Customer Reviews

Samsung LNS4692D 46-Inch LCD HDTV

5 star:		(37)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

I have owned this set for 2-weeks now. No buyer's remorse. Excellent set I recommend. I spent several weeks evaluating and comparing many, many sets and determined this unit was the one. Went to several electronics stores to compare picture, features, looks, etc. Actually used the 'Call Me' feature on Amazon, which was an amazing experience with an immediate callback from a very helpful person who knew more about the various LCD TVs than anyone at 'regular' stores.

I decided that 1080i was all I needed at this point since the only thing in 1080p is blue-ray right now (the players will play in 720p/1080i though). Besides, my 20/15, lasik-enhanced eyes cannot tell the difference anyway.

The brightness and contrast ratio are excellent on this set. At first, I was a bit concerned only dynamic contrast was advertised, but compared side-by-side w/a JVC unit that had 1250 static and Samsung was right there.

Also, as a matter of practicality, decided I didn't need a cablecard for three reasons: 1) the current standard will be obsolete w/in a year, 2) my cable box is the size of a small book, and 3) may be going back to satellite soon anyway. Do you really need a set w/the current cablecard?

As for the looks, there isn't a better looking set out there. This is one good looking set and the people who have seen it are impressed. Big 'wow' factor. Everyone thinks it's a $5K unit.

I'm probably biased since I'm a huge fan of Amazon and have been for years, but there may be sites with this unit a little cheaper, but they probably aren't authorized dealers. If you go with Amazon, you can't go wrong and don't have to give your personal info to some no-name site. You can trust what you are getting and the service. For me, having a valid warranty and the trust is worth a few extra bucks (the differences I saw weren't big).

Oh yeah - a little secret: Samsung gives you a 3-month warranty extension if you register the product w/in 10-days of purchase. Not bad.

Now, what to do with that 53" rear projection...

OCT, 2006

The usual dilemma, what type of HDTV to get. I needed an HDTV to do it all. Watch DVD's, play XBOX360 & view HD as well as SD satellite signals. Furthermore, I dont have the room for DLP & I didnt want to step up to 1080P as this setup was to be for the basement where my 14 & 5 year old boys do most of their viewing (as well as myself). 720P it was!

Because of the large amount of video gaming I chose to stay away from the Plasma TV's due to burn in concerns . The basement being dark was perfect for plasma but I chose LCD anyway.The Samsung LN-S4692D LCD was chosen. 8ms response time and nice deep, dark blacks. And a VERY bright picture. When the white EA screen came up on NCAA07 I didnt have any lights on and could (and did) read the instruction manual by it.

The picture of this TV is beautiful. The reds can be overpowering but a quick change to the settings can alleviate the vivid colors that it comes default set at. The whites are very bright white, the blacks from what I can tell are deep and dark as already mentioned. i am not a professional videophile but the blacks look black to me, not dark grey.

We have played Fightnight 3, Elder scrolls oblivion, Ncaa07, Dead or alive4, Call of Duty 2. All look exceptional. I have only noticed a slight motion issue a few times while watching my sons playing. 8ms response seems to be good for the quick motion of video games.

We have watched the following DVDs: The Incredibles, Madagascar, King Kong & Titanic. They all looked great, including the dark scenes which 3 of these 4 moives have an abundance of.

The one area where this HDTV doesnt have an exceptional picture is SDTV signals. The picture is actually bad for this. Very blurry. Then again, if you buy an HDTV are you really doing it for the SD experience?!

I have this TV hooked up to the Yamaha RX-V1600 A/V Reciever and out to a 7.1 Axiom speaker setup. Upconverting Sony DVPNS75H DVD player and the Xbox360 round out the system. HDMI works flawlessly throughout the setup. the TV is wallmounted with the "30" to 50" universal tilt wall mount" and all wires are hidden in wall. great setup and no problems. The kids love it and the neighborhood kids use our basement as the location of choice for gaming.

EDIT DECEMBER 8, 2006. After using this TV for a few months and getting to know it better I have discovered that the blacks are good "for a LCD" but are not near what plasma or definitely CRT brings to the table.

Watching the "Cars" DVD in the very beginning when it shows a scene then goes to a black scene in repetition and I think Lightning McQueen is narrating is a perfect example of another issue. Ghost Images. Once the image goes to a black screen you see ghost images of the previous image. Also at the end of DVD's when the credits are shown on a black background the name or title will leave a ghost image until the black background changes to another color. It looks somewhat like a burn in on a plasma although on this LCD it goes away once the black screen changes to another color. Nothing permanant but for those that are detail oriented or are looking for the "perfect LCD" this may be a little nagging issue. I should mention that I have only noticed this while playing DVD's on my upconverting Sony DVD player, on HD programming I havent seen it (isnt that strange?).

