Samsung HLR5667W 56-Inch DLP HD TV
By: Samsung Average Rating: 4.5 Total Reviews: 52
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 On: 2007-11-02
Bought this great TV in Dec 05. Very pleased with it until went wrong!!
Samsung very unhelpful, basically, "tuff only a one year warranty and we aren`t going to help you in any way with the estimated $900 repair bill!!" I will never ever buy another Samsung product due to their lack of "service"!!! Please join me.
 On: 2007-09-22
First things first -- a huge misconception in the majority of the reviews is in regard to the supposed input lag, crucial in playing video games that require quick responses. This is caused by the video processing, NOT any flaw in the TV itself. The majority of this processing is a feature that Samsung calls DNIe, which enhances the picture quality of all video. The problem is that it isnt easily disabled from the menu, you have to disable it from the *service menu*. Service menus can be tricky, so be very careful not to change anything you dont understand while accessing it. This menu is designed for authorized service technicians, not the home user. However, its necessary to go there to turn DNIe off if you want to play video games.
To access it, turn the set off, and then on the remote press mute, 1, 8, 2, Power. The TV will come on and bring you to the service menu. Use the directional bad to navigate, with "Okay" to open each menu branch, and the "Menu" button on the remote to move back to the previous branch. After you tweak your settings, turn the TV off and then back on to exit the service menu.
You can also fix the green push problem some users have in low contrast scenes by adjusting Green_B_Coeff from its default setting of 128 to a more reasonable 115. And while there, try turning Gamma down from the default 2 down to 0 for more realistic flesh tones. All settings in the "DNIe" menu will have to be adjusted individually for each input (Component 1, Component 2, HDMI, etc). Gamma is a global change.
If youre uneasy doing these yourself, feel free to pay a professional calibration technician. Well worth the money to get the most out of this great, great TV. They often sell on Craigslist for well under $1,000 -- a great bargin.
 On: 2007-06-13
I bought this TV in July 2006. The picture quality on SD and HD is excellent. What I dont like about rear projection is the limited viewing angle.
On May 14, my TV lost video. I called Samsung and it has been 4+ weeks and I still dont have my TV. They had to replace the lamp, ballast and the DMD board. The TV is great as long as it is working but I wouldnt trust one to work for very long. I researched these for quite a while before buying and all of the reviews were good.
If I were buying today my first choice would be flat panel LCD if money was no object, but since it is with me, I would go with a plasma because I believe it is the best bang for the buck at current market prices (June, 2007). 42 inches seems to be the break point. At 42 and below LCD and plasma seem to be about the same price but plasma wins the value contest at 50 inches and above.
Tip: If you are visiting a store to look at TVs and you wear glasses (sometimes, like I do), make sure and take them.
On: 2007-04-19
I purchased my Samsung 56" DLP nearly two years (6/05) ago and even though I paid a higher price than other reviewers it was still a great value. It has surpassed all of my expectations. Watching Discovery HDs Planet Earth series or other similar high definition programming makes me glad I made the investment. I have not experienced any problems to date with bulb, fan, or color wheel and the tv has been on an average of 8 hours a day. Only shortcoming that appears to be on everyones list is the non-user-friendly PIP.
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: 2006-09-24
Others have already done, well by the way, the leg work to explain the features of this very good TV set so Ill save you some time by going direct to the point. I bought this TV back in January 2006 when true 1080p sets were too expensive yet. Yes, they are still however prices have dropped and will even more towards the year end. I have had no issues with my TV which is hooked up to my Dishnetwork HD set-top box through component cables. I havent experienced the so called rainbow effect although I frequently watch low-light movies. The PIP is handy and the number of connections is plenty. Built-in speakers do the job for day in day out news and sitcoms but I recommend to get an external system for the movie entertainment.
Ive been always puzzled by the difference between what TVs specs says and what I see on the info display in regards of screen resolution. TV specs say that this set goes up to 720p max however when I watch HD channels the info display gives me 1080i. I believe the HD signal is being downscaled from 1080i or maybe Im just a lucky guy :-)
Better than herein mentioned TVs image quality Ive only seen on Sonys LCos displays. For the price Ive paid versus what Id have to I stick to my current option.
On: 2006-06-14
Ive had this TV about 6 months and Im running this with regular ol Direct TV, not the HD and Im getting a great picture. Setup and controls are easy with tons of hookups and inputs on the back and side. Plenty of screen setting and did I mention the BRIGHT pricture. Id say you really need to be at the very least 10 away to see the best picture as any closer you will see some pixelling with regular SAT input without the upgrade to HDMI receiver and HD service.
I do recommend that you upgrade all of your cables to the best you can afford it goes a long way to improve the picture. I can use the PIP and run my PC screen on one side and watch TV on the other. Which is handy if you are a ADHD multi-tasker like myself. But admittedly running the PC on a S-Video cable doesnt give you the same quality screen youll get on the PC. Im using a laptop so I have no other outputs on it. Might try the PC-IN the TV has to offer on a desktop system and see if its any better one day but right now its not an issue. However it is nice to play a game in 56" and game from regular gaming stations like PS2 or Gamecube look GREAT. Some have noted problems with gaming but most of game we use a slower games and I have not noticed a problem or Im sure I would have heard about it from the short people. As I noted componant and optical cables do a lot and really do there most with DVDs. I cant say much about the sound I dont use it as I use a surround sound system as I think most people would. It a great TV have a great picture that you can see from the sides as well as the front with no loose of picture like you get on some projection TV. Get it watch it, enjoy it, I dont think youll go wrong. Im very pleased with the proformance of this set and would buy another in a minute if I had to do it over.
