Samsung LN40B650
40-Inch 1080p 120Hz LCD HDTV with Red Touch of Color
The Samsung LN40B650 sits in the middle of Samsung's lineup of LCD HDTVs. At 40-inchs it's available for a suggested retail price of $1,699.99, but can be found for a couple hundred dollars less if you shop around. The LN40B650 sports a variety of high-end features, including 120Hz refresh rate, two USB ports, internet connectivity and a full 1080p resolution. Still, $1700 is a lot to pay for a 40-inch HDTV, the question is whether the performance justifies the price. Read the review to find out.
| Other Models in the LNXXB750 Series | ||
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| LN32B650 32" | LN37B650 37" | LN46B650 46" |
| Tour & Design Summary | ||||
 • Glossy design• Subtle red finish • Heavy, swiveling base |
Front
From the front the Samsung LN40B650 features a glossy glassy bezel in very dark red, practically black, with a transparent edging. The bottom edge of the bezel curves down to a slight chin. Beneath the display is the Samsung logo and the on-tv controls are touch sensitive and embedded into the bezel on the lower right.
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| The front of the Samsung LN40B650 has a subtle red finish on the bezel. |
The back of the Samsung LN40B650 is glossy black. Most of the ports are located on the back towards the left side when facing the back or just around the right edge when facing the front.
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| The back of the LN40B650 is so reflective you can use it as a mirro. |
Sides
There are no features on the left side of the HDTV, but on the right side you'll find a second grouping of ports, which actually sit very near the ports on the back of the LN40B650.
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| The right side has a set of ports. |
Stand/Mount
The Samsung LN40B650's is heavier than the whole television itself. It's made of the same material as the bezel with a flat bottom that is styled in very dark red/black, again like the bezel. The television itself sits on a clear round pillar that rotates about twenty degrees towards you on either side.
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| The stand has a see-through pillar that rotates. |
In The Box (4.0)
The Samsung LN40B650 ships with a variety of interesting accessories. There's the basics like the remote with batteries and the power cord. The manual doesn't come in a paper variety but rather on a USB key that you actually plug right into the HDTV and browse using the remote. This is an interesting feature, but we wonder what happens when you can't get your HDTV to work right and you need to access your manual for information?
You also get a cleaning cloth, a CD to install on your computer to use the Samsung LN40B650's network capabilities, and something called a TV Holder and screw. We're not sure what this is for, it's basically a small piece of plastic with a string attached. We don't recommend you try and hang your HDTV from it as don't believe it would actually "hold" it. Unfortunately there's no HDMI cable included so you'll have to purchase one (or more) separately to connect the Samsung LN40B650 to the rest of your home theatre components. Aesthetics (6.0)
The Samsung LN40B650's elicits varying responses. Some like the glossy finish, clean lines and the subtle red styling. Others find it a finger-print magnet, don't like the chin at the bottom of the bezel and think the red highlights are unnatractive. Basically it's a love it or hate it design, we recommend you see one in person before buying it to see if you can live with the way it looks.
| Calibration Summary | ||||
| • Used Movie Mode • 4 video modes offered • Used DisplayMate for calibration |
Calibration
Note: We mad an error in our original calibration process, we have updated this table with an adjustment to the gamma setting.
DTVs don't come out of the box ready to give you the best picture possible. As such we use DisplayMate software and have worked closely with DisplayMate's creator to create a standardized method of calibrating every HDTV that we review. With the Samsung LN40B650, as with most HDTVS, we found the preset closest to our ideal to be the Movie mode. From here we adjusted a few controls and turned off processing features to ensure that we get the most accurate color and greyscale possible. This means we are willing to give up things like brightness in order to get accuracy in what the HDTV produces on the screen. If you wish you can pay for someone to come to your home and calibrate your HDTV, or you can use the settings we used, which are outlined below.
