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Samsung LN-T4665F LCD TV Review

Samsung Premium Line
of 1080p LCD HDTVs for 2007

The Samsung LN-T4665F forms part of the latest premium series of Samsung 1080p LCD TVs. It offers a full range of advanced display features and convenience options, exhaustive connectivity, a super clear display panel with a rated 15,000:1 contrast ratio, and a trendy all-black high gloss finish.

Price wise, it does not come cheap. Some have complained about its shinny screen, saying the glossy surface makes it prone to glare, but...

It is surely one of the best performing LCD TVs. More in this LCD TV review article.

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Review Date:
10^th September 2007

Samsung LNT4665F 46" 1080p LCD HDTV

Introducing the latest premium line Samsung LN-T65F Series:

The LN-T65F series - released earlier this year, represents Samsung's latest premium line of 1080p LCD HDTVs.

It comprises three sets, the 40" Samsung LNT4065F, the Samsung 46" LNT4665F LCD TV being reviewed here, and a slightly bigger model, the 52" Samsung LNT5265F LCD HDTV.

These Samsung LCD TVs are proving to be among the best-performing 1080p LCD TVs we've seen so far. The 46-inch Samsung LN-T4665F in particular, is turning out to be one of the most popular LCD HDTVs among customers and product reviewers alike.

The LN-T65F series represents an upgrade over Samsung's step down LN-61F 1080p line.

The latter does not include a 52-inch model, but other than this, these two ranges are very much similar. The only real significant difference between the LN-T65F LCD TVs and the step-down 1080p sets in the LN-T61F line, is mainly a screen issue.

The Samsung LN-T65F series comes with the much-debated shiny screen display as against the more matt screen surface usually associated with LCD TVs. This makes the 65F series more susceptible to glare than standard LCDs under uncontrolled bright light environment.

However, this shiny screen brings in its portion of benefits as well. It is partly the reason behind the 65F excellent black levels. In particular, the Samsung LN-T4665F under review exhibited excellent black depth and shadow detail that surpassed even some of the best plasmas in this category of flat-panel TVs.

Shiny screens apart, other differences can be defined as insignificant, with only a marginal higher price tag for the 65F - as expected, and a somewhat lower dynamic contrast ratio rating for the 61F series. Still, the rated 10,000:1 contrast ratio for the 61F is more than the eye can actually perceive under normal viewing.

Note: We reviewed the Samsung LN-T4665F 46-inch 1080p LCD HDTV in the 65F series. However, the other Samsung LCD TV sets in the 65F line are expected to perform very much the same in that except for a different screen size, all models in this series share exactly the same specs sheet.

Samsung's Premium 46-inch 1080p LN-T4665F LCD TV

It is an undeniable fact that both plasma and LCD flat-panel display technologies have improved with every generation. However, the greatest advancements are those related to LCD displays, with the latter catching up with plasma on a number of fronts. Probably, there is no better proof to this statement than Samsung 46-inch LN-T4665F.

The Samsung LN-T4665F is a great example of a premium 1080p LCD HDTV that is capable of delivering one of the best pictures especially when used in a controlled light environment. It even compares well against some of the best plasmas on the market.

Main Features

The Samsung LN-T4665F LCD TV is capable of resolving full 1080p high definition content thanks to a screen native resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels.

Enhanced picture clarity with a clean image that exhibits excellent deep blacks and exceptional shadow detail even in dark scenes.

Wide color gamut with accurate color rendering after adjustment; solid off-angle viewing thanks to the use of S-PVA display technology.

Numerous user controls that let the more demanding users zero in on the best picture settings; pre-defined system settings are pretty accurate.

Interesting styling characterized by a high-gloss black finish, chrome trim, hidden speakers, and swivel stand.

A full assortment of digital and analog connectivity options both on the rear as well as on the side panel. These include a PC input, a USB2.0 port, S-video, component video, and 3 HDMI1.3 with CEC (Customer Electronics Control) support. The latter allows the user both to control multiple CEC-enabled gear with one remote control, and equally important, to allow individual CEC-enabled boxes to command and control each other, without user intervention.

An interesting convenience optional accessory for the Samsung LN-T4665F is a remote controlled motorized LCD wall mount. Using the 'Ex Link' on the rear panel, it is possible to adjust the TV viewing angle using the TV remote control.

An intuitive remote that can be used to control up to four other devices, tops up the list.

The Samsung LN-T4665F in Detail

Samsung LNT4665F 46" 1080p LCD HDTV

(click on image for a larger view)

Main Design: The Samsung LN-T4665F is characterized by a rounded case design, with rounded corners and a slightly curved bottom edge.

To complement the whole esthetics, there is a blue accent light on the center front; this can be disabled. There is also a clear plastic edge that extends about a quarter of an inch on either side of the unit. This contrasts nicely with the rest of the TV rounded edges and the overall glossy black finish, which glossy finish extends also for the screen.

