The Samsung LN32C350 is another entry-level LCD TV from Samsung that packs a good overall performance at a competitive price.  It has a simple design, good deep black and contrast ratio performances, video and music playback capabilities and an above average color performance.  This TV, however, doesn’t have a lot of connectivity options and features that other high-end TVs have.

The TV supports 720p video format with a refresh rate of 60 Hz.  The TFT active matrix screen uses CCFL backlight technology to power the TV’s display.  The screen’s response time is at six milliseconds.

Its slow refresh rate and LCD response time doesn’t provide a good performance when playing fast action clips or movies.  There are issues of judders, and in some high-speed films, there is blurriness as the TV’s system struggles to catch up with the fastness of the scenes.

Deep black performance for this TV is one of its strong points.  This Samsung TV produces deeper black level than the more expensive Sony KDL-32L500 TV.  Peak brightness levels are also above average for this TV.  Both excellent performances in the deep black and peak brightness categories give this TV a very good contrast ratio.  This means that it can deliver sharp and detailed images in dark scenes as well as bright highlights.

Color performance is average for this TV.  It produces uniform colors thru out the screen with great accuracy.  There is no evident oversaturation in any of the major colors and details remain sharp consistently.

This TV, like most Samsung entry-level LCD TVs, has a narrow effective viewing angle.  This TV rates a viewing angle of about 70 degrees but the actual effective viewing angle is at about 35 degrees from the center.  Viewing images greater than this effective viewing angle, you will notice a drop in the TV’s contrast and color accuracy performance.  There are also problems encountered when viewing the TV in a room with an external bright light source.  The TV’s screen is smooth and has a tendency to reflect the external light affecting the quality of images displayed on the screen

All connectivity options are located at the back of the panel.  All ports sit together at the lower right side.  Connectivity options available include two HDMI (19 pin HDMI Type A) ports, a USB (4 pin USB Type A), and a VGA input (15 pin HD D-Sub, HD-15) for PC connection.  The ports sit at the back of the panel, but the non-swivel stand makes access to the ports at the back cumbersome.  This is definitely one of the major disadvantages of this Samsung TV.  The USB port supports playback of clips, stills and MP3 from thumb drives.  This TV doesn’t have internet connection capability.

The TV’s audio output is thru its internal speakers mounted at the left and right side of the panel.  Each speaker rates at ten watts giving the TV a total audio power output of 20 Watts.  The output audio is in stereo mode but the TV has a TruSurround HD capability that adds depth to the audio output giving it a surround sound effect.  There are controls for Bass, Treble and Balance.  Overall, audio performance for this TV is below average.  The low power speakers are not enough to provide an exceptional audio output, and the overall sound quality needs more Bass to it.  This TV’s audio performance is similar to other entry-level, less expensive TVs in the market.

The TV’s panel is made up of a thin plastic that makes it light weight and may seem flimsy to some consumers.  The package comes with a TV stand, but unfortunately, it doesn’t have a swivel capability.  The back of the panel has an unusual design.  There are ridges going horizontally across the TV’s back and this goes from the top to about ¾ down the TV’s back.

At the bottom-center of the front panel of the TV are touch sensitive controls for the basic TV functions like channel, volume, power and menu.  The side of the TV is completely bare, with all the connectivity ports grouped at the back.

The TV’s remote control is a small device that resembles the structure of most Samsung remote controls.  It has clear and legible labels and menu, functions and buttons that sit accordingly.

The TV’s dimensions are 31.3 x 2.6 x 20.7 inches (W x D x H) and weighs about 15.7 lbs without the stand.  The TV is also ENERGY STAR qualified and has one of the most economical power consumption among the TV in its screen size category – both in operational and in stand-by or sleep modes.

One of its main competitors in its category is the Sony KDL-32L5000 LCD TV.  The Sony TV is about $100 more expensive than the Samsung TV.  Both TVs use LCD display technology.  The Sony TV supports 1080p format, compared to the Samsung’s 720p.  The Samsung TV holds the edge in overall performance with its more superior performance in the deep black, peak brightness and contrast categories.  The Sony TV also has a narrower viewing angle of only 25 degrees (from the center), compared to the Samsung’s 35 degrees.  Connectivity options are equal with the Sony TV offering one more HDMI input port than the Samsung TV but the Samsung has a USB port while the Sony TV doesn’t.

Another competitor in this category is the LG 32LG70 LCD TV.  The LG TV is more expensive and costs about $200 more than the Samsung TV.  The Samsung TV dominates performances in the deep black, peak brightness, contrast and color accuracy departments.  The Samsung TV also has a smoother response when playing fast action videos, even with its 60 Hz refresh rate.  Viewing angle for the LG TV is the lowest among the Samsung’s competitors with only 20 degrees of effective viewing angle.  Connectivity options are almost the same.

The Samsung LN32C350 is the best 32-inch entry level LCD TV in the market, besting all competitors in most categories – deep black, peak brightness, color accuracy, effective viewing angle and motion performances.

Its relatively small screen size, though, coupled with its non-swivel stand makes this TV inappropriate for a medium-sized room or bigger.  This TV is best for consumers looking for value in an entry-level LCD TV.  No fancy patterns or anything will catch your guest’s attention.  Its piano-black finish and its 32-inch LCD screen will be perfect to complement a small room where viewing angle and a non-swivel stand is not an issue.  If you are looking for a fancier TV with a bigger screen size, you may check on the more expensive Samsung TVs like the models in the 6000, 7000, 8000 or 8500 series.

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