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Samsung Plasma TV Review

Models: Samsung PPM42S3 and SPN4235 Plasma Televisions
Descriptions: 42-inch EDTV Plasma Displays, Widescreen 16:9 Format
Resolutions: 854 x 480 (WVGA)
Include: PPM42S3: Plasma tabletop stand; SPN4235: Integrated NTSC tuner, plasma tabletop stand, and remote
Colors: Charcoal black bezels
Reviewer: Robert Wiley
Date: April 2004

Copyright © 2004,2005,2006,2007 PlasmaTVBuyingGuide.com. All Rights Reserved.

Differences: SPN4235 does include an internal tuner and table stand, but does not include built in speakers. The PPM42H3 includes a table stand but does not include speakers or tuner. Speakers are optional with either at a price of around $500.

INTRODUCTION

We previously reviewed an earlier generation Samsung, the SPK-4215 - one of the first Samsung plasma monitors produced. The PPM42H3 and SPN4235 represent 3rd generation technology from Samsung and clearly show the improvements of the market place with production of plasma technology. There are more inputs, better contrast and black levels, and many more options such as PIP (for different inputs). Three generations of plasma is not a lot considering Panasonic's six and Sony's multitude of varying models. Though there are many improvements, there are still some bugs to be worked out with Samsung's engineering of these plasma products.

Samsung 42" Plasma TV on the reviewing stand.

PICTURE - 79

Contrast and black levels have certainly been improved on the newer models of Samsung plasma offerings. Blacks are very deep, but what I found disturbing when watching the DVD production of Old School was the lack of definition in the dark scenes. A good example of this overall problem affected me right from the start of the movie when an unaware Mitch walks into his apartment to find a promiscuous wife fooling around with adventure sex. In the background when he walks through the door is a dark fireplace setting. On the Panasonic and Gateway I was reviewing I could see lots of detail in the fireplace and surroundings, but the Samsung plasma just processed everything in a dark black shade where nothing was determinable. Everything in the picture scene around dark objects just turns into indiscernible dark matter. So while the contrast is much improved, the sacrifice is picture detail in dark scenes and material. When I tried increasing the brightness picture setting to be able to better see detail in the dark scenes, the unit showed more detail but the whole picture looked washed in a haze. The contrast setting out of the box was set at a very high 80 percent - probably for the retail showroom floor. Decrease this setting to 50 percent.

Getting on with other major picture considerations. Color reproduction was very deep with the Samsung. Colors are radiant if not a bit over enhanced. During many motion scenes from Old School I noticed slight artifact drag/ motion lag, but it wasn't a major issue.

Samsung boasts a new inbuilt Faroudja chip technology, DNIe (Digital Natural Image Engine) that purportedly enhances and yet keeps natural image appearance. I did not find this to be the case, preferring instead to disable the DNIe function to improve my viewing experience. The only incoming signal with which I found that this was a good feature was some normal cable television viewing, but overall I much preferred it disabled. All I could really see from its use was a lot of false edge enhancement, which I found overall detracted from the picture.

The Samsung plasma televisions run very warm - color temp-wise. It is difficult to tone down reddish tones even when changing the advanced picture color temperature setting to Cool 2. In this coolest color setting the Samsung still runs very warm compared to the Panasonic and Gateway - showing pinkish flesh tones and lots of orange tone. The five advanced color temperature adjustments are: Cool2, cool, normal, warm 1, warm 2. As mentioned you will probably get the most realistic tones this plasma has to offer on Cool 2.

The Samsung performed well in the area of motion artifacts and pixelation - showing little of either. And because of the propensity of the unit to turn any dark scene into all black, there is no false contouring.

Lastly, the Samsung plasma technology has problems scaling from 4:3 and especially from 16:9 DVD content. There are no algorithms to justify the image from some 16:9 DVD content, thus images often appear stretched. With 4:3 normal NTSC content the plasma does have a Panorama mode, which does a mediocre job of scaling to fill the entire screen while still having some stretched appearance.

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS - 78

I found menu adjustments through the small cryptic menu lettering difficult to navigate and control. While testing the plasma's zoom modes I found that Zoom 1 did not properly justify the picture to negate stretched images, and that Zoom 2 was unusable as an picture option because the picture was so distorted.

The Samsung plasma displays are attractive aesthetically, offering a dark charcoal black 1 and ½ inch bezel. My only complaint here is that the black ribbon border surrounding the screen to add contrast to the picture is too thin.

Possibly the biggest drawback to Samsung plasmas is the noise problem. These units are loud from 12 feet viewing distance with the audio on. The high-pitched buzzing noise spikes during brighter and white scenes as the plasma sucks in more power to product light images. Even though the 42" plasmas are now fan less, they are very loud.

Left to Right: Panasonic TH-42PWD6UY, Gateway GTW-P42M303, Samsung PPM42S3 on the review rack.

There are 4 picture-setting modes which effectively change contrast and edge enhancement. The 4 are dynamic, standard, movie, or custom. I preferred to set my own picture setting on this plasma between the standard and movie options. Dynamic mode on these plasmas provided false edges, as does this mode on most plasma TVs.

Samsung plasma has PIP mode offerings with adjustment features allowing users to move the PIP to a desired location on the screen or watch it in split screen. The PIP function is input sensitive, meaning that it will only do split screen or PIP through different inputs.

The SPN4235 has a full rack of inputs with 2 sets of component video inputs, s-video, composite video, RGB 15 pin computer input, and DVI as well. The PPM42H3 has the same selection even though the input listing is somewhat dubious on their website (the component inputs are listed as composite 3 X RCA or 3 X BNC.

Specifications on Samsung's Plasma TV site

VALUE - 80

The street prices for the PPM42H3 and the SPN4235 land between $2,700 and $3,000. Samsung will sell you the units directly off of their web site for $3799. As always with Samsung, these are very competitive prices. However, it is difficult to recommend the Samsung plasma lineup. It's not much less expensive than very well done brands such as Panasonic, Pioneer, Sony, and Toshiba and there are many quality issues such as the buzzing noise, detail in dark scenes, and lack of good scaling algorithm treatment. I would have to ask myself if I would even want to own one.

OVERALL - 79 (picture double rated)

Other Samsung Plasma Models

The Samsung HPN4239 is the high-resolution 1024X768 model brother of the SPN4235. It is the same in all aspects except for the higher resolution and I give it the same ratings as above. I got a good testing look at this plasma as well. It has the same positives and disadvantages. High definition broadcasts looked about 10% on average than the SPN4235 and XGA computer resolution was much crisper, making text more attractive and easy to read.

OVERALL RATING - 79

Next up is the HPN5039 50" Plasma Television. This unit also has very few changes to the above review and rating. It is a 1366 X 768 50" panel with contrast dropping to 900:1 from 1200:1 for the 42" models. Brightness also decreases to 800 cd/m2. All of the Samsung brightness ratings seem unrealistic to me, but it's a difficult measure and impossible to compare unless measuring standards are equal. Picture quality suffers slightly due to the increase in size and thus increase in a few of the picture negatives like clarity in dark scenes, and motion artifacts which become more visible with the larger screen. Aside from those small changes all else is the same as the above review. Even the built in speaker amplifiers are the same at 10w each (which is weak for a 50" plasma).

OVERALL - 78 (picture double rated)

Rating scale from 70 (denoting poorest quality) to 100 (signifying the very best quality). A rating in the 60s for any particular category of a product review indicates a serious defect which causes the product not to operate properly. Picture quality is double-weighted in the Overall Rating Score calculation.

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