46in LCD Picture Sound Features Usability Value Its not perfect, but in some respects this is the best flat panel TV we have come across. HD Ready: yes Resolution: 1920 x 1080 Rating: 94%

Reviewed: 30 October 2008

Design

 

Gone are the scarlet hues of Samsung's stunning 6 series, to be replaced by Samsung's 'Crystal Design' concept in a slightly different guise. The LE46A785 swaps the more adventurous deep reds for a more subtle deep blue finish. We like both variations on the theme and as we expect, the cutting edge design is complemented by Samsung's outstanding build quality.

Adding to the stylistic mix, the 7 series dispenses with the use of either glue or screws in the manufacturing process giving the screen a handcrafted natural feel.

Features

Designed to eliminate 'flicker' (the noticeable transition of picture 'frames' with faster on-screen action) Samsung's take on 100Hz processing, 'Motion Plus' inserts extra frames (from 50 frames per second to 100fps) to produce a smoother viewing experience. As the most advanced incarnation of 100Hz processing we have seen from Samsung, the feature offers 'High', 'Medium' and 'low' settings.

	Screen: 46in 16:9 Tuner: Digital Sound System: Nicam Resolution: 1920 x 1080 Contrast Ratio: 2,000,000:1 Other Features: 100Hz 'Motion Plus', Ultra Clear Panel, Smart LED Lighting, WISELINK Pro. Sockets: 4 HDMI, 2 SCART, S-video, Component Video, Composite Video, PC input.

 

With an innovative mix of high and low reflection layers, Samsung's 'Ultra Clear Panel' works to improve contrast ratio and black levels whatever the lighting conditions actively adjusting its responses depending on ambient conditions. 'Ultra Clear Panel' is Samsung's evolution of their 'Super Clear Panel' technology found on previous LCD and Plasma screens.

The LE46A786 uses LED SmartLighting technology which replaces the conventional bar-style fluorescent backlight with hundreds of Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs). This helps produce a claimed 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio along with a more natural color representation.

With 'WiseLink Pro' you can Integrate digital video player functions to directly watch video clips through Plug & Play using a USB memory stick. A customized menu system facilitates the easy playback of MP3s, JPEGs (including slideshows), DivX, XviD along with HD video files (H.264).

Performance

As with most claims for achieved contrast ratio, the 2,000,000:1 quoted by Samsung may be a little optimistic. What is not in doubt is that the LE46A786 produces some of the deepest richest blacks we have seen, not only from an LCD but from any form of flat panel technology.

In fact, the LE46A786 with a measured contrast ratio of over 200,000:1 knocks any other flat panel we have tested into a cocked hat, with one caveat. The 640 Light Emitting Diodes do not correspond directly to the number of pixels (over 2 million) on the screen which means the precision we get with plasma is not quite there.

What you don't get with the LE46A786 is the subtlety with Standard Definition sources that we have seen from the better plasma screens. On the large 46in screen, the over processed feel you get with LCD makes for a rather mediocre picture. The 'high', 'medium' and 'low' settings for 100Hz processing do, however, allow you the flexibility to find a happy medium that allows you to find a better 'fit' for current on screen material than other LCD TV's.

Where the LE46A786 really excels is with High Definition (HD) content which is absolutely pristine. Giving us what is possibly the best HD picture we have witnessed from any flat panel, the combination of sublime black levels, stunning colour reproduction along with the sharpest most detailed pictures we have seen places this panel a step or two ahead of the competition.

Benefiting from a near perfect black canvass, colours on the LE46A786 appear wonderfully vibrant. While ultimately they don't display the subtlety we have seen from the best plasmas, they are not far off. Tricky areas such as skin tones come across as a touch over-cooked, but you have to look hard to notice.

As with most flat panels these days, acoustics have made a concession to style. The LE46A786's sonic abilities are about average for this class of screen and do not detract to any great degree from the overall performance.

Conclusion

With sublime black levels, the Samsung LE46A786 has set a bench mark for flat panel performance. High Definition is a revelation, Standard Definition not so, while refining some of the problems associated with LCD in this respect, they have not been completely ironed out.

Samsung LE46A786

 

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