Samsung HPT4254 42-Inch Plasma HDTV

Product Description

Samsung's HP-T4254 is the choice of value conscious plasma HDTV enthusiasts. Whether you're in a dark room or in broad daylight, the picture remains amazingly crisp and vibrant, thanks to Samsung's FilterBright anti reflection technology. Even in moonlit scenes, the HP-T4254's 15,000:1 contrast ratio and 18-bit technology let you see every shadowy detail and natural, rich color. Advanced Samsung plasma picture technology delivers sharper screen text, while eliminating "noise." Samsung also introduces an innovative auto-pixel-shift technology that makes picture "burn-in" a thing of the past. Experience robust, 3-dimensional TruSurround XT sound. Connect all your digital devices and peripherals courtesy of 3 HDMI ports and a full complement of audio and video inputs. Control all your CEC-compliant digital devices through the one HP-T4254 remote. And it's Energy Star Compliant, so you'll use less energy.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #30133 in Consumer Electronics
• Color: Black
• Brand: Samsung
• Model: HPT4254
• Dimensions: 27.50" h x 41.50" w x 3.70" l, 73.20 pounds
• Display size: 42

Features

• 1024 x 768 resolution
• 15,000:1 Contrast Ratio
• 16 bit color
• Filter Bright 2 Anti Glare Technology
• 3 HDMI, 2 component, 1 PC input

Customer Reviews

A great purchase and a good buying experience-First Impression
I ordered the Samsung 4254 on July 31st and it arrived on August 10th which matched the estimated delivery-time exactly. The TV was shipped from Harrisburg PA and sent to my home in central NH. The EGL 'white-glove' delivery was as advertised. The TV was brought into my house, the box was opened so I could check the condition of the TV. The set arrived in original packing and in perfect condition. The delivery men even offered to take the set down to my TV-room. EGL was great!

I had been wary of having such a large and fragile item shipped. I saved $200 below the lowest retail price buying this through Amazon. In fact, the item price dropped while the TV was in transit and Amazon refunded the difference within a day. In the end buying through Amazon saved me a chunk of change and eliminated the donkey-work involved in transporting such a large item from the box store. In exchange, I had to wait 10 days for the TV to arrive.

Plasma vs LCD:

I did a lot of research in the process of settling on the Samsung 4254. Going in, I was convinced that I wanted an LCD because of my concern that the plasma might suffer 'burn-in'. I read in many places that this is not a real concern with current plasma sets. In the end, the decision to go with the plasma came down to the picture quality. I watch sports and movies and the plasma sets just produce a better image. There is far less motion-blur,the colors are more vivid and the viewing angle is wider.

The second disadvantage of plasma technology is that the screen is shiny (just like a standard CRT TV). The matte LCD screen is certainly less prone to problems with glare although the viewing angle can't match what you get with a plasma set. My 'Man-Cave' is in the basement with very little ambient light so this was not a concern for me. Also, the Samsung 4254 comes with some form of anti-glare coating.

720P vs 180i and 1080p

More dots on the screen mean better clarity and finer detail. The newest plasma and LCD sets come with support for the highest 1080p resolution. The Samsung 4254 is a 720p set. Should you be concerned that you are buying old technology and that it might be better to pony-up the difference in price (about $400) for a 1080p set? A good question. There are two facts that I considered before going with the 720p set.

1. Broadcasts do not support 1080p as it takes up too much bandwidth so even if you buy a 1080p set, your TV viewing will not be improved. To use the potential of 1080p requires an HD DVD player ($500) and HD DVD's. (about $30 apiece). Also, it is unclear which HD format for DVD's will rule the market (HD or Blu-Ray).

2. Viewing a 42 inch screen, the difference between the 720p image and the 1080p image is not discernible. See for yourself. If you have the extra money and the space, consider spending the difference for a larger screen. As the screen size increases, the difference in image quality between a 720p set and a 1080p becomes more visible. Numbers aside, let your eyes be the judge.

A few facts about HDTV:

If you are buying an High Definition (HD) TV set (Plasma or LCD, you need to have an HD signal to see the full benefit of the HD set. In fact, if you don't have or plan to get access to an HD signal and you plan to use the set for TV viewing, my advice would be to stick with a traditional CRT TV. Most broadcasting is done in standard definition (SD) and most programming is in SD although more and more content is being created and broadcast in HD. SD programing is formatted to fit the old 4:3 TV screen format. It is possible to stretch this content to fill your new HD screen but it comes with some distortion. Alternatively, you can view the SD image using less than the entire screen. You will not see those stunning images when the program you are watching is SD. SD content looks best on your old TV set but it shows well enough on an HD screen. The Samsung 4254 offers three options for viewing SD content.

Digital Cable is not HD:

Cable systems offer 'Digital Cable' while this is an improved signal, it is not High Definition. My cable company offers a tier of HD stations with their Tivo-like DVR. For $13 per month I get about 10 HD channels (ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox, PBS etc)and I get the DVR (which is very cool). To receive the benefit of HDTV, my cable bill will be about $70. Even if you have subscribed to HD stations, you will find that some programming will be shown in SD. In a couple of years, all broadcasters will be required to support HD. New programming generally is done in HD. Just understand that you only get the full benefit of HD when the signal coming to the set is HD.

The Samsung 4254:

The picture using an HD source, is stunning, if anything better than what you see in the box store displays. The set was easy to set up, it has a swivel stand. I am not nuts about the shiny black bezel but it seems to be the rage these days and it is hard to avoid. If you have bright lights in the room, the bezel and the screen itself will both reflect. The solution is easy; turn off or move the light source. I like the plain low-key styling and the size is perfect for my viewing area.

The set virtually programs itself. It recognized and stored all of my cable channels. The color settings were easy to adjust using the remote. The speakers were a source of complaint. I didn't notice any real problem but I connected the set to my surround-sound speakers which is what most people would do.

The manual is clear and complete.

I bought this set over others like the Panasonic 42 75U because of the picture, the available connections and the price. I have always had good experiences with Samsung products. Once you have decided between and LCD or a plasma set all you really need to do is look at the image quality. I did stay away from off-brand sets because I would be concerned with long-term reliability. Any TV is only as good as the parts it is made of. Generally, you get what you pay for. Manufacturers like Panasonic, Samsung and Sony have a lot invested in their brand-name.

Accessories to Consider:

If you watch DVD's and don't want to spend $250-500 on an HD DVD player, get an upconverting DVD player (around $100). It will play standard DVD'd and process the signal so that the picture quality is nearly HD. I have too many DVD's to consider re-buying in HD format. I would bet that the price of HD players wwill drop as the technology becomes more common.

Also purchase an HDMI cable to connect the player to the 4254. You DO NOT need to buy the $100 cable. Cable prices at retail are absurdly expensive. Cables are not made of caviar. I bought a $10 cable from an Amazon link and the picture is fine. The HDMI cable is the high end HD connection. It carries both audio and video signals. Use HDMI cables between your components that support this standard. My surround sound receiver does not have an HDMI input so I used an optical cable to carry the audio from the TV to the receiver. Always buy the best connection type that your equipment supports.

I will revise this review if needed. I hope this is of some help for those entering the world of High Definition.

Long story short, I am absolutely happy with the Samsung 4254 and with the purchase experience from Amazon.

Added 8/22 Burn-In:

Salesmen and manufacturers will tell you that plasma screens don't have a problem with burn-in. This happens when a still image is left of the screen over a period of time. Well, burn in is not a thing of the past. I know this because I left my Samsurng on with the DVD source screen (that blue screen you see as the DVD player is started-up) The image was on the screen for about 12 hours. I now have a "No Disk" message burned in the upper right part of the screen. The stupid is always possible.

The manual has a section on burn-in and there are three levels of burn-healing technology built into the set so obviously this is not a problem that has been completely eliminated.

I ran the 'wipe' mode for about an hour and the image has faded. Whether in time it will be completely gone, I know not. I did have the anti-burn pixel shift enabled.

On the other hand, when I am watching programming/DVD, I can't see ANY trace of the burn. It can only be seen when the screen is entirely black. Since I can't see it when I am watching, I am not that concerned. I would buy the Samsung again but I thought that this information should be added.

If Plasma burn is a deal-breaker, take a look at the Toshiba Regaza 42 inch LCD. I liked that set but the picture on the Samsung was visibly better. Plasma and LCD technologies have their pros and cons. It comes down to what fits your situation.