These are the only two issues I really have with this TV, other than the previously mentioned SDTV reception being poor, and both are related to the ability of the set to display the color black. Other than that I find this to be a great HDTV for High Def programming.

[...]

I found this LCD on Amazon for $1000 less than any other dealer I could find. I use it mainly for Xbox 360 (no need to worry about burn in, since it's an LCD) and movies and I couldn't be happier. I have Directv HD and the standard definition channels do have some artifacts, but I blame that on Directv's terrible compression. HD channels look great.

If you want the best monitor for the lowest price, get this one! You wont be compromising anything.

I bought this after careful review and countless trips to the local stores. The picture on this unit is very impressive. There's really nothing out there that compares for the price. A number of factors made me decide on the LCD over plasma. Although still slightly pricier than a plasma, I believe it gives a sharper picture, although some may prefer plasmas which seem to have a slightly better skin tone. Another factor is the burn-in issue with plasmas - especially if you play games. As good as the picture is, the sound doesn't quite measure up to the quality of the picture. I'd recommend a separate system for the sound.

When you open the box, on the screen will be an ad for a dish company. I tried their regular digital (non-HDTV) service and I couldn't bear to look at it! For those who are considering a dish for their new HDTV, I would advise to NOT do it. Aside from locking yourself in for a 1-2 year service agreement, you get inferior quality picture - especially on a large screen such as this! It was so bad, I ate the cancellation fee (they charged me $135) and went back to cable. Remember, I'm comparing digital dish with cable. The digital cable seem to be better than regular cable, but they're both definitely a lot better than digital dish. In a couple of years, everything will be in HD so until then, I'll stick with cable.

Like a lot others here, I had some concerns about buying something so big (and expensive) through Amazon - although I'm a regular customer. But my faith in Amazon was well placed. The delivery people were courteous, set up the set, and connected it to cable to make sure that everything was working fine. What service! Great combination of quality picture, free delivery, no tax, best price and excellent delivery.

This unit is great. A couple of hints. 1, don't purchase those $129 6' cables, I got some from sears for $59.00 that are 10' long which produce a great picture, I mean really great. I did make the mistake of purchasing some cables on line which are 6'. They worked great, and for short money, but if you are going to wall mount the unit, you will probably need the 10' cables. If you are just mounting the unit on a table top, the 6' cables will do fine. If you want to buy some 6' cables cheep, contact me (atchemical1@aol.com). 2. You don't need the 1080P. At this time nothing is broadcast in 1080P, and there is nobody stating that it is the technology that will be the next standard. Look at the LNS4692D next to the LNS 4695 or 4696 on your next trip to circuit city. No diferance. Don't waste the $500 on the hope of getting a 1080P signal from your cable company. It's not comming soon!. 3. Conclusion, this unit is great.

After months of researching flat panels I finally decided on the Samsung LNS4692D for a couple of reasons. The first decision was Plasma or LCD with LCD winning out for two key reasons...(1) I have some light in the room, so the brightness of the LCDs was a positive, and (2) my kids will be doing some gaming on this TV, so the lack of burn-in issues was a plus. So, LCD it was and for me that came down to the two top players, Samsung and Sony. In the end I just couldn't see enough difference in the picture quality to pay the premium for the Sony, so Samsung it was. Final decision...1080i or 1080p. The Samsung LNS4695D looks great and sleek, but with the lack of content in 1080p for the foreseeable future, I couldn't see paying the $400-500 premium for it.

So I ordered the 4692D, an HDMI cable, upscaling DVD player, and the Mustang MV-TILT3 wall mount from Amazon. I used the free shipping and after placing the order around Dec. 3rd, Amazon said to expect it AFTER Christmas. Initial disappointment quickly waned as I followed the tracking showing it getting closer to my house. Arrived on Dec. 15th all in one piece without a scratch. The mounting was a piece of cake, just have to be very careful to ensure you're hitting wall studs. One small negative is that on this particular unit, the screws in the back of the TV holding the mounting brackets are slightly recessed. This requires the use of spacers on the back in order to use the screws that come with the mounting bracket. Not a big deal, but it probably puts the TV about 1/2" further out from the wall than it could be.

Dish Network showed up the next day to install the HD package and I must say the picture is unbelievable...just in time for bowl season!

