Samsung PN50B650 50-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV
March 20th, 2010 Posted in TV
- 50-inch high definition TV with 1080p resolution
- Four HDMI, two component, and one composite video input
- Two 15W bottom speakers and SRS TruSurround HD for a rich surround-sound experience from two speakers
- Ultra FilterBright panel further minimizes glare and reflections
- USB 2.0 Movie for playing MP3, MPEG movies and displaying JPEG files through the USB 2.0
Product Description
Samsung’s new PN50B650 plasma flat panel HDTV exemplifies the design and performance refinements for those with discerning tastes and a passion for innovation. Picture your favorite room filled with 50 inches of 1080p Fu… More >>
Samsung PN50B650 50-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV
March 20th, 2010 at 9:32 pm
If you’re in the market for a HDTV then the Samsung PN50B650 is worth a second look. Externally, the attractive Touch of Color design incorporated into the clear beveled edged glass exudes sophistication and class. Internally, the Crystal Full HD Engine and Samsung’s e-panel technology translates into a blur free clear vibrant picture perfect for sports and movies alike.
Truthfully I started off in the HDTV market looking for a 52″ LCD panel with 1080p and 120hz specs. After a month of searching I realized that a name brand set with the above specs was out of my budget. I wasn’t considering a plasma because I thought it was outdated technology, fear of image retention (IR), cost of operation, and plasma’s heavier weight difference. However, as I researched more into plasmas I learned that my fears were they themselves outdated. Plasma was not outdated technology, many companies were still pouring money into plasma R&D. IR for sure is still a concern but with some simple basic precautions and use of the built in pixel shifting option, IR has become a very minor concern. This set is also Energy Star compliant using 40% less power than prior years plasmas (as per Samsung’s website) and comparable to LCDs of similar size. As for weight, I wasn’t too concerned because my set wasn’t going on a wall. Regardless, the weight difference to a LCD is only about 15 lbs or so. Also, this set comes with an attractive stand that allows the TV to rotate for optimal viewing.
The cons I have so far are: Even with the FilterBright technology incorporated into the screen, glare is still a factor. I have my set in a room with no curtains but no direct sunlight and find myself changing the brightness control at times during daylight use. While the Media 2.0 is a fantastic feature (and the reason why I highly recommend this set over the B550 for a few extra $) it can be slow at times. Lastly, the speakers on this TV are marginal. Not bad in loudness but definitely no mid range or bass as one would expect. You will eventually need something externally powered.
I will not bore you with pros and cons of this set’s internal specs, you can interpret them anyway you want but for a non HDTV expert that was merely trying to get the best value for the money, with great picture quality and technology (e.g. Cinema Smooth 24p frame rate), in an attractive looking TV, this Samsung was a clear choice for me. Lastly, the other plasma I was considering was the Panasonic G10. It has slightly better reviews but esthetically IMO the Samsung was a clear winner. For the non HDTV expert like myself, the image quality differences were unnoticeable. On a side note, as the post above had mentioned, standard def cable channels are pretty darn good on this set compared to my old 37″ LCD.
*I do not have the buzz or the pinkish hues some others claim on their sets.
Update: After 7 months of use, my Samsung tv is is still going strong with no issues. Picture quality is still bright and vivid. I have either found the most balanced setting for day and night time use or my eyes have gotten used to this set because I longer find myself adjusting the picture settings. Burn in is not an issue and its not even on my mind (although I do not play video games on it).
Its great having a tv with online capabilities. While I don’t personally find myself using the “widgets” very often, I do appreciate the no hassle automatic software updates to the tv. The two widgets I do use on occasion are the Amazon Video on Demand and the Blockbuster Video on Demand. Either of these two features allow one to watch HD or regular quality movies streamed from their respective providers at about $3-$5 a movie for a 24 hr rental period. Not bad when I don’t want to drive to the rental store. Other noteable widgets available are Twitter, YouTube, Ebay and flickr. The tv’s speakers are adequate for everyday use but for movies and sporting events an externally powered speakers are advised. I use a Sony sound bar that looks and sounds great with this set. My electric bill has increased about $10 per month. The set is on for 10 plus hours a day.
