I've had this TV for a couple weeks now, and it looks like Samsung really scores with this one. Great price and a stunning picture, with deep blacks, fast response and good off-angle viewing. And absolutely none of the backlight leakage or "clouding" problems that so many buyers report (correctly) with otherwise fine Sony models. The one complaint you're likely to see in reviews of this set is that the speakers sound thin, and that's a legitimate gripe. My three-year-old Panasonic 32-inch sounds much better. So my rating is actually about 4.5, but the picture is so fine I'm willing to round up. In my case, I plugged a set of Klipsch Groove powered speakers ($92 at Amazon) into the headphone jack, and problem solved. Many of you will have external sound systems anyway.
If you can afford the $500 difference, you might want to wait a few weeks till Panasonic's new high-end TC-37LZ800 comes out, but if you go with this Samsung I don't think it'll disappoint you.Get more detail about Samsung LN37A550 37-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV.
I've had this set for a little over a week, and I'm delighted with it so far. This is the first HDTV I've owned, and in preparation for buying it I did a lot of research into the different technologies available. My principle considerations were: A) A maximum size of 40", as I only have a small viewing distance (and a wife who didn't want a 2-ton altar of gleaming black plastic in her living room) B) A set that was going to look great for movies and video games, and C) price - not more than $1,000. The other major concern was having a fragile thing like this shipped, as I really didn't want to have to return it (at my cost) if there was a problem. I'm happy to say my whole experience with this model has been excellent.
In terms of the set design, it's pretty sleek and minimal. It does have a glossy black bevel (I would have preferred matte) but overall it looks very nice and simple. There is a side panel with the third of 3 HDMI connections, and the only composite jacks, all of which are hidden from the front.
Currently I'm running Time Warner HD cable (720p-1080i) through component, and an Xbox 360, outputting at 1080p, also over component. Both blew me away (this is my first HDTV after all), and I was especially taken with the 1080p signal from the 360 - rich blacks and vibrant colors, clear, lag-free images in fast games and really crisp details. Compared to my previous TV, some games now have an almost overwhelming amount of detail! Just for the record, I honestly can't speak to HDMI quality as I currently don't have the cables. So far I've been very impressed with component connections.
I calibrated the set using the THX optimizer that comes free with Finding Nemo DVD, and I'm happy with the results. Even my wife, who claims to not usually notice the difference between TVs had the first reaction of "Wow, that picture is amazing", so you can't say fairer than that.
There are plenty of different connections, including optical audio out, which is great. I have to agree with other reviewers that the sound quality from the set itself is thin and tinny, but then again I listen to audio for movies etc. through my receiver.
I honestly can't believe I'm getting these results for just over $1,000. I did a fair amount of standing like a zombie in Best Buy, comparing sets, and other than the screen size a regular Joe like me has been hard pressed to spot much difference in $2,000+ TVs.
A note on the shipping - I ordered through Amazon and received their White-Glove delivery, fulfilled by Ceva Logistics. I ordered on a Friday evening - my TV arrived the following Tuesday - a week ahead of schedule. The delivery person was 30 minutes EARLY, and patiently helped me test the set. Your experience may vary, but I was thrilled. A+ all round.
Get more detail about Samsung LN37A550 37-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV.
Just got it Friday and I LOVE it so far! One of the things that impressed me the most is how good standard definition TV channels look. I've had 2 HDTV's before this one and regular TV channels looked horrible on them, but regular TV channels look really good on this TV. Xbox 360 games look amazing with no motion blur. The only downside to this TV is the extremely weak speakers, but anyone buying a TV like this shouldn't be using the TV's speakers anyways. I have a surround sound system hooked up and it sounds amazing.Get more detail about Samsung LN37A550 37-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV.
I purchased the LN37A550 after reading a reviews for several LCD HDTVs and comparing them side-by-side, to the extent possible, in retail shops. I narrowed down my choices to Samsung and Sony; as far as I could tell from reviews and published specs, the sets were comparable. However, Sony was higher priced. I like the deep blacks and color saturation of the Samsung set. From the reviews, it appeared that 1080p doesn't offer any advantage over 720p in a 37" set; nevertheless, I decided to buy the higher resolution set as a bit of insurance against future technology developments. (I purchased a 37" set because of space limitations.) Installation was very easy; the on-screen plug-and-play process went seamlessly. The arrangement of the keys on the remote control differ from all the other remotes I own; nothing new here. The remote is not too intuitive, but it didn't take long to understand the various functions. The on-screen menu is easy to navigate. There are ample controls by which to vary picture and sound quality. I am disappointed with sound quality; to my ears it sounds somewhat tinny. The reviews said the Samsung sound was superior to competing sets. That may be true, but it's inferior compared to the set it replaces: a 27" Toshiba CRT set. I suspect that smaller speakers are used in the Samsung set compared to the Toshiba set; bass seems to be particularly lacking despite my tweaking the equalizer settings. (I plan to buy external speakers.) Also, the Samsung website claims that the viewing angle is 178 degrees (89 degrees to one side or the other from the perpendicular to the screen). That's more or less true, but don't expect picture quality to be maintained. To my eyes, picture definition and color saturation deteriorate markedly when I move more than 45 degrees off the center line. A note about "White Glove" delivery service: It was flawless. Delivery was made two days ahead of the promised date; I was phoned ahead of time to arrange the approximate delivery time. In summary, this purchase has met my expectations.Get more detail about Samsung LN37A550 37-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV.
This is such a great Tv!! Wow the picture pops and looks awesome!! Movies look great!! Mine was delivered today and those guys do a great job, no problems at all. I really for once feel that I got what I paid for and it was worth it. I highly reccommend this Tv. I gotta go now and watch it!! Beautiful!!Get more detail about Samsung LN37A550 37-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV.
Several weeks ago, we finally traded in our old 32inch tube for this 37inch flat screen HDTV. I did some research before buying and the specs on this TV for the price is why I chose it. It has a sharp picture and a wide range of inputs. It has a beautiful piano black finish which we really like since we are a family of piano players. One note about the finish - it collects the dust quite fast. So be prepared to clean it very often. The delivery was very professional - they set it all up for you. Overall, we love the TV. Get more detail about Samsung LN37A550 37-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV.
