Samsung's LA40S71B is almost identical to its more expensive R series version, but is differentiated by the lack of an integrated digital tuner and a lower contrast ratio. For those small sacrifices you'll save about AU$1000 off the retail price for a screen that has almost the same sound and picture quality as the more expensive model.
Design
With only an integrated analogue tuner, the LA40S71B is already disadvantaged when directly compared with some of its competitors. To watch digital television broadcasts, you'll need to purchase an additional set-top box, which can cost upwards of AU$500. Samsung has positioned this screen as the ideal option for fans of game consoles and DVD buffs, and as such the LA40S71B does offer full support for the high-definition standard. The 40-inch screen size means that the LA40S71B is better suited to small to medium sized rooms, rather than for use in a home theatre set-up. Aesthetically, the LA40S71B adopts Samsung's family style code of a piano-gloss black border flanked by a pair of stereo speakers. Running along the bottom of the screen is a contrasting white base that flows into the oval shaped stand.
Features
The HD ready LA40S71B offers high definition inputs for the 1080i/720p/576p standards, with a maximum resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels. A wide 178 degree viewing angle won't receive any complaints from audiences, while image detail is improved thanks to the 3000:1 dynamic contrast ratio combined with a 500cd/m2 brightness level. The 8ms response rate, which allows fast paced action sequences to appear more fluid, is on par with most screens on the market and the screen also comes with a 3D digital comb filter.
Four different picture modes can be selected, ranging from custom, standard, dynamic and movie, which is combined with the Korean company's DNIe imaging engine that supposedly analyses any kind of input signal and optimises it for the specific display type, in this case a 40-inch LCD. Samsung provides its own Game Mode that's designed to improve the sharpness and sound effects of HD gaming, in addition to SRS TruSurround XT sound reproduction. Other features include picture-in-picture technology -- despite the fact that there's only a single tuner -- as well as a host of other adaptors including an HDMI port and PC inputs, as well as RCA, S-Video and component inputs.
Performance
For testing purposes, we used the Digital Video Essentials disc to run several tests including checking the colour bar and greyscale output. Contrast between light and shade was excellent, although colours didn't come out as rich as we'd have liked to have seen. Playing around with the picture modes did improve things, with skin tones and dark images coming out superbly, while the rest of the images where bright and vibrant.
Watching the movie Saw on DVD in HD mode through the HDMI port shows what the LA40S71B is really capable of. Full details of images were seen clearly, even during fast paced sequences. There was no pixilation or blurring, while outlines remained sharp. Sound from the built-in speakers was excellent, with good full-range response despite the lack of a subwoofer. We detected some deterioration in quality at very high volumes, however, with the surround sound effects, audio remained commendable.
The LA40S71B is a very good screen if you can manage to survive without an integrated digital tuner. The screen would also make the perfect addition if you're serious about your game consoles or if you frequently connect up a PC to your TV.
Samsung provides a three-year limited warranty and a customer care hotline as well as full downloadable manuals from its website.
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