Customer Reviews

Samsung PN42C450 42-Inch 720p Plasma HDTV (Black)

5 star:		(68)
4 star:		(30)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(15)

 

 

Just received the TV today! It arrived a day early, which was a pleasant surprise. Once I fired it up, I was ecstatic with this set. The quality is amazing for the price, the picture blows away a top of the line 42" 1080p LCD display that I've seen. Deep rich colors, high contrast, fluid motion...there is nothing not to like! Streamed Spartacus off Netflix, and compared to my old little 22" LCD it really came to life.(Even if the writing is really bad)

It was able to find some basic cable channels in HD, which is awesome, and Modern Warfare 2 looks simply astounding (again, much better than on aforementioned 42" and 22" LCDs.)

The sound is decent, it's actually better than I was expecting. It's obviously no Home Theatre, but I was impressed. It's got a few connections which aren't listed on Amazon...the 3 HDMI, 1 PC, 1 USB, 1 Component, 1 Dual Component/Composite, Audio In 1/8", Audio Out 1/8", Optical out, and cable. The menu is very easy to navigate and adjust, and in it you can turn off it's startup/shut down sound if you find it irritating. It's kinda soothing though.

One negative I've found is that the audio running out isn't controlled by the televisions volume, I guess that's pretty standard, but it means my cheap computer speakers aren't much good. (No remote) Also when installing the base stand it felt like I was about to destroy the thread on the screws that are used...They aren't easy to get in there!

It's very elegant, and looks great in my living room. It's not super bright, which I love (LCD panels hurt my eyes after a while) All in all, for the money it's a fantastic TV. I was looking for quality, affordability, and style.

Everything was fine with it for about a month and a half and then I started noticing faint gray streaks on the tv, only visible if the background is a solid, light color, like during a hockey game or a blue sky, for example.
I couldn't return the set, as a month had already passed, so I contacted Samsung about getting it fixed or replaced under warranty. They sent out a third-party tech who checked it out and confirmed the lines and he explained it to Samsung.
Samsung concluded that the problem has to do with the EMI filter and with the anti-reflective coating, which is on the outside of the glass panel and will not be covered under warranty.
Samsung claims that it is my fault due to negligence, claiming I'd used chemicals to clean the screen, which can not be farther from the truth.
Needless to say, this felt like a slap on the face from Samsung. They don't stand by their product and accuse me of being at fault. When I mention that the anti-reflective filter might have been installed improperly, they just recite the standard "we are very sorry" speech...
I'm very tired of spending hours on the phone trying to argue my point to their reps who are not even listening and am very dissapointed in Samsung. I understand TVs can sometimes have faults, but those faults need to be replaced or fixed.

I am never buying another Samsung product again, because the company doesn't stand behind it.

I am truly impressed with this TV. I have been researching LCD and Plasmas for a little while and found this to be the best HDTV for the price. I had a chance to check it out at a local retailer beforehand and compared to other TVs in the store this one completely stood out. Picture was MUCH better than the 1080 models which were more than twice the price. The Sony next to it showed people with grey suits while this one had deep black and vibrant color. The specs (2million:1 contrast, 600hz) blow away anything I could find in this range and the picture is simply fantastic. Plus you can't beat this price!

I ordered this TV on a Tuesday night, received it on Thursday and the guy brought it to my door(4th floor walkup in NYC). I guess Beach Camera should receive the credit there.

Set it up and the TV was able to find a bunch of HD channels and channels I didn't have before, so that's a big plus. I have to say, like the other review, installing the stand was a pain in the ass. I don't think the screw holes were completely drilled out, but I managed.

Sound is great, no buzzing or anything. It is very sleek and stylish and makes my living room look great. Menu is very easy to navigate and viewing pictures with a card reader or USB is a snap. Just plug it in and you have many options for slideshows with music and other options. PC input also very simple to hook up.

You will not be disappointed. Especially with the free shipping, no tax (for me at least) and the great amazon price, this HDTV cannot be beat!

Last weekend, I purchased the Insignia NS-42P650A11 from BB for $449.00, and then returned it the very next day when this Samsung went on sale. Although the Insignia is essentially a less featured, re-branded Samsung, this TV is well worth the extra $50.00 that I paid for the upgrade. Whether TVs or mp3 players, I prefer Samsung products, which tend to be competitively priced and have superb quality and durability. I am replacing a 27' Samsung TV that I have had for 12 years and still works flawlessly!

This was my first time purchasing an HDTV, and I really did not know what all to look for in one. I am not well-versed in the technology, and the associates at BB really helped out here, encouraging me to choose a plasma over an 37 inch LCD. I hope this information helps prospective buyers who might be on the fence about the two or about buying this HDTV in general.

