Sony KDL-40V2500 vs. Samsung LN-S4095D

I vote for the Sony especially if they are available for the same price. Both sets start with the same glass but you get some additional features in the Sony. For starters, the Sony allows more configuration of the picture. Secondly the Sony allows for 1:1 pixel mapping where you can pass a 1080 signal to the set without scaling. IMO these are the most significant differences. I tend to prefer the Sony picture but both are excellent sets.

Scott

As someone who just made that decision, I can say that I picked the Sony and am really happy with it. The Samsung was right next to it in the store, and it just seemed less crsip and less smooth. I have to admit the Samsung has a prettier case though...

I am considering the 40" or 46" Sony V2500. I am trying to decide which one based on my viewing distance of 9 feet. Can you let me know what your viewing distance is for your Sony?

Thanks!

samsung is a great set.... but if you plan on using the 360 via vga.... it wont work until they make it 1080p

Does the Samsung's VGA input accept 1080p? I'm kind of torn between these same two sets, and the lack of 1080p support on the Sony screen is making me think twice about picking it up.

the samsung vga port accepts 1080p....

I have also made this same decision and I am 99% sure I am going with the Sony. The Sony doesnt do 1080p over VGA and the Sammy does, but the Sammy overscans and the Sony does 1:1. You really cant go wrong with either but I chose the Sony based overall picture quality. (IMO)

I was in the exact same boat and went with the Sony. Although, in the store the Samsung had a better picture.

However, I've learned that it's impossible to evaluate TVs when the signal is being split dozens of times in the big box retail stores. The feedback from here and others places sold me on the Sony.

There's no way to say without knowing what you plan to use it for and what your sources are.

I purchase the Samsung 4695 on saturday. I can tell you that it does not accept 480i over HDMI. I have a DTV HR-20 DVR and had to upconvert to 1080i or 720p the 480i channels in order for the TV to display them.

so confused...these are the two sets I have to decide upon by Wed...
I so much like the Sammy , 1080p over VGA and Comp., but overall I am a Sony TV buyer...
Does either set does HDMI 1.3, which I have recently learnt to be important ??

I have also finally narrowed my decision to these 2 sets. It's so difficult to make real comparisons between models on the store floor.

I have pretty much the exact same situaion as Reno Nevada. I will use it for watching movies, playing video games, and eventually getting a 1080p DVD player once the format war is decided. I am also upgrading to Comcast Digital Cable with HD.

My main concerns have been...

1. PQ (obviously)
2. Which set handles a SD Digital signal better? (Very few HD channels here yet!)
3. Which set handles blacks better? (I know sony = 7000:1 and samsung = 6000:1, but I also know how little these so-called "specs" can mean sometimes.

Also, I can buy the Samsung in my local Circuit City, but the Sony I will have to order directly from Sony. Thus, future level of customer service is also a concern.

I just bought the KDL 46V25L1 at Costco and hooked up my DVI to HDMI cable from my Shuttle and nothing. In the Sony manual it says that I can only use VGA. I can't believe this!

Are you guys really settling for VGA input for your HTPC system? This is a major deal killer for me. I guess I'm returning it.

Kirby

i tell you one thing... people have said that sd looks crappy on the 4095d... but i dont see anything bad with it.... i mean you get used to the beautiful hd picture and then see sd and thats the problem...


overall i watch both and it looks fine to me...

I was comparing the two side by side last night, and PQ seems very similar. I would say that in my opinion:

- The Samsung picture seems to "pop" more - I can't explain why it grabs me like this ... it may be that the black bezel makes the colors look more impressive.

- The Sony picture is able to show details in very dark areas that the Samsung is not. Turning off DNIe on the Samsung helps the Samsung a TON, so this difference is really only visible in the darkest of areas.

Still, I am very torn...

They are both wonderful sets... I feel also that the Sammy crushes blacks a tad but I also think their blacks are more black. Everyone should really base their decisions on features. The most important issues and dividing points seem to be overscan on the sammy's and crippled ports (no 1080p on vga & component) on the Sony. PQ is very close and you really can't go wrong with either once calibrated. I own a 360 but I would never base a $3k decision on a $300 console. I really can't imagine games being coded at 1080p for the 360... maybe some but just a handful of slower moving games. It has a tough time keeping up with Madden at 720p, I could just imagine the slide show at 1080p. SO, most games will be upscaled and don't you think your 3K beast will be able to scale better then your $300 360 anyway?????????????

good post....been on the fence...thanx for the insight..
I just wish I can see the BR DVD player hooked up to the sony BB and CC will NOT do it ...

I just wanted to come back for the benefit of the fence-sitters, and say that I purchased the Samsung LNS4095D this weekend, hooked up Comast HD Digital Service, and I am officially in love.