On: 2006-06-05
I was debating between this TV and a Sony 55" dlp and I went with this one because it was cheaper...and Im not disappointed one bit! The picture is great, especially wiht HD signals. I got a CABLE CARD from my cable company so I dont need a box and I can use the TVs TV GUIDE which is less of a hassle. The only reason why I gave 4 out of 5 stars is because of the remote, espeically the PIP function. You have to go to the MENU to change the PIP inputs and you can only use the UP/DOWN buttons to change the channels. This is a major hassle during football season when I want to watch multiple games to keep track of my fantasy teams (guys, you know what Im talking about!). I would recommend getting a univeral remote. I recently bought the Harmony 628 and it works great! Only paid $48 from Amazon with free shipping. Otherwise, this is a great TV, highly recommend it.
On: 2006-05-13
I bought this TV back in November 2005 at Best Buy when it was a little bit more expensive. I considered the plasmas and the LCDs, but this TV is so much better than what I saw at several seperate stores. The picture quality is great, and even the sound quality isnt too bad either as a stand alone. When I have my 6.1 suround sound BOSE speakers connected with the TV it makes any movie, TV show or game sound incredible. For this past Super Bowl we had a party, and everyone commented on the TV and the quality of the HD channels. I currently go through Comcast for my cable company, and us componet cables for almost everything I have. I also have a Sony DVD player, XBOX, PS2, Gamecube, and XBOX 360 all connected to my TV by my receiver. Everything that I play or watch looks great, and I have no complaints with the quality. My only complaint would be the lack of options on the PIP. I have an old 32" Sony flatscreen TV and it came with a lot of options for PIP. If you do or dont use PIP(picture in picture), it doesnt matter because this TV is still Excellent!!!
On: 2006-04-27
I bought this item on April 17 and it arrived at my place on April 25. I bought it from Amazon directly for $1799 and it included delivery. The free delivery was great! They brought it up to the second floor, unpacked it, set it on the stand and took away the box. Before the delivery guys left, I powered on the TV and made sure that it functioned properly.
I also purchased the samsung stand for this TV. I got one of the updated ones, which seems to have fixed their probelem of not supporing the TV in the center. I even called the stand manufacturer to confirm that I have the updated stand. I bought the stand from BB since they were selling it for $150.
I am pleased with my Amazon buying experience and would purchase big items from them again.
On: 2006-04-23
Well, I read all the reviews here and decided to go for it. I am very glad I did. This TV is great and just like everyone says, 15 minutes after opening it youre watching great TV. It takes some tweaking to get it looking better but even out of the box, its cool. I used the Star Wars Episode III disc to optimize the DVD settings with the THX optimizer and now DVDs look even better. I still have to get the HDMI cable to make the digital cable look better. Great TV, great price. Downsides are just like everyone else said - the TV guide feature is highly annoying. Samsung would do well to get rid of them. I actually cant figure out how to disable it completely yet but I reduced it somewhat. The PIP might not be the best but my digital cable has PIP so Ill use that one. These are SMALL gripes. This TV is amazing and all my pals with high end TVs were really impressed. The family is happy and so am I. Just be careful with it on the stand as its not that heavy and one good push can knock it off. Im going to get some rubber feet for it or something...
DO NOT Hesitate to buy this television. Of course there are better and there always will be but this one is fantastic. Good job Samsung.
On: 2006-04-15
I wont waste your time telling you how great this TV is, the other reviewers have covered that and I agree.What I will say is,if youre having doubts about buying a big screen on line, let me ease your mind. First of all, the price is excellent. Best Buy sells this for $2699.00. Plus, youll pay tax and probably pay for delivery too. Amazons listed price is ALL youll pay. As for shipping,it took about 10 days and was delivered by a moving company who brought it in the house, set it up and even took the box and packing materials with them. Fifteen minutes after the truck pulled in my driveway I was watching TV, no exaggeration. Did I mention that the picture is incredible? Anyway, go ahead, buy this from Amazon right now!
On: 2006-04-10
I got my TV about a mounth ago A+ Great TV easy to set up to work and great to watch
On: 2006-04-08
I finally decided to upgrade from my 27" tube and go with a big HDTV. I purchased this tv last weekend (03-31-06) from a local Circuit City store. They had it delivered the very next day, unboxed it, conntected it, and made sure it worked. The picture quality is incredible. I also purchased a Samsung progressive scan HD-convert DVD player with this TV. I dont think I will ever go to the movie theater again. The sound quality from the built in speakers is decent. I have the TV hooked up to my HTS so I only use the TVs speakers when I watch regular tv.
I hooked up my Xbox to this TV using the component cables and the graphics are incredible. Be sure to go into your Xbox settings (from the dashboard) and enable 480p, 720p, 1080i, and widescreen. I didnt do that at first and was very disappointed with the graphics and got nausea from the stretched and blocky image. Once I enabled those settings it made a HUGE difference. Also, the menu and setup for the tv is extremely user-friendly. It is very straight forward and self explanatory.
