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More…It's hard to find fault with Samsung's LN46A550 ($1700, as of November 4, 2008). This LCD model lacks some of the specs and design of its younger sibling, the Samsung LN46A650, but otherwise it holds its own next to that model.
Samsung LN46A550
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- Spec Navigator
- Screen Specs
- Broadcast Standards & Resolutions
- Dimensions and Weight
- Interface Connections
- Other Features
- Adjustments
- Aesthetics
- Included Hardware
- Warranty & Support
Screen Specs
| Diagonal screen size | 46 inches |
| Viewable size | 46 inches |
| Display type | LCD |
| Maximum resolution | 1920 x 1080 |
| Contrast ratio | 30,000:1 |
| Brightness | 500 cd/m^2 |
| Horizontal viewing angle | 178 ° |
| Vertical viewing angle | 178 ° |
| Response time | 5 ms |
| Aspect ratio | 16:9 |
| Pixel Response Type | Gray-to-gray |
Broadcast Standards & Resolutions
| Broadcast format displayed | 1080p (HDTV) |
| Broadcast format supported |
|
Dimensions and Weight
| Width | 44.4 inches |
| Depth | 3.9 inches |
| Height | 27.6 inches |
| Weight | 51.4 pounds |
| Wall-Mountable | Yes |
Interface Connections
| Interface connection | USB - Universal Serial Bus |
| Other Interfaces |
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| Input |
|
| Output |
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Other Features
| General features |
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| Picture in picture | No |
| Remote control | IR |
PCWorld Rating, November 14, 2008
7 User Reviews Add your own »
$1,299.99
From 1 Vendor
Get Best Prices »
- Lab Tested
- How We Test HDTVs »
Pros
Fantastic picture
Menus and remote are easy to use
Cons
Badly designed documentation
Bottom Line
This all-around excellent TV is easy to use and a delight to the eyes.
Samsung LN46A550 46-Inch LCD HDTV
LN46A550 Review, by Lincoln Spector May 6, 2008
In our PC World Test Center tests, the LN46A550 excelled with Blu-ray discs. In a scene from Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, images looked as though they were coming from a mint 35mm print. Though I thought that some of the images in our tests lost a bit of detail, my fellow judges felt otherwise. This model finished in a statistical tie with the LN46A650 in overall performance, and it remains atop the heap of models we've tested in this size category.
The set's audio quality is fine for talk shows and sitcoms, but it's not suitable for the big sound of movie soundtracks. To handle high-end sound reproduction, you'll want to buy a real surround-sound stereo unit.
The LN46A550 is easy to use. The icon-based on-screen menus are clear and easy to read, and a brief note at the bottom of the screen explains what each item does. A separate Tools button on the remote control acts the same way that Windows' right-click mouse button does, bringing up a handy selection of options appropriate for the current input. Another neat feature: When it turns on a connected device (such as a DVD player), the TV automatically switches the input to that source.
The backlit remote control's large, color-coded buttons give it the look of a child's toy, but they benefit users of all ages. In other respects, though, the remote isn't perfect. Because it lacks a dedicated PiP button, you have to access picture-in-picture through the menus. Also, the aspect ratio button is labeled ‘P.Size'--not the most intuitive designation. And finally, the remote isn't programmable, so you can't use it to operate your DVD player or VCR unless the device uses Samsung's proprietary Anynet technology, which is based on HDMI's Consumer Electronics Control (CEC) channel.
The messy, hard-to-read quick-setup guide could easily intimidate a novice. Meanwhile, the thick bilingual manual (104 pages just for English) explains everything in detail but is wordy and difficult to follow.
You can view pictures and listen to music ported to the LN46A550 through its USB port. Easy-access inputs on the side include HDMI, S-Video, and USB. The set swivels on its stand to support odd-angle viewing and to permit easy access to the back. In fact the set's overall design isdistinctly superior to that of two 47-inch Vizio models that (at the moment) closely trail it in our rankings: the SV470XVT and the VO47LF.
The result is a well-rounded HDTV that does virtually everything you want it to. At its price, it stands out as a clear winner.
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PCWorld Lab Results
- Rating Breakdown
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78
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80
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87
- See Complete Lab Results »
78
83
79
77Performance
| Brightness and Contrast | Very Good |
| Color Quality | Very Good |
| Detail | Good |
| DVD Image Quality | Good |
| High-Definition Image Quality | Very Good |
| Overall Quality | Very Good |
User Reviews
Average User Reviews for Samsung LN46A550
2 Reviews Add your own »
- Latest User Reviews 2 reviews
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Reviewed by: JustGetItFREE
Duration of ownership: 3 Months
Strengths: Crystal Clear Picture Quality. Very Good Energy saver. Easy to Setup. Lots of input ports! Superb movie quality!
