Topic: Samsung PS51E550 3D Full HD Plasma TV

[raptor]

sir Barrister,

i'm considering this Samsung model, i just have a couple of questions -

1. i'm currently using a Panasonic 42PV8 purchased back in 2008 ... how does the black levels and  overall PQ compare to that model ... my understanding is that you also have Panasonic plasma tv of that circa

2. how's the performance of Skype and it's built-in camera? is it comparable or better than using Skype on PC?

thanks in advance

[griv]

2. how's the performance of Skype and it's built-in camera? is it comparable or better than using Skype on PC?

thanks in advance

if i may, i'd like to answer question no. 2 - skype, with the free skype camera is pretty good actually (of course a good internet connection is a must). it is comparable if not even better than on the pc, since screen is quite big. i think it'll be great to do skype if both ends are using the smarttv.

[raptor]

if i may, i'd like to answer question no. 2 - skype, with the free skype camera is pretty good actually (of course a good internet connection is a must). it is comparable if not even better than on the pc, since screen is quite big. i think it'll be great to do skype if both ends are using the smarttv.

thank you sir ... among the smart tv features that samsung and other brands are advertising, i'm really just interested with skype as it is the most likely apps that i'll be using on tv consistently, unlike other features that one would likely just use when the tv is new

[barrister]

2. how's the performance of Skype and it's built-in camera? is it comparable or better than using Skype on PC?

I haven't tried Skype, so I don't know how well it performs. Good thing sir griv already answered it for me.
 
 
 

1. i'm currently using a Panasonic 42PV8 purchased back in 2008 ... how does the black levels and overall PQ compare to that model ... my understanding is that you also have Panasonic plasma tv of that circa

My previous TV was a Panny 50C10 (2009).
 
Here's a rundown of the differences:
 
- Black levels are almost the same, although the Sammy black levels are slightly better.
 
- Over-all PQ is better on the Sammy, even if we disregard the resolution difference.
 
- Slight posterization is visible on the Panny, depending on the material displayed.  The Sammy has much better posterization handling; any posterization I see looks like it was caused by a poorly mastered source rather than by the Sammy TV itself.
 
- 24p 96Hz works very well on the Sammy.  The Panny is not 24p 96Hz capable. 
 
- On the Panny, green phosphor lag was minimal enough to be a non-issue, since I could only see it on very difficult scenes if I look hard enough.  But on the Sammy, I have not yet seen any trace of green phosphor lag at all on any scene, no matter how hard I try to find it.
 
- Both have slight IR, but the Sammy IR goes away faster.  (Note: For 2012 Sammys, only the 60 inch plasma sizes or larger have zero IR; smaller sizes still have slight IR.)
 
 
All in all, the differences will not be mind-blowing and face-melting, but you can expect a slight improvement... 
 

[barrister]

Useful feature on the 51E550: check color and tint using the built-in blue filter ---
 
- Use AVSHD709 MP4 version: http://www.avsforum.com/t/948496/avs-hd-709-blu-ray-mp4-calibration
- Use the AVSHD709's Flashing Color Bars:
 

http://www.missingremote.com/guide/display-calibration-part-i
 
- Enable the built-in blue filter by setting the TV to Blue "RGB Only Mode" --- Menu>Picture>Advanced Settings>RGB Only Mode>Blue
- Adjust color and tint until the blue color and shade of all boxes look the same.
 

[skooter]

Useful feature on the 51E550: check color and tint using the built-in blue filter ---
 
- Use AVSHD709 MP4 version: http://www.avsforum.com/t/948496/avs-hd-709-blu-ray-mp4-calibration
- Use the AVSHD709's Flashing Color Bars:
 

http://www.missingremote.com/guide/display-calibration-part-i
 
- Enable the built-in blue filter by setting the TV to Blue "RGB Only Mode" --- Menu>Picture>Advanced Settings>RGB Only Mode>Blue
- Adjust color and tint until the blue color and shade of all boxes look the same.
 

thanks sir barrister this is something to look forward, can't wait to get home to try this out lol..do u have some screenshots after this calibration?

[raptor]

I haven't tried Skype, so I don't know how well it performs. Good thing sir griv already answered it for me.
 
 
 
My previous TV was a Panny 50C10 (2009).
 
Here's a rundown of the differences:
 
- Black levels are almost the same, although the Sammy black levels are slightly better.
 
- Over-all PQ is better on the Sammy, even if we disregard the resolution difference.
 
- Slight posterization is visible on the Panny, depending on the material displayed.  The Sammy has much better posterization handling; any posterization I see looks like it was caused by a poorly mastered source rather than by the Sammy TV itself.
 
- 24p 96Hz works very well on the Sammy.  The Panny is not 24p 96Hz capable. 
 
- On the Panny, green phosphor lag was minimal enough to be a non-issue, since I could only see it on very difficult scenes if I look hard enough.  But on the Sammy, I have not yet seen any trace of green phosphor lag at all on any scene, no matter how hard I try to find it.
 
- Both have slight IR, but the Sammy IR goes away faster.  (Note: For 2012 Sammys, only the 60 inch plasma sizes or larger have zero IR; smaller sizes still have slight IR.)
 
 
All in all, the differences will not be mind-blowing and face-melting, but you can expect a slight improvement... 
 

Thanks a lot sir, based on the current prices looks like this model is a steal.

[barrister]

thanks sir barrister this is something to look forward, can't wait to get home to try this out lol..do u have some screenshots after this calibration?