I bought the Samsung LN37A550 from Amazon in mid-May. I comparison shopped for several months, and found that the Samsung is on equal footing as the Sony Bravia XBR-Series KDL-37XBR6 37-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV and Sharp Aquos LC37D64U 37-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV models in performance, but (at the time) was more affordable than either. Here's an in-depth run-down of the top-of-the line models from each of those three brands using MY comparison criteria. Hopefully it helps you.
Price
These are prices from Amazon.com (not their "marketplace partners" or whatever they're called). I'd recommend purchasing from Amazon itself, as they offer the free "white-glove" delivery, which means that the delivery company will bring the TV into your house, unpack it, and haul away the packing materials. My TV was delivered 3 days after I ordered it, and many others who reviewed on this site have had the same experience.
Also, keep in mind Amazon's financing offers if you open an Amazon.com credit account - see below for more details.
Samsung LN37A550: Retail is $1200. I've watched Amazon's price fluctuate between $1040 and $1200. Today the price is $1064, which is as good as I've seen. In addition, Samsung TVs often have financing deals - mine was 1-year, no payments and no-interest financing, and I've also seen 18-month specials.
Sharp LC37D64U: Retail is $1400, and the fact that it was selling for about $1350 a month ago strongly influenced my decision. Today the price is $1016, which may have changed my purchase based solely on the size (Sharp is slightly narrower - see below - and the Samsung is a REALLY tight squeeze in my space). I have not seen ANY financing deals on Sharp TVs through Amazon - pay it all up front.
Sony KDL-37XBR6: Retail is $1500. Today's price on Amazon is $1400 - a major consideration (about $350 price difference), but there's also a 36 (read it again, 36) month no interest offer on this TV right now. Minimum monthly payments are required.
Contrast Ratio, Response Time, and Frame Refresh Rate
Keep in mind that different manufacturers use different methods to measure these specifications, so they can not be simply compared using numbers. All I can say is that I viewed them in a couple of different retail locations, and there is little difference in picture brightness / blurring between these models. All are capable of 1080p picture.
Samsung: 15,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio and 5 ms response time. 60 hZ refresh rate.
Sharp: 10,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio and 6 ms response time. 60 hZ refresh rate.
Sony: 25,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio and unpublished response time. 120 hZ refresh rate. The refresh rate is where the Sony has an advantage over the others. I'm not going to get into it here, but here's a great article from CircuitCity.com explaining refresh rate in clear, simple terms (http://www.circuitcity.com/rpsm/cat/-12869/edOid/208448/rpem/ccd/lookLearn.do). All I'll say is that, in-store with a BluRay disc, the 120 hZ setting on a 46" screen looked AWESOME. Some have complained that it produces a "soap-opera" effect. Not being a big fan of soap-operas, I have no idea what they are referring to. Personally, I don't think it's enough of a reason to spend the extra $300+, because of screen size. With a bigger 50"+ screen, your eye will catch blurring across the screen, but on a screen of this size I have never noticed any blurring with my 60 hZ model.
High-Def Inputs
These all have the HD connections below, along with Digital Audio outputs, and other (S-video and composite video, and stereo audio) inputs.
Samsung: 3 version 1.3 (latest) HDMI Inputs (2 in rear, 1 on side), 1 USB input (for viewing JPGs and listening to MP3s), 1 PC input, and 2 component video inputs.
Sharp: 2 HDMI Inputs (Amazon and Sharp's website don't say they are version 1.3, which is supposedly faster and therefore better quality), 1 PC input, and 2 component video inputs. Also has side inputs.
Sony: 4 HDMI Inputs (3 in rear, 1 on side; again, Amazon and Sony don't say version 1.3, but I would think it's GOT to be..... don't know why they wouldn't publish this, though), 1 PC input, and 2 component video inputs.
Sound
Most reviews I have read complain about the Samsung's sound quality (most common in complaint is that the speakers sound "tinny"). I turned off the speakers before I ever hooked the TV up to an input (I've got a surround sound system), so I can't speak to this. I bought the TV for the picture, not the sound, but if that's important to you, read other reviews. I've read a couple of complaints about the Sharp model, but they didn't seem quite so angry as the complaints regarding Samsung, so I'm guessing it's acceptable sound.
Size
Size can be a consideration for many in purchasing a TV of this size. I was space constrained only in width. If you've got space constraints and 37" in width, you might also consider the Toshiba REGZA 40RF350U Super Narrow 40-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV Super Narrow Bezel, which measures just 36.77" wide. I have not seen it in action, so I can't speak to it's performance, but other Toshiba LCDs that I HAVE seen did not compare to these 3 TVs in picture quality.
Samsung: 36.1 inches wide and 40 pounds with stand (32 pounds without)
Sharp: 35 and 23/64" wide (yes, some people really squeeze that tight) and 45 pounds with stand (39 without)
Sony: 36.3 inches wide and 47 pounds with stand (40 without)
Warranty
All of these TVs have 1 year parts / 1 year labor manufacturer warranties.
Additional features:
Each brand offers their own graphics processing engine that claims to be the greatest thing ever, as well as other features. One interesting feature which is really more of a marketing ploy is connecting other devices made by the same brand to this TV and just being able to use the TV's remote to control that device. For example, buy a Sony TV and a Sony Blu-Ray player, and you can control the Blu-Ray player without reprogramming your remote. Good if you don't want to buy a Universal Remote, but I see it more as a way to get you to buy more components from that brand. Your choice!
So there you have it. I can say with a lot of certainty that you will be pleased with any of these three models, and it's more a matter of preference for a certain brand, pricing sensitivity, and the sound issue that you have to make up your mind. As for me, I couldn't be happier with my Samsung purchase.Get more detail about Samsung LN37A550 37-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV.
