HDTV monitor (compatible with HDTV/SDTV formats -- when connected to a separate HDTV tuner -- and displays all signals at 720p) * widescreen 16:9 aspect ratio * Texas Instruments HD3 DLP chip (1280 x 720 pixels) * contrast ratio: 1500:1 *
The Samsung HL-P4663W combines cutting-edge picture quality with a 46-inch widescreen body that--unlike many other large TVs--doesn't dominate the room. The TV weighs 69.4 pounds and is approximately 13 inches deep, so there's no need to push back the couch to accommodate the chassis. Even better, the flat screen receives breathtaking high-definition content when paired with an external HD receiver, delivering a pixel count of 1,280 x 720 and a 1,500:1 contrast ratio. The elite video performance derives from the Texas Instruments-developed single-panel digital micromirror device (DMD) and DLP projection system, which combine to create a digital connection between the video source and the screen (most other connections are analog). The TV also employs Samsung's exclusive Digital Natural Image engine, which enhances all analog NTSC and wideband video inputs for an overall improvement in picture quality, impacting contrast, white level, and picture detail.
The widescreen format is a favorite among movie buffs and HDTV fans, as the expanded screen offers a truer representation of the original film source. The HL-P4663W adds to the value by converting 1080i and 720p HDTV and 480p and 480i SDTV video signals to a 16:9 widescreen pixel count, letting users enjoy the enhanced format while watching all manner of programming. The TV boasts other impressive technologies as well, including Cinema Smooth 3:2 pulldown (improves the resolution of original film content), a 3D digital comb filter (enhances transition detail), and a bright ultra-fine pitch screen. And because the TV projects onto a single panel only, it eliminates the risk of color aberrations and focus problems often seen on projection TVs with multiple panels or CRTs.
As with many large-screen TVs, this model delights sports fans and TV buffs with its two-tuner picture-in-picture display. Viewers can watch one program on the main screen and another in the small inset window, or they can split the screens in half for simultaneous viewing. Other user favorites include format size adjustment (Zoom 1, Zoom 2, Wide, Panorama, and Normal), color temperature adjustment, a multilingual onscreen menu, previous channel, and V-chip parental control.
The TV is equipped with a 30-watt two-way speaker system and SRS TruSurround XT technology. The latter is a virtual surround engine that plays rich 5.1-multichannel content through two speakers, including internal TV speakers and headphones. TruSurround is compatible with all multichannel formats up to 6.1 channels. The TV also offers no shortage of inputs and outputs, including a DVI digital video input, an HDMI digital audio and video input, and a PC input, along with the usual stockpile of two component video inputs, three composite inputs, three S-video inputs, and a video output. The digital inputs are designed for the next generation of HD receivers and DVD players, which are built to transfer all signals digitally without losing any information via the conversion to analog. The TV includes an S-video and composite input on the side, where it's more easily accessible for game consoles and camcorders.
What's in the Box
TV, remote control, two AAA batteries, user's manual.
1 Be Very Careful!!
Struggled with DLP vs. LCD for months. I have visited over 30 sites including Amazon for reviews and let me just say that you often have to wonder if some of these reviews come from employees of the product...
I decided on the Samsung 50" 5063W model after seeing a hi-def Sixers game in the store and a few DVD's/HD programs - next to a Sony Wega 50" the picture looked way better. So I buy an open-box model and got a great deal but when I hooked it up (after waiting for it to get to room temp per the store's suggestion), I heard this grinding noise - like when your hard-drive is ready to flash a blue screen. I turned it off and tried again - same noise. Samsung site said it might be a bad fan - so I call the store. 2 days for a tech to come out? I live 10 miles from the store so I loaded the Sammy in my Trailblazer and took it back - ALWAYS BUY THE SERVICE PLAN - at least for 2 years - so I exchanged the open box a for a new one, new box, the whole 9 - take it home, waited blah blah, grinding AGAIN! Now I am downright steaming - called the store and they said it might be something in the house - "Yeah, the TV", I said...
I told the store manager that I was taking this one back too and getting a Sony LCD - he never even suggested otherwise - he knew there was something up with this model... All of the Sonys near this model all looked bad - but was that done to sell the Samsungs? I tuned my Sony and it blows the Sammy away... Oh and by the way on really bright images - like explosions, the pixels are more noticeable with most DLP's vs. LCD - called the "screen door" effect.
Anyway, I would be very careful with this model because I had 2 that you could not stand to be in the same room with the buzzing. I don't know about the 5074 models or the 5085 but this model appears to be flawed somewhat. I have the Sony 42" LCD and am loving it.
