Let me start of by making some of you feel a little better about buying a major purchase online. I was very skeptical about having this delivered safe and on-time, but the $400+ I was saving from BB, CC & other local retailers was enough to swing me. I bought my PN50A550 from Amazon on Wed. 4/16 for $1849.98. CEVA had picked it up by the end of the day and had it on its way to me.
I called CEVA on Friday 4/18 at about 4:00pm and they told me the TV had arrived on the dock that morning. I'm not sure when they had planned on calling me to sched. delivery, but since they were more than friendly I ignored that minor gripe. They offered to deliver it Saturday, but my sched. was full, so i opted for Monday b/n 11-3.
Sure enough they arrived at 11:01, carried it in my house, unpacked it, took the time to set it up, make sure everything worked and was in good condition and could not have left me happier.
Since DirecTV never showed up the same day for their dish and receiver upgrade, I cannot comment on the HD picture as of yet, but i will be sure to post my views on the TV once they do. SD looks better than expected though; for what it's worth. And the set-up menu is easy to navigate and very descriptive. The remote has large buttons that all illuminate and the manual is very well written. It has everything you should need to know and not a lot of what you dont.
One more thing...since i placed my order, Amazon has twice since lowered their price. However, i simply called in to their C.S. and they were more than happy to credit my the difference both times. I believe i have 90days that they will protect their price. Thank you Amazon...you definately came through with flying colors.
**ok, HD finally hooked up and the picture quality is MIND BLOWING! Spent hrs watching discovery and animal planet. Can't wait to get ps3, although I can't imagine being much happier.
Stop shopping right now...trust me, you will be happy with this plasma! Plenty of settings available if you are in to tweeeking the pq. Blacks are exactly what i was looking for. No IR, loud noises or extreme heat. The sound is good enough that you don't notice they are TV speakers. Using the CNet settings, although movie mode is pretty close out of the box. Honestly, the only complaint i have is that i waited as long as i did to decide on this one.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Samsung PN50A550 Much better than expected, based on reviews here, Fantastic Set!
This TV is my first large HDTV (I have a 24" Samsung 720p LCD), and after reading some reviews I was concerned about the black level and the reflectiveness of the screen, but after getting the set all of my concerns were laid to rest. I was originally in the market for a 46" LCD, but a fantastic deal came on this 50" plasma, and I am really glad I went for this instead.
The TV picture is absolutely mesmerizing. I feed in Verizon FIOS HD, and an XBOX 360 (HDMI) and the results are absolutely incredible! The colors are fantastic, and with minimal adjustment the contrast and colors are great. I also had some concerns about the sound on the set, however it is actually much better than I had figured it would be. I know that some of the more expensive sets, like the Panasonic Viera also have woofers built into the set, but the sound on this TV is good. Its obviously not on the same level as a dedicated surround sound system, but it is really as good as any other built-in tv speakers.
I also had questions about lag, which I really cant find any appreciable amount of, thankfully, even with video games and tv out (through a DVI-HDMI cable) from my computer. Also, I found the black levels were great after minor adjustment, and, for me, the reflectivity of the screen is not an issue, even with sunlight bouncing off of the wall behind me.
For me this TV really has changed they way I watch TV, and I think its a great thing. As far as any possible negatives, I would say the only thing I wish this TV had was the extra features of the 6-series tv sets. The two extra features I wish this had was 1) Wiselink Plus: This TV has Wiselink, where the 6-series has Plus, and Wiselink Plus gives the TV the ability to play xvid video from any usb source, whereas standard Wiselink does not do video (only does music and pictures). 2) Ethernet connection for the RSS widgets - this is probably fairly useless, but it would be an interesting extra feature to have. But in all honesty, I wouldnt use either feature enough to warrant the extra couple hundred bucks.
In summary, I took a gamble buying this set. I didnt even have a chance to look at it in person as a deal came along and I pounced on it over the phone, and so I was extra nervous when I finally got the set, but I am very happy with the result. When I finally got to compare this set to others in the store, I found that while the set did look slightly dull compared to some of the eye-searing LCDs, in the actual home this set looks clear, crisp, and you would be able to watch this set for hours without burning your retinas out like with some of the over-contrasted ultra bright "popping" LCDs.
The TV picture is absolutely mesmerizing. I feed in Verizon FIOS HD, and an XBOX 360 (HDMI) and the results are absolutely incredible! The colors are fantastic, and with minimal adjustment the contrast and colors are great. I also had some concerns about the sound on the set, however it is actually much better than I had figured it would be. I know that some of the more expensive sets, like the Panasonic Viera also have woofers built into the set, but the sound on this TV is good. Its obviously not on the same level as a dedicated surround sound system, but it is really as good as any other built-in tv speakers.
I also had questions about lag, which I really cant find any appreciable amount of, thankfully, even with video games and tv out (through a DVI-HDMI cable) from my computer. Also, I found the black levels were great after minor adjustment, and, for me, the reflectivity of the screen is not an issue, even with sunlight bouncing off of the wall behind me.
For me this TV really has changed they way I watch TV, and I think its a great thing. As far as any possible negatives, I would say the only thing I wish this TV had was the extra features of the 6-series tv sets. The two extra features I wish this had was 1) Wiselink Plus: This TV has Wiselink, where the 6-series has Plus, and Wiselink Plus gives the TV the ability to play xvid video from any usb source, whereas standard Wiselink does not do video (only does music and pictures). 2) Ethernet connection for the RSS widgets - this is probably fairly useless, but it would be an interesting extra feature to have. But in all honesty, I wouldnt use either feature enough to warrant the extra couple hundred bucks.
In summary, I took a gamble buying this set. I didnt even have a chance to look at it in person as a deal came along and I pounced on it over the phone, and so I was extra nervous when I finally got the set, but I am very happy with the result. When I finally got to compare this set to others in the store, I found that while the set did look slightly dull compared to some of the eye-searing LCDs, in the actual home this set looks clear, crisp, and you would be able to watch this set for hours without burning your retinas out like with some of the over-contrasted ultra bright "popping" LCDs.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Samsung PN50A550 Stunning Television at a Great Price
I've been shopping around for Plasma TVs throughout most of 2008 - vociferously reading reviews on many brands and models. I knew that if I waited until holiday times, prices would drop even further than earlier this year. This television is now $400 cheaper than at my local big box retailers (plus free shipping and the added benefit of no sales tax.) Needless to say, add the easy financing and it's quite the sweet deal. CNET likes this TV, Consumer Reports rates it their "Best Buy", and loads of people on Amazon (myself included) love it. Compared to other 50" plasmas I "test-drove" at my local retailers...this one had the best color and picture.
I've had the TV for a week now, and like many of the reviews on Amazon, I have nearly all positive feedback on this gorgeous TV. The High Def channels on cable look beautiful - sharp when it needs to be sharp, excellent motion capturing (no jaggies). Regular (non HD) digital cable channels look good. Most of my standard def. channel watching is limited to Comedy Central and Turner Classic Movies - and the picture quality is good - a little fuzzy when placing your nose up to the plasma, but from 8-12 feet away it's barely noticeable - no blurrier than my old Sony WEGA TV that this set replaced. This set has excellent color reproduction, including flesh tones (which can be adjusted if necessary). CNET and others say that the black levels are sub-par. Well, they're not the best (like some of the high-end brands) -- but they're more than adequate, and with some easy tweaking of the television's settings, I've gotten over it. Black Levels weren't a deal-breaker for me. Coupled with a Blu-Ray player (with 1080p upscaling for regular DVDs) - movies are so crisp, real-to-life, and a joy to sit back and watch. Coincidentally, I bought my TV during a Black Friday promotion which gave away the Samsung BD-P1500 1080p Blu-ray Player for free, which was hard to argue with. Sadly, that deal is no longer around, but the Samsung BD-P1500 makes for a decent entry-level 1080p Blu-Ray player (and is also a CNET pick for Blu-Ray players under $250.)
All my audio runs through an existing Sony A/V Receiver (I only use 5.1 surround sound, though could use 7.1 if I bought two extra speakers), and all of it is connected using Digital Optical Cables. This TV should probably not be used with its existing (hidden) speakers - invest in a surround capable receiver and give this stunning picture some stunning audio to match. Let's face it - this TVs built-in speakers can never do the picture justice.
Adjusting the picture was easy via the TV's onscreen menus, and the out-the-box settings needed very little color tweaking. The remote control is backlit, and I find it pretty intuitive. Should you need to change the aspect ratio of the picture (especially on some of the old Cinemascope movies on TCM) - it can be done with one button on the remote. I also updated the television's firmware by downloading the firmware onto a portable USB flash drive and connecting it directly to the TV. That process was also easy with the instructions from Samsung's website.