Rating: 5 / 5
March 20th, 2010 at 9:51 pm
Basically I’ve had this TV for about 3 weeks already, and wanted to share since when researching this new 2009 Samsung PN50B650 set, there were limited reviews.
the specs and price on this had me at hello…
3,000,000:1 Mega Contrast
0.001ms pixel-response time.
600Hz
Cinema Smooth
4 HDMI ports
Tuners: ATSC / NTSC / QAM
ENERGY STAR qualified
Anynet
DLNA
First off I was always sketchy on Plasma…because of course burn in, and the whole LCD rage taking off.
Basically it was a “burn in” vs “dead pixel” face off.
But burn in is a non issue…sometimes the History channel will leave its logo for a few seconds, but it’s not even noticeable unless you try to find it. I play PS3 games on it and it’s perfect.
The 4 HDMI ports are priceless….I thought it would be overkill…but add in a TivoHD, PS3, Receiver…and I’m down to 1 side HDMI input left…
The 650 also has the extra internet USB adapter ($75) is very nice as well….connecting to Flickr, your network & Yahoo Weather is very nice.
not built in but, so what.
The TV speakers are basic and tolerable I guess, but if you are looking to get a 50″ plasma, I would hope you would have a home theater in a box at least.
The TOC finish is very very nice, and the touch of color really makes this set stand out…I thought I’d hate it but once it’s in the house…it is nice.
I think the main reason to really look at this set is the “Cinema Smooth” feature which is present on this panel….and I think only until you get to the 850 model you won’t see it available. This is very nice since it delivers in the native 24p content, same frame rate as movies are recorded.
and I don’t have any buzzing, which some people were reporting on the AVS Forum.
Well compared to my Samsung 40 40A650 LCD 120hz, which I really liked…this Plasma is a big step up.
In the store the bright lights and the demo modes make the LCD stand out…but in my home setting….holy bright…it was always in movie mode…so now the kids can play games on it in, the plasma is for the living room now.
The blacks and whites are more lifelike on the Plasma…although the LCD has way whiter whites…it just make it look too digital.
basically I have a much better viewing angle…pic looks perfect from all angles….and it looks more “real life quality”..if that makes sense.
basically I still can’t get used to the “3D Soap Opera effect” on the LCD, and the speed is still nowhere to the plasma especially in sports…even with the 120hz I could catch the blur in a football.
Here’s my deal sealer….standard def channels, are pretty good…I can watch them again. On the LCD…standard Def..I preferred to watch an old Toshiba 36″ CRT in the loft if I had to.
granted it’s not an 850 or 950….but the price difference is huge.
at this cheap of a price, I’m thinking about getting a second…seriously it’s a steal.
Rating: 5 / 5
March 20th, 2010 at 10:31 pm
This review is my personal opinion and is not sponsored by anyone.
After a good amount of research I decided to get Samsung PN50B650. It’s been almost 3 weeks already and I could not be more happier. I am not a videophile, but picture looks outstanding and it actually looks better then my 1 year old Sony Bravia 52inch LCD. best feature is ability to stream content from your PC or USB memory stick or HDD. so far, I have not discovered format that it does not handle.
Rating: 5 / 5
March 20th, 2010 at 11:25 pm
hey guys…
this is a review for all of you out there who are pretty techy, like to do your research, and get the most bang for your buck. i spent hours and hours on my decision, sifting through review after review, and actually ordering and returning this item. read more if you are curious with my results.
plenty of forums on the internet will compare this tv to the panasonic g10 plasma. initially, i chose the samsung pnb650 over the g15 because:
1) reviews showed high color accuracy
2) the TV stand swiveled
3) DNLA content, including the ability to stream MKV and other HD video through the TV, with no need for a media extender.
when i received my unit, i was extremely happy with the picture. colors popped, black levels were good (though seemingly glitchy when there was a perfectly black screen – almost like the picture turned off). but, one thing i have never expected happened to be a deal breaker for me – image retention (IR).
the forums and reviews you read on the net go on and on about how IR and burn in are issues of plasmas’ past. what i did not quite realize was that IR and burn in are TWO SEPARATE ISSUES. read this link for a spot on analysis of the difference, and the factors you should consider when buying a plasma [...]
