92 of 96 people found the following review helpful:
Great Picture and Sound - Port Selection was interesting
This is a new model (out March 2009), and is the just released 'B' version of the popular, judging by the many reviews, samsung 'A' version 32 inch TV. I wanted a TV with an excellent value for a 32 inch TV with a good 720p picture and sound. The picture is actually fantastic and looks good on the standard setting and really stunning at the dynamic setting (if the room...
65 of 85 people found the following review helpful:
Returned mine to Walmart...
I bought this TV from Walmart about three weeks ago... and returned it three days later.
I typically do lots of research before buying anything in this price range but, trusting the Samsung quality and ignoring the little voice in my head telling me not to "impulse shop", I went ahead and bought it anyway. Couple issues I noted right away:
This review is from: Samsung LN32B360 32-Inch 720p LCD HDTV (Electronics)
This is a new model (out March 2009), and is the just released 'B' version of the popular, judging by the many reviews, samsung 'A' version 32 inch TV. I wanted a TV with an excellent value for a 32 inch TV with a good 720p picture and sound. The picture is actually fantastic and looks good on the standard setting and really stunning at the dynamic setting (if the room is light enough), and in the store looked slightly better then Sony Bravia S-Series KDL-32S5100 32-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV, Black even though that TV is a 1080p one. I did a visual comparison of the two for a while in the store becuase I was trying to justify going 1080p but couldnt since this picture seemed better even at 720p. If I could, I would have gone for the Sony BRAVIA XBR KDL-32XBR9 32-Inch 1080p 120Hz LCD HDTV which looked the best though for a 32 inch overall.
720p vs 1080p:
I couldn't understand why a 1080p TV would make a difference with this size of TV, since I sit about nine feet away and at that distance I don't think you could tell - at least the PC input is small enough and sharp enough that I can read web pages comfortably from my couch but if it were any smaller it would be too small/detailed. I dont think I would use more than 720p detail unless I wanted to see more web page content on the screen and planned to sit about 4 feet away. The TV has exactly the same resolution asToshiba Satellite U305-S2804 13.3-inch Laptop (Intel Core 2 Duo T5450 Processor, 2 GB RAM, 160 GB Hard Drive, Vista Premium) which is what I plugged into the PC input and looks identical to that screen. Also, most Hi Def inputs to my TV aren't more than 720p anyway. I think one over the air station is 1080i.
Standard DEF Input Handling:
For 480i or standard def inputs at a non wide screen resolution, such as those from my cable box, it handles it extremely well. However, I have a digital cable box (verizon QIP6416-2) with an HMDI, component, svideo, and RCA even though the signal I get is only standard def. I didn't want to use up an HDMI port on the TV so I tried connecting the component but the color didn't work. This is an issue with the cable box, not the TV. I had to use the HDMI in the end since there was no s-video (a small negative for this TV) and didnt want to use the RCA. On the plus side, this TV has a great setting called wide fit/move that slightly streaches and zooms a 4/3 picture to fit the 16/9 widescreen. The move comes into play if you have channel that has scrolling text that becomes cut off at the bottom, so you can nudge the picture up a bit (which chops off the top more but you need to make a comprimose somewhere).
Shines with HD inputs:
When I hooked the component connections up to an HD upscaling DVD player Samsung DVD-HD860 Up-Converting DVD Playerthough that worked perfectly with the component connection. My beloved Roku Roku Digital Video Player box is using the 2nd HDMI connector which looks great, and the over the air antenna CLEARSTREAM2 Antenna brings in over the air free HD on about 20 HD channels. All the HD sources (laptop, antenna, roku, upscaling DVD) really shine. Sound is good and I don't feel I need to get add on home theater sound since I dont turn the TV up loud. I guess an extra HDMI connection would have been nice, especially since there was no S-video, but I still give the TV 5 stars as it is a new model and is thus forward looking.
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This review is from: Samsung LN32B360 32-Inch 720p LCD HDTV (Electronics)
I badly needed a new television, and decided on a whim to head to best buy and see what was available. I hadn't been shopping for tv's in around 7 years, and from what I remembered that was when plasmas were amazing but all cost upwards of $4,000, and LCD, as a technology, just wasn't there yet. To my amazement the TV's in the store, even those well under $1,000, all looked fantastic. I settled on this tv after comparing it, endlessly, to other 32-inch models by Sony, Toshiba and LG. The Samsung had the best clarity, image depth and color. For only $550, this TV is gorgeous...standard cable looks good, DVD looks fantastic, and HD is just amazing. After initially thinking I wanted a 1080p HD, not 720p, I realized that in this size it just doesn't matter, and isn't worth the extra money. In all honesty, I felt like the 1080p image in this size television is a bit too sharp, a bit too bright and a bit too clear...it almost makes everything look like a cartoon or a video game. In the end, you really can't beat this television...the internal speakers sound great, it looks damn sexy in any room, and the picture quality makes you wonder why you paid so little...
