Samsung LE40A656 Review

40in LCD

Picture
Sound
Features
Usability
Value

Hugely accomplished all round performance.

HD Ready:

yes

Resolution:

1920 x 1080

Rating:

94%

Reviewed: 01 May 2008

Design

With an innovative 'Crystallized' Rose-Red finish, Samsung have embarked on a stylistic departure with the LE40A656 which we think looks rather special. A unique manufacturing process is employed to produce Samsung's trademark black gloss finish with a subtle hint of deep red.

Adding to the stylistic mix, Samsung have scored another industry first as the only flat panel TV to dispense with the use of either glue or screws in the manufacturing process. The result is a flat panel which looks like it has been hewn from a solid block.

Features

Along with the usual Composite, Component and S-video inputs you get an impressive 4 (v1.3) HDMI inputs. The v1.3 HDMI's are able to accept 1080p/24 input, they support Deep Colour and are able to control compatible devices through a single remote using the CEC standard.

Screen: 40in 16:9

Tuner: Digital

Sound System: Nicam

Resolution: 1920 x 1080

Contrast Ratio: 30,000:1

Other Features: DNIe Pro picture processing, 100Hz motion Plus system, Ultra Clear Panel.

Sockets: 4 HDMI, 2 SCART, Component Video, Composite Video, PC input, USB.

With the USB you can display digital still JPEG's or play MP3 music files. An intuitive slide show function allows you to set the speed of a slide show and even select an MP3 track to have as background music.

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.

It is worth noting that the LE40A656 also offers a 120MHz mode. This has been designed to generate smoother playback of 24fps sources as 120MHz is an exact (x5) multiple of 24fps, which help to keeps the processing algorithms simple.

Things just get better and better on the spec front with a 1920 x 1080 full HD resolution supported by a claimed 50,000:1 contrast ratio. The screen employs a dynamic contrast system where a backlight is dimmed to boost black levels during dark scenes.

The LE40A656 sports the latest incarnation of Samsung's picture processing technology, DNIe (Digital Natural Image engine), 'DNIe Pro'. With a Motion Optimizer, Contrast Enhancer, Detail enhancer and Colour Optimizer, DNIe Pro works to improve four main aspects of the LE40A656's performance and has a track record of producing impressive results on previous LCD and Plasma offerings from the Korean electronics manufacturer.

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.

Performance

LCD Manufacturers, Samsung among them, have been trotting out a stream of flat panel TV's over the past year or so with very impressive spec sheets which have struggled to produce the performance to match their on-board electronic wizardry. The LE40A656 is different in that it gives us a taste of a new generation of LCD TV's that actually begin to fulfil the potential of their high tech components.

100Hz processing, so long the object of much debate, primarily as to whether it produces any performance benefit, at last begins to convince us that it is not a technological blind alley. Motion blur with fast sporting action is almost non existent with football matches showing just how accomplished this 6th series LCD TV actually is. Very tricky wide camera pans of the ball flying across the pitch retain a composure and level of detail that few flat screen TV's can match.

Worthy of almost as much praise is the black level performance the LE40A656 manages to produce. Although ultimately the graduated detail across dark scenes cannot quite match the best plasmas, the gap has narrowed and the level of deep rich blacks this screen produces places it amongst the best that LCD can offer.

Of course, such an accomplished black response produces an excellent backdrop for on-screen colour. The vibrancy of the LE40A656 in this respect produces a rich viewing experience which has managed to avoid becoming too 'garish', a trap that some LCD TV's have been prone to fall into. There is the odd minor tonal inconsistency, but you do have to look hard to spot them.

High Definition (HD) material on the LE40A656 is eerily realistic. While some of you will dislike the pin sharp, video like way on-screen film characters are portrayed, most HD material will leave you mouth open wide as the Full HD resolution produce pictures of incredible detail, sharpness and vibrancy.

Translating a Standard Definition (SD) into 1920 x 1080 pixels was never the best recipe for a truly accomplished picture performance, but the LE40A656 does as good a job as we could have reasonably expected. In fact it is one of the most accomplished SD performers we have come across. There is some on screen noise, but Samsung's picture processing engine, DNIe keeps it to a minimum.

With so much to praise the LE40A656 we were willing to overlook a rather underwhelming acoustic performance especially since very few flat panel TV's manage to score highly in this respect.

Conclusion

With a cutting edge design a highly impressive spec sheet and performance that lives up to the billing Samsung have produced a highly desirable LCD TV that will be a joy to look at and to watch.