Samsung LN55C650 LCD HDTV Review

2010-12-19T03:30:00.000-08:00

This holiday season, I was trying to look for an LCD HDTV for my wife as present for Christmas. I have bought LCD HDTV’s before without even researching if the product is worth for the price I have to pay. I thought LCD HDTV’s were all the same and will just buy what suited my budget. Surprisingly, there’s more to LCD HDTV than meets the eye so I decided to have some time to really get into the detail and find the best LCD HDTV on the market today. My extensive research finally led me to the Samsung LN55C650 55-Inch 1080p 120 Hz LCD HDTV.

What to Look for when Buying an LCD HDTV

It didn’t take my long to realize that there are a few important things to keep in mind when buying an LCD HDTV. These are:

Screen Resolution
Touch of Color Design
Industry Standards
Product Features

If you just buy the first LCD HDTV you see based on price alone then you will eventually feel unhappy with the TV when you see one that is better with the same price. So stick with me here as I will be explaining each of these in relation to the Samsung LN55C650 1080p LCD HDTV.

Screen Resolution: 1080p HDTV versus 1080i

The Samsung LN55C650 showcases a Full HD 1080p resolution. 1080p is the shorthand identification for a set of HDTV video modes that are characterized by 1,080 lines of vertical resolution (1,080 horizontal scan lines) and progressive scan which means the image is not interlaced, unlike the 1080i display standard). It is the latest HD technology.

1080p usually assumes a widescreen aspect ratio of 16:9, implying a horizontal resolution of 1920 pixels. This resolution is similar to that of 2K digital cinema technology. 1080p, referred to in marketing materials as "Full HD", typically refers to the capability to accept 1080p signal and display it with native resolution of at least 1080 lines, as well as the capability to upscale lower-resolution material to 1080p.

1080p monitors are theoretically capable of displaying every pixel of the highest-resolution HD broadcasts. On paper, they should offer more than twice the resolution of today's 1,280x720, or 720p, HDTVs.

Why 1080p is better than 1080i

1080i, the former king of the HDTV technology, actually boasts an identical 1,920x1,080 resolution but conveys the images in an interlaced format (the i in 1080i). In a tube-based television, otherwise known as a CRT, 1080i sources get "painted" on the screen sequentially: the odd-numbered lines of resolution appear on your screen first, followed by the even-numbered lines--all within 1/30 of a second.

Progressive-scan formats such as 480p, 720p, and 1080p convey all of the lines of resolution sequentially in a single pass, which makes for a smoother, cleaner image, especially with sports and other motion-intensive content. As opposed to tubes, microdisplays (DLP, LCoS, and LCD rear-projection) and other fixed-pixel TVs, including plasma and LCD flat-panel, are inherently progressive in nature, so when the incoming source is interlaced, as 1080i is, they convert it to progressive scan for display.

The Touch of Color Design

The Samsung LN55C650 LCD HDTV uses an exclusive red Touch of Color design combining texture and color that can complement any room. Samsung’s "Touch Of Color" design are extremely energy efficient, allowing users to put them on standby mode through the unique SoftPower off function that lowers the power consumption to only 0.3W. The maximum contrast ratio of 20,000:1 is included in monitor's enhanced picture features, along with MagicColor intelligent color control and MagicBright Dynamic Contrast control.

"ToC is just the latest step in our company's commitment to constantly introduce innovative designs along with innovative technologies," said John Revie, Samsung visual display marketing senior Vice President. "Developed from years of research and design, specifically in the design-conscious automotive and fashion industries, we hope our Touch of Color design can redefine the role HDTVs play in the home by holding both entertainment and artistic value."

It’s All About The Standards…

Energy Star is an international standard for energy efficient consumer products originated in the United States. Energy Star was first introduced as a United States government program during the early 1990s, but Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Taiwan and the European Union have also adopted the program. Devices carrying the Energy Star logo, such as computer products and peripherals, kitchen appliances, buildings and other products, generally use 20%–30% less energy than required by federal standards. The Samsung LN55C650 LCD HDTV exceeds this standards making it the best choice for energy saving appliance.

Samsung LN55C650 LCD HDTV Features

One of the best features of the Samsung LN55C650 LCD HDTV is the ConnectShare Movie. With Samsung LN55C650’s ConnectShare Movie feature, you can connect a thumb drive or digital camera quickly and easily. With its user-friendly interface, it allows access to videos, a music playlist and pictures via the remote. You can easily watch and share anything with just one click.

The next best thing about the Samsung LN55C650 LCD HDTV is its capability to connect to an ever-expanding portal of your favorite digital content. With its customizable widgets, it gives you access to BLOCKBUSTER, Facebook, YouTube, Flickr, Amazon Video On Demand and more. Samsung’s SMART TV feature lets you do all this on your HDTV.

Are you a gamer and loves to play your favorite game on your HDTV? Well good news as Samsung LN55C650 LCD HDTV offers its Game Mode feature which enhances dark areas, sharpens the picture, speeds up the image processing response and enhances the sounds of your games. Pictures and sound quality were optimized for the special needs of gaming systems at the touch of a button.

How Much Should You Expect to Pay?

The Samsung LN55C650 LCD HDTV is available on the Samsung website for $2099.99 but right now you can get it for as low as $1269.95. The cheapest we have seen it is on Amazon who sell this LCD HDTV for $1211.99.

Does it include a Warranty?

Yes, the Samsung LN55C650 LCD HDTV includes a 1 year warranty for parts and labor (90 days parts and labor for commercial use), backed by Samsung toll-free support.

What Others Are Saying

This Samsung LN55C650 LCD HDTV has received popular reviews from most consumers on the net with an average of 4 out of 5 from most reviewers on Amazon and the Panasonic website itself.

Here are some of the comments to date:

“First HDTV, but I am an Electrical/Software Engineer so I have a high level of technical ability….”
“First, the picture is phenomenal. It really stands up against almost anything out there….”
“The C650 series from Samsung contains some older upgrade technology features such as CFL backlighting…..”
“We have had this television for several months now and it continues to impress….”
“Like many people I searched the net for weeks before finally deciding on this tv. ..”

Any complaints?

I found very few complaints for this LCD HDTV and the most critical one is not even about the LCD HDTV on consumer sites around the internet. One consumer express concern that it is difficult to contact the manufacturers support but aside from that all positive feedbacks.

Where Can You Buy the Samsung LN55C650 55-Inch 1080p 120 Hz LCD HDTV?

You can buy this Samsung LN55C650 LCD HDTV from Amazon. At the moment they include free shipping and from what I can tell when comparing prices with other online merchants, Amazon do currently have the best deal especially with the free shipping
option.

Additionally, right now Amazon offers a free LinkStick when you buy a Samsung LN55C650 55-Inch 1080p 120 Hz LCD HDTV.

“Through January 1, 2011, get a Samsung LinkStick wireless LAN adapter when you purchase a qualifying Samsung HDTV from Amazon.com”

Click here to view on Amazon.

Where Can You Read More Reviews for the Samsung LN55C650 55-Inch 1080p 120 Hz LCD HDTV?

The best place for reviews from people who actually use the product is Amazon.
Click here to read more.

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