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Samsung LN46A550 46-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV | 
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| Brand: Samsung
Category: CE
Buy New: Too low to display
New (8)
Avg. Customer Rating:  338 reviews
Sales Rank: 195
Media: Electronics
Batteries Included: Yes
Display Size: 46
Shipping Weight (lbs): 60.8
Dimensions (in): 44.4 x 11 x 30.2
Warranty: 1 year warranty
MPN: LN-46A550
Model: LN-46A550
UPC: 036725228184
EAN: 0036725228184
ASIN: B0014175E8
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Features:
| • | Full HD 1080p Resolution | | • | Wide Color Enhancer | | • | 3 HDMI Inputs | | • | USB 2.0 | | • | HDMI-CDC |
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Product Description
45.9" screen (measured diagonally) * widescreen 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) * 1920 x 1080 pixels *
Manufacturer's Description--March 24, 2008
Samsung's 550 Series is a perfect way to step up to Full HD 1080p resolution. A fast 5 ms response rate produces smooth-motion scenes for sports and action movies, and a dynamic contrast ratio of 30,000:1 makes for deep blacks and crisp lines (15,000:1 in 32-inch and 37-inch models). Superb connectivity and networking with a USB port and 3 HDMI 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 2.0, turn your LCD into a full-scale home viewing gallery, or connect your MP3 player for a dynamic audio experience.
Key Features
- New -- 30,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio: up from 15,000:1 on 2007 models (15,000 on 32-inch and 37-inch models) (Learn more)
- New -- Fast 5ms response time: down from 8ms on 2007 models thanks to a new high-speed liquid crystal
- Full 1080p HD (Learn more)
- 178-degree viewing angle from all four axes with Super Patterned Vertical Alignment (Learn more)
- 3 HDMI 1.3 ports: Simplay compliant (Learn more)
- USB 2.0 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
- DNIe Digital Natural Image 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 (PIP) 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 IR receiver required.
- Swivel stand included
- 1 year parts and 1 year labor warranty (90 days parts and labor for commercial use), with in-home service, backed by Samsung toll-free support
Step Up Features
- Series 6: 50,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, AutoMotion Plus 120Hz image interpolation for smoother motion, 4ms response time, Transparent and Opaque Color (TOC) bezel, Clear Panel, Ethernet port with Infolink free RSS feeds, 4 HDMI 1.3 ports, Sports and Game modes, Compatible with Samsung's Home Digital Media Adapter for playback and navigation of Internet and stored PC multimedia
- Series 7: Internal flash memory (1GB) with pre-loaded interactive content such as cooking recipes, children's entertainment, HD artwork and more, Integrated woofer for an enhanced audio experience, DLNA-Compatible: for better interoperability with electronics, computers and mobile devices from many different manufacturers
- Series 8: super-slim 1.9-inch thick profile
What size TV should you get?
Learn More
Full HD 1080P  | Full HD, or 1080p, 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 1080p 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 120Hz motion blur reduction technology dramatically reduces motion blur and judder.
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30,000:1 Dynamic Contrast Ratio/500 nit Brightness
 | 30,000:1 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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 | DNIe The Samsung Digital Natural Image 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. |  |  |  |  |
| 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 HDMI 1.3 inputs (including one on the side), and the handy HDMI-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. HDMI is the best performing interface for displaying an HD source on an HDTV.
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.
All Connections
- 3 HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) 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 2.0)
- 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. It 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 WOW 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. 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: Read 333 more reviews...
 Great TV and a great price January 10, 2009
I bought my TV after Thanksgiving and have enjoyed it ever since. My only complaint is the TV sound. I new this before I bought the TV through the reviews on Amazon. I have a home theatre system hooked up to it so this is not an issue. If you don't have some sort of system it is a little disapointing, but I was able to play with the sound on the custom setting and that was ok until I got my home theatre system. Overall I realy enjoy the TV.
