Hello everyone I have a question. Whenever I go and look at the 58B860 the sales people tell me that the 58B550 is the same tv just without the widgets and its about $1000.00 cheaper. Is that correct? When I looked at Samsungs website it shows that the dynamic contrast ratio is less on the 550 than the 860 and it does not have the widgets. Does anyone have any input on this?
Samsung 58B550 vs 58B860 questions
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IMO the bottom line picture should be the same but with more control and adjustments on the 860 I would think you could get a better picture.
For $1000 less you could have it professionally calibrated and have as good a picture and still save several hundred dollars.
I'm not sure about the difference in the glass and the filter of the 860.
IMO the bottom line picture should be the same but with more control and adjustments on the 860 I would think you could get a better picture.
For $1000 less you could have it professionally calibrated and have as good a picture and still save several hundred dollars.
I'm not sure about the difference in the glass and the filter of the 860.
I don't know the exact difference but I bought a pn58b550 about three weeks ago.. After I had the sales guys tell me it was the same as the 860 except blah blah blah... I even had them set the two next to each other to see if I could tell the difference.. With my girlfriend in my ear I took the bigger one.... Two weeks later I took it back because It just seemed dim to me.. I got a 240hz lg that cost me a couple hundred more and it had all the problems that come with an lcd and I couldn't keep from noticing it... Took the lcd back today and brought home the pn50b860 and I feel the best about this tv so far.. It seems crisper than the 550 and the picture in general seems better.
if you do not require internet TV buy samsung PN58B550 is good enough http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-PN58B550-58-Inch-1080p-Plasma/dp/B001ULCYHU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1266766198&sr=1-1
from what i read, 8 series is just with additional features added. worthwhile only if you need internet TV
if you do not require internet TV buy samsung PN58B550 is good enough http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-PN58B550-58-Inch-1080p-Plasma/dp/B001ULCYHU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1266766198&sr=1-1
from what i read, 8 series is just with additional features added. worthwhile only if you need internet TV
They use the same plasma panel (and properly setup the 550 is not "more dim" per the other poster). The differences are:
-- The 860 has a much better anti-glare filter. This will not only help with reflection but increase perceived contrast.
-- The 860 has Cinema Smooth for 96Hz playback of 1080p/24Hz content (the 550 will play it at 60Hz using 3:2 pulldown).
-- The 860 has the Internet and home networking features and plays more media types via USB than the 550.
-- The 860 has a few more picture control options in the user menu and more importantly has a full CMS for professional calibration control of gamma, etc. in the service menu.
-- The 860 has only 1 Component/Composite input -- the 550 has 3.
-- The 860 has the worst internal speakers ever on a large TV.
-- The 860 is half as thick (1.4" versus 2.9").
-- The 860 is not available in 63", the 550 is.
In the new models coming out within a couple months, there will be 63" versions in the super thin, full featured models.
-- The 860 has a much better anti-glare filter. This will not only help with reflection but increase perceived contrast.
-- The 860 has Cinema Smooth for 96Hz playback of 1080p/24Hz content (the 550 will play it at 60Hz using 3:2 pulldown).
-- The 860 has the Internet and home networking features and plays more media types via USB than the 550.
-- The 860 has a few more picture control options in the user menu and more importantly has a full CMS for professional calibration control of gamma, etc. in the service menu.
-- The 860 has only 1 Component/Composite input -- the 550 has 3.
-- The 860 has the worst internal speakers ever on a large TV.
-- The 860 is half as thick (1.4" versus 2.9").
-- The 860 is not available in 63", the 550 is.
In the new models coming out within a couple months, there will be 63" versions in the super thin, full featured models.
It is almost identical looking except that it is half as thick, which I noted and is certainly a valid consideration though only one that matters if you're looking at it from a side angle. Some people prefer to focus on looking at it from in front of the screen.
The picture processing is also identical, but for the important inclusion of a full CMS which allows professional ISF calibration and control of gamma, etc. Though the default gamma on the rest of the line is very good out of the box. The perceived picture quality differences come not from a better engine but from the anti-glare filter and single sheet of glass.
It is almost identical looking except that it is half as thick, which I noted and is certainly a valid consideration though only one that matters if you're looking at it from a side angle. Some people prefer to focus on looking at it from in front of the screen.