I've mounted my television to the Techcraft Solution Series TRK50B TV Stand - which is exactly as wide as the television. It mounted easily to the stand, and concealing (most) of the cords was easy. The TV itself is one of the prettiest around: a high gloss black bezel, no speakers to be seen, and very little adornment other than the Samsung logo at the bottom center. The blue light under the television can be turned off permanently (it isn't really distracting, but I prefer it not visible.) When using the standard stand that comes with the TV, it sits very low to the counter. One reason I chose the Techcraft stand/furniture was because the TV could be high enough off of the counter to fit electronics directly underneath.
My den is very dark, so I haven't had any glare issues. I can even watch TV with overhead lights and a floor lamp on and I don't see any glare. But, if this TV is going opposite a wall of full-sun windows, invest in some black-out curtains.
I'm ecstatic about this television. Although it is my first foray into High-Def, I know I made the right choice and have easily gotten my money's worth.
I've had the TV for a week now, and like many of the reviews on Amazon, I have nearly all positive feedback on this gorgeous TV. The High Def channels on cable look beautiful - sharp when it needs to be sharp, excellent motion capturing (no jaggies). Regular (non HD) digital cable channels look good. Most of my standard def. channel watching is limited to Comedy Central and Turner Classic Movies - and the picture quality is good - a little fuzzy when placing your nose up to the plasma, but from 8-12 feet away it's barely noticeable - no blurrier than my old Sony WEGA TV that this set replaced. This set has excellent color reproduction, including flesh tones (which can be adjusted if necessary). CNET and others say that the black levels are sub-par. Well, they're not the best (like some of the high-end brands) -- but they're more than adequate, and with some easy tweaking of the television's settings, I've gotten over it. Black Levels weren't a deal-breaker for me. Coupled with a Blu-Ray player (with 1080p upscaling for regular DVDs) - movies are so crisp, real-to-life, and a joy to sit back and watch. Coincidentally, I bought my TV during a Black Friday promotion which gave away the Samsung BD-P1500 1080p Blu-ray Player for free, which was hard to argue with. Sadly, that deal is no longer around, but the Samsung BD-P1500 makes for a decent entry-level 1080p Blu-Ray player (and is also a CNET pick for Blu-Ray players under $250.)
All my audio runs through an existing Sony A/V Receiver (I only use 5.1 surround sound, though could use 7.1 if I bought two extra speakers), and all of it is connected using Digital Optical Cables. This TV should probably not be used with its existing (hidden) speakers - invest in a surround capable receiver and give this stunning picture some stunning audio to match. Let's face it - this TVs built-in speakers can never do the picture justice.
Adjusting the picture was easy via the TV's onscreen menus, and the out-the-box settings needed very little color tweaking. The remote control is backlit, and I find it pretty intuitive. Should you need to change the aspect ratio of the picture (especially on some of the old Cinemascope movies on TCM) - it can be done with one button on the remote. I also updated the television's firmware by downloading the firmware onto a portable USB flash drive and connecting it directly to the TV. That process was also easy with the instructions from Samsung's website.
I've mounted my television to the Techcraft Solution Series TRK50B TV Stand - which is exactly as wide as the television. It mounted easily to the stand, and concealing (most) of the cords was easy. The TV itself is one of the prettiest around: a high gloss black bezel, no speakers to be seen, and very little adornment other than the Samsung logo at the bottom center. The blue light under the television can be turned off permanently (it isn't really distracting, but I prefer it not visible.) When using the standard stand that comes with the TV, it sits very low to the counter. One reason I chose the Techcraft stand/furniture was because the TV could be high enough off of the counter to fit electronics directly underneath.
My den is very dark, so I haven't had any glare issues. I can even watch TV with overhead lights and a floor lamp on and I don't see any glare. But, if this TV is going opposite a wall of full-sun windows, invest in some black-out curtains.
I'm ecstatic about this television. Although it is my first foray into High-Def, I know I made the right choice and have easily gotten my money's worth.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Samsung PN50A550 Best yet
After owning a Sony 36 wega 720p and another Sony 36 wega 1080i I thought I knew what to expect. I imagined the main difference would just be the thin screen and the bigger size. Man, was I wrong!
This set is brilliant, delivering a sharp reality the other sets can only hope for. Like most others, I run a Playstation 3 through it and gaming has never been better. And Blue Ray movies? WOW. That's it, just WOW!
I bought a hd antenna from Amazon also and currently get about 30 channels where I live in Oakland, Ca.
Ceva free shipping arrive at the tail end of the two week window (at least it wasn't late!)and they carried the unit up four flights of stairs and set it up. Nice guys.
We've had the tv since May and like it just as much as the day it arrived. Price went down a little and Amazon was very nice to credit us with the difference.
This set is brilliant, delivering a sharp reality the other sets can only hope for. Like most others, I run a Playstation 3 through it and gaming has never been better. And Blue Ray movies? WOW. That's it, just WOW!
I bought a hd antenna from Amazon also and currently get about 30 channels where I live in Oakland, Ca.
Ceva free shipping arrive at the tail end of the two week window (at least it wasn't late!)and they carried the unit up four flights of stairs and set it up. Nice guys.
We've had the tv since May and like it just as much as the day it arrived. Price went down a little and Amazon was very nice to credit us with the difference.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Samsung PN50A550 Great product, execellent picture, awesome colors
It was everything the Amazon said it would be. Great service, fast delivery. The delivery guys even brought it to the second floor inside the appartment and offered to install it. They delivered a couple days before they said they would, and called to schedule delivery on Saturday. Overall I was very pleased with the service, price, product, and customer support
Monday, October 5, 2009
Samsung PN50A550 A Great Buy
I spent many months researching and shopping before picking this unit. I considered DLP, LCD and plasma very closely; weighing the pros and cons of each technology and then comparing the best products from various brands.
Why did I eventualy choose plasma?
DLP - biggest bang for the buck as far as size goes. Now while I do wholeheartedly believe that size matters in a display, I found many of the same flaws in DLP projection sets that I found in the old big screens of yesteryear - rather a dim and desaturated picture coupled with a lack of sharpness. Add to this the fact that rear projection sets are a dying technology and non-LED DLP sets have a lamp that will eventually burn out to cost me money, it is obvious why that choice was crossed off the list quickly.
LCD - definitely has the sharpest picture plus no worres about screen burn. Add to that a good level of energy efficiency plus a relatively light weight unit and it's definitely something I consdered closely. But when viewed next to a plasma set the colors just weren't as vivid on even the best models. Black levels are of course leaving something to be desired. Then comes sticker shock: the best LCD's cost almost twice as much as this model of plasma. And even with the new 120hz refresh rates that are so touted by the advertising hype hustlers, they still suffer from motion blur.
Plasma - deepest blacks and most vivid colors. Best cost to size ratio second to DLP. No motion blur. But worries about ghosting and burn in. And not as energy efficient as LCD.
I decided to take a chance on plasma and couldn't be happier.
I picked this unit due to its superior picture, simplicity of design and great price point.
Compared to the Panasonics this unit presents a better value and a superior image quality. Compared with the other Samsung (PN50A650) it has the same image quality and a better value. The only thing that the latter model Samsung has over this is an improved anti-reflective screen (more on that later) and an additional HDMI input.
Being as though I will be keeping my room dark, the reflection issue wasn't a concern. And three HDMI inputs is more than enough for me at this time considering I only have a Blu Ray player and cable TV to worry about. No reason to spend more money just for an additional input and better anti-reflection.
Now as for that reflection issue so often reported on plasma TV's, I have found it little bother. In fact it's less noticeable than it was on my old CRT unit. And if you're comparing it to LCD, keep in mind that the newer LCD screens which can boast near plasma like color saturation and black levels also have very reflective screens. Matte screens are a great choice if they are something you want, but keep in mind that you will be trading off for losing some of that picture quality.
For those of you still on the plasma fence and worried about ghosting and burn-in, my experience thus far is that you've nothing to fear so long as you don't leave the TV on all night with a static image on the screen. So far I've spent a good hour or so on the computer, watched several 4:3 sources, and several letterboxed widescreen films - all with no issues whatsoever. I run the pixel shift function when I can. I also switch over to the auto scrolling feature after I finish watching something or using the computer just to make sure. I've yet to see a hint of ghosting. And this is on a brand new unit. It's said that plasmas are most susceptible to ghosting and burn in when they're in their first one hundred hours of use. That makes me even more confident in this unit as the weeks and months go by.
In use:
The menus and setting are fairly easy to understand. The remote is backlit and well laid out, with large number buttons and the function buttons are easy with which to familiarize yourself. I especially liked that there is a picture size button that allows you to change aspects without having to enter any complicated array of settings to go through.