Some features this has that the Insignia does not:

1. Slightly better PQ, although both can play at 1920 x 1080i

2. Cell light brightness function, which really does make a difference

3. A more sophisticated, although awkward and large, remote that allows direct changes of picture/sound mode and picture size without having to go into the on-screen menu

4. Option to transfer mp3 files and play them through the TV. This might be a common feature on these newer TVs, but I am new to this technology so I would not know.

5. USB port and 1 extra HDMI

6. The touch of red color strip across the bottom of the TV giving it a classier look

7. A much sturdier base. I carried both of these TVs upstairs and found out upon unpacking the box that one of the reasons I had a harder time with the Samsung was because of the much more solid stand.

8. Software upgrade via USB port and self diagnosis capability.

9. I am sure there are other great features, but I am still learning the TV.

10. Screen encasing is much nicer with the touch of red strip at the bottom and clear "lip" hang below the Samsung name.

Addressing other reviews of this TV:

1. I have not heard any buzzing. I wonder if the buzzing some people are getting is due to their AV wiring configuration. I do not have anything hooked up to my TV except a DVD player and my DVR box.

2. The stand is not flimsy

3. The volume capabilities are great. I keep this at 14-18 and I can hear it 3 rooms away. I think the volume goes up to 100. I am not sure. I got it to 57, and it still had a ways to go, but I was not testing it!

4. Hey, the screen is made of glass, there is going to be some glare. I do not find that it interferes with viewing, and I have it sitting in a corner between two windows. I enjoy the PQ during the day as much as I do during the night.

5. Unlike some other reviewers, when I registered this online on 6/13, I did not get a 2-year warranty. I was certainly hoping for it though! What I did find out was that my TV was manufactured just a few weeks ago. Who knows maybe some of the newer sets have had the buzzing issue addressed.

6. After reading some complaints here, I cannot imagine how many more features some people want in a $500, 42' HDTV. Since this is my first one, I do not have anything to measure it against, but I am pretty certain that I have gotten one great TV, especially for this price!

PS: I got an incredible cherry oak, three-shelf TV stand with black glass shelves from Target for $129.00. The TV looks gorgeous on this thing! Maybe you can find it through Amazon as they sell a lot of Target stuff here with free shipping.

Bought this TV today at Se*rs (online & store pickup)for $539. Great picture with Comcast HD. I find the speakers to be fine for regular TV viewing but I use my surround system for DVD viewing and using our HTPC with the TV.

Picture is crisp and clear, lots of fine tuning available in the menus. Yes only one component input (shares with 1 of the composite inputs)but 3 HDMI, 1 component and 1 composite are plenty for me.

Slight cons are power cord is a bit short and a bit of glare if in a room with a lot of windows. TV does NOT come with any cables other than power cord. Remote does seem to need to be pointed directly at TV, minor annoyance, getting a Harmony remote soon anyway.

I did come back here and got a SquareTrade 3 yr warranty. $47 vrs $200 for Se*rs, no-brainer.

UPDATE 4-08: if you go online to Samsung and register the TV there the warranty doubles to TWO YEARS. I called Samsung afterwards just to verify this and it is correct. Makes a great buy better.

I just purchased this TV 3 days ago. I was considering getting a set with 1080 P, but I went with this brand new 720P plasma TV. The picutre is awesome, and the sound is pretty good as well. (All 42 inch TV's come with 2 10 watt speakers; you can always hook up to a stereo). For whatever reason, when I plug my set into an upconvert player, the screen resolution is 1920 by 1080.(awesome picture using an HDMI cable) If you are looking for a great picture with decent sound, this is your set. You cannot beat the price. They are so hot that Amazon can't keep them in stock. Oh, did I tell you that the set looks elegant? It does. The only downside I see so far is that the 10 screws you need to attach the base are a little difficult to screw in. The holes shoud be a little bigger. But that really is the only negative I see. So get off the fence and go buy it. I don't think you will regret it (*One other thing, most shows on TV are still broadcasted in high defintion, but it's 720 P.)

This set replaces a 50" Sony LCD projection HDTV that fell victim to the blue dots of death. It's hooked up to a Motorola HD DVR set top box through HDMI. It's been an adjustment going down to 42" from 50" but it's getting easier. The picture on HD channels is excellent and standard def channels look a lot better than they did on the Sony. The set itself is beautiful and looks great in our living room. The sound is good and there's no buzzing.

The only issues that I have noticed with this TV are the screw holes used for attaching the stand and room brightness. There's no excuse for the poor job Samsung did with not properly threading the ten holes on the stand. As for the brightness of the room, this TV performs better in darker rooms. We've got heavy blinds that block out a lot of light so it's not that big of a deal for us. If you can't control the lighting in the room that you plan on using this set in, then you should probably look at another set.

