you will probably need a new A/V receiver and cables.
So to recap, if you want a good experience, you need an HD TV, upconverting DVD player, A/V receiver with component or better yet HDMI connections, and HD broadcast content (cable or satellite). This is not a cheap endeavor.
On: 2006-03-23
Buyer be ware if you have a problem with delivery or the TV you will be left on your own to sort it out. Amazon may or may not be a big trust worthy company, but they will still leave it to you to sort out there is no personal customer service other then email (run around)!! Bare that in mind before making any large purchase, may be better to pay a little more through a company with a store front at least you will have someone to complain to face to face or take the item back.
On: 2006-03-22
The TV is really nice. It works easily. I have it hooked up to a cable network. My friend also bought one about a week earlier and I liked hers, so I ordered mine. I would recommend it to anyone who wants a first class HDTV. The service is quick and efficient. The picture is fantastic!
On: 2006-03-18
The service from Amazon was great, delivery people were most cooperative, made delivery as promised, placed TV in space where we wanted and hooked up and checked it out.
They even offered to take away the empty carton. We saved about $250 by buying from Amazon rather than from local retailer.
 On: 2006-03-17
It isnt as if my TV is on 24/7 that I allow the screen to burn, but still in the left corner the picture quality is full of red spots! It is quite a nuisance.
On: 2006-03-11
Wonderful picture quality in HD. DVD displays well too. Standard cable signal not really much difference. Would recommend this tv to anyone. Just understand that you need HD programming for this tv to really shine. The audio of this tv is ok, nothing special, but it gets the job done. I have it hooked up to a surround sound and love it.
On: 2006-03-02
I should first note that I am no expert on television sets, and was more than a little confused by all the different technologies out on the marketplace. After some research, and a little help from a local home theater company, I settled on this TV. If 13" of depth isnt an issue for your application, this TV offers picture quality on par with the more expensive plasmas and lcds. Couldnt be happier with my purchase!
UPDATE:
I have since discovered the issue with the HDMI connections that others are reporting.
On: 2006-03-01
I should first note that I am no expert on television sets, and was more than a little confused by all the different technologies out on the marketplace. After some research, and a little help from a local home theater company, I settled on this TV. If 13" of depth isnt an issue for your application, this TV offers picture quality on par with the more expensive plasmas and lcds. Couldnt be happier with my purchase!
UPDATE:
I have since discovered the issue with the HDMI connections that others are reporting.
On: 2006-02-27
The previous reviews are similar to mine. All one has to do is watch the Discovery HD Theater and immediately they will realize what a great TV it is, but also the picture quality is sharp,color is beautiful and the TV is not 300 pounds in weight. I enjoy my 42" Samsung DLP HDTV WAY MORE than I ever realized possible.
On: 2006-02-25
We needed a bigger TV and the 42" Samsung DLP was right up our alley. Its not so big that it takes up the entire room, but big enough that we dont have to squint.
It is especially phenomenal for viewing DVDs. Using the HDMI input and surround sound results in a movie-theater quality experience.
All we need now is for more broadcasters to use HD technology.
On: 2006-02-18
Sorry, I can only give "half" a review now, so I will keep this review short. My first bad decision was to purchase any HDTV before I had a digital signal. What stores or manufacturers wont tell you is that the analog picture is surprisingly poor; not as good as your old tv picture. Consumer Reports will back this up with the black circle ratings (poorest quality) for the best of plasma, LCD, and DLP hdtvs, but I received that info a day later. I owned the Samsung 42" hdtv for just one day and returned it to BestBuy ( they were running a special with a price very close to Amazons) and may buy later this year after I get digital service (and a probable Samsung hdtv price drop). So I am collecting digital service prices (cable and satellite), including Verizons Fios cable that is just being built in my area. I currently have Comcast cable analog, and appreciate the new competition from other digital providers.
On: 2006-02-07
WOW! This TV is fantastic. Easy to setup, lightest TV Id ever owned, great picture...and the best thing of all...a super suprise:
We get all the local channels in HD through our rabbit ears. Amazing! We were gunna get digital cable but no need to now! The best stuff is on the local channels anyhow. We had no idea that the local channels were broadcast in HD for free.
