New HDTV LCD

[Sphexi]

It's listed in store for about $1899 (up here in Canada), online was listed at $1499 as a web only special, with shipping of $130. I got the guy in the store to give it to me for the $1499 online only price, minus 10% on top so only $1349. Fairly good deal from what I can see around, just wanted to see if anybody else has this same LCD or has any experience with it.

One downside is it seems to only have ATSC/QAM receiver, which I believe means I won't be able to tune my standard analog cable on it? Not a big issue as I have a HTPC with a tuner card in it that we'll use for the input, and my other option was a 40" Sony Bravia S series for about $1299 that had NTSC, for the extra $50 I'd rather have the bigger TV.

I have a Toshiba HD-A30 player, plus as I said my HTPC, which at some point will be upgraded to a AMD/ATI 780g mobo for the HDMI output, and it has a LG combo Blu-Ray/HDDVD drive already in it so I'm all set there.

Comments, suggestions on what else to do with it?

 

[EvilYoda]

Nice set, I'm hoping to catch a amazon warehouse deal on the LN46A650.

 

[Bob Ghengis Khan]

it takes an analog cable, found this picture of the rear inputs:

http://www.wirewize.com/device...1_large.jpg?1208988851

 

[Sphexi]

Originally posted by: Bob Ghengis Khan
it takes an analog cable, found this picture of the rear inputs:

http://www.wirewize.com/device...1_large.jpg?1208988851

Yeah, it has an RF in, but I was under the impression that an ATSC tuner would only do OTA HD, not standard NTSC style cable. A lot of sets list NTSC/ATSC/QAM, this one only lists ATSC/QAM. All the better if it'll do cable, but not a huge issue if it doesn't.

 

[benzylic]

I just got the LN46A530, and it is awesome

The only difference I think is mine has a lower contrast ratio (20,000:1 vs. 30,000:1), and mine has a semi-matte screen while the A550 has a glossy screen. It worked out perfect though because the room its in has a lot of light so glossy wouldnt work to well.

I would go for it

 

[krotchy]

My father has a 46A550 in his exercise room, and I can assure you the US version has NTSC/ATSC/QAM on it, I doubt they would remove the NTSC tuner for Canada only. Also the screen on the 550 is matte just like the 530. The 540 is the glossy non-120Hz model. The 550 is a great TV, especially at that price.

 

[Sphexi]

We picked it up yesterday, carried it upstairs (light as anything, I think only 70lbs in the box), and plugged it in and turned it on. I love the menu system, took me about 30 seconds to go through the Plug n Play setup and it was scanning for cable channels.

Cable looks great on it, about the same that it did via my TV tuner card on my 22" Samsung monitor, so I'm happy. I plugged in my HTPC via comp hookups (all I have right now, the better cables are coming from Mono), and even at just 480i it looks great.

My one complaint, and it would be for most if not all current LCD/HDTVs, is the lack of DVI inputs. I see no reason why they'd keep the VGA input, but not have DVI. I have a LG Blu-Ray/HD-DVD player in the computer, in order for me to actually get the HD content onto the TV I need either HDCP which means DVI or HDMI (or in my case DVI to HDMI adapter), or using AnyDVD to get around that. Neither is as easy as just using a straight DVI cable, but whatever.

Once we clean the room up, and I get the better cables hooked up, I'll throw up some pictures of it.

Also, thanks to Bob Khan for the picture, extremely helpful

 

[coldmeat]

Why did you go with LCD over plasma? Just curious.

 

[Sphexi]

Originally posted by: coldmeat
Why did you go with LCD over plasma? Just curious.

Honestly I would've gone with plasma if there had been as good of a deal. I've always liked/trusted Samsung electronics, they've always seemed to have good quality stuff. I saw the special online and knew I could get it in the store, and save on the shipping, so I went for it. Also, the cheapest 1080p Plasma they were carrying at the time was about $300 more than my TV was advertised at. I could've gone with 720p and maybe saved some money, but really there was no need to.

BTW I hooked up my HD-DVD Toshie HD-A30 player last night, still don't have the good cables so it was only 1080i, watched Sahara and it looked fantastic.

 

[krotchy]

Originally posted by: Sphexi
My one complaint, and it would be for most if not all current LCD/HDTVs, is the lack of DVI inputs. I see no reason why they'd keep the VGA input, but not have DVI. I have a LG Blu-Ray/HD-DVD player in the computer, in order for me to actually get the HD content onto the TV I need either HDCP which means DVI or HDMI (or in my case DVI to HDMI adapter), or using AnyDVD to get around that. Neither is as easy as just using a straight DVI cable, but whatever.

