Home audio & video forum: Samsung LCD at Costco

I went by Costco again to look at the Samsung LN32A-540 and it shows the resolution at 1366 x 768. Doesn't that make it a 720p.

A SAMSUNG "LSD TV" MUST HARD TO COME BY............

GREAT VISUAL EFFECTS, I SUPPOSE. (JUST KIDDING!)

Honestly go with what looks BEST TO YOU; afterall you'll be living

with it for quite a while.

Best wishes,

River.

The 450 is 720p and the 550 is 1080p. Costco has a 540 model for $799.99 which appears to be the exact same tv as the 450 except the remote on the 540 has newer features. I keep hearing that 1080p on a 32 inch LCD is a waste. I'm pretty sure Samsung makes the 540 specifically for Costco because I can't find it anywhere else. I bought the 540 from Costco a couple of days ago and really like it. Great black levels!

After laying my eyes on some higher-end 46" models from Samsung recently, I do have to agree, best PQ bar none, and I don't mind the red accents for the glossy screen, and I'd think that's the way to go for me. As for you, since you're dealing with the club-store models, I would definitely suggest the higher resolution one, as that will indeed take advantage of Blu-ray, and HTPCs, and what not. If you're limited to 32", but have a pretty good budget, I'd give the LN32A650 a look, since you'd get deeper blacks and better connectivity.

Hi,
I'm considering buying this tv or the a450. Does the one you have (540) have picture in picture? That seems to be about the only difference between it and the 450.

Do you still like your 540?

Thanks so much!

Todd Beall

I can't turn mine up much past 12 before it's way too loud to stand. If you are at 25, then something is wrong (possible hearing loss). Wheezing? Maybe you blew the cones of the 10W speakers by over-driving them.

BTW, love the LN32A540 I bought last weekend.

"I bought an LN32A540 from costco yesterday, set it up and quite liked it. Turned it on today and started watching. When turned it up to 25 (25 out of max 100), the speakers started wheezing when people (esp males) were talking. Turned it up more, the annoying noise became more obvious. Switched to other channels, the same problem. I'm not sure if anyone has experienced this problem. Would appreciate feedback."

Not sure makes someone an expert in saying that anything beyond 12 on my tv is "too loud". Your comment makes as much sense as saying that if the speedometer on your car has 170 that it can go that fast too. Volume levels are "relative" not absolute. You blew your speakers ... there, is that technical enough for ya?


"Do some research before speaking out on a subject that you don't know much about. I'm quite dissapointed to see posts like this, instead of discussing technical aspects of a problem"

"LITTLE TIME TO BREAK IN THE MAGNET COILS. THIS APPLIES TO TV SPEAKERS"

Technically yes there is a break in, but it's not the voice coil or the pole magnet, it's the surround (butyl rubber usually) that supports the cone.

My guess is he had it on a source that was not on, thus the system was muting the output (per the user manual). In an effort to hear anything he kept increasing the volume to max (25). When that didn't work he started changing channels or sources until bam! ... he got a picture with sound and bye bye speakers.

Now with most likely torn surrounds he is hearing a "whooshing" sound as the cone material vibrates/resonates where it's torn. As for the "boom boom" sound he mentions ... the only thing I can think is he slammed the cone/coil into the basket or magnet and bent the former ... which now hits each time there is any bass. This jives with his saying it happens on male voices.

FWIW,
Jay

Again, it's relative. 12 on my TV may be 40dB and on yours 45dB. But comparing 100 to 12 is not the same as 12 to 25 on the volume is it? If you over drive the speakers even once you can and will blow them.

What is your dynamic audio set to on or off?
What is your source? (Cable, Sat, DVD, OTA)
Do all sources require the volume at 25 to hear it?

On my setup, the sat box has it's own volume control. I set the TV so in case it switch to OTA I'm not blasted. A lot of stations like to pump the volume on commercials. I found 12 to work best for me. On te DVR I have to bump the volume a bit on the TV.

FWIW,
Jay

"I bought the same tv and have the same problem. I've also read several postings with the same issue. As far as I know I don't have any hearing problems. If my car goes 100 mph, driving it 12 mph is going to blow the engine?"

It's years old. Try new ones or start your own.
Bob

Hi,
I'm a bit confused. I am considering a samsung ln32a540 tv but you say that there is no rf antenna input. Since I have a roof antenna I will obviously need an antenna input--is rf antenna the same as the normal one? And if so, then how do I connect the antenna to this TV?

Sorry for what is probably a dumb question!

Thanks!

The models are no longer at any retailer.