Samsung LN40A650 VS LN40A550 - Blu-ray Forum

BoschRock · 01-11-2009, 06:13 PM

I am looking to ditch the plasma and get a LCD. How would you compare the two? Is the extra $300 worth the T.O.C. version?

BoschRock · 01-11-2009, 06:15 PM

Also, can you turn the "motion enhancement" off on the TOC? without turning the 120hz off?

kobeeightjp · 01-11-2009, 06:42 PM

I would say that it isn't worth the extra $300 IMO. If you are a sports fanatic and you have the budget then go for it, but I don't think the 120hz alone is worth another 300 dollars. Maybe if you were getting a couple more inches and contrast ratio, but not for that feature alone.

I actually just bought the ln46a550 yesterday (I contemplated the same thing you did) and it has a beautiful display. Movies (blu-rays) look phenomenal on it. Although I was reading online, that you wan't to be careful which model you choose when buying samsungs. Samsung sometimes gets their tv assembled by different manufacturers that can be determined by...either an A, C, or S model. There is a sticker on the side of a tv (check it out on the display model at the store) and under the label "version" there is a number....the number either begins with an A, C, or S. "S" is what you want. This means that it was made by samsung. The "A" is the worst quality. I was lucky enough to get an "S." Unfortunately, I dont think there is a way to tell without opening the t.v. package I don't have first hand experience with the"a,", but I read online about it and thought I should share the info with you before you buy.

I am very satisfied with my t.v. Good luck with your decision.

kobeeightjp · 01-11-2009, 06:43 PM

and yes, I do believe you can turn the motion blur off without turning off the 120hz.

s0nIc · 01-11-2009, 07:36 PM

Go for the 650 trust me youll love it

BoschRock · 01-11-2009, 07:50 PM

Hmmm... it'd a difficult choice. How are the black levels on either in a dark room? It doesn't have the reflective white blacks some tvs have (mostly LGs, it's called "bleed through"), does it?

PanasonicPlasmaMan · 01-11-2009, 08:16 PM

Go with the 650 its a great TV

CharlestonLion · 01-11-2009, 08:23 PM

The original poster must have been reading my mind with this post. I was at CC yesterday looking at each of these 40" TVs, primarily b/c each was on sale. They had the 550 for $950.00 and the 650 for $1,200.00 (I think)....I should have jumped on one of them, b/c the sale ended yesterday. Anyways, I was not sure if the 650 was worth the extra $$$ or not, but it sounds as though the 550 is a very nice TV in itself. I think that I am going to jump on one of these, but am hoping to find them at a discounted price once again.

Kryptron · 01-11-2009, 09:04 PM

I own the 40A550. At the time i got my tv the 650 was $500 more. I wasn't and still am not a fan of automotion plus. But i like the finish on the 650 better and it does according to samsung have 50,000 "dynamic constrast" vs the 550s 30,000 "dynamic". I couldn't see a difference and don't believe in dynamic contrast numbers.

BoschRock · 01-11-2009, 09:21 PM

Kryptron, have you compared the two sets side-by-side? Would you say there's very little or no difference between the blacks? Black is one of the most important aspects for me when I'm buying a TV.

Frag · 01-11-2009, 09:57 PM

If you are going to be watching blu-ray's get the 650. You can then watch movies at 24p which is the way they should be watched. When you turn off the motion processing it does NOT turn off 120hz.

Kryptron · 01-11-2009, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BoschRock

Kryptron, have you compared the two sets side-by-side? Would you say there's very little or no difference between the blacks? Black is one of the most important aspects for me when I'm buying a TV.

I did indeed compare both sets side by side and noticed very little difference in the 40" models. There was however a noticeable difference on the 46" models thought, the 650 definitely had better blacks and the picture looked sharper and clearer on the larger display ( Both with Video settings set identical minus automotion). The fact that it can do 24p with auto motion off is a great selling point but at the time i bought mine it was not worth the extra $500.

lettucenpico · 01-11-2009, 10:02 PM

It's almost like saying why go with a Tacoma when you go with a Tundra.

Get the 650, you'll love it. I have the 630 and I love it.

Kryptron · 01-11-2009, 10:11 PM

To the OP, i would seriously consider the 46" 650. If you have the room for it, it's definitely worth it. If you don't and you can get a good deal on the 40650 get the 650. I just checked the prices and the 650 is now the price i paid for my 550 6-7 Months ago.

BoschRock · 01-11-2009, 10:41 PM

Thanks for all the advice guys (maybe some gals)!

I have been researching the TOC sets, but it looks like over 50%* (!!!) of them suffer from flash-light effects and/or bleed-in.

