Samsung PN64E533 for $1399 at Costco - Page 3

That is awesome, so happy for you and glad that you have a few days to decide. I too am thinking about getting that Disney disk. Not sure how it works though. If one person with the same TV uses the disk, can someone else just mimic the settings? Also, does it require that the TV have the ability to configured detail video settings? I would be curious what you dial your TV in at. I still need to tweak mine.

I just got done watching a movie and am extremely satisfied with it. i do agree with you the reflection off the screen is noticable but can be minimized.

How are things progressing?

That was the only real negative I noticed when we removed the old Sony TV and put the Samsung in its place, I'm not sure why Samsung didn't apply any kind of anti-glare on this model.
But it does have a very good picture once you take care of any room lighting issues and I like that it has a healthy amount of picture tweaking options beyond the basic brightness / contrast / color etc.

The screen reflectivity on this Samsung was a deal breaker for me. I ended up with the Panasonic GT in a 55" instead, I am completely satisfied with the picture and size. I do notice the hum occasionally on a very bright scene, but all plasmas seem to do it.

Unlike LCD TVs which contains no glass, Plasma TVs have a huge sheet of glass on the screen. When laid down, the gravity will make the screen very easy to crack. Have you ever seen any professionals transport large sheet of glass laid down?

The only time a Plasma should be laid flat is if you're installing the included stand or wall brackets etc. the Samsung manual for this model says to lay it face down on a smooth soft surface, such as a table with a blanket over it, which is what we did when installing the stand and had no problems.
Edited by Mathesar - 2/18/13 at 11:11am

Just picked up this TV from my local Costco, I think I missed the $200 rebate, but the price was right $12XX...

In any event, got to say, I love the picture on this TV straight out of the box. My real only issue with it is the buzz - but I must say, the ONLY place it bothers me is directly in front of the TV (perpendicular to the screen). TV is wall mounted, center of TV is roughly 56 inches up on the wall, TV is slightly angled. Couch is ~16' away.

I can hear the buzz from my couch, and it even echoes off of the back wall. However, as I mentioned, it is very directional. So if you move off center a cushion or even a step or two, the sound isn't that bad. Ironically, since the TV is wall mounted and angeled down slightly, if I stand up the sound isn't that bad either. It is loud enough that you hear it (if centered) over normal TV sound levels, especially if the scene get's quiet. This is my 3rd plasma TV, however first 64" and first Samsung (Other two are Pannys - both 50"). I've never heard a buzz like this, sounds like a small transformer.

I read all the reports of the Samsung buzz before buying, I thought I would take a shot. What I find odd is just how directional the buzz sound is, if I'm off center, the TV sounds good (and the picture is fantastic).

Any thoughts or remedies? Anyone else experience it? It is Costco so I could easily return outside of the pain of taking off the wall and boxing it up. I do want a 65" TV, but at this point in the manufacturing cycle, most places around me only have the 65VT50.

If the buzz is localized try some absorption material (small pillow, rolled up towel...) behind the TV on the wall to reduce the echo.
If the sound reduces look into getting something with a more finished look.
There are a number of companies out there that could set you up with something that will be functional as well as aesthetically pleasing.

Sorry, when I said back wall I meant the wall behing my couch (not the TV).

I already tried a little styrofoam behind and on the left/right rear of the TV and it didn't appear to help. Is it odd that the buzz is coming directly out of the glass of the panel?

Would something like a screen protector (essentially another panel) lower the buzz sound?

Some have reported that the buzz will get softer with time.
You have 90 days to return it to Costco and get another set?
As you mentioned before that option will require some serious effort on your part.

I had two of these exact models, from Costco, and the buzz was ridiculous; sounded exactly like a transformer. Could hear it 12 feet away over volume. Took them both back and moved on.

Thanks, was afraid to hear that...ugh.

BTW - what did you get as a replacement?

Strange, There's no audible buzz from the one we got at Costco even when standing right in front of it.

I don't hear any buzz. Even middle of night and low volume. And I'm pretty sensitive. Knock wood.

I really hate the idea of returning it, and trying yet another one....but I'll do it if I have to. I've seen similar reports on other Samsungs now that I've done some research, but if this is going to be the case on each one I get, I'd rather just get my money back than roll the dice.

The sound is definitely there. Ironically, it is worse when there is no image or a darker image. I would have thought the sound would have been worse with white, but that is not the case.

Nothing. Went back to my 50" Panasonic S1 for now. Waiting to check out the 65" Panny S60 that is going to be released in March.

For those telling you their's does not buzz -->They just cant hear that frequency, I dont care what they say. I have two Pannys in my house, my ex has a Kuro and Panny GT30, my parents have FOUR pannys (2 U50's, a PZ850, and an S2). Guess what ?? They ALL buzz, all plasmas do. The Pannys just buzz WAY less than Samsungs.

Like i said, I tried two of the 64" 533's from Costco. I could the hear the ridiculous buzz over the volume; my girlfriend could only hear it if we muted the tv. I can pretty much guarantee if you get another one it will buzz just like the one you have now and drive you nuts.... Both of them buzzed equally loud regardless of what was displayed on the screen.

My hearing is fine and my Samsung sounds just fine too. I have it wall mounted and I can hear a slight buzz from up close but nothing from the MLP. It sounds like the luck of the draw sometimes with these TVs. I am extremely happy with mine.

