Customer Reviews

Samsung HLN507W 50-Inch Widescreen Projection HDTV with DLP Technology

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

If you associate Samsung with so-so quality sold cheap, forget it. This set produces a very impressive picture. I bought mine on the recommendation of the Chief Engineer of the television station we both work at. What makes this set so special is the DLP technology. There is no CRT. Instead, the picture is produced by a beam that strikes a chip that's about the size of a postage stamp into which 10,000 tiny mirrors have been imbedded (I have no idea how they pulled that off). The set, although a 50-incher, weighs only 80 pounds. My only complaint: the remote is flimsy. If you're out to buy an HD set, check out DLP (Samsung is not the only manufacturer with the technology). Not long after buying the Samsung, I bought a 34-inch 16:9 Sony WEGA HD set for another room in my house. It's picture is on par with the Samsung, although the sound is superior. Who'd ever thought Samsung would rival Sony? Sort of like Lexus and Mercedes.

Bob Jordan is impressed that there are 10,000 mirrors in here. Actually, there are 921,600. This is a great TV. An important feature: it has DVI-HDCP. In the future, possibly near future, this interface will be REQUIRED for premium HD content like Pay-Per-View movies, Showtime, HBO and perhaps even broadcast. If your HDTV doesn't have DVI-HDCP, it will be obsolete much too soon. Whether you buy this amazing DLP projector or another HD set, make sure you get that feature.

I bought this mainly for gaming and high quality movie watching.
It is utterly AMAZING! It has 3 s-videos, 3 components and even a DVI input for a computer. Let me tell you, Warcraft 3 or Starwars Galaxies in 50" High-Res format is BREATH-TAKING! It only weighs 80 lbs and I can carry it around like a suitcase!
I've had mine for awhile now since I got it through a wholesaler, but it is still the greatest t.v. out there.
PLASMA tvs may hang on a wall, but years from now when a plasma screen is looking distorted, the DLP will still look as fresh as it's birthday!
The gaming is superb on this set. Anything from Neo-Geo to X-box looks like your playing it on a computer monitor. If you have the 4k get this!

I'v had this for three weeks and still think this is the best HD moniter on the market. The picture quality really stands out in comparison.
I looked at DLP TV from RCA - Thomson and it looked like a lower resolution display, even though they say they use the same device from TI as Samsung.
The minor things noted in other reviews;

1. not the best at standard broadcast TV. Yes, if your only watching this - and no HD or DVD - than save your money. Especially if you view from 12 ft. away or less.I have Directv HD with a Pansonic receiver and a progressive scan DVD player hooked up and use them to get widescreen and HD programs.
Play the new Digital Video Essentials DVD on this system to see how good a picture can get.

2. Minor issue with audio timing to the picture when watching cetain broadcasts using the built in analog tuner. Using the Mute button repeatedly brings this out on my set. This should be fixable with a software upgrade from Samsung - when they are ready.

3. horizontal viewing angle is great - just as they say. But the vertical viewing angle is about 90 degrees max.(45 up or down), like other rear projection TVs. Set the TV at seated eye level and you won't even notice this.

I would have been nice to get a digital TV tuner built-in. Since Directv and cable make you use their tuners for DTV, it's not worth waiting for this feature.

I have not yet used the DVI and PC interfaces. I like the split-screen display using the PIP ( two tuners) in the set. Even the PIP as a window is clear.

2.

We purchased our set in April, and are very happy with it's size (narrow enough to fit and turn into our basement), and it's nice light weight. I also found the projection TV's to look like a large, heavy, black plywood box...mostly box and not that much TV. We are very happy with the DLP TV and it's clear sharp images.

Got my set last November, 2003 and I have had nothing but pure pleasure and enjoyment watching my digital cable feed, with HDTV, on this set. The bright tight colors are breathtaking. This is my first widescreen set and I'm glad that I waited and research this product. I also paired this with the Panasonic SC-HT900 and the DVD playback on this TV is mind boggling. Its that good. You can forget all your regular rear-projection TVs with the old-fashioned BIG BOXES (eg, Mitsubishi, Pioneer, etc.). This set is so sleek, light, and can be practically placed anywhere.

The one thing that I had to do extra was tweak the service menu and lightened up on the green colors which was a little abnormal with my set. This process is a little bit critical so save all your service menu settings before updating them. Changing the service menu data is a breeze, but I recommend talking to a Samsung rep if you are not sure which data fields to change. After my initial tweakage, it was television nirvana!

Forget direct-view, forget LCD, and really forget regular projection TVs. This set is the way to go. Its got DVI input and tons of features that I can't even begin to rattle off its many fine goodies! My one little peeve is its remote control. It's just okay. It could have been built more intuitively. That joystick is a little annoying to use. But this is just a minor flaw compared to its main power - its picture quality. Check it out at your local B&B and C&C. The picture doesn't lie.

We've had our TV for about a week now and although it looks great and we love it, I'm extremely annoyed by the humming sound it makes. Has anyone else experienced this problem?

Very sharp picture (when viewing HD broadcast or DVD). Vibrant colors right out of the box. No calibration needed.

Regular analog broadcasts, however, are inferior (which I believe is more a function of the larger screen size magnifying the imperfections of a non-HD signal).

Highly recommend obtaining HD cable service with this set. Locally, Comcast is offering HD service at $5/month. Plus they provide their own box with no charge for installation.

I was lured by the gorgeous HDTV picture. I loved this tv until it started to make a grinding noise. It came and went until it became unbearable. Research on the web revealed a common issue: failure of the color wheel. This, an archaic technology going back to the invention of the color tv, is a complete waste. It seems to have a life of 2-3 1/2 years. You need to replace it. It is expense to replace. I did so, but it would not go on. I replaced the lamp as suggested, it would not work. Then it was suggested to change the ballast. This still did not do it. I believe the DLP technology will go the way of the 8-track tape, the cassette, the VHS, the Edsel, the dodo...My Sharp Aquos LCD HDTV is amazing and a good value.

I have owned this model for almost three years. This model is flawed. I will be replacing the color wheel for the second time. I have yet to replace the lamp. My repair man states that this is a common problem with this model. Samsung has yet to resolve this issue.

I will have to replace the color wheel ($350) every three years...this is not worth it.