Introduction
With a Touch of Color, the new Samsung LN-40A750 stands out boldly from other LCD TVs out there. The 40A750 adds a finishing highlight of red into the glossy piano black bezel, seemingly a declaration to produce better color and higher contrast. Aside from the full 1080p HD and 178-degree viewing angle that most up-to-date LCD TVs offer, this set ups the ante with even more advanced features.
The 40A750 comes with a 4-millisecond response time, 120Hz refresh rate, and 10-bit video processing panel. Plus, the new InfoLink RSS feature supports Ethernet connectivity, which allows interactive content and information to be displayed on the 40-inch screen. Users are able to receive up-to-the-minute access to weather, news, sports, and stock information. All those features, coupled with stellar picture quality, certainly make this Samsung a TV to look into...
Physical Description and Design
- 40-inch LCD Ultra Clear Panel
- Glossy piano black with a Touch of Color red finish bezel
- Dimensions: 27"H x 40.9"W x 10.7"D with stand, 25.1"H x 40.9"W x 3.4"D without stand
- Weights: 42.8 lbs. with stand, 35.9 lbs. without stand
- Swivel stand mount (rotates 20 degrees)
- Wall-mount compatible (mount not included)
- Built-in side-mounted speakers (10W x 2) with integrated woofer
- LED touch-sensitive power button
- Side-mounted touch-sensitive controls
- Low-range rear speaker
- Wheel Key illuminated multi-brand remote controller, CEC supported
- Inputs:
- 4 HDMIs (3 rear, 1 side)
- 2 composite AVs (rear)
- 2 S-Videos (1 rear, 1 side)
- 1 Headphone (side)
- 1 USB (side)
- 1 PC input (back)
- 2 Components (back)
The 40A750 comes with the Touch of Color red finish etched along the sides of its glossy black piano bezel, which makes it one of the most distinctive flat-panel TVs on the market. The speakers are located horizontally at the sides of the set, and feature built-in woofers. On the lower right of the screen, slick touch-sensitive controls do the job when the remote is nowhere to be found.
The sturdy stand mount included in the package supports the set well, and has the useful ability to swivel around. The 40A750 can be mounted on the wall as well. The set comes with four HDMI inputs, giving one extra in comparison with most other competitors' three HDMI inputs. The PC input allows the set to turn itself into a huge 40-inch computer screen, while the USB port adds quick access to multimedia files, including JPEG, MP3, MPEG-4, and DiVX.
The 40A750's new design has also been extended to its remote control. Instead of the conventional 4-way arrow key, the remote controller has a rotating, clickable wheel key. In addition, the backlight is automatically illuminated just by picking up the remote.
Features
- 1920×1080 resolution (1080p True HD)
- 120 Hz Auto Motion Plus
- 4-millisecond response time
- Ultra Clear Panel
- 50,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio
- 10-bit video processing
- 178-degree viewing angle
- Built-in ATSC/NTSC/QAM tuners
- Ethernet port with Infolink RSS
- 1GB internal flash memory
- Picture-in-Picture (PIP)
- Optical digital audio output for Dolby Digital
- SRS TruSurround XT
- SoundLeveler
- V-Chip parental-control system
- Energy Star Compliant
- Consumer Electronic Control (CEC)
The 40A750 comes with a newly added Ethernet port that allows access to Infolink RSS feeds. This feature allows users to gain access to up-to-the-minute weather, news, sports, and stock information. Another new bonus found in the 40A750 is its 1GB of internal flash memory, which comes preloaded with HD content, recipes, children's games, and more.
The picture quality is enhanced by the Ultra Clear Panel, which along with the 50,000:1 dynamic contrast, enables the set to produce crisp images in vivid color, rich tones, and defined contrast. Colors are further enhanced by the TV's 10-bit processing. The ultra fast 4-millisecond response time and 120Hz refresh rate manage to eliminate smudges, flickers, and other motion blurs.
Performance
First we should address a few qualms we had with the design elements of the 40A750. Though the Touch of Color red finish looks enticing, we realize that red is not for everyone. Also, the set attracts a considerable amount of dust for an LCD TV. We didn't really like the wheel key remote control. Despite its trendy look, the wheel key is not quite as accurate as the old-school arrow keys. However, if you can overlook these drawbacks, you'll be happy with the performance.
The picture quality is truly excellent, outshining just about any other TV on the market. We watched Transformers in HD, which proved to be a treat both our eyes and ears. Already impressed with previous Samsungs' picture quality, the 40A750 didn't disappoint as it projected crisp images, vibrant colors, and well-defined shadows. The 120Hz Auto Motion Plus feature gave smooth transitions and coped well with fast action scenes. We did not spot any flickers or motion blurs at all.
Certainly an LCD's speakers are usually not its strong suit, but Samsung decided to try and change this with these new 7 series flat panels. The 40A750 has speakers that feature integrated woofers, and they manage to outperform any other LCD TVs' speakers we had reviewed so far. The speakers gave more bass and produced rich, deep tones.
The Ethernet Infolink RSS capability is another great feature of these new Samsungs. We appreciate the ability to gain access to the Internet for useful information like weather, stick prices, and yes, sports. Though this sort of feature is still in its infancy, we like the idea of integrating Internet into TV sets. Hopefully soon enough we'll be able to check emails and watch YouTube videos...
Conclusion
It's obvious that Samsung is trying to make their latest high-end TVs stand out by adding the new, catchy look, but perhaps they are trying too hard. Though the burgundy finish blends into the set smoothly, it may not fit everyone's taste. The Ultra Clear Panel screen projects remarkable image quality, and the improved audio performance is great. Moreover, the 40A750 brings plenty of innovative features to the table, including the Infolink, internal flash memory, and MPEG-4 and DiVX support. At the bottom line, if you can ignore the subtle red, then this set is highly recommended.