At first glance, this shiny screen makes the Samsung LN-T4665F LCD TV difficult to distinguish from a typical plasma TV. It also makes this LCD TV more prone to glare when used in a brightly lit room under uncontrolled lighting - sort of similar to what you get with a plasma display.

But according to Samsung, this shiny screen is partly the reason behind the set deep blacks. Replacing the diffusing matt screen with a reflective screen surface appears to be the best way to increase the overall black levels so peculiar with the Samsung LN-T65F series.

We are not in a position to confirm Samsung's reasoning here, but way back in February, we came across a relatively cheap 26-inch LCD TV from a rather unknown brand 'AudioSonic' that again was capable of displaying exceptional deep blacks. This AudioSonic LCD TV also came with a shiny screen! Mind you, it had other problems of its own. However, the exceptional black levels of the Samsung LN-T4665F and the relatively deep black levels of the AudioSonic, seem to prove the whole point.

The LN-T4665F come with hidden side-firing speakers placed along the vertical edges. The transparent plastic lip design helps deflect more of the sound towards the viewer.

The provided matching table-stand not only complements the rest of the set, it also allows the set to swivel by 20 degrees to the left or to the right. Having a swivel table-top stand is surely an extra bonus. With the stand in place, this 46-inch Samsung LCD TV measures approximately 46.3 x 12.6 x 30 inches (WxDxH); without the stand, the Samsung LN-T4665F measures just 46.3 x 4.5 x 27.3 inches. Overall weight including the stand is 68 lbs.

Power Consumption: The rated power consumption of the Samsung LN-T4665F is 265W under default settings. This falls to around 120W in 'power saving' mode, while fine-tuning the set brightness level would help further reduce the power requirements. In other words, proper set calibration is the key to lower energy consumption.

Product Features: As indicated earlier on in this LCD TV review article, the Samsung LN-T4665F comes with a native pixel resolution of 1920 x 1080. This means that it can resolve every detail of 1080i and 1080p HDTV content; other content - whether it's 720p HDTV, standard definition video, or a computer image, is scaled accordingly to fit the set pixel resolution.

At 15,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, this Samsung LCD TV also comes with one of the highest dynamic contrast ratios presently available for consumer LCD displays. It seems that Samsung is in a race on its own with this contrast ratio rating issue - quoting new impressive figures with every new generation of LCD displays.

However, do not let these large numbers impress you! Contrast alone does not make the picture. Further more, it would be extremely hard for the eye to perceive any difference in picture performance for a display device between say a contrast rating of 5000:1 and a 15,000:1. We are not saying that an improved contrast ratio does not make a difference, but... More on contrast ratio ratings can be found in our article: 'The Contrast Ratio Game - Playing with Numbers!

And to continue with this 'number game' issue, the Samsung LN-T4665F also boasts 10-bit video processing. Theoretically, 10-bit processing may produce up to 1.07 billion different color levels (2¹⁰ x 2¹⁰x 2¹⁰) - though somehow, Samsung manages to equate this to a much higher (??) 12.8 billion levels. In any case, this should make the conversion from analog to digital more natural. But to benefit from 10-bit processing, you need a 10-bit LCD display. It seems however that the Samsung LN-T4665F display is not capable of full 10-bit color; at least there is nothing that indicates so in Samsung's product literature. Being so much conversant with 'numbers' we are sure that Samsung would have specified 10-bit display capabilities. If this is the case, then there is not much to gain with these extra bits!

Instead, there is a lot to gain with the use of S-PVA (Super Patterned Vertical Alignment) display technology on the LN-T4665F; this yields a more refined consistency in colors, contrast, and brightness even at a 178-degrees wide-viewing angle.

The Samsung LN-T4665F also offers a whole assortment of picture adjustments in addition to the usual standard adjustments for contrast, brightness, gamma, color temperature control, etc. There are three picture modes, each with its own memory for each of the inputs. This means the user can customize each input with up to three different settings. However, it is only the 'Movie Mode' that gives the user full control of all the different picture adjustments.

Another interesting feature is the white balance control, which provides more than the usual pre-set color temperature settings. Rather, the white balance control on this Samsung LCD TV set gives you the possibility to tweak the gain of the red, green, and blue to zero-in to the desired grayscale setting. Other important picture control features worth mentioning include black level adjustment, which affects shadow detail, dynamic contrast adjustment on the fly, and color gamut selection, which controls the range of colors the display can produce.

A welcome addition to the list of feature in the Samsung LN-T4665F is the backlight control, which controls the intensity of the overall light output. Samsung provides three pre-set settings - dubbed 'Energy Saving', plus an auto mode that adjusts the light output in accordance with the scenes.

To complement this whole range of picture controls, this Samsung LCD TV also provides a full set of aspect ratio settings or picture size adjustments for both HD and standard definition video content. You have six choices labeled 16:9, 4:3, two zoom settings, a 'Wide Fit' mode, which enlarges the aspect ratio of the picture to fit the entire screen, and a 'Just Scan' setting which lets you see the full image without any cutoff when viewing HD content via HDMI.

