Samsung PNXXc550 Owners Thread *NO PRICE TALK* - Page 84

Originally Posted by Dathon

I am curious what you consider "entry level"? Less than $2000? It always amuses me that people slam other people by claiming the TV's they just bought are "entry level". $1000-$2000 is considerable amount of money for most people to put into just a TV. What even gets me more, is that once a TV that retailed for $3000, goes on clearance for $1000, you have people calling it "entry-level". Yeah right...

So my PN58C550 is "entry-level". So what? It's not like a lot of people have a lot of options in retail store like Best Buy. They only carry the lower priced models, and most people don't know there are other models available. Anyway, most people don't care because there is little difference in picture quality, just added features on the higher priced models. There is a point of diminishing returns on picture quality vs price.

Originally Posted by prerunnerv6

Size and cost isn't the issue. It's the model # that determines if it's "entry-level". C550 was the "entry-level" Samsung 1080p. I have a PN63c550. Regardless of size, it's still their "entry-level" 1080p. It's a lower model than the significantly smaller PN50c7000.

Does that bother me? No. I like bang for the buck and the c550 series delivers and at a lower cost than the higher end models. That's all that matters to me.

Originally Posted by guitardedboy

ok...I finally have around 200 hours on my 58" 550

Now it's time to calibrate (I have no calibration disc)


I have my tv in a dark basement with no windows, so with that scenario what calibration is looking the best to most. I haven't touched my calibrations and so far I dig the movie mode the best on factory presets.

Thanks in advance

Originally Posted by prerunnerv6

Size and cost isn't the issue. It's the model # that determines if it's "entry-level". C550 was the "entry-level" Samsung 1080p. I have a PN63c550. Regardless of size, it's still their "entry-level" 1080p. It's a lower model than the significantly smaller PN50c7000.

Does that bother me? No. I like bang for the buck and the c550 series delivers and at a lower cost than the higher end models. That's all that matters to me.

Originally Posted by Dathon


Yes the model# I understand, but no one ever explains what the "real" difference is between the models that incurs extra cost. People mention software features like "CinemaSmooth", but really anything in the FW or software is negligible in cost for the manufacturer to add. They flip a bit in the firmware and turn that feature on for certain models. There is nothing physically worth $1000+ more on the higher-end models.

I understand the panels go through a screening process and there are several grades (Grades A,B,C). But really, is there that much of a difference in plasma panels to warrant paying for the top-of-the-line of the same size? It's not like the old CRT days, where they came in nice wood cabinets and you paid extra for the nicer cabinetry work. If they added better internal parts to the higher-priced tv's then I would understand. Anyone remember when CD players came out, and then Pioneer introduced it's 1-bit D/A converter and better mechanical transports? Well, we all know where that technology went, down the drain...Even though 1-bit D/A was superior, they went back to using 16-bit D/A and junky disc transports.

Originally Posted by Philgag


Is it normal to notice some greenish pixels noise on black parts of the pictures?

Can't notice it from normal viewing distance, however when I stick my face near the screen I can see it, even with blu-ray and hdmi...

Originally Posted by Philgag

Got my new pn50c550 brand new here. Feel like I got a very good price for end of the line model. Upgrading from 32" sharp LCD the difference is huge... I got the "OMG this TV is too big" but this feeling will fade with time!

With 3 days of use I have noticed 0 burn-in or IR. Very happy with this plasma tech. I have the slight humming noise but cannot hear it from where i'm sitting. Flashed to lastest firmware and used the settings posted in this thread to find the sweet spot in calibration.

Is it normal to notice some greenish pixels noise on black parts of the pictures?

Can't notice it from normal viewing distance, however when I stick my face near the screen I can see it, even with blu-ray and hdmi...

Originally Posted by slalanc01

Hi Samsung owner!

How are this models for gaming? I read that Samsung have lots of lag with PS3 or XBOX360 but I know C550 has game mode. How well performed this TV with game mode enable?

Do you know if 'buzz' problem has been resolved?

Originally Posted by longball07

Read the thread, answers to your questions are within!

Originally Posted by mikek

I just had a Samsung authorized service tech come here. I showed him the horizontal banding and he went out to his van and came back and claimed it was burn-in and Samsung wouldn't cover it.

After arguing with him for a few minutes, he out of the blue, states that he will order a new panel and it usually take about a week to arrive.

Very weird. He was trying to claim that the directv guide permanently burned-in the banding. Interesting theory except the menu and the banding do not line up.

He also claimed that I waited more than 30 days and Samsung wouldn't cover it. The dude was all over the place.

Anyway, I'll let you guys know what happens next.

-mk

Originally Posted by Philgag

Any idea what could cause this?

Originally Posted by Phyrre56

I'm having a problem with my PN50C550...the TV intermittently loses the HDMI signal, goes blank, and says "Check signal cable".

Originally Posted by calvinice


There are some topics I want to converse with you. First I see that on all calibrations that have appeared in the thread, they always put the Sharpness at or near zero. That makes no sense to me and results in (what I believe) a sort of soft image: if you have a ruler that goes from 0 to 100, IMHO the default response should be around the middle, and from there you can ADD or SUBSTRACT sharpness according to the source and your taste.

Second, there is some inexplicable randomness in the way that HDMI Black Level functions. In my LG DVD, I am able to access this control and to switch it from Normal to Low; in my Sony Bluray I am not, it is grayed out to Normal. I have no clue about why.

Third this set has actually some sort of Infinite Black at work: each time the program source dissolves to a complete black the display turns off for an instant; this is more evident when you are watching the set at night and/or when the final credits of a film start to appear over a black background. .

Originally Posted by longball07

Read the thread, answers to your questions are within!

Originally Posted by ItzMe

I hope you end up liking it as much as most of us do! I have something for you to try about that last issue. I think I may've seen that happen before I adjusted my source device (cable box, satellite reciever, etc.) See if you can change the video settings in that device to just 1080p or just the 720s and 1080s. Also see if that box has a 'native res' setting or anything like that. This is just a theory, but if all resolutions are checked, I think the panel takes time to search for the native (or best) res and that may give you the issue you explained.