The not so great:
A lot of reports have come out that these units run hot. They do. Standing close to this TV definitely gives you a noticeable heat. But then it's not often that I'm standing within two or three feet of it, so I don't notice. But in a small room that is poorly ventilated or non-air conditioned you may want to consider that factor before you purchase.
Another common complaint people have for this TV is a slight hum. I can confirm this is also true. But it's not loud at all and you won;t even notice it unless you're in a very quiet environment and the sound is muted. Otherwise you won't know it's there.
The speakers aren't amazing. But be realistic: you're about to spend over a thousand dollars on a 50" 1080p television and you don't have a proper surround sound system waiting for it? You're going to watch Blu Ray movies with TV speakers? You know you aren't! Honestly if I could have opted to have no speakers on this unit (and no tuner for that matter) and save some money on the price tag, I would have eagerly done so. I really only tested the speakers just because I read so many complaints about them. Otherwise I have them turned off and doubt I will ever use them. I'm sure most of you will be doing the same.
All in all, very satisfied thus far.
Why did I eventualy choose plasma?
DLP - biggest bang for the buck as far as size goes. Now while I do wholeheartedly believe that size matters in a display, I found many of the same flaws in DLP projection sets that I found in the old big screens of yesteryear - rather a dim and desaturated picture coupled with a lack of sharpness. Add to this the fact that rear projection sets are a dying technology and non-LED DLP sets have a lamp that will eventually burn out to cost me money, it is obvious why that choice was crossed off the list quickly.
LCD - definitely has the sharpest picture plus no worres about screen burn. Add to that a good level of energy efficiency plus a relatively light weight unit and it's definitely something I consdered closely. But when viewed next to a plasma set the colors just weren't as vivid on even the best models. Black levels are of course leaving something to be desired. Then comes sticker shock: the best LCD's cost almost twice as much as this model of plasma. And even with the new 120hz refresh rates that are so touted by the advertising hype hustlers, they still suffer from motion blur.
Plasma - deepest blacks and most vivid colors. Best cost to size ratio second to DLP. No motion blur. But worries about ghosting and burn in. And not as energy efficient as LCD.
I decided to take a chance on plasma and couldn't be happier.
I picked this unit due to its superior picture, simplicity of design and great price point.
Compared to the Panasonics this unit presents a better value and a superior image quality. Compared with the other Samsung (PN50A650) it has the same image quality and a better value. The only thing that the latter model Samsung has over this is an improved anti-reflective screen (more on that later) and an additional HDMI input.
Being as though I will be keeping my room dark, the reflection issue wasn't a concern. And three HDMI inputs is more than enough for me at this time considering I only have a Blu Ray player and cable TV to worry about. No reason to spend more money just for an additional input and better anti-reflection.
Now as for that reflection issue so often reported on plasma TV's, I have found it little bother. In fact it's less noticeable than it was on my old CRT unit. And if you're comparing it to LCD, keep in mind that the newer LCD screens which can boast near plasma like color saturation and black levels also have very reflective screens. Matte screens are a great choice if they are something you want, but keep in mind that you will be trading off for losing some of that picture quality.
For those of you still on the plasma fence and worried about ghosting and burn-in, my experience thus far is that you've nothing to fear so long as you don't leave the TV on all night with a static image on the screen. So far I've spent a good hour or so on the computer, watched several 4:3 sources, and several letterboxed widescreen films - all with no issues whatsoever. I run the pixel shift function when I can. I also switch over to the auto scrolling feature after I finish watching something or using the computer just to make sure. I've yet to see a hint of ghosting. And this is on a brand new unit. It's said that plasmas are most susceptible to ghosting and burn in when they're in their first one hundred hours of use. That makes me even more confident in this unit as the weeks and months go by.
In use:
The menus and setting are fairly easy to understand. The remote is backlit and well laid out, with large number buttons and the function buttons are easy with which to familiarize yourself. I especially liked that there is a picture size button that allows you to change aspects without having to enter any complicated array of settings to go through.
The not so great:
A lot of reports have come out that these units run hot. They do. Standing close to this TV definitely gives you a noticeable heat. But then it's not often that I'm standing within two or three feet of it, so I don't notice. But in a small room that is poorly ventilated or non-air conditioned you may want to consider that factor before you purchase.
Another common complaint people have for this TV is a slight hum. I can confirm this is also true. But it's not loud at all and you won;t even notice it unless you're in a very quiet environment and the sound is muted. Otherwise you won't know it's there.
The speakers aren't amazing. But be realistic: you're about to spend over a thousand dollars on a 50" 1080p television and you don't have a proper surround sound system waiting for it? You're going to watch Blu Ray movies with TV speakers? You know you aren't! Honestly if I could have opted to have no speakers on this unit (and no tuner for that matter) and save some money on the price tag, I would have eagerly done so. I really only tested the speakers just because I read so many complaints about them. Otherwise I have them turned off and doubt I will ever use them. I'm sure most of you will be doing the same.
All in all, very satisfied thus far.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Samsung PN50A550 Awesome Plasma
I needed a new TV and spent two whole days researching plasma's and LCD's to find out which were the best brands, best prices, best features, etc. I looked all over cnet, Amazon, and Best Buy. BY FAR the Samsung PN50A550 gave me the most bang for my buck. I purchased it and got 2 cash refunds thanks to Amazon's 30-day price match policy.
As for the TV...I narrowed it down pretty quickly to Samsung and Panasonic Plasmas. After reading reviews on cnet.com I discovered that the Samsung PN50A550 beat the Panasonic Viera TH-50PZ800U in several categories. I even went to Best Buy and looked at the tv's side by side and thought the colors and picture on the Samsung were better...and for $600 cheaper! I don't care about deeper black levels. It's not worth an extra $600 for something I can't notice. So I bought the Samsung.
The TV has 3 HDMI, the HD picture is amazing, comes with 1080p (and I haven't even watched Blu Ray on it yet) and the standard picture quality is good too. Be sure to read the comparison between 1080p and 720p The TV volume is just fine but we hooked it up to an Onkyo 7.1 surround sound system (the best surround sound for the money IMO) and now it's just unbelievable! We also mounted the TV on the wall and it looks really nice. I checked out the Samsung's with the "Red Touch of Color" and didn't like it. The PN50A550 looks like a sleek black TV and even the on/off, channel, and volume buttons on the right side are camouflaged into the TV and aren't really buttons but seem like sensors that once you lightly touch the TV turns on/off. The TV is just awesome!
No matter what TV you buy, make sure you don't spend $100 on the monster or other expensive HDMI cables as it's all just a marketing ploy. A simple $5-$10 HDMI cable will work just as well (after all...it's a cable!) I bought a 15ft HDMI cable for $10 and it works perfectly.
As for the TV...I narrowed it down pretty quickly to Samsung and Panasonic Plasmas. After reading reviews on cnet.com I discovered that the Samsung PN50A550 beat the Panasonic Viera TH-50PZ800U in several categories. I even went to Best Buy and looked at the tv's side by side and thought the colors and picture on the Samsung were better...and for $600 cheaper! I don't care about deeper black levels. It's not worth an extra $600 for something I can't notice. So I bought the Samsung.
The TV has 3 HDMI, the HD picture is amazing, comes with 1080p (and I haven't even watched Blu Ray on it yet) and the standard picture quality is good too. Be sure to read the comparison between 1080p and 720p The TV volume is just fine but we hooked it up to an Onkyo 7.1 surround sound system (the best surround sound for the money IMO) and now it's just unbelievable! We also mounted the TV on the wall and it looks really nice. I checked out the Samsung's with the "Red Touch of Color" and didn't like it. The PN50A550 looks like a sleek black TV and even the on/off, channel, and volume buttons on the right side are camouflaged into the TV and aren't really buttons but seem like sensors that once you lightly touch the TV turns on/off. The TV is just awesome!
No matter what TV you buy, make sure you don't spend $100 on the monster or other expensive HDMI cables as it's all just a marketing ploy. A simple $5-$10 HDMI cable will work just as well (after all...it's a cable!) I bought a 15ft HDMI cable for $10 and it works perfectly.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Samsung PN50A550 Incredible Picture, Incredible Value, Great Shipping
I've had the Samsung PN50A550 for about a month now and I couldn't be happier with my purchase. First of all, I was looking into the Panasonic TH-46PZ80U 46-inch plasma purely based on recommendation from a family member that just got a Panasonic Viera and raved about the price and the picture. I also looked at Consumer Reports and it had good reviews. I was dead set on buying the Panasonic and decided to just go to a showroom and compare the picture myself before I bought it. My wife and I quickly realized that the picture was not as impressive as some of the other TVs, including the Samsung PN50A550. We even played with the Panasonic's picture settings, but could not get it to look as good as other displays. So, discouraged that I now needed to do more research, I checked Consumer Reports again and see how the Samsung PN50A550 ranked...I was dumbfounded when I saw that the PN50A550 was rated the best overall score and picture quality tested by Consumer Reports for plasmas in the 50-inch category. How did I miss this?! So I went back to the showroom, and sure enough, I was sold. The picture was incredible! I even changed the settings to match the 50A650 (the one with the "Touch of Color" feature), and could not tell the difference between the two that were both playing the same football game, side-by-side. The next step was the price...the cheapest I was able to find at the CC's, BB's and other more regional showrooms was in the $1600 - $1700 range, before taxes and shipping. Amazon by far had the best price when I ordered, $1550, no tax and "white glove" shipping was included.
