The FlatHDTV Blog

Samsung’s new 120 Hz, 1080p, super-fast and super-sharp A650 is winning huge praise from consumers for its performance and quality. None of its specs are much different from the other top-of-the-line LCDs, like those from Sony and Sharp, though. So why is the Samsung so hot?

A high performance HDTV is a fickle beast, and those exciting new features sometimes come at the expense of something else, like reliability or display problems. The LN46A650 seems to be one of the first HDTVs to blend all the latest features into a good, solid, reliable package.
Check it out here: Samsung LN46A650

And more from Samsung, by way of FlatHDTV.net: Samsung’s HDTV Lineup

In 2006 and 2007, HDTV technology really started to enter the mainstream of consumer electronics. Prices got down to reasonable levels, picture quality went up, and problems with the technology, such as plasma burn-in, continued to fade away. The highest available resolution, 1080p, became more and more popular among the middle- and even low-end HDTV sets. So, choosing an HDTV in 2007 had a lot to do with finding out which sets had the resolution you wanted, which had more resistance to burn-in, and so on.

Now, in 2008, about 80 percent of all new HDTVs have 1080p resolution, just about all the plasma sets have kicked the burn-in problem, and picture quality continues to get better and better. So how do you tell one set from another anymore?

You can concentrate on some of the newer technologies that still have not penetrated into every part of the HDTV world. Here are a few to think about:

• 120 Hz Frame rate. Look here for a full explanation: 120Hz Frame Rates
• Local dimming. This technology causes parts of the picture to shut completely off (for the duration of one frame) when that part is supposed to be black. This increases the contrast ratio of the picture and makes a more lifelike scene.
• More advanced upscaling hardware. When you look at standard definition content on your HDTV, the signal needs to be adjusted to fit your high resolution screen. If this is not done well, the picture can actually look worse than it would on a standard TV set. Check customer reviews to get a feel for this.
• Anti-glare screens. Since plasma sets use a glass screen, they often have a tendency to reflect light or images from other parts of the room. Some of the new plasma HDTVs have a special coating to reduce glare when the set is used in a bright environment.

Did you ever watch 3-D movies with those weird blue and red glasses? Did the glasses give you a headache, or distort the colors so much that it wasn’t really fun to watch the movie?

Texas Instruments has solved some of the problems of 3-D viewing through the magic of 120Hz frame rates and DLP technology, which they invented in 1987.

Basically, a 3-D DLP set displays 120 frames per second, like many of the new HDTVs, but it sends 60 of those to one eye and 60 to the other eye. You still have to wear special glasses, but they are more stylish and do not affect the color fidelity. The picture depth is enhanced, too, as you would expect from technology introduced in the 21st century rather than the 1950s.

The 3-D sets also function just like normal HDTVs. It’s just a matter of switching to a different picture mode in the menu.

Texas Instruments does not make HDTV sets, but their technology can be found in Samsung and Mitsubishi DLP sets in the near future.

More information: DLP 3D HDTV Technology

The new Samsung 81 series HDTVs, with 120Hz frame rates and extreme contrast ratios, have now been out long enough to generate some feedback from the consumers. Some common themes in the reviews are:

• Very, very deep black levels in dark scenes. The set even turns off the LED backlight in the darkest areas, which not only enhances contrast but also saves energy. This is called local dimming.
• The 81 series sets have a significantly better picture than the 65 or 71 series sets.
• Fast motion looks really good. The high frame rate really seems to make a difference.
• They are pretty expensive, but they appear to be worth it.

Here are some current reviews and discussions: PC World AVS Forum CNet

The Samsung 81 series sets are available here: www.FlatHDTV.net/samsung

The much-anticipated XBR4 sets in Sony’s Bravia Series have been available in the 32 inch size since July, and are now available in the 40 and 52 inch sizes. They feature improvements in picture quality, color display, and have a 120Hz frame rate for a more realistic display of motion. For more details, follow the links to Sony’s website at www.FlatHDTV.net/Sony.

The 32 inch size is a 720p set, and the larger sizes all handle 1080p. Look for a 46 inch size later this year.

We are now at an exciting, but frustrating, point in the evolution of HDTV technology. The quality of the TV viewing experience increases noticeably with each new product cycle, and that’s good. But if you buy leading-edge technology today, it might not be leading-edge in six months, and that’s bad, if you care about that sort of thing.

Here’s a perfect example: Samsung has just released a highly anticipated set that incorporates some of the latest “great leaps forward” in the HDTV industry. Their new 81 series set has a 120Hz frame rate, which brings extra smoothness to movies and sports. And, it has achieved a 100,000 to 1 dynamic contrast ratio (or 50,000, depending on who you ask) by applying LED backlight technology. Just a year or two ago, a 15,000 to 1 contrast ratio in an LCD set was something to get excited about.

The Samsung 81 series now seems poised to steal the Sony XBR4’s status as the most sought-after and drooled-over LCD HDTV. It also might be one more nail in the coffin of Plasma TV, since two of Plasma’s big advantages are quick refresh rates and huge contrast ratios.

For more information on the 81 series, check it out at FlatHDTV.net/samsung. So far, only the 52 inch size is available.

Here’s a partial list to get you started:

• Sony XBR4, XBR5
• Sharp Aquos 82U, 92U
• Toshiba Regza LX177
• JVC LT-37X987
• Panasonic TC-32LX700

What’s 120Hz? Read This.