Connectivity:
Two HDMI interfaces are accessible on the set's rear panel for use by modern devices such as AV receivers, HDTV receivers or even play consoles. A further HDMI interface is situated on a side-mounted connection panel along with S-Video, RCA composite and a headphone jack. Just two Scart sockets are a little meager though, particularly as only one of them is RGB compatible. The TV cannot interpret S-Video signals through the Scart.

Older-generation PCs can be interfaced to the LE-40 M 87 BD through its integrated VGA connector, while PC sound can be interfaced through the Mini-Jack socket. More modern playback equipment can take advantage of the YUV input. Stereo equipment or an AV receiver can communicate with the Samsung via the RCA audio output or digitally via an optical connection.

Tuners and Common Interface:
Shipped with both analog and digital tuners, the LE-40 M 87 BD can receive both analog cable TV and digital DVB-T broadcasts. However, the Samsung has just one antenna interface, making it impossible to view both sources simultaneously without the appropriate adapter, which can picked up from a suitably equipped specialty store. A Common Interface (CI) bay is also available on the rear of the set for decoder cards from pay-TV channels. The swivel pedestal aids positioning of the set for ideal viewing.

Remote Control and Screen Menus:
The Samsung designers have concentrated a lot of effort on the way the set's exterior appears. Unfortunately, this attention to detail has not been carried across to include the remote control. The buttons on the rather undersized remote control are too small, too crowded and illogically grouped together.

The screen menus look good, but here too they are nested together and operate lethargically. Rubbing salt into the wounds: More than two seconds are required when switching between channels, which is an incredibly slow figure that the Koreans should not be too proud of.

If the "Movie" picture mode is used in conjunction with "Color Space Wide" and "xvYCC", which are both hidden options in the "Detailed Settings" submenu, then the resulting picture is indeed good. Both analog and digital tuners deliver warm and naturally appearing colors on the Samsung without the usual blue cast, which is a typical attribute associated with a number of LCD sets.

Both picture sharpness and motion transitions are well presented such that football pitches, for example, appear homogenous. Marquee texts from stock market tickers and breaking-news items are clear and very legible.

Images from playback equipment connected through the Scart RGB interface, by comparison, are nowhere near as crisp or detailed, and the colors are not as defined and separated. This is a real disadvantage of the Samsung since the majority of available DVD players and set-top boxes within Europe tend to use this interface for the best playback results (if an HDMI output is not present).

The colors and picture sharpness return to their former glory if content is played back through the YUV interface. This is living proof that the video electronics have been conceived to satisfy primarily American and Asian markets, since YUV is not commonly widespread throughout Europe.

Here are some points of interest:
If the "Movie Plus" preset is activated, then the de-interlacer takes movie material and converts it flicker-free into "progressive" format. However, the TV enlarges the picture (high overscan), and causes a good deal of the picture to be cropped unnecessarily when the source material is from either the Scart socket or the YUV interface. Hence, DVDs are best played in full HD resolution through modern equipment supporting an HDMI interface for the best HDTV experience. Here, the picture is perfectly portrayed without overscan, but only if the 'Just Scan' preset has been previously activated. High-precision mastered DVDs, such as the Superbit "Gladiator" version, are dynamically and faithfully reproduced on the Samsung with a high degree of 3D realism.

The powerful backlight, combined with the anti-reflective display, ensure the picture retains good contrast even in brightly lit environments. The evenings too are the perfect playground for the Samsung as its backlight can be controlled manually allowing its residual lighting to be driven to near black, and, in doing so, attaining a similar level to plasma.

The maximum possible contrast (measured with test pictures containing black areas which are compared with white areas within the very same reference image) of almost 1,500:1, combined with an incredible picture clarity, enable the Samsung LE-40 M 87 BD to interpret perfectly the HD-DVD edition of "Apollo 13" and render the stars with such an intensity that they really do appear to sparkle.

Possessing a full HD screen means that the resulting picture is extremely detailed. This is very apparent in the Blu-ray edition of the Bond film "Casino Royale", in which the details in the title page are beautifully portrayed as is the fine metal structure of the crane (playing time 13:13).

Unfortunately, pictures in 24p format have more judder than they should have, which leads us to the conclusion that internally, the set converts these signals to 60 Hz. In addition, the Samsung is a little green - a slight green cast makes itself obvious when viewing a white shirt collar, for example.

Computer Operation:
Modern PCs can digitally interface with the Samsung through a DVI-HDMI adapter, or on newer models, through the HDMI interface directly. Hence, without being a contortionist or having to take unnecessary steps, the set can be rapidly converted to become a slideshow monitor or presentations' display that is controlled directly by a notebook or PC. The LE-40 M 87 BD presents PC pictures in its native format of 1920 x 1080 pixels without any kind of overscan, and with perfect pixel meshing (no distortion or pinching). Fonts are therefore very crisp and legible and detailed symbols are easily recognizable.

Sound Quality:
Somewhat disappointing were the results from our audio testing. The flat cabinet emits muffled bass and high tones, making the LE-40 M 87 BD sound tinny and weak. The dialog of newscasters and reporters is clear and understandable, but both music and movie soundtracks lack the required depth. What is clear is that this Samsung is in need of some external support from an AV receiver or hi-fi set, for which suitable connectors do exist.

Picture Mode: Movie

Brightness: 49

Contrast: 99

Sharpness: 18

Color: 62

Tint: R50 / G50

Color Tone: Warm 1

Backlight: 2

Black Adjust: Off

Dynamic Contrast: Off

Gamma: 0

Color Space: Wide

xvYCC: On

Picture Format: Just Scan

* applied to realistic playback from HD DVD/Blu-ray material through the HDMI interface in a darkened environment. Manufacturing and HDMI playback device deviations may necessitate slight adjustment.

Black is beautiful: It is not just the frame that shines on the Samsung LE-40 M 87 BD, but also its amazing anti-reflective screen.

Light and shade: The three HDMI interfaces are superb, but just two Scart sockets are lean by comparison.

Cramped: The remote control is pleasantly small, but its buttons are too small for men's hands.