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Date: 2005-01-10 Samsung HLN617W 61" HDTV with DLP Review My wife and I purchased our Samsung HLN617W HDTV one month ago and we are very pleased with it! We researched a lot of products and technology before buying our big screen TV and surround sound system. We divided the large screen products into four categories, Projection High Definition TV (HDTV), Projection HDTV with DLP, Flat Panel Plasma display and overhead projectors. The overhead projector is a viable option only if you have a dedicated room with controlled lighting. The Flat Panel Plasma displays are still way too expensive for the size screen that we wanted. The HDTV with DLP has a brighter picture and wider viewing angle than HDTV without DLP. Plus the HDTV with DLP units are lighter and more compact than HDTV models (our Samsung 61" HLN617W is only 18" deep and weighs less than 100 pounds). After deciding on a HDTV with DLP we researched reviews on the Internet and looked at lots of makes and models in stores (Circuit City, Costco, Sam's Club, etc.). One thing that I noticed looking at the TVs is that when the screen is dark, some models have a clear and distracting reflection in the background. You can see a mirror reflection of people and lights behind you. Other makes and models have a much more muted, diffused and subtle reflection that is less distracting. In a totally darkened room this might not be a big deal, but most people have some background light in their home theater family or living rooms. I HIGHLY recommend that you choose an HDTV-DLP model that has a subdued background reflection (like the Samsung HLN617W)! I also recommend that you buy an extended warranty with any HDTV-DLP. The projection lamp for the Samsung HLN617W is rated for approximately 6000 hours or about 3 years and costs around $250.00. Recommend you get a DVD player (or surround sound DVD system) with "progressive scan" video output for which you need special red-green-blue high quality video cables. You should also use digital audio cables whenever possible. If you have cable or satellite TV, you will want to subscribe to the new High Definition (HDTV) channels. I declined the more expensive option for the home theater setup-wiring-configuration because I am a technology buff, but I spent more than a few hours getting our home theater setup and integrated with a few of our other entertainment units. For those who are purchasing surround sound systems, the extra bucks for home theater setup, wiring & configuration might be worth it. On a final note, do a Google search for "Samsung HLN617W reviews" and read some of the other fine reviews and prices before you spend big $$$ for your HDTV with DLP. Date: 2004-10-11 great picture but breaks alot samsung dlp tvs have a great picture but if you buy one expect regular repairs - mine broke in less than a month and it has been 4 days and I still can't get through to the repair facility. This is common -- read the reviews. don't buy samsung! Date: 2004-08-25 The new ones are out now.... Here's a feedback which I left for HLP model TVs also. HLNs are older thatn HLP and the feedback below compares HLP/HLN/HLM. It does not has the nunmber of input/output (composite/component etc) since that can easily be found on the product description page. This reviews pretty much applies to all the DLP level TVs from Samsung. I researched for around more than couple of months before finally buying this one. Samsung initially started with HLM/HLN series DLP models which were using HD2 chip from Texas Instruments and the contrast ratio was 1000:1. This performed very well in reviews, quality and black level as compared to Sony LCD rear projection. The next series is the latest on which is HLP xx63 series where xx is the size in diagonal (HLP 4663, HLP 5063). The improvements in this are 7 segment color wheel instead of 6-segment, which gives better color. This also uses 3rd generation chip HD3 which has contrast ratio of 1500:1. The bulb are also better in this one since there were some problems in the earlier version of the TV. This is a great TV, light weight as compared to some other and plasmas. The next series which is out only in 2 models is HLP 5085 and HLP5685. These are also 7-segment color wheel but they have HD2+ chip. This is 4th generation chip and is better than HD3. Its contrast ratio is 2500:1 which should mean better black levels. These are the ones with pedestal which looks cool in the picture but is kinda bulky looking in the store. I'm not sure why this model is not out in 46 inches, may be it doesn't make difference in smaller sizes. Next, 5th generation chip is going to be xHD3 and should give around 4500:1 contrast ratio. Overall, DLPs are better since they have better contrast than plasmas and weigh less. They also don't have a burn-in issue like plasmas. HLP series is the best one till now and Samsung is the oldest player in this. Other manufacturers are also catching up, so this should drive the price down further. good for consumers. Hope this helps and good luck shopping. -------- Some more feedback on the picture and input modes after two weeks into the purchase: The contrast ratio of HLN/HLP series are good provided you are watching the TV at the same height. If you watch from slightly above/below or left/right, then you'll see it slightly less bright. Just like a laptop screen behaves, maye slightly better. It has following picture modes: - 4:3 standard definition (SD) cable programming. puts black bars on the side of the picture if you watch it in this mode. - wide mode (16:9). if you watch SD tv on this mode, it'll stretch the picture - panorama mode. stretches only the outside portion of the picture making center of the picture in the correct proporting (aspect ratio) but the sides bit distorted - zoom1/zoom2: they just soom in from the center with different stretching methods. Component inputs (in SD and HD) aspect ratios only have normal and wide options. Normal being a little pinched, while wide is normal. ----- Some more feedback after 5 weeks of purchase. I started seeing some problems with the lamp. The manual says that when the bulb/lamp needs replacement, all the three lights on the front switch will start blinking. Atleast couple of times a day, the following was happening: - when I switch on the TV, the lamp will try to bring the picture while the audio was there - after couple of seconds tv will go to standby mode - it'll turn on again after couple of seconds and try to bring up the picture - and go again the loop to standby mode something this happens 3-4 times and the pictures comes and sometime it just gives up and the tv turns off. I'm glad that I bought the warranty after couple of weeks from Circuit city itself, otherwise lamps are not covered in one year Sammy warranty. ... to be continued ... updated on 12/19: The TV has been working great ever since, no complains what so ever. I've also tried playing DVD and asf format movies on the laptop connected to the TV thru 25pin monitor cable and stereo audio cables, and it all works fine. Date: 2004-06-28 Great TV - make sure to get HD TV service at the same time The TV is great but you do need HD TV service, either from satellite, off the air, or cable, to really appreciate how good the quality is. The TV arrived a couple of days before the cable folks came by, so all I had was my progressive DVD, which was a bit disappointing. I also use it for my X Box and the quality of the games that are HD ready is amazing * Price is subject to change. |
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