This is an excellent LCD TV. It was very easy to set up right out of the box. Colors and detail are top of the line for a reasonable price. Wiselink features allows me to view pictures directly from a flash drive to the TV by a simply USB connection. Get more detail about Samsung LN37A550 37-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV.
Samsung LN37A550
I have had the TV for approximately 1-month. This TV was purchased with the intent of acquiring the "best" 37-inch LCD TV available with one exception. I was not interested in 120 hertz refresh rate. I am not interested in games or sports. The TV is connected to a Direct TV high definition satellite receiver. The picture looks great; however, when I looked at comparable models (e.g., Sharp and Toshiba) at a big box store, in a brand to brand comparison, I could not detect any significant difference in picture quality between the different brands in either high definition or standard definition program viewing. Of course there was a tremendous difference when viewing high definition versus standard definition programs. (Unfortunately, I did not listen to sound which probably would have been impossible due to background noise but more on this later.) I use the TV for satellite reception and DVD playback--no games. The TV has a matte screen and absolutely no glare. It is installed in a location where glare was a problem on a CRT screen. In my assessment, the picture quality deserves a 5-star rating.
All reviews indicate that the TV has "plenty" of inputs. My advice is to determine the amount and type of inputs needed. For instance, the TV has only one composite video input which is on the side panel. I know, why would you need a composite video input on a HDTV? In my case, some components, a couple of examples are my video camera and Pioneer receiver, require a composite input. In most cases, the number of inputs is more than adequate but don't assume that there are plenty of inputs.
Sound is a horrible disappointment. Again, this was something that I didn't tryout before purchase because I thought anything would meet my sound requirements. For movies, I use a surround sound system so the sound from the TV is irrelevant. However, the TV is frequently used to receive weather and news information. For this type of reception, I am not interested in "quality" sound but I do want to be able to hear and "understand" the audible portion of the broadcast without using a surround sound system. With this set, this is almost impossible. It has plenty of volume, no problem there, but the distortion, muting, echo, and tininess are unbelievable. Yes, it has different sound settings and an equalizer, but the best that you can get is unacceptable by anyone's standards. The sound from this set is far inferior to a single speaker 10-year old Philips CRT TV with a single BNC connector for sound and audio input. I also had an occasion to be in a hospital after the set was delivered and the sound from the pendant for the hospital TV was far superior. Let's put it this way, if I had paid $10.00 for a clock radio that sounded this bad I would return it. Sound rating: 0-star.
Overall, I am totally pleased with the picture quality, but if I had it to do over, I would purchase a different brand because of the absolutely horrible sound.
I bought the TV via Amazon which was a pleasant buying experience.
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It's been a month of trouble-free, great tv,
beginning and ending with plug and play.
This has to be the best 37" tv on the internet. Get more detail about Samsung LN37A550 37-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV.
The was a great experience both with the vendor and with the TV. We had previously ordered a TV from another on-line site and after months of waiting finally cancelled the order. We found this TV on Amazon and ordered it instead and got in a just a few days. The delivery people were great. They showed up when they said they would, unpacked the TV, took the box and carried the TV up to our bedroom. The TV is everything we wanted. It's the perfect size at 37" and the picture is outstanding from pretty much any angle. It basically is perfect for us. You really can't go wrong at this price.Get more detail about Samsung LN37A550 37-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV.
I have had this television for about a month now. I have been very satisfied with the purchase. The picture quality is excellent and the input options are great (especially being able to use 1920x1080 with my computer). As some reviewers have commented, the speakers are by no means top notch. Since I had previously been using my laptop for everything for which I use this, I cannot complain. If you want a full top-notch experience for movies or games or whatever, then you will probably want a separate sound system, though I doubt many will find this terribly off-putting.Get more detail about Samsung LN37A550 37-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV.
When I first got my PS3 several months ago, my next plan was to get a worthy Full HDTV that can handle the full power of the PS3. I did A LOT of research to find a feature packed Full HD TV with consideration to size, quality, and price. It all lead me to this amazing TV. I mean I never read one bad review about this TV, ever. Not on Amazon.com or any other sites. I looked at it specs, it was all I needed and more. Samsung is one of the best LCD TV manufacturers these days and quality is out of the question.
As soon as I got this TV up and runnin', man the difference between its picture and my 11-year-old LG Flatron TV was HUGE!! I was amazed how in the world I managed to play PS3 on a SD TV. Playing my games again on this great HDTV was like playing them for the 1st time in every sense of the word. The contrast is stunning, the blacks are deep and the color production is more than satisfying. Even in fast moving scenes, the 5 ms response time makes it really ghost free and lag free.
As mentioned in other reviews, the sound is somehow on the weak side. The bass is not that powerfull (even with equalizer setting). The sound isn't that rich but it's not bad, it only could have been better. However, connecting a home theatre is the obvious way to go and that's my next plan (lol).
The build quality is great, and it feels well built and sturdy. The remote takes a little while to get used but it's no big deal at all. The only takes I've got on this TV are one: the remote control reception is somehow weak a little and it should be facing the IR sensor on the TV (already mentioned by another review here) two: the remote buttons needs a little push to respond, you have to press a little hard for them to respond and finally: the rear connections plate feels a little loose somehow, when I connect an HDMI for example, part of the panel goes inside the set, just be careful not pushing too hard when plugging cables on the back panel.
Overall, it's a great great HDTV set and surpassed my expectations and I'm very pleased with it. Recommended to all you guys out there searching for a full featured set with great money value.
Two thumbs up!!!Get more detail about Samsung LN37A550 37-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV.
Great product. Arrived quickly in perfect shape. Excellent blacks, no glare. Love it.Get more detail about Samsung LN37A550 37-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV.
I'm very impressed with this television. Great color, contrast, blacks, and set up screens. The remote has a nice backlight that comes on when you use it. The package looks great too. I think the built in speakers are fine, but if you want super hi fi then get an amp and speakers for that. The receiver looks good even on analog signals, so its a 'buy' in my opinion and I'm glad I bought this.