The good news about HD channels you either get a perfect picture or no picture at all (unlike analog channels)
This TV also allows you to pull local channels in from an antenna and still pull in other channels with cable.
On: 2006-02-06
WOW! This TV is fantastic. Easy to setup, lightest TV Id ever owned, great picture...and the best thing of all...a super suprise:
We get all the local channels in HD through our rabbit ears. Amazing! We were gunna get digital cable but no need to now! The best stuff is on the local channels anyhow. We had no idea that the local channels were broadcast in HD for free.
The good news about HD channels you either get a perfect picture or no picture at all (unlike analog channels)
This TV also allows you to pull local channels in from an antenna and still pull in other channels with cable.
On: 2006-02-03
I purchased the Samsung HL-R3266W 42" television from Amazon.com after much research and viewing the t.v. at area stores. The DLP offers a clear picture and is easy to set up.
The idea of its longevity appealed to me and having to replace the light bulb occasionally isnt a drawback. The price is high, but was $500.00 less from Amazon.com than the big box stores when I ordered it. It arrived in less than a week in perfect condition. I recommend the Samsung DLP very highly.
On: 2006-01-30
BUY IT! You wont regret it.
Originally I wanted a 56" DLP but after looking at the size on the monster in local stores, and where I was going to place the TV on an 8 wall, I opted for the 42" model. The size is just right for viewing comfort without having to sit 20 away. The color is VIBRANT. Blacks are REALLY black, whites are brighter, colors are true right out of the box. The instruction manual is easy to read and understand. The functions on the remote are easy to use. I have a satellite dish and an outside antenna for local stations. The PIP is great for watching two sporting events at once.
Set up is no sweat, very little to do even if you do it yourself. The few extra bucks for delivery was worth every penny. The unit was delivered when my wife was home alone. Thered be no way for her to off-load the TV and lug it into the house, uncrate it and set it up without help. The delivery persons did all that and even took the box it came in with them. Also, the price I paid thru AMAZON was the CHEAPEST I found locally and on the I-net. I couldnt be happier even if I were twins. Amazon always has the best price,... I dont know why I look anywhere else.
On: 2006-01-30
My only complaint about this item was it took a long time to arrive at my townhouse, but thats to be expected for something so big.
TV fits exactly into my TV cabinet and is very sharp looking in appearance. Picture quality, while the tiniest bit grainy on standard cable channels, looks amazing on HD channels and DVDs. The thing I am happiest with is how it makes my Xbox 360 games look. On my old Sony 32" Projection TV the graphics were decent but not anything super special. Now on the Samsung the graphics are super detailed and crisp while running in 720p.
Overall I am very satisfied with this TV.
On: 2006-01-24
I just got this system over the weekend and its great so far. HDTV channels are a must. Regular feed is ok but I dont watch many TV shows anyways. Movies and gaming is incredible on this TV. My XBOX 360 looks amazing on it. Its very light and easy to set up. The menus are pretty user friendly. I had heard complaints about the fan on the bulb but I cant really notice the sound at all. The TV does look best if at least 5-7 feet away. I chose this model because I do alot of gaming and DLP technology I heard was best for gaming because it never will burn an image in the screen. Shipping also was rather quick. I ordered it on a Saturday and recieved a call by Thursday to set up a delivery time. Not as fast as I would have liked but worth the wait.
On: 2006-01-08
i just got this tv today and this tv is awesome!!!
my brother brought a samsung lcd and got me interested in getting one.
watching hd tv, youll never want to got back to non-hd tv...
this systems really light compared to the old crts...this weights about 70 lbs. and really easy to set up.
i do recommend getting the hdmi connectors and a really nice surround sound system to compliment the incredible pics.
if you dont have access to HD viewing, do NOT get this system- i hear ppl complain about how bad non-hd programs are- but thats not why we get a HDTV!