After 2 weeks, my original impression is unchanged. If I could actually see the results of the burn-in while watching, I would feel differently but I can't, so I don't.


8/31 The burn in mentioned in the last segment is gone. Or at least I can no longer see it. I ran the 'wipe' mode for a couple of hours and then as I continued to watch my usual assortment of Red Sox baseball and DVD's, the burn-in just faded away. I have had this TV for three weeks and could not be happier.

Great picture and great value---what you expect from Samsung
This is brand new from Samsung. Two features enticed me to choose this over LCD:
* 15,000:1 contrast ratio---this is as high as you'll currently get in a set that goes for around $1500
* Anti-glare technology

I've seen friends' plasmas for years. They all had serious glare issues, greater than what were present in a tube tv. The family room in my new house has 20' high ceilings and south-facing 20' high windows. But I see no glare even with the blinds open!

I'm thrilled with the picture. HD looks stellar. DVDs look incredible on my up-converting player.

The sound isn't exceptional, though it's better than on my 4 year-old tube tv. I have surround sound, so that issue is overcome. The sound is good, though. My advice would be to not let that sway you from buying this. Many brick and mortar retailers have deals for getting a surround-sound system with a new flat-panel tv.

Television choices are hard these days. Rear projection DLT offers great price, but you've got to replace the bulbs and the viewing angle is limited. LCDs just might win out in the future, but I still notice slow response (latency) when watching action films or sports. I think plasma still produces the best picture.

Samsung's HPT4254 looks to me to be the best value in plasma televisions.

This TV is AWESOME. Think twice before you buy an LCD.
We had two LCDs out of the box and hooked up at home. It's a long story, but we ended up taking both of them back for different issues, one of which turned out to be a bad cable. CC was so great to take them back and we hadn't considered a plasma because of the glare issue. Well, I started reading about this Samsung plasma and how that had implemented some sort of anti glare system. We went back and I realized how much more vivid the colors are on this TV than an LCD. Plus, I thought the picture on this new model was quite a bit better than any other plasma models on the floor. We got it home and running and after having the other two LCDs to compare with, this thing ROCKS!!!!! Even in our bright room, the glare is not a problem for us. There is definitely more glare than an LCD, but it is so much better. There is this blurry thing that happens with motion on an LCD. And, I had read about it, but people were saying it's not so much of an issue anymore with recent models. I don't buy that after experiencing both kinds of TVs, the plasma is so much more clear with fast motion, and there is so much more depth to the colors. I'm extremely happy.

The only issue I have is with the sound. It's terrible. The sound was much better on the LCDs I had here at home. I have external speakers, so the sound quality is not important to me, but if you care even a little bit about the sound quality, I would consider buying even some low-end bookshelf speakers. Anything will sound better than the speakers built in to this thing. The speakers on my 5 year old 27" tube TV were better. I still gave it 5 stars, even with this sound issue because if you're in the market for this type of TV, you'll likely have some sort of surround setup and the speakers won't matter. Buy this TV for the picture and the price.

Go see for yourself.... the depth of color and clarity are unmatched in my opinion.

Samsung HPT5054 50-Inch Plasma HDTV

Product Description

Whether you are in a dark room or in broad daylight, the picture remains amazingly crisp and vibrant, thanks to Samsung's FilterBright anti reflection technology. Even in moonlit scenes, the HP-T5054's 15,000:1 contrast ratio and 18-bit technology let you see every shadowy detail and natural, rich color. Samsung also introduces an innovative auto-pixel-shift technology that makes picture "burn-in" a thing of the past. Control all your CED-compliant digital devices through the one HP-T5054 remote.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #28220 in Consumer Electronics
• Color: Black
• Brand: Samsung
• Model: HPT5054
• Dimensions: 31.10" h x 48.50" w x 3.70" l, 97.00 pounds
• Display size: 50

Features

• 1365 x 768 resolution
• 15,000:1 Contrast Ratio
• 18 bit color
• Filter Bright 2 Anti Glare Technology
• 3 HDMI, 2 component, 1 PC input

Customer Reviews

Great Plasma for Gaming and Movies
I bought this TV to use with the xbox 360 and the PS3.

The quality on the picture was outstanding for the game consoles.(component connection) I was worried about screen burn in since it is a plasma but I have had no problems so far with long gaming sessions.

Movie playback with HD-DVD, Blu-ray, and HI-Def downloads are great. The number of connections you have and different connections is pretty good.

For the PC connection the colors are a little oversaturated with the default TV setup for games but that is easily fixed through the menu system of the TV.

Also the number of options you have for viewing sources is great. You have many different options for viewing 4:3 and PC signals.

The only con is the TV's menu system. It seems that options are mixed up so you have to hunt for a few of the advance options. Its not bad just a minor gripe.

Overall this is a great TV and well worth the price.

On a side note you can turn the blue LED to off so it never comes on in the TV menu system.

Amazing TV Great Price
The PQ is top notch only the pioneer i thought was better but you have to pay a lot more for little gain. HD looks outstanding and bonus is that the SD looks good too. (I watch from about 10 feet away) The audio drop is just a simple firmware update. Samsung support was quick and easy. Right now there is no better plasma for the price than the 5054. If you need a usb port then go with the 5064 but i believe the 54 has better PQ. Lots of ways to tinker with the picture. Lots of ways to protect the TV from burn-in. Lots of ways to hook up anything u need. Sound is good but im using my yamaha receiver most of the time anyway. Mine doesnt tilt. If it did id just put it on the wall. The swivel stand is actually a useful feature i didnt even anticipate. I just set my directv H20 to native and let the tv do all the processing its awesome. Baseball has never looked better. Im even watching golf because it looks so amazing. Planet Earth on Discovery HD theater and i was sold. Caution with the $$ u save buying this sweet TV you will spend it anyways on a new HD DVD or Blu Ray player, new hdmi receiver, speakers etc. but dont fret what else you rather waste your hard earned money on? I did tons of research and am totally satisfied.

samsung 5054-great picture but poor HDMI
The samsung 5054 is great to look at and the picture is excellent at 720p. You would be hard pressed to discern a difference over the 1080p HDTV's. But, the HDMI input suffers from random audio drop off. Samsung offers no explanation, other than to blame the Cable box or the HDMI cables. You are watching a program and suddenly, no audio. You must turn the TV off and the sound does come back. Samsung says to bypass the HDMI and use the component inputs.Sort of like saying, just use the low speed on the wipers since the high speed does not work. Anyway, if HDMI is important to you, do not buy this TV. If you do not mind using low tech and cumbersome component cables, it will serve you fine.

Samsung PN63A650 63-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV with Red Touch of Color

Product Description

Samsung plasmas feature revolutionary Touch of Color design. A hint of color is naturally blended into the frame creating a stunning look. You'll also get vivid colors, incredible clarity and lifelike images. Your favorite movies and TV shows will come to life with an astounding 1,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio. And with a 100,000 hours panel life, you'll enjoy your plasma HDTV for years to come.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #32775 in Consumer Electronics
• Color: black/red
• Brand: Samsung
• Model: PN63A650T1FXZA
• Dimensions: 36.70" h x 60.30" w x 3.90" l, 146.60 pounds
• Display size: 63

Features

• Touch of Color™ design
• 1920 horizontal x 1080 vertical pixel
• Ultra FilterBright™ anti-glare
• ACE Silhouette editor (false contour
• 1,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio.

Customer Reviews

Very Happy
The picture and viewing angle are amazing. I almost bought the PN58A650 (the 58" screen) and decided to spend the extra money on the 63". I'm glad I did because I did not want to be staring at the 58" for the next few years always wondering what the 63" would look like. If you're hesitant about buying it online, I went to Consumer Reports and buyers are just as happy buying online verses a store. The delivery was great. I got a tracking # and the white glove service was nice. They brought it in, took it out of the box and set it on the furniture and I hooked up the HDMI cable and they turned it on to verify that the picture was ok and off they went. The touch of color is pretty subtle and looks nice. I was concerned about the glare/reflections on the glass but the anti-glare technology they have is fine. I have two windows behind me and I was able to see them with my old 61" projection but I can't see them on this.

Best large screen TV on the market
Amazing is the only way to describe it. For the longest time I thought LCD was the way to go. But decided to take a serious look at plasma tvs, primarily because of inherent motion lag and color reproduction issues with lcd. Fancy technology such as 120 Hz still does not mask the problem to a semi-trained eye. Once I decided to go with Plasma, I did a comparison between Panasonic, Pioneer & Samsung. Did a side by side comparison at Best Buy & found the Samsung to have the overall best picture quality. To be totally honest, Pioneer has a slight edge in some aspects but it is priced 30-40% more than comparable Samsung Plasma.