Update June 2009: Still like this TV a lot. Picture on HD is excellent, and the 'analog on cable' picture is good too. It has an off the air tuner but I'm on cable so cannot speak to the tuner's capability. My only con is that some of the audio features are disabled on this model, which I wish were available to me, given the price I paid. Get more detail about Samsung LN37A550 37-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV.
I am one of the most consumer-conscious buyers you are ever going to meet, so Samsung to me is a no-brainer (I am still using a Samsung VCR from over 15 yrs. ago). My concern was the shipping deal... free "white glove delivery?" Well, here's the true low-down as of Saturday July 19th 2008. My HDTV is now 4.5 hours in my possession and I had to make sure the CEVA shipping guys get their props.
Notice that I intentionally wrote the day... Saturday delivery. The tracking went like this: I ordered first thing Wednesday and received a message on my home phone Thurs. before noon to set up an appointment for delivery -- the earliest choices were 9-1 Fri. or 1-5 Sat., I chose the latter, even though I assume that if I were home earlier, that I might have received it later that same day. [note: the origin was in-state]
The CEVA guys left a well-detailed message and I was able to set up an appointment without delay. On the day of delivery, the white-glove guys called at 12:30 pm to let me know that they were behind schedule (they mentioned about a 20-30 min. delay). Since I expected delivery from anytime from 1 to 5, there was definitely no problem -- in fact, I was very impressed with the fact that they were aiming for the 1 pm drop-off time and had the courtesy to call well in advance.
Within the next hour, they called me as promised [about 15 mins.] before arriving at my front door, and before I knew it: the TV was out of the box, on my entertainment shelf, plugged in and operating! The picture is superb, as expected, but what was unexpected was the INCREDIBLE delivery service! Top-class... those other mishaps reviewed might have been rare occurrences, but let me tell you that I cannot be happier! The projected delivery was for Wed. July 23rd, and here I am watching my favorite weekend shows in hi-def! Thanks CEVA!! BTW: just in case you're wondering, no, they don't actually wear "white gloves" :)Get more detail about Samsung LN37A550 37-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV.
Did I say this image was sharp??!! Wow!! Ok, so it's my first LCD/HD TV but I did the research, viewed many at Best Buy side-by-side and the Samsung models looked much better than the others, including the over-rated Sony's. Went home and immediately ordered it from Amazon. Very competitive price, plus free white-glove shipping and no tax.
It arrived two days earlier than expected. CEVA (delivery) called me ahead of time to arrange a four-hour window. They came, brought it in, unboxed it. I held on to the packaging, just in case.
I hooked it up to the Comcast HD box and off I went into the world of home theater entertainment.
There are enough inputs to accomodate anything you want to plug into it. I use the audio out channels to hook up to my Dolby Surround system. I love the concerts, so I'm in heaven.
Did I say the picture is amazing!!!???Get more detail about Samsung LN37A550 37-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV.
None of the available picture configurations other than 4:3 looks natural, which isn't true of my Samsung 40" set. Get more detail about Samsung LN37A550 37-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV.
This is an outstanding, phenomenal set for the money. You will have to make sure that you grasp the interconnectedness of the various modes and picture adjustments so as to get the very best out of whatever you are playing through it. Well transferred DVDs, with a good upscaling 1080p DVD player, will look stunning. Mediocre DVDs will look at least much better than you thought possible.
Standard definition cable TV through the RF antenna input looks amazingly good, all things considered, if you take the time to tweak the display profiles to accommodate the very limited, narrow bandwidth palettes of those sources.
That said, it's a real stunner with a good 1080p player. There is a noticeable quality difference between 1080i component video and 1080i or 1080p HDMI video. You should try and use the HDMI inputs whenever possible.
Samsung claims that the set has an almost 180 degree viewing range. If by that they mean that you can stand at extreme angles and still see a useable picture, that is correct. But if you assume that means that it will be as good as a plasma, or old style CRT, which has almost no loss at all at the most extreme angles, you will be disappointed. Although LCD manufacturers have made great strides in extending the viewable angle for LCDs, they are LCDs, not plasmas or CRTs. This set still has a noticeable "sweet spot" were the picture looks the very best. Standing up, or moving off the to side produces a noticeable loss of contrast.The difference is slight, but noticeable. It's no where near as bad as earlier sets.
But there is a sweet spot. Viewing in bright environments where the contrast and lamp level of the set have been cranked up to compete with the ambient brightness will probably mask this effect. Viewing in subdued to dim lighting environments, like you would want for watching films, with the set adjusted to output subtle tones and the very best movie quality image, tends to call attention to it. That said, the set has robust but very subtle color and excellent blacks and contrast range if properly adjusted.
If anyone had suggested three years ago that you would be able to get this level of technology and sophistication at about one-thousand dollars, no one would have believed it possible.
It is a great set.
Get more detail about Samsung LN37A550 37-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV.
This unit has far exceeded my expectations. The HD picture quality is superb, with Dish Network being my primary source, and deep blacks are so black it looks like the set is off. I also love getting full HD resolution when I plug my MacBook into the VGA input.
As others have said, though, the built-in speakers are poor. Since I don't have room for a full surround sound system, my solution was to get Bose Companion 3 speakers which simply plug into the headphone jack. Although they're technically "computer speakers," they sound great with the TV and have plenty of volume.
The "white glove" delivery worked out well; they showed up when they said they would and set it up for me.Get more detail about Samsung LN37A550 37-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV.
I have had this set for 3 weeks now, I loveit, great value for money. Unfortunately, my cable provider is not great in broadcasting HD Channels for me to experience the full glory of this set. Nonetheless, happy with my purchase.Get more detail about Samsung LN37A550 37-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV.