There was another electronics house selling the same TV through Amazon for $50 less, but I had read lots of unsettling reviews about post-ordering-pressure-tactics and poor shipping from some of the other non-Amazon houses. Let me tell you, Amazon went through CEVA for delivery and they were great! It was all worth the extra $50 to avoid the aggravation and have some peace of mind. Amazon estimated 2 weeks for me to receive the TV, which I was ok with since I wasn't in a hurry...CEVA had it at my door in one week, exactly when the CEVA tracking site said it would be there. They even called ahead of time to schedule the exact time of delivery, which was a nice surprise since I didn't know if they were just going to leave a tag on the door if I wasn't there at 2 in the afternoon. The TV was delivered in perfect condition and the delivery guys went right to work getting it out of the box, set up on the stand and hooked up to verify it worked properly.
Overall, I highly recommend this Plasma television. Great in a big room where it's kiddie-cornered for viewing from a large L-shaped couch as the picture is perfect from most any angle. No glare issues either! I also highly recommend going through Amazon directly.
Thanks Amazon!
There was another electronics house selling the same TV through Amazon for $50 less, but I had read lots of unsettling reviews about post-ordering-pressure-tactics and poor shipping from some of the other non-Amazon houses. Let me tell you, Amazon went through CEVA for delivery and they were great! It was all worth the extra $50 to avoid the aggravation and have some peace of mind. Amazon estimated 2 weeks for me to receive the TV, which I was ok with since I wasn't in a hurry...CEVA had it at my door in one week, exactly when the CEVA tracking site said it would be there. They even called ahead of time to schedule the exact time of delivery, which was a nice surprise since I didn't know if they were just going to leave a tag on the door if I wasn't there at 2 in the afternoon. The TV was delivered in perfect condition and the delivery guys went right to work getting it out of the box, set up on the stand and hooked up to verify it worked properly.
Overall, I highly recommend this Plasma television. Great in a big room where it's kiddie-cornered for viewing from a large L-shaped couch as the picture is perfect from most any angle. No glare issues either! I also highly recommend going through Amazon directly.
Thanks Amazon!
Friday, October 2, 2009
Samsung PN50A550 Samsung & Amazon Deliver
The purchase of this Samsung HD Plasma TV has been long in the making. This wasn't a quick decision, a lot of web time research went into it. I couldn't be more pleased with the product. Setup was a breeze and the "tweaking" is fun. The picture is awesome and the set's features (even when not in use} are incredible.
This is my second plasma TV and I wouldn't go any other way. The richness and depth of color and lack of "ghosting" that is so prevalent with LCDs make the choice so obvious.
I'm running DISH's HD package, a DVD HDD recorder with HDMI output (Philip's), a PS3 (with the BLU RAY player - sweet), an XBOX 360, and an IPTV unit for Skyangel broadcasts. First three take up the 3 HDMI inputs and the last two are run through components. Everything is being run with optical cables through a Samsung 800 watt 5.1 surround sound system. I also set everything up so that I can also use the TV's speaker system instead if I so desire. All that to say that the 550 handles it all so easily and the menu navigation is very intuative. I could not be more pleased with this TV.
This is my first experience with Amazon and I'd highly recommend them for purchases of this kind. Even though I ran into a glitch with the "white glove delivery...NOT, they were so accomodating to make everything right with me and have succeeded. No complaints with Amazon; they've been incredible. CEVA...well...that's another story. Should mention that there was also a price reduction on this TV twice in two days and Amazon immediately credited my account when I called them. Also, the price was a real incentive, deeply discounted, at least for where I live.
I'll shop Amazon again. Pick this TV if you're looking for an above average plasma HD TV at a fair price. You won't be disappointed (check out all the other reviews at this site.
UPDATE 10 DAYS LATER:
Having run my 550 through a 100 hr. break-in period, I've now set up all my settings apart from a professional calibration (while it would be nice you don't need to spend $400 to get an awesome picture). I'm running my 550 in a darkened den.
UPDATE 1-27-09
Have upgraded old Samsung 800 watt 5.1 surround sound with recently acquired Onkyo HT-S7100 7.1 surround sound system (see my review). Our Samsung plasma HDTV just got a whole lot better!
My Settings 7-15-08
Mode: Movie
Cell Light: 10
Contrast: 85
Brightness: 60
Sharpness: 0
Color: 46
Tint: G51/R49
Detailed Settings:
Black Adjust: High
Dynamic Contrast: High
Gamma: -2
Color Space: Custom
Red R 30 G 0 B 6
Green R 41 G 50 B 24
Blue R 0 G 0 B 50
Yellow R 54 G 52 B 19
Cyan R 30 G 58 B 56
Magenta R 50 G 60 B 64
White Balance:
R offset 26
G offset 27
B offset 26
R gain 25
G gain 22
B gain 32
Flesh tone: +2
Edge Enhancement: off
Picture Options:
Color Tone: Normal
Size: Just Scan
Digital NR: off
DNIe: N/A
HDMI Black Level: Low
Film Mode: Auto
Blue Mode Only: off
These are the settings I finally settled with as best for my tastes. These were set using DISH HD package with HDMI connection. You may want to try these as a beginning and adjust to your taste. Good Viewing, Great TV!
This is my second plasma TV and I wouldn't go any other way. The richness and depth of color and lack of "ghosting" that is so prevalent with LCDs make the choice so obvious.
I'm running DISH's HD package, a DVD HDD recorder with HDMI output (Philip's), a PS3 (with the BLU RAY player - sweet), an XBOX 360, and an IPTV unit for Skyangel broadcasts. First three take up the 3 HDMI inputs and the last two are run through components. Everything is being run with optical cables through a Samsung 800 watt 5.1 surround sound system. I also set everything up so that I can also use the TV's speaker system instead if I so desire. All that to say that the 550 handles it all so easily and the menu navigation is very intuative. I could not be more pleased with this TV.
This is my first experience with Amazon and I'd highly recommend them for purchases of this kind. Even though I ran into a glitch with the "white glove delivery...NOT, they were so accomodating to make everything right with me and have succeeded. No complaints with Amazon; they've been incredible. CEVA...well...that's another story. Should mention that there was also a price reduction on this TV twice in two days and Amazon immediately credited my account when I called them. Also, the price was a real incentive, deeply discounted, at least for where I live.
I'll shop Amazon again. Pick this TV if you're looking for an above average plasma HD TV at a fair price. You won't be disappointed (check out all the other reviews at this site.
UPDATE 10 DAYS LATER:
Having run my 550 through a 100 hr. break-in period, I've now set up all my settings apart from a professional calibration (while it would be nice you don't need to spend $400 to get an awesome picture). I'm running my 550 in a darkened den.
UPDATE 1-27-09
Have upgraded old Samsung 800 watt 5.1 surround sound with recently acquired Onkyo HT-S7100 7.1 surround sound system (see my review). Our Samsung plasma HDTV just got a whole lot better!
My Settings 7-15-08
Mode: Movie
Cell Light: 10
Contrast: 85
Brightness: 60
Sharpness: 0
Color: 46
Tint: G51/R49
Detailed Settings:
Black Adjust: High
Dynamic Contrast: High
Gamma: -2
Color Space: Custom
Red R 30 G 0 B 6
Green R 41 G 50 B 24
Blue R 0 G 0 B 50
Yellow R 54 G 52 B 19
Cyan R 30 G 58 B 56
Magenta R 50 G 60 B 64
White Balance:
R offset 26
G offset 27
B offset 26
R gain 25
G gain 22
B gain 32
Flesh tone: +2
Edge Enhancement: off
Picture Options:
Color Tone: Normal
Size: Just Scan
Digital NR: off
DNIe: N/A
HDMI Black Level: Low
Film Mode: Auto
Blue Mode Only: off
These are the settings I finally settled with as best for my tastes. These were set using DISH HD package with HDMI connection. You may want to try these as a beginning and adjust to your taste. Good Viewing, Great TV!
