Customer Reviews

Samsung HLP4663W 46-Inch Widescreen DLP HD-Ready TV Monitor

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

The Samsung DLPs look fantastic while they are actually working. I would advise getting a service plan, however. I have had an earlier model for two years, and it has been riddled with problems. Because I bought a service plan, I have not paid for repairs, but the TV has been out of commission for a total of 3 months due to a long waiting period for replacement parts. Problems have included lamp failure, color wheel failure, and fan failure. Frankly, I would not purchase another one of these TVs due to the very poor reliability that I have experienced.

I've had TWO samsung DLP's and they both broke. They looked great when they work, but what good is that?! Their outsourced repair service is terrible. Buyer beware, get extended warranty if you're willing to deal with all the repairs. My TV has never gone more than six months without needing repair!

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.

I bought this tv in Sept 2004. In Jan 2006 a loud buzzing noise from the back of the tv started to appear and in Feb 2006 the tv went on the fritz.

I purchased an Product Service Plan from Best Buy and called them up. Amazingly, the closest repair center they had was in Jersey. They called me up and told me they would send someone over in 4 days. I took a day off from work but unfortunately, the repair guy only brought a lamp with him which did not correct the problem.

I scheduled another visit. 4 days later 2 guys show up with another lamp and another part. That didn't fix the problem either. I called Best Buy up and they said the repair guys wuold have to take the set in and try to fix it and would give them 3 wees. Of course they couldn't fix it.

After all of this, I sent Samsung an email telling them that I was disappointed in the quality of their products (a DVD player I bought from them the same day i bought the tv also crapped out). Samsung never responded with even a courtesy email. They are too arrogant these days. They seem to be concerned with growth rather than quality.

I will never buy another Samsung product again and will advcocate the same to everyone i know.

We got this TV a fews months back. We were impressed with the great picture quality and were excited for our new purchase. TWO days later, after very little use, that great picture was gone and all we had was audio. The lamp went out. We never bothered to get it fixed, we returned it right away! There is nothing like dropping $2,000 on something and having it bust in two days. We opted to spend a little more money on a Sony LCD and we are SO happy with it. Sometimes I still hold my breath when we are turning it on, but we have had NO problems yet. Do your research!

Just a quick review to say that I bought this TV in May 2005, and it still works perfectly in January 2011. I even moved it from Los Angeles to DC, it sat in storage for a month, and still works perfectly. I haven't even had to buy a new lamp yet, and it's on maybe 3 hours a day.

I've had my Samsung DLP TV only a few years and have always been happy with it. About a month ago we noticed a fairly loud buzzing/humming/whirring noise right after the TV was turned off. Now the noise occurs every time the set is turned on. It's loud enough that you can't watch the TV. Of course the warranty was only 1 year so I guess it's to the shop for me. The set was expensive and I am very disappointed and would not recommend this product due to this reliability issue.