My complaints about this tv are the TV Guide feature, the included (universal) tv remote included, and the "rainbow effect". As far as the TV Guide, it does not work for me at all. Ive keyed in all our local settings and it is not providing us with any listings. Everything is showing "not available". As far as the tv remote, its a universal remote which allows you to program and control a DVD player, VCR, and Cable box. Like I said, I purchased a Samsung DVD player along with this tv and am only able to control "play" and "stop" from the tv remote. I am unable to scroll through the DVD menu, needless to say make any selections. Good thing I purchased a separate universal remote from CC at the time of this purchase. The "rainbow effect" was only something I had read about in regards to DLPs but never actually seen it. Yesterday, however, I started noticing it while watching a DVD (24 season 3). It only occurs in certain scenes, and like I said, I only noticed it for the first time yesterday, so its only on certain DVDs.
Someone had mentioned a loud fan. If you are watching tv on mute you will hear the fan, but I sure dont. You will only hear the fan after you turn off your TV. The fan will stay on for about a minute to cool down the bulb. Not a problem for me.
Overall, the picture quality is incredible. Watching anything in HD makes up for the negative. If you plan on using HDMI Id recommend buying the HDMI cable from Walmart for about $25. The least expensive HDMI cable Circuit City had was selling for an outrageous $100. I did purchase a Monster Surge Protector (stage 1) for a little over $100. I would highly recommend it. If I could do it again I probably would have invested in a stage 2 or 3 surge protector and paid the extra $200-$300. I did not opt for their extended warranty.
PS. Our living room looks so much nicer with this TV, its not only a great piece of electronic, but also a great piece of furniture.
On: 2006-03-24
Cant be beat for the price. No lag problems playing PS2 games. Awesome for watching DVDs.
On: 2006-03-23
After watching a few football games on my buddies 50" Samsung DLP. I knew it was time for me to get mine! After a couple of months of researching the pros and cons of DLP vs. LCD vs. Plasma I finally went with the 56" Samsung just for the fact that my friend had his for 6 months at that point and had no problem. Now where to order it from? It made no sense to pay the extra cash that the big box stores were advertising the same TV from anywhere from $500 to $2500 more then some on line stores. Now the question became who to choose as my on line store. So once again the research began, pros and cons to alot of stores, even some bad reviews of Amazon.Com. I decided to go with Amazon, because I had used them in the past for some smaller item purchases and never had any issues. I am glad I went with Amazon.Com as I believe I got the best price at the time for the same TV then several other on line store. Ended up paying right at 1999.99 for this TV. Actually only $200 more then my friends 50"! The only issue that I had with Amazon.Com was when I initially ordered the TV on a Thurs. the web site said it shipped in 24 hrs and was in stock. Well it was in stock but what happened was that as a security measure from my credit card company, they put a hold on the purchase until verification was given that I was ordering the TV. The problem was that Amazon sent me the confirmation that the order had been received but had not been processed yet and that they would send me another email when the transaction processed. Now its Friday and I still never receive another email stating the transaction went through. So I call Amazons customer service, which by the way, was very good! Despite reading some negative reviews. I had no problem contacting them. As a matter of fact they have a cool on line contacting system where you tell them to call you either immediately or in increments of 5 or 10 min. You give them a number to call and BAM your phone rings! I suppose you just need to know how to navigate their site. I had no problem with it. Anyway, when I did talk to them they said they werent sure why it hadnt processed but was sure it would be ok by 5pm. Sat morning, still no confirmation! So I decided to call the credit card company on my own just to verify that the transaction had even hit their system. It did, but were waiting on verification from me the the order was valid. So I clear that up and they process the order right then. That was the only real heart burn that I had with Amazon, they should have been able to tell me that the CC company needed to be contacted vs. me doing it myself. So now its Sun, 3 days after my initial order. Get the confirmation email from Amazon saying it will ship on Mon as they dont ship on Sun. Mon morning rolled around and I get the email stating it was shipped out with at tracking number. Well the tracking # didnt work when I went to check it and again I called Amazon customer service and again very good service from the people I talked to. They gave me the name of the shipping company and number and said if I had any additional issue to call them back. I didnt, with the exception of getting the first available date of delivery to my house, which wasnt amazons fault. So in total it ended up being 10 days before I got my TV. Once it was finally delivered to the house the guys came in unpacked it and set it up. Right out of the box the picture was great! I had read many reviews that a lot of work had to be done to get the pic right. Not in my case. I was waiting on my DirecTV HD box so I just had standard cable but even that looked great running it through my S-Video cable. DVDs spectacular! Once I got the HD TV up and running a few days later and surround sound going it has been the best investment that I have made in awhile. The picture is stellar, no pixallization (sp?) and a lot of local channels are broadcasting in HD now. I acuatlly have had more problems with the satellite feed then the TV itself. If you looking at this TV it is worth the money. Just dont have that new TV fever thinking you will have it in a few days. The anticipation will drive you nuts!
On: 2006-03-18
I got this tv from Amazon for about $1850 shipped.
Setup was a breeze, and the picture is just breathtaking on those
HD channels.
