Customer Reviews

Samsung TXM3096HF 30" Widescreen DynaFlat HDTV-Ready TV

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

 

 

Purchased the Samsung 3096HF 30" widescreen HDTV monitor after MUCH shopping around, reading of customer reviews and comparisons with other models. I knew I wanted an HDTV monitor that could handle HDTV of the future and also would look great with my Yamaha progressive scan DVD player.

It came down to this model and the Samsung 32" that has the exact same features in a 4:3 picture frame. My wife talked me into the widescreen model, and I'm glad she did.

I've had the set up and running for about a week now. You've probably read the initial complaints: too much red push. Well, you're going to get that with just about every HDTV tube monitor out there. You can easily adjust the set to your own preferences in color, sharpness, contrast and brightness. It took me 2 or 3 days of tinkering to get it just right, but finally I'm really happy with the TV's picture.

No, it doesn't look as good as the comparable Sony model. But you're talking about [more $$] for the Sony. To me, it just wasn't worth it. You get a ton of great features in the Samsung ...--HDTV capabilities, 3:2 pulldown processing, a widescreen model. No, it isn't the BEST television on the market, but I assure you it's the best widescreen HDTV set you'll find for under a thousand bucks.

There are one or two little nitpicky complaints I could make about it, but nothing that would keep me from recommending your purchase of this set. Like I said, I've had it for a week and every day I like it more. DVD picture quality is awesome and great in a widescreen mode. Regular TV broadcasts through satellite are also very good; the 4:3 picture is stretched to fit the widescreen but the TV isn't so big that it's noticeable as on larger, rear projection widescreens.

I recommend the set wholeheartedly. If you have two grand to blow, then spend it on a Sony, but if you're on a tight budget like me but you still want high-end features on a direct-view, tube set, this is a good one.

For what it's worth, at [$$] I was told by a guy at one of the retail stores I visited that there was very little markup on it. Don't know if that's true, but thought I'd pass it along...

This item is a great set. The controls are easy to use once you get used to them. However, you'll break your back getting this weighty monster into your car (huge box!). The picture is good, however not as clear as a Sony or Mitsubishi HDTV-ready monitor. The widescreen is how these HDTV's should be, and for the price and the overall quality - it's the best bargon around town. I got mine for ($$$) at (LOCAL STORE). But with tax, it cost ($$$). If you can wait the 3 weeks to get it, you might as well get it with no tax and no shipping charge and let them deliver it!

my girlfriend and i decided we wanted to upgrade to a better TV, after lots of pondering and looking, we went on the 30 in 16:9 samsung Hd. What a TV. I personally think samsung is one of the best companies out there. they have made a terrific tv with great features at a great price. when watching an HD broadcast, the picture is nothing less than supurb.
If you are looking at buying a HDTV monitor, and dont want to drop a small fortune... go with this model. also, spend the extra cash and nice Monster component cables to hook everything up. i thought it was a joke, but the higher end cables DO make a Large diffrence.
the ONLY fallback to this TV... weight. but this might have been worse for us than some people considering we had to lug it up to our 3rd floor apartment.
overall, this is probably the best TV i have owned to be user-friendly. the menus are easy to navigate, and you dont need to be a rocket scientist to program and use the remote with other components.
Get a great picture, get easy hookup, user freindly manual, watch DVDs in widescreen without sacrificing picture size, get amazing HDTV broadcasts, this is just a small list of the many things this model has to offer.

As far as the negative reviews all I can say is any television and especially an HDTV needs adjustments when you first set it up.

No matter what brand you buy, the factory settings are always lousy, especially contrast. And on this set the Dynamic, Movie, and Standard settings Do Not give you a good picture. Use the Custom option and fine tune your settings.

Turn the contrast way down to around 30. All sets . . . Toshiba, Sony, Panasonic . . . come with contrast set way too high and this is the first thing you need to adjust. Same for brightness and sharpness. Sharpness should be way down in the 10 -12 range and brightness in the 30's range. This will also save your picture tube especially during the first 100 hours when all sets, HDTV or Standard, go through a break in period.

Don't expect standard cable to be magically transformed into a crystal clear picture cause it ain't gonna happen. Some stations will look better but some may look worse. It depends on how good your cable signal is and this will vary from station to station.
You might need to change some of your connections . . . especially the RF cable and the RCA composites. But don't buy overpriced Monster cables . . . you'll be paying for hype and retail mark up and may actual get worse results.

The one source that will really show you how good this set is are DVD's which look fantastic when you connect with component cables. I'm using a Panasonic progressive scan DVD player, but have it set to interlace because the Samsung de-interlacer creates a much better picture.

The TXM3096WHF is a great entry level set. And that's where we are with HDTV . . . . it's just beginning and it's gonna have bugs that will be ironed out over time. At this price you won't feel [taken] if you want to replace it in 2 or 3 years. But you might feel [taken] with a more expensive Toshiba or Sony set, because you're gonna want to replace one of those, too.