Icing on the cake: The latest street price is $3000.

Love my new 63" Sammy
I bought this tv three weeks ago, CEVA delivered within 7 days of ordering, great delivery, they delivered within 24 hours of scanning the item into my local CEVA hub. They brounght the TV in, took it out of the box, set it on my stand and made sure it worked. I signed for it and they were off within 25 minutes.

The TV is truly amazing. I can honestly say that I have never seen a better picture. No issues whatsoever with this set so far. HD sports are unbelievable and even SD cable is very nice. TV gets a little warm to the touch but certainly not hot. The remote wheel takes a little getting use to but is not bad IMO. The sound on the set is surprisingly better than I expected. I will be hooking up 7.1 but haven't purchased the receiver yet.

If you are in the market for a TV this one will not let you down. I was a little disappointed that as of Sept 1 Amazon will no longer give you the price reduction when they mark something down from the time you order to the time it's delivered. Two days after ordering the set dropped $250 and has now dropped another $400. I would gladly have spent the savings right back with Amazon on a receiver but I may now go to a big box that will give me at least a 60 day price match windoq on any reductions.

However for $4081, this set should be a no brainer. Buy and enjoy, I certainly am!

Samsung PN50B430 50-Inch 720p Plasma HDTV

Product Description

Samsung 50-Inch Plasma Widescreen Plasma HDTV

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #31290 in Consumer Electronics
• Brand: Samsung
• Model: PN50B430P2DXZA
• Released on: 2009-11-22
• Dimensions: 29.80" h x 48.40" w x 2.90" l, 77.20 pounds
• Display size: 50

Features

• Mega Dynamic Contrast Ratio .001ms Response Time 2 HDMI
• Clear motion pictures with 600Hz Subfield Motion

Customer Reviews

Very Nice
This plasma is a 720P resolution TV. The sharpness provided rivals other 1080P TVs that I have seen. The colors are deep, vivid and the blacks are awesome. As manufacturers phase out production of the 720P plasmas for the 1080P models, incredibly good buys on the remaining 720Ps can be found. They are worth considering.

Perfection!
This is one of the best purchases we have ever made - we are loving this tv! I know, I know, plasma's are on their way out. But, this is our first flatscreen....and for $699 and no shipping or tax, who cares? If we have to replace it in a few years, I'll feel better that we only spent what we did, plus by then the LED's will have come down in price so much that we can afford one.

The colors on this tv are unbelievable. We bought a Sony Soundbar to go with it and the combination is awesome! If this one comes down in price again, jump on it....you won't be disappointed. Plus buying from Amazon is the only way to go....we LOVE Amazon! Saving on the tax and having it shipped for free - what more could you ask for??

Great value. Mine does 1080p!
Got this tv to replace my 37" hanspree tv that just quit. I bought this tv at sears for only 699 plus tax. The tv was very easy to hookup. Just one hdmi cable coming from my home theater. Picture quaility is great. Have a xbox 360, ps3, and direct tv hd box connected. TV only has 2 hdmi ports but luckily my receiver has 3.
Hooked up xbox and it detected that 1080p worked. So I tried the direct tv and ps3 and they both detect 1080p. For a 50 inch 1080p plasma I thought this was a steal. If I could afford another one I would. Sound for this tv is ok but if you buy a tv of this size you shouldn't be using the built in speakers. Viewing angles are good and no problem with screen reflections that I had heard about.
Only things I would think that would make this better would be anothe hdmi input.
Also couldn't find any buttons on the tv so dont lose your remote.
Buy this tv!

Samsung HP-S4253 42-Inch Plasma HDTV

Product Description

Samsung HPS4253 42" Plasma HDTV

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #32267 in Consumer Electronics
• Brand: Samsung
• Model: HPS-4253
• Dimensions: 88.20 pounds
• Display size: 42

Features

• 42-inch plasma TV with integrated high-def ATSC tuner; measures 41.5 x 30.1 x 13.4 inches (WxHxD) with stand
• Samsung Digital Natural Image engine improves contrast, white level, picture detail and incorporates digital noise reduction
• 1024 x 768-pixel resoltuion, 1300 cd/m2 brightness, 10,000:1 contrast ratio, 175-degree viewing angle
• Connections: 2 HDMI, 2 component, 2 composite, 2 S-Video, 1 digital coaxial, 1 digital optical
• Two stereo speakers, 10 watts apiece (20 watts total); SRS TruSurround XT virtual surround sound

Customer Reviews

Best plasma at this price right now
I was an early adopter of Plasma technology and have owned a Pioneer 50" Plasma as my main display for a few years now. I love Plasma in general, so decided, now that prices are coming down from the stratosphere, to get a second plasma set for a bedroom TV. All I can say is things have really come a long way! Early plasmas had problems displaying detail in dark scenes, but new models such as this Samsung have come much closer to solving this problem.

I auditioned dozens of sets at multiple dealerships and did a lot of side-by-side comparisons and adjustments, and determined that these newest Samsung sets represent the best blend of performance, quality, and cost. My requirements were to have at least 2 HDMI slots, since this is the future for high-definition connectivity, be 37" or 42" in size, and have the best quality picture I could afford.

A lot of on-line advice pointed to the Panasonic as the one to get so I went into this fully expecting to end up with a Panny, but after much side-by-side between the Samsung 4253 and the newest Panasonics, there was no contest - the Samsung has more natural looking color gradiations, the Panasonic looked odd and banded in appearance. I verified this at multiple vendors and side-by-side.

Be careful however not to get re-directed to the previous generation Samsung models, many of which are still on the market and sold as new. Samsung seems to be replacing their lined up with these newer sets in a graudal manner. At least two other 42" models ending in "2" instead of "3" can be found at various retailers. To me, these older sets did not measure up to the visual fidelity in the "3" series. Over time I'm sure Samsung will make "3" versions of their other sets, so if you need one with a CableCard tuner or something, I'd wait a while. Also I wish this set had more stretch options for dealing with 4:3 inputs. The only options for HD signals are 16:9 or 4:3 with bars, neither of which helps deal with HD signals that are letterboxed AND 4:3 (common for cable boxes that up-convert letterbox SDTV material). I'm not sure which sets do have these stretch modes, but I beleive some do.

Also, Plasmas are moving very fast right now, with Pioneer due to release new models any day, among others. Waiting a bit longer if you're in no hurry may turn up a set even better than this at the same price. But as of Spring 2006, I am very confident this is the best 42" plasma in the ~$2k range.

Nice TV but has glitches
After spending 6 months researching HDTVs I got this Tv over Memorial Day weekend from Amazon for a great deal, $1899.99. No shipping and no tax can't beat the price for one of the better plasmas on the market.
But there are a couple of issues with this tv. Don't buy it over the panasonic because of its PIP option. The PIP can only be used when a HDMI tv feed is on or another hookup besides componenet for television viewing. This leads to the other problem.
There is a glitch with the HDMI. So if you are utilizing the AV ports for a playstation or DVD player the tv can't understand which source to pick. So if you are watching tv, But then want to watch a DVD you can change the source to the DVD player (the AV input) but when the movie is done you can't switch back to the HDMI input. The tv no longer recognizes the connection. This was a great pain for me. I purchased a HDMI/DVI wire for my cable box. And the first time a changed the source to the AV for my playstation and I was able to play it but when I was done the HDMI feed was no longer an option. So I spent the next day and a half going through my connections and calling the cable company which told me to contact my tv manufacturer. Samsung said that the tv has a glitch and the tv must be reset (there is no mention of how to reset the tv in the owner manual). So now everytime a change the source to the av port I must reset the tv whcih consists of unplugging the tv waiting 30 seconds, hitting the power button on the tv itself 10 times, plugging the tv back in, turning the tv on and switching the source.
This problem doesn't occur if your cable is hooked up via component and the picture is basically as good as the HDMI feed(I will proably switch it back to component once a get over that a spent $100 on a Monster DVI to HDMI cable and won't use it.
Other than that te tv is great. It has a much better appearance over the panasonic. HDTV is awesome. SD is ok; comes in better for some some stations than oters. Speakers are above average. Overall this is a very impressive tv if you can get beyond the glitch. Sports are amazing feels like you are there, nature shows are extremely impressive. The TV has great colors and true blacks.

