Samsung PS50B650 Plasma HDTV Review

**The News Bot** · 13-09-2009, 3:05 PM

Reviewed by David Mackenzie
...Samsung's PS50B650 is a slightly frustrating, but still recommendable HDTV. There's so, so much going for it: excellent styling, great video processing, calibration controls which allow for Reference quality colour reproduction and Greyscale and Gamma that's nearly as great, features galore, and incredible picture detail.
Read the full review...

alexcoupe · 16-09-2009, 4:54 PM

Panasonic has one of the best 50 inch sets avalable.

Monarch · 16-09-2009, 9:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alexcoupe

Panasonic has one of the best 50 inch sets avalable.

So do Samsung...and LG as a matter of fact

great review again David, do you have any video footage/pictures of the 50Hz bug? It would be interesting to see as I don't think anybody near me has the Samsung plasmas for me to check out (there were a couple in a small store but it's since gone and no more are coming because he struggled to sell them). I'd like to see it myself to know how bad it really is, because I'm wary to recommend them, despite the otherwise excellent performance.

MateoPatryk · 16-09-2009, 9:27 PM

I paste one of my post in the 560 review thread. Hope it would be helpful for those undecided whether to buy a 650.
"As you can see from my previous posts I liked PQ of ps 50b650 very much although I had some remarks about the 50hz/100hz real life issue. After spending more time comparing different sets I can now say that in my opinion it is a minor issue and very very seldom any artifacts apear. I have decided to buy this set and after playing dvd and watching to satelite tv I can tell that the picture is excellent, even better than I expected and what I have seen in the shops (lighting?).
I have not noticed any artifacts, apart some small one in only one scene in dvd movie, which drew my attention initially.
The only real minor shortcomings IMHO are:
TV is not calibrated yet and as it is I would say that the black is not as deep as I would like it to be
The burn-in is there, you notice it when you have black screen. This become less visible after initial period of watching.
Excellent TV overall!"

One more thing: the 650 review is very good. Although I find the final score "Above average" too low. From my perspective the 50 hz issue doesn't really influence the real life performance.

alexcoupe · 16-09-2009, 10:22 PM

My apologies didn't want to disrespect david's review. I am a newb to this site

bus · 17-09-2009, 1:16 AM

I am more relived regarding my purchase of the LG PS8000. After reading this review , in which I was almost certain to get Samsung. The 50 HZ bug would have been a massive issue for me.

JeffCr · 02-10-2009, 11:53 AM

My first post, after reading the review I went out an bought one of these, fairly pleased but I need to spend some time calbrating. I am seeing some digital processing artefects on Freeview although having gone from 32" CRT to 50" plasma I guess any faults with Freeview pictures would be exaggerated.

Anyway, my first question is quite simple. I intend having FreeSAT installed on HDMI 1 and Freeview (via Sony DVD recorder) on HDMI 2. How do I get the TV to default to HDMI 1 on startup?

Thanks
JeffC

Xiaohu · 09-10-2009, 10:44 AM

Thanks for the review David, very useful.

I am split between the PS50B650 and the LG 50PS800. I can not figure out which is better or which is least bad.

In your opinion which is the better TV?

Thanks

Suave · 19-11-2009, 5:10 PM

Hi Guys,

When can we can expect a review of the PS-50B850? I thought a set was due for delivery quite some time ago?

Many Thanks!

Suave!

.stu · 25-11-2009, 12:13 PM

I've had a PS50B850 for a week, and the 50Hz tearing bug is quite noticeable anywhere where there is an edge between a bright and dark area that is moving across the screen. This means someone walking in front of a bright window, a panning shot with some stormtroopers stood in front of a dark background, the characters in Family Guy with their black outlines moving around too fast, etc. I would say that the fault is a mojor problem and affects an awful lot of european broadcast material - I see it at least once a day.

Apart from this, and the infamous buzzing issue, I love this TV, but unfortunately it's going back coz Samsung are not going to fix it.

*mattarth* · 22-12-2009, 4:44 PM

Hi David, thanks for the review, very helpful. My mum recently bought the TV and as she doesn't know much about technology I'm trying to set it up for her.

Would it be possible for you to please post the calibrated settings you found to be best so that I can use them as a baseline for setting up her TV and not spend too long a time figuring out what's best?

If anyone else has some settings they found to be optimal I'd be very grateful if you would quote them here.