I tried a superbit movie too- to be exact "the fifth element" and it was jaw dropping!
viewing this from 8-10 ft away is for best viewing i think.
ok- enough fun- going back to watching my TV! (Sat. nite live will never be the same again!)
Overall, a GREAT value for the price! anything close to 40" in LCD (which dont make 42-that big) or a plasma will cost you much more....do your own homework!
On: 2006-01-03
This TV is spectacular. When you are in the market for a 42 inch tv, you wont be dissapointed. This tv has vivid colors, great screen quality and excellent dimensions for a cozy space. The price is pretty good, most local dept stores will knock off a few hundred dollars off of the list price. Cant go wrong with that. Now just keep in mind, like most DLP tvs, this still does kind of pixelate during fast action scenes, but since they are so small in detail, you wont notice it as often in other tvs.
On: 2005-11-23
Plasma technology is still the best in terms of brightness, contrast and physical dimensions. You can hang it on a wall and cramp it in tighter spaces.
The other option would be an LCD screen, but the picture quality (artifacts) and price factor would make it an odd decision to go for when you could shell out a little more for a Plasma display. Also beware there are two types of LCD screens - LCD and LCD projection. LCD is the same as the computer monitors. Although it has greatly improved since its introduction, its still slow and expensive. LCD projection I would shy away from at the moment because it doesnt compare to DLP. Although Sony came out with a so-called "3LCD" technology to rival the high-end DLP 3-chip systems. Know that DLP was first for the 3-chip technology (for their high-end applications like major movie houses), its not whos first as time will tell how each fare.
Yet a good rival that has been hitting the market is LCoS (Liquid Crystal on Silicon). JVC has renamed this HD-ILA and Sony came out with their own name branding - but they are all LCoS technology. Prices have yet to come down and is said to have none of the "cons" of LCD and DLP projection TV by exhibiting good blacks, great speed in drawing the picture and no rainbow effect. Until prices drop to competitive levels with the rest of the other products, this wont be on my list until next year.
The next best option behind Plasma, IMO, is DLP by Texas Instruments. It gives the best blacks and color rendition among its class of projection televisions.
How good is DLP? It was the first and no-brainer choice for commercial theaters that project digital movies (i.e. the first digital screening of Star Wars prequels). These are front-projection units that need a reasonably dark room to refrain from washing out the colors it projects to the screen. For personal viewing in bedrooms and living rooms, you need a rear-projection DLP. This encases the whole unit like a regular projection television, and is more kind to ambient light.
A. The downside to DLP rear-projection monitors is:
The amount of moving parts it entails to create the picture -
1. A digital micromirror device (DMD) to reflect light in 1,024 different shades of gray. Because these tiny mirrors each move independently, there is a risk of failure.
2. A color wheel that spins in thousands of revolutions per minute to help create the color. The wheel bearing will eventually wear out and will need to be replaced by a technician over time. Furthermore, the noise created as it spins to speed is evident when you power up the monitor. Although any minimal audio volume will drown this sound out.
3. The lamp (light bulb) that projects the image onto the screen, just like any other light bulb, has a usable life. Each manufacturer states how long their bulbs will last before it needs to be replaced. A typical life span for 4 hours of viewing each day will last around 4 years. The good news: it only takes to replace the bulb in order to bring the picture quality back to like new just as when you bought the TV. This is versus Plasma and LCD which lose their brightness over time (LCD rear projection also takes replacing the bulb).
4. The amount of heat created by the lamp is enormous that you cant box the unit in a cabinet nor stick its back side too near to the wall unless you want to increase wear on the monitor or create a melt-down.
B. The upside is the picture quality you get. In fact the price you would have paid to get this kind of quality and usability over time is unfathomable you would be glad you didnt have to pay for Plasma (of course if you can afford a Plasma or need to hang it on a wall, then this is your only option). Just replace the bulb and youre good to go for another 4 years or so. You cant do that with a Plasma and re-charge the gasses. Unlike Plasma, its brightness virtually stays constant throughout the usable life of the lamp. Samsung will warn the user when it is nearing the end.