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Samsung PN50A550 I can't believe how good it is
I'll start off by saying that i dont know much about HDTV. I have been using HD cable box on a 30" Samsung picture tube HDTV (1080i). I did like that picture and the sound on my connected surround sound. When i saw that best buy had 3 yrs, no interest financing, i just had to go for it, even though i found no reviews for this particular samsung model/tv. I saw reviews for the older models from samsung on different websites, so assuming that THIS tv has to be an improvement i told my family to buy it, and i also bought it for myself. Being a plasma i am still in the process of breaking the tv in. I reduced the brightness, cell light to 50% and 5. The only thing/control that is around normal is contrast at 90%. I saw Lord of the Rings on "TNT" HD and all i have to say even with my toned down setting for the tv till the breakdown period (approx 200 hrs)is OMG. The picture was just amazing, really it was as compared to the picture tube hdtv. Maybe its the bigger size but it did blow me away. Regardless of size, the colors, black levels etc is what i looked for. I am not sure how the experts will rate this TV as, but i am very happy with my purchase. Its money well spent and i'll be happy for years to come. This TV does let you change advanced settings for picture if you so choose. I skipped on the professional calibration. Some folks may want it, and rightly so, but i believe that i can get the picture which suits me, in my house for my needs.
I will probably have to update my review after the break in period. By the break in period i just mean to keep the settings low for the first 200 hrs approximately.
I am enjoying my TV and it seems darn good. I hope and am sure that you'll enjoy the performance of this tv if you choose to buy it. I do belive in Samsung, that they are creating a world class product. I just dont see the need of spending twice the $ for a pioneer plasma. I am sure its a little better but not value for the $ as the Samsung provides.
Update a week later: Yes, the tv is performing more than what i expected. Also check the best buy website for more reviews for this particular tv. I am not the only one blown away by it.
UPDATE AFTER A MONTH: This TV has blown me away. More than what i could have expected from a big screen tv. I had been leaning for a LCD tv, but when i saw this, anyway i am SOOOOOO GLAD i bought this TV.
I agree with another reviewer here, to calibrate your TV but according to your viewing conditons. This TV has been well reviewed by other websites, but you should calibrate as you deem the picture to be fit to YOUR eyes. Yes, disable all electronic anhancements and then change the numerous setting available on this TV for as you deem fit.
The only thing i can't comment on too much is sound. I usually use my surround sound but do have to listen to the tv speakers when using with my dish network connection. I have HD cable from time warmer along with SD dish network. Of course the SD picture doesn't compare with the HD picture but this TV does much better in showing me SD that a older SD picture tube TV i was originally using for the dish network connection.
In the end, awesome picture, very good sound, excellent price for this TV from samsung and the fact that it's Samsung, should make you feel confident in spending your hard earned $'s on a TV.
Good luck, i am sure that you'll enjoy and love this TV if you choose to buy this.
I will probably have to update my review after the break in period. By the break in period i just mean to keep the settings low for the first 200 hrs approximately.
I am enjoying my TV and it seems darn good. I hope and am sure that you'll enjoy the performance of this tv if you choose to buy it. I do belive in Samsung, that they are creating a world class product. I just dont see the need of spending twice the $ for a pioneer plasma. I am sure its a little better but not value for the $ as the Samsung provides.
Update a week later: Yes, the tv is performing more than what i expected. Also check the best buy website for more reviews for this particular tv. I am not the only one blown away by it.
UPDATE AFTER A MONTH: This TV has blown me away. More than what i could have expected from a big screen tv. I had been leaning for a LCD tv, but when i saw this, anyway i am SOOOOOO GLAD i bought this TV.
I agree with another reviewer here, to calibrate your TV but according to your viewing conditons. This TV has been well reviewed by other websites, but you should calibrate as you deem the picture to be fit to YOUR eyes. Yes, disable all electronic anhancements and then change the numerous setting available on this TV for as you deem fit.
The only thing i can't comment on too much is sound. I usually use my surround sound but do have to listen to the tv speakers when using with my dish network connection. I have HD cable from time warmer along with SD dish network. Of course the SD picture doesn't compare with the HD picture but this TV does much better in showing me SD that a older SD picture tube TV i was originally using for the dish network connection.
In the end, awesome picture, very good sound, excellent price for this TV from samsung and the fact that it's Samsung, should make you feel confident in spending your hard earned $'s on a TV.
Good luck, i am sure that you'll enjoy and love this TV if you choose to buy this.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Samsung PN50A550 Couch Potato Maker
Is there really a noticeable difference between 1080i and 1080p? You bet!!! And the Samsung PN50A550S 50-inch 1080p Plasma HDTV shows off the difference brilliantly.
First let me say how pleased my experience with ordering the TV on Amazon was. I ordered it on a Monday and it was delivered in 5 days...on a Saturday!
Okay, back to the TV.
The picture is magnificent. As I said earlier, there is a real difference between 1080i and 1080p. For the past three years I'd been watching on a 1080i maximum Hitachi Plasma, and I thought it really couldn't get much better. But it can.
1080p Blu Ray discs and Playstation 3 games in 1080p are both vividly more defined on the Samsung than on my Hitachi. At this time cable looks about the same, because the highest definition that my cable company (Cablevision) is broadcasting is 1080i. You can set the Samsung's picture to Standard (for a TV placed in a normal environment), Movie (for dark rooms) or Dynamic (for bright rooms). There are (several) other settings that the factory has pre-set and all look great, but you're free to manually adjust just about everything, and on that note....
I did have one issue that was really bumming me out. At the very bottom of the face of the TV is the Samsung logo, and directly below that is a relatively oversize, bluish, bright LED light that serves what purpose I have no idea...power indicator...decoration maybe? All that dumb light served to me was distraction; my eyes were drawn to it all the time, especially with the lights lowered while watching a movie. So I called Samsung and asked about it; I was sure that there would be no way to turn it off....but I was wrong! Customer service answered the phone with no wait after navigating briefly through a menu in order to get me to the TV people. The guy put me on hold for a minute and came back to tell me how to turn (what he agreed to be) "the very annoying" light off (the instruction also happens to be on page 67 of the User Manual). So no more annoying light!
I have set the TV's speakers to off, so I can't comment on sound. I use a Home Theater receiver in a room set up for Surround; the sound connections for the two devices (an HD Cable Box and a PlayStation 3 (60GB)) that I have go directly to my receiver (I think it's this one Onkyo TX-SR605 7.1 Channel Home Theater Receiver).
The TV has a USB port (called WISELINK) that lets you play MP3s & view pictures from a USB-flash-drive (which I'll probably never do either of on the TV), but importantly if/when Samsung upgrades the TV's firmware, you can download upgrades to a file on your PC, load the upgrade onto a USB drive and connect the USB drive to the TV to upload the upgrade (all explained in the User Manual).
So I am really stoked about my new Samsung PN50A550S 50-inch 1080p TV. I try hard to get to the gym more often or just get more outside activities into my everyday routine, but this TV is gonna make a couch potato out of me for sure.
First let me say how pleased my experience with ordering the TV on Amazon was. I ordered it on a Monday and it was delivered in 5 days...on a Saturday!
Okay, back to the TV.
The picture is magnificent. As I said earlier, there is a real difference between 1080i and 1080p. For the past three years I'd been watching on a 1080i maximum Hitachi Plasma, and I thought it really couldn't get much better. But it can.
1080p Blu Ray discs and Playstation 3 games in 1080p are both vividly more defined on the Samsung than on my Hitachi. At this time cable looks about the same, because the highest definition that my cable company (Cablevision) is broadcasting is 1080i. You can set the Samsung's picture to Standard (for a TV placed in a normal environment), Movie (for dark rooms) or Dynamic (for bright rooms). There are (several) other settings that the factory has pre-set and all look great, but you're free to manually adjust just about everything, and on that note....
I did have one issue that was really bumming me out. At the very bottom of the face of the TV is the Samsung logo, and directly below that is a relatively oversize, bluish, bright LED light that serves what purpose I have no idea...power indicator...decoration maybe? All that dumb light served to me was distraction; my eyes were drawn to it all the time, especially with the lights lowered while watching a movie. So I called Samsung and asked about it; I was sure that there would be no way to turn it off....but I was wrong! Customer service answered the phone with no wait after navigating briefly through a menu in order to get me to the TV people. The guy put me on hold for a minute and came back to tell me how to turn (what he agreed to be) "the very annoying" light off (the instruction also happens to be on page 67 of the User Manual). So no more annoying light!
I have set the TV's speakers to off, so I can't comment on sound. I use a Home Theater receiver in a room set up for Surround; the sound connections for the two devices (an HD Cable Box and a PlayStation 3 (60GB)) that I have go directly to my receiver (I think it's this one Onkyo TX-SR605 7.1 Channel Home Theater Receiver).
