Saturday, April 11, 2009

Samsung PN58A550 58-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV

Product Details


Product Dimensions: 55.9 x 3.9 x 33.9 inches ; 137.8 pounds



Shipping Weight: 158 pounds (
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Shipping: This item can only be shipped to the 48 contiguous states. We regret it cannot be shipped to APO/FPO, Hawaii, Alaska, or Puerto Rico.



Note: Gift-wrapping is not available for this item.



ASIN: B0015A8UK6



Item model number: PN58A550 Buy Now ! From Amazon.com



Average Customer Review:
4.6 out of 5 stars (64 customer reviews)


Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,025 in Electronics (See
Bestsellers in Electronics)


Popular in this category:



#35 in Electronics > Televisions > TVs


Date first available at Amazon.com: May 26, 2006

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Product Features and Technical Details

Product 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

Technical Details

Brand Name: Samsung

Model: PN58A550

Display Technology: Plasma (PDP)

Display Size: 58 inches

Image Aspect Ratio: 16:9

is_hdtv_compatible: Y

speakers_included_description: 2 speakers

Height: 36.5 inches

Width: 55.5 inches

Depth: 13.6 inches

Weight: 137.8 pounds

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Product Description

From the Manufacturer

This SAMSUNG 58-inch 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.

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FilterBright anti glare filter

feat filterbright of samsung pn58a550Minimized image glare and maximized contrast make this HDTV perfect for the ultimate viewing experience day or night. The anti-glare filter reduces reflections noticeably while maintaining high picture contrast. Daytime sports events look crisp and bright, while movies at night feature rich blacks and realistic shadow detail.





1,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio

feat contrast for samsung pn58a550

Contrast and brightness levels achieve new heights in this HDTV. Get a more realistic, sharper picture quality that’s sure to catch your eye and watch movies and shows come to life.




DNIe technology

feat dnie of pn58a550SAMSUNG's revolutionary DNIe technology delivers digital perfection in crystal-clear images that uncover even the most minute details. DNIe™ is made up of a Motion Optimizer, a Contrast Enhancer, a Color Optimizer, and a Detail Enhancer to produce life-like images that rival reality.










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Anti-Burn-In Technology
Samsung's Plasma HDTVs are built to last. Anti-burn-in technology uses auto pixel shift, signal pattern processing function and all white screens to ensure that no images are burned into your plasma panel.


18-Bit Color


18bit color of samsung pn58a550
Samsung's FilterBright anti-glare filter. Enhances contrast ratio in bright rooms even in the daytime and improves overall brightness for clearer image details.















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Connectivity

samsung pn58a550 wiselinkSamsung has incorporated advanced HD connectivity and networking capabilities that expand the HDTV’s functionality. A wide variety of multimedia devices can be connected to the set through any one of the four Simplay compliant HDMI 1.3 inputs (including one on the side). Connect HD digital devices like disc players, game consoles, and satellite dish components into the 2 rear connections and use the side-mounted input for cameras, camcorders, and laptops. HDMI 1.3 is the best performing interface for displaying an HD source on an HDTV. When playing 3D games, like on PS3, you experience faster flow and action and overall play the game at a higher speed. Also, HDMI 1.3 enables Deep Color function that provides an exponentially greater number of color gradations for a subtle screen.The handy HDMICEC feature lets you control all your CEC-enabled peripherals using just one remote. Once connected, users can easily access device menus and manage and display content through the newly redesigned Wheel Key Remote control and the HDTV’s sophisticated content management interface.

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Which Size HDTV is Right for My Room?

pn58a550 screen sizeWith standard-definition TVs, the rule used to be that viewers would feel comfortable watching a set from a distance of 3 to 6 times the screen size in inches. With HDTV, the resolution is so much better that you can sit closer to a larger TV without noticing the pixels. So with HDTVs, the rule tends to be you can sit anywhere from 1.5 to 3 times the screen size (in inches) for the best experience. If you know the size of the room you have already, where you want to sit, and where your new HDTV should go once you get it, you can figure out the size HDTV you should get.

