Samsung LN-T1953H 19" HDTV LCD TV

I recently went to Circuit City to purchase a new television. My initial plan was to purchase a 36"-40", non-high definition television. I didn't really see the point in an HDTV. My argument was that "normal" television was just fine, and an HDTV couldn't possibly add anything more. Wow, was I wrong. I ended up settling with the Samsung 19" LCD HDTV because it was in my price range, but I also was impressed with the picture quality and the sleek design. If you are considering an HDTV and don't want to spend big bucks, then the Samsung 19" LCD HDTV is a perfect "starter" HDTV. It also makes a great addition for other rooms that you may want a television such as the kitchen or a bedroom. This television is compact and light but packs a huge punch in picture and audio quality!

System Setup

Setting up the Samsung 19" LCD HDTV was an absolute breeze. I opened the box, pulled the television out, placed it on a shelf, plugged it in, and it was ready to go. When I turned the television on for the first time, it was programmed to run through the antenna. After changing the setting to cable, the television prompted me to add channels. I was hooked directly to the analog cable, so there was no cable box or any other device attached to the television. The channel adding process took longer than I expected, though I could have stopped it at any time. I only have 22 channels (including 4 community channels and CSPAN), so I could have stopped the setup process at any time, but I was hoping the t.v. might find some rare station I didn't realize I had.

After setup, I was actually surprised when I began flipping through channels. I had HD versions of ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox, and PBS. As pathetic as it may sound, I did not even realize there was an internal HD tuner when I purchased the television. Overall, the setup process ran smoothly. You don't need to be an engineer to start using the Samsung 19" LCD HDTV, and I was able to use my television without using the instructions. However, I would imagine that if you are having trouble the manual would speed up the process. The only "issue" I ran into was after hooking up the cable and not seeing a picture, when I realized it was set to antenna. I'd be confident that even my parents could figure out how to get started with the television, and that's saying a lot.

Picture Quality

The most impressive thing about the Samsung 19" LCD HDTV is the picture quality on the flat-panel LCD screen. When I purchased the television, I was looking at a few larger models and the picture just didn't seem so crisp. The salesperson informed me that smaller screens generally do not do high definition images any justice. This was certainly the case with some of the other televisions I was considering (e.g., Element 22" LCD HDTV). However, the Samsung 19" LCD HDTV is at least one exception to the rule. The mounted Samsung at the store demonstrated the amazing picture quality.

The problem with the television display has little to do with the Samsung specifically and more to do with LCD screens in general. If you are watching the television from any type of angle (e.g., from the side, from below) you have trouble seeing the monitor. Depending on the viewing angle, the picture distortion ranges from a slight darkening of the picture to a complete inability to see the display. Anyone who has used an LCD screen on a laptop probably has experienced this; try looking at the screen from the side.

For instance, my Samsung 19" LCD HDTV is on a book shelf and is slightly elevated. I placed a book under it to angle it down somewhat to alleviate the problem. Before I angled the television, however, I noticed a huge difference in picture quality from when I was sitting on a chair to when I was lying on the couch. On the couch, I was too far below the television, distorting the picture. The problem is worse with darker pictures (e.g., pictures from underwater or a dark movie), so take this into consideration. Always consider this distortion problem when shopping for any LCD television, especially a smaller one. Larger televisions are easier to sit directly in front of because there is more screen to be in front of. With a large screen, any spot in the living room may be "in front of" the television. With a smaller screen, there is less space. For this reason, only buy the Samsung 19" LCD HDTV if you can place it in a suitable location for "in front" viewing. However, if a 19" screen meets your needs, you probably won't find a better picture quality with any other 19" HDTV than the Samsung 19" LCD HDTV.