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This review is from: Samsung LN32B360 32-Inch 720p LCD HDTV (Electronics)
Much like many of the other customers who purchased the Samsung 32" B Series LCD television, I too, did MUCH research before buying this television. After going to Target, Walmart, BestBuy, and various online stores, I decided to purchase the Samsung after MANY comparisons, and for only $499.99 at BestBuy.
Between the price, brand name, and overall quality we can expect from Samsung, it just made sense to buy this television set over Sony. This television was bought with the intention of not spending more than $500 and having it perform at least above average for my bedroom.
Upon looking at comparable televisions, the Samsung had an AMAZING picture. It was EXCEPTIONALLY clear and very clean, new, and expensive looking. The options were exactly what I wanted: Computer input, 2 HDMI cable inputs, and multiple component inputs. It was 720P but after speaking with many owners and doing more and more research, it just isn't worth the money to purchase a 1080p TV set ($700+) when you WON'T be able to tell ANY real difference under 40" television sets - THAT IS A GUARANTEED FACT!
Hope that helped....
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This review is from: Samsung LN32B360 32-Inch 720p LCD HDTV (Electronics)
I've had mine for three days now and could not be more pleased. The picture is crystal clear, the colors are deep and the contrast is great. Good sound and easily set up, didn't have to consult the owners manual once. The remote is laid out well and everything is easy to access. The only minor thing I don't care for is how you access the sleep mode timer. Unlike most remotes with a dedicated button for the sleep timer on it, you have to open a menu and drill down to set the sleep timer. As this is a great bedroom size, this could be a slight annoyance for those who use the sleep timer function a lot. That is the only con I have on this beautiful TV. This TV has a lot of high end features such as being able to name the various inputs, such as calling HDMI 1 as Satellite, HDMI 2, as DVD etc. I'm very happy with mine and for the money, its fantastic.
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This review is from: Samsung LN32B360 32-Inch 720p LCD HDTV (Electronics)
I bought this TV from Walmart about three weeks ago... and returned it three days later.
I typically do lots of research before buying anything in this price range but, trusting the Samsung quality and ignoring the little voice in my head telling me not to "impulse shop", I went ahead and bought it anyway. Couple issues I noted right away:
1. The speakers would "pop", but randomly. It might go one minute with hardly a pop, then you would hear six or seven in a matter of seconds, but it was subtle... often getting drown out by the volume itself. But, once you noticed it for the first time, it was hard to ignore. Im guessing these were the result of defective speaker(s).
2. Being in the least used room, I had this TV hooked up to our lone standard definition cable (satellite) box. While having read about blurred images in fast moving scenes on LCD's, I thought modern technology had pretty much eliminated this old shortcoming. I was wrong. I wasnt watching sports either, I was watching the 10 o'clock news. It seemed whenever the news anchor turned their head, their head would stop just a split second before the image seemed to fully catch up. My other two hi-def TV's are plasma and rear-projection LCD (modern tech only 5 years ago but now hard to find) and I had never noticed that shortcoming on either of them (but nor was their technology known to suffer from this).
What else? Even had the speakers not "popped", I thought the sound quality was poor. It doesnt help that the speakers are built into the bottom frame facing down... meaning they are firing into the TV stand instead of out towards your ears. Why some manufacturers are doing this is beyond me. Again, being in our least used room, this TV was going to be stand alone... not hooked up to a receiver and alternate speakers. Lastly, as others have stated about "piano black" finishes, its looks nice but attracts finger prints, hair, dust, etc.
I know Samsung typically makes a quality HDTV product, but I think trying to appeal to the lower end of the price spectrum will cause companies to perhaps take shortcuts that they wouldnt make on their higher end sets. That being said, of all the other 32 inch HDTV I viewed at Walmart, I thought this one had the best picture... in the store anyway. :)
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This review is from: Samsung LN32B360 32-Inch 720p LCD HDTV (Electronics)
I absolutely love my new Samsung LN32B360 720p LCD HDTV!!!!
I knew I would like this t.v. the moment I took it out of the box. Although I was somewhat disappointed with this flat panel t.v having only 2 HDMI ports, I quickly got over it once turned it on. The picture quality this t.v. is amazing and the sound coming from it's speakers definitely impressed me to say the least. The t.v screen looks good from almost any angle. I'm happy with my purchase and I would definitely recommend this t.v to any who's in the market for buying a new lcd hdtv under 40" and won't put a huge whole in their wallet. I think 720p is sufficient for flat panel televisions under 40 inches. I think getting a 1080p flat panel t.v. under 40" would be a waste of many if you're buying it for the sole purpose of watching 1080p (1920x1080) resolution.