The TV has a USB port (called WISELINK) that lets you play MP3s & view pictures from a USB-flash-drive (which I'll probably never do either of on the TV), but importantly if/when Samsung upgrades the TV's firmware, you can download upgrades to a file on your PC, load the upgrade onto a USB drive and connect the USB drive to the TV to upload the upgrade (all explained in the User Manual).
So I am really stoked about my new Samsung PN50A550S 50-inch 1080p TV. I try hard to get to the gym more often or just get more outside activities into my everyday routine, but this TV is gonna make a couch potato out of me for sure.
Samsung PN50A550 for your viewing pleasure
This is my second review for this panel! The first one was lost! (Frustrating it was!!!)
First off Amazon has kept their promise with their Post-Order Price Guarantee. Delivery was prompt and the white glove delivery people were like, "This is the best condition a tv box has ever came through their shipping company". They did like Amazon said...they'll bring it in, unpack it, set it up where you want it and take the box away! One of the many reasons why I shop from Amazon!
Anyways, the plasma panel, PN50A550 is as good as I thought it was. Being a techie, I tested this thing to its full potential for a couple of weeks and I have to say that I am really impressed with the capabilities of this plasma! There are lots of great things about this plasma and I will address some questions that people have had with plasmas and this particular model...and from its predecessor, the 5084.
Color and black levels:
The factory settings are almost OK if you don't know how to calibrate plasmas of this caliber. But if you can calibrate it yourself or spend money to get a pro to do it then PLEASE do so! Each source has its own independent set of Dynamic/Standard/Movie settings... which is great because each source has a different video quality feed. You must remember to calibrate it via the room type you have. So for bright rooms I used Dynamic (remembering to turn off any dynamic contrast settings that will lessen the performance of this plasma). I used Dynamic for daytime because I can utilize the DNIe+ option. For dark/dim lighting, I calibrated it using the Movie setting. After spending a good time on 3 sources (DVD, CABLE HD and the Wii) the video feed is mesmerizing! I tested the settings with 300, The Incredibles and Die Hard, each movie for its different characteristics. Remember not to use any dynamic contrasting when you calibrate, no need for it....ask any pro! (btw...don't use any of the E-Mode settings)
Buzzing:
There was an issue with some 5084's having a loud buzzing sound. As of my unit, the A550 has no LOUD buzz. It has a normal, very minute buzz that you cant even here unless your ear is to the back panel.
Heat:
This model is a LOT cooler to touch than the 5084. I read it's because of the better placement of the inner "guts". I have touched the sides and the top. Of course the top is the hottest spot but this thing doesn't emit as much heat as the 5084. That's a plus! Less heat = less energy.
Burn In/ Image Retention / Ghost images:
I have TRIED to produce burn in images with the A550(remember that I have calibrated settings and not factory)...and it's really hard. The anti-burn in settings that come with this plasma works wonders and has options to if you did have burn in, you can get rid of it. But use your head, if your have dynamic settings on and your brightness level is 55+....you're probably are going to get burn-in. There are so many ways to avoid it.
Speakers:
I only heard the speakers when I first turned on the A550. The Samsung chime tuned its way letting me know its presence. After that, I turned them off and used my amplifier to produce the sound to outboard speakers. The only reason there are speakers on plasmas/ LCDs this size is because the consumer does not invest in a home theatre system right away. I always thought....BIG pictures need BIG sound.
All in all, this is a wonderful plasma. I even think in some ways it is better than the highly praised Kuro. I am very impressed with what this plasma has to offer and I love the way it has that "WOW!" factor when people see it for the first time. I'd have to say SD channels aren't the best but they are ok for what they are. People ask me all the time why I chose plasma over LCD? Look at one side by side and tell me which one you want to invest your money into....plasma all the way. .
Update:
I finally used the Wiselink! I connected both a Fujifilm Finepix F50fd 12MP Digital Camera with 3 x Optical Image Stabilization and a Sony Alpha A100 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only). It recognized both and I got to show off some pics from various shoots I did over the weekend! Never knew how great something looked at "poster" image sizes!!! The A550 is GREAT!
My friend brought over his new toy, the Apple MacBook Pro MB133LL/A 15.4" Laptop (2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Processor, 2 GB RAM, 200 GB Hard Drive, DVD/CD SuperDrive), and we hooked it up! It was one thing to show off the new mac book pro....but on the 50incher...oh my god it was awesome! PLUS PLUS PLUS!!!!
Update #2,
Since my last update and review, I have moved to a newer and bigger house. I'm not sure if it was for us or just to make room for this plasma panel!
The A550 is now mounted usingPeerless Universal Tilt Wall Mount for 37"- 60" Flat Panel Screen with one Touch Tilt. I waited and waited and waited to purchase a PS3 for it's Blu-Ray purposes. Playing games on it is a plus too, but I mainly got it to watch movies on. Why not just get a Blu-ray player? Functionality. The PS3 allows me to have a media center and it allows me to stream movies/pictures/music directly from my PC/Laptop via TVersity.
The A550 has withstood many nights of watching hdtv, 1080p movies(finally) and gaming. My wife can even operate the thing now without me worrying about her ghosting anything on the screen. And if there are any, the "side scrolling" feature eliminates it. I have also bought a Logitech Harmony 550 Universal Remote. The Wife got aggravated with all the remotes I had. Now with one programmed click, it turns on the A550, the receiver and the set-top box in one infrared sweep!
Did I mention yet that I still LOVE this thing?
Update #3,
I have meaning to update this again when the new 120hz LCDs hit the scene. Friends and Amazonians alike have asked me how do the newer LCDs compare to the A550/plasmas in general. Well, 120hz was introduced in LCDs to address the motion blur due to a slower refresh rate(hockey pucks, footballs, explosions, etc...don't look natural enough and sometimes pixelated). With that said, how do the newer 120hz compare to my A550? Even though the 120hz LCDs have improved, it still doesn't compare to this plasma. If you want the whole package, get the A550! Awesome color, black levels, no motion blur, contrast ratio is great. LCD's native contrast ratio is around 2000~15000:1 with a Dynamic 100,000:1...remembering dynamic is not what you want to go by when measuring contrast levels.
Another thing, I have updated the software to the PN50A550. It's really easy to do. You go to www.samsung.com, you find the PN50A550 and download the updates. Took me less than 5 mins to do!
I can not believe it will be a year on April 4th that I have had this panel. I enjoy it everyday...STILL!
First off Amazon has kept their promise with their Post-Order Price Guarantee. Delivery was prompt and the white glove delivery people were like, "This is the best condition a tv box has ever came through their shipping company". They did like Amazon said...they'll bring it in, unpack it, set it up where you want it and take the box away! One of the many reasons why I shop from Amazon!
Anyways, the plasma panel, PN50A550 is as good as I thought it was. Being a techie, I tested this thing to its full potential for a couple of weeks and I have to say that I am really impressed with the capabilities of this plasma! There are lots of great things about this plasma and I will address some questions that people have had with plasmas and this particular model...and from its predecessor, the 5084.
Color and black levels:
The factory settings are almost OK if you don't know how to calibrate plasmas of this caliber. But if you can calibrate it yourself or spend money to get a pro to do it then PLEASE do so! Each source has its own independent set of Dynamic/Standard/Movie settings... which is great because each source has a different video quality feed. You must remember to calibrate it via the room type you have. So for bright rooms I used Dynamic (remembering to turn off any dynamic contrast settings that will lessen the performance of this plasma). I used Dynamic for daytime because I can utilize the DNIe+ option. For dark/dim lighting, I calibrated it using the Movie setting. After spending a good time on 3 sources (DVD, CABLE HD and the Wii) the video feed is mesmerizing! I tested the settings with 300, The Incredibles and Die Hard, each movie for its different characteristics. Remember not to use any dynamic contrasting when you calibrate, no need for it....ask any pro! (btw...don't use any of the E-Mode settings)
Buzzing:
There was an issue with some 5084's having a loud buzzing sound. As of my unit, the A550 has no LOUD buzz. It has a normal, very minute buzz that you cant even here unless your ear is to the back panel.
Heat:
This model is a LOT cooler to touch than the 5084. I read it's because of the better placement of the inner "guts". I have touched the sides and the top. Of course the top is the hottest spot but this thing doesn't emit as much heat as the 5084. That's a plus! Less heat = less energy.
Burn In/ Image Retention / Ghost images:
I have TRIED to produce burn in images with the A550(remember that I have calibrated settings and not factory)...and it's really hard. The anti-burn in settings that come with this plasma works wonders and has options to if you did have burn in, you can get rid of it. But use your head, if your have dynamic settings on and your brightness level is 55+....you're probably are going to get burn-in. There are so many ways to avoid it.
