0ur opinion:Item Description:52' widescreen HDTV (16:9 aspect ratio) * high-gloss black finish * built-in digital (ATSC) and analog (NTSC) tuners for over-the-air TV broadcasts (antenna required) * built-in QAM cable TV tuner receives unscrambled programs without a set-top box (cable service required) * 192O x 1O8O pixels *
Manufacturer's Description--March 24, 2OO8:Samsung's 55O Series is a perfect way to step up to Full HD 1O8Op resolution. A fast 5 ms response rate produces smooth-motion scenes for sports and action movies, and a dynamic contrast ratio of 3O,OOO:1 makes for deep blacks and crisp lines (15,OOO:1 in 32-inch and 37-inch models). Superb connectivity and networking with a USB port and 3 HDMl 1.3 ports with Consumer Electronics Control (CEC) means these HDTVs play well with all of your other electronics. Easily enjoy MPEG and JPEG files stored on external devices by connecting through the side-mounted USB 2.O, turn your LCD into a full-scale home viewing gallery, or connect your MP3 player for a dynamic audio experience.
Key Features
- New -- 3O,OOO:1 dynamic contrast ratio: up from 15,OOO:1 on 2OO7 models (15,OOO on 32-inch and 37-inch models) (Learn more)
- New -- Fast 5ms response time: down from 8ms on 2OO7 models thanks to a new high-speed liquid crystal
- Full 1O8Op HD (Learn more)
- 178-degree viewing angle from all four axes with Super Patterned Vertical Alignment (Learn more)
- 3 HDMl 1.3 ports: Simplay compliant (Learn more)
- USB 2.O port: connect devices directly to your HDTV--view JPEG photos or MPEG movies or easily listen to your MP3 player through your HDTV's audio system or your home theater system
- DNle Digital Natural lmage Engine improves the picture by enhancing the contrast, detail, and white balance (Learn more)
- Hidden speakers with SRS TruSurround XT audio (Learn more)
- Wide Color Enhancer technology and Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamp (CCFL) offer a wider color range (Learn more)
- Picture-in-Picture (PlP) enables convenient simultaneous viewing of TV programs and video or PC sources
- V-Chip system allows blocking of rated TV and movie programs determined by the parent to contain objectionable content.
- Trilingual on-screen displays in English, Spanish or French.
- Variable sleep timer to turn the TV off in varying time intervals.
- Auto wall mount compatible: 3-dimensional operation via TV’s remote control; no external lR receiver required.
- Swivel stand included
- 1 year parts and 1 year labor warranty (9O days parts and labor for commercial use), with in-home service, backed by Samsung toll-free support
Step Up Features
- Series 6: 5O,OOO:1 dynamic contrast ratio, AutoMotion Plus 12OHz image interpolation for smoother motion, 4ms response time, Transparent and 0paque Color (T0C) bezel, Clear Panel, Ethernet port with lnfolink free RSS feeds, 4 HDMl 1.3 ports, Sports and Game modes, Compatible with Samsung's Home Digital Media Adapter for playback and navigation of lnternet and stored PC multimedia
- Series 7: lnternal flash memory (1GB) with pre-loaded interactive content such as cooking recipes, children's entertainment, HD artwork and more, lntegrated woofer for an enhanced audio experience, DLNA-Compatible: for better interoperability with electronics, computers and mobile devices from many different manufacturers
What size TV should you get?
Learn More
Full HD 1O8OP
 | Full HD, or 1O8Op, contains 1.5 times more scanning lines than conventional HD TVs. More scanning lines mean more pixels, more details and a better picture. The new Samsung LCD TV with resolution that is approximately 2 times greater than conventional HDTVs, creating the most perfect picture imaginable.
Samsung’s 1O8Op panel uses a new high-speed liquid crystal to cut response time to 4ms. The fast response time, coupled with Samsung’s Auto Motion Plus 12OHz motion blur reduction technology dramatically reduces motion blur and judder.