This LCD when used with a HD signal is the best in the 37 inch class. It has all the connection ports you could need, with 3 HDMI ports included. No other LCD could compare in picture quality at this price. But you must have a HD signal, and you must subscribe to a provider that offers 100% digital. Otherwise, all of your channels will look terrible except for the HD channels. If you have Comcast forget about watching anything other then the HD channels. I cannot write enough good things about the picture quality. However, how Samsung allowed this model to reach the consumer market with its audio system is disturbing. This TV "HAS NO BASS"!!!!!!! My PC speakers sound like a multiplex theater compared to these! Honestly, if anyone writes that bass quality is an individual taste, and writes that this TV has "just fine" bass, DO NOT BELIEVE THEM. THIS TV HAS NO BASS, EVEN WHEN USING THE EQUALIZER BLASTED AT FULL CAPACITY! I GUESS SAMSUNG JUST WANTED YOU TO INVEST IN A THEATER SYSTEM TOO. MY WIFE LOVES THE PICTURE QUALITY SO MUCH, I GUESS ITS A KEEPER. Since we use this tv in the bedroom, a theater system is totally out of the question. I plan to buy the gigaworks T40s as "plug-n-plays". Amazon has a great deal on them. Get more detail about Samsung LN37A550 37-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV.
I've owned this for about two months and I'm satisfied in every way. I will make note though that I had to return two of these TVs (not through amazon) due to one having a speaker pop problem and the other having a stuck pixel in the center of the screen. That was a hassle and has to do with quality control, but the unit itself is great. It has all the features I want, all the inputs I need, looks great and fits in the space I need it to fit. It's the perfect size for a smaller room or a room as big as a living room. Samsung finally came out with a 37" and I know I'd be happy getting this. The price on amazon is an amazing deal and these TV's have finally reached the somewhat affordable price of $1k.Get more detail about Samsung LN37A550 37-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV.
Ordered the 37" TV based on space limitations of our existing TV cabinent actually wanted a much larger version for our house and may still get another one around Christmas time. We received the TV sooner than expected! Very Nice Picture quality and sound. Great Value for the money! We have HD Cox Cable Service> One feature that I was interested in was the P.I.P. feature of this TV but apparently that feature is not able to work properly with digital feed cable???? Not sure Why? It will work if you want to use an auxillary feed such as a dvd player interfaced with cable TV. But if you are trying to view one cable channel and scan thru the rest of the cable channels or DVR to see what else is on, it won't allow it. If I'm missing something on this, please let me know! I have read the manual on this feature and it appears somewhat nebulous. Other than that little bit of aggravation attempting to get that particular feature working properly....The TV works great...After playing around with the custom settings on the TV it seems to have a much better picture on "Cinema" setting rather than on Sports or Games setting. Currently watching the Bejing Olympic Games and watching a couple of Pre-season Football Games and Very Satisfied with the quality of the the Picture. Thinking about purchasing another Samsung for a different room of the house. Very Good Value $1025, You will be requiring an HDMI cable $60-$90 to connect DVR's, surround sound or other Auxillary devices!!!!!!!Free Shipping>>>Amazon has done it again, Love you Guys!!!!!!!Get more detail about Samsung LN37A550 37-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV.
Great picture for HD broadcasts; makes non-HD look only fair in comparison. The picture-in-picture feature is a bit of a dissapointment. It's not as easy to use as my old tube-type Panasonic. It is not possible to switch between the 2 pix with one click, and you have to perform a separate set of steps if you want sound with the secondary pic.Get more detail about Samsung LN37A550 37-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV.
This TV has an excellent picture but poor, tinny, sound. The sound equalizer needs to be set high on both the low and upper frquencies to produce acceptible audio. A separate sound system would be a plus. Also the PIP function operation is poor and difficult to set up. It requires a separate sound setting when PIP is activated. The manual is not clear as to what component requirements are needed to activate PIP. The W-Link feature works very well to display digital pictures stored on a camera memory or storage device.Get more detail about Samsung LN37A550 37-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV.
My wife and I were blown away by the quality of this television. I must say that we were equally impressed with the delivery occuring 2 days earlier than the estimate from Amazon. LOL - a representative with Best Buy tried to tell me that the televisions Amazon sells are used. Having been an Amazon customer for a long time, I knew better. The best price, no sales tax, and free delivery - Amazon is awesome as always!Get more detail about Samsung LN37A550 37-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV.
Background:
Bought a new LCD TV to watch the Olympics in high-definition. I thought I would buy locally, but I wound up using Amazon instead, mostly because the exact make/model wasn't easily found where I live. I looked closely at all the affordable makes (eg, not Sony or Panasonic, but Toshiba, Samsung, Vizio, LG, Sharp, etc.). I also looked at Consumer Reports to get reliability reports, and decided to not buy an extended warranty as a result (LCD TVs are very reliable). My brother bought a Toshiba TV and really likes it. I thought even the Vizio TVs looked good.
I ultimately chose this particular Samsung model on the strength of my affection for their cell phones and for the very good reviews overall, particular for this particular TV. I needed a TV that would fit my entertainment armoire, meaning either a 32" or 37" (I'm very glad I chose the 37" now that I've got it).
Positives:
The picture really is outstanding, period. By that I mean that, right out of the box, without doing anything except tuning to a digital TV channel, the resulting picture is gorgeous. Flesh tones are natural. Colors are vivid. The whites are WHITE and the blacks are deep ebony. And I didn't touch any of the oodles of control settings that are available (if you are a tinkerer, you'll leave all the settings you can tweak...I just wanted something that looked great without any fuss). I like the side jacks to make hooking things up easy. I only use a digital broadcast TV and DVDs -- no cable or satellite -- and both broadcast TV and the DVDs look great.
The remote control is long and slender -- not particularly noteworthy except is can be illuminated if you want (not a big deal for me). It's much more than what I'm used to.
I haven't used the feature yet, but I like that it's got a USB port -- it'll make showing photos really easy in the future. It also provides an easy way to update the TV's firmware in the future.
Negatives:
If you've read any reviews on this set at all, you'll read that the audio is unimpressive, even disappointing. Mind you, the speakers aren't in front of the set -- I'm not sure where they are, actually -- and the sound that comes out is really inadequate to the picture. Even using the equalizer function, the sound is not rich or inviting at all. So, sound is the weak link for this TV. However, I've hooked my TV up to my stereo, so for movie watching, I'm not using the TV speakers. For watching TV news or a lot of other shows -- even the Olympics -- the TV sound is adequate, just not great. But you already know that by now.
