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Samsung HP-S4253 review: Samsung HP-S4253

Samsung HP-S4253

David Katzmaier Editorial Director -- Personal Tech
David reviews TVs and leads the Personal Tech team at CNET, covering mobile, software, computing, streaming and home entertainment. We provide helpful, expert reviews, advice and videos on what gadget or service to buy and how to get the most out of it.
Expertise A 20-year CNET veteran, David has been reviewing TVs since the days of CRT, rear-projection and plasma. Prior to CNET he worked at Sound & Vision magazine and eTown.com. He is known to two people on Twitter as the Cormac McCarthy of consumer electronics. Credentials
  • Although still awaiting his Oscar for Best Picture Reviewer, David does hold certifications from the Imaging Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Standards and Technology on display calibration and evaluation.
David Katzmaier
7 min read
intro
Unlike Sony or Pioneer, who declare their allegiance to one side or the other in the LCD vs. plasma conflict, Samsung plays on both sides of the border. The 42-inch Samsung HP-S4253 plasma stands as a good counterpoint to big-screen LCDs, such as the Samsung LN-S4051D we recently reviewed, and sells for a few hundred dollars less. The HP-S4253 plasma boasts a glossy black exterior and hidden speakers, and its feature set is anchored by excellent connectivity. Its image quality doesn't measure up to that of the best plasmas, however, and it costs a bit too much to compete against the most aggressively priced bargain models. Samsung has apparently made a conscious decision to make its LCDs look more attractive than its plasmas. Flat-panel LCD models such as the Samsung LN-S4051D, visible in hyperbole-filled advertisements everywhere, have a friendly yet stylish, rounded-off appearance, an oval base, and a wide V shape along the bottom. The HP-S4253 plasma, on the other hand, is the standard sharp-cornered rectangle atop a nonswiveling stand. It shares its swankier brand mate's glossy black finish and concealed speakers, which are stashed inside the angled opening along the bottom of the cabinet. This plasma's relatively thick frame contributes to bigger dimensions compared to many plasmas; the HP-S4253 measures 41.5 by 30 by 13.5 inches and weighs 88 pounds including the stand, while the panel itself is 3.8 inches deep.

The company revamped its remote, improving the new model with a smarter button layout, better differentiation between the keys, and a longer, easier-to-hold shape. Although it still lacks backlighting, we appreciate its ability to control four other devices. Samsung's internal menu system looks the same as ever. We found it intuitive to navigate and appreciated the ability to choose and rename inputs from the menu, as well as the helpful information explaining various menu items.

6.2

Samsung HP-S4253

The Good

Deep blacks; excellent connectivity, including two component-video and two HDMI inputs; numerous picture-affecting features; distinctive glossy finish and hidden speakers.

The Bad

Prevalent artifacts and video noise; greenish tinge to near-black areas; subpar standard-def processing; unnatural enhancement along edges; no independent input memories.

The Bottom Line

Although the Samsung HP-S4253's glossy black styling and numerous inputs work in its favor, its issues with picture quality lessen its value.
Like most 42-inch high-resolution plasmas, the Samsung HP-S4253 has a native resolution of 1,024x768 pixels. While that's not quite enough resolution to display every pixel of HDTV sources, no other like-size plasma can make that claim either. All sources, including HDTV, DVD, standard TV, and computers, are scaled to fit the pixels.

The Samsung HP-S4253 has all the conveniences we expected, including an ATSC tuner to receive over-the-air digital and HDTV stations, although it lacks CableCard--no big loss in our book. There's a picture-in-picture option with side-by-side and inset views; an average selection of aspect-ratio controls (four for standard-def and two for HD sources); and a freeze feature to capture onscreen phone numbers, for example.

We also appreciate the solid selection of picture-affecting features, although we would have preferred the Samsung HP-S4253 to have true independent input memories. However, there are four adjustable picture modes: Dynamic, Movie, Standard, and Custom. Since the set reverts to the last selected picture mode when you switch inputs, it's possible to set up four of the TV's inputs separately for different sources. Samsung includes a separate game mode, which increases color saturation, edge enhancement, and overall brightness for a more vibrant, less realistic look that some gamers might prefer. Fortunately, Samsung's DNIe processing, which introduces more edge enhancement, is defeatable (in Movie mode, you can't even turn it on), whereas with the LN-S4051D, you can't turn it off. The company also includes noise reduction and 2:3 pull-down circuits (see Performance for more).

Although burn-in is generally not a problem with plasmas used in the home, we like the fact that Samsung offers three methods of protection: pixel shift, which moves the image slightly over time around the screen; a scrolling white-to-black ramp; and a full white field. There are also two energy-saving modes: one that adjusts the brightness according to room lighting and another that limits peak brightness.

