Samsung LN32A450 32-Inch 720p LCD HDTV

If you are having doubts about purchasing this model, don't! It took me quite a while to decide on this set from all the different ones that are available and I am very satisfied with this model. After reading many reviews this one seemed to be the best for the money.

I don't subscribe to a cable service so I only receive the over-the-air channels. I have just a regular 10 dollar antenna, nothing fancy, and the signal coming through looks great. I will have to admit that the CW does look a little on the grainy side but it's definately the fact that the CW is transmitting at 1080i - it's not the TV's fault :) But I know that most people do subscribe to cable so this may not even affect you.

I have read that some people are dissatisfied with the sound quality but I think that it's great. I had a Toshiba LCD before this set and even though I was fine with the sound that it provided, this set gives MUCH better results!

I still need to play with the contrast, color, etc. as I'm sure that I can get a much better picture than what the factory settings offer but I need help :) If anyone has any pointers out there, I'm open to suggestions!

And you can't beat the free shipping and the no sales tax from Amazon. I must also say that CEVA (frieght company that delivered) gave great service. I did have to call them myself to make an appointment for the delivery but I think that it may just have been me being impatient. The driver brought in the set and he helped me unpack it to make sure that everything was in working order before I accepted and signed for the delivery.

All in all, a very pleasant experience.

I bought this set 5 months ago from Best Buy based on reviews, in-store comparison, and past experience with Samsung TVs. Paid a hefty $781.00 for it - no bargain there. BB's return policy is my only consolation.

I'm quite impressed with the overall quality of this set. Setup was quick and easy, and I was viewing cable and HDTV signals within 1/2 hour of unpacking the box. I must say that the factory default video/audio settings were surprisingly decent compared to many others, but I never settle for factory defaults. I'm one of those tweak-happy types.

Was pleasantly surprised at how intuitive the on-screen controls were arranged, and the ease by which I could dial in my "perfect" settings. A multitude of adjustments are available for folks like me, while impressive results are still possible with even a minimum of adjustment. This is a real bonus for a set in this price range.

I pretty much agree with the assesment of others in regards to video performance - it's topnotch. I have to say, though, that the quality varies WIDELY by program source. No surprise there. My analog SD cable channels are generally a little soft and washed out on most channels. Some worse than others (just as they are on an analog set). I've noticed, however, a striking increase in sharpness, color vibrancy, and definition when the SD channel is broadcasting live (local news, shopping channels, etc). In fact, from a distance the quality seems to approach High-Def at times! Otherwise, expect typical performance from SD channels - no HD set can really turn that sow's ear into a silk purse. SD quality is quite acceptable - but nothing more.

Once you tune in an HD channel, though, the Samsung really comes alive. The off-air tuner is very sensitive, and will most likely find every station you want on the first pass. True 720p programs are breathtakingly crisp, and the few 1080p programs I've watched are even more realistic. Don't waste your money on a 1080p set in this screen size - this set produces 720p video that will knock your socks off - the 1080p performance is just a nice bonus. I'm a happy camper - can't wait for more 1080p programming to appear.

It's hard to find any real flaws in the video performance - motion blur, edge correction, dynamic balance, black levels are all fantastic. And, the bevy of adjustments insures you'll get the picture you want. Be warned, though, that this can become an obsession. There's a lot of trial and error involved. Dialing in your perfect picture can take a lot of time - but in my case it was worth it.

To me, the audio quality is a non-issue. Yeah the sound is pretty lame, but who listens to the built-in speakers anyway? OK - so the on-board sound is not great. It's tolerable, though - with a little equalizer tweaking. Plug into your home audio system if you want real sound.

Overall I'm quite pleased with this purchase. If the set proves to be reliable over time, I'm going to hang onto it for a good while. But, it's not without it's shortcomings. Your mileage may vary, but here are a few things about this TV that annoy me:

The startup sequence: This has to be the most useless "feature" I have ever seen in a television. Here's what happens when you aim the remote and hit the power button: NOTHING. That's right - there is virtually no feedback that you've just turned the set on.

Basically, it takes 8-10 seconds after you turn the power on before the set actually lights up. OK - maybe not a big issue for some people - but it really annoys me. This dumb feature flies in the face of an otherwise very well-designed TV. And how about that silly chime sound? Might be OK if it chimed when you first turned the set on, but what's the point of sounding 8 seconds AFTER you turn the set on? Here's a novel idea, Samsung - why not have the TV just turn on when you hit the power button? Too complicated?

Another thing that bothers me is the smell coming from this set. I mean, it was really nasty right out of the box, and got worse as the set heated up. I can only describe it as a burnt-plastic kind of smell, with a hint of overheated cooking oil. In a closed room, it really stunk the place up. Don't know if this is a byproduct from the manufacturing process or the materials used, but it is slowly becoming less noticable as time goes on. Probably not a big deal, but I feel it's worth mentioning. This could be an issue for some folks with asthma or allergies.

In conclusion, the pros outweigh the cons here by a wide margin. I would definitely recommend this TV, with the caviat that you look for a discount. So far, retailers don't seem to offering many smoking deals - but that might change after the DTV cutoff date.

The picture is very clear whether the program is broadcast in HD or regular. The sound is much better.
I did not realize how unclear the picture was on my old TV.
I am very, very satisfied with this purchase.

We searched for a TV that had a wake up feature. We found out that not all TV's had this option. Neither of us like to wake to an obnoxious radio alarm, and find this model perfect. We did some research and found this set to have everything we were looking for. The picture and sound is fantastic and found the directions easy to follow. Highly recommended. Packaged perfectly as well.

As a college kid, I could not afford a top of the line 1080p 32inch TV from Samsung, Sony, etc. So I decided to go for the LN32A450 since it fit just in my budget and it was from a good quality manufacturer. I was blown away at how great the picture looks. Xbox 360 looks stunning on it. I only wish the remote was backlit or atleast glow in the dark. Overall excellent entry level tv.