 |
|
Features
|
The
unit
|
- IrDA Sensor for
Remote Controller
- Side mounted
headphone jack
- High Performance:
Down-scaling, Up-scaling
- HDTV Ready (1080i,
720p, 480p)
|
|
Samsung’s 171MP Multimedia LCD
Just a few weeks ago we had the chance to look at three of Samsung’s latest
home and business LCD offerings. We we’re quite satisfied with their new products,
especially with the 770 and 570 series for their multiple features, interesting
and competitive price tags. Their third was the 170MP; this one got the biggest
attention from you and us for its different video in and out possibilities.
The 170MP came with an integrated
TV tuner, Picture in Picture video while working on the computer and several
other features such as an S-Video Input. In other words, the 170MP gave you
the choice of being a flat panel TV for your bedroom and/or a LCD monitor for
your computer, you choose. In this article, we look at Samsung’s improved 170MP
monitor, the 171MP, Samsung’s latest in multimedia LCD panels.
A closer look
From my previous review of the 170MP I’ve started the review as fallows.
“The 170MP unit is what I can call the
monitor of the future. The unit features absolutely everything a PC enthusiast
could ever dream of and much more. I am not even sure if I could call the 170MP
a PC display, it features more TV features than a computer monitor. The 170MP
includes a 125 Channel TV Tuner with V-CHIP support and spotting different video
inputs to watch your favorite DVD's.”
As I already mentioned,
the 171MP is supposed to be an improvement over the 170MP,
Samsung did a great job on re-designing the 170MP
and getting in result the 171MP, which indeed ends being a superior product.
The 171MP offers a totally new front panel design, is HDTV ready and
offers a superior brightness level.
 The functions of the
buttons on the front panel have been slightly modified compared to the 170MP.
They remain touch sensitive but instead of spreading the volume +, - and channels
+, - buttons over the front panel, Samsung installed them around the power button
in an horizontal position for the volume and a vertical position for the volume
buttons, I must say that this way the panel looks much more cleaner. Another
major change on the171MP is the addition of a button labeled auto, this feature
lets you configure its video settings automatically. A button labeled PC, lets
you switch the video mode in use back to the PC mode, the button fallowing is
PIP or Picture in Picture, and this lets you bring a video window while using
the computer. The video button let’s you select a video mode, similar to the
previous “Source” button that is used on the
170MP but this time without any LED indicators. Fallowing is the Audio button,
similar to the video button; this one changes the audio source. The last two
left is the Menu and Exit buttons which both serve in the browsing of its OSD
menu. The OSD menu remains very similar to the one on the 170MP
unit, remains easy to navigate and offers extra features such as the possibility
of moving around the OSD in any location of the screen. Below the buttons, you
can notice the long speaker grill hosting two speakers, while not top of the
line, they manage to do their job quite well.
 The back panel where
all the Audio/Video connectors are located has been slightly modified as well.
On the left side of the unit you find its main video/audio inputs, which include
S-Video, Video Composites and Audio composite. On the top you find the 12VDC
adapter input, the 15PIN D-SUB connector and the 3.5mm audio input to use with
the PC. Fallowing is the DTV connectors, you can see the port used to connect
the DTV cable fallowing by two composite audio inputs and the coaxial cable
input would fallow if the TV tuner option has been included. The sad news I
found about its DTV ports is that they don’t support the connection of a DVD
player using its Y, Pb and Pr outputs, which will obligate you to use its S-Video
input in order to get the highest quality output. There is also a headphone
jack on the side.
What would a TV be without a remote control? The 171MP includes a stylish metallic
champagne remote control that lets you control all the features of the display.
The unit connects via standard 15-PIN SVGA D-sub connector; no digital input
is available. I found this a bit unfortunate as the unit is somewhat priced
around what high end Digital solutions retail.
The video output while in
PC mode is very sharp and crisp, very similar to the one on the 170MP. The
TV tuner quality is very acceptable and identical to a TV set. The S-Video
input is of course offering even higher quality output. The LCD offers a maximum
resolution of 1280x1024 and a reasonable .264 pitch along with 240 nits of
brightness, slightly superior to the 220 nits on the 170MP
model. A smaller version of the 171MP is available as well; the 151MP offers
the same features as its big brother but costs a hand less (around 650$ USD).
Here is a comparison table between both models.
 |
 |
|
|
Specifications
|
151MP
|
171MP
|
|
|
|
|
|
Resolution |
XGA(1024X
768)
|
SXGA(1280X1024)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Colors |
16.7M
|
16.7M
|
|
|
|
|
|
H.
Frequency |
30~70kHz
|
30
X 81kHz
|
|
|
|
|
|
V.
Frequency |
56-85
Hz
|
56-85
Hz
|
|
|
|
|
|
Contrast |
330:1
|
400:1
|
|
|
|
|
|
Luminance |
250cd/?
|
240cd/?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Viewing
Angle |
60°/60°/70°/70°
|
80°/80°/80°/80°
|
|
|
|
|
|
Viedo
Input |
RGB,
CVBS, S-Video,TV
(antenna/cable), YPbPr
|
RGB,
CVBS, S-Video,TV
(antenna/cable), YPbPr
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sync.
Type |
Separate,
Composite, SOG
|
Separate,
Composite, SOG
|
|
|
|
|
|
TV
Tuner(Optional) |
NTSC,
PAL
|
NTSC,
PAL
|
|
|
|
|
|
Speaker |
3W/ch×2(Built-in)
|
5W/ch×2(Built-in)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Power |
40W(Max.)
|
52W(Max.)
|
|
|
|
|
Summation
The 171MP is without doubts an improvement over the 170MP
model. Better picture, more features and ready for the next generation
of video. The 171MP retails for around 1200$ USD and an extra 80$ for the
optional TV tuner, while much more expensive than a standard 17” LCD, you
can be sure that you get everything that you pay for. With the optional tuner
you have a ready, quality TV set, even without one, the unit features S-Video,
DTV and Composite video inputs along with audio inputs to use it with your
DVD or VCR player. If you are looking for a top notch LCD/TV display with
lots of video features and money is not a problem, then without doubts the
171MP is something to check out.
|
|
