Samsung PN58C550 58-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV (Black)

by Samsung

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 13.2 x 54.8 x 35.6 inches ; 62.8 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 77 pounds
• Shipping: This item can only be shipped to the 48 contiguous states. We regret it cannot be shipped to APO/FPO, Hawaii, Alaska, or Puerto Rico.
• ASIN: B0036WT3ZM
• Item model number: PN58C550
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (66 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #26,457 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: February 22, 2010

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

(March 2010)
Samsung's new PN58C550 plasma flat panel HDTV is a refinement of our commitment to design, performance, and cost of ownership. It's 58 inches of 1080p Full HD picture performance is the perfect fit for most rooms. The attractive Touch of Color design adds a subtle clear-to-charcoal gray accent to the set's bezel. Enjoy brilliant, film-like images in Full HD resolution. Samsung's breakthrough mega dynamic contrast ratio offers a more accurate color tonal range, deeper blacks and shadow details. The new E3-Panel technology featuring our innovative Clear Image Panel technology reduces off-angle blur and glare in brighter rooms and delivers a better picture while using less energy. Add 4 advanced HDMI inputs featuring Samsung's Anynet+ (CEC standard) technology makes system control of compatible A/V devices like a Blu-ray player or HTIB system a one-touch operation. Experience Full 1080p HD performance on Samsung's new C550 series plasma HDTVs, it's easy on the wallet and easy on the environment.

Key Features

• Screen Size: 58 inches
• 600 Hz subfield motion: Offers crisp, clear Plasma HD action in every frame.
• 1080p Full HD Resolution: enjoy the powerful picture quality, vivid colors and stunning clarity of Full HD 1080p resolution.
  
• E3-panel single filter design delivers improved performance in the areas of color saturation, contrast and energy efficiency.
• Mega Dynamic Contrast ratio: An unparalleled Mega Dynamic Contrast ratio brings together the deepest blacks and brightest whites.
  
• Built-in digital tuner: no external box needed.
• Exceeds ENERGY STAR Standards: PDP Energy saving, up to 43% less than our similar 2009 Plasma TV in standard mode.
• Clear Image Panel: Samsung's new single-filter clear panel design eliminates the off-angle reflections that cause picture blurring of images
  and details. Images and text look great straight on or at any angle.
• ConnectShare Movie: Connect a thumb drive or digital camera quickly and easily. Userfriendly interface allows access to videos, a music playlist and pictures via the remote.
• Game Mode: Enhances dark areas, sharpens the picture, speeds up the image processing response and enhances the sounds of your games. Picture and sound quality optimized for the special needs of gaming systems at the touch of a button.
  
• 10 Watts x 2 audio power stereo broadcast reception: Supports multichannel sound (MTS)and second audio program (SAP) with 181-channel capacity.
• SRS TruSurround HD: Get crisp, clear digital-quality sound via advanced SRS technology.
• DLNA enabled
  
• Warranty: 1-year parts and 1-year labor warranty (90-days parts and labor for commercial use), with in-home service, backed by Samsung
  toll-free support.
  

Connections

• HDMI: 3 back, 1 side
  
• USB: 2
  
• PC Input: 1
  

Dimensions

• TV without stand: 54.8 x 32.8 x 2.8 inches (WxHxD)
  
• TV with stand: 54.8 x 35.5 x 13.2 inches (WxHxD)
  
• What size TV should you get?

Accessories

• 2010 LinkStick: Connect wirelessly to a world of digital content from Samsung. The LinkStick wireless LAN adaptor eliminates the hassle and cluttered look of wires. Learn more about the Samsung WIS09ABGN LinkStick Wireless LAN Adapter.

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Which Size HDTV is Right for My Room?

