Samsung PN43D450

We haven't had a chance to fully test this product yet, but we've assembled this helpful overview of relevant information on it.

This 450 series HDTV from Samsung has a 43 inch screen with a 720p resolution. Also, view your photos on it with ConnectShare.

From the Samsung 450 series comes the PN43D450. This set has  a 43  inch screen due to the Samsung Plasma+1 program.. This reduces the bezel design allowing for more viewing screen without increasing the TV frame dimensions. Otherwise, it offers a 720p resolution, 600Hz refresh rate and a .001 ms response rate. The set has 2 HDMI ports and meets Energy Star Standards. The model has a 16:9 aspect ratio and two built-in bottom speakers. Using the USB port you can attach a digital camera or thumb drive to play music, watch video or view photos with Samsung’s ConnectShare JPEG feature.

Features List:

- 43 inch Plasma Screen

- Samsung’s Plasma+1 bezel reduction

- 720p resolution

- 600Hz refresh rate

- .001 response rate

- 16:9 aspect ratio

- 2 built-in speakers

- 2 HDMI ports, 1 USB port

- Samsung ConnectShare for photo sharing

- V-Chip parental controls

Do I need an ATSC tuner?

If you plan on watching, free, over-the-air programming, then yes. As of 2009, all over-the-air broadcasts use the ATSC standard. Pretty much all HDTVs manufactured over the past few years will include this feature.

Should I worry about viewing angle?

Absolutely. All LCDs will distort when viewed from extreme angles, but the degree of distortion and the angle it starts to occur at varies from TV to TV. If you plan to pack a dozen people in front of a single TV for entertaining, viewing angle will make a huge difference for the unlucky few who get scattered off to the sides. Most manufacturers will state viewing angle in degrees (for instance, 160) in the specifications for a TV, but be warned: methods for measuring this very subjective figure vary, and we can guarantee most companies opt for the most generous figures. When possible, try to evaluate it yourself in person, or read hands-on reviews that can offer anecdotal evidence, rather than relying on easily-manipulated numbers.

Which other panel specs should I pay attention to?

In short: brightness, contrast, and refresh time.

Brightness is measured in Candelas per square meter, or cd/m2. A typical figure, for instance, might be 500 cd/m2. More is always better, especially if you plan to plant your TV in a bright room where the screen will have to overcome other light sources.

Contrast is measured as a ratio of the brightest white a TV can produce, over the darkest dark. For instance, Insignia’s NS-L42X-10A offers a 4,000:1 contrast ratio. More is also better, but beware of “dynamic contrast ratios,” which use unrealistic measurement conditions (the brightest white is measured with the backlight set to full, and the darkest dark with the backlight to minimum, even though those levels could never occur side by side on the same screen) to inflate the number to levels like 2,000,000:1.

Refresh time is measured in milliseconds, such as 5ms. Lower is always better, and will prevent the “ghosting” that can sometimes be seen in fast-motion video.

How large of a screen do I really need?

“Bigger is better” doesn’t make any more sense when choosing an HDTV for your living room than when choosing a couch for your living room. A lot of factors come into play. As a general rule, consider a TV 1.5 to 3.0 times the screen size. For instance, a 32-inch television might make sense for viewing distances as close as four feet away, and as far as eight feet away. Check out our guide to choosing the right size HDTV for more details, including a helpful chart.