| Setting | Default | Calibrated |
| Picture Mode | Movie | |
| Backlight | 6 | 10 |
| Contrast | 95 | 85 |
| Brightness | 45 | 44 |
| Sharpness | 20 | 0 |
| Advanced Settings: Gamma | 0 | +3 |
| Picture Options: Digital NR | Auto | Off |
Video Modes
The Samsung LN40B650 offers four different preset video modes, below are the modes and Samsung's indication for when they are compatible.
| Mode | What it Does |
| Dynamic | Selects the picture for increased definition in a bright room. |
| Standard | Selects the picture for the optimum display in a normal environment. |
| Natural | Selects the picture for an optimum and eye-comfortable display. |
| Movie | Selects the picture for viewing movies in a dark room. |
| Blacks & Whites Summary | ||||
| • Very deep blacks • Bright whites • Excellent contrast ratio • Greyscale gamma a too aggressive • Testing done with DisplayMate |
Black Level (8.77)
We measured the Samsung LN40B650's black level at 0.07 candelas per meter squared (cd/m2). This is an excellent black level, especially for an LCD HDTV, which tend to have more trouble producing deep blacks than Plasma televisions. You can see in our comparison chart below that the LN40B650 actually produced deeper blacks than Samsung's plasma model the PN50A760. It obviously produced much better black levels than the other two LCD models in our comparisons.
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Peak Brightness (9.01)
The Samsung LN40B650's peak brightness was measured at 365.79 cd/m2. This is the brightest white that we could produce on the HDTV using our calibrated settings. This is an excellent peak brightness, amongst the best we've seen from an HDTV. Below you can see that the Samsung LN40B650 outpaces all of our comparison televisions. In particular note that the peak brightness of the LCD LN40B650 is more than twice that of the plasma Samsung PN50A760. This highlights one of the problems of plasma televisions, that they are not capable of producing as bright an image as their LCD counterparts.
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Contrast (9.26)
The Samsung LN40B650's contrast ratio of 5226:1 is simply the best we've ever measured to date. This excellent contrast ratio is due to the very deep blacks and very bright whites that the LN40B650 is capable of producing. Below you can see that the Samsung LN40B650 far outpaces our comparison HDTVs in this area.
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| Motion Summary | ||||
| • Not much motion blurring • A great deal of artifacting with motion • Supports 24fps natively • Testing done with DisplayMate |
Motion Smoothness (7.0)
The Samsung LN40B650 features 120Hz refresh rate, which is a method used by LCD manufacturers to try and reduce motion blurring. The Samsung LN40B650 does a decent job, producing only a small amount of blurring in complex patterns like faces. When we looked at solid objects, however, we noticed significantly more blurring. The performance was about the same when dealing with both 1080p and 1080i content.
The LN40B650 offers users very detailed control over the effects of it's refresh rate, with independant blurring and judder controls and several different presets. Unfortunately we didn't notice any improvement to the Samsung LN40B650's performance as we adjusted those controls, which is ok as the LN40B650's performance is already above average in this area.
Motion Artifacting (3.5)
Artifacting refers to things that appear on the screen that shouldn't be there. They usually appear due to problems with processing. Unfortunately the Samsung LN40B650 displayed several different artifacts related to motion. There was a very noticeable shutter effect that we saw in both moving still images and with test patterns. We also saw content on the screen tilt noticeably as it moved. Finally there were definite areas of brightness leading and trailing certain objects on the display. We were very dissapointed with the extensive artifacting we saw on the Samsung LN40B650.
3:2 Pulldown & 24fps (8.0)
3:2 pulldown refers to the process by which an HDTV will take a broadcast signal that comes in at 60 frames per second (fps) and converts it to 24 frames per second. This occurs with films that should be displayed at 24fps as this framerate gives content a film-like feel. The Samsung LN40B650 did a decent job with this process, we noticed only minor glitches in test patterns and saw very little evidence of the "jaggies" that can occur when this process is done poorly.
