Samsung PS50A656

[SPARTAN086 Mike]

The samsung UK site doesn't have the best record of being "up to date", the 6 series plasma was out for a while before samsung bothered to show that it was on their website .

I would put my money on it being a mistake (i.e. non UK models), but good news if they are, and hopefully not exclusive to DSG.

[ti33er]

Guys, if you are in London go to the SAMSUNG centre in Tottenham Court Road.

They have in store, all the way up to the Series 9 models! - yes, you heard me, SERIES 9!!!

I am sorry to say but when you compare this plasma to the other new series LED LCD models, it is AwFuL (!!!) - I have gone back to front projection but LED (Light Emitting Diode) LCD screens are so much better - first of all they look snazzier imo, are lighter in weight, use less electricity and the pictures are ever so much more vibrant with far better contrast (looks better than a KURO to me)...and most importantly, far less judder!

I will hang out for a long time before going back to panel viewing and if you don't believe me, go see for yourself!

All meant with the best intentions, for your viewing pleasure!

[urbanshepherd]

Originally Posted by ti33er

Guys, if you are in London go to the SAMSUNG centre in Tottenham Court Road.

They have in store, all the way up to the Series 9 models! - yes, you heard me, SERIES 9!!!

I am sorry to say but when you compare this plasma to the other new series LED LCD models, it is AwFuL (!!!) - I have gone back to front projection but LED (Light Emitting Diode) LCD screens are so much better - first of all they look snazzier imo, are lighter in weight, use less electricity and the pictures are ever so much more vibrant with far better contrast (looks better than a KURO to me)...and most importantly, far less judder!

I will hang out for a long time before going back to panel viewing and if you don't believe me, go see for yourself!

All meant with the best intentions, for your viewing pleasure!

You might want to have a read of;

Samsung LE40A786 Review

In principle, I like the idea of LED backlighting, but very much still an early technology...

Have a look an OLED screen, even more interesting!

[Jimb077]

Right.........please help as I'm a complete dribbling mess...........I'm in all kinds of confusion!!

I'm currently torn between the PS50A656, LE46A656 or 686 and the Sony KDL46W4500!

Would all you PS50A656 owners recommend it or would the other options be a better alternative?

Thanks

[Sicco]

I just discovered the LED technique on the LE A786 set.
It's black levels are supposed to be extreme! Black is realy black.
But does anyone knows the other differences between the PS A656 and the LE A786?
Are it still the same differences between LCD and Plasma?

[Jimb077]

Check out this site......they really rate the 656!!

50 Plasma - Reviews and Price Comparison on 50 Plasma TVs

[ti33er]

Hi Urban Shepherd! Seeing is believing and in my case, I believe! ...those LED LCD screens leave the plasmas and other LCD models looking drab and boring in my opinion. Honestly, bad review or not, there is definitely something to those LED screens which puts them in another league. I emplore anyone to actually go and see one, side by side against older LCD/plasma technology and then comment - to me it is like DLP vs. LCD projectors, once you have seen DLP you won't go back to LCD..unless you are a 'rainbow' effect nit-picker!

[ti33er]

PS. I owned that PS50A656 for a week. It is definitely not the pinacle of technology! Juddering in DVD and Bluray is offensive in my opinion. It is good for sports on TV though.

[Sicco]

so you're saying that even the plasma-freaks/lovers will be stunned by the picture quality of a LED-LCD??

[urbanshepherd]

Originally Posted by ti33er

Hi Urban Shepherd! Seeing is believing and in my case, I believe! ...those LED LCD screens leave the plasmas and other LCD models looking drab and boring in my opinion. Honestly, bad review or not, there is definitely something to those LED screens which puts them in another league. I emplore anyone to actually go and see one, side by side against older LCD/plasma technology and then comment - to me it is like DLP vs. LCD projectors, once you have seen DLP you won't go back to LCD..unless you are a 'rainbow' effect nit-picker!

I do need to see them, and no doubt I'll be impressed, however there's one major thing that keeps me from LCD and thats motion resolution.

Even with 100hz (or beyond as recently announced) they still lag plasma and thats quite a crucial issue for (sport/gaming). With 100hz comes more input lag since you have to wait for the next frame before you can calculate the intermediate frame, so for me its just not quite the right technology.

