Samsung LN40C630 40-Inch 1080p 120 Hz LCD HDTV (Black) Home Theater

TV: 40 inch LCD 1080p Samusung LN40C630
Source: Home Theater PC (HTPC), Over-the-Air (OTA), Netflix
Receiver: Onkyo HT-RC160
Speakers: Klipsch HD Theater 500 5.1-Channel Home Theater
Sony Playstation 3
Sony Playstation 2
Nintendo Wii
Hauppauge HD-PVR ( for recording video game footage)
Rocketfish Universal Wireless Rear Speaker Kit RF-WHTIB
External 500gb HDD (next to receiver)

Onkyo HT-RC160

Why This LCD?

Why does this HDTV deserve a spot in your home? Of the different Samsung models… 530, 550, 630, 650, it is the 630 that gives you the best deal.

Refresh Rates.

The 5-series is cheaper, but offers refresh times only to 60Hz, compared 120Hz with the 630. It makes a difference! 120Hz produces at least twice as many frames-per-second! Movies and sports are fluid and more realistic.

Response Time.

The 5-series is a 6ms response time, while the 6-series is 4ms. For a gamer, the 2ms difference is significant.

Contrast Ratio.

Why the 630 over the 650? The difference is contrast ratio. The 630 is 80,000:1 contrast ratio. That produces an extraordinary display depth. At about 70,000 – 100,000 range, it’s hard too see them improving much beyond this (much higher for LEDs).

Sure the 650′s contrast ratio is higher, but the increased cost is not worth it for the picture it produces.

Stand.

The stand requires assembly. It is not difficult, fortunately! It only took 9 screws (already in the box). Try to get a power-screwdriver. Directions suggested 2 people, but it was done solo for my setup!

What Is The Verdict?

If price is no issue, just get a LED HDTV. If you want to get the best deal, this Samsung LN40C630 HDTV is the way to go.

Samsung LN40C630 40-Inch 1080p 120 Hz LCD HDTV (Black)

Your HDTV size dictates how far you should sit from it.

Let’s consider the biggest screen at a certain distance for viewing.

Creating A Movie Experience.

There is a “Visual Cue” called “Intervention” to consider for viewing distance.
Intervention is…

• To insert or introduce between parts;
• To place (oneself) between others or things;
• To Intervene.

When the screen edges are viewed, it may create an intervention. You see film and the edges of the screen with the room as a background. For movies, there should be no “intervention” to interfere with the movie experience. To remove intervention, you need to increase screen size.

What Is The Best Size To Get?

It’s not an exect science. From my testing, I have found my own method.

Sit very close to your screen and relax your eyes while watching a movie. Rather than having your eyes alert and focused, instead relax and slightly squint while intently looking at the screen.

While watching the movie, close one eye. With the other, look at the picture from the top left to bottom right. If I could not see everything, I moved back a bit.

Use This Simple Formula.

Measure the height of your screen, from top to bottom, but do not include the frame. You only want the actual physical display that shows the image.

Multiply the height you get by 1.5. That is the distance you need to sit to see the entire picture easily. For a 60 inch HDTV, you would sit 90 inches away from the screen.

3D and Blu-Ray.

With 3D and blu ray, you need a TV with even less intervention artifacts than other HDTV content. Yet, moderation is important, which means don’t get a screen that’s too big! You won’t see the whole picture.

What Is Best For A Very Large Screen?

The biggest pictures are best viewed with a projector and projection screen.

Samsung UN55C7000 1080p 240 Hz 3D 55-Inch LCD LED HDTV (Black)

Colors.

The UN55C7000, like some Samsung displays, struggles with RGB colorspace using HDMI. When measuring color decoding and gamut, it was significantly different (poorer) after switching from YCbCr to RGB using HDMI. For certain pattern generators, it could be an issue, such as video game consoles, or DVI based sources.

Artifacts.