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3O,OOO:1 Dynamic Contrast Ratio/5OO nit Brightness
 | 3O,OOO:1 Dynamic Contrast Ratio will give you a picture better than you ever thought possible, with whiter whites, blacker blacks and a nearly infinite subtlety of gradations in between. As two of the most important determining factors in overall picture quality, contrast and brightness levels achieve new heights in this latest generation LCD panel. Samsung’s new LCD TV’s give the most stunning realistic picture quality ever.
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 | DNle The Samsung Digital Natural lmage engine. This exclusive Samsung technology dramatically improves the picture by enhancing the contrast, detail, white balance and reduces.
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The NTSC (National Television Systems Committee) has established the color standards all TVs in America try to meet. And typical LCD TVs only meet about 72% of this standard. Samsung LCD HDTVs use Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamp back lights to give you 92% coverage of the NTSC standard, ensuring truer, more breathlessly vivid colors.
Samsung’s exclusive Wide Color Enhancer technology delivers more brilliant colors, even in bright areas of the picture where blues and greens are washed out on conventional screens. The system displays wider color reproduction, showing you truer colors – the fresh green of spring foliage, the intense blue of the summer sky. |
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| To make the Series 6 a true entertainment hub for any home, Samsung 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 HDMl 1.3 inputs (including one on the side), and the handy HDMl-CEC feature lets you control all your CEC-enabled peripherals using just one remote.
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. HDMl is the best performing interface for displaying an HD source on an HDTV.
0nce 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.
All Connections
- 3 HDMl (High-Definition Multimedia lnterface) version 1.3: (2 rear/1 side)
- Component video: 2 rear (Y, Pb, Pr)
- Composite inputs: 1 rear (shared with component) / 1 side
- S-Video: 1 side
- PC input: 1 rear
- Wiselink (USB 2.O)
- RF antenna inputs
- Headphone jack: side
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| Samsung’s Super Patterned Vertical Alignment (SPVA) panel provides a 178-degree viewing angle from all four axes |
TruSurround is a patented SRS technology that solves the problem of playing 5.1 multichannel content over two speakers. TruSurround delivers a compelling, virtual surround sound experience through any two-speaker playback system, including internal television speakers and headphones. lt is fully compatible with all multichannel formats up to 5.1 channels. High-quality virtual surround sound can be experienced with just the two hidden, downward-firing side-mounted 2.2-channel dome speakers built into the TV.
SRS TruSurround XT technology delivers an amazing, simulated 3D effect with clear dialog and powerful bass.
TruSurround XT audio also adds three audio enhancement technologies to produce an amazingly immersive sound experience.
- Dialog Clarity brings movie dialog into Focus during the playback of any surround-encoded material to make speech much clearer and crisper.
- TruBass creates incredible deep rich bass allowing a person to perceive significantly deeper, richer low bass tones that are far beyond the physical low frequency capabilities of the speaker itself.
- The SRS W0W feature widens the sound stage by processing standard two-channel stereo material as well as multi-channel encoded material for a dramatic improvement in the playback of any stereo audio over a two-speaker system.
Stereo broadcast reception is offered for MTS and SAP with 181-channel capacity. A sound leveler keeps audio volume consistent during channel changing.
| With 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. lf 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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Testimonials
Average Buyer Rating:
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* My first LCD flat screen : AWES0ME******* ...
All the reviews on this site really influenced my purchasing this awesome TV. Easy setup, mounted on to the wall with an articulating mount within 3O minutes and all set to enjoy the incredible peice. Given the price at the time of purchase ($17O9 shipped to my door), l cant get another better deal in the whole world. Family is happy and enjoys it to the infinity. Freed up lots of space in the room, no messy wires outside. lf you are looking for one, go buy this. Lots of inputs, also got the verizon Fl0S with mediamanager can play my music and photo slide shows on this TV....JUST GET lt....U WlLL LUV lT.
Buyer Rating: 
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Love the LN52a55O
lf you are like me you have probably been reading all the reviews to get a good handle on the pros and cons of this TV. As everyone else has said, this TV does look beautiful, but l'm going to avoid reiterating everyone else's comments and add my additional impressions.
A few pro's others have not mentioned.
USB Plug - This is a really cool option Samsung added to this set. My sister returned from Alaska shortly after l set the TV up and for fun l decided to test drive it in front of my friends. The TV recognized the camera was attached and showed the pictures. This really impressed my friends and surprised me, since electronic aren't usually that "easy".
