Samsung HL61A750 61-Inch 1080p LED Powered DLP HDTV

This SAMSUNG HL61A750 replaced a SONY 50 inch LCD projection
TV which had an optical block defect. SONY settled with end
users on this problem for sets manufactured from 2004. My set
was made in November 2003, so I was out of luck.

This was my first major Amazon.com purchase, and overall the
results were quite good...easy ordering, free delivery in less
than one week, and helpful setup.

From a video standpoint the set is very impressive, delivering
greater visual impact than it demonstrated in the retail outlets
where I saw it on display. I was truly impressed by the picture
right out of the box, and further adjusted it to my preferences
quite easily. Plenty of punch, even in daylit room conditions.

The set features a rather extensive set of connections,
conveniently placed on the side of the base so as to eliminate
the need to get to the rear of the unit.

So much to see .. so easy to make connections, it therefore
saddens me that the set has SO LITTLE FUNCTIONALITY with
home theater systems!

Where were my fellow reviewers on THIS issue, I wonder!

For starters, be aware that the audio output of this set,
whether analog or digital, is fixed and flat! Although the
set has a volume control and sound equalization, all of these
features work only with the set's internal speakers. None of
them work with the audio out connections.

Further, the supplied remote works ONLY with the TV. It is NOT multifuntional with most home theater systems (except perhaps
SAMSUNG's) or cable boxes! I telephoned SAMSUNG customer
assistance and they verified these limitations.

That's right friends .. you must invest in your own remote to
get this gorgeous set to properly function with external devices.
I would be surpised if SAMSUNG'S LCD or PLASMA sets have these limitations. I'm sure this was an oversight in the set's design.

Bottom line, most buyers of a 61 inch screen would want to enjoy a certain degree of ease of use with cable box and home theater connections. With the SAMSUNG HL61A750 they have their work
cut out for them.

Still, with the above caveats in mind, I would rate this set
4.5 out of 5 for the video performance.

Samsung HL61A750 61-Inch 1080p LED Powered DLP HDTV]]

So Far this television set has far exceeded my expectations. Normal programming is bright and clear. High defination is outstanding.
Product was received 3 days earlier than the shipping estimate.
I am very happy with this product.

I bought the TV in June and have been very pleased with it. I have no issues at all with the picture quality.
Cons:
There was kind of a dip (inward bulge) on the screen, which I am told is very rare (1 in 10,000).
The plastic frame of the TV makes sound sometimes as it contracts(very weird).
There was a scratch on the TV screen upon arrival and I documented acordingly on the shipping receipt. I contacted Amazon and they asked me to contact Samsung(as this is under warranty) with the note the if Samsung did not respond, then to contact Amazon again and they would take care of it. And Amazon DID! They replaced the TV without any cost to me. I am impressed with Amazon's customer service. They actually initiated most of the calls to me to keep me updated compared to most vendors where you are on hold forever.

With the white glove delivery, it was very convenient and easy, I had to do nothing except tell them where to place it. The price of the TV fell in one month, so I emailed Amazon within the 30 day period and they refunded the difference.

I have spent about 18 months reviewing my options in regards to a larger screen LCD, Plasma, or DLP TV. I bought my first LCD TV in 2005. A 23" Samsung for $850 and I thought it was the greatest thing in the world... until I saw my friends 120" front projection system and I was floored. I am not a technophile, audiophile, or any other 'phile. But I love films. I don't have cable TV and I only use my TV for DVDs and Blu Ray. After seeing my friends gorgeous home theater setup I made it my goal to set up something similar, but for less money. He spent $6,000 and I wanted to spend about $2,000. Anything more and I think you're just throwing money away that could go to helping the planet, etc.

I had several requirements:

1. It must be as cheap as possible so I could sleep at night and feel I got a good bargain and didn't blow part of my retirement fund.

2. It had to be as large as possible. 32" and 46" were just not worth the upgrade for me and far too expensive for so little screen real estate.

3. The picture needed to be spectacular. I just bought a PS3 and I wanted it to look like the picture on the Blu Ray displays in Blockbuster, Best Buy, etc. I am always captivated when I walk in.

4. Low energy usage. This should be added into the overall cost of the TV. Large LCDs use a large amount of energy. Not in comparison to the old CRTs, but still. I couldn't have my electric bill go up $100 a year with this new TV. And I am concerned about the environment.

And that's really it. I didn't care about putting it up on the wall. I have a TV stand in my basement. And this is only 19" deep, or something silly. Still very thin when you think about the size. Unreal. I was not concerned about gaming performance, or how good the TV looked when the news was on, or the football game. I just wanted a TV I could watch a few movies on a week with my Blu Ray player, Bose speakers and my Yamaha receiver.

And man, did I make the right move. I have never seen a picture as sharp, or as contrasty as this one. The blacks are deep, the colors natural, but vibrant and the contrast lovely. I'm a photographer and I know a nice image when I see one. I loaded up some of my high res landscape shots and it was incredible. Rivaled my Apple display I use for graphics work. Not as good, but very, very close. Scary for a $1,600, 61" screen to rival a $900, 23" Apple display. But it did.

I watched the most recent Bond movie and Spider Man 3 last night and at one point I realized my mouth was agape. My jaw was touching the floor... literally. I couldn't believe the quality. I saw this TV in Best Buy last week and it looked kind of crappy. Sort of blurry, the contrast was low, the colors muted and dull and it was only because of these reviewers on Amazon that I chose this TV. I never would have chosen it had I just gone to Best Buy. I would be stuck with a 46" LCD and wondering why the hell I upgraded to something that isn't EXACTLY what I want. But I didn't. I got this. Thank God!

If you have been looking for a large TV to get, this really is the only choice. Unless you're mounting it on the wall of course.

So let's get behind this technology so it doesn't go away. It really is the best choice in large format TVs right now. Logically. No question!

I previously owned the hls5679w, a 2006, 56 inch model. The picture was fantastic, until it conked out on me. Samsung replaced it with a new hl61a750..which has an even better picture! Not to mention the 120HZ 3d capabilities. Which enable 24fps options for Blu-Ray viewing. The vast available tweaking options should render a picture to please anyone's eye!

My best advice would be to take your time, set aside at least a couple hours to play with it. Check out some of the forums where various users offer their settings. It's well worth it!