The picture processing is also identical, but for the important inclusion of a full CMS which allows professional ISF calibration and control of gamma, etc. Though the default gamma on the rest of the line is very good out of the box. The perceived picture quality differences come not from a better engine but from the anti-glare filter and single sheet of glass.
Actually it is the opposite. People who come to this forum represent by self-selection a very small minority of total users, even for these high end sets. Statistically a large majority of users even of high end large screen flat panels use the default stand and default internal speakers. Mounting is very rare and full-time use of external speakers is not the norm. And some people have av receivers and speaker systems but still don't use them for their primary viewing.
It's perfectly legitimate for some shoppers to discount the speakers because they know they plan to use external speakers. It's not not correct to assume that's most buyers.
Actually it is the opposite. People who come to this forum represent by self-selection a very small minority of total users, even for these high end sets. Statistically a large majority of users even of high end large screen flat panels use the default stand and default internal speakers. Mounting is very rare and full-time use of external speakers is not the norm. And some people have av receivers and speaker systems but still don't use them for their primary viewing.
It's perfectly legitimate for some shoppers to discount the speakers because they know they plan to use external speakers. It's not not correct to assume that's most buyers.
I can only speak for the 58" version but I would be surprised if they are different. The speakers have been almost universally panned in professional reviews and I played with them extensively when testing the 58" unit. I can honestly say I've never personally encoutered worse in a large screen TV. On the showroom they had to be cranked almost to full volume to clearly make out dialogue and in the controlled environment they still had to be over 50% and had very poor fidelity. They are decently powered for internal speakers at 15W per speaker but the physical speakers themselves are poor presumably because of the need to fix in the thin panel.
I can only speak for the 58" version but I would be surprised if they are different. The speakers have been almost universally panned in professional reviews and I played with them extensively when testing the 58" unit. I can honestly say I've never personally encoutered worse in a large screen TV. On the showroom they had to be cranked almost to full volume to clearly make out dialogue and in the controlled environment they still had to be over 50% and had very poor fidelity. They are decently powered for internal speakers at 15W per speaker but the physical speakers themselves are poor presumably because of the need to fix in the thin panel.
How do you know they use the same panel? Documentation please...
All the Samsung literature over the past year has said 1.2 inches, same as the LED's, not 1.4. I want to see proof that it is 1.4 inches, and not 1.2
The rest of the info in your post you provided was quite helpful.
How do you know they use the same panel? Documentation please...
All the Samsung literature over the past year has said 1.2 inches, same as the LED's, not 1.4. I want to see proof that it is 1.4 inches, and not 1.2
The rest of the info in your post you provided was quite helpful.
It's a pity that people on AVS who don't know what they are talking about are usually the first ones to pipe up and say all these panels are essentially the same. If you folks don't know what you are talking about, then keep quiet rather than mislead people.
These Samsungs have been out almost a whole year and people are still foolishly talking nonsense saying the B550 is the same PQ as the B860, and the only difference is the Internet features and a darker filter.
THAT"S BECAUSE EVERYONE ALWAYS OVERLOOKS THE FACT THAT THE B450/550 DOES NOT FEATURE THE "CRYSTAL FULL HD ENGINE" LIKE ON THE STEP-UP MODELS
It's a pity that people on AVS who don't know what they are talking about are usually the first ones to pipe up and say all these panels are essentially the same. If you folks don't know what you are talking about, then keep quiet rather than mislead people.
These Samsungs have been out almost a whole year and people are still foolishly talking nonsense saying the B550 is the same PQ as the B860, and the only difference is the Internet features and a darker filter.
Proof? Please prove to me that the B550 (as well as the 4 series) has the "Crystal Full HD Engine" as is found on the step-up models?
Prove it please. Prove that the B550 has the exact same processing as the 8 series. Otherwise be more careful in your answers next time so as not to mislead folks.
Proof? Please prove to me that the B550 (as well as the 4 series) has the "Crystal Full HD Engine" as is found on the step-up models?
Prove it please. Prove that the B550 has the exact same processing as the 8 series. Otherwise be more careful in your answers next time so as not to mislead folks.
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