|  | | | Customer Reviews: | | | Average Customer Review: ( 60 customer reviews )
Write an online review and share your thoughts with other customers.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
86 of 90 found the following review helpful:
 Not necessarily a good idea to wait. Aug 29, 2007
By Samuel Chell
Not that the numbers matter, but the contrast ratio on this one is 4000 to 1, not 5000 to 1 as reported at one point in Amazon's description. The main reason to consider this one ahead of the somewhat less expensive 23" 42H model, is style. The speakers are in the bottom rather than on the sides, allowing Samsung to trim the width by a few inches as well as lighten the weight by a few pounds. In fact, the thinner picture frame of the 23" 53H gives the image the illusion of being almost the same size as the 26" 42H, which uses side-firing speakers and a wider surrounding frame.
Since the bedroom is fairly small and on the top floor, the 53H 23" was the solution in my case. I wish I had trusted my initial instinct because as I was watching the computer screen, Amazon increased the price of this model by ten bucks. Compared to my stylish and highly praised Sony MFM-HT 20" (8.7 stars from C-Net) that appeared a year ago, then inexplicably disappeared from the U.S. market within several months, the Samsung has a "deeper" picture and fuller-frequencied sound. But the Sony's picture is brighter. You can tweak the brightness, of course, but it's a shame Samsung took such a dim view of things when making the factory settings.
One caveat: If you're replacing a 20" tube set and plan to view most transmitted television signals in accurately proportioned 4:3 ratio, you may sense that the image of the 23" LCD is smaller than the old 20" set. I've grown accustomed to viewing everything in 16:9, which fills the wide screen but at the cost of undeniable distortion. If you're especially fastidious about a balanced, symmetrical image, it may make sense to opt for the next bigger size.
16 of 16 found the following review helpful:
 pretty well satisfied with purchase Nov 24, 2007
By D. Long
"a consumer"
I was looking for a smaller LCD HDTV to support my new "HDTV" cablebox in the kitchen and so I read as much information available on the internet. This model had very good reviews. Overall, it's a great product and generally, you get what you pay for.
A couple of negative things not specific to the brand but just my observation based on my only previous experience with CRT televisions just to keep in mind. Everything else was great and positive. HDTV is incredible technology.
1. Sizing Perception. While LCDs are slimmer, you will need a larger monitor to replace you existing CRT size. I had a 13" CRT television and my new LCD HDTV 23" image size looks only "just a bit" larger while the wall space taken by up by the LCD is much larger.
2. Viewable angle. LCD TVs have a limited range of view because of technology. If your used to LCD TVs already, you know. I have my TV higher up near the ceiling. But if you're directly under the LCD TV, you can barely see the image. It's a limit of LCD but certainly very good for this TV based on other reviews.
3. Startup. It takes a while for the picture to come on. Only about 4-6 seconds, some say 9 seconds, I don't think that long but since I've been trained over the years by CRTs to wait 2-3 seconds, it seems long but not at all annoying.
4. Picture Sharpness. I went to a retailer to view different screens. Not a product push, but I personally think the Sony Bravia series wins all other consumer based televisions hands down. Of course you will probably pay a premium for that visual sharpness. I thought the Samsung held it's own against all other HDTV LCD manufacturers I looked at. The reason I bought Samsung.
5. Backlight. While you can adjust backlight, contrast, brightness,and sharpness on the settings, in daylight the LCD TV is darker than CRT. I'm not sure if its specific to LCD TVs in general or this model.
Buying suggestions:
Once you buy an HDTV, regular TV seems mushy or muddy. So there'll be adjustment to going back and forth between old and new. You'll never want to go back, but if you have a lot of TVs in your home, there'll be a hefty price point to replace all TVs with HDTVs. Since everyone will be converting in 2009-2010???, might want to think about what you need to do.
I suggest you go to a variety of retailers to view different models from the same manufacturers and different manufacturers before purchase.
Finally, I had a hard time connecting up everything. I pride myself on being pretty good about figuring things out without "reading the instructions". You'll need to read instructions if you don't already own an HDTV LCD. It took me a couple store runs to get the cables to accommodate the cable company requirements for viewing HDTV with cable.
17 of 18 found the following review helpful:
Great buy Sep 19, 2007
By Crunch Solutions
Browsed a lot before settling on this model which Amazon had at a great price. Picture is excellent which we were expecting but the audio was the real surprise. Transforms one's television experience. Instructions weren't great ie it took an evening of frustration before all elements were connected properly ie cable box and dvr and wireless headphones.
17 of 18 found the following review helpful:
Awesome TV for my Bedroom.. Jun 20, 2007
By MD
I have a 42" 1080p Sharp Aquos in my living above my fireplace and love it. Sharp doesn't make a 23" (that I know of) so I decided to try Samsung as I know it's also a top tier brand.
We just purchaed all new bedroom furniture, drapes, duvet cover etc and the 27" Silver Sharp CRT TV we had would just would look out of place. It's also WAY too bulky and takes away from the room.
This TV looks great...piano finish of Samsung is awesome. We have it on the base and on top of a five drawer dresser. It fits perfectly and is just the right size for our room and we can see clearly from anywhere in the room. The room is 17 x 15 and the next one up, 26", would just be TOO big and would stand out too much. After all, it's a BEDroom and not a TVroom. The picture quality of the TV is also outstanding. It's 720p and has HDMI (keep its free of ugly wires). Those that don't know may say 'why not 1080p', but on a TV that's 23" it doesn't really make a difference. The picture is wonderful either way.
It's a great price, looks good on the outside and has the technology to back it up on the inside. It also has a 'Gamer Mode' which allows for faster response time. I haven't tried it yet as I don't think the wife wants me moving my XBOX 360 Elite to the bedroom!!
31 of 37 found the following review helpful:
Excellent TV with Small Quirks Jul 23, 2007
By will
Let me start off by saying that this is a beautiful television set. The inputs and features outperform any other 32" set on the market with 3 HDMI, 2 component and a DVI port, all of which are HDCP compliant and display in all their 1080p glory. HD-DVDs and XBox 360 games look incredible. There is no perceivable lag for games when using the side inputs with "Vyper Mode." Even standard-def TV looks good if you set it not to stretch the picture out. I also use it as a computer monitor and it looks incredible. One huge advantage of this TV is the ability to have separate AV Modes for each input. So you can have a custom profile for each input, or it will remember that your DVD player uses the "Movie" mode and your XBox uses the "Game" mode.
This TV does have a few drawbacks though, especially as a computer monitor. The TV constantly tries to adjust the color depending whats on the screen, even on "PC" or "User" AV Mode (those modes are supposed to disable that "feature"). For games and movies this isn't noticeable though.
Despite the color adjusting "feature" this is one of the best TVs I have ever seen. I highly recommend it, especially if using it for a computer monitor isn't a major requirement.
See all 60 customer reviews on Amazon.com
|
| | |