*Number taken from a poll on AVSFORUM.com

lettucenpico · 01-12-2009, 12:44 AM

Never had a problem...

Blu_balls · 01-12-2009, 01:04 AM

I picked up the 46" 650 a few months ago and I am very happy! I have read that some people found a purple haze on their tv's when the screen is all black. I saw the same thing with a lamp on in the room, turn out the lamp and the screen becomes very black, so I think it's the UltraClear Panel.

I personally really like the ToC on it as it adds just enough of a highlight around the edge of the screen without being over powering. Is it worth $300? Probably not. But I had been saving for a while and figured this was what I really wanted, and if I didn't get it I'd regret it down the road. I guess it's up to personal preference really but I'm glad I got it. But like I said, I budgeted for it so why not?

Tru2theBlu · 01-12-2009, 01:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BoschRock

Also, can you turn the "motion enhancement" off on the TOC? without turning the 120hz off?

You can't turn 120hz off. If you turn off the motion enhancement, it will help give your movies a more natural look. 120hz will improve your movie viewing though.

Tru2theBlu · 01-12-2009, 01:52 AM

Also...... Why are you ditching the plasma? The panny's get such great reviews. Just curious.......

BoschRock · 01-12-2009, 02:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tru2theBlu

Also...... Why are you ditching the plasma? The panny's get such great reviews. Just curious.......

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=80616

It's a sad day.

01-11-2009, 06:13 PM	#1
BoschRock Senior Member Member since:Sep 2008 Location:Portland, OR Blu-ray collection:16 Trading Score:3	Samsung LN40A650 VS LN40A550 I am looking to ditch the plasma and get a LCD. How would you compare the two? Is the extra $300 worth the T.O.C. version?

01-11-2009, 09:04 PM	#9
Kryptron Expert Member Member since:Sep 2007 Location:Tampa Bay, FL Home Theater Gallery:21 4K collection:83 Blu-ray collection:450 Trading Score:4	I own the 40A550. At the time i got my tv the 650 was $500 more. I wasn't and still am not a fan of automotion plus. But i like the finish on the 650 better and it does according to samsung have 50,000 "dynamic constrast" vs the 550s 30,000 "dynamic". I couldn't see a difference and don't believe in dynamic contrast numbers. Last edited by Kryptron; 01-11-2009 at 10:00 PM.

01-11-2009, 10:11 PM	#14
Kryptron Expert Member Member since:Sep 2007 Location:Tampa Bay, FL Home Theater Gallery:21 4K collection:83 Blu-ray collection:450 Trading Score:4	To the OP, i would seriously consider the 46" 650. If you have the room for it, it's definitely worth it. If you don't and you can get a good deal on the 40650 get the 650. I just checked the prices and the 650 is now the price i paid for my 550 6-7 Months ago. Last edited by Kryptron; 01-11-2009 at 10:14 PM.

Similar Threads
thread	Forum	Thread Starter	Replies	Last Post
Samsung LN40a650 problem (maybe)	LCD TVs	Cubone	9	02-05-2012 04:28 AM
Samsung LN46A650 And LN40A650.	LCD TVs	steve1971	6	01-20-2009 09:36 PM
Just got new Samsung LN40A550!!!	LCD TVs	pinoyplaya	6	01-16-2009 05:50 AM
Panasonic 42PZ80U or Samsung LN40A550	Display Theory and Discussion	BoschRock	25	10-09-2008 05:46 AM

01-11-2009, 06:15 PM	#2
BoschRock Senior Member Member since:Sep 2008 Location:Portland, OR Blu-ray collection:16 Trading Score:3	Also, can you turn the "motion enhancement" off on the TOC? without turning the 120hz off?

01-11-2009, 06:42 PM	#3
kobeeightjp Active Member Member since:Dec 2008 Home Theater Gallery:12 Blu-ray collection:75 Blu-ray reviews:11 Trading Score:1	I would say that it isn't worth the extra $300 IMO. If you are a sports fanatic and you have the budget then go for it, but I don't think the 120hz alone is worth another 300 dollars. Maybe if you were getting a couple more inches and contrast ratio, but not for that feature alone. I actually just bought the ln46a550 yesterday (I contemplated the same thing you did) and it has a beautiful display. Movies (blu-rays) look phenomenal on it. Although I was reading online, that you wan't to be careful which model you choose when buying samsungs. Samsung sometimes gets their tv assembled by different manufacturers that can be determined by...either an A, C, or S model. There is a sticker on the side of a tv (check it out on the display model at the store) and under the label "version" there is a number....the number either begins with an A, C, or S. "S" is what you want. This means that it was made by samsung. The "A" is the worst quality. I was lucky enough to get an "S." Unfortunately, I dont think there is a way to tell without opening the t.v. package I don't have first hand experience with the"a,", but I read online about it and thought I should share the info with you before you buy. I am very satisfied with my t.v. Good luck with your decision.