  • Minimum size= Viewing distance/3
  • Maximum size=Viewing distance/1.5

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

51 of 51 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome!!!, May 1, 2008
By
DVP (Dayton, OH, USA)

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.

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16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Overall very pleased, June 27, 2008
By AmznShopperMatt Drostdy "Matt"

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.

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22 of 24 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Couldn't be happier!,
June 4, 2008
By
S. McClaren "McPhoto" (OKLAHOMA. United States)

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!

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5.0 out of 5 stars Sweet sound of happiness, April 7, 2009
By
Jamdios

How could you not love a TV that plays a soft tune to welcome you to its glorious picture and another to express the sadness you'll feel when you have to turn it off. I've only had this newest addition to my family for a few weeks (and I obviously haven't been able to enjoy its true calling - NFL season), but I'm thoroughly impressed so far. First of all, it's remarkably heavy so bring a friend. Secondly, as big as it may sound, in the right room (I have it in a game room that's about 15 x 20), it's really a perfect fit and it won't overwhelm its watchers with unmanageable bulk. The picture however, will keep their eyes glued to its shiny screen. And I do mean shiny, so I hope you're either in a room with good light control or only watching in pitch black at night, or you can practically groom yourself in the reflection. The color and texture, the deep blacks and the HD quality are so impressive, that I've started watching entirely new shows just because they were as bright and beautiful to me as a bug zapper to a mosquito. And all this from a makeshift clothes hanger sticking out of the back for the 3 weeks I had to wait for actual cable (needless to say, I was taking great advantage of the built-in HD tuner). I haven't even begun to scratch the surface with picture quality options and setup specifics, but so far it's as happy-making as I had imagined it would be. It can make believers out of any doubters and TV lovers out of even the most hopeless (given the right programming choices). Planet Earth is amazing, and any sports game will knock your socks off, but you may have to search a little harder. My wife lost any post-purchase regret or "I-was-happy-with-the-27-inch" thoughts the moment she saw Elf in all its 1800 square inches of glory.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Superb TV, March 29, 2009
By
40 year pioneer

My wife and I bought this TV in August 2008, and have been delighted with its performance over the last six months. It was an exceptional value to start with. I had never bought what I consider to be a "big ticket item" through Amazon, but would not hesitate in the future. The box and set were larger and heavier than my wife and I could have handled by ourselves. Having it delivered to our home and set up was included in the price, and was a huge plus. Before purchasing, I spent time reading the reviews that were available at the time and had two concerns. One was the quality of the HD picture, particularly during the daytime. We have a large picture window on a wall opposite the TV. We found that Samsung's coating on the screen really works for us, so long as we keep the blinds closed. We wanted full 1080p and 1080i. The HD quality is exceptional. Our other concern was sound quality. We have attached a stereo system to the TV, but most of the time we don't even bother to turn it on, because the sound is more than adequate for us in most situations. We only turn on the full stereo system for football games (to simulate being in the stadium), and for a few movies.

See all customer reviews...
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Image Gallery




Best of both worlds samsung pn58a550Best of both worlds - looks good and the picture is unbeatable!!


Worried about heat at first samsung pn58a550Worried about heat at first - stays very cool even in this enclosure!

samsung pn58a550 mounted on Salamander

PN58A550 mounted on Salamander Synergy Triple Mount kit on a Salamander Synergy Triple A/V Cabinet. BIC Acoustech Home Theater System.



samsung pn58a550 day 1

Day 1 of getting the 58A550 from Amazon. Picture taken with flash. Sorry for the mess but still doing the A/V wiring. TV Stand is a Salamander Synergy 237 without center door. Channel is a NON HD Station.



blue planet samsung pn58a550

Blue Planet HD-DVD



Superman Returns samsung pn58a550 Superman Returns HD-DVD




This TV is fabulous, Samsung PN58A550This TV is fabulous, I love it and expect to enjoy it for many years.The white glove delivery was superb, polite and professional men. Faster delivery than I anticipated. HIGHLY RECOMMEND AMAZON.COM

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