Samsung LN32B460 LCD HDTV Review - Color Accuracy

Color Accuracy Summary
Editorial Note: This is a review of the Samsung LN32B460. Test results are for this model, but should indicate the general performance of other sizes in the LNxxB460 series. The LNxxB460 series also includes the LN22B460 and the LN26B460.  Read here for more details on series differences.
• Solid color temperature. • Good color representation. • Color gamut is a bit off. • Testing done using DisplayMate Software
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Color Temperature (8.67)

Our color temperature test checks how consistent the TV's color temperature is. If the temperature shifts around, your TV could acquire a blue or reddish hue, as the temperature heats up or cools down respectively. The ideal color temperature is 6500K, which represents the sky on a cloudy day. With our calibration, we were able to get the LN32B460 to about 7107K, meaning it'll look a bit "cooler" than it should.

Even though the LN32B460's color temperature runs a bit cool to start, it's well within the perceptible error limit. Towards the black end of the spectrum, the temperature falls off of the perceptible limit a bit. Even so, these lines don't stray too far away from imperceptible. Although doesn't have a perfectly solid color temperature, the vast majority of users won't notice this minor shift.

Color Temperature
Compare the Samsung LN32B460 to other HDTVs
Samsung LN32B360 32 inches	Sony KDL-32L5000 32 inches	LG 37LH55 37 inches

RGB Curves (8.15)

Due to the miracles of science, every color the TV displays is created from red, green, and blue. Since these three colors are the building blocks for each other color, we test them individually.

RGB Curves

As you can see in the graph above, the RGB lines curve out smoothly with some very minor bumps towards the bright end. Like most TVs, there isn't enough concavity to their curve, which leads to some lost detail in the middle tones.

Below are a few charts comparing the LN32B460 to some of its competitors. Some things to look out for include an uneven progression and vertical bars. An uneven progression means the TV isn't displaying certain colors correctly. Vertical bars indicate the failure to differentiate between two similar shades. Both of these issues can lead to some minor detail loss.

Red Response Comparisons
Ideal Response
Samsung LN32B460
Samsung LN32B360
Sony KDL-32L5000
LG 37LH55

Green Response Comparisons
Ideal Response
Samsung LN32B460
Samsung LN32B360
Sony KDL-32L5000
LG 37LH55

Blue Response Comparisons
Ideal Response
Samsung LN32B460
Samsung LN32B360
Sony KDL-32L5000
LG 37LH55

Color Gamut (4.49)

Each TV is supposed to display a specific color gamut. There's actually an international standard in place that determines the bounds of this gamut, which is called ITU Recommendation .709. If the color gamut does not match this standard, the colors displayed by the TV will be off. In the graph below, the standard is the faint grey line and the bold line represents tthe LN32B460's actual color gamut. The blues appear to be slightly undersaturated, but not badly. The greens are undersaturated and shifted towards yellow a bit. The reds are oversaturated. While the LN32B460 didn't follow Rec .709 particularly well, it's not the worst performance we've seen on this test. 

Color Gamut

Below is a chart detailing the points on the gamut where we measured red, green, blue, and white.

Other Models in the LNxxB460 Series
This is a review of the Samsung LN32B460. The other sizes of HDTVs in this series should be similar in terms of performance and usability. For details about any differences, click on the image to jump to the Series Comparison page.
LN22B460 22 inches	LN26B460 26 inches