One other thing I don't like is that, when hooked into my stereo, the Mute button on the remote doesn't mute the sound. That wouldn't be a problem if my stereo had a remote with a mute button on it, but I've got an older Yamaha receiver without a remote. So, it's a drawback for me, maybe not for you.
Oh, and I was thrown for a loop by the product dimensions -- the published dimensions don't include the TV base! I estimated a space for the TV that would be less than 24", but with the stand, it's more than 24"! Beware!
In sum, if they had added a nicer, beefer speaker system built-in, it'd be a 5-star product. If you've got a home theater set-up, this is a 5-star TV, hands-down. If you're going to use the built-in speakers, however, it's only a 4-star product. Go to a local electronics dealer and be sure to test out the sound on the TV you want to buy. My brother did this and chose his Toshiba TV on the strength of its picture AND sound.
Get more detail about Samsung LN37A550 37-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV.
First off, i am not going to write about the sound quality of this samsung tv, bc i hooked everything straight to my surround sound setup.
Next: This tv is well packaged, and came with no scratches, and the white glove delivery service was good overall.
Also, The picture is superb, i dont think you can get a better picture for the price or screen size. The tv looks nice too, it is glossy black and the swivel stand is actually a pretty good one. Ive seen some cheap swivel stands, but this one i actually dont mind having built in to the stand.
The "but" or the "inconvenience":
After doing a "screen check" (checking for any faulty issues with the tv) i found one. On the right side of the tv i found a light area of the screen that looks like a glare circle, but its built into the screen. I called amazon and they were really helpful and told me to contact samsung directly before initiating an exchange, so i called samsung and they were really helpful also and are going to send a service technician out to try and repair the tv.
Final note: i have read many a time that LCD's do sometimes have problems, and that not everyone comes perfect, as long as they get it fixed/replaced and i cant see anything wrong with it, then there is no worry. I will recommend this tv to anyone with about a 1000$ budget, bc you are getting a GREAT picture, with very vivid and detailed colors. Bluray looks amazing on this btw.
I will rate samsung phone support 5/5 stars
I will rate amazon phone support 5/5 stars
(you dont end up talking to a rep in india btw)Get more detail about Samsung LN37A550 37-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV.
Based on my technically savvy daughter's recommendation, I purchased this product. It was delivered, unpacked and installed by Amazon's contractor and has worked without a flaw since then. The pictures are clear and crisp. I could not have expected more.Get more detail about Samsung LN37A550 37-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV.
The picture quality of the TV is great. Vivid colors and dark blacks. My only complaint is that the audio is not great. Compared to my Sony, the audio sounds tinny and cheap. I'll be hooking up some external speakers soon.Get more detail about Samsung LN37A550 37-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV.
We used previous reviews on Amazon to determine the Samsung was the best pick for our new TV vs. a more expensive Sony that didn't have as good a picture. Several reviews complained of "tinny" audio but I guess we're not that picky; no complaints there. The picture is amazing and the olympics came to life in our living room! Now, time for the greatest season of football spectation yet! It looks very sleek in the living room too.Get more detail about Samsung LN37A550 37-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV.
I looked around quite a while before selecting this model. I am familiar with Samsung products, so I knew I was getting a quality LCD television. It was very light (as compared to my plasma screen TV), delivered before the expected delivery date, and fits perfectly in my basement living room. On both cable and hooked up to my Samsung DVD player, it provided clear, vibrant pictures. I'm very happy with this purchase.Get more detail about Samsung LN37A550 37-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV.
This TV is great! I believe that samsung has the best line of LCD TV on the market. I was able to get it for $929, hopefully amazon drops the price soon:)Get more detail about Samsung LN37A550 37-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV.
After doing a bit of homework and a great deal of thinking between getting a 32" and this 37" television, I opted for this one. It does full HD, has computer inputs, and what I thought was interesting was the fact that it had an optical audio port to feed the sound through.
A lot of reviews talk about how the speakers on this television kind of suck, and, for lack of a better word, they do. But I didn't buy the T.V. for the "simulated 2.1 surround sound" built into the television, I bought it because it was a big screen that has a very nice display.
One of the nice features I personally liked with it is the different picture settings, like the cinema, dynamic, game, sports, etc. options that can make it easier on the eye without sacrificing picture quality or bringing out vibrant colors when you want them to.
I'm a gamer, and have a PlayStation 3 hooked up via HDMI. The visuals in full HD are stunning. This was definitely a step-up from the 20" Sylvania "HD-ready" 4:3 television that I had previously that could only display in 480p.
Highly recommended if you want a full Hi-def television that has a manageable size and if you have a good home theater at the ready.Get more detail about Samsung LN37A550 37-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV.
This TV has been nothing but a waste of time. We recently purchased the Samsung LN37A550 as well as the Samsung Blue Ray player. When watching movies the TV would loose video, only sound would remain. After checking the Samsung website we find there a major firmware update required before the player will even function properly.
Samsung support, somewhere in the Philippines said they could only send us a disk and would take 7 days.
We found and download the firmware patch from the website, installed it using a flash drive, to no avail.
We took it back and traded it for the new Sony Blue Ray player. Still the same problem with the video. First time a movie will last 30 minutes then the screen goes black and you would have to turn the TV off and on then it would work another few minutes and same thing.
Long story short, repair man finally came out and main circuit board on TV had to be replaced.
Morale of the story is two Samsung products, both shipped prematurely with non functioning firmware and or bad components. Retailers are pushing this brand heavy so there must be relatively high profit margins for them as they push these substandard products out the door. Buyers beware.
As good as some reviews are about the picture, etc. you are taking a big gamble with this brand and be prepared to trouble shoot and install regular fixes and patches on your own.
I see the price of this TV has dropped over $200 in the last 30 days so they must be coming back to the retailers in droves.
Get more detail about Samsung LN37A550 37-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV.
