The Samsung PNE550 plasma TV is an excellent value Video

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The Samsung PNE550 plasma TV is an excellent value
Created: 08/30/2012
Video description: While not quite the best in its class, the Samsung PNE550 plasma still merits a look with its very good picture quality, sophisticated Smart TV platform, and attractive price.

The Samsung PNE550 plasma TV is an excellent value Video Transcript

I am David Katzmaier from CNET and this is the Samsung PNE 550 series standing next to 51 inch -- he also comes in a sixty. And -- 64 inch -- this review will apply to all three. This is Samsung's least expensive plasma TV for twenty wealth of features Smart TV. And 3-D features talk about those a little bit but first I'll talk about something else that distinguishes this TV from -- Higher -- out rather and that's -- bezel around the -- its glossy black -- a little bit thicker than seen on some of the higher end Samsung plasmas. Not too bad looking however there's also this nice transparent edge and the -- transparent stock that supports -- TV allows us TV to swivel of course glass top stand to complete the look which is. Pretty slick and I -- Samsung Smart TV suite is probably the most capable of on the market unless you -- Google TV this TV has hundreds of maps are available in the app market. Of course the video ones the ones you care about and most importantly -- -- is actually HBO go to an exclusive. To the sellers were HBO subscribers can use the HBO go app to stream pretty much anything -- HBO catalog. The app really works very well -- -- navigation and search which is an improvement on -- -- app well all told it's a really nice -- to use but again limited to HBO subscribers. The -- is missing Amazon instant but it does have all the other major apps including Netflix. Vudu and YouTube which are all you know again pretty well integrated set. Samsung Smart TV interface is a little bit crowded you can't customizable ones you can't do is get rid of I these proprietary apps here -- include family story and a few other relatively constant -- but again Samsung's proprietary apps. TV also the built in web browser which you can use the standard remote control is really painfully use Samsung does -- in and -- are optional keyboard however that does -- When browsing a little easier. A caller -- three TVs this year includes two sets of 3-D glasses that's a step up Pharmacia and interact factors that. Don't include any three -- of their activities. And -- don't fit all that well however -- -- -- for using prescription lenses but again. There are free can buy additional pairs for twenty bucks apiece. Sense of connectivity is standard there's three HDMI -- to USB inputs and a component video -- there's no PC input -- don't consider that a major mission. Samsung's picture settings on the set included two point gray -- -- -- of the ten point -- it Holliman system found on higher incidence and TVs. It's also has a -- -- -- saying that we really didn't planet to do anything unlike step of TVs where does improve film cadence. That takes us a picture quality -- privacy was very good -- the black holes are nice and deep but not quite the who's seen on some competing similarly priced Panasonic plasmas. So that's actually a point against it prepared me to. Color is also very good and -- said we appreciated the off angle and uniformly characteristic which as you'd expect from -- -- pretty much perfect. On the downside of bright room picture quality is that is again -- some of the other higher -- Samsung TVs and Panasonic TVs we've seen. It really doesn't reject ambient light as well as a lot of screen finishes so you end up with a little more washed out appearance to the picture of -- of -- The picture quality was also a little bit disappointing there is too much crosstalk compared a lot of its competitors. That's a quick look at Samsung PNE 550 plasma TV I'm David Katzmaier.

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Samsung PN51E550 Review

Editors' rating

The good: The Samsung PNE550 plasma TV is an excellent value for this level of performance and features. Its picture quality is anchored by solid black levels, accurate color, and perfect off-angle viewing and uniformity. It boasts the industry's most capable Smart TV platform featuring exclusive access to HBO Go. Samsung includes two pairs of 3D glasses.

The bad: The image of the Samsung PNE550 washes out significantly in normal room lighting. It can't match the black-level performance of the best like-priced plasmas. Its 3D performance is mediocre and the glasses feel cheap. The PNE550 also uses significantly more power than a like-sized LCD or LED TV.

The bottom line: While not quite the best in its class, the Samsung PNE550 plasma still merits a look with its very good picture quality, sophisticated Smart TV platform, and attractive price.

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Samsung PN51E550 Specs

Manufacturer: Samsung
Part number: PN51E550FXZC

Product Specifications
  • Product Specifications

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Samsung PN51E550 Prices

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