I want to share my calibrated picture settings for this model t.v. with anyone who's looking to optimize their viewing pleasure. I'm content with these settings and I hope you find theses settings satisfying as well. Give Me Feedback on these settings. Tell me what you think or share your own picture settings.
Picture Settings For Samsung LN32B360
--Picture Menu
Mode: Movie
Backlight: 6
Contrast: 85
Brightness: 44
Sharpness: 9
Color: 57
Tint: G50/R50
Advanced Settings Submenu
Black tone: Off
Dynamic contrast: Off
Gamma: 0
Color space: Auto
Flesh tone: 0
Edge enhancement: Off
Picture Options Submenu (Inside Picture Menu)
Color tone: Warm2
Size: Screen Fit
Digital NR: Off
HDMI black level: Low
Film mode: Auto
--Setup Menu
Game Mode: Off
Energy saving: Off
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This review is from: Samsung LN32B360 32-Inch 720p LCD HDTV (Electronics)
I bought this Sammy to replace a wall mounted box TV in a bedroom. What a drastic improvement it made! Due to the compact size of the flat screen, it replaced a 21" box. The price was comparable to a Vizio at my local Walmart. I'll take a Sammy over a Vizio anytime. It came as specified in just a few days, mounted to the Cheetah wall mount I purchased here on Amazon, and I was enjoying the set in no time. I only rated it 4 stars due to the pic being 720, which for a 32" is good for a bedroom or den IMO. I think it would come up a little short for a home theater unit (what are you expecting for around $450!). All in all, It's a good set with enough features to satisfy the needs of most at a good price. Thanks Amazon for offering the Sammy at a Vizio price!
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This review is from: Samsung LN32B360 32-Inch 720p LCD HDTV (Electronics)
After my good old "regular tube" tv just stopped working last week, I started looking into a new replacement television--boy was I confused! A lot has happened in electronics in the past 10 years! As someone who is not a high tech expert, I just wanted a tv that was inexpensive, , easy to use, and not loaded with stuff I would never use.
I started talking with salespeople at BestBuy, Walmart, and Sears, and they all told me to go with a Samsung or a Sony. After reading reviews on this site and others, I decided to narrow my search to the Samsung models as the Sony 32" models seems to have a lot of problems with "boards" within the first year----so, a Samsung it would be.
I found the 32" model on sale in several places, all around the $450 mark.(my limit was $500) Went to BestBuy where they price match, and got an open box model for even less---$399! Score!
The tv was easy to set up (even for me! I really am NOT an electronics kind of guy) and within minutes I had an amazing picture off this set! I do NOT have cable, and am using only a digital antenna to get the signal, and still the picture is incredible! The pre-set settings for color, sound and such are just fine for me, and even though the sound comes out the bottom of the set, it sounds just fine to me. (other people reviewed that the sound was tinny and weak) I have only had the tv for 3 days now, so I am still getting used to this large , clear, defined picture, but so far so good! (you really DO see things much clearer, especially peoples faces) I would definitely recommend this television to people who arent totally into the whole "I need the top of the line television with all the bells and whistles".Depending on where you are, you should be able to pick this up for around $450-$475.
Hope I am just as happy 2 years from now!
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This review is from: Samsung LN32B360 32-Inch 720p LCD HDTV (Electronics)
This is my first LCD tv, and I couldn't be happier with my purchase. I am a student, and I needed something at the entry level price range, but I wanted something that I could feel confident purchasing. The picture quality is gorgeous, and the sound is pretty good too. I do not use the tv speakers as I run the sound through a receiver, but without one the sound is just fine. If you plan to watch Air signal programming, be sure to buy the antenna as well since you will need it to complement the tv's built-in tuner. Overall, I am a happy couch camper with this gorgeous LCD.
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This review is from: Samsung LN32B360 32-Inch 720p LCD HDTV (Electronics)
If you're in need of a quality, bargain LCD, this model is pretty good. After researching this and the Vizio brand, I went first hand to the nearest store carrying both. It seemed the Samsung was brighter and more clearer in all of it's model's. I don't subscribe to my cable provider's HD programming, but it was a major upgrade to my clunky 22" CRT. It was also evident in the weight department, having to strain moving around the smaller 22" CRT (couldn't even fit the box it came in into my car) while I carried the LCD like a suitcase. Basic inputs, sturdy stand, and overall good picture quality are available with this model. If you don't want to break the bank, looking for an extra tv, or simply want to upgrade to better technology, you can't go wrong with this Samsung model.
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