What can I say that isn't just great (well there are a few very minor points, see below). After much review in retail stores and net navigation I was finally convinced by Amazon's pricing and service. Was a little concerned about buying a big ticket item over the internet but the security and ease was there with Amazon. Blown away with the fast free shipping an in home warranty (deal clincher). Oh BTW, picture quality is OUTSTANDING (even NTSC signals). Only a few minor concerns. First be careful what you rest the stand on because the plastic base will easily scratch wood furniture. Secondly I was disappointed with DVI out (cable box)to HDMI in (TV) connection. In fact went back to component connections for better quality. I would STRONGLY recommend this set to anyone wanting a great HD picture in a beautiful black set. Looks and performs like a much more expensive piece. Oh, BTW did I say the price and service from Amazon was great too! In fact watching the price on the LNS3292D for the bedroom.

This TV simply looks outstanding! I'm still amazed how crystal clear high definition is on this television. I also highly recommend purchasing this television on amazon.com...I did a lot of research and no other authorized Samsung deal came close to the deal through Amazon...can't beat no shipping and no sales tax! The one complaint, and a small one, is the clarity of non-high def stations. I would have expected a little clearer picture, but I still would recommned it since most stations will eventually go high def.

Unfortunately, I bought my Samsung at Best Buy for $6-700 more than Amazon is currently offering it. Nevertheless, I am extremely satisfied with this television. I did a lot of research regarding plasmas and DLP and the works, but when it came down to it, when I actually looked at the picture quality first-hand in the store, the choice was obvious.

I was so convinced that LCDs were strictly computer monitors because of the viewing angle problems that confined you to the very front of the monitor that I was fixated on plasma for quite a while. In actuality, this LCD had better and brighter viewing angle quality than any plasma or rear projection DLP that I looked at. The rear-projection DLP TVs went dark on either side of the 170 degree viewing angle, and also when you look up at them from any significant angle. The Samsung does not have this problem. The plasma screens were not nearly as bright as this one, and most plasmas that I looked at had at least a little annoying glare from either side of the viewing angle which is not an issue with the Samsung.

The screen-door effect (Google it) is a problem with LCDs, but if you are at least 5-15 feet away from the TV then this is not really an issue (which you should be if you are watching television anyways). This is the one area where plasma seems to have a slight advantage, although it's really only noticeable if standing very close to the TV. Also this seems to be more of an issue, from my perspective, with the cable transmission feed from Time Warner Cable-as my HD DVDs that I watch from my Xbox 360 player (added) are nearly flawless (and that is through component cable-albeit the Discovery HD channel is breathtaking if you sit back enough to nullify the pixilation problem. Much of the problem lies in the difference between older footage that has been unconverted to HD from regular film, as opposed to programs that are filmed using HD film on HD cameras and are broadcast in HD. As an example, try watching The Science of Star Wars on Discovery HD and during the parts filmed in HD you will believe a shiny yellow C-3PO is actually standing in your living room while watching on this TV.

Another minor issue that I have noticed with this TV is that depending on the color settings and what you are watching, sometimes the black shades can give off a greenish hue. To stifle this, I changed the color settings to accentuate the black by decreasing the brightness to somewhere between 0-25 and increasing the color and contrast to 75-100 using custom settings. Game mode has its own settings, and with my Xbox 360 I have not had anything other than outstanding graphics, especially with Gears of War. When switching to my computer input I have to change the color setting to Dynamic because my custom setting is not bright enough for normal computer use, but this is simplified by Samsung's easy to use P. Mode button which cycles through a list of color settings.

As far as inputs on the rear, the Samsung is fairly well equipped. With two HDMI inputs and an optical output for sound, you're sure to get great picture quality, as well as amazing surround sound (assuming you have a good home-theater system). This model also has a PC input via VGA jack (DB9), and although it would be nice if it was a DVI input instead, because 1) I don't use my computer for gaming because I have my Xbox 360 and 2) HDMI-DVI conversion cables are pretty easy to find nowadays, it's not really an issue.

Overall, considering brightness, picture quality, features, and sheer aesthetics of the unit itself (the dark black frame around the picture brings out the color nicely), this is one of the best I have seen. Albeit the 1080p version would push it over the edge, because most media is presented in at most 1080i nowadays, this model still does not leave much to be desired.

First of all let me say that I chose to purchase from Samsung because of the excellent service record according to other customers...believe me I read every review there was before purchasing my 46 inch flat screen TV.....since this latest experience though you can be sure that I will be voicing my own opinion. We purchased this television in November...it went bad on February 12th...I then contacted the service center Samsung recommended and was told that I would have to bring it in...thus having to wait until my husband got home on the 16th of February as it was too heavy for me...then the service center had it for a week before submitting the SAW to Samsung because of a faulty display...that was over a month and a half ago...now my husband called and was told that the Regional Service Engineer hasn't even approved a replacement! In the meantime my wall looks wonderful with the silver bars across it that are supposed to be holding a television..........