From an audio perspective, the Samsung LN-T4665F delivers a total of 20W RMS. There is also Samsung's SRS TruSurround XT technology to deliver good simulated 3D effect with clear dialog and improved bass response. Main features of Samsung TruSurround XT audio are:

Dialog Clarity for clearer speech during the playback of any surround-encoded material.

TruBass emphasis the bass tones to enable these TV sets to achieve a low enough frequency response that is beyond the normal low frequency capabilities of the TV built-in speakers.

SRS WOW to widen the soundstage by processing standard two-channel stereo material as well as multi-channel encoded material, to produce a virtual surround sound-stage using the set stereo built-in speakers.

Convenience features include among others, picture-in-picture support to display video content from a second source. However, you would not be able to display a second TV channel as this TV comes with a single built-in tuner (supporting both analog and digital TV transmission).

Equally important is the supplied TV remote control, which comes with illuminated buttons that are well placed and easy to use. It also doubles as a universal remote, in that you can use it to control up to four other pieces of gear (DVD, STB (set-top-box), Cable, and VCR).

And as pointed out earlier on, the Samsung LN-T4665F features support for the optional Samsung TV Motorized Wall Mount - WMN5090AN/XAA (available as extra). Connected this to the Ex Link on the rear panel, and there you have the possibility to adjust the TV viewing angle using the TV remote control (vertical up to 25-degrees and horizontal up to 60-degrees).

Connectivity: The Samsung 46-inch 1080p LCD TV comes with a solid connectivity base. This includes a total of 3 HDMI connectors, and side A/V jacks.
The HDMI inputs are HDMI 1.3 compliant; the latter supports a higher bandwidth and xvYCC content. Note however that as far as we know, xvYCC HD content is not yet available.

Samsung rear connection panel

Samsung Rear Panel

There is also a USB port - labeled WISELINK - for MP3 and JPEG files; this port is also used when handling TV firmware upgrades.

The list below summaries the whole set of inputs available on the Samsung LN-T4665F 1080p LCD TV:

Inputs and Outputs

Quantity

Remarks

Rear

Side

HDMI (19-pin Type A)

2

1

HDMI 1.3 compatible with CEC support

Composite (AV) - RCA Phono

1

1

S-Video (4-pin mini-DIN)

1

1

Antenna In

2

Nil

One TV + one cable

Component (Y/Pb/Pr)

2

Nil

Ex-Link

1

Connect this to the jack on the optional motorized wall mount bracket to adjust the TV viewing angle using the TV remote control.

PC Input

1

Nil

USB 2.0

Nil

1

Digital Audio Out (optical) - TOS

1

Nil

Headphone Jack

Nil

1

Performance: The Samsung LN-T4665F 1080p LCD TV turned out to be a solid performer especially when viewing takes place in a controlled-light environment. The use of a controlled environment is in our opinion essential in view of its shiny screen.

But not only, a darkened room is ideal if you really want to appreciate the exceptional picture performance of this LCD HDTV. Once properly set, the Samsung LN-T4665F LCD TV can outperform some of the best plasmas with its black level performance and fine shadow detail even in predominantly dark content - an area in which plasmas have so far always surpassed their LCD counterparts.

Overall, the LN-T4665F is capable of delivering a very good picture, with accurate color decoding, accurate grayscale, and natural looking colors, even from an extreme viewing angle.

Furthermore, the many picture settings would surely enable you to zero in on the best picture for your liking. Having so many user controls is surely an added bonus for the perfectionist looking for the best picture setup.

And if these controls are a bit too confusing, you may always opt to select one of the automatic picture settings. In particular, the 'Movie' mode on the Samsung LN-T4665F delivered pretty accurate natural looking images.

Conclusion

The Samsung LN-T4665F LCD HDTV set is one of the best flat-panel TV sets among plasmas and LCDs alike, and is worth considering if you are looking for a premium 1080p LCD TV.

We expect similar performance from the 40-inch and 52-inch in the 65F series since these all share identical specs to the 46-inch Samsung LN-T4665F.

Thanks to a sleek design and exceptional picture performance, the Samsung LN-T65F series of 1080p LCD HDTV sets should prove to be among the most popular with those customers looking for premium performance at a not so premium price tag.

Prior to any decision, we advise to do some research of your own - in particular, take a look at what other customers had to say about these Samsung LCD TV sets following their purchase.

A good starting point is the customer feedback posted on the amazon website. Just click on the following links to access the respective Samsung LCD TV product page at amazon.com; then follow through the 'Customers Reviews' section on the same webpage:

Samsung LN-T4065F 40" 1080p LCD HDTV

Samsung LN-T4665F 46" 1080p LCD HDTV

Samsung LN-T5265F 52" 1080p LCD HDTV

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