Like its higher-end linemates, the Samsung LN32C350 combines good quality and performance to garner a fair share of the HDTV market, particularly the largely overlooked lower-end sector. Just perfect for first-time HDTV converts or those consumers looking for no-frills HDTVs for their bedrooms, this LCD TV surely packs goodies that are well worth its low price tag.
Design
As in other LCDs, the Samsung LN32C350 sports a thick profile compared to newer LEDs, but it’s definitely slimmer than most of its HDTV predecessors. With a moderately thick glossy bezel on all sides, the lower
Samsung LN32C350
frame is highlighted by a curved protrusion that delineates the edge of the frame from the exposed speakers below it. The TV stands on a medium-rise non-swivelling stalk anchored on a glossy oval base, giving an overall impression of a wieldy styling, as opposed to the boxy and rigid design of its main competitor.
Samsung shipped with the LN32C350 a stubby wand that is decidedly on the tail-end of its remote control hierarchy. The clicker has no backlighting and it can’t control other devices by either infrared or HDMI, but the buttons are well differentiated enough and the remote works like a charm with the surprisingly well-designed transparent menu system. With its large text, on-screen explanations, shortcuts and easy access to all functions, Samsung’s scaled-down menu is decidedly just right for both newbies and old-timers.
Screen/Picture Clarity
Even as LCDs are largely overshadowed by new LED-based HDTVs, the LN32C350 nonetheless gives a solid performance for an entry-level unit. The black levels, shadow details, and color accuracy of this LCD easily overwhelm its competitors, though there is unmistakable blue tinge in its grayscale and midtones. Performance in brightly illuminated rooms is excellent due to the matte screen, but a noticeable brightness in the corners greatly degrades screen uniformity.
Surprisingly, the 720p-resolution LN32C350 handled 1080p/24 sources properly, though image output for both materials are not as sharp compared to larger TVs. With 60Hz. refresh rates, motion resolution is just right – jaggies and artifacts are seldom seen, if at all. And while PC rendering is good, handling of standard-def content is decidedly sub-par: fine details are filtered out along with noise, resulting in screen images that appear soft.
Features
Like other HDTVs in its price range, the Samsung LN32C350 offers very limited entertainment choices due to the absence of Internet connection: the no-frills moniker means there are no streaming content, widgets or applications whatsoever. Fortunately, the company is generous enough to include one USB port that supports playing of picture and music, but not video playback. It also offers auto power saving options that adjusts power usage depending on the image onscreen, but has no option to switch of the screen for sound only output.
The connectivity selection for the LN32C350 is expectedly spartan: two HDMI inputs, one shared composite and one component video inputs, one RF input, one VGA-style PC input, one digital audio output and the previously described USB port with limited functionality.
The Samsung LN32C350 is definitely a decent choice for a bedroom TV, though it is not without flaws. Combining good picture quality and an inexpensive price tag is indeed a hard act to follow, and it would be very difficult to find something equally cheap and useful
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