Samsung PN50A550 50-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV

Product Description

Samsung PN50A550 infuse your home entertainment with full high definition 1080p resolution for the clearest picture and the most amazing details. FilterBright assures you see nothing but the brightest color on your screen. Take your home entertainment experience to the next level with the Samsung PN50A550 plasma HDTV.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #17672 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

Features

• 1080P HD Resolution
• 30,000:1 Contrast Ratio / 1,000,000:1 Dynamic Contrast Ratio
• 3 HDMI Inputs
• Filter Bright Anti Reflective Technology

Customer Reviews

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!

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.

Amazon came through...big time
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.

Samsung PN42B400 42-Inch 720p Plasma HDTV

Product Description

Samsung 42-Inch Plasma Widescreen Plasma HDTV

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #6789 in Consumer Electronics
• Color: Black
• Brand: Samsung
• Model: PN42B400
• Dimensions: 26.30" h x 41.50" w x 2.90" l, 61.70 pounds
• Display size: 42

Features

• 2,000,000:1 Mega Dynamic Contrast Ratio
• Samsung E-panel technology like 600Hz Subfield Motion, Mega Dynamic Contrast Ratio, and .001ms response time
• Wide Color Enhancer 2
• 2 HDMI (rear), 1 component (rear), 1 composite AV (rear shared with component Y) input, 1 Digital Audio Out (Optical), service USB port, PC input (D-sub), PC/DVI audio port; no headphone jack
• Game Mode, ENERGY STAR Compliant

Customer Reviews

Excellent (with 1 Caveat)
I purchased this TV to replace a 26" Samsung LCD. This TV hasn't failed to impress yet. I've put it through it's paces on several inputs, including multiple genres of video games through a Playstation 3, both Blu-ray and DVD movies, and digital cable programming through a hi-def box. In each instance, connections were made with an HDMI cable.

Honestly, I didn't have to alter anything. I toyed with tweaking the various display options, but in the end (for the vast majority of the settings) I ended up going back to factory defaults. The picture is consistently sharp, clear, and vibrant. As far as picture quality goes, I can only come up with one negative. It lacks full 1080p. Personally, I would rather put the cash towards a larger 1080i/780p set than a smaller 1080p.

The lack of a fifth star is a combination of three things. One, lack of 1080p. Two, the remote feels slightly cheap. It's not horrible, but i feel like with the build quality of the TV, and the coolness of the touch screen buttons used on the TV itself, the remote could have been better. No problems if you have a good universal though. The last of the three, is that I cannot vouch for the sound quality. My audio is routed through a separate receiver, so it would've been exceedingly impractical to re-rig everything to test out speakers (especially since I'll never use them personally)

A Great Buy At An Affordable Price!!!
I got this TV during the Black Friday sale and I must say, I am overwhelmingly impressed with what Samsung has to offer. Free shipping by Amazon via Pilot was icing on the cake and the shipping was quick and efficient (they even delivered it all the way to my living room of my condo apartment!).

Size:
As a first time HDTV owner, I wanted to buy a HDTV that is larger than my current one (Sony WEGA 22") but smaller than a 46 inch. After testing out several units at Best Buy and Walmart stores, my final TV size was 42" - not too large, but not too small. It was just the right size for an HDTV. It was also the right size for a 720p resolution, as I soon found out firsthand.

Resolution (720p vs. 1080p):
After going through many reviews from several electronic websites, I have come to the conclusion that at 42 inch, the human eye cannot really tell the difference between 720p and 1080p unless you sit within 1 foot away from the TV. 720p simply means a resolution of 1024x768 pixels, whereas 1080p has 1920x1080 pixels. The 'p' stands for progressive scan, which means all pixel rows are lit each time, displaying smoother moving images. Nowadays, cable companies offer HD channels that only broadcast at 720p, so there's really no need to spend the extra money on a 1080p TV.

Plasma vs. LCD (Contrast and Brightness):
The popular demand nowadays is LCD since prices have gone down, but nevertheless the argument still rages on as to which type of display dominates. From what I saw, plasma TVs have a really quick response time (.001ms) as opposed to LCDs, have richer colors, deep blacks and great contrast for movies and sports viewing, whereas LCDs are brighter, but are relatively weaker in terms of displaying a rich, warm color.

This Samsung plasma looks absolutely gorgeous when viewed with an HDMI cable. The images are very rich in contrast, especially with the 2,000,000 to 1 mega contrast ratio. PS3 graphics are also rich in color when used with a HDMI cable.

Anti-burn in Technology:
While it is true that plasmas do suffer from burn-ins, keep in mind that LCDs have their woes as well - suffering from dead pixels. Samsung has did a great job from previous plasma models of reducing burn-ins with 2 features that include pixel shift and pixel scrolling, which moves the pixels at a designated interval (recommended for this TV is 2 horizontal, 2 vertical, every 2 min).

Value:
At $550, this is a really good price for a quality Samsung plasma. If you need more HDMi ports and connections, capability to use Anynet technology for universal remotes, and a headphone jack, you can get all that with a Samsung PN42B450 model for $74 more (currently $624 at Amazon as of this review).

Differences between PN42B400 and PN42B450:
The only difference I've noticed with my Samsung plasma is that there's no PC D-sub port but instead has a HDMI/DVI port for computer connections (where you use a mini-DVI/DVI to HDMI adapter), so that's a plus. Another thing is that PN42B400 does not have a headphone jack, no anti-glare filterbright technology, has no silver decor at the bottom of the SAMSUNG logo, and the volume (+/-) and power buttons are touch sensitive and are in the front of the unit, similar to that of the PN42B450. Compared to the PN42B450 model, this model only has 2 HDMI ports.

Overall, this is a great buy at an affordable price.

great deal for good features
We've had this TV for about a week and have no complaints so far. The image is very bright and vibrant along with deep blacks. The sound is great as far as built in speakers go.

We chose plasma because it has a great contrast ratio as well as fast refresh rate for a very affordable price. This is a quality plasma set. It has basically the same picture and sound as the more expensive PN42B450, which has gotten a ton of great reviews on Amazon. On the PN42B450's page check out the discussion "PN42B400 vs PN42B450" for some more info about the differences between these TV's.

Samsung PN42A450 42-Inch 720p Plasma HDTV

Product Description

Too much sun interrupting your movie watching? No matter when you watch a Samsung 42" widescreen plasma HDTV, you'll always see crisp, clear images and bright vivid color. Ultra FilterBright reduces glare and enhances the contrast ratio in the brightest rooms. This 42" plasma HDTV also has more innovative features such as exclusive 3D technology. Immerse yourself in movies and games and get the ultimate 3D experience with the Samsung PN42A450 plasma HDTV.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #23818 in Consumer Electronics
• Color: Black
• Brand: Samsung
• Model: PN42A450P1DXZA
• Dimensions: 28.50" h x 12.40" w x 41.50" l, 67.20 pounds
• Display size: 42

Features

• 720p HD Resolution
• 20,000:1 Contrast Ratio
• 3 HDMI Inputs
• Filter Bright Anti Reflective Technology
• 3D Ready for 3D gaming

Customer Reviews

Awesome TV!
We bought this tv for our bedroom we were replacing an old 36" crt. We got it on sale for $790 so we didn't expect much, but it turns out this is the new model with touch buttons, 3D, 3 HDMI ports. We don't have HD in this room so I expected the SD picture to be rather pixelated. But man I was so impressed on how well it displays SD content that I'm almost inclined not to put in an HD reciver in this room. I did hook up my pc and used it as a monitor and wow it looks great! Picture is smooth and the colors have alot of depth, I also hooked up my Xbox360 to it and the games look awesome! This tv looks cleaner and crisper than my $3000 Samnsung 61 inch DLP. I can't believe i! If your looking for a 42" TV this is the one to buy! Don't worry about it being 720p I've compared it with my 1080p set and you can't notice the difference.

TV and price are great; a word of caution about free delivery
Like a few others I have read here, I am new to HDTV. I did a bit of research and narrowed my choices to this model and the Panasonic TH-42PZ85U.

I was looking at the Panasonic because initially I thought I wanted 1080p resolution, but after reading a few articles I decide I did not need it. HD cable is 720p right now and apparently will not be 1080p for some time due to bandwidth issues (although someone more knowledgeable on this topic is free to correct me on this point). And this TV is several hundred dollars cheaper than the Panasonic 1080p model. I looked at the Panasonic 720p 42 inch but that model (TH-42PX80U) does not have a PC input, which I wanted.

