Samsung LE-40M87BDX

I'm no expert but I'm looking to buy the Samsung LE-40M87BDX as it
seems to be the best overall spec in its price bracket (I'm looking in
and around £700):

1. Has anyone else got this screen - what do you think?
2. I only use my TV for DVDs and Freeview at the moment with no plans
to change in the short term - will my Freeview picture look any good
on the screen?
3. I was told and have read to get the highest contrast ratio I can
afford. The Samsung has a contrast ratio of 15000:1, but on other
screens that are considered as having a good picture their contrast
ratio is well under 10000:1. Have I got it wrong about the contrast
ratio? what is the most important factor in good picture?

Thanks.

On 31 Dec 2007, 16:32, tv wrote:
I'm no expert but I'm looking to buy the Samsung LE-40M87BDX as it
seems to be the best overall spec in its price bracket (I'm looking in
and around £700):

1. Has anyone else got this screen - what do you think?
2. I only use my TV for DVDs and Freeview at the moment with no plans
to change in the short term - will my Freeview picture look any good
on the screen?
3. I was told and have read to get the highest contrast ratio I can
afford. The Samsung has a contrast ratio of 15000:1, but on other
screens that are considered as having a good picture their contrast
ratio is well under 10000:1. Have I got it wrong about the contrast
ratio? what is the most important factor in good picture?

Thanks.

Contrast ratio is one thing and of course it makes a difference but I
am a firm believer that specs do not tell the whole story.
The sharpness and clarity of a moving pic (or lack of it) is what you
will probably notice most on an LCD TV.
Look at a good studio scene and look closely at the sharpness and
detail around, for example, someones head when it moves. Are they
surrounded by a fuzz? And how much fuzz. Do this with Freeview as this
is probably what you will use most and keep changing channels to get
an overview. Some broadcasts are much worse than others. I see a lot
of daytime progs whilst installing and some of the Auction progs and
housebuying progs seem to have generally poor pics so dont be too
hasty to make a judgement.
Don't just go by a shops demo of a HD source as this will not give you
any idea of normal broadcasts.
Listen to the sound, also. Most people dont until they get home and
are often less than impressed. I am not always that impressed with
Samsungs sound. A bit more boxy than some but you would need to play
around with the settings of each TV to really see the capabilities.
Look at the Panasonic Plasma. I am being really honest here as I dont
sell Panasonics but I have been impressed. I have no idea of the
price, though. For myself, I still prefer plasmas overall and Pan do
down to a 37".

In article 3800b727-da56-4ab7-80a9-
, Widgitt wrote:
Look at a good studio scene and look closely at the sharpness and
detail around, for example, someones head when it moves. Are they
surrounded by a fuzz? And how much fuzz. Do this with Freeview as this
is probably what you will use most and keep changing channels to get
an overview. Some broadcasts are much worse than others.

Bear in mind that a lot of the people currently responsible for setting
up news and documentary cameras appear to be unable to focus them
properly, the commonest problem being that the background of a talking
head shot is sharp but the person who is speaking is not just surrounded
by fuzz - they're all fuzz. This is probably exacerbated by the type of
digital compression that builds up detail from identical pictorial
detail in successive frames, and it looks bad enough on a CRT, so
presumably it's even worse on any flat screen display that uses more
digital processing.

Rod.

Thanks both, very good points. I hadn't thought of the quality of the
original footage being a factor in the final result, i.e. what you see
on screen.

I'm confused over the plasma v. LCD debate and have plumped for LCD
because it is newer technology, however I will look at the Panasonic
plasma. Any advise on models in the £700 range?

Does anyone know the difference between the LE40M87BDX and the Samsung
LE40M86BD?

Thanks

I'm confused over the plasma v. LCD debate and have plumped for LCD
because it is newer technology,


Buy a copy of issue 46 of "What Plasma and LCD TV" which I think is
probably still in the shops for a good comparison between Plasma and
LCD.

It is still generally accepted that Plasma has better preformance than
LCD although there are other factors to consider.

I sell and install a lot of both and would personally always go for
plasma at 42" and above (or 37" for the excellent Panasonic Plasma).
BUT as I do not have a big enough room I have a Humax LP32-TDR1 which
guves absolutely superb pictures with less digital "fuzz" around
moving objects than any other 32" that I have seen and excellent
colour rendition and contrast.
The pic from some of the better progs on BBC and ITV freeview really
are quite close to HD (and I am quite fussy)

"widgitt" wrote in message
...


I'm confused over the plasma v. LCD debate and have plumped for LCD
because it is newer technology,


Buy a copy of issue 46 of "What Plasma and LCD TV" which I think is
probably still in the shops for a good comparison between Plasma and
LCD.

It is still generally accepted that Plasma has better preformance than
LCD although there are other factors to consider.

I sell and install a lot of both and would personally always go for
plasma at 42" and above (or 37" for the excellent Panasonic Plasma).
BUT as I do not have a big enough room I have a Humax LP32-TDR1 which
guves absolutely superb pictures with less digital "fuzz" around
moving objects than any other 32" that I have seen and excellent
colour rendition and contrast.
The pic from some of the better progs on BBC and ITV freeview really
are quite close to HD (and I am quite fussy)


The M87 series suffers several known faults. I bought the 37" version back
in October and am taking it back tomorrow.