There were occasional but brief moments of motion blur. Just as with the LG LH90, it was not distracting. The “flashlighting” of the LED backlight during test patterns and program guides, can be noticeable. However, watching regular program material lacked noticeable pumping or fluctuation.

Performance.

The C7000 is an improvement on the B7000. It adds a 3D capability. Calibrate it, watch it on axis, and tilt the screen down when mounted high. Light output is sufficient to cope with bright rooms. Just remember to position it to minimize glare.

The C7000 uses the edgelit LED technology and not the local dimming LED technology. Yet, it is still a fantastic set and a dream for the calibration fanatic.

3D Viewing.

After calibrating a UN55C7000, I looked at its 3D performance with 3D glasses. The set lets you choose movie mode in 3D mode. There is independent memory for 3D movie mode that is separate from regular movie mode. This requires totally different settings for 3D movie mode. This included changing contrast, white balance, and the backlight.

I watched a 3D-native Blu Ray movie, using a 3D-ready Samsung BD player. Most viewing was before calibration, but it was later compared to the 3D action after calibration.

Watching the 3D Movie.

There was a distinct shadow around objects even after using the 3D glasses. The glasses seemed to reduce the shadow by 70%. Yet, a distracting 30% remained.

There was a good 3D effect. Since it was an animation, it was difficult to judge picture quality. The experience was interesting, despite the distracting shadows. The glasses seemed to distort things in unexpected ways. Image geometry appeared slightly wavy (possibly slight imperfections in the lens surface of the glasses).

2D in 3D.

Standard 2D material converted to 3D. The 3D processing could be turned down so the shadow was much less noticeable. Yet, the overall 3D effect was much reduced, as expected. The effect was still noticeable and added a slight sense of 3D depth.

At times, it felt the middle of the screen was being pulled away from me. It was like someone attached silly putty to the screen center. They then pulled it towards the back wall. It was fun and interesting, but not very realistic or lifelike.

3D Impressions.

It’s hard to say if I would use 3D. For normal viewing, I would avoid it, except as a novelty. Real 3D movies would probably not be very enjoyable, because of the shadow and unrealistic effect from the glasses. Yet, it was still fun to experience.

White Balance/Gamma.

There could be a potential problem with 10 point white balance/gamma settings. High contrast settings are best. When contrast settings are near 100, the points line up properly with minimal interaction. However, at lower contrasts (low 90′s), when you try to eliminate whiter-than-white color shift, the 10 point system is slightly displaced. This makes calibration difficult and leads to too much improper interaction.

With a contrast setting near 100, the 10 point works perfectly. At reduced settings (mid 90′s), it works well. Just expect some displacement and more interaction. For lower settings, the displacement is unacceptable.

Samsung UN55C7000

Recently, I spent some time with the new, 3D-ready, Samsung C7000 series 46-inch LED LCD.

Appearance & Performance.

The UN46C7000 is very sleek looking. It has an extremely thin profile. However, the reflective screen shows a bit of glare in a well-lit room. The LED backlight extinguishes once the set has a 0% black signal for just a few seconds. When it happens, blacks are amazingly dark. Anything above the 0% signal, such as for just a small area of the screen, the LEDs light up and make the blacks glow in a light controlled room.

Black Levels.

The main disadvantage to the C7000′s is its edge lit LED technology, as opposed to the local dimming LED technology of the B8500. One small area of the picture causes the entire screen to glow black levels. Ideally, it should just be the area near the picture, as with the B8500.

When the LEDs on the C7000′s are lit, there is a bit of unevenness across a black screen. The corners are slightly brighter than other areas. There are a few cloudy or milky looking areas. Overall, it was not as severe as in last year’s B7100.

White Levels.

Whites are basically uniform across the screen, yet not quite perfect. I noticed a very slight cooler tone to the whites on the screen’s left side. It’s not noticeable enough to be seen by most home theater enthusiasts, including picky ones. However, if watch a lot of hockey, it could be noticeable.