The Samsung HP-S4253 offers one of the most comprehensive input bays we've seen yet on a plasma at this price. While the LN-S4051D LCD sacrificed a component-video for a second HDMI port, the HP-S4253 plasma has two of each. It also boasts a dedicated VGA-style PC input (1,024x768 is the recommended resolution); one A/V input with S-Video on the front and the right side, along with a headphone jack; two RF antenna inputs; and both coaxial and optical digital audio outputs for use with the ATSC tuner.

After testing, we determined that the Samsung HP-S4253 is an average performer among plasmas we've reviewed, although it turned in better picture quality than last year's HP-R4252.

Our first step was to tune the HP-S4253's picture by adjusting its controls and performing a full grayscale calibration, after which we checked out some program material. To see how the Samsung handled difficult darker scenes, we slid Star Wars, Episode III: Revenge of the Sith into our DVD player. We were quickly struck by the prevalence of low-level video noise in the near-black areas. As the opening Star Wars logo receded into the background, for example, small greenish motes appeared among the stars where there should be black space.

We turned down the brightness control, and the motes disappeared but at the expense of shadow detail; the instruments in the cockpit behind Obi-Wan's head, for example, appeared less distinct as they faded into the background. We still saw excessive green-tinged noise in some shadowy areas, however, such as the front of Senator Palpatine's robe as he addresses Anakin in his chambers.

The Samsung's color reproduction fared well with the exception of green, which tended to look too bluish. Prior to calibration, the Samsung's grayscale came relatively close to the standard overall, although it varied more than we'd like at different light levels. Skin tones looked mostly accurate and not too reddish, so we were able to get solid saturation and rich colors. One issue we couldn't adjust, even after calibration, was the set's tendency to tinge near-black areas, such as space or the black letterbox bars, a bit too green.

The Samsung's actual depth of black was fine for a plasma, and dark areas looked demonstrably closer to black than on either of the two LCDs we had on hand to compare (the Sharp LC-37D40U and the Samsung LN-S4051D). The Samsung's depth of black measured comparably to other good-performing plasmas we've reviewed recently, including the Panasonic TH-42PX60U).

Unfortunately, the Samsung HP-S4253 exhibited more false-contouring artifacts than just about any display we've examined recently. In one typical instance, as the camera slowly zooms in on the hooded figure of the Sith Master's hologram, for example, we could see distinct steps in the blue light as it faded into the background; on other displays, they were less distinct or entirely invisible. The set had a difficult time in many areas that called for fine gradations; a pillar in Anakin's apartment, for example, had patches of color instead of smooth transitions, and the lamp light caused more discolored contours on the furniture than it should have.

When we turned up the lights, we noticed that the Samsung's screen reflected a bit less light than other plasma glass-screen displays we had on hand, although naturally, it reflected much more than the LCD's matte plastic screens.

Along with DVD, HDTV also looked better in brighter scenes, although we noticed a couple of the issues described above, such as the flat color patches on the walls of the White House during Nightcrawler's incursion in a Fox showing of X-Men 2. Details, such as the texture in the President's desktop as his adviser examines the knife hole and the wood grain in Xavier's school, looked as sharp as we expected. We also saw some signs of edge enhancement; the borders of the struts and bulwarks in Magneto's plastic prison, for example, appeared too sharp and somewhat artificial, and we couldn't adjust the controls to compensate. We suspect this has something to do with DNIe processing, although the menu indicated that it was turned off.

Finally, the Samsung HP-S4253's picture quality with standard-def sources was less impressive than that of many HDTVs. In particular, its component-video inputs evinced softness and artifacts with 480i sources. A set of stairs was marred by curved lines that shouldn't have been there, for example, and test patterns revealed an inability to resolve every detail of DVD sources. For that reason, we recommend using the S-Video inputs, which performed significantly better, for standard-def material, and hooking up the HP-S4253 to a quality progressive-scan or upconverting DVD player. In its favor, the set's noise reduction was able to clean up some problematic material; in a low-quality shot of a roller coaster against a blue sky, engaging noise reduction decreased the roiling, snowy noise slightly, although not as much as with some sets we've seen. It also passed our 2:3 pull-down tests, engaging quickly to eliminate some jagged lines and other artifacts but only when film mode is selected.

Test Result Score
Before color temp (20/80) 6,731/6,698K Good
After color temp (20/80) 6,398/6,680K Average
Before grayscale variation ±151K Good
After grayscale variation ±66K Good
Color of red (x/y) 0.659/0.329 Average
Color of green 0.246/0.682 Poor
Color of blue 0.149/0.061 Good
Overscan 4 percent Average
DC restoration All patterns stable Good
2:3 pull-down, 24fps Yes Good
Defeatable edge enhancement No Poor

6.2

Samsung HP-S4253

Score Breakdown

Design 7Features 7Performance 5