I compared several brands before making my decission to buy
Samsung, and when I saw the sale at Amazon, it was a no brainer
for me to put the order.
Had Samsung fixed the problems with the TV stand, I would have
bought the stand altogether.
On: 2006-03-16
Right out of the box this TV has been awesome. I was unsure about purchasing such a big ticket item online, but after shopping around and reading all of the other reviews on this site about delivery and no hassles I am glad I didnt settle for what I could gt at a Best Buy or Circut City. The only place I saw that had a slightly lower price for this model was on Ebay, but that was without shipping. Did I mention shipping from Amazon was FREE. I was really happy and surprised about that.
So far after watching a DVD (Star Wars III) and flipping through the channels I have to say that this TV is great. I have it hooked up to a Bose 3.2.1 system and they really go well together. All I could ever ask for in a home entertainment system....now all I have to do is upgrade my cable to the HD package.
Hope my rambling review was of some help...
On: 2006-03-14
Updated Review.
HD looks awesome on the set. I did not know that the standard "broadcast" channels (ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox) on HD can come through via an antenna - without cable or sat - with perfect reception; the channel is either perfect or it doesnt come in at all. Very cool. In my case, all I did was hook up an extra coaxial cable to the antenna-out and all those HD channels come in perfectly. Also, for you novices, the HD channels come in via other channel numbers (so a your CBS channel 2 may be channel 60 in HD - look on the web for listings).
Anyway, as I said in the first version of this review, the thing about the TV that STILL drives me crazy that no one else has complained about is the noise the fan makes in the TV. I gotta tell you, that constant "humming" drives me nuts - I can hear it very clearly whenever the sound gets low. And its coming from the fan vent cover in the back. Maybe I have a defect or something, or maybe I just have very sensitive ears, but my 5-year old 42" Sony projection TV makes not a hint of noise. Doesnt this bug anybody else?
BTW, I switched from Dish to Comcast because Dish requires a $300 up-front payment to get an HD tuner with a DVR (plus a monthly fee). Comcast doesnt charge the upfront cost. I cant tell a great deal of difference between the cable and satellite, although some channels look better than others. Also, being in Los Angeles, my old Dish Network gave me East coast time feeds on most basic cable channels whereas Comcast is on a West coast feed, so now my favorite shows start three hours later!
As for the TV, I think Im going to send it back and get a Sony.
 On: 2006-03-14
After receiving the first TV (broken screen) Amazon responded promptly in replacing the broken TV. After hooking up the TV to DVD, cable, surround sound and VCR the picture and sound are stunning. SD is viewable and HD is awesome. Here comes the fear of most Samsung owners, the lamps in these models. My lamp just went out and is now trying to get a service rep to come out and fix it. I feel that for the money these sets cost the lamps should not go out this fast(about 1 month). I guess better now than after the one year warranty. Its been two days now and still waiting for someone to contact me. Overall, Amazons customer service has been great and we will wait and see about Samsungs.
On: 2006-03-14
I got it before the super bowl, and have been mesmerized since. I paid $130 more for it then, and I still think its was a bargain. The same TV in the big box stores was several hundred more. I was nervous about shipping and not knowing how to set it up. A 17 year old guy at the store told me it was an idiot proof set up... and he was right. The shipping guys were polite and careful, but didnt know anything about the TV.. but it didnt matter since the set up was so easy.
Anyway, the HD picture thru comcast is great, but the regular signal shows are lousy be comparison. Very satisfied.
On: 2006-03-08
This TV offers a very superior picture and is actually better than I had expected. The amazing thing is that it enhances normal video to the point that it looks almost like high definition. One of the other reviewers today spoke in generalities about DLP vs. plasma and LCD and said the DLPs were a waste of money. I dont think he would have the same opinion if he viewed this specific TV along side the others he mentioned. This is a great TV at a very good price.
On: 2006-03-07
My bonus son and I love this TV. For the price and type of TV (DLP), you get a lot for your money. Crisp, clear picture, espeically on HDTV channels. Sound could be better so I recommend running it through an external receiver or dvd player.
This makes watching television or dvds so much better!
On: 2006-03-07
Anyone who thinks that DLP is offering the same image quality, sharpness and color accuracy as Plasma is failing to face the fact that they need an eye surgery or brain transplant.
After reading glowing reviews about Samsung DLP TVs I went and compared them side by side with same size Plasma TVs (Panasonic, Sony).
Well with the same HD cable feed and the same hockey match playing I was able to see remarkable difference in picture quality. I would say that Plasma TVs are giving 30-40% sharper picture and 30-40% better edge and details, 20%better color separation. Of course these are my subjective numbers. Objectively to describe DLP picture is to imagine watching Plasma TV through foggy bathroom glass.
Majority of rave reviews for these TVs are due to the fact that they are large, cheap(comparatively) and come with tons of features built in.
BTW To get the best foggy DLP picture you have to sit dead-center in front of it.
P.S. I am watching 10 years old Sony Trinitron at home at it has better picture then DLP.
I would not recommend DLP TVs to anyone. This technology needs to make a major catch up before it could be compared to Plasma or LCD.
