Samsung PN58A550 58-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV

Other products by Samsung

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 55.9 x 3.9 x 33.9 inches ; 137.8 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 158 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• 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: B0015A8UK6
• Item model number: PN58A550
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (74 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #26,970 in Electronics (See Bestsellers in Electronics)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: May 26, 2006

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

From the Manufacturer

This SAMSUNG 58-inch widescreen plasma HDTV with 1080p resolution is big enough to transform any space into the ultimate home theater. Advanced features like a FilterBright to protect against glare and 1,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio for stunningly realistic images, will simply amaze you and your guests. Take your home entertainment experience to the next level with the SAMSUNG PN58A550 plasma HDTV.

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FilterBright anti glare filter

Minimized image glare and maximized contrast make this HDTV perfect for the ultimate viewing experience day or night. The anti-glare filter reduces reflections noticeably while maintaining high picture contrast. Daytime sports events look crisp and bright, while movies at night feature rich blacks and realistic shadow detail.

1,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio

Contrast and brightness levels achieve new heights in this HDTV. Get a more realistic, sharper picture quality that’s sure to catch your eye and watch movies and shows come to life.

DNIe technology

SAMSUNG's revolutionary DNIe technology delivers digital perfection in crystal-clear images that uncover even the most minute details. DNIe™ is made up of a Motion Optimizer, a Contrast Enhancer, a Color Optimizer, and a Detail Enhancer to produce life-like images that rival reality.

Anti-Burn-In Technology

Samsung's Plasma HDTVs are built to last. Anti-burn-in technology uses auto pixel shift, signal pattern processing function and all white screens to ensure that no images are burned into your plasma panel.

18-Bit Color

Samsung's FilterBright anti-glare filter. Enhances contrast ratio in bright rooms even in the daytime and improves overall brightness for clearer image details.

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Connectivity

Samsung has incorporated advanced HD connectivity and networking capabilities that expand the HDTV’s functionality. A wide variety of multimedia devices can be connected to the set through any one of the four Simplay compliant HDMI 1.3 inputs (including one on the side). Connect HD digital devices like disc players, game consoles, and satellite dish components into the 2 rear connections and use the side-mounted input for cameras, camcorders, and laptops.

HDMI 1.3 is the best performing interface for displaying an HD source on an HDTV. When playing 3D games, like on PS3, you experience faster flow and action and overall play the game at a higher speed. Also, HDMI 1.3 enables Deep Color function that provides an exponentially greater number of color gradations for a subtle screen.

The handy HDMICEC feature lets you control all your CEC-enabled peripherals using just one remote. Once connected, users can easily access device menus and manage and display content through the newly redesigned Wheel Key Remote control and the HDTV’s sophisticated content management interface.

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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

This SAMSUNG 58" widescreen plasma HDTV with 1080p resolution is big enough to transform any space into the ultimate home theater. Advanced features like a FilterBright to protect against glare and 1,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio for stunningly realistic images, will simply amaze you and your guests. Take your home entertainment experience to the next level with the SAMSUNG PN58A550 plasma HDTV.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

54 of 56 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome!!!, May 1, 2008

By	DVP (Dayton, OH, USA) - See all my reviews

Hi guys
I generally do not write reviews but this is such a new TV without many reviews in the public domain and so decided to put my two cents;
1. Why plasma not LCD...well, plasmas, are cheaper once you are in the post 50" realm. Past 50", plasmas rule when it comes to price. They are also not limited by 60/120 Hz. cycling issues like the LCDs (remember we never had a "triple ball" effect with our old CRT based TVs, that we have used for the past 50 years; well, plasmas are an extension of that technology, just way more sophisticated.
2. [...]
3. Amazon service: 5/5 Top class. Ordering on line was a breeze.
4. Free white glove delivery included delivery, unpacking, set up, and trash haul. Also, if you do not like what you see, Amazon will take the TV on the spot at their expense. On my TV, there was a free white glove delivery! CEVA tracking promised delivery on 7th May but delivered the TV on 1st May. How is that for under promise and over deliver. 5/5 to CEVA for white glove! It took 2 guys to haul this beast in. I had the cart ready and they spent half an hour unpacking and helping me screw the TV to the stand (M8 36 mm screw). The screws on the back from Samsung are not long enough (though M8 type). You will need to undo the swivel base (the CEVA guys did that and hauled my old 36" (read heavy) clunker into the basement also).
5. Return policy: 30 day no questions asked on Amazon as opposed to 15 days in bricks a mortar stores.
6. The TV picture quality itself blew me away. For the price, it is a no brainer. Sound quality does need enhancement with a home theater system for a full HD/HT experience. The picture out of the box is truly marvelous. I did not have to tinker with the settings much. Just make sure you have either an HDMI or a component cable that is able to display 1080p/i signal (the old coax does not display 1080p/i).
7. Blue ray player: For people with children, Sony PS3 is an obvious choice for a blue ray/game player combo.
8. This TV has higher contrast ratio than their earlier FTP5884 model, and therefore, whilst both were available, it was a no brainer to go with the newer PN58A550 model.
9. One last comment. If money was not an objective, I would have bought a bigger (65") panel. I had the hunch and it is now confirmed, no matter how large a panel you buy, you may end up feeling that it is not big enough.
Overall, Amazon saved me mucho dinaro, and delivered as promised. No fuss, no muss, no questions asked! Good luck guys/gals.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Overall very pleased, June 27, 2008

