Samsung is one of the leaders in the DLP race, and over the years the company has had its share of hits and misses. With the new HL-T5687S set the company has expanded into the LED space as well, and Samsung is one of only a few companies that have embraced this new technology. Essentially, the LED light engine replaces the arc lamp and color wheel that was utilized in previous DLP sets.

Issues such as rainbow effects are a thing of the past, plus the LED light source should--at least in theory--last the life of the set, and therefore does not require a bulb replacement every few thousand hours. It also means that the HL-T5687S uses less energy, gives off less heat and doesn't require a fan to keep things cool. This is a feature we found very impressive, and it's a technology we'll be watching closely.

The lack of color wheel in this 1080p set doesn't hurt the picture either. The Cinema Smooth engine delivers vibrant colors with high contrast and brightness, while producing some amazing black levels as well. The Digital Natural Image engine makes for sharp and clear images, and it works with five image processors and a 6x density enhancer to deliver a fantastic picture from the multiple sources, not to mention removing digital artifacts from the images.

Non-volatile memory makes sure that audio/video and menu settings are not lost should there be a power outage. Multiple mode settings also ensure the best possible pictures, whether you are watching live sports, movies on Blu-ray or HD-DVD or playing a game. The HL-T5687S takes advantage of a special game mode, which actually enhances the dark areas and sharpens the picture, plus speeds up the response time to meet the demands of today's cutting edge gaming technology. This set is 3D HD ready, and can display games in 3D using compatible glasses and video card from a PC. While this is a bit of a gimmick, it made for a very impressive demonstration of the possibilities of this new technology, and we have a feeling we will be seeing more of this in the future.

The set comes with NTSC/ATSC tuners built in, as well as three HDMI inputs along with DVI audio in, dual component (Y, Pb, Pr) inputs, dual S-Video input and dual composite video inputs. There are two RF inputs, along with one RCA video output. Stereo RCA audio outputs are included along with optical audio outputs as well. This set features a single USB input for viewing digital photos from a thumb drive, plus a PC input. This is a reasonable amount of A/V connections, but a coaxial audio output would be a nice addition for next year.

This model features twin 10-watt speakers, which are housed in the slim bezel, "piano black" cabinet. This is not the sleekest of casings, nor is this the lightest/thinnest DLP set on the market. But considering the price it is a reasonable trade off. The set features SRS TruSurround XT, which does an adequate job of simulating 5.1 multi-channel content through a mere two speakers. This technology is compatible with all multi-channel formats up to 6.1. An auto volume leveler is also present with this set to keep the sound level consistent during channel changing. Samsung has included V-Chip technology in the HL-T5687S, and this includes channel and program blocking. The unit's universal remote is compatible with up to four additional devices.

The HL-T5687S is a step in a new direction for Samsung, and with advancements including the 3D game mode and simulated surround sound; this could be the shape of things to come.


Pros: Three HDMI inputs, 3D game compatible
Cons: Not the thinnest DLP on the block, optical audio output instead of coaxial.

Warranty
1-year limited, parts and labor