So far, (2 days since the TV and Dish HD installation) the TV is amazing. Lots to figure out. Just wonder if we really have it working to its ultimate capacity??? (See below) I rate the TV a 5-star, but the White Glove service gets a 0-star since we didn't get White Glove service.
We are senior citizens, living in a rural area, approximately 100 miles from the nearest metropolitan city. For this reason, and because of our lack of knowledge of this new age technology (I can do computers-not TVs), I ordered the Samsung LN37550 from Amazon.com as much for the White Glove delivery and installation service that I had been reading about in the other customer comments, as for the TV itself (size constraints drove our decision for the Samsumg). However, we were sorely dissappointed in the definition of White Glove service in our area.
A young man brought the TV into the house, took only the top off of the box, put the batteries in the remote, asked where the nearest wall socket was, pushed the TV in the box toward the socket, plugged it in, and with the TV still in the box, powered on the set. Then he asked us to sign that the TV powered on and to accept delivery, and he prepared to leave, all happening very quickly. When I told him we expected him to set the TV up, he made it clear that he was just the delivery guy, that he was not technical. We called the only number we had (we got it off of our caller ID), which was the delivery service number, and were told essentially the same thing by the person there.
Being between a rock and a hard place because the TV had already been charged to our credit card, and it was after 5:00pm, we opted to keep the set and try to call Amazon to get our White Glove service. After all, the delivery receipt said 'White Glove!' I spoke with the Amazon help desk the next morning, and was given a new telephone number, which was for CEVA, not the company that delivered the TV. I called CEVA the second day after taking delivery of the set and asked when someone was coming to set up the TV. It's 2 days later now, and I'm still waiting for someone from CEVA to call me back.
Bottom-line: Expectations were not met with regard to the White Glove service. However, after much anxiety, some of it for naught, and much reading of the manual, we got the Samsung put in our console, all the plugs inserted in the back in the correct plugins (we think!), and the TV turned on in order to watch what we wanted, and be prepared for the Dish folks to do their bit to get our HD service connected.
If I had it to do all over again, I would just go to a store front and pay a little extra to ensure that a technician comes out to install and explain things to us. As it is now, we've got everything but the DVD working, and I guess we'll have to prevail upon our son-in-law to help with that, and to explain to us what it is we don't know, and don't know to ask, about using all of this new technology.
Oh, and based on the price I paid verses the price that the set is now, I paid about $45 more, and didn't get anywhere near the service from Amazon or it's contractors like other buyers; AND the set is advertized to have PIP, but our set DOES NOT, but who am I to call for remediation??? Forget it!!! I've learned a valuable lesson. I'll think twice before ordering this sort of product and service again from Amazon or any other online retailer.
Get more detail about Samsung LN37A550 37-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV.
We did a lot of research on HD TV's and found this one to give "the most bang for the buck." Then we went store to store to find the best deal. No one could touch Amazon's price but we were concerned about delivery. Free delivery with "white-glove" service. We couldn't ask for more.Get more detail about Samsung LN37A550 37-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV.
this is my first hd tv and i must say i am impressed with the picture. i am still waiting for the cable company to deliver my hd cable box so i'll use my experince with the samsung 1080p upscaling dvd player/tv combo. when watching a movie i'm seeing vibrant color and more shades and hues than i could have expected. it's amazing. i'm very pleased. however, the sound is another issue. i can't believe samsung would produce a great tv like this and have such a low quality sound. it's as though the treble is overpowering everything else no matter how you adjust the equalizer. i have the tv in a small room so i cannot justify buying a surround system and i don't believe i should have to with this type of purchase.
in a small room you turn down the volume and the sound gets better. tolerable. for those buyers that have a large room i don't think you'll be satisfied with the sound. i will say that the sound seems to be geared towards voices than anything else. even voices sound tinny and not normal.
i would give this tv a 3 star rating because of the sound but the great picture still makes it a 4 star!
ps. edit update, i went to radio shack and bought a computer three speaker sound system for $52.00. it plugs into the earphone jack. it's great!!! it's leaps and bounds over the tv speakers and a fraction of the cost for a surround speaker system.Get more detail about Samsung LN37A550 37-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV.
I have this TV and another 42" Samsung plasma.... thought I'd give the LCD a try. It has a nice picture on HD feeds.... but on "normal" cable channels the picture is less than stellar. I would have thought the larger 42" plasma would have shown this inadequacy more, but it actually seems more forgiving and the picture from the plasma is richer and crisper.... and it's only 720p rather than the 1080p.... two different animals I suppose. I just picked up a blu-ray player but have yet to run it through this TV, should be interesting.
All in all, a great TV, and I do notice less heat generated off the screen... a bonus in the summer heat of AZ in my bedroom.... so I'm definitely happy with the TV, just not "blown away" as I kind of expected to be.Get more detail about Samsung LN37A550 37-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV.
This LCD TV has an excellent picture. At first the sound did seem different from my old Sony, but that may have more to due with the fact that I read the negative comments about the sound on Amazon, so I was primed to be negative. Or it may be due to the placement of the speakers at the bottom of the screen instead of facing forward on the sides like my Sony. However, I turned-on the SRT function and it improved the sound. Right now I am sitting in the other room on the computer while my wife watches the TV and I can hear every word quite clearly. I also have the sound going through my stereo, but I hardly ever turn on the stereo.Get more detail about Samsung LN37A550 37-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV.
I have always owned SONY TV's so switching brands was a big deal for me. I looked at spec's for all of the current major brands and went to my local big box electronic store to evaluate their performance. Samsung was better in specs and performance than the equivalent SONY at a cheaper price so my decision was easy. My only disappointment is the poor sound quality of the TV speakers. I have it integrated into my home theatre system so it is no problem but stand alone, the TV speakers are poor. Get more detail about Samsung LN37A550 37-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV.
After much research (Consumer Reports, Amazon, Best Buy) we absolutely got the best bang for our buck purchasing this through Amazon. Trust the other reviewers. The picture is great.. the sound a little bit tinny.. the delivery service reliable and on time. An excellent product all around.Get more detail about Samsung LN37A550 37-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV.