Speakers:
I only heard the speakers when I first turned on the A550. The Samsung chime tuned its way letting me know its presence. After that, I turned them off and used my amplifier to produce the sound to outboard speakers. The only reason there are speakers on plasmas/ LCDs this size is because the consumer does not invest in a home theatre system right away. I always thought....BIG pictures need BIG sound.
All in all, this is a wonderful plasma. I even think in some ways it is better than the highly praised Kuro. I am very impressed with what this plasma has to offer and I love the way it has that "WOW!" factor when people see it for the first time. I'd have to say SD channels aren't the best but they are ok for what they are. People ask me all the time why I chose plasma over LCD? Look at one side by side and tell me which one you want to invest your money into....plasma all the way. .
Update:
I finally used the Wiselink! I connected both a Fujifilm Finepix F50fd 12MP Digital Camera with 3 x Optical Image Stabilization and a Sony Alpha A100 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only). It recognized both and I got to show off some pics from various shoots I did over the weekend! Never knew how great something looked at "poster" image sizes!!! The A550 is GREAT!
My friend brought over his new toy, the Apple MacBook Pro MB133LL/A 15.4" Laptop (2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Processor, 2 GB RAM, 200 GB Hard Drive, DVD/CD SuperDrive), and we hooked it up! It was one thing to show off the new mac book pro....but on the 50incher...oh my god it was awesome! PLUS PLUS PLUS!!!!
Update #2,
Since my last update and review, I have moved to a newer and bigger house. I'm not sure if it was for us or just to make room for this plasma panel!
The A550 is now mounted usingPeerless Universal Tilt Wall Mount for 37"- 60" Flat Panel Screen with one Touch Tilt. I waited and waited and waited to purchase a PS3 for it's Blu-Ray purposes. Playing games on it is a plus too, but I mainly got it to watch movies on. Why not just get a Blu-ray player? Functionality. The PS3 allows me to have a media center and it allows me to stream movies/pictures/music directly from my PC/Laptop via TVersity.
The A550 has withstood many nights of watching hdtv, 1080p movies(finally) and gaming. My wife can even operate the thing now without me worrying about her ghosting anything on the screen. And if there are any, the "side scrolling" feature eliminates it. I have also bought a Logitech Harmony 550 Universal Remote. The Wife got aggravated with all the remotes I had. Now with one programmed click, it turns on the A550, the receiver and the set-top box in one infrared sweep!
Did I mention yet that I still LOVE this thing?
Update #3,
I have meaning to update this again when the new 120hz LCDs hit the scene. Friends and Amazonians alike have asked me how do the newer LCDs compare to the A550/plasmas in general. Well, 120hz was introduced in LCDs to address the motion blur due to a slower refresh rate(hockey pucks, footballs, explosions, etc...don't look natural enough and sometimes pixelated). With that said, how do the newer 120hz compare to my A550? Even though the 120hz LCDs have improved, it still doesn't compare to this plasma. If you want the whole package, get the A550! Awesome color, black levels, no motion blur, contrast ratio is great. LCD's native contrast ratio is around 2000~15000:1 with a Dynamic 100,000:1...remembering dynamic is not what you want to go by when measuring contrast levels.
Another thing, I have updated the software to the PN50A550. It's really easy to do. You go to www.samsung.com, you find the PN50A550 and download the updates. Took me less than 5 mins to do!
I can not believe it will be a year on April 4th that I have had this panel. I enjoy it everyday...STILL!
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Samsung PN50A550 Review
for your viewing pleasure
This is my second review for this panel! The first one was lost! (Frustrating it was!!!)
First off Amazon has kept their promise with their Post-Order Price Guarantee. Delivery was prompt and the white glove delivery people were like, "This is the best condition a tv box has ever came through their shipping company". They did like Amazon said...they'll bring it in, unpack it, set it up where you want it and take the box away! One of the many reasons why I shop from Amazon!
Anyways, the plasma panel, PN50A550 is as good as I thought it was. Being a techie, I tested this thing to its full potential for a couple of weeks and I have to say that I am really impressed with the capabilities of this plasma! There are lots of great things about this plasma and I will address some questions that people have had with plasmas and this particular model...and from its predecessor, the 5084.
Color and black levels:
The factory settings are almost OK if you don't know how to calibrate plasmas of this caliber. But if you can calibrate it yourself or spend money to get a pro to do it then PLEASE do so! Each source has its own independent set of Dynamic/Standard/Movie settings... which is great because each source has a different video quality feed. You must remember to calibrate it via the room type you have. So for bright rooms I used Dynamic (remembering to turn off any dynamic contrast settings that will lessen the performance of this plasma). I used Dynamic for daytime because I can utilize the DNIe+ option. For dark/dim lighting, I calibrated it using the Movie setting. After spending a good time on 3 sources (DVD, CABLE HD and the Wii) the video feed is mesmerizing! I tested the settings with 300, The Incredibles and Die Hard, each movie for its different characteristics. Remember not to use any dynamic contrasting when you calibrate, no need for it....ask any pro! (btw...don't use any of the E-Mode settings)
Buzzing:
There was an issue with some 5084's having a loud buzzing sound. As of my unit, the A550 has no LOUD buzz. It has a normal, very minute buzz that you cant even here unless your ear is to the back panel.
Heat:
This model is a LOT cooler to touch than the 5084. I read it's because of the better placement of the inner "guts". I have touched the sides and the top. Of course the top is the hottest spot but this thing doesn't emit as much heat as the 5084. That's a plus! Less heat = less energy.
Burn In/ Image Retention / Ghost images:
I have TRIED to produce burn in images with the A550(remember that I have calibrated settings and not factory)...and it's really hard. The anti-burn in settings that come with this plasma works wonders and has options to if you did have burn in, you can get rid of it. But use your head, if your have dynamic settings on and your brightness level is 55+....you're probably are going to get burn-in. There are so many ways to avoid it.
Speakers:
I only heard the speakers when I first turned on the A550. The Samsung chime tuned its way letting me know its presence. After that, I turned them off and used my amplifier to produce the sound to outboard speakers. The only reason there are speakers on plasmas/ LCDs this size is because the consumer does not invest in a home theatre system right away. I always thought....BIG pictures need BIG sound.
All in all, this is a wonderful plasma. I even think in some ways it is better than the highly praised Kuro. I am very impressed with what this plasma has to offer and I love the way it has that "WOW!" factor when people see it for the first time. I'd have to say SD channels aren't the best but they are ok for what they are. People ask me all the time why I chose plasma over LCD? Look at one side by side and tell me which one you want to invest your money into....plasma all the way. .
Update:
I finally used the Wiselink! I connected both a Fujifilm Finepix F50fd 12MP Digital Camera with 3 x Optical Image Stabilization and a Sony Alpha A100 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only). It recognized both and I got to show off some pics from various shoots I did over the weekend! Never knew how great something looked at "poster" image sizes!!! The A550 is GREAT!
My friend brought over his new toy, the Apple MacBook Pro MB133LL/A 15.4" Laptop (2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Processor, 2 GB RAM, 200 GB Hard Drive, DVD/CD SuperDrive), and we hooked it up! It was one thing to show off the new mac book pro....but on the 50incher...oh my god it was awesome! PLUS PLUS PLUS!!!!
Update #2,
Since my last update and review, I have moved to a newer and bigger house. I'm not sure if it was for us or just to make room for this plasma panel!
The A550 is now mounted usingPeerless Universal Tilt Wall Mount for 37"- 60" Flat Panel Screen with one Touch Tilt. I waited and waited and waited to purchase a PS3 for it's Blu-Ray purposes. Playing games on it is a plus too, but I mainly got it to watch movies on. Why not just get a Blu-ray player? Functionality. The PS3 allows me to have a media center and it allows me to stream movies/pictures/music directly from my PC/Laptop via TVersity.
The A550 has withstood many nights of watching hdtv, 1080p movies(finally) and gaming. My wife can even operate the thing now without me worrying about her ghosting anything on the screen. And if there are any, the "side scrolling" feature eliminates it. I have also bought a Logitech Harmony 550 Universal Remote. The Wife got aggravated with all the remotes I had. Now with one programmed click, it turns on the A550, the receiver and the set-top box in one infrared sweep!
Did I mention yet that I still LOVE this thing?
Update #3,
I have meaning to update this again when the new 120hz LCDs hit the scene. Friends and Amazonians alike have asked me how do the newer LCDs compare to the A550/plasmas in general. Well, 120hz was introduced in LCDs to address the motion blur due to a slower refresh rate(hockey pucks, footballs, explosions, etc...don't look natural enough and sometimes pixelated). With that said, how do the newer 120hz compare to my A550? Even though the 120hz LCDs have improved, it still doesn't compare to this plasma. If you want the whole package, get the A550! Awesome color, black levels, no motion blur, contrast ratio is great. LCD's native contrast ratio is around 2000~15000:1 with a Dynamic 100,000:1...remembering dynamic is not what you want to go by when measuring contrast levels.