Off-axis viewing.

The C7000′s poor off-axis display could bother some owners. Colors and contrast wash-out noticeably only a few feet from dead center.

Adjustment Options.

The C7000′s picture adjustments in movie mode has many controls that give you an incredible amount of choices for fine-tuning the picture. For instance, the advanced menu has an optoin called “shadow detail”, which boosts dark objects. It does not “wash-out” the overall image. “Wash-out” was a real weakness of earlier models.

Stand-out Options.

“Expert pattern” has useful test patterns. If you own a good test disc, this option is not a big deal.

“RGB only mode” sets color isolation. It is a better way to set color adjustments than with the colored filters on test discs.

10-point white balance & Gamma

The most outstanding setting is the 10 point white balance/gamma adjustment. It works with the familiar white balance cuts and gains. First set gamma, brightness, contrast, shadow detail, and conventional white balance adjustments. Then, use calibration gear to set color emphasis at certain brightness levels and improve the brightness ratio as the set adjusts from dark to bright images.

10 point adjustment changes work reasonably well. It is more predictable and less quirky than LG’s 10 point adjustment. The Samsung’s problem is its steps are too coarse at lower adjustments. From 1 through 3, a 1-click adjustment makes too large a shift in actual output. This left some uneveness at the low end of the grayscale tracking. Still, it was still a BIG help. When you combine it with shadow detail control, it produces much better visibility in dark scenes than anything seen from a Samsung flat panel.

CMS Adjustments.

Full CMS adjustments were available when color space was in “custom” mode. These adjustments work as expected and are a model for the industry to follow.

Motion Options.

“LED Motion Plus” and fine tuning 240Hz Clear Motion are available. They could provide the right balance between smooth panning and that unwanted soap opera look.

3D Mode.

The C7000′s special processing can show regular programs in 3D. When 3D mode is used, movie mode is unavailable. So, when in 3D, colors and overall image calibration will not be as accurate.

Watching the TV.

After calibrations and adjustments, it was time to watch some movies in Blu Ray 1080P/24 in a dark room. The picture is very impressive with great contrast. There is lots of “pop” and impact during brighter scenes. Colors looked reasonably natural and vibrant. Skin tones looked a bit purplish. This can be eliminated with an adjustment to the red CMS.

After a changing one last setting, the Samsung C7000 made a tremendous impression. Images are as smooth and natural as any seen on a Samsung LCD. Colors are true and rich. Images had great depth, without considering the 3D processing.

Contrast is good, cannot match a local dimming LED model like the B8500 or a Kuro plasma. The contrast ratio of 2220:1 compares to a Sharp 700un, which is impressive for an LCD. Shadow detail is superb, basting the B8500 significantly. Comparing a Pioneer 9G Elite Kuro, the best flat panel display ever IMO, the image is smoother, and the colors are very slightly richer. The Kuro has better contrast and more pop in dark scenes. So, the Samsung UN46C7000 compares very well to the Kuro.

Technical Details:

• 46-inch 46EX400 LCD HDTV with full HD 1080p resolution supports HD sources like Blu-ray Disc Player or PlayStation3 gaming console
• Ambient Sensor and LightSensor automatically adjust color and backlight from a room’s lighting
• USB port for photos, music and video playback; Wi-Fi adapter ready; BRAVIA Sync controls compatible devices with one remote
• Inputs: 4 HDMI, 2 component, 2 composite, 1 PC, 1 USB, 1 optical digital audio output
• Includes removable stand; measures 44.38 x 28 x 11.625 inches with stand

Descriptions:

• Product Dimensions: 44.4 x 4.1 x 26.6 inches ; 39.9 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 54 pounds
• Item model number: KDL-46EX400

Video
Digital Tuner: ATSC
Analog Tuner:NTSC
Video Signal Standard:HD TV 1080p
Maximum Resolution:1920 x 1080
Comb Filter:3D Y/C
Scan Format:1080pAudio
Speakers:Yes
RMS Output Power:20 W
Sound System:Dolby

Interfaces/Ports
Number of HDMI:4
Composite Video:Yes
Component Video:Yes
Digital Audio Output:Yes
HDMI:Yes
USB:Yes
VGA:Yes

Sharp LC40E67U N 40 Inch 1080p LCD HDTV front display

Sharp LC40E67U/N

Initial Concerns.

