Samsung LE40A656A Review

 

The Samsung LE40A656A

The LCD market is largely dominated by Samsung for many reasons. One of these reasons is the 40-inch LE40A656A, a full 1080p HD resolution TV that showcases the company’s cutting-edge advances in LCD technology. The LE40A656A also sports Samsung’s Touch of Colour (ToC) feature, which may be a welcome treat for people tired of the glossy black finishes common in the HDTV market.  

Design

The stylish design of the LE40A656A begins with the “Ultra Clear Panel” that is the centrepiece of the machine. It is surrounded by a dark glossy bezel, with a rose black gradient that gradually increases in intensity towards the edges and the rear side. A thin clear plastic is overlaid into the frame, protruding slightly over the edges to form an additional accent. Together with the elegant table-top swivelling pedestal, the main chassis presents a contemporary sculpted look that will easily fit in modern homes.

The remote for the LE40A656A also sports a contemporary look – thin and flat at the top that gradually becomes bulkier at the lower end. The buttons are large, neatly organized and backlit for absolute convenience, though someone should really advise Samsung on the wisdom of using glossy finishes on devices frequently held by hand. The menu system improves on last year’s version with the streamlined groupings and submenus that make navigation much easier.

Screen/picture clarity

Samsung HDTVs generally works superbly, and the LE40A656A is no different. Black levels from this set are pretty excellent compared to other LCDs, adding punch to images and making these more lifelike. Even shadow detail – a perennial problem area for past Samsungs – is quite impressive. There are some colour accuracy issues, with a slight red push that has to be addressed through calibration, but overall, picture clarity is quite awesome.

Video processing of the LE40A656A is great, resolving every detail in high-def sources as well as scaling seamlessly standard-def materials. Motion blur is practically nil with the 100hz Motion Plus engaged, smoothing all scenes and removing even the film judder that is an essential part in movie-viewing experience. Some downsides observed are the tendency of the clear screen to reflect ambient light and some unevenness in screen brightness, but having more viewing angles may be enough to cancel out those negatives.

Features

The LE40A656A offers comprehensive picture setting controls that would delight compulsive videophiles, including user settings that are independently adjustable per input. Other cool features include electronic program guide, SRS Trusurround and a full connectivity suite that includes four of the latest HDMI ports, two Scart slots, VGA PC connector slot, USB port, and a host of standard audio/video composite jacks.

The exquisite design of the LE40A656 makes it a great TV, whether switched on or off. The advanced features, superb picture clarity and relatively affordable price all seem to be mere icing on the cake, as buyers who appreciate beauty would be captivated at once with the rose black theme of this piece.

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