2 Stunning picture and sound with few complications
When we moved into our new house, we wanted a widescreen TV that would be the focal point of our living room. Knowing that widescreen TV signals and HD broadcasting will be the norm in a few years, we wanted to buy one TV that would last us for many years and allow us to be ready for the future. (Plus most video rentals are all widescreen, limited your display to a smaller picture!) With a lot of choices on the market, and none of them cheap, we were finally swayed by this TV for a few reasons.
First off, the picture and internal sound from this TV are phenomenal. When displayed in the store with a HDTV signal, the picture looks like you are standing in front of whatever is onscreen. You haven't lived til you see this picture with Dicovery HD Channel or the ESPN college football games broadcast in HD- WOW!!!
The second reason we chose this TV was based on comparisons. We stood in front of a plasma screen display at Circuit City when the store took a power spkie and then an outage. When the power came back on, there was a 4-inch vertical black bar burned into the screen permanently, not an attractive prospect with a $5000 set. Most of the plasma sets we saw had pictures that were lower quality than the Samsung DLP series; those with better or equal picture quality cost twice as much as this TV.
The final reason we chose this TV was its size and weight. We wanted to use our existing entertainment center, and it fit the bill- barely. Bear in mind the vertical height is listed as 32", but it is about a quarter inch taller, which required some adjsutment to our entertainment center. It fills the center's TV opening fully, and looks amazing to watch. Weight wise, it weighs about as much as our old 27" TV did, so we are thrilled to have this new, bigger TV.
You have many choices for display options. Using the remote, you can switch the screen from normal 4:3 TV mode, to widescreen, to panorama, zoon, stretch and more. There are even settings you can select if the TV faces the sun, and one that is best for gaming systems. The remote is easy to use, and took my less-electronically oriented wife less time to master than the VCR programming.
On the technical side, there are two component inputs (we have the DirectTV and DVD player hooked up in those jacks for the best input possible), and numerous S-cable and traditional component (red, white, yellow) input jacks. You can have a DVD player, satellite receiver, game system, and VCR all going into this TV with no problem, and can route your sound out to your home stereo system.
The internal sound speakers are more than capable with sharp sound, but did provide the ony problem we have experienced when they couldn't deliver sound properly. The warranty coverage fixed the problem very quickly, and again, we had a Bose home stereo to listen to as a backup speaker source. But that is the only problem we have found, and we watch this TV a lot.
With an easy setup, easily understood onscreen menu and instruction manual, you would be hard pressed to have anything but glowing comments for this TV. With a crystal clear picture, and with a price tag that is much lower than competitve plasma sets, we feel we got a bargain for our home theater system's most important piece.
3 Great picture but who has time for the problems?
First time around I bought the 43", which after about 2 weeks of light use, wouldn't fire up and had the power failure symptoms described in the other reviews. Instead of trying to fix it, Ultimate Electronics decided to replace it for me. Since they couldn't find a 43", I decided to take a chance and upgrade to the 46" for a few hunde more. Now, four weeks into my new set, the same thing is happening! The lamp light keeps blinking and it tries and tries to power up, and then gives up after awhile. I'm going to try the Monster Strip, but I'm skeptical since I was using the same Monster Strip on the 43".
Bottom line is if they let me exchange this piece for something else, I'll probably go ahead and trade it out. I love the light weight and the picture (although my wife complains about a bad picture at different viewing angles), but for $3,000, you shouldn't have to go through this b.s. The 43" failed me during the NBA finals, now this one is out for the MLB playoffs. Ridiculous! For that much cash, you shouldn't ever have to worry about calling a tech, but unfortunately this tv is full of bugs.
4 Samsung 46" DLP HL-P4663W
I wanted to add to the above review. I just purchased this tv and have 3 other friends with either this one or the 50". All have had this problem of the TV cycling on/off. The problem turned out to be power filtering. Make sure you use a power strip with power filtering. The $80 Monster Cable strip has a filter on it. There are cheaper ones. This has cured the problem for all three of my buddies.
So far I am very happy with the TV. Excellent brightness and very true color. I have noticed an occasional mismatch of the sound to the picture. The mouth keeps moving after the words have been said. I turned off the DNR and DNLe but made no difference then I turned off LNA (Low Noise Amplifier) and havent noticed it since. Anyone seen this?
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2 Weeks after purchase
Well my TV did the on/off cycle thing once so far. Note that I am not using the $80 power strip but the $30 strip. So I would suggest adding $80 to the price and get the power filter for sure. I am getting buged by the auido/picture sync. I am finding a couple of other's seeing the same problem. It comes and goes and is normally associated with a "live" broadcast. For example in the bid debate tonight it was very evident on all broadcasts in HD or not. It does not matter what combo of settings you try or if you use an analog or digital cable.
5 Nice TV and latest technology
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.
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Some more feedback on the picture and input modes after two weeks into the purchase:
The contrast ratio of this HLP series is really 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.
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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.