It worried me that this Sharp LC40E67U/N is 60hz, not 120hz like so many TVs already available (or even 240hz). I believe my concerns were unfounded since I do not see any serious issues at all. After watching sports including football and basketball, it doesn’t seem to have mattered.

Another thing that concerned me was the sound. After considering a 37 inch Sharp at Walmart a while back, I noticed the sound was very poor. It just was not loud enough. Not for this Sharp LCD. It gives you two sound modes, Stereo and Surround. For an LCD, the sound seems very good.

3 General Issues.

First, it is a challenge getting the color and brightness settings correct. The TV has a feature that automatically sets brightness, color, and sharpness based on room lighting. If this feature is on, the picture looks extremely dull. If you manually adjust brightness, color, and sharpness, you get the bright color and crispness expected from a high definition television.

The second issue relates to fast-moving images. When an image is not moving quickly, the picture is sharp. If it is moving, there is a blurry effect. It keeps the picture from a “focus” and prevents a sharp render of the image.

Third, the TV takes a long time to turn on. It is around 15 seconds. It is not a huge bother but is longer than I expected. This can be annoying if you want to quickly see a program.

Picture Quality.

Standard mode did not look good out of the box. After experimenting with the settings, I found the User setting that adjusts backlight and contrast. After making some changes, I think the picture now looks very good. Dynamic (not Fixed) also produces a very good picture.

Watched a football game in HD. It showed such mind blowing clarity, I swear it was better than being at the game.

Complaint.

It bothers me that I can’t figure out how to set video modes for “dot by dot” and “smart stretch” to use the appropriate mode for an input signal. My hope is to have it use “dot by dot” (shows the signal received by the TV) for HD, but “smart stretch” (stretches the signal to fill the screen) for standard definition TV. If there’s a way to do that, I would like to know.

Design.

This Sharp LCD has a matte screen (vs glossy). It is very nice in the room where I am using it (family room with moderate to low light). The frame is glossy around the screen. There is an orange highlight along the bottom. The TV looks nice. It is similar to the Samsung Touch of Color (I have a 20 inch LCD Touch of Color in my bedroom).

How I Use It.

The Sharp is hooked up to a Comcast HD DVR box. I can’t say how well the TV works as a tuner, since I use a cable box. My Comcast box is my tuner.

Like most HDTVs, high-definition looks spectacular. Standard definition TV is “not bad”. DVDs look good. It is certainly no worse than a regular TV, better I’d say.

Bottom Line.

It is a great value for an LCD TV. You get excellent contrast and a sharp image (with the appropriate source). It is a very good buy for the price.

Toshiba REGZA 55ZV650U 55 Inch HDTV 1080p ClearScan 240 Black LCD TV Deals display

Why Did I Get This LCD?

Decent reviews with a good price for a 120/240Hz 55 inch 55ZV650U LCD HDTV sold me. Personally, I think CCFL LCD technology peaked in 2009 (the year of this model). The newer sets use LED and OLED to improve picture quality. For the average non-techie though, a good CCFL LCD HDTV still produces a mind-blowing picture. 

My Favorite Features.

The black levels are glood (not great) in a dark room. It has accurate colors, out-of-the-box. The built-in speaker delivers great sound (not surround sound quality but still good). 

It has S-Video input. Standard definition looks good and it works with older technology (like older videogame systems). You get minimal lag time playing most videogames. High-definition (Bluray, PS3, cable) or a quality standard definition source look excellent. 

