Samsung LA40R71B (40-inch LCD)

By Philip Wong
Sep 29, 2006

Launched months back and the brainchild of its Imagine campaign, the Samsung's R7 series LCD TVs are in a league of their own among their Korean peers. Decked in enveloping gloss finish and clean lines, the set presents a distinctively polished design expected of premium brand names the likes of Bang & Olufsen and Loewe.

Design
The R7 series is an undisputable female pleaser and a guaranteed wow factor in any living space. It entices onlookers with a shimmering gloss that extends well into the regress, perfect for open-concept installation with an unobtrusive view of equipment. Samsung has even gone the extra mile of offering three contrasting flavors to integrate with your home deco: A classy black-and-blue shade; an iPod-inspired white-and-wine concoction; and a unique monotone wine zest.

Measuring an ultra-slim 87 x 658.5mm, the panel is one of the sleekest around. Enabling this feat is a combination of a thin frame bezel and compact speaker system. The set also features a wine-shaped bottom and pedestal stand capable of two-way swivel up to 20 degrees. For DV cam owners, impromptu hook-up is catered by quick-access A/V inputs, conveniently located by the side.

	A functional but too plastiky remote. (click for larger image)

While we had little problem with the ergonomic remote, its ordinary styling is a dead mismatch with the sexy panel. Outlook aside, Samsung has allocated a dedicated button for only the PC input. You will need to rely on a toggle key to switch between all the other video sources. Fortunately, this shortfall is compensated by a smart detection system which narrows down active inputs for selection.

Making a comeback is the user-friendly Samsung interface synonymous throughout its consumer electronics. Grouped into five submenus is a collection of settings covering basic adjustments such as brightness and sharpness. For the golden ears, there are also treble and bass configurations, handy for personalized audio reproduction. The set would have had most essentials covered if not for a grey-out Tint option, ruling out fine-tuning opportunity for skin tones.

• Most Popular

• Upcoming

Latest Downloads

 

What's Hot