Anyway I went to my local Best Buy and they happened to have the Samsung PN42A450 and the Panasonic TH-42PZ85U right next to each other, and they both had a great picture. I liked the colors better on the Samsung though--they appeared richer to me.

So I went with the PN42a450 from Amazon. Best Buy's list price beat Amazon's, but when you factor in free shipping and no sales tax, Amazon had the better deal by about $70. I've had the TV for about 6 weeks now, and I love it. Baseball games and movies look great on this TV.

A few words of caution about my experience with the free shipping: you do get what you pay for. In my area at least, the company that Amazon contracted to do the delivery did not seem to have a particular specialization in electronics or TVs. The guy who delivered my tv was courteous and helpful, but did not have a high degree of knowledge about plasma TVs. First of all, it was only this one fellow win an unmarked white panel van full of boxes. He was pulling the TV out and was going to bring it into my house by himself and he was kind of awkwardly carrying it (it really is a two man job to keep it level) so I helped him carry it in. Also this TV comes in a special box that lifts off of the TV so that you don't have to lift the TV out of if. The delivery guy didn't understand this (and neither did I initially). First he was going to lay the box on its side to slide the TV out which from what I understand is not the best thing to do with a plasma TV (laying it on its side can possibly damage the huge piece of glass that makes up the screen). I didn't know much about plasmas but knew enough to stop him from doing that. Finally we cut the box apart to get to the TV, after which point I found out that the box can lift apart by itself. So I ruined the box which I could have saved to safely transport the TV if I ever need to move. Not a huge deal, but it would have been nice to keep the box.

So in summary I am happy with this purchase. The only caution is that I would advise you to be home when the TV comes in order to make sure it is taken into your house and unpacked correctly.

Great TV with an awesome picture
I always wanted a HDTV, and I decided on this model by reading the reviews from other people who have purchased it. I could not believe that plasma TVs are a lot less than LCDs especially that I can get a 42" for less than a $1000 compared to a 32" LCD for the same price.

I ordered this TV on Friday 6/20/08, and it shipped on 6/23/08 to Ceva Logistics in Reno. Amazon said it would be delivered by 7/2/08, but on Ceva's website, using the tracking number, they said it would be here on 6/27/08. I waited patiently for the phone call from Ceva, and someone called me that Thursday evening with a delivery window from 8 am to 12 pm. I was very excited that I would be getting my TV to play with on the following day. The delivery guys came to my apartment at 8:20 am, opened the box for me, and placed the TV on my entertainment center. I hooked up the coax cable from my cable box, and I was blown away by the color and the size of the screen. The delivery guys from Ceva were great for being prompt, polite, and professional. I was very impressed with their service, and if I buy another TV again I definitely will use Amazon again

I tried watching standard definition, some high definition channels in my area through the antenna, played a few DVDs, and a VHS tape. Each one looked very good, and I have no complaints about this TV. I am looking forward to trying out some more HD programming when I exchanged my cable box for an HD one. I am planning to buy a Blu-Ray DVD player once the prices have come down a bit, and I am sure it will look great on this TV.

The manual is kind of confusing, but I figured it out in the end. There is an ample amount of connections on the back and on the side for anything you may have.

If you are looking for a TV with a fantastic picture, then do not look any further because you will love this TV.

Samsung PN58A650 58-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV with RED Touch of Color

Product Description

The latest Samsung plasmas feature the exclusive Touch of Color design. A hint of color is naturally blended into the frame creating a beautiful look. Want more? The Samsung PN58A650 offers much more than style. You'll enjoy bold colors, amazing clarity, and true-to-life images. Your movies and TV shows will come to life with the 1,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio. And with a 100,000 hour panel life, you'll enjoy your Samsung plasma HDTV for years to come.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #27996 in Consumer Electronics
• Color: Black
• Brand: Samsung
• Model: PN58A650T1FXZA
• Released on: 2008-05-08
• Dimensions: 34.10" h x 55.80" w x 4.00" l, 141.10 pounds
• Display size: 58

Features

• Touch Of Color Bezel
• 1080p HD Resolution
• 1,000,000:1 Dynamic Contrast Ratio
• 4 HDMI Inputs
• RSS-Infolink

Customer Reviews

Great TV!
I bought this TV to replace a 55" Mitsubishi HDTV that I have had for 8 years. I have researched the purchase to death for 2 years. I did not want to go down in size, (I considered the 52" LCD), as the placement would add 2 feet distance, but could not afford the larger LCD. The plasma screen is fabulous. Lots of great features. I bought the Avia II calibration DVD, but the Samsung was spot on in the standard mode. No adjustments needed. We already have a 32" Samsung LCD in the bedroom and have been very happy with it. This was my first major purchase from Amazon and it could not have gone better. The TV arrived 2 days early and the White Glove service was exactly that. The driver helped unpack and set up the TV. We inspected it and powered it up. No problem. I saved around $1,000. over the big box stores.

This is one AWESOME TV!!
This is the TV to buy! Absolute perfect screen, displys HD broadcasts and movies, etc with perfection. Best choice I ever made. Amazon has such an amazing price that you cannot go wrong buying this TV from Amazon. Local electronics stores want a thousand dollars more for this product. It came in ahead of promised date in perfect condition. Amazon's white glove shipping service is a great selling point. They bring it inside your house, unpack it, and plug it in to make sure it works before you sign for it. Take my word for it... BUY IT!!

Samsung 58 Plasma Touch of Red
I am happy with the TV, Great picture and attrative set. Compared to other manufacturers, Samsung has the best picture in this price range and size. I bought the Samsung 52 inch LCD 120 hrtz Touch of Red and I was blown away by picture but had a problem with set in menu mode so I decided to jump up to 58 inch. A down side is plasma heat and power consumption, second the picture does blur alittle time to time trying keep up with poor analog TV signal. Garbage in Garbage out. With digital TV and or good DVD this set is just as good as 52 inch, Great Picture. I would give it 5 stars but all Samsung sets have so called PIP or PAP where you must go into menu to get PIP and you can not swap picture and must go into menu again for PIP sound, A real pain!!!!So as for useable PIP (Football Sunday) forgit it. It is a good idea to have power conditioner like panamax for this plasma set as well, it is sensative to power changes, makes the tube flash a bit. You will like this TV for the price on Amazon.

Samsung PN50A650 50-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV with RED Touch of Color

Product Description

You?ve never seen a television this beautiful. The Samsung PN50A650 HDTV features Touch of Color - a unique design which adds a hint of color to the bezel. Plus, advanced features like Ultra FilterBright protect against glare and a 1,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio delivers stunningly realistic images. Create the ultimate home entertainment experience in your home with the Samsung PN50A650 widescreen plasma HDTV.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #23450 in Consumer Electronics
• Color: Black
• Brand: Samsung
• Model: PN50A650T1FXZA
• Released on: 2008-05-08
• Dimensions: 30.10" h x 48.80" w x 3.80" l, 95.90 pounds
• Display size: 50

Features

• Touch Of Color Bezel
• 1080p HD Resolution
• 1,000,000:1 Dynamic Contrast Ratio
• 4 HDMI Inputs
• RSS-Infolink

Customer Reviews

Awesome Picture.
I teach film and wanted something that would enhance my viewing experience without overwhelming my medium sized, 14 wide by 20 living area. This TV is perfect and the sound, unlike some of the smaller Samsungs, is very good. While not the theatrical surround sound experience, the down facing speakers work well and produce realistic tones whether you are listening to voice or music. They also allow for a clean appearance which is further enhanced by the touch of red screen. If you are not the techie type and cringe at hooking up one more wire or don't want to lay out another $500 on sound, you should be quite happy with this set just the way it is.

My couch is about 12 feet from the screen, while the arm chairs go as close as 6. I find this distance just about perfect for watching the 50 inch screen. I've even had a few friends comment that they almost felt dizzy watching large, fast moving, objects on the screen. If you are wondering how big to go, I personally don't think paying $$$ for an inch or two more will make a difference unless you have a very large room and want to bump up to 60 or 65". The kids should be adequately wowed by their video games on this one. I also like the set of video connectors on the side of the TV which allow you to connect cameras and other devices without having to get to the back of the set.