C. Physical dimensions enable you to lift the monitor alone. Try doing that to a CRT. Samsungs "floating screen" design enables the picture to give a good impression that the picture is on its own space. However, the silver accent below the screen (although very elegant) does not fully take the effect into what they are marketing it to be as any light falling on the silver accent reveals the screen is not floating.
With all being said, four stars for this monitor because Samsung gives us a lame manual that leaves the technical savvy people out of the loop and questioning for more information - despite the TV having one of the best picture quality and Samsung technology loaded into the monitor (enhanced picture processing and the abillity to fine tune the colors based on ambient light surrounding).
Four stars because despite all the technology loaded, they give us one HDMI in socket that doubles as the old DVI socket care of your own ability to buy an HDMI to DVI cable. No FireWire audio input/output unlike other manufacturers. And only one digital audio output courtesty of an optical Toslink connection.
The good part is Samsungs strict policy for defective mirror devices, strict manufacturing tolerance and elegant design which helps you trust buying their products more than other manufacturers.
A word of caution to shoppers and owners of DLP and other technology that enable true high definition output: the reason for most bad reviews is their disappointment when watching with various low quality sources. They are mislead into thinking their picture quality will improve with these kinds of monitors. On the contrary a monitor of this caliber will show even more imperfections and reveal the low quality output that is being fed into it - garbage in, garbage out. Subscribing to digital cable/satellite isnt enough. You have to subscribe to HDTV and be viewing HDTV sources in order to see its full potential. MTV isnt HDTV. Know which channels air in high definition. Discovery Channel HD (not simply Discovery Channel) is the perfect viewing sample.
You want to maximize the input of sources by using HDMI/DVI cables. Dont use RCA or S-video jacks for this monitor. The least video cable you should use is component cable. Even that I wouldnt recommend because that would mean transmitting analog video signal from source (cable box, DVD player) to TV. Keep the signal pure and clean as possible by keeping it digital until the last minute.
Lastly, this monitors standard output is 720p (progressive) output. Other lower or higher sources fed into the unit will make it convert to 720p. This is helpful info into putting less strain or digital conversion and artifacting to the monitor - feed it 720p signal already so all the monitor has to do is output directly rather than do further processing.
If you want the latest technology, this "old" technology isnt for you as there are already a handful of 1080p monitors in the market including monitors made by Samsung. If youre on a budget and want a bang for your buck, you wont make a mistake with this purchase and handing it down the line when youre ready to make a step up into the future (for the same price you purchased this unit).
On: 2005-10-31
I Looked at more HDTVs than I would like to remember......for two years. I researched Plasma, LCD, LCD projection, good old CRT and DLP. Although I still think Plasma has a slightly better picture when viewing standard TV, its a dead heat while viweing HDTV or high quality DVD. Givin the value of the Samsung 42" DLP, unless you want to hang one on the wall this is a great choice! This TV has some great features to customize the picture and it is easy to set up. It has great sound when you are not playing it through your home cinema system as well.
OK, here is my 15-month update: WOW! This unit continues to impress me. I am picking up free HDTV with a TURK antenna on my dish. Sporting events on FOX are like they are in your room. DVDs look great with progressive scan. My TV is on 14 hours a day and no problems to date. On top of it all for the money its a no brainier. Buy it!
On: 2005-10-26
Besides being a good television receiver, I was also interested in using it as a computer display.
In particular, I wanted the quality of a digital (DVI) interface and good resolution, and I got both. I get a respectable 1280x720 resolution. But, to set it up, you need (1) HDMI to DVI adapter - $75, (2) DVI-DVI cable - $75, (3) dual monitor graphics card (Radeon 7000 - $50). Once cabled, the tricky part is configuring the DVI display, since you have to list all modes and then choose 1280x720 resolution (Samsungs DVI interface doesnt provide this as a supported mode, but it really is)
On: 2005-10-19
This was our first venture into the big-screen market, and we didnt know much about the different technologies. We were pleased with the look and feel of this TV, but the picture did not live up to expectations.