I had been concerned about black levels on this model, both from posts on this board, and from seeing the model in the store. It boasts a 6000:1 contrast ratio, but I felt like the Sony 40V2500 (7000:1) contrast ratio was doing a much better job with blacks during my in-store comparisons. When a found a few adjustments in the settings, my opinion on the Samsung's blacks changed entirely. I did this by first switching out of the store-default "Dynamic" mode, and going to Custom.

Then, the three major steps were:

1. Turning off DNIe (big difference here)
2. Turning Energy Saving to Off or Low
3. Turning up Brightness in the settings.

HUGE difference!! Suddenly the Samsung was doing what I thought only the Sony could do. I had always thought it was a shame that the 4095 couldn't handle blacks because I thought it made colors POP. After these adjustments (and tinkering with the other picture settings) , I unquestionably preferred the picture of the LNS4095D to the 40V2500. (It's still no XBR, but then again, what is?)

My other major concern had been what SD would look like. SD Digital channels are lower quality than my old tube TV, mainly because they look blurry. However, this is a SLIGHT blurriness, and it in no way keeps me from watching or enjoying SD channels. As a point of reference, I consider the Mitsubishi LT37131 to be unwatchable on SD. The only thing that keeps me off SD is how AWESOME HD looks on this set. Abosolutely ridiculous.

Anyway, both the Samsung LNS4095D and the Sony 40V2500 are great great sets. I loved them both in the store, and I thought they each had advantages and disadvantages. But I was able to resolve (by my own standards at least) the major disadvantage I felt the Samsung set suffered - black levels. From that point on, I was sold on the vivid colors and SLICK looking cabinet.

My friends and family have all been blown away by the set, and yesterday I watched the best looking football I've ever seen. Maybe best of all, I'm ready for 1080p! I can't say much more about the 40V2500 than you've seen yourself in the store, but I'm happy to cast one BIG vote of confidence for the LNS4095D.

I was making the same decision you are less than a week ago, but for 46" screens. I went with the V2500 and I do not regret it.

I was lucky enough to see both of them side by side with a dedicated power source to each. Additionally, the manager swore they were calibrated.


Kirby: do not return your screen. it is probably a problem with your cable. I am using 1080p through DVI-HDMI to type this right now.

I have been on the fence for a year. Although I would love to have a Pioneer Elite 42" plasma, I have a bright room with a couple windows and intended to shoehorn this TV into a existing piece of furniture so a 40" LCD was my only option. For the viewing distance and size of the room it ended up being, in my opinion the right option.

Initially, I never liked the Sonys because I didn't like the way they look aesthetically and they were too expensive. I never really noticed the "V" Series Sonys all I knew were the XBRs which have a very nice picture but are very expensive.

I have liked Samsung both as a panel and for the picture. I even talked my dad into the Samsung 3251 and was pretty sure I was going into the 4095. Then I went into BB for one last look. While the Samsung box is very attractive in a bright room with a few windows the light tends to reflect off the black laquer finish and is very distracting. I really noticed this at BB when the recessed lighting was reflecting off the Samsung. This seems to be an all or nothing thing as it doesn't bother my dad at all on his Samsung 3251.

The Sony 40V2500 however has no reflective surfaces and I actually find it quite attractive. It uses the same Bravia engine as the highly acclaimed XBR series and the picture is truly remarkable. I have never been a Sony person but I am sold on this unit. The Sony also has a higher contrast ratio than the Samsung. According to cnet contrast ratio is everything-- even more important than 1080p vs. 1080i. Also I read on cnet that the Samsung does not resolve every detail of 1080p while viewing a Blu Ray disc or HD-DVD via an HDMI, the Sony however does.

I bought my set from Sound Advice and the rep told me that just about everyone walking in the door looking for the 4095 left with the Sony. If I had it to do over again I would go with the Sony hands down. SD still looks great (better than tube in my opinion) and HD is truly remarkable.

For the guys who want to play 1080p through VGA with the V2500, I've got the set and I can say that it DOES do it. It says that the current resolution is not supported, but it displays it...

I've got the pics to prove it...

I would not trade this set for any other one in the same price range (Even though I bought it for WAY less then the sale price)...

I bought a Sony 40S2010, returned it for the Sammy 4095D because I wanted two HDMI hookups and 1080p at a decent price. Ended up returning the Sammy for a Sony V2500 because the Sammy was horrid, it had cloudy looking blacks, tryed turning off DNIe and it still looked bad. Also the SD was the worst SD I've ever seen on any LCD, and I own 2, and have seen plenty. Go with the Sony, ever LCD has a Pro and Con, but the V2500 is a solid 1080p LCD unit.

Hey EMAGDNIM, how did you get the v2500 to do 1080i on the vga? I just got one, and the best I can do is 1400x1050. Anything higher, like 1900x1080 gets me the "not supported" message and leaves the screen blank.
1080i was pretty important to me, so I hope you can really do it. Is there some trick to it? I have the vertical set to 60Hz with an nVidea card.
- Matt