Ok, here's the deal. Some may remember a while back when I mentioned that my wife (yes! My *wife*! Pray you get a wife like this if you are not already married! LOL) decided that, when we were looking at new TVs to replace the ceiling projector we have been using for the last 5 years, she liked the 63" Samsung Plasma the best. So, after looking around and finding a pretty sweet deal on Amazon, it had come down to between 2 models, the Samsung PN63B550, and the PN63B590. As near as I can tell from Samsung's own website, the differences between the models were relatively minor: question: "what is difference between 63 pn b 550 and 590 3 months, 2 weeks ago Anonymous" Answer: "Top 100 Contributor Top 100 Contributor A: The 590 has: -- the Ultra FilterBright anti-glare screen, which decreases glare and improves contrast versus the 550's standard FilterBright screen -- The 1080p/24 frame "Cinema Smooth" feature versus the 550's use of 60Hz 3:2 pull-down. This is great for Blu-ray's and some 1080p video on demand and downloads -- 15W speakers versus the 550's 10W speakers, so better sound -- A few minor costmetic differences like the placement of the controls on the set. 3 months ago Citivas" So, from that, I take it that the only differences which might matter to me is the difference between the anti-glare screen, and the 24-frame 'Cinema Smooth' feature on the 590, versus the 3:2 pulldown and slightly less advanced glare filter on the 550. And since the deals on Amazon were very close, the 590 only being about $60 more than the 550, I decided, ok, go for the 590. This was on Sept 30th. The next day, Amazon changes it from 'In Stock' to estimated delivery some time between 30 and 60 days. Well I was pissed, but since it was really more of an early Christmas present for the family, I was ok with it. The about 2 days later, I get an email from Amazon saying 'Hey, we wanted to let you know, we got your product in earlier than expected, and we estimate your delivery to be next week! So I was like Yay! Then the next day after THAT, I get yet another email from Amazon, saying 'We are still trying to find your item you ordered, if we don't find it by Nov 7th, we will cancel your order. Do you still want it?' So then it was a WTF time, and I called them and spoke Saheem Amib or someone and he said it was just not available, went out of stock, and they don't know if they are ever going to get it in. Now this is not a discontinued model or anything, so I don't get it. This is the ONLY current Samsung flat screen on the whole Amazon site that does not show 'In Stock'. So, hell. The question then becomes, what really is the real benefit and/or difference between the 590 and 550, in other words, is that 24-frame Cinema-Smooth that much better than the conventional 3:2 pulldown? The glare-filter is not a killer to me, but this thing better be in my living room for the next 10 years, so I want to make sure that I don't kick myself for the next decade because I went for the 550 instead of the 590. Anyone have any knowledge/experience regarding the real-world differences between those two features? Thanks guys
I don't think it's a big deal, according the reviews bluray is stellar and the cheaper A550's video processing for Film Mode was good. here's the review of the B550. http://reviews.plasmatvbuyingguide.com/plasmatvreviews/samsung-pn50b550-review.html here's the review of the A550's film mode http://reviews.cnet.com/flat-panel-tvs/samsung-pn50a550/4505-6482_7-32887581.html?tag=mncol;lst Video processing: Unlike most HDTVs we've tested, the Samsung PN50A550 was able to successfully de-interlace 1080i film-based material once Film Mode was engaged. It also handled video-based material well and, as expected, successfully displayed every pixel of both 1080i and 1080p sources. Not that it mattered much; as usual we found it nearly impossible to distinguish any difference in detail between the 1080p Samsung and the 720p Pioneer.
True but from what we have read in reviews, Plasma is still better at that large size. LED is the first thing that gets close though, but is twice as expensive.
So here is another question for you guys. When watching blu-ray do you watch it in cinema/film mode or just standard?
Thanks Tinman. I am really starting to think that the 58" will be a much better bang for the buck than the 63", seeing as how it is almost a grand cheaper.
yeah, but it's price performance ratio. You can get a 60+ inch plasma for under $3k. A properly calibrated plasma has the best performance off all the display types. as mentioned before, he's using this in a movie room so the glare issue is avoided. when LEDs (reall they are LCDs with LED backlights) get cheaper then it'll be more main stream. now the LED LCD TVs are more of a high-end product. As far as being 'thin', you can get the Samsung 860 plasmas, they are 1.5 inches thick!
well it depends on your tv set. I've got a 720p DLPish Sony, so I set my Bluray to 1080i, and let my TV do the 3:2 pulldown and deinterlacing. It's an older tv, so i think the function is called "cinemotion". I set that to "AUTO" if you have a 1080p 120hz tv, turn off all the 'smoothing' options, and set your bluray to output 1080p/24 that way your movie should display at the proper frames as the movies
I have a Samsung HL67A750 and I watch my movies in Standard mode, but didn't know if I should be watching it in cinema instead.
those are probably picture settings. cinema mode is usually a little darker (preset) because they assume you are watching a movie in low light or at night. here's the cnet review of that series: http://reviews.cnet.com/projection-tvs/samsung-hl61a750/4505-6484_7-32915921.html?tag=mncol;txt Three picture modes are available, including Dynamic, Standard, and Movie. I chose Movie, as it produced the best results at the factory presets. The selectable color temperatures are Cool 1, Cool 2, Normal, Warm 1, and Warm 2; we selected Warm 2, as its by far the closest to the broadcast standard color temperature. Samsung HL-61A750 Dynamic may be the brightest, but Movie mode is the best for an accurate picture in a dark room environment. The Detailed Settings menu includes several additional adjustments and almost all of them, including Black Adjust, Dynamic Contrast, Edge Enhancement, and xvYCC Color, are best shut off. The LED control adjusts the backlight for the LEDs, and is very useful in optimizing the black level of the set. The lower you set it the better the blacks, but you also decrease light output, so there is a tradeoff. When in the Movie mode, you will find that many of the settings in the Picture Options menu are grayed out, indicating they are set correctly and should not be changed.
here's the tweaktv settings for your a750 http://www.tweaktv.com/tweak-my-tv/calibration-guide/samsung-hl-61a750.html Samsung HL-61A750 Click here for other Samsung models User Menu Settings * Picture Modes o Picture Mode : Movie o Color Temperature : Warm 2 o Aspect Ratio : 16:9 * Picture Settings o Contrast : 90 o Brightness : 45 o Sharpness : 20 o Color : 50 o Tint : G51/R49 * Detailed Settings o Black Adjust : Off o Dynamic Contrast : Off o LED Control : Min o Gamma : -3 o White Balance : 0 o Fleshtone : 0 o Edge Enhancement : Off * Picture Options o Color Tone : Warm 2 o Size : 16:9 o Position : Factory Default o Digital NR : Auto o DNIE : Off o HDMI Black Level : Normal o Film Mode : On o Blue Only Mode : Off o Color Gammut : sRGB o 3 D Effect : Off
Plasma has also done great things with the power usage issue. And panasonic's plasma is not exactly a deep dish pizza.
I think since pioneer is out of the plasma game, that they were going give some of their technology to panasonic. panasonic was producing the panels for the kuro. the pioneer prototype plasma last year was like an inch thick too.
This site is awesome. I'm going to try it out on my Toshiba when I get home, since I don't even know what half of those settings even mean, much less where they should be set at. Thanks for posting that!
As long as you watch the Rockets and Yao doesn't look like he just walked out of a tanning salon, you're good!
That site doesn't have settings for my TV. It's a: 40' Toshiba 40RV525U Any other places I can find the optimum settings?