We are on satellite but do not have an HDTV tuner yet. The channels looked grainy and had weird pixel movement in the dark areas. We were able to get the color and contrast just about perfect with some minor adjustments, and the sound was great. We realize that DVDs probably look much better, but on a day to day basis we dont watch DVDs, we watch regular TV.
The picture looked awesome from across the room, but when sitting on the couch about 6-7 feet from the screen, it really didnt look that great. We explored a few more options in the stores and finally opted to return this TV for a slightly better price on a plasma.
Bottom line is, the TV is probably fine if you have the right setup, but for us it just wasnt the best choice.
On: 2005-10-10
I also have a 61" Samsung DLP. Based on a small handful of reviews scattered over the net and the liking of my current 61", I decided to purchase another Samsung. Ive had my 61" for a couple of years and truly enjoy the picture quality.
After unboxing the 42", my expectations were high. I connected the unit to my existing cable and hit the power button. The user menu has come a long way since my 61" and again, the picture quality was great!
Remember, garbage in garbage out:) The true test for image quality for any TV is DVD. DVD will produce the best possible image ... this when your TV will show its true potential.
I found the 42" on sale and believe the quality for price leaves the buyer in the drivers seat.
On: 2005-09-11
I have just received my new Samsung 42" DLP TV, and I was impressed within minutes! Like the other reviewer mentioned, the measurments are absolutly spot on (which was very important as to fit in my entertainment center). Set up was a breeze, the menus and on-screen displays were simple to follow and the picture quality is amazing. As I shopped around, the biggest difference I noticed was how bright and crisp the picture was compared to other bigger, more expensive, DLP, plasma and LCD TVs. This TV is in a very bright, naturally lit room, yet the picture quality is not affected much at all. The DLP technology does what it claims, to produce a bright, crisp, clear picture. I do not HD programming yet with my sat. provider, so some channels are a little grainy, but with DVDs and other digital sources, this TV is hard to beat. From a quality to price standpoint, you cant go wrong with this TV. I would highly recommend it to anyone.
On: 2005-09-11
This TV has everything I wanted and for the right price. Its very light (about 50 pounds), not very deep (maybe 14 inches) and the picture quality is outstanding. Try watching one of the Pixar movies on it, you will be astounded and Discovery on HD is almost better than going on vacation. Its a table top DLP projection TV, so there are no pixels to burn out like LCD or Plasma, it fits on most TV carts, and the price was awesome. Including shipping to Texas, I paid $400 less than what I would have paid in store because the retail price was lower, and I didnt have to pay sales tax. Its simple to use, and only requires a bulb replacement every few years, much like a computer projector would. There is one warning I can bestow, and that is despite showing HDTV content gorgeously, the quality on regular stations may "appear" to dip. You get used to this, though and Samsung recommends hooking your cable/satellite receiver up to the TV using 2 connections (one component or HDMI, and one S-video, the latter helping with the picture quality of the non HD channels). All in all, I am VERY happy with this TV. Also, when there were some errors with the sale of my TV (shipping co lost the first one, and then Amazon sent me a letter that I had never returned the TV I never received) they fixed in within a day. Amazon customer service ROCKS.
On: 2005-09-09
I ordered TV based upon dimensions listed on Amazon website. They were incorrect and when I refused delivery, it took Amazon over a month to finally issue a refund. When you finally get a hold of customer service (very difficult to find phone number), you get someone in India. They could not track their own product. They were very polite but no resolution. I have been Amazon customer for a while but this opened my eyes to the behemoth that Amazon has become. As far as TV, go check out the picture at a brick and mortar store. I think Sony LCD much better. Colors more vivid and deeper black. Sorry Amazon, but you have lost a customer.
On: 2005-08-03
I had a problem. I had a bright room that I wanted a TV in and I wanted a larger TV. I thought that rear projection would not be bright enough for the room, but this I can view this samsung TV better then the tude TV I had in the space before. Also, this TV is so light. I replaced a 32 inch tube that was 170lbs with this TV that weighs less then 70.
