LA52A750

The TVs in Samsung’s new Series 7 range are all impressive units. We were lucky enough to get our hands on the 52in model, the LA52A750, and were pleased with its performance. It is similar to the Series 6 units, such as the LA40A650, offering the same high-quality image. However, it also packs in a hefty collection of extras, such as network connectivity, 1GB of storage space filled with bonus content and the ability to play video files from a USB stick.

The content library, which uses the TV's 1GB of memory, is probably the most innovative feature of the LA52A750. The most useful onboard inclusion is probably the kids' section, which contains songs, games and stories to keep the little ones entertained. There is also a variety of recipes, fitness workouts and image galleries. You’re also able to upload new content from the Samsung Web site via a USB memory stick.

Another improvement over its predecessor is the LA52A750's ability to play video content via USB. Previously only images and music were supported. This unit can play XViD, DiVX, MPEG 4 and H.264 video files. It was somewhat fiddly during our testing, occasionally failing to recognise a valid file. The menu is also a little sluggish, but nonetheless this is a pretty awesome feature. You just plug the USB key in and you are given the option to explore the device.

The LA52A750 has the ability to connect to your home network and stream content using the DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) standard. We were unable to test this, but we've seen it in operation and it worked well. You can even get RSS feeds to display on the screen, which is a nifty feature.

The image quality is generally top notch. It is a touch noisier than we’re used to, however. As with the A650, there was more graininess than normal on some of our high-definition and standard-definition film tests. It wasn’t too problematic, as it didn’t occur all the time, but some users may notice it.

Fortunately, this TV delivers excellent black levels and colour performance. Blacks and rich and deep; they're some of the best we’ve seen from an LCD. This gives colours a tone that is extremely vivid and lively, while still looking realistic.

Contrast was impressive, too. With a 70,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio the unit is well equipped to handle even high-contrast scenes. We very pleased with the balance achieved and the level of detail rendered in dark areas.

Standard-definition performance is as good as you would expect. It suffered from occasional scaling artefacts, and the lack of clarity compared to HD was noticeable on such a large screen. However, as long as you sit an adequate distance away, the LA52A750 will be fine for your DVD collection.

As you would expect, the LA52A750 comes with both 100Hz playback and 24p support. The implementation of 100Hz playback is good: it definitely smoothes out the image, although you will get some artefacts in the process. Motion was, on the whole, rendered well, with no visible signs of ghosting or trailing.

Aesthetically, the Series 7 units differ slightly from the Series 6 TVs, with slightly sharper edges. The bezel is a deep red, which lightens towards the edge before softening to a slim section of clear glass. The whole thing looks fantastic and most users would be proud to have it sitting in their lounge. Our only complaint is with the glossy screen, which, depending on your lighting conditions, can become quite distracting.

It comes with four HDMI ports, along with a standard smattering of Component, Composite, D-Sub and S-Video connections.