Samsung LN55B650 55-Inch 1080p 120 Hz LCD HDTV with Red Touch of Color
Samsung LN55B650 55-Inch 1080p 120 Hz LCD HDTV with Red Touch of Color
Samsung’s LN55B650 takes your HDTV enjoyment, and capabilities, to new heights. The power of Full HD 1080p resolution delivers clear, vivid images on a 55-inch LCD screen. The Medi@2.0 feature lets you access countless hours of online content from partners like Yahoo! and Flickr using customizable widgets, all controlled by your remote. Auto Motion Plus120Hz technology renders the smoothest, most lifelike HD action. DLNA technology means you can harness your entire home network through your HDTV. Connect your DVD, cable or satellite HD box, or Blu-ray Disc player easily, using any of four HDMI inputs. Experience truer, more natural dark tones and shadows with the 100,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio. And highlight nearly any room in the house with a unique red accent at the bezel’s edge, courtesy of the Touch of Color design.
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars I love this TV
I reviewed TVs for some time and ended up with this model after much reading and comparing of different models. My critera were picture quality, size, cost and brand in that order. I did not want to spend over $2K, but wanted a TV in the 50″ to 60″ size with a great quality picture. Brand was only imprtant that it be a name brand, but did not care which one. I did not care if the TV was Plasma, LCD or LED.
I had a hard time deciding between this model and the Panosonic G10 50″ plasma (G10 was less $ but picture quality was lower in my opinion but not by much. If cost is a primary driver then I would go with the G10 and save the dollars. My reasoning rulled out LEDs that are to bleading edge from a cost standpoint, 240 hz was the same and I could see no differnece in quality, and from what I could see neither had a better picture at all but just cost more. I did not need the thin panel an LCD provides I know in the near future they will be the standard, but too much price difference today. This Samsung has the best picture of any TV in the store bottom line, looking at them all side by side this model always had the best picture by a wide margin. That includes the LED, 240 hz models and even ones that cost 2x as much or more.
Since getting it home the only coments we have had is the picture is too good - “I did not know that actor had a small scar”. We have not gone out to a movie since getting it, why would we when we have a better picture at home. Two of our friends left our house asking for the model number so they could replace thier TV - it really is that good. My son thought the picture was so good he felt the actor was going to walk out the side of the TV when they walked off camera.
If you are looking for an excellent picture in a 50″ plus size at a reasonable price this TV is perfect.
PROS Picture Quality, Size, Internet (use it to watch NetFlix movies), Automatic detection of components, Very Large Viewing Angle
CONS Sound just ok (plan on surround sound), Reflections (has a much more shiny face than my other LCD TVs, think about where you will put this model and if that is a problem look for another model)
5 Stars Great TV
This is now the third LCD tv I have owned and by far the best. The picture is clear and crisp and just amazes me every time I sit down to enjoy a movie. I also like the fact that you can hook into the internet with this TV was a little disappointed that Nexflix isn’t avaible but maybe that will change. The speakers are fine but you should think of upgrading for the full effect. This is a big TV so make sure you have the room for it and the viewing distance if you look at them in the store it seems they double in size when they are in your living room. The only bad thing about this TV is the gloss screen will reflect the light but its not horrible and easily fixed. Over all I would say if you have the money and the space for this TV then put it in your top three.
5 Stars Price and size matters
I ordered this tv after looking at models in local retailers and found that for the price and size, Amazon’s price was competitive. I was dissapointed that this model was on sale earlier in the year for about $1500, but timing is everything. With their special financing, free blu-ray, and free delivery, I was hard pressed not make the purchase. I scheduled my delivery between 10:00 am and 1:pm on 12/28/2009, and the delivery was made by 12:30 pm without any problems.
I would not consider myself a video/audio specialist, so in layman’s term, the picture quality is crisp and clear. The set up was fairly quick and easy. I made the HDMI connections for my HD FIOS receiver and PS3 and was impressed with the clarity. Coming from a an RCA 1080i DLP, one could see a big difference. As I played Termiator Salvation on my PS3, the character detail and movement was impressive.
I did consider the 52″ version LN52B630 for around $1289 around Christmas, but Amazon was out stock and I did want to take advantage of the special financing. When I compared the specification between the LN55B650 and LN52B630, most fo features were similar except for the speakers and media peripherals. I would recommend that you take sometime and go to a local retailer to see the picture quality. I did learn that what you see is not always what you get since picture settings on models can vary and the lighting in your home can impact the overall picture quality you will experience.
If you want to save some money and Amazon has it in stock, the 52″ model is a good buy. I am very happy with the 55″ model and now need to take the time to read the manual and get the best settings for picture quality in my entertainment area. One draw back is that will the tv offers internet connectivity, in order to do this wireless, you need to buy a Samsung Link Stick which is another $75.
Overall, great picture, good features, and competitive pricing.
5 Stars Spectacular HDTV
I ordered this television back in May. At the time, there were next-to-no reviews for this set. Since this was my first HDTV purchase, I wanted to make sure I was making the right choice for such a big-ticket item. Well, due to money-saving issues and pure paralysis over making a decision, it took over a year to make a choice. I had been back and forth between LCD and plasma, different brands, and read everything I could get my hands on.
When I finally decided to buy, I went to see this model in a local store. Amazing picture quality. I compared it to the other Samsungs there, the Sonys, and Sanyos. No contest. I ordered it from Amazon. The delivery guys brought it as scheduled, removed it and set it up for me.
Every time my girlfrind comes over and sits in front of the set, she says the same thing: “I love your TV!” Her mother had just purchased a 52″ Sanyo and she said it’s not even close to the picture quality of my set.
As far as the set itself: I have it on top of a tv stand on the pedestal stand it came on. There has been no tilting like some reviewers have written about. I have no fear that the set will fall over at all. The picture quality is great. The screen is extremely shiny, so if you have a lot of lights/windows that will be facing the screen, you may want to go for something with a matte screen.
I almost never use the sound as I have it hooked up to a surround sound system, so I can’t comment on the sound. Over the months that have passed, I have been getting used to the set and I’ve noticed some slight backlighting in the lower corners on a black screen or when playing a letterboxed film. Nothing too bad; it’s hardly noticeable.
I have both my Cable box and my PS3 connected through HDMI to my receiver and then HDMI to the TV. One note: don’t overpay for HDMI cables. I ended up getting gold-plated 1.3 ones from a vendor on Amazon for $6.99 each and they work great.
The one thing that I don’t like, and this is a MINISCULE gripe: As far as I can tell, there is no way to access Game Mode without going three steps into the main menu. There is no “one-button-push” to toggle it on and off. I do find it helps with lag while playing online with the PS3 (especially Rock Band/Guitar Hero and Call of Duty) and it would be nice to not have to jump through hurtles to get to it.
So, after all that, I have to say that I LOVE this set! I’m very happy with the purchase from Amazon. I can’t recommend the experience enough.
4 Stars manual should be better
Nice TV, but the manual isn’t very accurate. The menu paths described in the manual won’t get you where you want to go. The manual is just wrong. Perhaps it was written for a different or older model TV. The directions will get you started in the right direction (usually), but when you hit a dead end, you’re on your own. It’s a puzzle or game for you after that. I’ve solved most of the puzzles, but some of the puzzles I haven’t solved yet. Also, it appears that the manual was translated from Korean into English and not done very well. Some of the grammar is strange. I suppose a lot of people never read the manual, but it’s important to me to have a good manual in order to discover and use all of the capability of the TV.
Filed under: 1080p HDTV Plasma Reviews