Samsung LN52A650

Just a few short years ago, TV manufacturers competed heavily in bringing out the best TVs in terms of basic features like size, image quality, and price.  Now, many other cutting edge features matter just as much with the rise of HDTVs, culminating in different models of HDTVs for similar sizes. The Samsung LN52A650 is one of the many Samsung 52 inch displays out there and the 650 model is the midrange that has more features than the 550 and less features than the more costly 750 model.  The real question is whether or not the feature list justifies the price.

Design

Just from looking at the design, the Samsung LN52A650 clearly separates itself from the lower models by incorporating Samsung’s Touch of Color scheme. It involves the use of red-accents that are noticeably present on the top and bottom of the bezel frame while transitioning to the piano black finish in the center which is pretty eye-catching and looks great as long as you like the color red. It may not be everyone’s taste, but it’s a unique approach to TV frames scoring some good points on style and innovation.

Actual user review:
“I originally purchased a 50″ Panasonic Viera plasma and was happy. I went to another store just looking 2 weeks later and was blown away by the picture of the Samsung 650 52″. I immediately returned the plasma and the sales guys thought I was crazy. I couldn’t be happier with the Samsung. Must be the 120hz AutoMotion. Crystal clear pictures when watching blu-rays. Makes you feel like your shooting it or almost like your watching it being filmed. Some people might not like it but I love it. Its all in the motion.” – B. Hoffler (Denver, USA)

Performance

The Samsung LN52A650 handles black levels extremely well as well as yielding off accurate colors in the most vivid scenes. Although dark-screened movies don’t display very well in rooms with a lot of ambient light due to the glossy display, this particular model handles black levels far better than most other competing TVs. The automatic settings stored in the TV should be good enough for most input sources.

The LN52A650 is incorporated with a Auto Motion Plus 120Hz feature that reduces judders and stutters. You will experience smoother transitions between fast moving frames. It doesn’t work flawlessly when it’s always on or always off and can work best in certain scenes or movies. When it comes to sports, however, the benefits of the Auto Motion Plus really shine and output far better than other high motion scenes. It also does a pretty good job turning down the infamous “triple ball effect” that many TV displays suffer from.

Interface

Navigating through the menus using the new clickable wheel can be a tad inconvenient due to the lack of responsiveness, but the newly designed transparent menus make up for it. The text is fairly large for good legibility and nice help descriptions add some clarity to the different options available.

Extras

In addition to the 4 generous HDMI ports and pair of component-video inputs, the Samsung LN52A650 also provides an Ethernet port allowing access to the Internet. Once connected to the Internet, various RSS feeds, stock tickers, and local weather information can be obtained via the new InfoLink RSS feature which can be really handy.

Bottom Line

With all these cool features and improvements, and with current street prices below $2000, the Samsung LN52A650 is a pretty good buy for a 52 inch display. Nothing can be done with the hint of red around the frame, but the TV in terms of functionality offers a solid performance that won’t disappoint.

More user comments:
• “The picture is simply amazing on the TV. I was delighted with the purchasing experience. The TV arrived on time, the Amazon white glove installers set it up and made sure it was working before they left (taking the boxes with them). I picked the time that I wanted it delivered. Picture quality is the most important feature of course. This picture just looks stunning no adjustments required from the time that it was setup. You can tweak it for Games vs. Movies and that is about all that it requires. View from all angles is fantastic” - D. Erdmann (USA)
• “I’ve had this for 3 months. I’ve watched HD, SD and Blu-Ray and cannot find a flaw. The LN52A650 handles motion extremely well to where blurring and other artifacts are virtually non-existent. The AMP is a very cool feature that brings a realism to film making it seem more life-like, or as if it were originally shot on HD Video. Some have said this gives off a “soap opera” effect. I can see that description, but to me it makes film based DVD’s and movies look more like your watching a real-life play, viewing it through a window. It’s a very cool effect!” – Scomeal (NC,USA)

Average User Rating: Click here for more user reviews

Samsung LN52A650 Now at Sale at Amazon.com