Samsung LN32B360

Value Comparison

Both TVs are priced at around the same: around $550. So, the choice comes down to what is most important: performance or connectivity. The Samsung has better overall performance, with better black,s whites and the contrast ratio imbetween the two. But the JVC has more connections, so it would be easier to connect multiple devices to the screen if you have a large A/V setup. Overall, we think that the Samsing represents better value for money, though; it produces better images, and at the end of the day, that's what counts with a TV.

	Comparison Specifications
	Samsung LN32B360	JVC LT-42P300
Size	32'	32'
Price	$550	$550
Type	LCD	LCD
Format	720p	720p
Other	None	None

Blacks & Whites

The Samsung is the clear winner here: it had significantly deper blacks, a higher peak brightness and a much wider contrast ratio. What this means is better looking images, with more dramatic impact and that would look better in daylight.

Black Level
Samsung LN32B360 Scores Black Level : 8.23 Peak Brightness :  9.32 Contrast : 8.89	JVC LT-42P300 Scores Black Level : 5.04 Peak Brightness :  8.36 Contrast : 5.65

Color Accuracy

It was much more of an even match in our tests on color; we found that the JVC had slightly bette preformance in keeping the whites white across when going from white to grey, but the Samsung had smoother RGB curves. This means that subtle color changes (such as skies and leaves) will look better, with less potential for banding and other unnatural looks to them. The JVc had a very slight edge when it came to the color gamut, though; it was a little more accurate than the Samsung.

Color Temperature

Samsung LN32B360 Score: 8.67

JVC LT-42P300 Score: 9.79

RGB Curves

Samsung LN32B360 Score: 7.65

JVC LT-42P300 Score: 6.33

Color Gamut

Samsung LN32B360 Score: 4.49

JVC LT-42P300 Score: 6.45

Motion

It was a pretty even race between the two in our motion tests as well; we found that both did an adequate, but not outstanding, job of displaying motion. Both HDTVs had significant blurring in fast scenes, and there were some obvious artifacts caused by processing problems (such as skin tones becoming cartoonish). Neither TV had the faster motion processing that we see on their more expensive cousins.

Viewing Effects

The JVC had a significantly wider viewing angle than the Samsung: we found that while the contrast ratio on the Samsing fell by 50% at just 17 degrees off axis, the JVC's held up until about 40 degrees, so people on the edges of groups would get a better image.

Viewing Angle

Samsung LN32B360 Score: 3.26 JVC LT-42P300 Score: 6.57

Connectivity

Both TVs offer the basic options for connecting external devices, but the JVC has a a wider array of ports and options here: it has one additional HDMI port, more analog video inputs and a USB port that allows you to connects a digital camera or camcorder to play back photos or videos directly on the screen. Neither HDTV can connect to the Internet, though.