To be fair, most people these days love technological gadgets that glitter, whether it’s the latest iPad or the newest kid on the block in the world of whopping flat screener tellies. In every case, there’s an undying, apparently limitless passion for all the latest and greatest consumer devices.
However, when people have limited funds at their disposal, they may end up plumping for a bargain-basement cheapie television with a relatively small screen instead of chasing the dream of screen real estate. This is where a product like Samsung’s UN32EH4000F comes into the frame. Arguably, you’ll not find a better no-frills series than this one. It sports one of the finest pictures of models in this bracket. Furthermore, it ditches bells and whistles in a bid to get the fundamentals right.
Pros:
- The UN32EH4000F offers great picture quality, especially for a budget model.
- Black levels and shadow detailing make the set a top performer in its class.
- TV has simple but effective picture controls including a good anti-judder mode.
- Product’s styling is first class for TVs in this price range.
Cons:
- The UN32EH4000F is low on added features, including having no web provision.
- The supplied stand won’t swivel.
- The Remote is stuffed with excessive buttons.
Design
The screen bezel on the 32-inch UN32EH4000F (and its 26-inch sibling, the UN26EH4000) is slim and finished in tasteful black. On the downside, there is no option to swivel this baby, but the product is feather-light, so it’s easy as pie to shift it any way you like simply by physically lifting it up.
Remote control
This is one of the most feature-packed clickers you’ll find, but its usability is not top notch. The reason for this is that, although there’s no shortage of features, they have been packed into a surface area that’s too small by far. There is a noticeable lack of gaps between the buttons so that, ergonomically, switching channels and selecting menus is a disaster waiting to happen. On the plus side, Samsung has mercifully opted to make this clicker backlit, which makes seeing what you’re up to in a darkened room somewhat easier.
Features
In common with many similar models, this Samsung has a native resolution of 720p (screen = 1,366 x 768 pixels) but it CAN handle 1080p signals. To be fair, the lack of resolution shouldn’t present problems on a screen as small as this.
As regards the LCD on the UN32EH4000F, buyers should note that it employs full-array LED lamps as the backlighting method. That means it is perfectly placed to outclass models that used CCFL backlights. On the flipside, LED doesn’t guarantee superior image quality, although it certainly assists this Samsung in being as slender as it is.
Also, there is a regrettable absence of dimming and other clever tricks, although the telly does boast so-called Clear Motion Rate 60 image processing in order to reduce judder.
More expensive television sets come with a raft of services for streaming video off the web. The UN32EH4000F does not have a suite of such services to compete with the big boys; nevertheless, there is a USB workaround of sorts provided in a bid to keep buyers happy.
Picture settings
In an ideal world, users want a TV that has superb image settings “out of the box” but there is no accounting for taste. There is almost always someone who is likely to be dissatisfied, which is why Samsung has had the foresight to offer a basic but decent array of controls for a telly as cheap as this one.
Connectivity
Sadly there’s no web connectivity on this model but the lone USB connector port does mean users can get snaps and videos onto their screens using memory sticks and the like. There are also a couple of HDMI ports, a single input for composite video, another one for component video, plus an output socket for digital audio.
Picture quality
Although there’s no system for color management, the grayscale adjustment and other settings do allow determined users to squeeze a quality advantage from their screens. The proof of the pudding is in the eating and in this case, it was obvious that blacks are none too shabby. Furthermore, shadow detail is abundant. As for color accuracy, this is the pick of the bunch. In fact you’ll likely not see better on a set in this price range.
Black levels
When trying for absolute black, this Samsung shapes up as a class leader for cheap 32-inches. Of course, we don’t mean black at anything approaching reference level; nevertheless, for a cheap and cheerful TV, it is a treat to see black levels as good as this.
As for shadow detailing, this is where Samsung has made this model come alive. Even with quite demanding movie scenes, the UN32EH4000F comes up trumps and it is consistently capable of filling in details that stump comparable models from other makers.
Color accuracy
Despite the fact that this TV has no advanced settings for adjusting the color, it is possible to get decent colors with the tools available. Colors are generally fairly natural-looking with adequate saturation. Furthermore, those all-important skin tones are just about as faithful to real life as users have a right to expect from any goggle box costing three hundred bucks.
Video processing
Samsung’s UN32EH4000F is not set up to handle 24p video in its native mode, which causes Blu-ray discs to be jerky in playback.
However, activating LED Motion Plus delivers a degree of extra smoothness, without the level of obnoxious artifacts seen on many cheap tellies.
Interlaced content also passes muster on the UN32EH4000F, which is somewhat surprising given the fact the set can’t display 1080p content natively.
Uniformity
Perhaps because it utilizes direct backlighting as its illumination method, the UN32EH4000F is relatively free of screen problems due to light leakage.
Bright lighting
Although its screen is nominally glossy, the UN32EH4000F is at the matte end of that spectrum. Consequently, it does not suffer from screen reflection problems. That makes it a top choice for installation in brightly lit rooms as well as more dimly lit ones.
Related: Samsung UN55C6500 Review [1080p 120 Hz LED HDTV]
Conclusion
Samsung’s EH4000 is a class leader for picture quality in this price and size range. Buyers on the hunt for a 32-inch LED model, and who prize attractive design and tip-top performance, should put this set on their shortlist.