Samsung LN32C450 Review

Model: Samsung LN32450
Description: 32" LCD TV
Resolution: 1366 X 768 (720p)
Power Consumption: Not listed

Samsung's 2010 4 Series LCDs are a step up from the 3 series. Available in the same sizes they still feature a 60Hz, 720p, CFL backlit panel, with SRS TruSurround HD. They add a third HDMI input, the ability to watch video off a USB thumb drive and Samsung's AnyNet+ which allows communication between similarly equipped Samsung home theater equipment. The 4 Series LCD make for an excellent TV for the bedroom, a child's room or other rooms where you need a smaller, less expensive HDTV.

Test and Optimum Viewing Distance: 8 feet

Calibrating to near D65 was fairly easy. With smaller TVs we are not quite as concerned with pinpoint accuracy to D65. However, the below picture settings will get you close. There are more white balance controls and advanced settings than I anticipated based on size and price, such as Black Tone, Dynamic Contrast, a Gamma setting, and a nifty Flesh Tone setting that will take the onscreen flesh tones from a yellowish to a pinkish appearance at your whim without changing the overall color appearance of the picture much.

Follow these picture settings for the LN32C450 LCD.

Backlight: 8	Black Tone: Dark
Contrast: 91	Dynamic Contrast: Low
Brightness: 47	Gamma: +1
Sharpness: 13	Color Space: Native
Color: 52	White Balance: Rgain: 27, Roffset 24
Tint: Unchanged	Flesh Tone: +1
	Edge Enhancement: Off

Testing for Motion Artifacts: Samsung did not cut corners on the processing video boards contained in the LN32C450. We were fairly impressed with testing results.

The LN32C450 did a good job with various processor tests results. There was little motion artifacts during the Video Resolution Loss Test.

Picture Quality Performance: With 480i images we noted some jerky motion artifacts in the background of some scenes. However, I did not see much offensive negatives in the foreground and was very pleased with the detail offered in 480i. The processors did a very nice job. Color rendition was not oversaturated, if not sometimes a little muted.

This scene from the Blu Ray HD version of S.W.A.T. Shows a bright background and good contrast in the foreground without losing detail.

With our Blu Ray set to 720p resolution to match the TVs resolution we were very impressed at the bright sharp images and intense color offered. The TV really has a lot of pop with HD material. We also did not note the negative background judder with HD material and this proved out with our HD HQV processor testing as well. Black levels were deep and occasionally oversaturated but not often enough to really be a strike against. Dark shadow detail was totally acceptable for a TV of this size and price range.

This scene from HD scene from S.W.A.T shows no dithering artifacts in the background blinds and good shadow effects.

Off center viewing was average on this LCD TV with the contrast and black levels fading at around 35 degrees off angle – again not bad for this price range.

On a negative note, there was notable loss of contrast and black levels at a 35 degree angle. This is not uncommon for LCD TVs. It's a problem that LCD TV manufacturers have attempted to somewhat alleviate with the introduction of LED backlighting. The idea has been marginally successful.