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Hi-def is purely an add-on for the UE37D5000. As such, it's equipped with four HDMI inputs, so hooking-up a plethora of HD gear poses no problem.
Elsewhere on the UE37D5000's rear are a few clues that things have had to change radically in order to achieve that 29mm depth. In the box is a Scart adaptor, and also a meatier version that combines inputs for component video with a set of stereo analogue jacks. In normal operation neither of these adaptors should get heavy use, though anyone planning on attaching an Xbox360 via component might find the extra cables an unsightly mess beneath a wall-hung TV.
Unusually, all the in and outputs are stored on the right-hand side of the screen. The side houses two USB slots (one can take a hard-disk drive, but both are placed rather too high up), four HDMI, a digital optical audio output and that socket that combines component video with stereo audio inputs. The undercarriage takes care of RF aerial, 15-pin VGA for PC, Ethernet LAN, a slimmed-down Scart socket, a headphones jack and composite video.
If you do need to place the TV away from a broadband router then Samsung makes an optional USB dongle – the WIS09ABGNX WiFi Link Stick.
That will take-up one of the USB slots, which can accept iPods and cameras via USB cables, as well as thumb drives full of files. The UE37D5000 can also stream media from a networked PC using DLNA AllShare, something we'll come on to later, though Samsung has rested its Smart Hub interface and app store on this mid-range set.
In terms of picture quality, the UE37D5000's Hyper Real Engine suite of picture processing has more in its arsenal than most in this price category. The edge LED backlight arranges its lights around the sides of the panel to fire across it. This system isn't as dynamic as full (or direct) LED panels, but Samsung has clearly – and rightly, given most consumers' preferences – put slimness at the top of its list. Still, if you're upgrading from an older LCD TV you'll immediately notice that blacks are more convincing and colours more realistic, especially with Blu-ray.
The panel's full HD resolution is joined by 100Hz Clear Motion Rate tech and Samsung's 3D colour stretching Wide Colour Enhancer circuitry. While it's not necessarily there to help improve the picture quality, the UE37D5000 also includes an optional Eco Sensor that auto-calibrates the panel's brightness according to the levels of ambient light in a room.
