A stylish and well-equipped TV (Samsung Syncmaster 2023MW)

Member Name: TheRedTower

Product:	Samsung Syncmaster 2023MW
Date:	06/07/09 (33 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: lots of inputs, good resolution, stylish

Disadvantages: contrast could be better, silly stand, lacking audio quality, no Freeview tuner

Is this a TV that's a monitor or a monitor that is a TV? It's a little of both.

I use it as a TV. With plenty of connectivity and a decent resolution for it's size, it's a great purchase.

Looks-wise it's excellent. Stylish glossy 'piano' black with well concealed speakers and controls. The integrated stand is a little unusual, certainly the least well thought out element of this TV (you have to push the monitor down onto it and it clips on, the action is just a little 'soft'.)

The screen's 1680x1050 pixel resolution is better than some 26" and 32" TVs. Though the blacks it produces aren't as solid as more expensive TVs, it does a reasonable job, especially when a lot is going on on the screen. Out-of-the-box it requires a little customisation regarding the brightness and contrast controls, but it is certainly worth it. Overall the picture quality is great for a small TV, certainly surprising compared to cheaper brands.

The built-in TV tuner is terrestrial only, no digital here. I guess this is why it is classed as more of a monitor than a TV, I guess it could be considered either.

As I mentioned before, the connectivity for such a small TV is excellent. You get one SCART socket, one HDMI, one DVI, one D-Sub (RGB) and component inputs.

The built-in speakers do a reasonable job in smaller rooms, but I wouldn't recommend this unit if you didn't have an alternative audio output (if audio quality is a factor that is.)

The main downsides to this TV are the lack of deep blacks and the sound quality (if you're an audiophile you should probably go elsewhere.)

Also, the overly bright blue LED power light on the front of the unit. It can be quite distracting, especially in a darkened room.

Summary: A great little TV with plenty of inputs for it's size.

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