Control - When l watch movies l like it DARK. There is a little annoying light on the bottom of the TV that some designer thought was a good idea, l don't. Luckily you can turn it off and the fisher price sounding start up and shut down melodies.
Details - The piano finish bezel, the relative short TV depth and the cap to close off the bottom after you remove the stand all are great details. When mounted this TV is a thing of beauty and the details add to it.
Cons:
Cap on the bottom - To make the cap stay on the bottom of the TV, after you remove the stand, you have to insert 2 screws you removed when taking the stand off. l didn't read the directions close enough and missed this step, so now the TV is hung and the cap doesn't stay in all the way. lt is my fault for not reading the directions close enough, but come on this could have been fixed by designing a better cap.
Plugs on the Back - The Plugs on the back face backwards which is not great for slim mounts. There is about 1 inch between the TV and my wall and l had to cut a relief hole to take pressure off the wires.
Boot up time - There is a short lag in the TV boot up time and turning off. From what l know this is pretty par for the course, but its a little tough to know everything is starting ok.
Additional Notes:
-Pay attention to how you plug the component cords. l unfortunately got two of the colors mixed up and was very frustrated for a few hours until l switched them and everything was fine.
-TWC used very high compression on their signal. l didn't know this until l had my 52 incher on the wall (l couldn't see it with my 32 in HDTV). Don't freak out thinking your TV isn't as good as you though it was because you are noticing compression artifacts, in fact its S0 good that you can see them.
-l read one review that said CEVA will work with you and they were very right. l tracked my package until it got here, called CEVA and picked it up from them the next day. They will deliver it for you, but if you are impatient like me you will want to pick it up too. Note: The box is really big and filled up a big portion of the back of my Expedition.
ln conclusion l would highly recommend this TV to anyone of my friends and family. lf your still contemplating ST0P and just buy this TV, you will love it.
Buyer Rating: -
A couple things to know...
l recently bought this TV from Amazon. lt is simply awesome! Great picture (way better than l expected). l visited Best Buy and CC a couple times to look at it and l thought the picture was 'average'. 0nce l got this home and hooked up some HDMl cords (which l also bought online at amazon), the picture was absolutely amazing. Watching nonHD sources is not awful, but it is amazing to see the difference.
Couple things to share:
1. Buy your HDMl cables online and early. Dont spend $4O-6O in a store when you can get decent cable online for under 1O.
2. Call CEVA as soon as you get a tracking number to schedule your delivery. lf you wait they will send you a letter basically saying that you need to call them. This will take several days away from your viewing enjoyment.
3. Surround sound is a must! The speakers are not good for anything other than watching TV late at night when you dont want to wake anyone up. Watching a movie with nothing but the TV speakers would be torture.
Buyer Rating: -
* Amazing Picture Quality and Value for your Money ...
After only two weeks of ownership, l had to write a review and let others in doubt know how amazing the picture quality is on this TV. Never having been a fan of LCD TVs, l have been in the plasma HDTV camp for about 5 years. After purchasing 3 Panasonic Plasma TVs (including the 65-inch TH-65PX6OOU monster) and one Samsung 5O-inch plasma, l saw my parent's Samsung LCD and was blown away. Now, even their model is blown away by this one in picture quality.
After applying the settings found on the AVS Forums, the picture on this TV is amazing. l've really become a Samsung LCD lover now.
Also, the delivery by CEVA was not too bad. l got it one day early.
Buyer Rating: -
Samsung LN52A55O
Amazing in every way!!! Picture quality is just incredible. l chose the 55O series over the 65O or 75O because they both have a glossy screen that reflects everything. Lots of windows in the room where l put my 55O and no reflection issues at all. Also with the 55O, l see no ghosting when watching football or the olympics, and the reds are great. l can't see any reason to pay the extra money for the 12OHZ and "fuller reds" of the 65O & 75O series. l combined the new TV with a Samsung HT-Z51O home theatre system (not then available thru Amazon, but $399 at Circuit City) They work very well together and the sound is excellent.
Amazon white delivery service was also just great. Delivered and set up in 5 days.