I do have to admit that I have seen the rainbow effect on this TV once in the month that I owned it, but to see if you have to jerk your head and blink at just the right time. Otherwise the picture on this set is stunning with the blackest blacks Ive ever seen on a TV and true to life color.
On: 2005-08-02
Very good item.
On: 2005-08-02
The TV is great. Picture is wonderful, HD is very sharp. We are tuly enjoying the TV.
On: 2005-08-02
I had a problem. I had a bright room that I wanted a TV in and I wanted a larger TV. I thought that rear projection would not be bright enough for the room, but this I can view this samsung TV better then the tude TV I had in the space before. Also, this TV is so light. I replaced a 32 inch tube that was 170lbs with this TV that weighs less then 70.
I do have to admit that I have seen the rainbow effect on this TV once in the month that I owned it, but to see if you have to jerk your head and blink at just the right time. Otherwise the picture on this set is stunning with the blackest blacks Ive ever seen on a TV and true to life color.
On: 2005-08-02
After thorough review of the various HD-ready TV options (...), and after reading about the limitations of LCD and Plasma TVs (viewing angle problems, burn in, slow pixel response...), I decided to go with a rear-projection DLP, and Samsungs were the most consistently well reviewed. So far, a month later: no regrets. Picture looks fantastic (though Im not a videosnob), setup was easy, and its thinner and lighter than the smaller Trinitron CRT it replaced.
On: 2005-07-20
After tax and S/H Amazon was UNBEATABLE. The TV arrived promplty to the door and was in an obviously cared for condition.
This tv is nothing short of amazing as it truly fits where others do not in addition to weighing next to nothing. My cabinet measured 39.5" across and the specs on the tv were 39.3". This measurement was dead on accurate!
Samsungs technology is superior to all others in the price range. I hope this tv lasts a long time because Im not sure what Id do with out it now.
On: 2005-07-19
After tax and S/H Amazon was UNBEATABLE. The TV arrived promplty to the door and was in an obviously cared for condition.
This tv is nothing short of amazing as it truly fits where others do not in addition to weighing next to nothing. My cabinet measured 39.5" across and the specs on the tv were 39.3". This measurement was dead on accurate!
Samsungs technology is superior to all others in the price range. I hope this tv lasts a long time because Im not sure what Id do with out it now.
On: 2005-07-09
The performance of the Samaung 42" lived up to my expectations. I comparison shopped SONY, SHARP, HITACHI and DELL before selecting the SAMSUNG. The luminosity (aided by the picture mode settings) is adequate for viewing in a well lit room. The picture quality is exceptional for HD channels and DVDs in the 480p mode(as good as any of the LCD TVs). Performance on normal analog channels is fair to good compared to direct view TV performance on the same channels (both HD and analog are off cable). Digital audio sound is excellent. The setup and custom adjustment menus are easy to use but sometimes annoying as the menus have 4 to 5 layers. The TV fits in a very small space for its screen size (width and depth are the smallest available for this size). The manual is good but assumes you understand HD terminology and doesnt explain the difference in performance when choosing many of the settings. I highly recommend this TV based on its price to performance delivery.
On: 2005-07-08
The performance of the Samaung 42" lived up to my expectations. I comparison shopped SONY, SHARP, HITACHI and DELL before selecting the SAMSUNG. The luminosity (aided by the picture mode settings) is adequate for viewing in a well lit room. The picture quality is exceptional for HD channels and DVDs in the 480p mode(as good as any of the LCD TVs). Performance on normal analog channels is fair to good compared to direct view TV performance on the same channels (both HD and analog are off cable). Digital audio sound is excellent. The setup and custom adjustment menus are easy to use but sometimes annoying as the menus have 4 to 5 layers. The TV fits in a very small space for its screen size (width and depth are the smallest available for this size). The manual is good but assumes you understand HD terminology and doesnt explain the difference in performance when choosing many of the settings. I highly recommend this TV based on its price to performance delivery.
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