Toshiba REGZA 55ZV650U 55 Inch HDTV 1080p ClearScan 240 Black LCD TV Deals law order svu show display

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What I Don’t Like.

It has average-to-worse off-center viewing (both vertical and horizontal) than your typical HDTV. The blacks are ‘milkier’ than competing CCFL LCD TV models. It has a reflective Deep Lagoon bezel. The screen reflects almost as bad as a plasma. It is like a mirror on a sunny afternoon. 

It lacks a swivel stand. There is no Picture-in-Picture (PiP). The VGA input resolution is not great below 1080p. It has an antiquated menu with a bulky-as-a-brick remote. Lastly, there is no internet connectivity. 

What Would You Tell Toshiba?

Do not abandon CCFL LCD TV technology! They should just ignore Samsung, Sharp, Sony, Vizio and the rest of the HDTV makers that are trying to force customers into LED HDTV. Non-techie people don’t care about all that. For them, the Regza model is a killer. Just make a new line of Toshibas to cater to this market. Stay with CCFL LCD’s at affordable prices for the ‘normal’ people out there. 

I would steer them from glossy screens and recommend matte panels. Looking at a mirror that is your TV is no fun. As long as they give the customer a choice, they’ll be fine. 

What Problems Did I Encounter?

After two weeks, no major problems have surfaced. There have been reports of ZV650U models having problems with HDMI input audio and other small quirks. They seem mostly 2009 issues, when this model was new. 

The only personal complaint I have is from using a Sega Dreamcast. Using the VGA input, the screen is ‘yellow white’ and I couldn’t figure out how to change it to just white. 

Samsung 55ZV650U

Toshiba REGZA 55ZV650U 55 Inch HDTV 1080p ClearScan 240 Black LCD TV Deals sega dreamcast display

Sports.

Toshiba REGZA 55ZV650U 55 Inch HDTV 1080p ClearScan 240 Black LCD TV Deals display racing cars sports baseball display

Front & Side Angles.

Toshiba REGZA 55ZV650U 55 Inch HDTV 1080p ClearScan 240 Black LCD TV Deals law order display

Toshiba REGZA 55ZV650U 55 Inch HDTV 1080p ClearScan 240 Black LCD TV Deals law order svu show side display

Computer.

Toshiba REGZA 55ZV650U 55 Inch HDTV 1080p ClearScan 240 Black LCD TV Deals computer desktop display angle

vizio 47 inch 120 hz 1080p vf551xvt lcd

General Impressions.

The Vizio VT470m has a decent picture. But, after watching dish network hd, I believe the vizio 47 inch sv470m may be better with motion blur. This 120 hz LCD just can’t seem to handle fast motion on the screen. Vizio really seems to be pushing its fast motion capability. My issues with motion blur may just be a setting problem, but it is not set out of the box.

In 720, if you watch normal screen mode, there is about a 6 inch black border all around the screen. If you zoom to full screen mode, this fixes it. At times, the hdmi interface is glitchy.

Opening the Box.

The TV is somewhat thick and the brown bezel looks kind of odd. It is a ‘Java’ finish and may look nice to some but is not very noticeable. If you were hoping it would stand out, don’t expect too much.

The stand seems incredibly cheap.

The stand that came with my old Olevia was made from solid tubular steel. It weighs about 20 lbs. The Vizio stand is the cheapest, thinnest steel China can make. It is a pain to put together as well. If the Vizio weren’t so light, I wouldn’t trust the stand. It just does not feel sturdy.

Setup.

Setup was easy, a snap. It is plug and play. The intuitive on screen menu got me playing with the settings in no time. The problem, is that many of the settings and extra features are just not great.

The SRS TruSurround HD does nothing other than make everything sound echoed and really weird. The SRS TruVolume should smooth volume levels when changing from shows/movies to TV commercials. After using it many times, I can’t tell the difference.