By	AmznShopper - See all my reviews

I've had the PN58A550 FOR about a month now and overall I am very pleased.

Positive:
The value is very good on this TV. The picture quality is great. Setup option are more extenisive than most TV's. You can really dial in everything about the picture using regular menus. The overall finish on the TV is really nice. It has a piano gloss finish on the frame and stand that look really sharp. Samsung TV's used to have some of the worst menus ever but the one on this TV is really very good and intuative.

Negatives:
1) There are no S-Video or Composite connections on the back of the TV. There are 1 of each on the left side of the TV.
2) The picture "zoom" feature is just stupid. Sometimes when movies are letterboxed I like to zoom in and not see so much of the top&bottom bars. On the Samsung zoom doesn't zoom, it stretches the picture vertically so everything looks a little too tall.
3) The screen is pretty reflective. Other plasmas do a better job of cutting the glare.

Overall I'm really pleased with my purchase and would certainly do it again.

25 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Couldn't be happier!, June 4, 2008

By	S. McClaren "McPhoto" (OKLAHOMA. United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

After 6 months of looking and comparing I decided on either the Samsung 52" series 550 LCD or this 58" series 550 plasma. I finally decided that size DID matter. Boy am I happy! The pix is fantastic, color and blacks are superb, according to the instructions (and reviews) it takes up to 2 hours of static pixels to have a threat of burn in (which I never foresee) so I couldn't be happier. Some have written about the sound, but my family can't find anything to complain about. When we watch something really important we use the BOSE Lifestyle Dolby 5.1 anyway. I read that plasmas put out heat which is true. When watching an evening of TV we have to use the ceiling fan in the great room when it's unnecessary in the rest of the house. But it's just the nature of the beast and it is 110 degreees outside. It has nothing to do with this unit.

[...]

But what I really wanted to write about was the delivery service. I had read some real horror stories concerning Amazon & CEVA delivery. So when I was told that my [...] investment would be coming via 'Inept Shipping Inc.' (CEVA) I almost backed out. But, I can't tell you how beautifully the transaction went!!!!

Now you've got to understand, I ordered this set about midnite on Friday of Memorial Day weekend so nothing was going to happen until Monday or Tuesday. The set arrived in the nearby 'big city' (we live 90 miles from Oklahoma City in a small town of 36,000) on WEDNESDAY!! I took the initiative and called the local CEVA office to setup a time for delivery. (Most complaints seemed to deal with waiting for them to call you and dealing with the 800 number rather than the local office. The local office is available via their website by simply clicking on a map of the U.S!) They were willing to deliver it the very next day on Thursday but I was unavailable. So we set it up for between noon and 2:30 on Friday. The guy called when he was 20 minutes away, 1pm, unloaded the TV, helped me unbox it, lift it up on the new credenza, set up the channels and gave me some tips on usage, LIKE DON'T EVER USE THE POWER BUTTON ON THE FACE OF THE TV. ALWAYS USE THE REMOTE. THE PRESSURE PAD SYSTEM ON THE SET ITSELF IS SENSITVE TO MOISTURE SO IF YOU HAVE DAMP HANDS YOU CAN BURN OUT THE PAD TO THE TUNE OF AN ALMOST $400 REPAIR. I have since checked this out with Samsung and they say yes, it is possible. That sure isn't in the book! Thanks Mike the delivery guy at CEVA for ALL the great service and help! I got my 58" plasma TV delivered to my home with true service and set up in under a week at a [...]! Can't beat the price or the service!