OK, I am still doing some side by side tests Samsung/Vizio
I bought the Ethereal power protection from accessories4less and it has a amp meter. The Vizio is always around 1 amp while the Samsung is around 2.5 to 3 amp, with some peaks at 4 amp !!!
So power consumption is higher on the Samsung...no secret here
I really like the picture of the Samsung, with deep and rich blacks
The Vizio is not bad either, but still.......blacks are not at the same level
The main CONS with the Samsung is the screen that is very reflective. Not much to do against that. And the layout of the connectors is not as ideal as the Vizo.....

Anyway, it was not a real side by side, since I had to switch from 1 set to another one

My plan is as follow: I will rip 1 or 2 blurays and put them on 2 USB memory sticks
Then I will use my 2 WD TV Live to play at the same time the same movie on each set.....This will be a real side by side, in 1080p

I will keep you posted

So I was curious why the Samsung has a "Cell Light" adjustment and apparently it's best to leave it at 20 (Max): http://www.avsforum.com/t/1459523/adjusting-cell-light-on-a-plasma

1st impressions, with a bluray rip (Fantastic 4 - Rise of the silver surfer)
The Samsung is MUCH "crisper" with great contrast and deep blacks
At the beginning of the movie, there is a scene with a planet in the dark space,with tons of stars....I could barely see those stars on the Vizio, and pushing the brightness was mostly bringing more "greyish" blacks
And at the very beginning, the texts from the credits were yellosih on the Vizio, and white/silver on the Samsung, which is I guess the real color
Globally, colors seem washed out on the Vizio and very "crisp" or "sharp" on the Samsung
I am not sure how to bring more natural white colors on the Vizio without turning the blacks into a greyish tint...??

I am sure a good calibration could help and improve things, but this is valid for both sets

So for now, the Samsung seems a keeper !!

That is awesome!!! Glad to hear it sounds like i made the rigth choice Are you currently using mostly out of the box settings and just turning off some of the extras that are on by default? All i have done so far is use the settings from CNET that are linked in the beginning of this thread. Side topic, what are you doing or how are you ripping blu rays, does the 5.1 sound come across just as good? PM me if you want. I am thinking about starting to get out of the physical media space and into hard drive/storage, etc.

OK, so I ended up returning the Vizio.....It was not an easy decision though!!!
I think price difference was part of the decision ($1,050 vs $1,550). And on top of it, I am leaving next week on a business trip and the wife did't want to have the 2 TV laying around in the family room

I found the colors to be too fade and yellowish on the Vizio, and crisper and more accurate on the Samsung. But I also found the picture more "detailed" on the Vizio...!!!

So, I kept the Samsung, and I will order the WOW bluray (Disney calibration disc) to play with the settings
Since I have 3 months to return the TV, I will see how it goes with several discs (blurays and DVD)

I am pretty sure Costco (or Sam's club) will keep their prices (or make another discount) in the next coming months on the Vizio (or another model, who knows....)

Does nyone here watch basketball with this TV? Are you seeing regular, very brief but distracting white flashes? There's also fluctuating brightness, too. I guess they're related.

I have cell light set at 20, which is supposed to be correct. Contrast 87, brightness 46. But trying different combinations doesn't help.

Will you let me know if the WOW disc makes a significant difference to your picture quality? I have been going back and forth on if it is worth it or not. I am pretty satisfied with the picture.

You can also download AVS calibration disc, created by an avsforum member.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=948496

It's free. You'll need a bluray or DVD burner. I think you can also put the mp4 files on a USB stick.

Here are some pics of my installation.....







Main speakers are Polk TSi300, center is Polk CS2 - I haven't hooked up my sub yet (a Jamo) but I will. And I need to find a solution for small surround speakers. I am thinking Polk OWM3, I may have found a set (used but apparently new still in the box) for $80
Receiver is Pioneer VSX920, DVD player is Oppo 981HD and Bluray player is a Vizio (not the best BD player out there though....)
I also have a surge protector, a Wii and PS2. I need to buy a PS3 (I sold mine - PS3 1st gen - when I lived in Brazil)

Looking good! I bet you are excited to use it! I know the feeling. Congrats! Now tell me how the wow disc helps dial yours in. I'm still tweaking mine. I didn't get as much time this weekend to mess with it

I too just took back a 65" Vizio (the M650VSE) due to the exact same issues French_Guy had. So...now I'm in the market for a TV. I noticed Costco had this Samsung for $1250, and am considering it or the new PN64F5300 for $1500 as I am not interested in anything except the picture quality. Not sure if there will be much difference between the two worth $250....if the 5300 isn't reflective it might be worth it if this one is exceptionally bad. I have decent ambient light from side windows, but nothing that hits the TV directly from normal viewing angles. I am guessing it won't be a problem while viewing given the brightness of plasma (unless I'm watching Batman in the middle of the day)...any comment on that or anyone know any reason to get the 5300 over this set?

Don't buy last years model.
$250 more is not going to break you and you wont have buyers remorse thinking 'I should have bought the newer model'
or 'I wonder how much better the new one is'.
Right now there is no info on the improvements over the E533.

I bought mine (the "old" one - E533) at $1,050 at Costco
A "no brainer" at this price, older or not ....!!!

Agreed! at that price it's a win win.