The Samsung LN40B650 can also natively handle 24fps content, which you'll get from DVDs or Blu-ray discs. When you do watch content at 24fps, however, we strongly recommend turning off the HDTVs 120Hz refresh rate as the LN40B650 doesn't seem to do a very good job of interpolating the 24fps content for a screen that refreshes 120 times a second.
| Viewing Effects Summary | ||||
| • Poor viewing angle • Very reflective display • Testing done with DisplayMate |
Viewing Angle (4.55)
The Samsung LN40B650 has a very poor viewing angle of 19 degrees from center, for a total viewing angle of 38 degrees. This is only half of our average viewing angle of 41 degrees from center, and is pretty poor even for an LCD HDTV, which tend to have worse viewing angles than plasma televisions. Below you can see our graph for the Samsung LN40B650's viewing angle. We calculate the acceptable viewing angle as the point at which the contrast ratio falls below 50% of the optimum. We did appreciate that colors did hold up well across viewing angles, with no significant solarization or fading.
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Reflectance (4.5)
The Samsung LN40B650's display is very reflective. Lights shined onto the display were not diffused at all, we were able to make out the individual LED lights of the array we use to do this test. Even when the light is shined on from an oblique angle it is still very noticeable. We also noticed significant streaking from the light on the display, especially when the display is dark. You should make sure that the Samsung LN40B650 is set up so that none of the lights in your room are able to shine directly onto the display.
Video Processing (3.5)
Like most HDTVs the Samsung LN40B650 offers a variety of video processing options that allow you to tweak certain settings or address some problems. Most of the time these options do little and aren't worth playing with. They also cause problems with processing so we turn them off (if possible) in our calibration process. If you have a significant problem with your image, however, it might be worth trying them out. Below are our impressions.
| Setting | Claimed Function | Our Impression |
| Black Tone | You can select the black level on the screen to adjust the screen depth. | Reduced the apparent depth of blacks. |
| Dynamic Contrast | You can adjust the screen contrast so that the optimal contrast is provided. | Slight change in apparent saturation of colors. |
| Gamma | You can adjust the primary color (red, green, blue) intensity. | Saw slight increase or decrease in brightness. |
| Flesh Tone | You can emphasize the pink ‘flesh tone’ in the picture. | Very minor apparent change in skin tones. |
| Edge Enhancement | You can emphasize object boundaries in the picture. | No apparent difference. |
| Digital NR | If the broadcast signal received by your TV is weak, you can activate the Digital Noise Reduction feature to help reduce any static and ghosting that may appear on the screen. | No apparent difference. |
| Remote Control Summary | ||||
| • Comfortable to hold • Well balanced • A bit too long • Some controls a stretch to reach for those with small hands |
The Samsung LN40B650's remote is very similar to the one that came with the Samsung PN50A760, with the exception that the directional pad is made up of real buttons instead of the rotating dial, which we don't think is much of a loss. The remote is heavily back weighted, with a bulge at the end that gives it very good balance in the hand. It is a bit long, however, and although it's nicely contoured the slick plastic makes it a bit easier to drop than we'd like.
We do like the baklight function on the remote. There's a dedicated backlight button that lights up in the dark so you can find it easily. Press the button and all the rest of the button on the remote are illuminated in a mild orange light that's very easy on the eyes. The buttons are made of soft plastic and provide a reasonable amount of key travel, but not a lot of tactile feedback. Despite a couple of flaws we like the remote a lot, it should be comfortable to use on a regular basis and the backlight is very well thought out.
Button Layout & Use (4.85)
At neutral your thumb sits right above the directional pad on the Samsung LN40B650's remote. The menu button and several additional navigation buttons are all within easy reach, especially for those with small hands. Unfortunately the channel and volume buttons will require a stretch or a shift for those with smaller hands. Speaking of which there are buttons studded across almost the entire face of the remote, and given it's length you'll find yourself moving up and down the remote a lot. We were happy that the remote was able to control the television at a very oblique angle, but we did notice that on occasion we had to shift our target to the right side of the LN40B650 as pointing at the left side wouldn't always work.
