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Our Samsung Plasma TV Review of the Samsung HP-S4253

(Reviewed 9/11/06) In our Samsung plasma TV review the HP-S4253 (1,024x768 pixels) is a mid priced plasma that has deep blacks, excellent connectivity, accurate color decoding, sleek, high-tech appeal (a glossy black exterior and hidden speakers ) built-in HDTV tuner, flexible picture-in-picture options and a pixel-shift feature to prevent screen burn-in.

Sounds impressive but here’s the downside. This HDTV delivers sub-par image quality, has no independent input memories and has artifacts at a close viewing distance.

This stops it from being a standout plasma in our Samsung plasma TV review. The Samsung HP-S4253 measures 41.5 (H) by 30 (W) by 13.5 inches (D) atop the stand and weighs 88 pounds.

Notable Features: The Samsung HP-S4253’s native resolution (1,024x768) like all 42 inch plasmas can not display every pixel of HDTV sources. All sources, including HDTV, DVD, standard TV, and computers, are scaled to fit the pixels.

This HDTV comes loaded with features starting with an ATSC tuner, PIP, two aspect ratio choices for HDTV, four for standard TV, and a screen freeze feature, four adjustable picture modes: Dynamic, Movie, Standard, and Custom, a separate game mode to increase color saturation.

It has three methods of burn in protection called pixel shift (moves the image slightly over time around the screen); a scrolling white-to-black ramp; and a full white field. It even has two energy-saving modes: one that adjusts the brightness according to room lighting and another that limits peak brightness.

Connections: The Samsung HP-S4253 has a pair of HDMI inputs and two component-video inputs, a dedicated VGA-style PC input, one A/V input with S-Video on the front and the right side, a headphone jack; two RF antenna inputs, coaxial and optical digital audio outputs for use with the ATSC tuner.

Conclusion: In our Samsung plasma TV review the HP-S4253's picture doesn't rank among the best of the 42-inch plasmas reviewed but it’s loaded with features, wide-ranging connection options, and has the high tech sleekness of its pricey competitors.

If you can get by its limitations: no independent input memories and prevalent artifacts (noise and false contouring) at close viewing distance. In last year’s Samsung plasma TV review the previous generation (like this one) had the same unimpressive picture quality with standard-def sources.

In a nutshell the mid-priced Samsung HP-S4253 is above average and is strengths outweigh its weaknesses. This HDTV is good for most users but not a stand out plasma in our Samsung plasma TV review.