And before this is taken as bashing one side for the other, plasma too has its faults.

From the proud owner of a CRT, albeit a long in the tooth one.

[ti33er]

Those LED LCD screens have very fast on/off pixels. To my eyes, the picture is superior in every single aspect...but then again I would urge one to see for themselves as this is/was my finding - they had the PS50A656 there and I was looking at like for like, LED wins hands-down!

In addition, I found a green, almost rainbow like effect trail on the PS50A656 on occassion when watching bluray movies...this might be the phosphor lag that has been mentioned in this thread?

[SPARTAN086 Mike]

Originally Posted by Jimb077

Right.........please help as I'm a complete dribbling mess...........I'm in all kinds of confusion!!

I'm currently torn between the PS50A656, LE46A656 or 686 and the Sony KDL46W4500!

Would all you PS50A656 owners recommend it or would the other options be a better alternative?

Thanks

You'll see from my past posts that I have been very happy with the PS50A656, but nonetheless its very important to have the flip side of the coin, such as with ti33er.

I'm a full time student, as such I have a fairly restricted income (financed by my work as a part time kitchen/bathroom salesman) so I have a tight budget, and weigh the pro's and con's of any purchase heavily, especially when it comes to AV. The PS50A656 was basically the best I could afford with the budget I had (£1000 ish), so for me, my expectations, and the price, it was and has proven to me to be a sound investment.

My upgrade to the PS50A656 was from a 720p LE32R88BD 32" LCD, so the upgrade has been a big leap for me, and I think the plasma will serve me well for the rest of my time at university at the very least, which is why I made sure to go with JL to get the 5 year warranty.

Ti33er's points are very valid aswell, as he obviously has more in depth experience and practical experience with TV's than I do, but the main factor in me getting this over anything else is that it is the best I can do for the money. I would love a series 7/8/9 plasma or LED screen, don't get me wrong, but its simply out of my budget. All factors considered, I've been very happy with my purchase .

[Sicco]

Great explanation Mike, but could you point out what you're missing on the ps50a656? What if you did have the extra money to spend on a set. What should have been better than?

[vinny41]

If any needs anymore informtion about this set suggest you do a search in google for PN50A650 this is the USA version of the PS50A656

[Aubec]

Originally Posted by ti33er

Guys, if you are in London go to the SAMSUNG centre in Tottenham Court Road.

They have in store, all the way up to the Series 9 models! - yes, you heard me, SERIES 9!!!

I am sorry to say but when you compare this plasma to the other new series LED LCD models, it is AwFuL (!!!) - I have gone back to front projection but LED (Light Emitting Diode) LCD screens are so much better - first of all they look snazzier imo, are lighter in weight, use less electricity and the pictures are ever so much more vibrant with far better contrast (looks better than a KURO to me)...and most importantly, far less judder!

I will hang out for a long time before going back to panel viewing and if you don't believe me, go see for yourself!

All meant with the best intentions, for your viewing pleasure!

I have to disagree with you ti33er.

I got fed up today and went to see the 756, 786, 856 and 956 LCDs, with the budget to buy any of them - expecting to come home with the 9 series. What did I order? The PS50A656 I was looking at originally - had to pay £100 more than I would have had JL not run out of stock, but still happy with the purchase based on shop floor viewing and the extra £300 in my pocket.

The black levels ARE better on the LED models (if you don't mind light bleeding due to the low LED resolution compared to the LCD resolution on top of it) - but there's barely anything in it IMHO, and they still don't quite do it for me colour wise (I probably like my picture a bit warmer than is technically correct to be fair). Off angle viewing is still a big problem too...
With regard to the other points, weight is pretty much irrelevant in a screen of this size since its not going anywhere; the frames are a matter of personal taste; and with all the other electronic gubbins I've got under the TV, the difference in electricity is also irrelevant! On the Judder front, I have to say it didn't seem to be a problem in store, but I'll reserve judgement for when I've got it connected to my own rig and can explore all the options properly.

That said, when mine gets delivered, if I spot any of the problems you've had, it will be doing a sharp turnaround and I'll be letting everyone know! What I'll buy then, I just don't know...