P.S. Currently there are almost 7-8 channels that broadcast in HD. Anyone who is spending 2K to watch FOX news in HD should be sedated. As for DVD ., it looks best on EDTVs due to fixed native resolution.
On: 2006-03-07
I have had this 56inch DLP for about 3 weeks now, and Im still very happy with the decision to buy it. The performance of the TV all depends on your source signal. Given a good HD signal the picture on this TV is just awesome, but analog signal looks bad due to the large size of the screen. SD signal produces ok pictures. Moving pictures in all 3 signal modes are clear with no blurring or streaking.
There is plenty of inputs for all the accessory one would need. I recommend using the component video inputs whenever possible for best picture quality. My playstation 2 works great on this TV with no delay of any sort. My buddy says the picture quality will be better if I use the component video inputs, but I havent got around to buying the cable yet.
Most TV of this class have more than 30watts for sound, but this hasnt been an issue at all. For normal viewing Im only using about 1/5 of max. I find the sound quality to be excellent on this TV.
I really like the antenna/cable button on the remote, since I have analog cable and use a roof top antenna for many over the air broadcast HD channels. Most of the 80 or so channels on my Comcast analog cable service is SD quality, and there are only a handful of HD channels.
The negatives of this TV so far has been the lack of a HD tuner for the PIP feature, and the lack of a PIP/main picture swap button on the remote. (PIP wont pickup HD channels, and you have to go into several layers in the menu to swap pictures with the PIP.
Speaking of menus, the transparent on screen menu on this TV is very cool, as you can see the effect of the changes or adjustment youre making as you make them.
Given my experience thusfar I would buy this TV again, and Im sure most people will be very happy with it as well.
On: 2006-03-06
Anyone who thinks that DLP is offering the same image quality, sharpness and color accuracy as Plasma is failing to face the fact that they need an eye surgery or brain transplant.
After reading glowing reviews about Samsung DLP TVs I went and compared them side by side with same size Plasma TVs (Panasonic, Sony).
Well with the same HD cable feed and the same hockey match playing I was able to see remarkable difference in picture quality. I would say that Plasma TVs are giving 30-40% sharper picture and 30-40% better edge and details, 20%better color separation. Of course these are my subjective numbers. Objectively to describe DLP picture is to imagine watching Plasma TV through foggy bathroom glass.
Majority of rave reviews for these TVs are due to the fact that they are large, cheap(comparatively) and come with tons of features built in.
BTW To get the best foggy DLP picture you have to sit dead-center in front of it.
P.S. I am watching 10 years old Sony Trinitron at home at it has better picture then DLP.
I would not recommend DLP TVs to anyone. This technology needs to make a major catch up before it could be compared to Plasma or LCD.
P.S. Currently there are almost 7-8 channels that broadcast in HD. Anyone who is spending 2K to watch FOX news in HD should be sedated. As for DVD ., it looks best on EDTVs due to fixed native resolution.
On: 2006-02-27
I am very happy with my purchase. I am still getting used to the smaller screen size but its also a lot thinner then I imagined. Definately worth the price. Excellent colors and HDTV is great on this TV.
On: 2006-02-26
I got this tv for $1849 shipped. For the money you cant get a better TV. I had a set top receiver prior to getting this tv, and this tv with its internal HD receiver gets more over the air HD channels than I was getting. With all of its capabilities, this is one great buy.
On: 2006-02-25
I was in the market for a new TV after my 65inch Optoma crapped out on me. Came across this TV and after reading so many postivive reviews both here and elsewhere decided to buy it. I am very happy with my purchase. I am still getting used to the smaller screen size but its also a lot thinner then I imagined. Definately worth the price. Excellent colors and HDTV is great on this TV.
On: 2006-02-24
This TV has been an absolute pleasure to purchase and use. I did the research, arrived at this Samsung and couldnt be happier with the purchase. The picture is outstanding, and the interface is very intuitive. I now have a Samsung HTiB connected with HDMI cables and an off-air HD antenna for locals with Dish network for other HD content. I can not stress how pleased I have been with this purchase.
A couple of other thoughts for you:
HD content -- Evaluate your options well. I jumped into the dish programming because I wanted all of the HD I could get my grubby paws on. Now I am paying 10 bucks a month for channels that I only use to show other people how cool HD is. The locals are what I watch most often.
720 vs 1080 -- Still thinking about upgrading to 1080? I wouldnt. You need to evaluate content here as well. How much of the programming youll be receiving is really 1080?
Bottom line - Get a Samsung, youll thank yourself.
On: 2006-02-22
I had purchased a Samsung HLR-5688 for my family room two months earlier and loved it, so I decided to get HD for my bedroom. Samsung was an easy choice. When I find a good thing I stay with it. I purchased my HLR-5667 from Amazon.com for $1999, which was several hundred $$$ less than any local stores such as Circuit City. It arrived in a few days. Its very lightweight and was easy to set up. I love it. Watching Hi-Def with this DLP set is as good as it gets. I find myself watching channels I never would have watched before, just because theyre in HD. Its like being at an IMAX theater. Buying this bad boy was one of the best things I ever did. of course it took two tries for my cable company to connect correctly but I am now in TV heaven. This thing is awesome!