i had image retention from the get go. i used my tv on the “dynamic” setting when playing madden the first week i bought the tv. another thing you will read is that plasmas should never be placed on “dynamic” or “vivid” modes (at least until you “break-in” your set). i personally believe that if the setting is offered on the TV, you should be able to use it no problem. long story short, the EA emblem on the bottom left hand side of the screen remained on the screen after i turned off the game. although it slowly faded away (and i mean very slowly), you could make out that emblem on the screen for THREE WEEKS after i played it. that being said, remember that this was in the first 20 hours or so of use, and that after about a week and a half, you could only see it when you came up to 8 inches from the screen. such issues may not occur after 150 or 200 hours of use, but i was not going to risk it. not only did items like the madden EA sports emblem remain, scoreboards from NFL games, network banners, and tickers remained on the screen far too long for my liking.
another thing to note about the tv is that the DNLA functionality is more a novelty than something that is useful. it does not recognize half the MKVs i have, nor does it play the audio of several WMVs i have. also note that it cannot stream such content over the network; you have to plug in your hard drive directly to the usb jack.
the IR issue was something that was too big a deal for me to overlook. if you do not play much video games, watch CNN, or watch channels with some static emblem, logo, or scoreboard, i dont think you will ever have this issue. you wont have this issue watching movies.
besides that, the TV provides a great, bright picture. 4 HDMI ports and the USB connectivity is great. I loved the swivel stand. however, i like my panasonic g10 plasma much better, and here’s why:
1) image retention, seriously, is almost a non issue. only very rarely do you see images retained on the screen, and if you do, if you watch a movie or use the IR scrolling bar, it disappears quickly.
2) blacks are outstanding. i thought they were good on the samsung, but in all honesty, it doesnt compare.
that being said, there are some issues with the panasonic, being:
1) its a bit dark for my tastes, the samsung was brighter. this is really a non-issue if you are watching movies / playing games in dark rooms.
2) the stand does not swivel, though its easy to move the base
3) there are no USB ports, so it limits the amount of content that can be streamed (only pictures and videos through the SD card)
4) the infrared receiver (for remote control) is squarely in the middle of the TV. i place my front speaker there so it was a bit of an issue for me.
5) there are very few picture controls – i cant turn the screen brighter even if i want to!
6) only 3 hdmi… not an issue now i suppose
its also worth mentioning that im no longer trying to stream content through the TV. i got a ps3 and got ps3media server. works like a charm; highly recommended.
one other thing i’ll say is that amazon’s prices, delivery, and customer service is top notch. i recommend you keep an eye on prices for a few days to see if it goes up or down. there are also random coupons floating around if you do a google search or review the price discussions here at amazon. as of mod nov 09, a good price for the pnb650 would be around $1200 and the g10 around the same. I was able to score the g10 and a panasonic plasma for $1100 – you should hope for a similar deal to return!
white glove delivery through ceva was top notch. customer service in returning the old TV was painless. amazon is the place to buy TVs, no matter which model you choose.
hope this helps.
navin
Rating: 4 / 5
March 21st, 2010 at 2:24 am
Ordered this on Amazon and whole process till delivery was smooth. 5 stars to Amazon for the price as well, as always
I’m extremely pleased with the picture quality & feature set on this TV. This is my first HDTV, but I did do a lot of research before buying this one. I chose this model over others (5 series & Panny Viera) because this is the only “plasma” TV I could find in the market that supports DLNA (ability to stream files directly off my PC) and also has support for USB hard drive hookup. I hooked up my 500 gig (FAT32 format only) HDD and voila, all the files I can play directly off the HDD. Supports all possible media formats out there !! Apart from this it has extremely good connectivity (4 HDMI slots) and numerous inputs to hook up your home theater. This TV is a treat for the eyes…go get this one and you won’t be disappointed.
Another feature I love is the presence of a ethernet port … it allows you to connect your TV to the LAN and stream files off the network through DLNA, you don’t need to spend additional $$ on the wireless stick. Updating firmware through internet is also a breeze.
Rating: 5 / 5