Sphexi, the reason TV's don't have a DVI input is HDMI is identical for video but adds audio. There is no reason to place a DVI port when only a DVI->HDMI cable is needed to get DVI into a TV, and if you want audio, an HDMI source sends both.

Also as far as HDCP goes, DVI and HDMI both follow HDCP specifications. If you had a TV with DVI and a video card with DVI and either one didnt have HDCP you couldn't get the full signal to the TV without a workaround anyways, so a straight DVI cable wouldn't help you.

 

[Sphexi]

Originally posted by: krotchy

Originally posted by: Sphexi
My one complaint, and it would be for most if not all current LCD/HDTVs, is the lack of DVI inputs. I see no reason why they'd keep the VGA input, but not have DVI. I have a LG Blu-Ray/HD-DVD player in the computer, in order for me to actually get the HD content onto the TV I need either HDCP which means DVI or HDMI (or in my case DVI to HDMI adapter), or using AnyDVD to get around that. Neither is as easy as just using a straight DVI cable, but whatever.

Sphexi, the reason TV's don't have a DVI input is HDMI is identical for video but adds audio. There is no reason to place a DVI port when only a DVI->HDMI cable is needed to get DVI into a TV, and if you want audio, an HDMI source sends both.

Also as far as HDCP goes, DVI and HDMI both follow HDCP specifications. If you had a TV with DVI and a video card with DVI and either one didnt have HDCP you couldn't get the full signal to the TV without a workaround anyways, so a straight DVI cable wouldn't help you.

Yes, I know why they don't have them, it's just annoying. Without upgrading my PC I don't see the point in HDMI, as I can't pass audio along it anyways. I have my main HTPC which I'll hookup with a DVI -> HDMI cable and the digital audio connection, another that'll be VGA and standard 3.5mm connection.

 

[cubby1223]

How are the black levels on the lcd screen? I've recently been looking at sets, and particularly these Samsung tvs, smaller size but same product line. The feature I want most is the darkest blacks I can get, which unfortunately is impossible to determine in a store with all the bright lights. I don't know...


And to the above questions - there is no point at all to putting a dvi port on a tv. It has ZERO advantages over hdmi, and a multitude of disadvantages.

 

[Sphexi]

Originally posted by: cubby1223
How are the black levels on the lcd screen? I've recently been looking at sets, and particularly these Samsung tvs, smaller size but same product line. The feature I want most is the darkest blacks I can get, which unfortunately is impossible to determine in a store with all the bright lights. I don't know...


And to the above questions - there is no point at all to putting a dvi port on a tv. It has ZERO advantages over hdmi, and a multitude of disadvantages.

Is one of those advantages not being included on PCs at all? I understand the purpose, I still think it's stupid to not have at least one on there, especially with the 4 HDMI, VGA, 3 sets of comp RGB, etc., what's the difference having one more port?

Also, the black levels are awesome. I'm probably going to sit down tonight and watch Riddick on it, I might take some snapshots while I do.

 

[krotchy]

Originally posted by: Sphexi
Is one of those advantages not being included on PCs at all?

What we are trying to say is at this point all PC's do have an HDMI port, it just has the fatter rectangle shape. You just need to buy a DVI->HDMI cable instead of a DVI->DVI cable. Both cables cost the exact same amount if you dont buy from monster. You even admit it was as simple as plugging in that cable for your HTPC, so I really don't get the complaint.

 

[Sphexi]

Originally posted by: krotchy

Originally posted by: Sphexi
Is one of those advantages not being included on PCs at all?

What we are trying to say is at this point all PC's do have an HDMI port, it just has the fatter rectangle shape. You just need to buy a DVI->HDMI cable instead of a DVI->DVI cable. Both cables cost the exact same amount if you dont buy from monster. You even admit it was as simple as plugging in that cable for your HTPC, so I really don't get the complaint.

I guess I just don't see the point in not putting one on, when they put 3 or 4 HDMI plugs on there, yet at most you'll need maybe 2 (DVD/Cable). Very few computers use HDMI, and only one of my HMDI ports has a seperate audio input, so I can hook up my HTPC, but if I wanted to hook up something else or a second computer, I'm out of luck without an external switch of some sort.

Like I said, I understand why they don't, but to me the few bucks it would cost them to add one more port to the dozens already there, would make it that much easier on consumers. Instead people go and spend money on adapters and cords.

Either way, I should have MY adapters and cords tonight ... so I'll have it all hooked up properly by tomorrow...the computer looks nice right now, but it's only running 480i so stuff is blurry as hell. Should be much nicer later on.