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Samsung Plasma TV Review

Model: Samsung SPK-4215 Plasma Television

Description: 42-inch EDTV Plasma Display, Widescreen 16:9 Format
Resolution: 854 x 480 (WVGA)
Includes: Built-in speakers with integrated NTSC tuner and universal remote
Color: Charcoal bezel with black ribbon around plasma screen
Reviewer: Robert Wiley
Date: February 2002

INTRODUCTION

Plasma Display panels and LCD's have improved tremendously over the past year, so much so that I do not hesitate to recommend them to consumers or for most computer applications. Some surpass even the best CRT's in terms of brightness levels and contrast. Most all will display more colors - nearly 17 million.

This is the first Samsung Plasma panel I have reviewed seriously as it seemed to me that they lagged the market in quality with earlier offerings. This new model is so different from other plasma offerings that it definitely warranted a closer look. Samsung is not a name brand that I normally seek out when shopping for electronic equipment though they have been improving in some areas. Typically, it seems they always come after - never pioneering. Just taking products already in the market place and trying to produce them cheaper than Japan and keep the quality close. Thing is, the quality usually does not stay too close, from my viewpoint.

This model would be very appropriate and even appealing in an office boardroom or engineering firm drawing studio and has a feature or two that would be very useful there. For home use it may not appeal to me - at least compared to what's out in the market.

Standard Features:

Contrast Ratio: 600:1 (We measured contrast at 209 ANSI)
Brightness: 200 cd/m
Resolution: 852X480

PICTURE - 84

We tested the Samsung plasma monitor with several input sources including the new Sony DVPNS700 progressive scan DVD player, a Panasonic TU-HDS20 HDTV Decoder box, and a Hewlett Packard 7935. The unit was displayed and compared against the new Panasonic TH-42PWD4U and the new Pioneer PDP503MX - very tough company.

This lower priced offering does a good job with some elements of picture reproduction. The colors on the unit as set by the factory were pleasing and lifelike. I could see vivid detail on the DVD Angel Eyes using progressive scan 480p. The plasma did a good enough job up converting a 480i signal that the difference was only 5% to 10% in favor of the progressive signal. This stable up conversion is a nice feature for those watching S-VHS, normal DVD, and NTSC signals. The clarity and black levels increased further when inputting the HDTV signal.

      

The internal scalar/converter processor in this plasma unit did not do nearly as good a job with our DVD content and HDTV signals as one zoom option showed too much black banding and the zoom 2 option stretched the image. The Pioneer and Panasonic were both able to "size" the 16:9 image attractively to fit the screen. It was hard to get comfortable with this aspect of the Samsung.

Compared to the other two plasma models tested the unit appeared a bit grainy. There appeared to be less depth in the pixel structure. Black levels were not as strong as the Panasonic (which is the best in the market for contrast) or the Pioneer. And like all but the newest and best plasma TV offerings this causes the blacks to appear a bit washed out. Still, if we were not watching the unit side by side with the years best we would not notice it as much. The picture was very nice and I enjoyed it much more than one of the…

The above picture shows the Samsung being reviewed next to the Pioneer PDP503CMX (Top right) and the Panasonic TH42PWD4U Plasma TV Models.

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS - 82 (until fan noise is corrected)

There are lots of other considerations:

The most noticeable "OC" on the model tested was the fan noise. It permeated the room and could be heard even with the audio on. This, problem will undoubtedly be repaired by the factory after they ship some models and have them returned for the problem. But until then…it is distracting. I got used to it after the first 30 minutes, but I'm a pretty laid back guy.

The remote control is very user friendly and is laid out with explanatory controls. It is very complete with controls if not a bit funky looking in design and the light gray color. A bit large and cumbersome for my taste (no jokes please). It has a PIP (picture in picture) button in case you want to view one of the other input sources at the same time. There is a nifty source select menu on the unit that lists a control button for "video, s-video, HD Component, & RGB". Lastly the controller has a unique, "Still," button which will freeze an image no matter what the input source. Could be useful in certain situations - for instance if the pause control on your DVD player stops working? Or really applicable when freezing your bosses face when it looks its most preposterous on a video conferencing call.

The looks of the unit are a fusion between industrial and modernistic. It has black side panels that are there for looks only and just add width to the unit. The rest of the units bezel is a lighter charcoal gray. Combine this two tone effect with the green screen (when the unit is off) and you have something interesting. Hmmm. In a home setting, guests might be inclined to look at it and say, "What's that?" But it may look great in an architectural firm.

Connections: A 5 inch by 5 inch square cavity in the back of this flat screen houses inputs for RS232, RGB 15 Pin, S-video, composite video (BNC), and component video. It's a complete selection but it surprised me that with the PIP option available there was not an additional RGB 15 pin input connection. There is no audio input option to loop audio through the unit.

SPECIAL FEATURES

• Built in Picture in Picture converting (which can be placed anywhere on monitor)
• Complete remote control (easy to use and quick responding)
• Still (freeze frame) option
• Least Expensive
• Funky Design

WEAKNESSES

• Scaling of 16:9 iinputs
• Fan Noise
• No built in audio amplifiers
• No audio loop through option
• Funky Design

VALUE - 87

Considering sub $5000 prices the unit is the lease expensive 16:9 plasma monitor on the market. Is it a value? For the boardroom or high tech firm it will serve nicely - especially if the esoteric design fits the décor.

OVERALL RATING - 82

Rating scale from 70 (denoting poorest quality) to 100 (signifying the very best quality). A rating in the 60s for any particular category of a product review indicates a serious defect which causes the product not to operate properly. Picture quality is double-weighted in the Overall Rating Score calculation.

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