Samsung shows off HDTV summer line

Samsung was in town (New York, that is) showing off some new TVs for the summer slump. We got a peek at 'em, including their LN-S4696D, LN-S4096D, and LN-S3296D (priced at $4,000, $3,300, and $2,200), the  46, 40, and 32-inch versions of their 96 series of LCDs. The 40 and 46-inch models are 1080p sets, but all include USB 1.1 (huh?) and FireWire connections, and a 6000:1 contrast ratio. Also introduced were  their new 32-inch LN-S3251D, and 26-inch LN-S2652D and LN-S2651D LCDs, all with integrated ATSC, as well as their  67-inch HL-S6767W and 61-inch HL-S6165W 1080p DLP HDTVs. Dear lord, though, do we ever wish these companies would stop making their model numbers more arcane and difficult to remember than said models' serial numbers.

[GhostDoggy @ May 29th 2006 9:27AM]

6000:1 contrast from an LCD flat panel? Prove it! Someone take their Colorvision Spyder 2 and measure this in a batcave. Somehow, I'm not believing this bit of uber marketing.

[jason seto @ May 29th 2006 9:53AM]

what's the usb port used for on an lcd tv? i'm confused.

[joba @ May 29th 2006 10:30AM]

I've been watching the 40" LCD set since Dec '05. It was originally not to be released until Aug/Sept '06. Then to my surprise, I caught its big brother hiding out in Best Buy in April! Will be making the 40" LCD inch purchase in 2 weeks. I am a XBOX360 gamer and this HDTV will definitely fit the bill with its built in game mode and 2 HDMI inputs. However, many sites list the contrast ratio at 5000:1

[mugen @ May 29th 2006 11:14AM]

6000:1 is dynamic contrast the, 46" has 7000:1

[Russ @ May 29th 2006 11:59AM]

#2, My 60" Hitachi Director's LCD has a USB port on the auxillary set of inputs. You just shove a flash drive in it with images and bore your guests with a slideshow.

[joba @ May 29th 2006 3:44PM]

I stand corrected! The model I am referring to with a 5000:1 contrast ratio is the LN-S4092D...the model in this post is LN-S4096D...Should I wait for this 1080p plus featured LCD?

[The Driver @ May 29th 2006 4:36PM]

none of these tv's have 1080p inputs. When the hell are 1080p inputs for our overpriced unnneeded samsung blu ray players gonna come, Huh sammy?

[KJA @ May 29th 2006 4:44PM]

http://www.cesweb.org/shared_files/innovations/innovations_2004/4854/mainphoto4854.jpg

http://www.cesweb.org/attendees/awards/innovations/rd_2006honorees.asp?category=79

What happened to this LCD? It was said to be the best if the best.

[Perrey Z. @ May 30th 2006 4:21AM]

These where going to be the high-end of their flat panel LCD line up. according to Samsung at CES2006, there was going to be ONLY a 40" and 46" 96D-Series and both were going to have 1920 X 1080p TFT panels, CableCARD, 2-Components and 2-HDMI., now what? simple models with high-end bezels? Now there is even a 32" wanna-be high-end model.

[Juan @ Jul 19th 2006 9:29PM]

I just bought the 32 inch, and I don't know if it is a hdtv. I also have a 32 sony Bravia and that one looks way better, so im wondering if this samsung(LN-S3251D) is really an HD tv. All it says is that it has a HDTV Tuner. Could anyone enlighten me. Thanks.