My TV arrived fully assembled in the box. No struggling to get the base on. Amazon offered free white glove delivery and the gentleman placed the TV on my stand without so much as leaving a finger print on the frame or screen. Since the TV is quite heavy this was good to have. He also told me about adding a "line filter" to remove sine waves from the AC as he said some clients encountered small squiggly lines on their screen. Luckily the power center I bought already had digital filters on all the lines.

BTW that power center is the Belkin PureAV F9A1033fc10 from Amazon. I also purchased a SONY HDMI cable which you need to connect your DVD player and sometimes the Cable TV to your TV. HDMI is a much higher standard of connector and DOES make a huge difference in quality over traditional RCA connectors. Most local dealers carry MONSTER brand cables. I have found them to be no better or worse than the high quality devices provided by the above vendors. The only thing MONSTER about them is the price!!

I should add that CEVA was the company that delivered the TV and sent a very polite and knowledgable man to do it. He even disposed of the box and all of the packing for me. I'd never heard of the company before but I was able to communicate with them about the details of delivery by speaking directly to a rep at their local New Orleans area warehouse. Hurricane Gustav was in the Gulf at that time so a timely delivery was important to me. I would recommend this company to others.

I've had the set for two months and use it with a new Sony s350 Blu-ray player. The only problem I've had so far is not wanting to leave home!! Great product.

UPDATE: It has been a year since this TV was delivered and I still LOVE it. No complaints. People often worry about plasmas burning in images on the screen. I haven't had that issue and my Wii game system is designed to comphensate for that when a program is left running and unattended. I would imagine most systems are. I am thinking of getting a small Samsung for my bedroom.

Fantastic for 2 months solid
I'd like to give this 4.5 stars...I can't give 5, and 4 is too low, but amazon only limits this to whole stars, so 4 it is.

Got this item at a steal of a price from a local retailer who was desperate for business. That aside, I had done plenty of research prior to purchasing and after a week, I can say I have no "buyer's remorse" for jumping on a TV at a great price. We've been looking to upgrade our old 27" zenith tube and the choice has been between this set and the 50" Panasonic PZ85U. Finally getting the opportunity to see these side by side in the store was where I made my final decision. I thought the Samsung looked a little more natural than the Panasonic as I come from a photography background. The Panasonic just looks a little too warm for my taste next to this set. Now...I'm sure neither one of the sets were calibrated at the store, and honestly, I don't think anyone can go wrong with either of these TVs...both produce an exceptional picture, but I liked the A650 over the PZ85U. To boot, the final price on the 650 was 50$ cheaper than what the salesman would give me the 85U for, so we got the Samsung.

Now that I have it home, here are some impressions...

Video - The digital tuner built into the set means you don't need a fancy box to receive over the air broadcasts after Feb. 2009. Oh yeah...the hi-def broadcasts out now over the air look fantastic on this set. One thing I have not yet had the chance to test is a separate HD video source since I don't have an HD dvd or Blu-Ray player, but I can say that the 480i my current DVD player puts out is pretty awesome looking on this TV as well. We fired up Ratatouille over the weekend...conveniently, the DVD comes with a set of test-patterns you can adjust the contrast, brightness, sharpness, and color with so I did the best I could prior to hitting play. All I can say is wow...the shadow detail was fantastic compared to my old tube and I thoroughly enjoyed watching the movie. I used the same settings to watch Sunday night football last night, and I tell you what, I don't know how I'm going to be able to watch standard definition sports anymore. No motion blur at all with this set, crystal clear and sharp pictures...the only distracting thing is that now I can tell when the cameras that are recording the action on the field are having problems focusing accurately. You literally see every detail with this TV set-up correctly.

Audio - This is the only area where I "ding" this set. Now...for most folks out there, this is going to be part of a Home Theater or entertainment system, so they will have a separate audio source, but for me, this TV is all I have (for now). The audio is by no means bad...it is just not as crisp and clear as I would have expected. The audio is a little muffled and maybe after some more tweaking of settings, it will get better, but if I had an entertainment center, I would certainly buy a separate speaker for the center channel and turn the one from the TV off.

Looks / Usability - Wow...this set looks great in the basement. The "Touch of Color" design is sleek, and it will look fantastic once it's mounted on the wall. The touch-pad power / channel / volume / menu are a sleek 21st century feature and give it a hint of class. The remote and settings you can access is very well laid out and intuitive. There is almost nothing you can't tweak. Samsung even gives you the ability to tweak the white balance over the RGB color scale without having to access a special menu through a remote sequence (basically these levels control how your TV is set-up to interpret colors from the video source). A nice feature that I don't recommend messing with unless you know what you're doing...being a part time photographer on the weekends, this is a welcome feature to get the absolute best color out of my TV.

The number of inputs on the back and side is more than ample...I don't ever know that I'll have 4 HDMI sources to input, but it's nice to know I can. There are 3 component video inputs as well, so unless you have like 5 gaming systems and 3 DVD players, you should be fine with the number of inputs.

Overall, I'm very happy with this TV, and would have no hesitation recommending it to anyone. If they made a 46" version, my neighbor would buy one too as his space does not allow a 50" set and he wants to maximize his screen. He's going to go with the Panasonic 85U, but after seeing my Samsung A650, he might be re-locating his space to be able to step up to a 50" TV.

UPDATE 3 DEC 2008:
A word of caution. If you are going to watch this TV even though Samsung claims there is no break in period for issues like image retention and burn in, you need to break in the phosphors on this TV. Avoid gaming or anything that has a static logo on the screen for an extended period of time in order to uniformly age the phosphors that make up the plasma picture for at least 100 hours. Keep the contrast and brightness dialed back to 50-60% during this break in period.

We recently noticed some Image Retention after watching 4:3 format picture from the cable box for 4 hours one afternoon. I popped in a DVD for my son and noticed that the edges where the black bars were from the 4:3 format picture were brighter than the center of the screen. You could also see a vertical line on the left and right of the screen separating the regions. However, this is correctable. A few hours of the scrolling white bars across the TV removed the retention issue and the picture is once again uniform.

UPDATE 6 JAN 2009:
Well, after hooking up the Blu-Ray player and firing up Kung-Fu Panda which we got for Christmas on Blu-Ray, all I can say is that this TV has an amazing picture. Shadow and bright scene detail was spot on...No black crush or white clipping. Motion blur? - Nope...not once in any of the martial arts sequences that I could see. This plasma performed exactly as expected...perfectly. I got an HDMI cable though monoprice.com, and if there's a quality issue, I have no idea where it might be. There is no reason to spend mega $$$ on Monster cables. Keep in mind that the out of the box settings for Brightness and Contrast need to be adjusted so you can see all the nuances in the shadows and bright scenes.

Oh yeah...the playoff football over the air in HD...amazing. I don't know how I kept my old set for as long as I did. The picture is so clear you can literally see when the cameras are having small focus issues with the action on the field. No, this is not image blur, it's a focusing issue. When everything is in focus, the picture and action is fantastic. I can't wait for the superbowl party and March Madness in the upcoming months. This set was worth every penny.

The only issue is audio...again, it's not bad, but it's clearly not up to par with the video this set puts out. When I get a receiver and speakers, I will not be using the TV as the center channel...I will buy a separate center speaker. However, for the time being the audio is acceptable for what I'm doing.

Ultimately about 2 months after my purchase, I could not be happier with this TV. It does get a little warm when it's on for 12 hours a day between the Wii, movies, and Football, but the picture has been stellar since day 1 and I have noticed -0- pixel fading, burn in, or Image retention since I took action to prevent it.

Great display, amazing value
I have had my PN50a650 for a almost 2 weeks now, and have been very impressed. Colors can be calibrated to be almost perfectly accurate, and black levels are great as well. There are not many professional reviews of the 650 series out yet, but the reviews of the 550 series have been extremely positive:

http://reviews.cnet.com/flat-panel-tvs/samsung-pn50a550/4505-6482_7-32887581.html?tag=prod.txt.1
http://www.hometheatermag.com/plasmadisplays/808samup/
http://www.guidetohometheater.com/flatpaneldisplays/708sampn50/index4.html

The 650 series adds an additional HDMI connection, a more advanced version of Samsung's DNIe picture quality enhancement engine, a better glare-reducing screen filter, and the Touch of Color bezel that shows a hint of dark red from some angles. There are a number of display setting recommendations in the reviews noted above and on www.avsforum.com message boards that provide a good starting point for a great picture, but professional calibration or use of a calibration DVD/Blu-Ray disk such as Digital Video Essentials can really dial in a reference-quality image.

