Don't Ever Buy A Samsung LNT4665F - Review
While the Samsung LNT4665F may be the best selling 46" television on the internet, that doesn't mean it's a good fit for everyone. There are a number of serious flaws with the TV, that every consumer should be aware of. If your one of those brave souls willing to buy a big ticket item online without setting foot in a bricks and mortar store, then you really need to pay extra special attention. So, lets be both painfully critical and honest about this LCD TV.
There have been a number of reported problems with the HDMI inputs for the LNT4665F. In case your wondering what HDMI is, it stands for High-Definition Multimedia Interface. HDMI is used for sending high definition signals to your TV. That would include game consoles, HD-DVD / Blu-Ray players, digital cable boxes, and HDTV camcorders / still cameras. Basically anything that is not your basic standard coaxial television signal. The most annoying HDMI issue is an intermittent blank screen. The TV screen just goes black occasionally while your watching something coming through the HDMI input. As unsettling as this problem may be, the worst part is, that Samsung can't seem to decide on what the correct solution is. Sometimes, they replace the motherboard, sometimes they upgrade the software, and sometimes they just blame it on a consumers faulty HDMI input device (usually a cable box). While this is not a problem with every LNT4665F, for the unfortunate few, it can be a real headache. If your really committed to buying this LCD, you may at least want to check with Samsung to see if they have a solid solution to this issue. Talking with customer support before buying any product can be a really smart consumer move. It also gives you an idea of how the company treats their customers before you shell out money on their product.
Clouding (sometimes called mura) can be a problem with several of the Samsung LCD models including the LNT4665F. Clouding appears on your screen as a patch of lighter color than would be normal for the scene being viewed. It's most noticeable on darker scenes. While there can be a number of causes for clouding, the most common is an uneven thickness of the liquid crystal material in the TV. A very difficult problem to fix. If the clouding is really bad, the only real solution, is to replace the TV. Some owners have reported that wiping the clouds with a dry cloth, can move them off the screen. Other suggestions (my least favorite) have suggested that a fan blowing on the TV vents will alleviate the problem.
While not really an issue with the TV, if your ordering online, or having your TV delivered then I would be remiss if I didn't talk about shipping problems. The bezel around the Samsung LNT4665F is not made of the strongest stuff. It's basically a pretty thin plastic housing, that can be susceptible to cracking, scratching and splitting even in the hands of the most gentle delivery person. To make things worse, the packaging used by Samsung for these TVs, is not the strongest stuff. The bottom line is this, take a few minutes when your TV arrives, unpack it from the carton, inspect for any obvious damage, and plug it in. Yes, this may mean making the delivery guy/gal wait a little bit. Offer them a coffee while they wait, if it makes you feel better. More importantly though, it may also save you hours on the phone with customer support.
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