On: 2006-02-10
If your Samsung was produced before june of 2005 - you can play video games such as the X-box but you must use the Component video inputs 1 or 2. This will reduce "lag". You cannot use the S-video or the Composite inputs...if you do you will experience lag.
For new TVs that are built after June 2005 Samsung added a video game mode function to the TV that enhances video gameing. These TVs have no issue what so ever. So dont be agraid to buy this TV - its the best DLP in its class - perhaps in any class. I compared to Mitsubishi, JVC, and Toshiba. The Samsung won hands down. (Ive read there have been many problems w/ the Toshiba projection TVs so be warned)
On: 2006-02-02
We bought this 2 months ago and every time I turn it on Im still muttering to myself AMAZING. The picture is bright with great color rendition. With HD (we have DISH satellite service) it is simply unbelievable the degree of clarity and detail. Using the latest Star Wars DVD as another example youll see detail you never saw at the theater. We use an older progressive scan and I cant imagine it being any better!
On the initial selection process we chose this over Sony based on side by side comparisons. We had a hard time deciding between this model and the 50" Samsung. We sit 15 away and we were afraid this TV would overwhelm the room. Bottomline, if youre facing the same situation, get the 56". Also I designed/built a new stand to accommodate the TV.. its worked out great. The dimensions of that are 24"deep x 5 long x 26" high. It works and views great at that level.
For those with shipping concers the delivery was great. They had a high end trucking service that brought the TV in , took it out the box and plugged it in to make sure it was OK.
This is a great TV! The fit and finish are excellant, instructions clear cut and the item well packaged. Samsung is the new leader in my estimation!
On: 2006-02-01
I recently purchased a 56" Samsung DLP TV and it is awesome. Clarity, color, sound are all fantastic. When you couple these with the amazing Amazon price.....well, you have a fantastic deal.
R. Murphy
Houston, Texas
On: 2006-01-29
This Samsung is Great. The picture quality is sooooo clear..
and AMAZON.COM has a great price. Shipping and handling with a white glove is excellent. It is a steal price. Amazon price can save me money for more than $700. The TV was easy to set and excellent quality. everything is WOW... I am so Happy!!
On: 2006-01-27
Our son just bought us a Samsung HLR5667W DLP television which was ordered from Amazon.com in January. I have to admit we were a little nervous about purchasing such a major item from an internet based company but we worried in vain. Beginning with the fact that the TV arrived 4 days before we expected it, the whole delivery process was phenomenal. Two gentlemen removed the set from the box, brought it in the house and set the whole thing up cables and all. They also gave us plenty of time to look everything over and be sure there were no problems. The picture is so clear and bright and of course there are no words to describe the HD. The price was incredible as even with the shipping charges it was over $800 less than in any local store such as CC, BB or Sears. We decided not to purchase the Extended Warranty but we did register the TV on our Visa and they will give us a second year of warranty at no charge. Visa even offered us a five year from date of purchase plan for $189.00. I guess you can tell we are very pleased with our TV and with the excellent service received from Amazon.com.
On: 2006-01-25
OK here is the deal. I got this TV a week ago. I love the picture. It is amazing. Even my wife who hates techy things likes it.
A few things you should be aware of. PIP does not work great. It will not swap the pictures if you are in a digital mode. Very upsetting when you are watching to sports games and you can not get sound from the second game without changing the main chanel.
The TV Guide is not as good as the one you are use to from your cable provider.
A few features have to be accessed from the on screen menu, not the remote. For instance, if you are in digital mode and want to change the chanel on the PIP window you need to use a menu. The remote buttons do not work for this in digital mode.
All-in-all it is a great TV for the price. Enjoy it.
On: 2006-01-19
DLP is the best techology for the price. In HD this TVs picture is great. In regular TV it is good. At $1999 plus $200 delivery it was $1000 cheaper than at Best Buy. Delivery service was great.
Eventually they will have LED bulbs which will prevent bulb failure. For now, however, unless you want a $4,000 plasma TV this is pretty darn good.
On: 2006-01-16
I am flabbergasted at the reviews describing "lag-time" on video game play for this set. It is totally incorrect. If you are playing legacy consoles such as PS2, Cube or first gen X-box some of the games cannot be played in 16:9 ratio because the stretching to fit this view distorts certain aspects of the game making it seem to lag. For instance if you are familiar with Mario Golf on the Cube, there is a power bar at the bottom of the screen that determines the strength of the swing. As the meter crosses the screen you have to push the A button at the yard mark for your shot. If you are playing in 16:9 mode it looks like there is lag from the time that you hit the A button and where the meter shows that you hit it, it is just due to the stretching from 16:9 mode. Just change the view to 4:3 and the "problem" is solved. DLP sets are perfect for gaming because of the no burn in design.
This is really a great set that looks good and has A+ picture quality. If you are in the market for this type of set I would definitely recommend it.
