REVIEW: Samsung T220HD Part 12

The red guide line emphasises the fact that the CRT monitor is ahead.

Here, the effects of the input lag in the gaming sector can be seen. The CRT (left) is visibly ahead of the LCD.

TV, DVD and Video

The Samsung T220HD has been equipped with extensive connectors and TV functions and can therefore hardly be regarded as a conventional monitor. The multi-talented monitor is much more a TV set which is suitable for PC use. Below, we clarify how the monitor performs in the home entertainment sector.

We tested both playback via PC and via BluRay player which was connected via HDMI. We also tested the performance of the SCART connection with a conventional DVD player. The image quality in TV usage via cable was also tested. DVB-T could not be tested since no corresponding signal was present.

PC playback (DVI-D)

Video playback from the PC: source with 720p, brightness dynamic, LED can be seen on the bottom right. This can be adjusted in 10 levels and can also be switched off completely.

The black value in films can be described as satisfactory. We received the best results with the Entertainment pre-defined mode. For film use, the BestContrast mode was unsuitable. Here, the entire brightness of the panel is dimmed in dark film passages, which improves the black value, but displays the overall image in too dark a manner. Fast scene changes from dark to bright and vice versa cause the entire image to be changed constantly in brightness. In addition, this method causes the highest power consumption.

TV mode

We have already described the simple and intuitive controls of the monitor in some detail in the OSD section. Overall, the TV image makes a good impression. The image formats are recognised and displayed correctly. A Videotext function is also included. This can be switched on to the right beside the TV image as well as the normal overlay so that you can also read the videotext in parallel to TV usage.

HDMI: Blue Ray

As a HDMI source and a Blue Ray player, we used a Playstation 3. In the test, the image was stable. The HDMI black value function provided by the monitor has 2 modes: "low" and "normal". In the factory settings, this value is set to "low". The switch is needed in order to change between PC level (0-255) and video level (16-255). If the player outputs "PC-RGB", you should change to "normal". At a limited output from a DVD player, you should leave the setting on "low", which is also the case for playback in YCbCr.

Juddering was only minimally visible and then only when the screen was looked at closely. However, what we did notice in darker scenes and stills was a loss of quality caused by downsampling: although the T220HD can play back all conventional formats such as 720p, 1080i and 1080p and can recognise the source format und if it is transmitted via HDMI, because it only has a native resolution of 1.680 x 1.050, the tested 1080p source has to be downsampled to the monitor’s format. This has led to strong pixelisations, especially where faces are displayed, than would be the case with a Full-HD device.

For our test model, the quality was equally good on both HDMI inputs. In order to ensure correct image settings, the user should select "scan only" as a format factor. For all other settings, the image is cut otherwise. Overall, the performance of the T220HD with regard to HD playback can be rated "still good".

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