<< 1 >>
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent for HDTV and DVD, bad for other things
Review: After researching and shopping for months, I finally decided on the Samsung TXN3098WHF 30" Tantus Widescreen CRT. It replaced my Sony 27" WEGA, which I loved but was not HD ready. First of all, this model is offered in 27", 30", and 32" sizes in the top of the line Samsung NEO series CRT's. I was seriously considering the 32" model and the 32" Sony WEGA HS510, but the picture quality, aspect ratio, dimensions, and weight of the 30" Samsung won me over.Digital cable looks great. I will probably be upgrading to Dish Network soon as they offer more HD channels compared to DirectTV. RCN and Comcast are working on offering HD in the city. This model has several features that improve the picture quality including a Low Noise Amplifier which the incoming signal in a weak signal area, DNIe (Digital Natural Image engine) that enables an improved image with detail, contrast and white enhancements and 3D noise reduction, and Digital Noise Reduction which reduces static and ghosting that may appear on the screen. All of these features can turned off or on via the menu. I'm an avid console gamer and Playstation 2 looks amazing in widescreen via Monster Cable component video cables. Did I mention this set has two HD component video inputs, one S-Video, and several RCA inputs. By the way, I saved the best for last, my Samsung has one DVI input that receives an uncompressed digital video signal from a HD receiver or DVD player. I had a Sony Progressive Scan DVD player but replaced it with the Samsung HD-931 DVD Player available through Amazon. Now all my DVD's are upconverted to HD quality. I'm using the Monster Cable M500 DVI cable and the picture quality is unbelievable. I was shocked at how great my DVD's look. I'm seeing things I've never seen before on my DVD's. I'm excited to watch every one again in my vast collection. I can hardly wait to see The Two Towers and Matrix Reloaded. I have a Denon/Bose/Klipsch/Monster Cable 7.1 Home Theater system and I use the Samsung speaker system when watching TV. The speaker system includes two front channels and a built-in sub on the left side of the set. Sound features include Simulated Surround Sound, BBE, an Equalizer, and several factory settings. I highly recommend this product to anyone wanting a Widescreen HD TV. It is a true performer at a great value.
Rating:
Summary: My Studio Apartment Theater
Review: After researching and shopping for months, I finally decided on the Samsung TXN3098WHF 30" Tantus Widescreen CRT. It replaced my Sony 27" WEGA, which I loved but was not HD ready. First of all, this model is offered in 27", 30", and 32" sizes in the top of the line Samsung NEO series CRT's. I was seriously considering the 32" model and the 32" Sony WEGA HS510, but the picture quality, aspect ratio, dimensions, and weight of the 30" Samsung won me over. Digital cable looks great. I will probably be upgrading to Dish Network soon as they offer more HD channels compared to DirectTV. RCN and Comcast are working on offering HD in the city. This model has several features that improve the picture quality including a Low Noise Amplifier which the incoming signal in a weak signal area, DNIe (Digital Natural Image engine) that enables an improved image with detail, contrast and white enhancements and 3D noise reduction, and Digital Noise Reduction which reduces static and ghosting that may appear on the screen. All of these features can turned off or on via the menu. I'm an avid console gamer and Playstation 2 looks amazing in widescreen via Monster Cable component video cables. Did I mention this set has two HD component video inputs, one S-Video, and several RCA inputs. By the way, I saved the best for last, my Samsung has one DVI input that receives an uncompressed digital video signal from a HD receiver or DVD player. I had a Sony Progressive Scan DVD player but replaced it with the Samsung HD-931 DVD Player available through Amazon. Now all my DVD's are upconverted to HD quality. I'm using the Monster Cable M500 DVI cable and the picture quality is unbelievable. I was shocked at how great my DVD's look. I'm seeing things I've never seen before on my DVD's. I'm excited to watch every one again in my vast collection. I can hardly wait to see The Two Towers and Matrix Reloaded. I have a Denon/Bose/Klipsch/Monster Cable 7.1 Home Theater system and I use the Samsung speaker system when watching TV. The speaker system includes two front channels and a built-in sub on the left side of the set. Sound features include Simulated Surround Sound, BBE, an Equalizer, and several factory settings. I highly recommend this product to anyone wanting a Widescreen HD TV. It is a true performer at a great value.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent for HDTV and DVD, bad for other things
Review: I absolutely love this TV. Its shortcomings: like all widescreen TV's, it gives a distorted image of signals it receives that aren't in widescreen format. If you don't have access to HDTV and don't expect to get it soon, don't even think about this TV, unless you only want it for DVD's. You'll be terribly frustrated. I certainly was for the first five months owning the TV. Then Comcast suddenly added HDTV offerings. It's absolutely _amazing_ for live HDTV sporting events, and for movies, especially new movies. It's still worse than a regular TV for non-HDTV offerings. But I would say that if you believe that HDTV will continue to take over, and are willing to be patient, you will be very, very happy with this TV.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent HDTV, but Service is a Problem
Review: I spent six months looking at small HDTV sets for my living room before settling on the Samsung TXM3098, which was replaced by the TXN3098. It is a wonderful set in many ways:
- Beautiful, vivid picture with an HDTV signal (I use RCN cable) or with DVD input (I am using composite input for DVD)
- Very good picture with a standard signal (much better than my old set, with four screen size options)
- Terrific sound for a stand-alone set
- Easy-to-navigate menu system My major complaint is service: I am suffering from geometric distortion with some signals, and Samsung shows absolutely no sign of being willing to return my call or stand behind their product. This is very disturbing.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent HDTV, but Service is a Problem
Review: I spent six months looking at small HDTV sets for my living room before settling on the Samsung TXM3098, which was replaced by the TXN3098. It is a wonderful set in many ways:
- Beautiful, vivid picture with an HDTV signal (I use RCN cable) or with DVD input (I am using composite input for DVD)
- Very good picture with a standard signal (much better than my old set, with four screen size options)
- Terrific sound for a stand-alone set
- Easy-to-navigate menu system My major complaint is service: I am suffering from geometric distortion with some signals, and Samsung shows absolutely no sign of being willing to return my call or stand behind their product. This is very disturbing.