I gave the whole 1080p vs 720p a lot of thought before purchasing this set. I shouldn't have bothered-it's just marketing hype, in my opinion. All I can say is that the picture's better than the one I got on the Sony. And getting it for $539 makes it that much better. Oh, and don't forget the SquareTrade three year warranty for $47...

We recently found ourselves in a spot where we needed to find a replacement for a bedroom television. So the hunt was on for a TV to replace a 32" 'old style' direct-view unit that would see about 8-10 hours of use per week. The replacement would be placed in the corner of our 13' x 18' master bedroom (as was the old TV), and be connected only to a 'cable ready' connection, and a DVD player. As our old DVD player (a PlayStation 2) had been giving us issues, I factored it's replacement into my decision also. The only additional features I was looking for were: Netflix access and the ability watch video files through a USB port. This TV (PN42C450) does NOT have those features...but more on that later. Lastly, as we moved from the older direct-view technology to a flat-screen, I factored in the cost of a wall-mount system that would accommodate mounting in the corner of a room.

After looking at televisions from multiple manufacturers, in screen-sizes ranging from 32" to 46" I opted for the Samsung PN42C450. Samsung's history of reliability was a factor, as was the 600Hz refresh rate. The quality of Samsung's analog/digital tuner was also a factor, as our local cable provider offers some Hi-Def channels over their `cable ready' feed. The 720p screen resolution was somewhat of a sticking point, but when weighing the cost/benefit to 1080p models, I could not justify the added cost for a TV that was going to be in a bedroom and get limited use. Additionally, while plasma units traditionally have higher power consumption rates than their LCD & LED counterparts - I decided that `going green' was not a huge deal in this circumstance, considering again, the limited amount of use the television gets.

After making my purchase and loading the TV in to the car...It did fit (boxed) into the back seat of my Ford Fusion...I brought it home, attached it to the stand, connected it to the cable feed, plugged it in to power - and started set-up & auto-programming. Sound is good, and playing with the pre-set sound fields and the available EQ will most likely yield acceptable sound for an average sized room. Picture modes are also pre-set, while offering a LOT of user adjustable settings. Finding a picture you are satisfied with right out of the box is very likely - for those of you that want to `fine tune' the set, you will like the picture menus. As far as picture quality, I am very satisfied. Viewing distance in our bedroom ranges from 4 to 18 (or so) feet, and the picture looks good from anywhere in-between. Analog cable channels do not show a picture as good as I would like, but that is not a fault of the TV, it is an unfortunate by-product of older analog technology. By switching the aspect ratio of the TV to 4:3 you can see a definite improvement - but then you will have grey bars on either side of the picture. In my case, I would rather watch a slightly degraded `widescreen' image, rather than a smaller picture that has a bit more definition. I will mention again, this is NOT a fault of the TV, and if you are expecting a Hi-Def picture when you connect to an analog source - you will be disappointed with ANY television you purchase. Now, when tuning in channels that are provided in Hi-Def, I am VERY pleased. Picture quality/clarity is extremely good and makes everything more pleasant to watch.

The few things that I would point out to be mindful of: The learning curve for people who are just now adopting Hi-Def technology will require some time. If you have Hi-Def channels available in your area, and you are opting to NOT use a cable or satellite receiver - you will need to re-learn your channel lineup...As Hi-Def broadcasts (in most cases) are NOT going to be on the same channel as their old analog counterparts. While I was familiar with the difference, my wife is not finding all that pleasant to now have to remember to push `5-1' on the remote, rather than just pushing `5' to get the local NBC broadcast. Now, either will work to get to the channel - the difference is picture quality on analog vs. Hi-Def. Also, the sensor for the remote control is located in the bottom right corner of the television. While this is not uncommon, until I purchase a wall mount, I find it somewhat frustrating that due to the layout of our room - I have to be in a specific location to use the remote control. This is NOT a fault of the TV, just a limitation I am working with due to placement of other furniture in the room. Lastly, and the only criticism of the television I have, is access to the `favorite channels' menu. The TV has a feature that allows you to add `favorite' (read that as frequently watched) channels to a list. By pushing the `favorite channel' button on the remote, you can scan through the channels you have assigned to your `favorites list'. While that works well, I would like if there were a way to quickly (one button on the remote) access the entire list of `favorites' and then be able to scroll and select a specific channel. The ability to do that is available, but the process is not user friendly, and is bordering on cumbersome.

