Should I buy this Samsung TV?

Question

I have been thinking about buying the Samsung LN40A530. http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8749465&type=product&id=1202649424827 but it is $400 more compared to the one at sears. This one has a ratio of 30,000:1. Is 10k extra contrast worth the 200-400 dollar difference? I will also be playing my xbox 360 on it.

Answer 1

I would take technical specs that a manufacturer gives with a grain of salt. They judge those specs under certain testing regimenes that make their product look better than it actually is.

Take wattage ratings on recievers, Pioneers latest claims 105 watts per channel, but under testing it only had 34 watts per channel.

Contrast ratios is pretty much the same thing.  I would look at anything rated at 10,000:1 contrast ratio as a good thing and then actually go and look at the picture quality, if need be have the salesman set both TV's side by side and judge black level this way.

Also once you get the TV into your home, buy a calibration TV or have the set isf calibrated by a pro and get the proper settings for your room that the TV will be in.  Most TV's come straight out of the box in "torch mode" which means the brightness and sharpness and maxed all the way out to look good in a store, not so good in your room.

I actually like Samsung and Panasonic as coming the closest to Pioneer for it's picture quality.