Rating:
Summary: Close race between this and the Toshiba
Review: I wanted a TV that would fit in my existing entertainment system, so the options were very easy between this Toshiba 30HF84 (the replacement for the 30HF83) and Samsung TXN3098, both which were less than 33" wide. The decision on which one, however, was excruciating for me. I had a difficult time finding either of them in person to compare side by side, researched every possible feature down to the smallest detail, ending up looking at the Samsung 26" or a similar model Toshiba in the store for comparison purposes, and read all the online reviews you could imagine. Yes, I'm one of those types of people. In the end, I chose the Toshiba based on the following:
Pros on Toshiba
- Less money
- I bought it locally so it got here in time for football season
- Generally thought of as better product than Samsung
Cons on Toshiba
- Does not have PiP
- Silver case instead of charcoal (my preference)
Pros on Samsung
- In the store, seemed to have a brighter picture
- Had PiP
Cons on Samsung
- An issue - as seen in reviews and confirmed by their tech support - where if you go in and set the picture to wide, stretched, etc, it doesn't remember it and you have to reset it each time you turn on the tv.
- Generally thought of as a lower end product, but I had differing stories that they were making TVs for Sony, they were up and coming, etc etc.
The Decision
I was going back and forth for 2 weeks. Was I stupid to get the Toshiba if the Samsung picture looked better? Did I need PiP? There were pros and cons on each. In the end, I realized that I would be getting a great TV no matter what. I called tech support for both companies and got right through. So in the end, the switching-modes issue for Samsung was a slight factor, but the Toshiba was $200 cheaper and I could have it 2 days later (I consider this a 'filler' TV anyway for a year or two until I'm ready to step up to a 42" plasma when prices come down).
Here's what sucks... while I was concerned because of the Samsung issue in switching modes, this feature is not usable AT ALL for me on the Toshiba. I have Time Warner in NYC and HD channels work fine widescreen in that mode. But non-HD channels show up as 4:3 and I guess they're broadcasting at 1080 or 720, because I can't stretch a 4:3 show into wide mode. Toshiba only can take 480 signals and stretch them. Could be a setting I'm missing, but that's me. However, I'm finding I mostly watch the main networks and DVDs anyway. Right now I hooked up my 'regular' DVD player through digital audio cables and component video, and it looks and sounds spectacular. Not sure how much better it can get with a progressive scan player, but they're only $65 so I'm going to get one anyway and hope there's at least a noticeable difference.
Bottom Line
Both TVs are sweet, and I am very very happy so far with the Toshiba. I bet I would be just as happy with the Samsung. I have it hooked up through an HDTV digital cable box with DVR built in using component video, and to my receiver with Digital Audio Coaxial cables for sound. Ten seconds watching Discovery Channel HD Theater and you'll be in heaven. I recorded the Patriots-Colts NFL kickoff game and have been using that as a demo to show my friends how good the signal and picture are. I'm looking forward to a great fall of football, baseball playoffs and am currently buying some 'surround sound widescreen' DVDs off Amazon (True Lies, Ronin, Braveheart, Gladiator, True Romance, The Fugitive, Finding Nemo, Pirates of the Carribbean, etc) to build up a little collection.
Rating: 
Summary: No customer support
Review: It looks good but their support is terrible. The TV arrived with a bad tube. It sat on the shop for repair for 3 weeks before Samsung gave any answer. They finally said that they wouldn't send a replacement tube. I then had to ship it back to the dealer at my cost. Don't buy Samsung products. Your may save in the front end but you loose in the back end !
Rating:
Summary: No customer support
Review: It looks good but their support is terrible. The TV arrived with a bad tube. It sat on the shop for repair for 3 weeks before Samsung gave any answer. They finally said that they wouldn't send a replacement tube. I then had to ship it back to the dealer at my cost. Don't buy Samsung products. Your may save in the front end but you loose in the back end !
Rating: 
Summary: WHY no 720p support?
Review: Yea why dosent any of Samsungs HD-ready tube televisons even the high quality tantus series not support 720p. These tv's are great for DVD veiwing but if your a video game player like me then you should check out the Toshiba 30" HD ready tv. it has a smaller footprit than samsungs 26" 16:9 TV and supports all HD signals it also is the same price. so if you are not a video game fanatic then Samsung HD Tube tvs are great, nice price for size but still no 720p support.
<< 1 >>
| 
