Samsung LN26A450C1 LCD TV

Bite Sized Samsung LCD Slashes Noise Without Mercy

Think of this 26 incher from Samsung as any one of last year's larger models, shrunk down Mike Teavee style into a kitchen, bedroom, or dorm-sized model. It sports the same classic piano-black case as its bigger cousins - as well as the same cheesy start-up sound that chimed every time we powered it up.

But the 26A450's bright, detailed picture impressed. Yeah yeah yeah, it's only 720p. But in this size you'd have to almost strap it to your head to notice. And there's nothing cheesy about its vivid color - surprisingly accurate for a set this small. It scores surprisingly well in our video processing tests, even besting many of this year's small models. It's a bit challenged in the areas of de-interlacing 24 frame-per-second film-based HD sources and removing jaggies from diagonal lines, but then so are many of the 32-inch and smaller TVs we've tested this year. And who really worries about 24 FPS film sources on a 26-incher besides geeks like us?

Unlike many small sets, though, the Samsung's noise reduction performs beautifully. It offers a wide range of NR options-as well as an "auto" mode for the what-the-hell-is-NR crowd - to dial in just the right settings to clean up whatever you're watching. We saw good results leaving it in "auto" for all but the crappiest video, and only had to really adjust for our truly hideous NR test clip.

Hardcore testing aside, the Samsung's good NR combined with its great picture and color delivered where it matters the most: our HD and SD test movies looked awesome, as did satellite HDTV and output from our 360.

WIRED Attractive, simple remote control. Side ports (HDMI, S-Video, and composite) make hooking up a 360 or camcorder a breeze. Optical digital audio out-perfect for tying into that massive dorm-theater sound system.

TIRED Some video processing issues. 1366 x 728 native resolution makes it a not-so-great computer monitor unless you're over 40 and want to read without your glasses.

• Screen Size: 26 inches
• Resolution: 1366 x 728

• Style: LCD
• Manufacturer: Samsung
• Price: $550