Overall, I highly recommend this set. I have had no issues with it, and Blu-Ray images in particular amazingly clean and vibrant. This set is a great value.

Samsung PN50A450 50-Inch 720p Plasma HDTV

Product Description

Samsung delivers crisp, clear images and bright, beautiful color with the FilterBright technology and 1,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio. It reduces glare and enhances contrast ratio in the brightest rooms so you never have to settle for anything less than picture perfect images. And the groundbreaking 3D technology thrills you with the ultimate 3D experience. Take your home entertainment experience to the next level with the Samsung PN50A450 plasma HDTV.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #19188 in Consumer Electronics
• Color: Black
• Brand: Samsung
• Model: PN50A450
• Dimensions: 29.80" h x 3.70" w x 48.40" l, 81.60 pounds
• Display size: 50

Features

• 720p HD Resolution
• 1,000,000:1 Dynamic Contrast Ratio 30,000:1 Contrast Ratio
• 3 HDMI Inputs
• Filter Bright Anti Reflective Technology
• 3D Ready for 3D gaming

Customer Reviews

First opinion
First Review,
Second evening of viewing, Just upgraded from a returned Samsung HP-T5054 which I had for 30 days. (got a great deal, clearance, closeout etc..) Amazing picture and many upgrades from previous model (HP-T5054). Same price as last years model and better overall. Nice finish and slicker features. Thanks to Samsung for offering a Great 720p panel that is sure to be the next big hit for them. Let everyone spend up for 1080, no visible difference to me. Love the swivel stand. Overall, I like it a lot. Really got my moneys worth @ 1,299.
RW in Oklahoma City

I should never have bought it.........
because now, I'm going to be spending WAY too much time watching television. I bought this set sight-unseen. The price was the biggest factor coupled with some favorable reviews on CNET for other Samsung plasmas. I am no "videophile" so I can live with 720p resolution. Compared to my 10 year old, 27" Toshiba it's like seeing a TV for the first time. I have Verizon FiOS digital cable, which has quite a few high definition channels, so I flipped over to their high-def demo channel and I watched programs for hours that "BS" (Before Samsung) would probably have bored me to tears. I have a 480p DVD player that I can now watch in 480p, instead of 480i. I dropped in the movie "300" and it looked just as good as it did on the IMAX screen (IMO). I bought a component video cable for my Wii (don't forget to change the video setting to 480p) and was simply amazed at the clarity. It's not the most expensive, and some "experts" will not consider it to be the best plasma out there but I'm giving myself a big pat on the back. The piano black finish is like icing on the cake. I would, and will, recommend this TV to anyone.

Samsung PN58A550 58-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV

Product Description

This SAMSUNG 58" 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 for stunningly realistic images, will simply amaze you and your guests. Take your home entertainment experience to the next level with the SAMSUNG PN58A550 plasma HDTV.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #23963 in Consumer Electronics
• Color: Black
• Brand: Samsung
• Model: PN58A550
• Dimensions: 33.90" h x 3.90" w x 55.90" l, 137.80 pounds
• Display size: 58

Features

• 1080P HD Resolution 1920 x 1080
• 30,000:1 Contrast Ratio / 1,000,000:1 Dynamic Contrast Ratio
• 3 HDMI Inputs
• Filter Bright Anti Reflective Technology

Customer Reviews

Awesome!!!
Hi guys
I generally do not write reviews but this is such a new TV without many reviews in the public domain and so decided to put my two cents;
1. Why plasma not LCD...well, plasmas, are cheaper once you are in the post 50" realm. Past 50", plasmas rule when it comes to price. They are also not limited by 60/120 Hz. cycling issues like the LCDs (remember we never had a "triple ball" effect with our old CRT based TVs, that we have used for the past 50 years; well, plasmas are an extension of that technology, just way more sophisticated.
2. [...]
3. Amazon service: 5/5 Top class. Ordering on line was a breeze.
4. Free white glove delivery included delivery, unpacking, set up, and trash haul. Also, if you do not like what you see, Amazon will take the TV on the spot at their expense. On my TV, there was a free white glove delivery! CEVA tracking promised delivery on 7th May but delivered the TV on 1st May. How is that for under promise and over deliver. 5/5 to CEVA for white glove! It took 2 guys to haul this beast in. I had the cart ready and they spent half an hour unpacking and helping me screw the TV to the stand (M8 36 mm screw). The screws on the back from Samsung are not long enough (though M8 type). You will need to undo the swivel base (the CEVA guys did that and hauled my old 36" (read heavy) clunker into the basement also).
5. Return policy: 30 day no questions asked on Amazon as opposed to 15 days in bricks a mortar stores.
6. The TV picture quality itself blew me away. For the price, it is a no brainer. Sound quality does need enhancement with a home theater system for a full HD/HT experience. The picture out of the box is truly marvelous. I did not have to tinker with the settings much. Just make sure you have either an HDMI or a component cable that is able to display 1080p/i signal (the old coax does not display 1080p/i).
7. Blue ray player: For people with children, Sony PS3 is an obvious choice for a blue ray/game player combo.
8. This TV has higher contrast ratio than their earlier FTP5884 model, and therefore, whilst both were available, it was a no brainer to go with the newer PN58A550 model.
9. One last comment. If money was not an objective, I would have bought a bigger (65") panel. I had the hunch and it is now confirmed, no matter how large a panel you buy, you may end up feeling that it is not big enough.
Overall, Amazon saved me mucho dinaro, and delivered as promised. No fuss, no muss, no questions asked! Good luck guys/gals.

Overall very pleased
I've had the PN58A550 FOR about a month now and overall I am very pleased.

Positive:
The value is very good on this TV. The picture quality is great. Setup option are more extenisive than most TV's. You can really dial in everything about the picture using regular menus. The overall finish on the TV is really nice. It has a piano gloss finish on the frame and stand that look really sharp. Samsung TV's used to have some of the worst menus ever but the one on this TV is really very good and intuative.

Negatives:
1) There are no S-Video or Composite connections on the back of the TV. There are 1 of each on the left side of the TV.
2) The picture "zoom" feature is just stupid. Sometimes when movies are letterboxed I like to zoom in and not see so much of the top&bottom bars. On the Samsung zoom doesn't zoom, it stretches the picture vertically so everything looks a little too tall.
3) The screen is pretty reflective. Other plasmas do a better job of cutting the glare.

Overall I'm really pleased with my purchase and would certainly do it again.

Couldn't be happier!
After 6 months of looking and comparing I decided on either the Samsung 52" series 550 LCD or this 58" series 550 plasma. I finally decided that size DID matter. Boy am I happy! The pix is fantastic, color and blacks are superb, according to the instructions (and reviews) it takes up to 2 hours of static pixels to have a threat of burn in (which I never foresee) so I couldn't be happier. Some have written about the sound, but my family can't find anything to complain about. When we watch something really important we use the BOSE Lifestyle Dolby 5.1 anyway. I read that plasmas put out heat which is true. When watching an evening of TV we have to use the ceiling fan in the great room when it's unnecessary in the rest of the house. But it's just the nature of the beast and it is 110 degreees outside. It has nothing to do with this unit.

[...]

But what I really wanted to write about was the delivery service. I had read some real horror stories concerning Amazon & CEVA delivery. So when I was told that my [...] investment would be coming via 'Inept Shipping Inc.' (CEVA) I almost backed out. But, I can't tell you how beautifully the transaction went!!!!

Now you've got to understand, I ordered this set about midnite on Friday of Memorial Day weekend so nothing was going to happen until Monday or Tuesday. The set arrived in the nearby 'big city' (we live 90 miles from Oklahoma City in a small town of 36,000) on WEDNESDAY!! I took the initiative and called the local CEVA office to setup a time for delivery. (Most complaints seemed to deal with waiting for them to call you and dealing with the 800 number rather than the local office. The local office is available via their website by simply clicking on a map of the U.S!) They were willing to deliver it the very next day on Thursday but I was unavailable. So we set it up for between noon and 2:30 on Friday. The guy called when he was 20 minutes away, 1pm, unloaded the TV, helped me unbox it, lift it up on the new credenza, set up the channels and gave me some tips on usage, LIKE DON'T EVER USE THE POWER BUTTON ON THE FACE OF THE TV. ALWAYS USE THE REMOTE. THE PRESSURE PAD SYSTEM ON THE SET ITSELF IS SENSITVE TO MOISTURE SO IF YOU HAVE DAMP HANDS YOU CAN BURN OUT THE PAD TO THE TUNE OF AN ALMOST $400 REPAIR. I have since checked this out with Samsung and they say yes, it is possible. That sure isn't in the book! Thanks Mike the delivery guy at CEVA for ALL the great service and help! I got my 58" plasma TV delivered to my home with true service and set up in under a week at a [...]! Can't beat the price or the service!