We recently purchased this TV to replace an older less impressive LCD TV, and what a difference. The clarity and color on this TV out of the box is excellent (though I will tune it in more with HD Essentials), and the options available for connectivity is impressive. Since we have only had this TV for about two months though, I will have to post an update with a little more time under the belt in regards to use, but I can honestly say so far this TV is Great! It is fairly light (we have it hanging from a wall on a mount with an arm so we can move it to point at different areas of the room), the 120Hz feature does make a difference watching HD sporting events - we love it!, 1080p looks amazing using this TV, and overall you couldn't ask for more simplicity in regards to mounting it. It looks like it'll mount to pretty much any mount out there right now. Plus, the setup menu has more options than most people will ever need (different settings for the speakers depending on use as well configurable options for the network link, etc). Overall, we give this TV a 5 out of 5 but what else do you expect from a Samsung?!Get more detail about Samsung LN37A550 37-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV.
Quality control on the Samsung line is poorer than expected....
My 37" 1080p LCD functioned for a total of 2.5 weeks and then the screen went BLACK...
A conversation with the hardly interested folks at Samsung Warranty Service -- really thrilled me when they said my TV was still in warranty --- OH JOY!
They informed me that based on the flashing red power light - that the critical internal "bulb" had burned out and needed replacement....
However -- they said that our "local service" facility would call me "sometime" after next Monday to schedule service....
If this is the kind of quality or service you anticipate after purchasing a $1,000 TV --- be my guest...
I've contacted Amazon to pursue the option of returning this LEMON for a full refund....
I'll post again to pass on the status...
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Oct. 08, 2008
Bingo! Amazon's inhouse complaint handler agreed that a new replacement TV was in order...
Within 3 days of contacting the Amazon folks - the new TV is already in transit to me..
I can NOT say the same thing about the Samsung warranty folks...
They seemed "programmed" to say only -- "Your set is under warranty, we will repair but not replace unless it can't be repaired"...
That is NOT what I wanted to hear..
Thankfully -- Amazon saved the day and stood behind the concept of CUSTOMER SATISFACTION.....
I remain a happy Amazon customer - but will wait to see how long THIS set runs before failing... While it worked - it was beautiful.... Time will tell.Get more detail about Samsung LN37A550 37-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV.
Picture quality is out standing. Even when viewed from a slight angle picture quality is very good. Sound from internal speakers is fine. Had a minor problem getting TV set to recognize our DVD player. Samsung"s phone tech help was A + had problem cleared up in less than five minutes. Delivery driver was first class. Brought set into house and unpacked set as advertised. Driver powered set up before having me sign delivery bill.Samsung LN37A550 37-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV
Hook up to satellite receiver was very easy. Get more detail about Samsung LN37A550 37-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV.
THE QUALITY OF MY SAMSUNG 37" LCD IS EXCELLENT.
PICTURE IS AS GOOD AS HD WITHOUT THE CABLE UPGRADE.
Get more detail about Samsung LN37A550 37-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV.
Display is good and colors are vibrant.
Great thing it can connect to PC directly.
However, sound is not impressive.
Get more detail about Samsung LN37A550 37-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV.
I purchased this product roughly for $1000 with a 20% cashback on eBay. I could not wait to gets my hands on this beauty as I read some great reviews on this unit. I have had a 40' Panasonic 40LC12 RPTV for over 3 years and I bought this unit as a replacement. However when the product arrived my first impression was, there is such a thing called 'too small'! This TV is a bedroom TV at best, not definitely a living room TV that you can enjoy watching football. Here are the pros and cons of this unit:
Cons:
* Anynet+ (which was an important factor for choosing this model) does not work very well. I have a HT-TZ515T home theater that is supposed to work great with this unit. To my disappointment, the anynet+ feature doesn't synchronize very well. When the TV is turned ON, the home theater would shut-down automatically. If you force the HT system ON, it disconnects the rear-wireless unit and you get a error message. Customer service told me that anynet+ is not a tested feature and is not guaranteed to work
* 60Hz: This TV takes about 40 seconds for switching back and forth between a SD and a HD signal.
* Incoherent SD-HD Transition: The LN37A550 gets stuck at either 480p or 1080i. So if you are watching a HD channel and you switch to a SD then you are stuck with 1080i resolution. You have to live with the 'bands' on the L & R of the screen. The manual says the bands can cause burn-in and is not covered under warranty. You have to turn the TV off and ON to restore full-screen 480p functionality. The simplest solution is to call your cable company to fix this problem. It is much easier to take care of this problem with the cable box
* Remote: Basic functions such as input selection, screen display size (wide-screen, just-fit etc) are hidden within the menus. Non-tech savvy users will find it extremely hard to maneuver and change these supposedly simple tasks. For example, you need to push the remote 7 times to change the display setting. What was Samsung thinking?
* SD Picture: The LN37A550 does a mediocre job in displaying SD signals on wide-screen. My Panasonic RPTV was fairly smooth compared to this TV.
* No Memory Card Reader: Are you kidding me? For a TV priced at $1200, who forgot to put a memory card reader on?
* Price: This TV is pretty pricey for the performance and specifications
Pros:
* Picture Quality: Bright,colorful, gorgeous display with HD content. My RPTV would not even come close to this beauty. This is the only reason why I would not return this unit.
* Style
* Frame comes pre-installed
* Light weight
* Low power consumption
Summary:
If I have to do it all over again, I would get a Panasonic 42' 1080p plasma TV that you can find on sale for roughly $800. If you want this TV for your living room, it is a baaad idea. The screen size is way too small. It looks like a 32' TV. I regret not getting the 40' model (costs $300 more). Did I forget to mention that the TV is too small? Well, it is!Get more detail about Samsung LN37A550 37-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV.
Excellent product, better Amazon price...I have no complaint so far...I will buy another Samsung LCD TV without any doubt...Get more detail about Samsung LN37A550 37-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV.
