Samsung LN40A650 Review:

There are four parts to Samsung LN40A650 review, all useful if you plan on buying, or own Samsung LN40A650, first part is simply Pros and Cons, the second is a full review, and the third part is to explain some complex features in this LCD, and what they should be set at. The last part is my LCDs settings for optimum picture when connected to the PS3.

*PART 1 PROS and CONS*
Pros: Amazing picture quality that matches its specs. Excellent Design (including the Red touch of color). A lot of picture options.

Cons: The quantity and complexity of picture options can be overwhelming. Remote wheel is useless.

*PART 2 FULL REVIEW*

Aesthetically its slick glossy black exterior is well designed and sturdy. The Red Touch of Color is subtle when your actually watching the LCD, yet distinctive when the LCD off. The swivel stand isn’t rickety or wobbly, it works perfectly. The exterior buttons aren’t really buttons per say, they are smooth touch sensitive spots on the side panel. The plentiful amount of inputs are conveniently located. Samsung LN40A650 also includes a cable management strap on the back. Smart design overall.

You’ve read the impressive specs, the picture on this bad boy is just as impressive. Blacks are dark, whites are bright, and colors are … well colorful!

Now I’d like to point out Samsung LN40A650 features a TON of options. This is both a blessing and a CURSE. Most features are inaccessible for one reason or another, making calibration a brain busting headache. Hours of my own tinkering has finally resulted in perfect color settings, without washing out the picture, losing precious pixels of color.

The Samsung LN40A650 sound is impressive for an internal sound system. Comparing it to even the cheapest of 5.1 setups though, make Samsung LN40A650’s tunes seem puny and weak.

The remote is sleek and well built, but takes some getting used to. The iPod inspired wheel should have never been implemented into this remotes design. Seeing as how you can navigate the menu much easier with button presses instead.

The Wise-Link feature works just as advertised. I connected my iPod with its standard USB connecting cable, it was immediately recognized, and started seamlessly playing back my music. The menu was slick, it loaded and displayed album artwork for each of my songs, but the menu can be laggy or slow at times. Still a cool feature none the less.

As listed Samsung LN40A650 can connect to the internet for updated stock info, weather and other useful info. Samsung innovation at its best.

On a side note, you may have to update this LCD if you plan on using a BluRay player or PS3. The link to Samsung’s firmware update can be found on Amazon’s product info page, or do a Google search or something if your still puzzled.

Minor quarks aside, Samsung LN40A650 is an excellent LCD, and Amazon’s price makes this LCD drool worthy. Awesome specs with a picture that matches. Seriously, why haven’t you bought this yet?! (My regards to those unable to buy this LCD if it’s out of stock, my thoughts and prayers are with you during this time of visual need.)

*PART 3 COMPLEX SETTINGS*

-Input Names: When PC is selected as the source for HDMI2/DVI, some settings become greyed out. PC Input must be selected in HDMI2/DVI for optimal viewing of text, otherwise you’ll get color spots in some text. All other settings give you more options.

-Preset Picture Modes: The only real difference between each mode is that Dynamic mode is the only mode that lets you enable DNIe, Movie mode is the only mode that lets you enable xvYCC, and Standard mode doesn’t let you enable either or. Movie is my recommendation because xvYCC is an excellent feature, DNIe isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be. (An explanation of both can be found later)

-Backlight: This setting varies for me, I like looking at 5 when surfing the web, but 7 makes colors really pop during movies and games. Your Choice on this one.

-Black Adjust/Dynamic Contrast: Set both of these to OFF if you want a full color palate. Otherwise Black Adjust darkens really dark shades of color, while Dynamic Contrast whitens really light colors. Both lead to a loss in overall color. (Turning them both on HIGH is equivalent to enabling Dynamic mode.

-Color Space: To obtain a wider color range leading to richer colors, set this to NATIVE. The difference should be noticeable.

-Edge Enhancement: When displaying full 1080p content, this setting should be OFF. What this does is add tiny white lines around certain edges in the picture, which actually leads to a loss in overall color. (This setting is automatically turned on during Dynamic mode)

-XVYCC: The Holy Grail of color ranges, this should be set to ON. Movies that are filmed in xvYCC, then played through a device capable of outputting xvYCC (PS3), will lead to an increase in color bit rates, thus decreasing ugly “Color Bands” ruining films and games. (Make sure your PS3 BD/DVD output is set at “Y PB/CB Pr/Cr” to take advantage of this.)

-Color Tone: This setting while add blue or red to anything white. You want your picture to be Blueish? Reddish? or Normal? This option is pure preference.

-Size: Basically “Picture Size”, choose “Just Scan” if your device outputs Full 1080p (PS3), PC mode chooses 16:9 for you. Play with this setting if your picture is being cropped.

-Digital NR(Noise Reduction): Setting this to ON, reduces fuzziness during dark scenes.

-DNIe: Samsung’s “Digital Natural Image engine”, is equivalent to setting Black Adjust and Dynamic Contrast to HIGH, which if you remember, I do not recommend.

-HDMI Black Level: Set this to Normal, when set to low, it darkens the overall image, canceling out some colors. When enabled some dark movies become impossible to see.(ie Batman Begins)

-Film Mode: This setting adjusts and enhances the video signal to ensure optimum picture quality.

-Blue Only Mode: This advanced color calibration tool is a setting used to calibrate hue and tint levels, similar to using blue tinted glasses with those optimizer DVDs.(THX Optimizer, Digital Video Essentials, etc)

-Auto Motion Plus 120HZ: This setting is pure preference. Because most DVD’s and video are around 30fps, the upscaling process between the DVD player and Samsung LN40A650, may make human movement seem rushed. In my opinion DVD movies on the PS3 look much better with 120hz OFF. BluRay movies on the other hand, look fantastic with the extra frames being processed. Games, especially racing ones, look better upscaled to 120hz. Play with this setting and figure out which you like best for each media type.

*PART 4 MY SETTINGS FOR PS3 INPUT*
As promised here are my picture settings, which will provide the richest colors without sacrificing any color.

-INPUT PORT: HDMI-1
-INPUT NAME: Blu-Ray

-MODE: MOVIE
-BACKLIGHT: 5 > 7
-CONTRAST: 100
-BRIGHTNESS: 45
-SHARPNESS: 0
-COLOR: 55
-TINT: 50/50

-BLACK ADJUST: OFF
-DYNAMIC CONTRAST: OFF
-GAMMA: 0
-COLOR SPACE: NATIVE
-WHITE BALANCE: 25 ALL
-FLESH TONE: 0
-EDGE ENHANCEMENT: OFF
-XVYCC: ON

-COLOR TONE: NORMAL
-SIZE: JUST SCAN
-DIGITAL NR: HIGH
-DNIE: OFF
-HDMI BLACK LEVEL: NORMAL
-FILM MODE: OFF
-BLUE ONLY MODE: OFF
-AUTO MOTION PLUS 120HZ: OFF > HIGH

So there you have it! Great picture without compromising key colors. I’m disappointed in Samsung for adding some ridiculous picture options, but then again its all about preference, so mess around and set what YOU think looks best. Again Samsung LN40A650 is an excellent LCD, why are you still reading this!? (Again my regards to those unable to buy this LCD if it’s out of stock, my thoughts and prayers are with you during this time of visual need.)

By Nick Mandello

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