Weaknesses: It's a bit pricey!
Overall: This is an absolute MUST for everyone looking to get a new HDTV! ...BUT, the price is a little to high in my opinion, I never would have got one if I never got mine for FREE!. Luckily a friend recommended this website to me before I went and bought one: **- www.hdtv.justgetitfree.com - ** . I checked out the website, completed ONE simple offer and met the requirements to receive one for FREE, it arrived a month later in the post! It was also shown on BBC and CNN news!!
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Reviewed by: Cknwings
Duration of ownership: 2 Weeks
Strengths: Sharp, clear picture. Great color. Easy to use remote and TV menu. Plenty of bang for the buck.
Weaknesses: No weaknesses for me.
Overall: The Samsung LN46A550 is my first HDTV, and I couldn't be happier with it. The picture is excellent, (HD - regular TV is so-so, but that's to be expected after viewing HD broadcasts). The TV menu is very easy to understand and negotiate through. I have "lived with" my Samsung for 2 weeks, now. Out-of-the-box I only made minor adjustments to the color, (to suit my preferences). I orginally planned to purchase a 40 inch Samsung, but I "upgraded" to the 46 inch one, (better to go a bit large than regret a smaller screen size purchase), and I'm glad I did! I did a LOT of HDTV research before I purchased this TV, and I found that Samsung had consistantly been rated highly by both technical and consumer sites. If you're hesitating about purchasing this model Samsung, (or any model Samsung for that matter), don't! I'm one very satisfied customer!
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User Reviews From Around the Web
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Reviewed by:
Strengths: Still a great value for the price.
Weaknesses: Samsung uses 3 different panels in their tv's. There is no way to tell which one you will get and if you'll actually get the quality you want.
Overall: Samsung uses 3 different panels when building this model TV. The only way to tell is by the serial number on the back of the tv."A" Panel - Off make panel - Sub-par picture quality"C" Panel - Sub-par quality - sub-par picture quality"S" Panel - Genuine Samsung panel - excellent picture quality. (hard to find)It's true! Check out: http://reviews.cnet.com/flat-panel-tvs/samsung-ln46a550/4864-6482_7-32815315-1.htmlI received a "C" panel and it's obvious that I didn't get the TV everyone has been raving about. I USED to be a committed Samsung fan. I have since changed my mind since I made this $1300 mistake. Please spread the word, they need to realize they can't put something like this past their consumers!
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Reviewed by:
Strengths: Amazing pictureDeep Black Levels and Vibrant Colors
Weaknesses: Sound's not Theater quality, but it's not that bad.
Overall: I purchased this here for $1069, and I could not have found a better deal. After doing a lot of research (driving my wife crazy in the process), this tv at the thousand dollar mark can't be beat. It's not 120hz, but that is probably it's only fault. I wasn't willing to pay another 5 or 6 hundred dollars to upgrade. I still haven't noticed any picture quality issues though. Watching the Buffalo Sabres looks amazing. Standard definition isn't great on this set, but if your going to buy a tv like this, why wouldn't you want to upgrade :)
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Reviewed by:
Strengths: Picture quality on close up shots is amazing!
Weaknesses: At only 60Hz is an obvious weekness when viewing sports and wide angle shots.
Overall: I received this TV about a month ago. Picture is amazing when viewing sitcoms and other shows with low movement or narrow camera shots. When I watch football the picture isn't as sharp as I would wish especially when they have a shot zoomed out over the field. I guess I'm being too critical for the price but overall the picture is awesome. I'm not too worried about the speakers quality becuase I have it hooked up to surround sound. All in all you can't find a better picture for the price. My next tv will be 120Hz though.
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Reviewed by: osfans
Strengths: Clear pic - that's what I wanted from the TV
Weaknesses: none
Overall: I've only had it for a couple of weeks but I can't take my eyes off of it. It took me a while to figure out that some channels are not HD but the ones that are are fantastic. I did call customer support and I spoke to someone (from the US and spoke English)immediately who helped me with a couple of questions.
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Reviewed by:
Strengths: Awesome Video
Weaknesses: Audio Sucks
Overall: I read the other reviews and they were spot on regarding strengths and weaknesses. I agree that sound is equal to other similar TV's but that does not make it enjoyable. Count on using an external aud
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