Another thing, I have updated the software to the PN50A550. It's really easy to do. You go to www.samsung.com, you find the PN50A550 and download the updates. Took me less than 5 mins to do!
I can not believe it will be a year on April 4th that I have had this panel. I enjoy it everyday...STILL!
This is my second review for this panel! The first one was lost! (Frustrating it was!!!)
First off Amazon has kept their promise with their Post-Order Price Guarantee. Delivery was prompt and the white glove delivery people were like, "This is the best condition a tv box has ever came through their shipping company". They did like Amazon said...they'll bring it in, unpack it, set it up where you want it and take the box away! One of the many reasons why I shop from Amazon!
Anyways, the plasma panel, PN50A550 is as good as I thought it was. Being a techie, I tested this thing to its full potential for a couple of weeks and I have to say that I am really impressed with the capabilities of this plasma! There are lots of great things about this plasma and I will address some questions that people have had with plasmas and this particular model...and from its predecessor, the 5084.
Color and black levels:
The factory settings are almost OK if you don't know how to calibrate plasmas of this caliber. But if you can calibrate it yourself or spend money to get a pro to do it then PLEASE do so! Each source has its own independent set of Dynamic/Standard/Movie settings... which is great because each source has a different video quality feed. You must remember to calibrate it via the room type you have. So for bright rooms I used Dynamic (remembering to turn off any dynamic contrast settings that will lessen the performance of this plasma). I used Dynamic for daytime because I can utilize the DNIe+ option. For dark/dim lighting, I calibrated it using the Movie setting. After spending a good time on 3 sources (DVD, CABLE HD and the Wii) the video feed is mesmerizing! I tested the settings with 300, The Incredibles and Die Hard, each movie for its different characteristics. Remember not to use any dynamic contrasting when you calibrate, no need for it....ask any pro! (btw...don't use any of the E-Mode settings)
Buzzing:
There was an issue with some 5084's having a loud buzzing sound. As of my unit, the A550 has no LOUD buzz. It has a normal, very minute buzz that you cant even here unless your ear is to the back panel.
Heat:
This model is a LOT cooler to touch than the 5084. I read it's because of the better placement of the inner "guts". I have touched the sides and the top. Of course the top is the hottest spot but this thing doesn't emit as much heat as the 5084. That's a plus! Less heat = less energy.
Burn In/ Image Retention / Ghost images:
I have TRIED to produce burn in images with the A550(remember that I have calibrated settings and not factory)...and it's really hard. The anti-burn in settings that come with this plasma works wonders and has options to if you did have burn in, you can get rid of it. But use your head, if your have dynamic settings on and your brightness level is 55+....you're probably are going to get burn-in. There are so many ways to avoid it.
Speakers:
I only heard the speakers when I first turned on the A550. The Samsung chime tuned its way letting me know its presence. After that, I turned them off and used my amplifier to produce the sound to outboard speakers. The only reason there are speakers on plasmas/ LCDs this size is because the consumer does not invest in a home theatre system right away. I always thought....BIG pictures need BIG sound.
All in all, this is a wonderful plasma. I even think in some ways it is better than the highly praised Kuro. I am very impressed with what this plasma has to offer and I love the way it has that "WOW!" factor when people see it for the first time. I'd have to say SD channels aren't the best but they are ok for what they are. People ask me all the time why I chose plasma over LCD? Look at one side by side and tell me which one you want to invest your money into....plasma all the way. .
Update:
I finally used the Wiselink! I connected both a Fujifilm Finepix F50fd 12MP Digital Camera with 3 x Optical Image Stabilization and a Sony Alpha A100 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only). It recognized both and I got to show off some pics from various shoots I did over the weekend! Never knew how great something looked at "poster" image sizes!!! The A550 is GREAT!
My friend brought over his new toy, the Apple MacBook Pro MB133LL/A 15.4" Laptop (2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Processor, 2 GB RAM, 200 GB Hard Drive, DVD/CD SuperDrive), and we hooked it up! It was one thing to show off the new mac book pro....but on the 50incher...oh my god it was awesome! PLUS PLUS PLUS!!!!
Update #2,
Since my last update and review, I have moved to a newer and bigger house. I'm not sure if it was for us or just to make room for this plasma panel!
The A550 is now mounted usingPeerless Universal Tilt Wall Mount for 37"- 60" Flat Panel Screen with one Touch Tilt. I waited and waited and waited to purchase a PS3 for it's Blu-Ray purposes. Playing games on it is a plus too, but I mainly got it to watch movies on. Why not just get a Blu-ray player? Functionality. The PS3 allows me to have a media center and it allows me to stream movies/pictures/music directly from my PC/Laptop via TVersity.
The A550 has withstood many nights of watching hdtv, 1080p movies(finally) and gaming. My wife can even operate the thing now without me worrying about her ghosting anything on the screen. And if there are any, the "side scrolling" feature eliminates it. I have also bought a Logitech Harmony 550 Universal Remote. The Wife got aggravated with all the remotes I had. Now with one programmed click, it turns on the A550, the receiver and the set-top box in one infrared sweep!
Did I mention yet that I still LOVE this thing?
Update #3,
I have meaning to update this again when the new 120hz LCDs hit the scene. Friends and Amazonians alike have asked me how do the newer LCDs compare to the A550/plasmas in general. Well, 120hz was introduced in LCDs to address the motion blur due to a slower refresh rate(hockey pucks, footballs, explosions, etc...don't look natural enough and sometimes pixelated). With that said, how do the newer 120hz compare to my A550? Even though the 120hz LCDs have improved, it still doesn't compare to this plasma. If you want the whole package, get the A550! Awesome color, black levels, no motion blur, contrast ratio is great. LCD's native contrast ratio is around 2000~15000:1 with a Dynamic 100,000:1...remembering dynamic is not what you want to go by when measuring contrast levels.
Another thing, I have updated the software to the PN50A550. It's really easy to do. You go to www.samsung.com, you find the PN50A550 and download the updates. Took me less than 5 mins to do!
I can not believe it will be a year on April 4th that I have had this panel. I enjoy it everyday...STILL!
Samsung PN50A550 Features
Features
- 1080P HD Resolution
- 30,000:1 Contrast Ratio / 1,000,000:1 Dynamic Contrast Ratio
- 3 HDMI Inputs
- Filter Bright Anti Reflective Technology
Samsung PN50A550 Product Details
Product Details
- Amazon Sales Rank: #17243 in Consumer Electronics
- Color: Black
- Brand: Samsung
- Model: PN50A550
- Dimensions: 30.30" h x 3.70" w x 48.40" l, 91.30 pounds
- Display size: 50
Samsung PN50A550 50-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV
Product DescriptionTake your home entertainment experience to the next level with the Samsung PN50A550 plasma HDTV. The Samsung PN50A550 50" Widescreen Plasma HDTV with 1080p resolution is big enough to transform any space into the ultimate home theater. Advanced features like a FilterBright to protect against glare and 1,000,000:1 dynamic-contrast ratio will simply amaze you and your guests. 1920 horizontal x 1080 vertical pixel resolution presents video and text with outstanding clarity and resolution. Select Game mode with the touch of a button for advanced video-game action. The ACE silhouette editor eliminates visual noise from the deepest dark tones. SRS TruSurround XT offers natural, lifelike HD sound. TruSurround delivers a compelling, virtual surround sound experience through the two speaker internal playback system. Samsung Digital Natural Image engine dramatically improves the picture by enhancing the contrast, detail, and white balance. WiseLink plays MP3 and JPEG files through USB 2.0 connection. Entertainment Mode allows customized picture settings, optimized for different content. Universal Anynet Plus HDMI-CEC allows peripheral devices such as a DVD player to be controlled by TV remote control. Side A/V ports provide easy connections so you can connect a camcorder, digital camera, or any other digital device with no hassles. V-Chip system allows blocking of rated TV and movie programs determined by the parent to contain objectionable content. 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution 175-degrees viewing angle Natural True Color with 18 bit color processing NTSC/ATSC tuners with Clear QAM Sports/Game/Movie modes via hot key 10-watt per channel built-in audio amplifier Direct down-firing speaker system Auto pixel shift (user programmable) Signal pattern processing function Ports - 3 HDMI High Definition Multimedia Interface (2 rear/1 side), 2 component video inputs, Side and rear A/V inputs, WiseLink (USB 2.0), He
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