Samsung SP-P4251

Samsung SP-P4251 Plasma TV Review

The Samsung SP-P4251 is a fourth-generation plasma television, it uses the company's proprietary electronic chassis and its latest DNIe picture-enhancement circuitry to deliver outstanding brightness, contrast, and overall picture clarity. Use it for home theater and use it for your PC--it's perfect for both. It comes with a pedestal stand and a pair of built-in NTSC tuners for split-screen and PIP viewing (small, large, double). Built-in analog tuners allow you to connect an analog RF signal cable or antenna directly to the set and watch standard-definition TV right out of the box.

With a plasma screen you get vivid colors like you've never seen before, extremely wide viewing angles (wider, even, than those of most LCD screens), and easy placement due to a plasma monitor's slim profile--the Samsung SP-P4251 is a mere 3.4 inches deep, perfect for desk or wall mounting. Brightness tends to be extremely uniform across plasma screens, which are also impervious to the picture distortion and negative color balances that afflict CRT monitors when placed near lighting or sound systems.

The set boasts an incredible contrast ratio of 3,000:1 and a brightness rating of 1,000 cd/m2. With every scene, the picture is clear and vivid, capturing and revealing every detail, even in bright light. The set's picture-frame design is finished in luxurious aluminum and acrylic with contrasting tones of sliver and black. The use of these colors and materials help eliminate glare and facilitate comfortable viewing, freeing your eyes to focus only on the picture.

The Samsung SP-P4251 panel construction is calibrated for better performance and greater durability than earlier plasma models--even surpassing the longevity of prior-generation CRT sets, offering a 50,000-hour panel life (viewing time under normal conditions, after which picture deterioration may occur).

Samsung's exclusive Digital Natural Image engine (DNIe) combines a Motion Optimizer, Contrast Enhancer, Detail Enhancer, and Color Optimizer to deliver a vivid, lifelike picture. With the Motion Optimizer, fast-moving images are rendered with more natural-looking motion, without blurring or noise. DNIe's Detail Enhancer analyzes video elements to produce sharper detail, clear image separation, and natural edge transition. The Color Optimizer gives colors lifelike realism while making whites more accurate and skin tones more natural. The Contrast Enhancer gives you deeper, richer blacks with greater detail and more natural whites.

In addition to component (Y, Pb, Pr) inputs for an HD set-top box, PC, and DVD player, the set also offers an DVI-HDTV (Digital Visual Interface) jack for the best possible resolution in a direct digital connection. In keeping with the slim profile of the Plasma TV, AV jacks are on the side so that, even after installation, peripherals such as video players, camcorders, and other AV equipment can be easily connected.

Samsung SP-P4251 has built-in speakers powered by 12 watts per channel means your movies and TV programming will sound great even without a standalone multichannel surround system. Helping out in the surround-effect department, SRS TruSurround XT incorporates these features: TruSurround 6CH Surround Effect, TruBass Virtual Woofer Effect, Dialog Clarity Virtual Center Effect, and WOW Stereo Enhancement. Wall mounting is optional using Samsung's WMN4240 wall-mount kit.

What's in the Box?

Samsung SP-P4251 TV, stand, remote control, remote batteries, an RF video cable, a user's manual, and a warranty card.

So what Features Does the Samsung SP-P4251 have?

� Color: Silver

� Screen size: 42 inches

� TV type: Gas plasma

� HDTV capable: Yes (EDTV, up to 480p)

� Aspect ratio: 16:9

� 3:2 pulldown: No

� Speaker wattage per channel: 12

� Number of speakers: 2

� Includes radio: No

� Noise reduction: Yes

� Signal type: NTSC, decoded ATSC (480, plus 720p and 1080i scaled for 480p viewing)

� Black-level expansion: Yes (contrast enhancement)

� Picture enhancements: DNIe (Digital Natural Image engine), color optimizer, motion optimizer, detail and contrast enhancement

� Picture modes: Standard, dynamic, custom, movie

� Sound modes: Standard, custom, movie, music, speech

� Auto channel setup: Yes

� Auto power off: Yes

� Channel labeling: No

� Input labeling: No

� Closed captioning: Yes

� Mute: Yes

� Last-channel recall: No

� Favorite channel: Yes

� Multilingual menu: Yes

� Parental control: Yes (V-Chip)

� Picture-in-picture (PIP): Yes (2-tuner, split-screen)

� Remote control: Yes (universal)

� Discrete IR codes: Yes

� SAP: Yes

� Auto clock set: No

� Sleep timer: Yes (and on timer)

� Audio tone controls: Yes (treble, bass)

� Audio balance: Yes

� Surround sound: Yes (SRS TruSurround XT: simulated surround from two channels)

� Sound settings: Custom, standard, movie, music, or speech

� VGA/SVGA input: 1 (RGB)

� Macintosh compatible: No

� Audio outputs: 1 stereo analog (left/right) RCA

� Audio inputs: 5 stereo analog (left/right) RCA

� Video outputs: 0

� Video inputs: 7

� Headphone jack: Information not available

� Digital video input: 1 (DVI-HDTV)

� Component video: 2 HD (480p, 720p, 1080i with image scaling for 480p display)

� Composite video: 3

� S-video: 2

� RF: 1

� Monitor: No (includes two 181-channel NTSC tuners)

� Pixels: 852 x 480

� Contrast ratio: 3,00:1

� Brightness: 1,000 cd/m2

� Dot pitch: Information not available

� Horizontal viewing angle: Information not available

� Vertical viewing angle: Information not available

� Response time: Information not available

� Lamp life: 50,000-hour panel life

� Color temperature control: Yes

� Cooling system: Fanless, low noise

� Approvals: Meets FCC regulation for "Class B" and is shielded for reliable, interference-free operation in your home

� Front AV jacks: No

� Sound leveler system: Yes

� Wall mountable: Yes (with optional mounting kit)

� Optional accessories: Wall Mount Kit (WMN4240)

� Altitude restrictions: The set will not function normally at elevations above 6,500 feet

� Power supply: AC 120V, 60 Hz

� Power consumption: 370 watts

� UPC: 036725237513

� Approvals: FCC Class B Certification for Residential Applications

� Item width: 41.4 inches

� Item height: 29.7 inches (with stand: 30.9 inches)

� Item depth: 3.4 inches

� Item weight: 95.2 pounds (with stand)

� Shipping dimensions: 46.9 x 41.3 17.1 inches (W x H x D)

� Shipping weight: 106.9 pounds

� Warranty: 2 years parts and labor

Conclusion

The 4th generation plasma panel Samsung SP-P4251 is combined with proprietary electronic chassis design, incorporating the latest DNIe picture enhancement circuitry; results in outstanding brightness, contrast and overall picture clarity. Everything you will need in a high performance digital flat panel TV is here.

The Samsung SP-P4251 is one of the most competitively priced 42 inch plasma tv's on the market. It offers great value when compared with othe rbrands. Please heed this word of warning before you purchase the tv make sure you see it working in one of the big stores, even if you intend to but over the net. Plasma tv's are not cheap but they can bring you a lot of entertainment value. However there is nothing like buying something on impulse and regreting it for years to come.

All in all this is a quality low priced plasma tv. It's not the best on the market but it offers good value and a 2 year warranty.

Best DVD Recorder Reviews Rating

8.5/10

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Samsung SP-P4251 Plasma TV Review
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