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Back in August, we checked out Samsung's 40in LE40B550 and found ourselves really quite amazed by the performance level it delivered for the princely sum of £519. In fact, so amazed were we that we immediately put the wheels in motion to get our hands on the 32in version of the set, given the mass-market, first- and second-room appeal of the 32in size.

Today, the LE32B550 has duly arrived. And I might as well say right away that it's every bit as remarkable as its bigger sibling, if not even a little more so when compared with the same-sized competition.

For starters, Samsung's almost unfairly aggressive pricing policy on the B550 range continues, as I found the LE32B550 being sold - or should that be given away?! - for just £392.15. This would be a mighty fine price for any 32in TV, never mind one that ends up performing as strongly as this one.

As with practically every other Samsung TV right now, meanwhile, the LE32B550 is a very appealing looker. The application of a glass-like see-through top sheet over the sheer black bezel adds a touch of real class, and makes the screen look and feel more luxurious in its build quality than it actually is.

The only unfortunate thing about the set aesthetically is the distance to which its rear end sticks out. The depth actually seems deeper than usual by 32in LCD TV standards, and thus stands in stark, chubby contrast to Samsung's ultra-slim B7000 and B8000 edge LED range.

But then given how much cheaper the LE32B550 is than anything in Samsung's LED range, I suspect that many people reading this review won't find an extra couple of inches of rear-end depth too hard to live with.

Like its bodywork, the LE32B550's key specifications don't look like they have any right to belong to a sub-£400 32in TV. It's a Full HD TV, for starters, and its connectivity is excellent, including four HDMIs, a PC port, and a USB jack that can play both JPEG photos and MP3 audio files.

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