26in LCD Picture Sound Features Usability Value Samsung re-defines the budget LCD TV with a fine 26in screen. Rating: 92%

Reviewed: 21 December 2009

  All round performance for the price

  Weak acoustics

Smaller screens become more appealing

Not so very long ago in the world of flat panel TV's, 'budget' usually translated into poor quality and mediocre performance. It was the same for smaller sized screens, manufacturers seeing fit not to adorn them with features often present on larger models in the same range; a typical example being the omission of the latest generation of picture processing circuitry.

Things are changing however and you should now expect to get a good performing, well built flat screen TV for not a great deal more than you were paying for your old CRT. This is perfectly illustrated with Samsung's B450 range of LCD TV's. We tested the 32in model recently which comes with the picture processing wizardry found on high end LCD's from the Korean manufacturer. The LE-32B450 was a revelation, performing as well as some LCD TV's costing far more, all for less than £350.

With more consumers looking to buy a smaller second TV and the 32in version of the B450 performing so well, we decided to see how the 26in model fared ...

Features

While it is no guarantee that the TV performs well, it is nice to see a manufacturer lavishing some care and attention on the build quality of a budget range. After all, despite a relatively cheap price, £300+ is still a fair chunk of most consumers monthly take home pay.

	Screen: 26in 16:9 Tuner: Digital Sound System: Nicam Resolution: 1366 x 768 Contrast Ratio: n/a Other Features: DNIe +, PiP (picture in picture), 1080p24 Support, Wide Colour Enhancer 2. Sockets: 3 HDMI, 2 SCART, Component Video, Composite Video, PC input.

 

You don't get some of the features found on high end LCD TV's on the 26B450, but what you do get is the latest incarnation of Samsung's tried and trusted image processing engine, DNIe +.

DNIe + (Digital Natural Image engine) more than any other feature, will have the greatest impact on how well this TV performs. The fact that it is found on higher specified LCD TV's in Samsung's line-up gives cause for some optimism.

You won't find a dedicated colour management system on the B450 but what you do get is Samsung's 'Wide Colour Enhancer 2'. Designed to create more natural, deeper colours, the updated version improves the natural look and feel of reds greens and blues.

With a Motion Optimizer, Contrast Enhancer, Detail enhancer and Colour Optimizer, DNIe + works to improve four main aspects of the LE32B450's performance. DNIe has a track record of producing impressive results on previous LCD and Plasma offerings from the Korean electronics manufacturer.

With so many disappointing 'pseudo' sound improving features around these days, we have become a little sceptical as to their effectiveness (there being no substitute in our opinion for large visible speakers). Samsung claim that their Down-Firing Speaker arrangement creates deeper and clearer sound levels.

With the growing popularity of sub 32in flat panel TV's, for smaller living areas or second rooms, many of us are looking for something a little less expensive than our main TV. Available on the internet for less than £300, Samsung's LE26B450, Judging of course on how it performs, could fit the bill perfectly ...

Performance

Alongside its 32in bigger brother, the LE-26B450 demonstrates one of the most accomplished Standard Definition performances we have seen from a budget LCD TV. Confirming in our minds that core picture processing technology is the single most important  ingredient of a TV's performance, DNIe + image processing has been instrumental in producing a flat screen TV which belies its £300 price tag.

Standard Definition pictures on the LE-26B450 are not perfect, lacking that precise level of detail found on the best LCD and Plasma TV's, but remarkable in that they are virtually free from any 'noise' interference even with a lower quality Freeview feed. Pictures may be a little 'soft' for those who appreciate LCD's usually sharp dynamism (softer in fact than the 32in model), but for us this is a plus. Motion handling, in our opinion, benefits from a more subtle reproduction of fast on screen action.

When viewing fast paced sporting action, the LE-26B450 loses a little composure, but only with those shots that pan out to give the widest possible field of vision, where most flat panel TV's struggle. Here there is a little shimmering, but never to the degree that viewing pleasure is seriously compromised.

An indication that we have come across something a little special in the LE-26B450 is a black level ability far above the average. Challenging the performance of high end Samsung LCD TV's in this respect, the 26B450 displays not a hint of that mushy greyness you find on some budget screens and there is actually quite a fine level of graduated detail across darker scenes.

Like its 32in sibling, and once again taking full advantage of the supreme backdrop of rich deep blacks, the LE26B450 displayed a more than competent colour performance. Not quite as vibrant as the likes of a number of Sony LCD's perhaps, but colour on the B450 displayed that consistency and accuracy which gives a high degree of realism to tricky areas such as facial skin tones.

As competent as any other non Full HD screen, the 26B450 doesn't really come close to the pin sharp realism of 1080p High Definition material. Leaving us a little disappointed in this respect, the LE-26B450 was ultimately less satisfying than even the larger 32in model in the same series. High definition pictures were just a little to 'soft' to justify any considerable effort or expense to feed it some HD material.

Sounding a little more underpowered and often 'tinny', the acoustic performance of the B450 is its only weak area. Yes, most flat screen TV's compromise their acoustic ability in exchange for slim or hidden speakers, but there are better performer in this respect for the price and size. Like most TV's, the screen falls short in high end 'Bass' although its shortcomings will never intrude to any great degree on the viewing experience.

Conclusion

Like its bigger 32in brother, the Samsung LE-26B450 is a timely reminder of the main purpose of a TV. The LE-26B450 will bring a smile to your face every time you switch it on and that smile will turn into a grin when you remember just how little you paid for the experience.

  All round performance for the price

  Weak acoustics