There is a Smooth Motion feature. It is set to medium by default. It is easy to turn on and off. Essentially, it increases the frame rate of whatever you’re watching. I suppose this is suposed to handle high-speed action on-screen (sports, movies, and gaming). It does look like it works though.

The Picture.

The picture quality is the redeeming value of this set. I seriously doubt you could get better screen quality for twice the price. Blacks are black and colors are vibrant. The picture really is beautiful. The screen image is as sharp and clear as the video source it is receiving.

Bluray.

Bluray support is not as good. I watched transformers 2. When optimus prime fights all the decepticons, the fast-motion on the transformers was mediocre. At times, the background looked blurry. The Vizio 47 inch sv470m (cheaper model) was much better.

This could be because the Smooth Motion setting wasn’t on but just wanted to note how it looked without it.

Is It a Deal?

After owning quite a few lcds and plasmas, this is a good buy as a budget TV. This model is sold as a superior model to the sv470m. Both are 120hz tv. However, the lack of a cinema mode on the vt470m stinks. I can say the picture quality is better than the LG 42LG30.

The Vizio VT470m is not a premium LCD. But, if you get it, I think you’ll be satisfied. Just make sure your settings are correct when you use it!

Definitely not a fan of Magnavox LCD TVs. I have never seen a single one to convince me to buy one. Philips owns them and Magnavox is the lower-end brand of Philips. Instead of buying a 40-inch Magnavox, I would recommend a comparable Sony. Even if it’s not 1080P, it is a 10-bit panel with 10-bit processing. The picture quality will blow away any comparable Magnavox.

What About A Different Size?

For a 42 inch LCD TV, consider a D64 Sharp. It is a 1080P with Dot Mode, much better black levels, and it is light-weight.

My Experience with Magnavox.

A few years ago I was going to buy a Magnavox due to the lower price. While I had a top-of-the-line Sony in the next room, it was unnecessary buying another premium LCD. After getting the Magnavox, when I switched from the Sony, the picture quality difference was jarring. It was like the difference between looking at a high-quality image and a muddy, cloudy image.

Cheap Doesn’t Mean Good.

My first LCD was a budget RCA. It looked best when it was off. Typically, low-grade LCD TVs have outdated specs. They have gray blacks, no 10-bit processing and often a screen-door effect (SDE) with an inferior color spectrum. I learned from my mistakes that you get cheap when you buy cheap, with HDTV’s.

See The Difference.

The Sony S3000 40 inch (or for just a little more the 46 inch) has 10-Bit Processing on a 10-Bit Screen. After looking at other budget screens, it is clearly a superior TV. It is an excellent budget TV!

Look at the difference between 8-Bit and 10-Bit. It quadruples the steps of gray. More steps means more detail, thus better image quality.

8 bit gradient

edp 2

10 bit gradient

Sony Bravia “S” series.

At first, the larger 42 inch Olevia caught my attention at the store. It looked great, at first. But, this quickly changed when seeing the more expensive 40 inch Sony Bravia next to it. With the Olevia in your home and no TV to compare, you’d think the Olevia was a fine LCD TV and be happy.

Image Quality.

While watching the Olevia, the image quality got comparatively worse as more programming was displayed. This was true for all the screens in the store, including the Philips next to it. What was surprising were the ad’s showing on the screens. With 2 levels of RED, the Sony clearly displayed both and the border details. However, on the Olevia there was ONE red. There was no border for the same image! You could call it RED CRUSH or Orange/Red Crush.

The Sony Bravia S3000 destroyed the Olevia in image quality. Having looked at the other LCD TVs right next to it, it was clear why it costs more. Night and day viewing comparisons like that are rare today. If Sony didn’t have an in-store demo like that for a newbie simply looking to save, they would not know what they are missing. The Sony really shined as the top choice for a low-end LCD TV.

Other Features.

The Sony Bravia had no…

• shadow details,
• color crush,
• yellow whites, nor
• inferior blacks.