Programming & Flexibility (1.0)
Unfortunately the Samsung LN40B650's remote doesn't work as a universal remote, nor does it have programmable buttons. It will work to control other Samsung devices connected via HDMI or Optical Audio Out using Samsung's Anynet+ system. We're not big fans of such proprietary systems, but we will award a single point for this functionality.
| Audio Summary | ||||
| • Below average audio quality • Simulated surround sound mode does not replace a real surround sound system |
Sound Quality (4.0)
The Samsung LN40B650's built-in speakers did not produce very impressive audio quality. The sound was clear, but flat and tinny, lacking the depth we've seen from other HDTVs. We recommend looking into some speakers if you want to get good quality audio out of the Samsung LN40B650.
Surround Sound (3.0)
Like most HDTVs the Samsung LN40B650 offers a simulated surround sound mode. Turning this feature on did add a little bit of depth to the audio, which isn't saying much. Frankly if you care about audio quality at all you'll be best off investing in even a cheap set of surround sound speakers. We do need to mention, however, that it seems like the Samsung LN40B650 cannot output surround sound from its optical audio out. We tested this in our lab and indeed the rear speakers were mute. This means you'll need to connect your surround sound system directly to your DVD/Blu-ray/Console in order to get suround sound.
Maximum Volume (7.73)
We measured the Samsung LN40B650's maximum volume at 77.3 decibels. This is at the lower end of the spectrum for an HDTV, but it should be quite loud enough for anyone who wants to ruin their hearing by cranking the volume all the way up.
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| Connectivity Summary | ||||
| • Good selection of ports • 4 HDMI ports • 2 USB Ports • LAN connectivity • Excellent placement of ports |
Input Ports (7.0)
The Samsung LN40B650's ports are arranged in two groups, one on the right side of the HDTV and the other just around the right side on the back. On the right side you'll find one HDMI input, the HDTVs only composite video input and an analog audio input.
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| The ports on the side are easy to access. |
On the back you'll find the majority of input ports. Here are three additional HDMI inputs, an RGB input for connecting older computers along with an associated 3.5mm audio input. You'll also find two component video inputs and three analog audio inputs, one of which is associated with the HDMI inputs. Finally you'll find the antenna input, which supports both digital and analog over the air and cable signals.
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| The ports on the back are just around the right side of the television. |
Output Ports (2.0)
As with most HDTVs the only output ports on the Samsung LN40B650 are one digital audio out and one analog audio out, both found on the back of the HDTV.
Other Connections (3.0)
The Samsung LN40B650 is one of a new generation of HDTVs that tout their internet connectivity, and as such you'll find a LAN port on the back of the television so you can connec to the internet. You can also use this to connect to your computer and stream content from it directly to your television. You will need to install the Samsung PC Share Manager software on your computer, which comes on an included CD.
Media (2.0)
The Samsung LN40B650 has two USB ports, which is an interesting trend we've seen with newer Samsung HDTVs. This allows you to connect two USB devices to your HDTV and access media from them, although you can only access one at a time. You can also attach a USB hard drive to the USB 1 port.
Placement (8.0)
The Samsung LN40B650's ports are very well positioned. The ports on the right side can be easily accessed for quickly connecting a device, even if the HDTV is mounted on a wall. Those on the back are placed right around the right side of the HDTV, meaning you won't have to stretch around to the middle of the back to reach them. Combined with the swiveling stand this makes all of the ports on the LN40B650 very easy to reach.
| Power Consumption Summary | ||||
| • Efficient power consumption • $26.08 in annual cost for typical family |
Power Consumption (8.7)
To test power consumption we adjust an HDTV to give off 200 cd/m2, with an LCD this is done by adjusting the backlight. We then run through a standard video with the volume at zero to see how much power is drawn by the HDTV. The Samsung LN40B650 did very well in this test, drawing an average of 133.54 watts under these conditions. For an average U.S. family that works out to $26.08 in power costs each year. Below you can see all of our results, including the power draw with the backlight turned up to maximum and down to the minimum.