For those who prefer more technologically savvy lingo, the Samsung display has the following features:

Screen Resolution: 1440 x 900
Aspect Ratio: 16.9 (i.e., wide-screen)
Contrast Ratio: 700:1

Sound

Because of my living room arrangement, I also did not want to add a surround system or anything of the sort. Unfortunately, I was worried that the small television would not have sufficient volume and sound quality. Compared to a nice tuner and speakers, the Samsung 19" LCD HDTV falls short, but the comparison is also unfair. Compared to the sound on average televisions, the Samsung 19" LCD HDTV impresses me. The hidden speakers have sufficient volume and a clear sound. Even when I connect my computer to the television, the sound quality still is superior to many televisions. My television is in the living room and provides adequate sound throughout the room, so the sound should be completely sufficient in other rooms, such as the kitchen.

Inputs

the Samsung 19" LCD HDTV has a variety of inputs. There is one set of component inputs, which I find somewhat annoying. When I hook up my computer audio to the television, I have to unplug the DVD audio cables. This is not a major problem, but I think they could have added a second set of component inputs. The television also has a single HDMI input, useful for HD boxes and computers, though S-video is adequate for computer connections. Many of the newer HD televisions have two HDMI inputs. I would imagine, however, that someone with the kind of set up requiring two HDMI inputs probably would also want a larger television in the first place. Finally, there is a PC input (e.g., normal monitor hookup).

Computer Monitor and Gaming

My Samsung 19" LCD HDTV couples as a computer monitor for my Toshiba Satellite notebook. Basically, I have one PC attached to a Slingbox that allows me to watch television on my computer over the web. So I often attach my notebook to the Samsung television to watch programs on my computer but display them on my television. Because I am 1) watching television through a wireless connection and 2) attaching the computer to the television, and 3) connecting through a lower quality S-video cable, I was worried that the picture quality would suffer. In fact, the quality is fantastic on the Samsung 19" LCD HDTV. Much better on this television than any others I have hooked my computer to, for sure. If someone did not know better, they would just assume that I was watching cable.

I am not sure why anyone would buy this television specifically as a computer monitor, and I really wouldn't recommend it for cost reasons. Plus, I did have some trouble reading from a word processor on the screen, though I did not mess with my settings much. However, if you are someone who likes using the extended desktop feature on notebooks, this television makes a great addition to the notebook. Although I have not tested the gaming capabilities of the Samsung 19" LCD HDTV, it does actually have a gaming mode made specifically for the demands of gaming consoles (e.g., the Nintendo Wii).

Base and Mounting

Another efficient feature of the Samsung 19" LCD HDTV is the attached base. The base, as demonstrated by the picture, allows you to swivel the television monitor from side to side or to adjust the angle of the television up and down. The base is extremely steady, even when you place a book under the back of the base to place the television at more of an angle. You never have to worry about the television tipping over without a lot of force, and the light television can be placed just about anywhere. The television is also easily mountable with the included wall mount that connects to the base. In other words, with little effort, the base couples as a mounting aid which means the television will slightly extended from the wall. The television also can be mounted closer to the wall, but you might need to purchase additional mounting equipment.

Should I buy this? Where should I buy it?

I cannot recommend this television enough for someone who wants a smaller HDTV either as a main television or as an extra television in another room. Consider buying the Samsung 19" LCD HDTV online through the links below. Because the links include store ratings, you can buy with confidence, and many of these prices are cheaper than what you would pay in a store. I paid the Circuit City price of $479, but other sources have cheaper prices. If you do consider Circuit City online or in the store, they are currently running a "no interest until September 2008" promotion you may want to take advantage of. Regardless of where you buy it, if you want a smaller television the Samsung 19" LCD HDTV is perfect for you!

Update

The following is from my comments from another user who has this television. I figured it was important enough to attach to my review in the text. While I have had no problems (knock on wood), here is a potential "bug" or problem:

I bought this set about one month ago. The colors are great and the picture in HD is very sharp. Best of all, you can watch broadcast network HD without a cable box or subscribing to a special service since federal law requires cable operators to provided any broadcast signal in your area for free. (Note: all new TVs are required to have built in digital tuners). Right now my LNT-1953H is being repaired; it lost its ability to retain some of its programmed settings. For example, the picture settings were reverting to the factory default "dynamic" mode each time the set was turned on regardless of any adjustments I made to the settings when the set was last on. I hope this is not typical of this model; apart from any reliability issue, it is an excellent product.