This was completely different from the Olevia. So, even a cheap Sony is still a superior model at the lower-end of the LCD TV market. If you are unsure whether to get a cheap TV, do yourself a favor and save a bit more. Buy the better LCD TV.

I’m not saying the Sony Bravia is the best LCD TV. However, when you are not trying to break the bank, this budget LCD is King of the Hill. It’s not even close.

Samsung LN40B630 LCD TV Deals

Getting the TV.

The first arrived shattered. That was no fun. Fortunately, the delivery covered setup & power up. We immediately saw the thing was destroyed. The delivery crew took it and another was sent. The 2nd arrived in perfect condition. I am using it with DirecTV.

Performance.

The picture is more than I expected. Since my previous TV was a tube, the differences are dramatic. The clarity is unreal. The colors and images seem to leap off the screen.

Sports and movies are amazing to watch. Now I see why some are a bit shocked at how crisp movies appear (as if in 3d). You have to get used to the look of cinema based stuff. It doesn’t bother me that much, as it’s just a byproduct of HD. It’s crisp. It’s clear.

I set the 120Hz option to standard. That works well enough for my eyes. Certain scenes in some movies just look surreal, but not in a bad way (at least to me).

Control.

The amount of control to adjust the picture is great. You can stay with one of their built in “modes” (dynamic, standard, natural or movie). Then, customize every aspect of the picture all you want. I spent a few of days just playing with the settings & calibrating.

To me, dynamic mode is much too bright. It gives results that appear unnatural. The “natural” mode is a better fit for me. This includes additional adjustments in contrast & brightness to enhance the blacks as much as possible. “Standard” mode lets you push the blacks even deeper. So, I’ve been switching between that & “natural”. If you want, you can adjust for gamma, white balance, and flesh tones. It gives you lots of options.

Display.

At this point, the 120Hz feature doesn’t seemto add much. Many have written it is not easy to discern between 60 and 120Hz in most viewing situations. You want a fast millisecond response rate. Since this TV has a 4ms response time, there’s no issues. For me, I don’t mind a little blur on fast moving scenes.

I have watched movies & sports on the samsung 37″ HDTV (LN37A450). It is a 60Hz model. The picture looks just as incredible as on this 40 inch. So, if you want to save a couple hundred bucks, don’t worry about the 60Hz/120Hz issue. Go with the 60Hz. You’ll be plenty satisfied.

There just doesn’t seem to be much difference between 60 and 120 Hz. Having said that, I don’t have any blu-ray movies yet, only a couple of HD movies from DirecTV. But, it seems most complaints about the 120Hz are with people who think it makes movies look weird. Again, 60Hz won’t hurt you. For gamers, you may want to do some more research. I don’t have an Xbox, Playstation or Wii, so can’t speak on that.

Sound.

There are many complaints about sound quality on this TV. However, with the surround turned on, the TV has a pretty decent output. I used my stereo with the tv, which gives me full stereo audio. On it’s own, the TV audio isn’t too bad, especially for such a slim profile.

Extras.

The touch of color is a nice feature. It gives the TV a very sophisticated look. I was concerned the red may be distracting. But, it seems tasteful and subtle.

Overall.

I don’t regret purchasing this TV. The 60 Hz model was cheaper. But, the price was worth the extra options, I think.

This model looks fantastic. After being adjusted/calibrated best for my living room, it looks even better. A complaint was that the ‘off angle’ viewing was very poor. You do want to be in front of it as much as possible — maybe 45 degrees off. However, after looking at it from severe angles (pushing 160-170 degrees), the picture holds up fine.

Last Word.

I still can’t believe my eyes when watching some channels. On National Geographic , they had a show about the Grand Canyon. It was unbelievable. The epic Wimbledon championship between Federer and Roddick was also fun to watch.

No regrets at all. Great TV. Amazing picture. Lots of options to tweak to your preference.