Now that we have had the Samsung 42" up and running for several months, it is time to say a few things about the choice of this entertainment marvel. It sure is flat. It sure is cool running. It sure is faithful to the colors transmitted. It still is a thrill to hear the tinkel of the Samsung jingle as the unit turns on. Then, it is even more a thrill to watch the crisp clear picture (even at 720p) and thoroughly warm and beautiful color rendition.
Because I had read that the speakers were going to be the weakest link in this system, I had an older (2 years) Yamaha receiver, two small Sony bookshelf speakers, and a combo of center and rear speakers supplied by The Speaker Company {more about them later}. The Yamaha is a smallish unit and not too complicated. It has one digital audio input which is set up to work with a DVD player. Since I do not have a high definition DVD player at this time, I hooked the second audio output from the Brighthouse Network box there. There are several choices for surround sound with the Yamaha starting with Prologic and working through various combinations of PLII for movies and music to something called Neural. The Yamaha can pump out up to 100 watts rms. into five speakers running at 8 ohms if necessary. I never get it up above half volume. As small as they are, the Sony 3 1/2 inch woofers deliver AMAZING bass for the size. This is not to say that a stand alone woofer may not be necessary down the road; but for right now, this system delivers amazing clarity and sound.
I mentioned the digital input because the Yamaha has the ability to ignore one's own choice of de-coding when a digital dolby source is detected. It automatically switches over; a fantastic turn of events. Earlier I also mentioned The Speaker Company in passing. I am as cheap as the day is long, but recognize good value when I see it. I purchased the three speaker combo (center and two rear) for a closeout price of $45 with shipping included. If you are just starting out ...... GET THEM! Polks they are not. Good center definition and rear ambiance will be delivered even after pumping up the volume. Check them out on the web. They have many other choices which are equally as good.
Now ..... That Samsung is fantastic. I shopped for a full month. I looked at as many as I could in the surrounding Orlando area. The problem here is that this kind of television is now only available at a few larger retailers. Since Circuit City closed, there is only Best Buy and a newcomer to this area called H.H.Gregg. I don't mention Sears because for the last few years everything Computer or Television has been over-priced even by our local standards. I mentioned in another Blog that I purchased through Amazon. I have purchased many items through Amazon. Do it! If your local store is over-pricing, why put gelt in their pockets????
Since the first night when we turned on the TV using my own local antenna on our NBC station to today, the picture is crisp and clear. Why pay one hundred fifty to two hundred or more dollars for the same unit at 1080p when MOST of what is broadcast today is still available at 720p or lower? If you are shooting for a THEATRE experience with upwards of sixty inches diagonal, perhaps you should pay through the nose for the set. I personally cannot understand that. Fifty inches was the largest I might ever consider. In fact, a unit became available at our local BJ Warehouse from Samsung for $899. I had set a price of $650 - $750. Delivered to my door the set came in under $730. In addition because I use an Amazon Visa Card, I had two certificates of $25 each which subtracted $50 from the price......and if you remember correctly.....there was NO shipping cost. Amazon predicted one week and gave me a definite day to receive the unit. It came right on time.
Color rendition in this Samsung Plasma is warm and toasty. The television arrived at a medium setting for brightness and color. I have not touched nor changed the color setting in any way whatsoever. Everything is good. All the old Mash's on Hallmark still make the hairs on the back of my neck crawl; and the rendition of those scenes with Hawkeye and his group are fresh, crisp, and clear. Shows on the Travel channel now come in with a brightness and contrast that is unbelievable. There are no sharp edges as in the led televisions. Everything is crisp clear and with the look of a just finished high definition movie. Great! Even the shows on The Food Network liven up with this set. The people at WESH channel 2 (NBC) have an HD news set and color scheme that just keeps me watching. The weather maps are unbelievable in HD.
So far Samsung, and Panasonic are keeping the Plasmas coming. The next price plateau is two to three hundred dollars more for led sets at 1080i or 1080p. Don't be fooled. If you are going bigger....then maybe. At fifty inches and below plasma is the most satisfying.
Don't believe the garbage you will hear about the Plasma screen disappearing over time with use. If you are used to watching CNN or MSNBC all day long ... DON'T. Don't do it with an led television either. No matter what you do you will end up with dark patches on the sides, tops, or wherever they leave their crawl. Just get used to watching something else. You will notice that the ubiquitous crawl is gone from your local TV station. They understand that they are damaging your set if the dark bands are left in place for a long time. In short, change your viewing habits.
I hope that this newness never wears off. I get kind of excited everytime I switch on the TV and go to the HD channels. It is almst spine tingling. Everything just looks better in plasma.
Happy shopping......
