Samsung SPN4235 42" EDTV-Ready Plasma TV
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- Aspect Ratio: Standard (4:3)
- Display Resolution: 852 x 480 pixels
- Broadcast Format Displayed: 480p (EDTV) 480i (SDTV)
- Contrast Ratio: 1,200:1
- Digital TV Standard: EDTV-Ready Television
- Screen Size: 42 inch
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Stunning Graphics, But A Tragic Audio Flaw
Pros
Picture, variety of video inputs
Cons
S-Video quality, lack of L-R audio line-out
Recommended it?
Yes
The Bottom Line:
Caveat emptor
In all fairness, I've been an audiophile much longer than home theater has been on the scene, so I place a lot of importance on audio features and performance. This display delivers the EDTV video performance that you pay for. Unfortunately, the set does not provide a line-out audio signal, which complicates the integration into a home theater system.
The video performance on the digital inputs (DVI and RGB)is just what you'd expect. The display from the analog tuner input is stunning. However, the display from the S-Video analog input was so visibly inferior to the NTSC tuner input that I cancelled my digital cable-box rental, and connected the analog cable directly into the TV, with the aforementioned stunning results. I was not able to improve the S-Video performance with the addition of ferrite cores. My old CRT 32" Toshiba set worked beautifully off the cable-box S-Video output.
Here's the rub for me on the audio set-up: The only audio outputs from the SPN4235 are a pair of 8 ohm speaker outputs (L-R)and a line-level subwoofer out (monaural). Without the cable-box, with the analog cable signal routed directly to the SPN4235, I have no audio signal to feed into my 5.1 receiver. Right not, I have placed an old pair of Minimus 7 speakers on top of my L-R front speaker cabinets, and augment the bass with the line-level input to my subwoofer. The 5.1 receiver drives the sub with L-R speaker inputs, to use the sub crossover as a high-pass filter for the L-R front speakers. So, I have two live inputs to the sub, but it seems happy enough with this connection. I plan to tap the SPN 4235 speaker leads to derive a line-level signal to feed the 5.1 receiver. When my cable company decides to provide a HD cable-box with DVI out, this issue will go away. Till then, I'm less than fully satisfied.
The remote control for the SPN4235 is intuitive, and the frequently used controls are readily accessible. I like everything about the set except the lack of this one audio feature. For $3k+, I expect a set that does what it's supposed to do and calls no attention to itself. The SPN4235 does not meet this standard.
The video performance on the digital inputs (DVI and RGB)is just what you'd expect. The display from the analog tuner input is stunning. However, the display from the S-Video analog input was so visibly inferior to the NTSC tuner input that I cancelled my digital cable-box rental, and connected the analog cable directly into the TV, with the aforementioned stunning results. I was not able to improve the S-Video performance with the addition of ferrite cores. My old CRT 32" Toshiba set worked beautifully off the cable-box S-Video output.
Here's the rub for me on the audio set-up: The only audio outputs from the SPN4235 are a pair of 8 ohm speaker outputs (L-R)and a line-level subwoofer out (monaural). Without the cable-box, with the analog cable signal routed directly to the SPN4235, I have no audio signal to feed into my 5.1 receiver. Right not, I have placed an old pair of Minimus 7 speakers on top of my L-R front speaker cabinets, and augment the bass with the line-level input to my subwoofer. The 5.1 receiver drives the sub with L-R speaker inputs, to use the sub crossover as a high-pass filter for the L-R front speakers. So, I have two live inputs to the sub, but it seems happy enough with this connection. I plan to tap the SPN 4235 speaker leads to derive a line-level signal to feed the 5.1 receiver. When my cable company decides to provide a HD cable-box with DVI out, this issue will go away. Till then, I'm less than fully satisfied.
The remote control for the SPN4235 is intuitive, and the frequently used controls are readily accessible. I like everything about the set except the lack of this one audio feature. For $3k+, I expect a set that does what it's supposed to do and calls no attention to itself. The SPN4235 does not meet this standard.
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