01-11-2009, 06:43 PM	#4
kobeeightjp Active Member Member since:Dec 2008 Home Theater Gallery:12 Blu-ray collection:75 Blu-ray reviews:11 Trading Score:1	and yes, I do believe you can turn the motion blur off without turning off the 120hz.

01-11-2009, 07:36 PM	#5
s0nIc Banned Member since:Jan 2009 Location:omaha, ne Home Theater Gallery:6 Blu-ray collection:6	Go for the 650 trust me youll love it

01-11-2009, 07:50 PM	#6
BoschRock Senior Member Member since:Sep 2008 Location:Portland, OR Blu-ray collection:16 Trading Score:3	Hmmm... it'd a difficult choice. How are the black levels on either in a dark room? It doesn't have the reflective white blacks some tvs have (mostly LGs, it's called "bleed through"), does it?

01-11-2009, 08:16 PM	#7
PanasonicPlasmaMan Special Member Member since:Jul 2008 Location:California Home Theater Gallery:14 Blu-ray collection:25 Blu-ray reviews:1 Trading Score:18	Go with the 650 its a great TV

01-11-2009, 08:23 PM	#8
CharlestonLion Active Member Member since:Nov 2007 Location:Mount Pleasant, SC Trading Score:1	The original poster must have been reading my mind with this post. I was at CC yesterday looking at each of these 40" TVs, primarily b/c each was on sale. They had the 550 for $950.00 and the 650 for $1,200.00 (I think)....I should have jumped on one of them, b/c the sale ended yesterday. Anyways, I was not sure if the 650 was worth the extra $$$ or not, but it sounds as though the 550 is a very nice TV in itself. I think that I am going to jump on one of these, but am hoping to find them at a discounted price once again.

01-11-2009, 09:21 PM	#10
BoschRock Senior Member Member since:Sep 2008 Location:Portland, OR Blu-ray collection:16 Trading Score:3	Kryptron, have you compared the two sets side-by-side? Would you say there's very little or no difference between the blacks? Black is one of the most important aspects for me when I'm buying a TV.

01-11-2009, 09:57 PM	#11
Frag Junior Member Member since:Dec 2008	If you are going to be watching blu-ray's get the 650. You can then watch movies at 24p which is the way they should be watched. When you turn off the motion processing it does NOT turn off 120hz.

01-11-2009, 10:02 PM	#13
lettucenpico Power Member Member since:May 2008 Location:O-town FL Home Theater Gallery:4 Blu-ray collection:45 Trading Score:3	It's almost like saying why go with a Tacoma when you go with a Tundra. Get the 650, you'll love it. I have the 630 and I love it.

01-11-2009, 10:41 PM	#15
BoschRock Senior Member Member since:Sep 2008 Location:Portland, OR Blu-ray collection:16 Trading Score:3	Thanks for all the advice guys (maybe some gals)! I have been researching the TOC sets, but it looks like over 50%* (!!!) of them suffer from flash-light effects and/or bleed-in. *Number taken from a poll on AVSFORUM.com

01-12-2009, 12:44 AM	#16
lettucenpico Power Member Member since:May 2008 Location:O-town FL Home Theater Gallery:4 Blu-ray collection:45 Trading Score:3	Never had a problem...

01-12-2009, 01:04 AM	#17
Blu_balls Member Member since:Dec 2008 Location:OLYMPIC TOWN! Vancouver, B.C., Canada Blu-ray collection:41	I picked up the 46" 650 a few months ago and I am very happy! I have read that some people found a purple haze on their tv's when the screen is all black. I saw the same thing with a lamp on in the room, turn out the lamp and the screen becomes very black, so I think it's the UltraClear Panel. I personally really like the ToC on it as it adds just enough of a highlight around the edge of the screen without being over powering. Is it worth $300? Probably not. But I had been saving for a while and figured this was what I really wanted, and if I didn't get it I'd regret it down the road. I guess it's up to personal preference really but I'm glad I got it. But like I said, I budgeted for it so why not?

01-12-2009, 01:52 AM	#19
Tru2theBlu Senior Member Member since:Oct 2008 Location:Portland, OR Blu-ray collection:54 Trading Score:10	Also...... Why are you ditching the plasma? The panny's get such great reviews. Just curious.......

Best Blu-ray Movie Deals