 Skeptical, but pleased with purchase January 9, 2009
I was a bit skeptical about purchasing this TV based on some of the comments regarding consistency of panels from some of the other reviews. However, based on the overwhelming number of satisfied customers and positive comments I decided to take a chance. I was pleased to discover that the unit I received functions properly and produces clear pictures with a rich contrast between light and dark tones (despite the C panel marking).
The reviews posted by CNET also speak favorably of the features per dollar value of this TV. It's not the best HDTV out there, but it's not going to break the bank either. Based on what you get I was very happy with my purchase.
Note - I had also considered the LN46A650, but was concerned about the glare on the 650's high-polished screen surface. I'm pleased with the matte finish of the 550, which mutes light reflections much better.
Amazon did drop the price a bit since early Dec 08, but it was only a $25 difference - still well worth it.
OK, so now I'll throw away the shipping container and make it official - it's a keeper.
 Good for movies, Bad for Football; I ended up returning the set January 9, 2009
The primary reason I wanted to make the HD switch was for NFL football. But alas, this set simply didn't cut it for games. Everything looked GREAT on close up shots or still shots, but the second the action started or wider panned camera angles were used, the picture got really really grainy and blurry. Even my wife - definitely not snob on things like pixel resolution - walked in and noticed how lousy the game looked. Strangely it was particularly noticeable in game played on artificial/field turf (I'm no expert, but I'm guessing that material reflects more light and thus creates more detail for the pixels, whereas natural grass is more matte). I called DishNetwork to see if my signal was week, but was told everything was a-okay. Oh, and basketball also looked grainy too.
So, I exchanged it. I'm still looking for the replacement, but I'm probably going to go with a Plasma set. 120hz might help too, but I'm told that Plasma is the way to go for sports fans.
Other than that...
Pros:
- Great picture in less action oriented shots. We rented Dark Knight one evening on Video on Demand, and it really did look amazing in 1080. Wow.
- Amazon "white glove" was amazing. I had my doubts about buying a TV online, and they were great. Excellent service.
- Actually, I give BIG kudos to Amazon for being completely cool about my decision to return the TV. I made the call, and they sent somebody to my house within 48 hours. They boxed it up and took it away with no hassle. No restock fee, no questions. Very impressive. That earned my loyalty in a big way.
- The menu on this set is very well done, as is the TV form factor.
- Good remote.
Cons
- The serious blur/pixelation problems on sports that I outlined above.
- I personally would give this set relatively poor scores on black colors.
- The speakers were okay, but not great.
- The picture in standard def is pretty lousy. I was not impressed here.
1st flat screen January 8, 2009
We did alot of product and user research before deciding on the Samsung 550 and just love it. We were actually looking at the 750 but after reading a customer review about the 550 and how its screen is practically glare-resistant, changed gears. Then we found the best price on Amazon and like other reviewers we were hesitant to buy a "big ticket" item on line but after reading about others' positive experiences and always having had good experiences w/Amazon's delivery, just did it. It arrived exactly when promised, the deliverer called ahead to schedule the delivery and they were flexible around our schedule. We are using the stand which is included as we prefer the swivel feature so we did not need installation. To set-up, the 550 is pretty close to plug & play. 5 stars for the product and to amazon!
Good for the price January 8, 2009
I work as a satellite TV tech. So, I view many TV's throughout the day. My impressions of this TV are based on comparisons to the many different models I've seen and used.
The GOOD:
Great bright colors. Does a decent job of handling motion blur. Decent feature set and menu. Attractive overall look and finish.
The BAD:
Voices are muffled and hard to understand with the built in speakers. The TV has glare as bad or worse than regular tube TV's. The TV's standard def. processing is pretty poor.
Overall the picture quality is what sold me. I play planet earth in 1080p on it all day long and it looks great. Football also looks really good. It's not a bad buy for the price, but for the budget concerned buyer there are other TV's in this size range for cheaper that work great as well.
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