I actually purchased the txm3097whf which has all the same features as the txm3096whf, plus it boasts the BBE sound with an added 10 watts to the total power (which really makes no difference if you are using a home theater system) and the Picture-in-picture feature. I purchased this set for my dorm room because it is an excellent size for a small room. The picture is excellent considering the price. Obviously the large HDTV's at a much higher price will produce better quality. However, if you are on a budget this set is an perfect example of the wonder of digital television. A progressive scan dvd player is a must with such a set. I decided to go with sony's new dav-c770 home theater system, which is quite impressive and delivers nice sound. However, the sub is underpowered, and remember I'm using this for a dorm room which is only about 10x12, so my needs may differ from yours somewhat. As far as going with a samsung rather than an sony, toshiba, or any other leading brand, I too was somewhat skeptical. Nonetheless, I must say that I am very pleased with the results I have seen with this set. After much deliberating and research I decided to bring this one home, and have not been disappointed thus far.

I was really high on Samsung because of their excellent prices, so I went out and purchased the TXM3097HF a slightly different model then this one, but with the exact specs. Upon intital setup the TV needed lots of adjustments pariculaly with the colors, my set had a very strong red push, one thing positive is this set has a high contrast ratio, it was very bright. After playing with the adjustments of the TV, I connected my XBOX and PS2 to it, and I exerienced very mixed results, theline doubling on this TV is horrible at best it produced a tremendous amount of visual artifacts on the screen, especially with PS2, and alot with the XBOX as well. The most glaring distortion is the edges of the screen about 6-inches on each side of the TV the tube appears VERY pixelated and you can see several lines of the TV's screen which really hampers image quality BIG TIME! Games and DVD's looked pixelated and almost interlaced on the edges of the TV, I went to Best Buy and Sears and to see the same TV to make sure I did not get a bad TV but the sets at these stores also had this same problem. Not a good picture from edge to edge, the tube is great in the middle but the pixels are very stretched on the edges. One thing if you are XBOX gamer or enjoy local HDTV Broadcasts this TV DOES NOT SUPPORT 720 Progessive Scan which is really a letdown when it receives a 720P signal the TV just goes blank, no signal! I ended up taking my set back which is a strong statement since I got the set delivered for a [good price]. Samsung really needs to improve on the line doubler on this TV and also add a DVI to the set, but as I said you get what you pay for with this TV. I could have kept this set if not for the stretched pixels on the corners, I recently purchased a Sony and the difference in quality is UNBELIEVABLE!

I originally bought a Sony KVP-32HS20 at Best Buy (open box for [money]--BIG MISTAKE) and had electrical problems with it. A flash, like static electricity or something would flash through it so I took it back and got a Samsung TXM3296HF. Something was wrong with the screen on that model because everything looked warped, and the TV was too big for my entertainment center, so I took that back and got the TXM3096WHF. So far so good, especially with a progressive scan DVD player (Sony DVP-NS715P) All of my DVD's are in Widescreen format so this TV handles them pretty well. The line doubler isn't so great though because the picture sometimes still looks jagged. I miss the Sony's picture clarity, but for [that much], it's just too expensive for me. I have Comcast Digital Cable and the picture looks [bad] because the signal is [bad], so I am going to get satellite soon to see if there's a difference. In any case, I'm satisfied with the Samsung but it definitely doesn't look as good as the Sony.

I'm very pleased with my TXM3096HF. (I notice with some chagrin that the negative reviews listed for this model seem to be ACTUALLY for a different model, the TXM3097HF).
My biggest gripe about the TXM3096HF is the annoying remote control requires far too much fiddling, particularly when selecting the source (one must cycle through the choices, there is no direct one-button access to a particular source).
Being a movie fan, I really love the 16:9 aspect ratio and the hi-def picture.
My previous TV was a top-of-the-line Sony-XBR. The Samsung is sure better value-for-money!

Had my set now for 6 months.For the price and watching Dvd's with progressive scan it can't be beat.Purchased a Sony 36XBR at the same time.The Samsung still has the best picture.If your looking for a TV for your Home Theater and don't want to spend a fortune this set is for you.And for you skeptics out there.My whole family owns HDTV's that cost 1000's more and they will all tell you the pic on this set is outstanding.Just buy quality cables and a line conditioner and your set.And as you all know there are alot of HDTV's coming around.Just remeber technology is growing fast with HDTV's.Also when your in the store buying, it is the worst place to watch TV's because of lighting.Most sets on display are not calibrated for the conditions there in.With a good calibration disc this set shows outstanding details.And all this for under 1000.00.I give it a 6 out of 5 stars because of the price.

...and probably the least known. This TV is an unbelievable deal, well worth the price. It is one of the cheapest ways to get into the HDTV market, and you will not regret the leap. It is hard to justify spending [a lot of money] on a digital TV when there are little or no Digital signal sources available, but this price point makes the argument a moot point. Use it to watch progressive scan DVD's in unparalleled quality, or watch digital cable or satelite broadcasts the way they were meant to be watched. You will enjoy this well built TV for many years to come.