| Setting | Average Watts | Cost per Year |
| Backlight 6 | 133.53 | $26.08 |
| Backlight 10 | 194.1 | $37.90 |
| Backlight 0 | 74.53 | $14.55 |
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| Conclusion |
The Samsung LN40B650 is an impressive HDTV. This 40-inch LCD television offers deep blacks, bright whites and the contrast ratio was the best we've seen to date. We also like the native 1080p resolution and solid color performance.
From a performance standpoint alone this would be a solid television, but Samsung has included several interesting extras like internet connectivity, network streaming of media and 2 USB ports.
That's not to say that everything's perfect here. The Yahoo widget system doesn't offer many features yet. We also saw a few performance problems, for example the motion performance displayed quite a few artifacts and the color gamut was significantly off in the blues. The viewing angle is also poor and the television itself is so reflective you won't want any lights shining on it.
The positives outweigh the drawbacks, however. The question is whether the television is worth it. Samsung's recommended price of $1700 gives us pause, but if you can find this HDTV for around $1400 we feel you'll be getting a solid value.
| Comparisons | |
 | Versus Samsung PN50A760 One of the best HDTVs we've reviewed to date the PN50A760 doesn't offer the wide contrast ratio that the LN40B650 does, but it does address some of the drawbacks, including an excellent viewing angle and significantly better motion performance. It will cost you, however, with the PN50A760 coming in at around $2000. |
 | Versus JVC LT-42P300 This JVC is just about the same size as the Samsung LN40B650, but the similarities end there. Although it's a reasonably capable HDTV, if you care about performance the Samsung beats it out in almost every area. You'll pay for that extra performance, however, as the LT-42P300 can be had for close to half the price of the Samsung LN40B650. |
 | Versus LG 32LG40 The 32LG40 is a reasonable television from a performance standpoint but it's nowhere near as good as the Samsung LN40B650. It's probably targeted at a different market, however, this 32-inch LCD has a built-in DVD player that probably makes it a good choice for college dorm rooms and the like. It'll also set you back considerably less than the Samsung LN40B650. |
| Series Comparison Summary | ||||
| • Mid-range LCD Lineup • All models have 1080p resolution • 2 USB ports on all models • LAN port with Yahoo Widgets available on all models |
LNXXB650 Series
Samsung B650 series of LCD HDTVs offer a variety of high-end features, including internet connectivity, 2 usb ports and 120Hz refresh rate for improved motion performance. Every model in the series offers a full 1080p resolution and support Yahoo Widgets, albeit with a limited selection at the time of this writing. There are four models in the series 32, 37, 40 and 46 inches. We reviewed the 40 inch model.
| Other Models in the LNXXB650 Series | ||||
| Size | Price | Connectivity | Other Features | |
LN32B650 | 32" | $2,099.99 | • 4 HDMI • 2 Component • 1 Composite • 1 Digital Audio• 1 LAN | • 120Hz refresh • 2 x USB • Yahoo Widgets • Music/Video/Photo Playback |
LN37B650 | 37" | $1,699.99 | • 4 HDMI • 2 Component • 1 Composite • 1 Digital Audio • 1 LAN | • 120Hz refresh • 2 x USB • Yahoo Widgets • Music/Video/Photo Playback |
 LN40B650 | 40" | $1,299.99 | • 4 HDMI • 2 Component • 1 Composite • 1 Digital Audio • 1 LAN | • 120Hz refresh • 2 x USB • Yahoo Widgets • Music/Video/Photo Playback |
LN46B650 | 46" | $1,199.99 | • 4 HDMI • 2 Component • 1 Composite • 1 Digital Audio • 1 LAN | • 120Hz refresh • 2 x USB • Yahoo Widgets • Music/Video/Photo Playback |
[televisioninfo.com]
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