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Samsung LE37R87BDX Review |
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Reviewed: 16 April 2007
Design
Like most Samsungs these days, design is a high point, and the LE37R87BDX is no exception. With its glossy black finish, elegant bevelled undercarriage with hidden speakers and swivel stand, the LE37R87BDX is a work of art in its own right.
Features
The R87 range from Samsung forms the companies new base range LCD TVs, but as such, connectivity and features will not be found wanting. Three HDMIs are accompanied by 2 Scarts, component video, pc input and an Integrated Digital TV tuner (IDTV) for Freeview.
Screen size & shape: 37in 16:9 Tuner: Digital Sound system: Stereo Resolution: 1366 x 768 HD Ready: Yes Contrast Ratio: 8000:1 Brightness: 450cd/m2 OTHER FEATURES: DNIe picture processing, IDTV, HDMI-CEC, Movie Plus. SOCKETS: 3 HDMI, 2 Scart, component video, PC input.
Samsungs trusty Digital Natural Image Engine (DNIe) forms the picture processing heart of the LE37R87BDX. The technology focuses on improving black levels, improving colour saturations and tone and sharpness and tone.
DNIe has four main feature areas, Motion Optimizer, Contrast Enhancer, Detail enhancer and Colour Optimizer, and has a track record of producing impressive results on previous Samsung screens.
Complementing DNIe is Samsung's Wide Colour Enhancer which has been designed to deliver more vibrant colours, especially around the edge of panels where they are more likely to appear washed out. By adding a full 27 per cent more of the real worlds colour gamut, Samsung claims a four times as many colour gradations than you would normally see from a PAL picture.
Movie Plus, another proprietary technology has been designed, by improving the video signal, to eliminate a bug bear of LCD TVs, motion judder, and to speed up response times and produce a sharper picture for gamers the LE37R87BDX sports something called 'Games Mode'.
A new feature for the LE-37R87BDX (which it shares with the 32in and 40in models only), HDMI-CEC technology enables a single remote control unit to operate for example, a screen, a Blue-ray disc player, home theatre system or other HDMI-CEC compatible A/V product.
A video camera connected to the TV via HDMI for example would see the TV automatically switch to the camera's input displaying the content with the user now able to control the camera through the TVs remote, with no extra cabling.
Two 10-Watt speakers form the audio capability of the LE37R87BDX with SRS TruSurround XT technology promising simulated 3D effect enhanced dialog and powerful bass.
Performance
If you have owned and liked previous Samsung LCD TV offerings then you will probably like the LE37R87BDX. Traditionally strong features of previous Samsung LCD TVs such as pin sharp pictures are retained and enhanced while a host of features such as improved connectivity with its 3 HDMIs, integrated digital freeview tuner and a number of picture enhancement technologies are added.
The DNIe engine present on all new Samsung LCDs these days has been designed primarily to produce richer more life like colour tones. But it also works to boost contrast levels and make motion clearer and smoother. We found the implementation of DNIe on the LE37R87BDX a little aggressive. Initially colours look over saturated and unnatural and seem to suffer from too much intensity and brightness. This is a problem that can be easily solved however, but required a fair amount of tweaking with factory presets.
On the whole, DNIe produces impressive results on the LE37R87BDX. In particular, pictures are some of the sharpest around, and edges stand out as particularly clean.
High Definition pictures is something that Samsung do well, and the clarity and sharpness of the LE37R87BDX is at a level that few LCD rivals can match. A lot has been said about HD recently, but the performance of this panel is simply breathtaking. Standard definition on the LE32R87BDX was slightly disappointing, not so on the LE37R87BDX. With SD, pictures are sharper and suffer less from motion blur and although these problems are not totally eradicated, they are less apparent than on most of this panels rivals.
On previous Samsung LCD TVs colours have been rich and vibrant, and with 'Wide Colour Enhancer' the LE37R87BDX reaches a level of colour performance that few of its rivals can match. The depth and breadth of colour is astonishing, and although factory presets appear a little garish for some, this is easily corrected. Skin tones appear more lifelike on the LE37R87BDX, a problem on previous Samsungs.
Sonically, the LE37R87BDX is a top notch performer. TruSurround XT audio adds impressive dialog clarity, with 'TruBass' for richer deeper tones, and 'SRS WOW' which widens the sound stage. All of these technologies converge to create an immersive sound experience which is exceptional.
Conclusion
The Samsung LE37R87BDX is hugely accomplished and one of the best 37in LCD TVs out there at the time of writing. It seems like more of a complete package than its younger brother the LE32R87BDX, and is a better performer in the key area of Standard Definition picture presentation. Here at HDTVorg we believe that 37in is the perfect size for an LCD, and while the LE37R87BDX is not perfect, its one of the best 37in panels out there.
The LE37R87BDX deserves serious consideration, especially with such a wide range of features and competitive price, but there are rivals just around the corner.