Can't decide between 46 or 40 Samsung HDTV

[applecakes]

I'm looking at two TV's right now, a Samsung 40 or 46.

The specs are identical, just the size is different. I'd like the 46, but it might be too big from a viewing distance of 8ft. Also the quality of SDTV would probably be better in a smaller screen wouldn't it? I don't mind upgrading to HDTV, but not all stations are HD yet ... Plus up-converted SD DVD's would probably be better on the smaller screen as well.

any advice is appreciated.




Samsung 1080p 40" Flat-Panel LCD HDTV** (LN40A530)

http://www.bestbuy.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?logon=&langid=EN&sku_id=0926HDS0010099644&catid=24558

Samsung 46" 1080p Flat-Panel LCD HDTV** (lN46A530)

http://www.bestbuy.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?logon=&langid=EN&sku_id=0926HDS0010099645&catid=24558

[SamS]

Get the bigger one. Eventually, that 40" will start to look small. There is still plenty of detail to be had from standard DVDs at 46". Standard DVDs can look great at 100" :agree:

[proufo]

As an owner of a Samsung Blu-ray BD-1200P player, I'd suggest you look at other brands. I suggest Panasonic or Sony.

Samsung is in deep managerial trouble, and has shown a profound disregard for customers.

Manufacturing efficiencies and lots of advertising/shelf space do not make a top consumer electronics company.

[Claude]

I have a 46" Sony LCD, and I don't think it's too big for a 8ft viewing distance. I have no HD source yet and mainly watch DVDs.

[applecakes]

I have a 46" Sony LCD, and I don't think it's too big for a 8ft viewing distance. I have no HD source yet and mainly watch DVDs.

so your SDTV and regular DVD's look good?

[applecakes]

As an owner of a Samsung Blu-ray BD-1200P player, I'd suggest you look at other brands. I suggest Panasonic or Sony.

Samsung is in deep managerial trouble, and has shown a profound disregard for customers.

Manufacturing efficiencies and lots of advertising/shelf space do not make a top consumer electronics company.

Woah, sounds like you had some troubles with their customer service. What type of TV are you running?

[Claude]

so your SDTV and regular DVD's look good?

Standard TV only looks as good as it gets (i.e. crappy to acceptable, but I mainly watch news and information, rarely films), but DVDs look great.

[Rachael Bee]

Woah, sounds like you had some troubles with their customer service. What type of TV are you running?

Customer service is real concern when dealing with Samsung. Since, I presume, TV's don't need firmware upgrades, that's always a big concern with some other Samsung stuff. Gawd, I hope TV's don't start needing reg-lar firmware updates such as all of the BD players...:laugh:

2 out of 3 times Samsung bunged my customer service. They aren't always very reliable.

On the TV, I'd go with the bigger size unless space is a real concern. Geez, I think ya'all can learn to love DVD's and HD right well on 46 inches. The extra height on the 46 incher would be worth it to me.

Me, I'd be inclined to look at other brands. I'm liking my 32" 1080p Aquios set. I would of bought a larger size but it was the biggest size that could fit. The OTA tuner is good it has a flock of inputs. I liked the ergonomics on Sony LCD's way better than Samsung's when I was lookin' last winter....

[signothetimes53]

I bought a 40" for my small room, typical viewing is 10 feet. Anything bigger, and the entire room is overwhelmed by the TV. If that's what you want is to be overwhelmed (a la a movie theater-type environment), get the 46", but I'm really really glad I didn't buy bigger for my room. YMMV.

[applecakes]

I think I'm going to have to paste some cardboard boxes up and see just how large these are in the room.

From what I've read this afternoon SDTV seems OK on either TV and won't really make a difference if I get the smaller one.

[joelee]

Get the 40, it's all you need.

[proufo]

Woah, sounds like you had some troubles with their customer service. What type of TV are you running?It's not really a CS issue. It's a total disregard for making a product work. I am not buying any Samsung or LG products ever again, not even disk drives.

I use a Panasonic 42" plasma. I wanted a 50 and that's the minimum size I'd buy for a replacement.

[RDK]

I've had no problem at all with my 56" Sammy. Love it and love the company - a fine product as far as I'm concerned.

[applecakes]

I've had no problem at all with my 56" Sammy. Love it and love the company - a fine product as far as I'm concerned.

How is SDTV on it? How far away from the TV are you?

[signothetimes53]

I think I'm going to have to paste some cardboard boxes up and see just how large these are in the room.

I think this is a pretty good idea.

One other thing to keep in mind: if you have an 8 foot viewing distance, is that going to be 8 feet for all viewers, or just some of them? Will some of them be closer?

We find that the picture doesn't look great (esp. in SD) if we're sitting 4 to 5 feet from the TV (where one of our chairs is), and the larger your picture, the worse it will look up close.

[proufo]

A capable upconverting player is almost a must if you have a sizable DVD collection. The difference is huge, even in a 42".

I wouldn't make a decision based on how SD looks.

BTW, even a 768P display at 6 feet looks great to virtually all people, with a good source.

[GKH]

Get the biggest TV that will fit your room, and that you can afford. Otherwise; you'll just wish you did.

[Ron Stone]

None of my big-screen owning friends have ever said, "Gee, I wish I had bought the smaller set." Several wish they had bought a larger one, though.

[51nocaster]

8 Feet is plenty far for a 46" when using an HD source. I'd recommend a 46" or 50" for that distance.

[filper]

46" at 8 feet.

[tomhayes]

I recently bought a new TV. I returned the first (a Samsung PN50A550) because I could see "green phosphor fringing" on the plasma. AND the 52" is just way way too big for anything other than a Blu-ray player to power. My Dish HD programming looked awful. It's because Dish compresses the signal so much before it gets to you.

I replaced it with a Samsung LN46A650, and I think the 46 is a little too big also. You can relly ee the flaws in the signal.

I think 40" is the sweet spot if your sitting between 8-13 feet away.

Now, if your only watching Blu-ray, go big. But if not, I wouldn't suggest it.

It'd be liking buying a 30,000 Mcintosh system and running low bitrate MP3s throught it.

Just my opinion.

[Claude]

Well, in terms of picture quality, there is something between TV and HD and that's DVD, which is for many people the main format for watching movies, as Blu-ray releases are still scarce.

For DVD, I don't think 46" is too big at a 8" distance.

[tomhayes]

Well, in terms of picture quality, there is something between TV and HD and that's DVD, which is for many people the main format for watching movies, as Blu-ray releases are still scarce.

For DVD, I don't think 46" is too big at a 8" distance.

I think DVD looks pretty bad on my 46" TV. I have a Pioneer DV-48 that up-converts to 1080p and I still think it looks pretty bad from about 10 feet away.

It's just my opinion, but sitting close to a big tv really brings out any/all flaws in the source material.

Can you get an in-home trial?

[applecakes]

Thanks for the advice everyone. I'm making the plunge on the 46 if I'm really not happy I have 30 days for a refund.

[SamS]

I think DVD looks pretty bad on my 46" TV. I have a Pioneer DV-48 that up-converts to 1080p and I still think it looks pretty bad from about 10 feet away.


What looks bad about it? I sit ~9' from a 55" set and DVD looks great, depending on the source. Obviously not as clear as HD, but certainly enjoyable.


Thanks for the advice everyone. I'm making the plunge on the 46 if I'm really not happy I have 30 days for a refund.

Remember, it will look HUGE when you first get it. Make sure you get an HD source hooked up to it ASAP. Over the course of 1-2 weeks, you will get used to the size and it will "shrink". ;)