Home » HDTV » Samsung LN-T5271F LCD TV

Samsung LN-T5271F LCD TV

Sun, Jan 6, 2008

Filed in HDTV

Samsung LN-T5271F Review:

Samsung LN-T5271F ’s Full 1080p resolution is just the beginning: Samsung’s incredible Auto Motion Plus 120Hz technology reduces motion blur for crisp, precise action. The color-saturated 40″ picture boasts a 25,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, displaying rich blacks and capturing subtle nuances. A fast 8ms response time ensures smooth, lifelike motion. Samsung LN-T5271F ’s SRS TruSurround XT™ sound from hidden side speakers is enhanced by the premium audio sound of 2.2 channel dome speakers. Enjoy connectivity with all your other digital devices, with 3 HDMI ports and a full complement of inputs. And the handy HDMICEC feature lets you control all your CEC-enabled peripherals using just one remote.

Samsung LN-T5271F’s Auto Motion Plus 120Hz

This technology doubles the frame rate from 60 to 120 frames per second (120Hz LCD panel) without repeating the same image to make more frames. Instead, the TV intelligently calculates the ‘middle’ image between frame A and frame B and inserts it in between (Auto Motion Plus 120Hz processor), making a fluid transition from one frame to the next.

Samsung LN-T5271F ’s Super Clear Panel

Samsung’s super clear panel is a new dimension in image clarity, highlighting black and darkened areas, enabling vibrant, more compelling colors and a brighter, clearer picture. The highest contrast ratio enables our super clear panel design to provide you with a picture that you have to see to believe.

Samsung LN-T5271F - Full HD 1080P

Full HD, or 1080p, contains 1.5 times more scanning lines than conventional HD TVs. More scanning lines mean more pixels, more details and a better picture. The new Samsung LCD TV with resolution that is approximately 2 times greater than conventional HD TVs, creating the most perfect picture imaginable.

Samsung LN-T5271F Build-in 3 HDMI

Three High Definition Multimedia InterfaceTM (HDMI) connections make your TV a multimedia centerpiece. Connect HD digital devices like disc players, game consoles, and satellite dish components into the 2 rear connections and use the side-mounted input for cameras, camcorders, and laptops. HDMI is the best performing interface for displaying an HD source on an HDTV.

25,000:1 Dynamic Contrast Ratio

Samsung LN-T5271F ’s 25,000:1 Dynamic Contrast Ratio will give you a picture better than you ever thought possible, with whiter whites, blacker blacks and a nearly infinite subtlety of gradations in between.

Wide Color Enhancer

Samsung’s exclusive Wide Color Enhancer technology delivers more brilliant colors, even in bright areas of the picture where blues and greens are washed out on conventional screens. The Samsung LN-T5271F system displays wider color reproduction, showing you truer colors – the fresh green of spring foliage, the intense blue of the summer sky.

I was looking at an LCD to buy for the family. I went to the store to compare it with others models, mainly the Sony XBR 120hz. To me they both seem to have the same (manufactured) screen and details, but with different video processing unit. So for me it will be down to how you like the coloring of each TV.

Initially, I thought that the Samsung’s color was too saturated and blurred out, not natural, comparing to the Sony XBR. But when I mess with the settings it seem that the “Dynamic” theme setting really messes things up. Turning down that off and things began to look very nice. There are many picture settings so go through every single one of them to ensure good picture quality. Personally I can see a clear improvement with the “edge enhencement” feature on, the small details are sharper. There are other enhencement, like the one to increase the blackness level. The 25,000:1 dynamic contrast (this is contrast measured over a period of time, not at an instant), naturally the blackness is darker comparing to the Sony XBR and basicly all other LCD I saw at the store. Lastly the 120HZ spec means ‘technically’ it draw/flicker twice as much images per second compared to the 60hz version, helping lessen the eye strain for long viewing sessions.

Comparing with the Sony: Although I felt that the coloring on the Sony XBR 120hz may seem more realistic and easier on the eyes for some people, especially for lengthy viewing season. May just be me, but possibly a very, very slight faster response rate also. The Sony also has this nice “diffuse glow” post processing effect, they’ve seem to use the same theme on their digital cameras.

Bottom line: If you expect great, make sure your source (DVD/HD player/digital cable) output an excellent signal. Anything less than a very good quality DVD, or lower than 720i/p digital broadcasting won’t look great and don’t blame the TV for it. If you don’t have great expectation, for example some people just need large image to view far away while or to lessen eyes strain, but do not need super video quality, you can purchase a cheaper version, but with the same screen size and save some money. We actaully bought an outdoor-sized antenna to get digital broadcasting and received several channels that broadcasted in 1080i resolution, they look great, the same couldn’t be said for 480i channels.

Cons:
-Processing power: It seem that when you turn up too many enhencement features with high resolution video it may causes choppy video playback. In my case, it happened when “auto motion plus” on with 1080i signals at the sametime. This would be due to the processing power not able to process the large data stream. But turning it off would make everything smooth again.

-Samsung LN-T5271F LCD has 8ms response rate, but there are other LCDs at similar price that goes lower. But up until now I do not experience blurring or ghosting.

-The ‘buttons’ on the TV itself are touch sensitive, as well as the power ‘button’. I don’t like it when the TV plays a short melody when you turn on or off.

-Samsung LN-T5271F TV has 10-bit color processing, some other TVs at similar price can go even higher, 12 and 14bit.

Others:
-Audio inputs: Each video input has it’s own ‘paired’ audio input. There isn’t a universal audio input that dictates everything else. So if you don’t use the specific audio input for that specific video input, you will not get sound.

-Gloss screen: Samsung LN-T5271F LCD has a glossy screen so it will reflect some lights, comparing to the Sony which doesn’t or atleast much less. But at home it doesn’t matter as we watch movie with low light on.

-USB: (called WiseLink) You can insert a USB flashdrive and press the WiseLink button to view JPEG’s slideshow or listen to MP3, but it is a very simple system. Some MP3 Player that uses USB connection works too.

-Integrated speakers: Remember I am buying Samsung LN-T5271F for the family, but I inserted some high quality MP3 into the USB drive and play it through the TV’s integrated speakers (which is hidden and located on the bottom edge of the TV), I must admit that it sound very good and told them they don’t need an external speaker.

-Firmware Update: There is an option in the menu to update the TV firmware (via USB), so hopefully Samsung will release new firmware in their website in the future to improve somethings.

-The Samsung LN-T5271F looks amazing as long as you give it excellent signal. Try connecting a very good computer’s video card such as Geforce 8800GTX via DVI-to-HDMI or DVI-to-VGA cable, and play some newer 3D games at resolution 1920×1080, you won’t believe your eye. Or try a PS3 or Xbox360. So if you can get your normal videos to look as good as these games then you should be extremely happy with the Samsung.

—– By thanh nguyen