On: 2006-01-11
This TV has an incredible picture. I was am blown away by the picture quality. Of course I was nervous about buying such a high priced item on line from Amazon but I have always had good luck with Amazon. And no you cant beat their price. This TV delivered was still about $700 cheaper (can pay for two bulb replacements)than Circuit City and Best Buy. Delivery only took six days and the guys who unloaded it were very professional and neat. I had it up and running in about five minutes. I just had the cable card installed yesterday to do away with another box and it works awesome. The HD channels are insane!! I wish there were more but in due time. The regular digital channels come in good not nearly as good as the HD channels but that is nothing against the TV. It is my cable providers siganal (Cox). The only two gripes I have are the TV guide system does not put the channels in the numerical order that I receive them from Cox. They are all over the place so I have to sit down and put them in the order I want one by one unfortunately. And I wish they had a swap button for the picture in picture. You have to go through the whole menu to swap the channels but very minor complaints considering the overall package. This TV in a wall entertainment center looks like a flat panel and people do not believe it is a rear projection. Got it just in time to see the Patriots in the play-offs in HD.
On: 2006-01-09
Based on the ticket price for this item I really shopped around and read reviews comparing Samsung to Sony. The deciding factor was PIP and cost. Couple of key notes that I learned:
A) Both pictures are comparable - its personal preference
B) TV is larger then you think (50 or 56 is plenty) - 10 to 12 feet is needed for viewing
C) Amazon has a better price then the others (BB, CC, etc)
Ok, here are my toughts on the Samsung 56" HDTV after two weeks:
A) Awesome picture (through Directv) using HDVI and DVD player using Component
B) Wow factor is there for HD broadcasts! Regular broadcast is limited to reception but mine is great so the picture is great.
C) Average - Remote control is ok, I dont like the tv guide option as I have satelite and they dont work together.
D) PIP - Does not support PIP for Digital broadcast.
E) Slight lag in timing for certain Video games but nothing major (The kicking meter in Madden is slightly off).
F) No problems with the DNie
G) Amazone was the best price and delivery was quick - No problems - Give them your cell so they can call you otherwise they leave a message on one number.
H) Delivery guys moved my existing 36 Sony to another room and placed the TV on stand. Basic instructions (20 mins and they were gone).
On: 2006-01-04
I bought this TV from BrandsMart.
I found picture quality good.
One thing I really got annoyed that picture is too bright which gave me headache. I was watching from distance of 12 to 13 feet.
When I decreased brightness, I faced problem of dark picture which I couldnt see. Even after two weeks I could not feel comfortable and so I returned this TV.
I will recommend to watch DLP picture little longer time to check whether it makes any strain to eyes before making decision.
I dont think watching TV at showroom helps.
On: 2005-12-28
I purchased this TV about a month ago. I have owned many TVs in the past, sticking mostly to the Hitachi brand name because of the success I have had with it over the years. This was the first time I had purchased a TV over the Internet. Prior to purchasing, I went to a local store and previewed the TV. I then purchased the TV on Amazon for $1,999, which was significantly less than anywhere else. This is a TV that is feature-rich, well built, with good sound and a great picture. The TVs PC input is exceptional, blowing up the computer screen to 56 inches and making the online experience almost presentation like.
My only frustration is that 95% of cable channels are either standard definition or digital, neither of which support the TVs 16:9 viewing angle. The TV (or some cable boxes) will stretch the picture to fit the "wide screen" format, but it clearly disorts the picture and stretches everything. Hopefully, a great deal more HD channels will be added in the near future. As far as the TV goes, I would recommend it to anyone. It is a superb TV at a wonderful price.
On: 2005-12-23
Ive had my 56" DLP Samsung for a week now. Yes its annoying that it takes 30 seconds for the bulb to warm up, but once its on, the DLP 720p looks great. My one and only complaint is trying to use the Samsung built in speakers for my center channel ( TV Voice ). Hooking the TV in with my AC3 5.1 surround sound amplifier was a complete bust. The Samsung does a lot of video processing ( de-interlacing interlaced video, etc ) which takes time. Samsung apparently delays the audio feed to match the video latency. If I use the Samsung for my center audio channel, the delay between the TV speakers and my L+R surround speakers is terrible ( think echo-echo-echo ). Wish Samsung had provided the means of disabling this audio delay, apparently - they dont. Ive disconnected the Samsungs audio entirely and am back using my PolkAudio center channel speaker stacked on top of my VCR. Bummer.
On: 2005-12-21
Have had this TV for 2 weeks and couldnt be more pleased. Easy to set up with no adjustments needed. The hi-def picture thru Directv is amazing. Although the number of HD programs at this time is limited, am able to get all the networks out of NYC which is a big plus. SD is no better or worse than any projection tv. Bought thru Amazon for $1967 (including $30 off for first purchase on their VISA card) plus $199 for white glove delivery. Delivered on time with no hassles. Same tv at BestBuy was about $750 more. By returning the warranty card you get an extra 3 months coverage plus by registering purchase with VISA you get an additional year. For the price, cant be beat.
On: 2005-11-24
this is a AWESOME tv....for the money you can beat this thing...hd tv is absolutly incredible !!so much so, i find myself watching tv without my glasses !! the only drawback is if you like watching racing,it will pixlize somtimes when a car is shown a REAL fast speeds...i am watching the macys day parade in HD as i type this review, and all i can say is WOW !!!i have had this tv for 3 months now and it still amazes me...the other draw back is the lack of HD tv broadcasts,but that can only get better. regular tv isnt as bad as you would think but back to back comparison with HD show the differences..
