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Introduction
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01.Tour & Design
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02.Calibration
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03.Blacks & Whites
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04.Color Accuracy
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05.Motion
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06.Viewing Effects
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07.Remote Control
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08.Audio
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09.Connectivity
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10.Menus & Interface
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11.Formats & Media
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12.Power Consumption
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13.Conclusion & Comparisons
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14.Series Comparison
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15.Ratings & Specs
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16.Comments
Samsung LN40B650
Previous: Page 5
MotionNext: Page 7
Remote Control
Viewing Effects Summary
• Poor viewing angle
• Very reflective display
• Testing done with DisplayMate
Viewing Angle (4.55)
The Samsung LN40B650 has a very poor viewing angle of 19 degrees from center, for a total viewing angle of 38 degrees. This is only half of our average viewing angle of 41 degrees from center, and is pretty poor even for an LCD HDTV, which tend to have worse viewing angles than plasma televisions. Below you can see our graph for the Samsung LN40B650's viewing angle. We calculate the acceptable viewing angle as the point at which the contrast ratio falls below 50% of the optimum. We did appreciate that colors did hold up well across viewing angles, with no significant solarization or fading.
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The Samsung LN40B650's poor viewing angle means that you should really watch it from directly in front. This makes it a poor choice for a large room where you expect to have people viewing the television from a wide range of angles.
Reflectance (4.5)
The Samsung LN40B650's display is very reflective. Lights shined onto the display were not diffused at all, we were able to make out the individual LED lights of the array we use to do this test. Even when the light is shined on from an oblique angle it is still very noticeable. We also noticed significant streaking from the light on the display, especially when the display is dark. You should make sure that the Samsung LN40B650 is set up so that none of the lights in your room are able to shine directly onto the display.
Video Processing (3.5)
Like most HDTVs the Samsung LN40B650 offers a variety of video processing options that allow you to tweak certain settings or address some problems. Most of the time these options do little and aren't worth playing with. They also cause problems with processing so we turn them off (if possible) in our calibration process. If you have a significant problem with your image, however, it might be worth trying them out. Below are our impressions.
| Setting | Claimed Function | Our Impression |
| Black Tone | You can select the black level on the screen to adjust the screen depth. | Reduced the apparent depth of blacks. |
| Dynamic Contrast | You can adjust the screen contrast so that the optimal contrast is provided. | Slight change in apparent saturation of colors. |
| Gamma | You can adjust the primary color (red, green, blue) intensity. | Saw slight increase or decrease in brightness. |
| Flesh Tone | You can emphasize the pink ‘flesh tone’ in the picture. | Very minor apparent change in skin tones. |
| Edge Enhancement | You can emphasize object boundaries in the picture. | No apparent difference. |
| Digital NR | If the broadcast signal received by your TV is weak, you can activate the Digital Noise Reduction feature to help reduce any static and ghosting that may appear on the screen. | No apparent difference. |
Shop for the Samsung LN40B650
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