As I stated earlier, I was looking for a few additional features (Netflix & video over USB), and was going to be purchasing a new DVD player also. In my research efforts, I found that many Samsung Blu-Ray players offer the ability to stream Netflix movies (with a paid Netflix subscription), as well as play video files from USB device. So, problem solved.
* Yes, the Samsung Blu-Ray player is pricier than a standard DVD player, AND I won't get a 1080p picture should I opt for viewing a Blu-Ray in the bedroom... In response to that: the combination of the two is still less expensive than a television that has those features built -in... Also, when looking at USB video compatibility, Samsung is one of the (very) few manufacturers that allow .VOB files to be played via USB. That means, for those who create legal back-up of their DVD collection, you can simply attach a portable hard drive to the Blu-Ray player and have access to any `ripped' movies you may have stored on it.

Buying a TV these days can be complicated. Unless you live in a world where money is no object, and you are trusting a Home Theater retailer/installer to make all of your decisions for you... (if that is the case, you are most likely not in the market for this TV model anyway). As I live in the 'real world', many factors have to be considered when I shop - making sure the right choice is made in regards to technology, features, price and integration into our home environment. This (PN42C450) Samsung was the right choice to meet all of my needs.
Are there better televisions out there? Absolutely. Are there televisions that offer a better combination of picture/sound quality and features versus cost? No. (not that I have found anyway). Now, that said, if I were to be shopping for a television that would be used for primary entertainment (family TV, watching movies, gaming) in a living room, family room or den - I would be looking at something well above the price range of the PN42C450. For a secondary (or other extra) TV, this is as good as I can ask for.

This tv is wonderful. The image quality is phenomenal and looks great in my room. Assembling the base was a bit difficult, as the screws that screw the TV into the base were a little too big for the holes. Overall, it probably took me 20-30 minutes to get it together, but after that everything was pretty self explanatory.

I consider myself a gamer, and bought this HD tv to replace the other plasma I had bought. When playing a game on my old TV with my Xbox 360, there was noticable lag between controller movement and response time. But with this television, and the "Game Mode" feature turned on, I experience negligible lag, if any (I may be over analyzing the response time in games now that I am looking for it). HD games look gorgeous on this television.

The sound is OK. It's a lower/mid end HDTV, so I wasn't expecting amazing quality. You can hear the TV just fine, albeit perhaps needing to raise the volume just a little more than you initially want. This shouldn't really detract from the television, however.

The "buzzing" that many have experienced is definitely present, but it's not a death sentence. The other plasma I had made the same noise, but i admit it was a lot quieter. However, you really only hear the sound when close to the television. The sound tends to become white noise pretty quickly when further away (like 6 or more feet) to the point that I don't hear it until I concentrate on it. For those who are sensitive types in terms of sound, or you are going to be in a small room where you are close to the television, you probably won't want this TV. Also, if you aren't planning on playing games with this TV, I would probably look into some other ones. It's great for both gaming and watching HDTV, but if I could eliminate the initial buzzing, I would. Otherwise, I would go for it.

So...I was pessimistic at first considering the 1 & 2 star reviews. Now that I have it, have configured it, and have it set up with Dish HD and PS3, I am overwhelmed. Here is my pros and cons:

Pros - Amazing colors, excellent menus w/ lots of useful options, great inputs/outputs (in my opinion), amazing and highly customizable sound, great zooming features for fitting motion pictures to the size of the screen, extremely useful picture burn protection tools, great plug-and-play features, and a cool little melody that plays when turning off and on

Cons - Picture is sometimes blurry during fast, vivid action or quick camera change moments (ex. The Rock San Francisco chase scene or Speed Racer Grand Prix race scene), the need to adjust the picture zoom sometimes to protect from picture burn simply because it's a plasma TV (but it has tools that help you protect against this!)

This is hands-down, bar-none the best TV for the value. I've researched all the plasma and LCD TVs in this price range. This is the biggest TV with the highest refresh rate and most appealing features I could find. Plus, Samsung is praised for the quality of it's plasma TVs. When you see the menu, explore the options, and use them, you will praise them yourself. For example, there is a section on burn protection that allows you to set a pixel shifting function to prevent picture burn and a scrolling function that allows you to get rid of it if it happens.

The "straw that broke the camel's back" though for me was the 3.5mm sound output on the back. First of all, it's hard nowadays to find a good TV w/ a 3.5mm sound jack. This one does! Second, it doesn't cut the TV volume off. I hooked up a microphone headphone volume amplifier to it, and now I can control the headphone and actual TV volume separately! Trust me, this is useful. For example, when a significant other doesn't want to hear your program, you can just pop on your headphones and blast the volume! Imagine explosions and firefights, all the while, your spouse or whoever is reading a book or sleeping a few feet away. Ha!

Anyways, it's a good deal for the cash. I'll update in a few months.