Samsung PN58B560 58-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV

Product Description

Samsung’s new PN58B560 plasma flat panel HDTV redefines our commitment to design, performance, and cost of ownership. Its 58 inches of 1080p Full HD picture performance makes it the perfect living room centerpiece. The attractive Touch of ColorTM design adds a subtle clear-to-charcoal gray accent to the set’s bezel. Enjoy brilliant, film-like images in Full HD resolution. Samsung’s breakthrough mega dynamic contrast ratio offers a more accurate color tonal range, deeper blacks and shadow details. The new E-Panel technology featuring our innovative FilterBrightTM technology reduces glare in brighter rooms and our advanced Crystal Full HD Engine expands the picture viewing experience with less power consumption. Add 4 advanced HDMI inputs that feature Samsung’s Anynet+ (CEC standard) technology making system control of compatible A/V devices like a Blu-ray player or HTIB system a one-touch operation. Experience Full 1080p performance on Samsung’s new B560 series plasma HDTVs that are easy on the environment and easy on the wallet.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #65 in Television
• Color: Black
• Brand: Samsung
• Model: PN58B560T5FXZA
• Dimensions: 34.10" h x 2.90" w x 55.80" l, 84.70 pounds
• Display size: 58

Features

• New attractive Touch of Color cabinet design
• Full HD 1080p performance
• New 600Hz subfield motion technology
• HDTV off-air and Clear QAM Digital Cable Tuner
• ¿Green¿ design lead-free components

Customer Reviews

Best Value on the Market, PERIOD
The gentlemen who complained about the noise clearly has some other issue going on. I encourage him to try and get a full replacement from his reseller or Samsung. Mine makes no noticeable noise at all.

The B560 is an interesting animal in it carries all of the higher-end features that the 8 series carries at a lesser cost (TOC, CinemaSmooth, etc). It is in fact one of Samsung's best plasmas despite being a 5 series. The "B Series" Samsung plasmas are without doubt the best plasmas on the market. In a world consumed by LCDs and their over saturated, unrealistic brightness and color, plasmas just don't look as bright and noticeable on the showroom floor. The irony about this is that once you get any display home, inclduing a plasma, you'll have to turn the brightness down to achieve any realistic color space. It's a known fact that manufacturers create special default profiles that blow colors out of proportion which attracts the "dumb consumer". It's a shame that plasmas haven't done as well as LCDs as of late, but the B series plasmas are pound for pound the best TVs out there, and the B560 is the pinnacle of that value.

Don't get caught up in super-saturated colors and brightness levels. Black levels and realistic natural colors are what really matters, and plasma is still the best technology for that. Additionally, the off-angle viewing of plasmas is in a league of its own.

The motion is so natural, the colors are accurate, the black levels can't be beat. It's absolutely great. The power usage is significantly less than other plasmas including the "A series" Samsung plasmas. However, LCDs are still less power and heat consuming (the only negative of this TV compared to an LCD). That aside, you'd have to spend nearly twice as much for a comparable LED-based LCD display that still may not hold its own when it comes to naturalness and color space accuracy.

I consider myself an AV expert, and I work for a company that produces Blu-ray devices (no I don't work for Samsung, I work for a Japanese company actually) and this was the TV my hard earned money was spent on. I recommend it whole-heartedly, and I truly hope Samsung continues to produce plasmas as they've got a true winner in the "B Series" lineup, the B560 being my favorite of their line card.

A great T V
I have had the 58B560 for about a month now, and agree with the posts above that it is the best value available today, and has an amazing picture. How amazing? We bought "Twister" to watch on it, and not only noticed that we could see each and every one of Helen Hunt's hairs blowing in the wind, we could see that the makeup artist left a few pancake lumps on her cheek! Now having noticed these little details, you can imagine how exciting it is when the tornado picks up the tanker truck and throws it at the camera!

The only thing you will be disappointed in is this: once you experience high-def 58" TV, you will really think that the standard def that is still the standard on most TV stations really looks bad. I understand that you can tweak this and make it better, but I haven't had the time or interest, since I don't watch much TV, the little I do watch is usually available in high-def and I bought this rig to watch high def sports and movies (both of which it excells at).

One tip: Samsung makes an amazing line of Blu Ray players that link automatically to the TV and really work great. They do such a great job of upconverting standard DVDs to 1080 high def that it is really hard to tell if you have a blu ray or a DVD in the player. I really like my "all Samsung" system--it really coordinates nicely and you can actually download all the movies you want from NetFlix for $9.95 per month (although the quality is somewhere between standard def TV and DVD--good enough, but not great--I understand that this is a NetFlix issue and they are working on it, and that my Samsung equipment will display the better quality when it becomes available).

I tortured myself for months, researching everything available, reading hours worth of blogs and threads, etc. Finally pulled the trigger on this one and got it from Amazon for an amazing price, including delivery, no sales tax. About $600 less than the big box store, when you take into account delivery charges and sales tax. Delivery was great, picture is great, energy consumption is pretty low (check it out on Crutchfield if you don't believe me) and the heat level is low for a plasma.

A word about "buzzing." If you read all the blogs, and this information is gleaned from about 30 hours of blog and thread following, it becomes apparent that about 5-10% of the sets sold have a very loud, annoying, buzzing problem--this is not due to extra sensitivity on the part of buyers, it is a real problem. This is actually a low percentage, other sets from Samsung and other makers have a higher percentage, it is a plasma issue, and the 58B560 is better than most. It is also apparent that there is absolutely nothing you can do if you get a "buzzer." People report that they call Samsung on the warranty, and Samsung does all kinds of things, including replacing the panel, and nothing ever works. The only real fix is that you should simply keep the box, and if you get a buzzer (you will find out right away--all of the reports indicate that a set either buzzes in the first week, or doesn't buzz at all) call Amazon and be persistant until they agree to exchange the unit. There is no other fix. That is why you want to buy from Amazon. In my case, I waited until Amazon itself had the better price to buy the unit (rather than one of its affiliates) since I was totally paranoid about the buzzing issue and I know that Amazon itself is easier to deal with than anyone else.

People say that the rate of buzzing increases with altitude in plasmas and that you should not even buy one if you live at altitude. It appears that this is not the case with the 58B560, a set may or may not buzz, but it appears that this is strictly related to which set you get and not your altitude. I live at 5,650 feet and mine is absolutely free of buzz.

Therefore, be aware of the situation, but don't let it discourage you from buying this excellent TV, just be sure to buy your set from Amazon or another retailer that guarantees that you can return a "buzzer" and be sure to keep your box and all packing material for at least a few weeks.

Finally, although my TV does not "buzz" it does make a "TV sound," about the same at the six year old 36" Sony Trinitron it replaced. All plasmas make this TV sound, they are not silent. If you want silent, get a LED TV, but it will cost more and the picture won't be as good. I can't even hear my TV sound if I am 5 feet away, and can't hear it at all unless the TV is on mute.

Five stars and two thumbs up on this TV.

Amazing TV, exceeded my expectations...
This TV was delivered by Pilot about a week ago and is nothing short of fantastic. From the instant the power was turned on it has worked flawlessly. The picture with my DirecTV HD signal (HD-20 DVR) is amazing - I can't imagine it getting any better. I have not tried any of the calibration techniques bantered about on the net yet, partially because the picture looks so good now that I don't want to mess it up. I am a big sports fan and so far I have watched the NBA playoffs, the Indy 500, some baseball, and a little NFL Network and there is absolutely no blur or distortion in fast action sports. HD movies have also been spectacular with this set. The built in speakers sound fine, but I have them turned off because I run audio through a Home Theater system (single HDMI cable from my Pioneer 1019 receiver).

The "white glove" Pilot delivery was great. I had a 12-5pm delivery window and they showed up at about 1:30, can't complain about that. They carried it to the basement and set it up in about 5 mins. The set comes with the stand already fully assembled, so all they had to do was take it out of the box and set it on my table. I would definitely order another TV this way, it was very low effort on my part.

So far, the TV has exceeded expectations and the hours I spent fretting over which TV to buy seem to have paid off. If I run into problems down the road I will update the review.