On: 2005-10-11
I bought this TV after having a old style projection TV, the difference is extreme. The DLP technology makes a big difference and the HD is very clean and clear. The sound is very clear. It is very user friendly I had no problems figuring out the controls. The price was pretty low compared to other TV which are similar. Samsung was the first with the DLP technology and it shows.
On: 2005-10-09
Had it for about two weeks now. Comcast HDTV looks AWESOME, regular digital channels look good too. Sorry, havent tried DVDs yet but Im sure they will look great as well. The audio is excellent as well. Im not experiencing any of the "rainbow effects" or audio-video synch problems described in some other reviews.
Especially happy with the complete lack of glare on this tv! It faces a couple of big windows but we still get a bright, beautiful picture during the day.
If you need a wide viewing angle on your tv or want to mount it on a wall, go with plasma instead. If not, I would highly recommend this tv.
On: 2005-09-22
I purchased the TV online, and it was delivered within three (3) days. I was a bit nervous about ordering such a big-ticket item online, but I would recommend the experience without reservations to others - it was easy, and my experience has been great! The TV is amazing - great picture from far away and up close. I am also happy with the quality of picture from the side angles. The setup was incredibly easy - I was watching TV within fifteen minutes of the delivery men knocking on my door. If I wasnt happy before all of this, I watched football in high-def over the weekend, and without question, this is one of the best purchases I have ever made. I am a 31 year-old SWM and what I would consider an average consumer, and I do not work for Samsung (the producer) or Amazon.com. Without reservation, I would recommend this product to others.
On: 2005-08-26
I probably spent 60 hours researching this TV. During my research I learned about a few possible downsides; the DLP chip is not the newest, greatest version. Picture quality when going through a digital cable box, in the lower 100 channels is not as good as higher numbered channels or when the cable is connected directly. The PIP controls are awkward. But the pros far outweighed the cons. I ordered the set.
The picture, especially in HIDEF is unbelievable. If you like PIP you can actually watch the equivalent of two 32" simultaneously.
One thing I really like about DLP is that there is no worry about picture degradation or burn in. I also own a LCD TV. That sets owners manual states not to watch shows that dont fill the whole screen more then 10% of the time. I dont like having to "zoom" pictures to fill the screen. With the HLR56687W, it is a non-issue. Those shows that dont fill the entire screen are still plenty big, and because of the design of the TV I usually dont even notice that they are not wide format.
Amazon.com was $500 less then Circuit City on this set. Also Amazon.com only charged $149 for delivery and setup. Almost all the other internet sites selling this set wanted between $215 and $300 for delivery "to the door only".
If you are looking for a large screen TV, BUY THIS SET, you will not be sorry!
On: 2005-08-10
I have had the Samsung HLR5667W for about three weeks now, and I feel I must tell everyone what a GREAT TV this is for the money! I recently hosted my company party at my home - my company designs and installs large scale audio and video systems. All the video geeks were blown away by the high definition picture from this set!
I purchased from Amazon, saved about a grand over the local shops and superstores, and delivery was perfect.
If I had anything negative to say about it, I wish it had two HDMI inputs, since I have Samsungs DVD player with HDMI output. I am using the one input for the HD cable box. I believe the new 1080i unit that is replacing this one has two HDMI inputs.
All in all, a great TV!
On: 2005-07-12
I bought this set about 10 days ago. As far as the picture quality, this set is great. But as soon as I started playing Xbox on it, I noticed a lag from the time I pushed a button and when the action would happen on the screen. There are extensive postings about this problem on the web (including Samsungs own web site). IF you plan on playing video games on your set, stay away from this one. I have returned mine and am in the process of buying a different set.
On: 2005-07-02
Like the previous review says, your jaw will drop. The picture on this TV is clear, bright and lifelike, and the images are eye-popping. DVDs are amazing, even in 480P. Im using the DirecTV HD TiVo as my satellite source, and an over-the-air antenna for local HD channels. DirecTVs HD choices are limited, but the picture on those (compressed) channels is beautiful. But the piece-de-resistance is the non-compressed local HDTV broadcasts. Just amazing. Our local CBS affiliate does their news in HD, and it makes the boring local news riveting just for the picture. Getting strong signals from an antenna can be challenging, but its worth it if you can do it.
The set has more options than youll ever need, but I particularly like the surround-sound simulation mode that plays a simulated 5.1 image over the sets 2 speakers. It actually creates sounds that seems to come from behind you. Of course, you can hook it up to your home theater for the real thing (over an optical connection).
I have noticed no rainbow effects that some say appear on DLPs, and the picture is plenty bright, even in my room that has a wall of windows behind me and skylights above me.
In short, if you can afford this TV, you shouldnt hestitate to buy it. Amazon has a great sale on it now (July 2005), so its even less painful. Besides, amortize it over the 10-15 years youll enjoy this TV, and its a bargain.
On: 2005-06-03
Just got this TV to replace my 60 inch Sony CRT Projection. This Samsung is AWESOME. I am speechless. Once I hooked up the HDTV cable box my jaw dropped. Watching anything HD becomes an experience!
TV has plenty of features. However, the one feature I wish it had was to make the TV speakers the stereos center channel. Being such a thin TV you cannot rest the center channel on top as I did with my CRT Projection.
No big deal though.
If you can come up with the scratch for a TV like this, you wont be let down!
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