With standard-definition TVs, the rule used to be that viewers would feel comfortable watching a set from a distance of 3 to 6 times the screen size in inches. With HDTV, the resolution is so much better that you can sit closer to a larger TV without noticing the pixels. So with HDTVs, the rule tends to be you can sit anywhere from 1.5 to 3 times the screen size (in inches) for the best experience. If you know the size of the room you have already, where you want to sit, and where your new HDTV should go once you get it, you can figure out the size HDTV you should get. Minimum size = Viewing distance/3 Maximum size=Viewing distance/1.5

Product Description

Get a true cinematic experience without going to the cinema with a Samsung plasma HDTV. This Samsung PN58C550, with Mega Dynamic Contrast Ratio makes sure every frame is saturated with dense, rich color. Samsung is also ENERGY STAR compliant so you are assured that your 58 -inch plasma HDTV is helping the environment by using less enery while saving you money.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

43 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great TV So Far, May 23, 2010

By 

Matthew Cummings (Sacramento, Ca United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Samsung PN58C550 58-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV (Black) (Electronics)

Set up my unit on 5/21 which I bought from a brick/mortar store (sorry Amazon!), after researching the hell out of it. My equipment includes a WDTV Media Player (HDMI w/optical out), Nintendo Wii (analog), HD HTPC on the make, and Denon AVR-590(two optical audio inputs and three HDMI inputs).

PROS:
- NO BUZZING! YEAH!!
- Great picture out of the box - will be fine-tuning things later, but early indications are very positive. Several units had more features but PQ suffered. With so many blu-ray players and HTPCs that stream Netflix/Pandora, don't get lured in by feature-laden units that fail to deliver great PQ.
- Media Play - plug in any USB or HD into the unit to watch video, listen to music, and view pictures.
- Input panel is easy to access - swivel base is a real plus.
- The manual states that it can connect to a home network and "can access the Internet through your LAN connection" - this one might be interesting if I could get a third party wireless USB stick to work. So far, no success - I'll report back on this one.

CONS
- No memory card access - will attempt access with a card reader.
- Cannot tell unit to show subtitles only when muted - 7 different versions available, but none of them allow you to read subtitles when it's muted.
- Lack of widgets - I really wanted the web widgets, but wouldn't sacrifice PQ. With the new HD HPTC almost finished and running WMC 7, it will interesting to see if WMC will be enough.
- Sound effects and music sound great through Denon, yet dialogue is sometimes difficult to understand - I suspect that is due to my inability to read the language known as Denon and to configure it accordingly. Audio is being passed through the Denon with a single HMDI connection to the back of the Samsung.

Manufacturers like Sony and Samsung make way too many units. Once you choose a manufacturer or a set of features you cannot live without, eliminate as many inferior units as possible. Then, find where your top 3 prospects are sold and get full demos on each including use of the remote. This was the only way I was able to determine that the 550 would work.

27 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I do like it, March 24, 2010

By 

Dan Croitoru (Los Angeles) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Samsung PN58C550 58-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV (Black) (Electronics)

I was hesitant at first to buy a product without any reviews but I really needed a tv so there it goes.....
First one was delivered damaged but i got a replacement in about four days.Tv looks good on or off.I think it has really nice colors and after messing with it for a day or so I got it where I wanted it.I think the colors look better than on an LCD.Being a plasma I was a little worried about the screen letting out some heat and consequently the energy consumption but I was impressed once I hooked it up to a kill-a watt monitor.I Normal mode (after calibration) it takes between 130W to about 170W which I think it's impressive for a 58 inch plasma.Also it emanates just about as much heat as a new lcd which is very little.I hooked it up to my router and now I can stream movies and pics to it from my laptop wirelessly(wired from the tv to the router but wireless from the router to my laptop).I would buy again.It does buzz a little but I can't tell unless I sit a couple of feet from it.

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great TV for the price and size, March 31, 2010

By 

TacosBell (Raleigh NC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Samsung PN58C550 58-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV (Black) (Electronics)

I purchased this TV brand new about three weeks ago. I found it to be an excellent plasma for the size and price. The color and contrast are great. I have to disagree with the other reviews saying this TV has a loud buzzing sound. Mine doesn't buzz at all. The TV looks great with HD cable, DVD's, XBox 360, etc. I would purchase this again and would recommend it to anyone.

The only thing I would caution anyone about is the speakers. Mine do not buzz, but they aren't great. They seem too quite and there is hardly any bass (comparing them to my older 42" Panasonic Plasma). Even after changing the equalizer, the sound is still weak. If you do not have any sort of home theater system, you may want to consider one.