A screenshot won't give you an accurate idea of how the picture looks like in person.  It's easier to take a picture of an LED/LCD screen.  It's a bit harder to take a picture of a plasma screen. 
 
But anyway, here's the picture I shot (previously posted on this thread) after my basic low-end calibration:
   
 

It looks much better in person.
 

 
But this TV already has accurate colors out of the box.  After running the flashing color bars on blue RGB-Only, I found that my tint and color were correct at default positions (Color: 50; Tint: 50-50), as long as I was on Movie Mode.  On Standard Mode, color and tint required slight adjustments. 
 
 

[skooter]

ouch i just forgot i don't have a bluray burner hehehe..anyway as i was reading that avsforum article i was intrigue about the brightness, contrast and cell light calibration could you share your brightness, contrast and cell light settings? of course your dark room settings for that, thanks a lot sir barrister

[barrister]

ouch i just forgot i don't have a bluray burner hehehe..

I don't have a Blu-ray burner either.  Why would you need one?  BD player lang nga, hindi na masyadong sikat, BD burner pa kaya? 
 
The AVSHD709 patterns are available in MP4 format.  All you need is a media player to play it on.  If you don't have a media player, just play it on the TV's built-in USB player.
 
 
 

anyway as i was reading that avsforum article i was intrigue about the brightness, contrast and cell light calibration could you share your brightness, contrast and cell light settings? of course your dark room settings for that, thanks a lot sir barrister

I posted that previously:
 

Settings (Dark Room):

Picture Mode: Movie
Cell Light: 10
Contrast: 70
Brightness: 45
Sharpness: 40
Color: 50
Tint: 50-50
Black Tone: Off
Gamma: 0
Color Space: Native
Color Tone: Warm 2
Film Mode: CinemaSmooth (1080p24, 96Hz)

Note my sharpness setting --- some users might find it too high.  See if you like a 40 sharpness, but set it lower if you see edge ringing.
 
Note 2:  Also see my prior post about the TV's auto screen shut-off during all-black scenes:
 

I think I've figured out which settings work for disabling the black shut-off feature on this TV.

Black shut-off is disabled at 45 Brightness, if:

1. Contrast is at least 51;
2. Black Tone is at least off; and
3. Gamma is at least 0.

If Contrast, Black Tone or Gamma is set lower than those minimums, black shut-off is enabled at 45 Brightness. Cell Light does not affect black shut-off trigger.

Samsung should just give us an option to disable the black shut-off via firmware update.

[skooter]

oh pwede lang pala sa USB thumb drive, thanks for the settings too sir barr.

[skooter]

Last night after calibrating my cell light, brightness, contrast and sharpness with their settings same as yours(barrister)of course. I notice my e550 is pumping an image with so much improve depth now, you know better blacks, contrast and sharpness and i even apply this settings to my cable viewing(Cignal HD) and it was excellent. I guess i dont have to download the calibration patterns from AVSForum for now hehehe...thanks again sir, it's nice to be a pdvd subscriber.

[Neon Tetra]

Mga experts, please help.

Which is a better buy, the 51e8000 Plasma TV (at Php83,000 cash with HT and iTouch dock + 2 3D glasses and wireless keyboard) or the 55LM7600 LED TV (at Php89,000 cash + 10 3D glasses nut without HT, if with HT, cash price is Php96,600)?

TIA

[barrister]

Both have good value, but I suggest Samsung.
 
LG has reliability issues these days, and after sales service is not good anymore.

[Neon Tetra]

Tnx Sir Barrister......

[skooter]

motion lighting in the advance picture settings what is this?

[barrister]

motion lighting in the advance picture settings what is this?

According to Samsung: "Reduces power consumption by reducing screen brightness when the picture on the screen is in motion."
 
It's useless.  Turn it off.

[≧◉◡◉≦xrampage≧◉◡◉≦]

See link below for calibration settings. 

http://www.avforums.com/home/pictureperfect.html

[BongC36]

Just purchased a Samsung PS51E550 yesterday for P52,369.00 bundled with a Skype cam, 2 x active glasses and an HT-E453HK.

Early days yet but I can see that this is indeed a nice step-up from my 50" LG PK550 from 2010, and at 52K with free HT, can't be beat.

[Macmon]

congrats sir. Hope you like your new tv. Enjoying mine with the 3D glasses together with my daughter. And even my wife who is not fond of 3D is also appreciating it.

[ngek2x]

ano po ang viewing distance nyo?

[Macmon]

around 7 to 10 feet sir

[Armz316]

Thanks for the input Sir Barrister. I hope i can use this on my t.v. too. It's not a Samsung though.

[DTNS]

@all

good buy pa rin ba ngayon ang 51E550? 49k ang current price nya sa SnS, with free Skype camera.

[skooter]

@all

good buy pa rin ba ngayon ang 51E550? 49k ang current price nya sa SnS, with free Skype camera.

2013 na ngayon, i rather wait for the 2013 plasma panels to come out maybe this early 2nd quarter. but it's good bargain anyway, so go for it sir...

[puffalan84]

I think it's a good buy, my kids are enjoying the 3d..

I have a question though on fellow users, can it play DTS file directly on usb? and will it work if I connect the optical out from TV to my AVR (Receiver)? or I need an NMT na for this type of file, I have yet to try big files on USB, baka di mabasa.. thanks in advance..

[griv]

haven't tried playing a DTS file directly from usb, the optical out will work, already tried it and so will big media files. hth

[pompey]

Samsung ssg-3050 glasses is P995. each. 

Sir Vic, do you have stock of the SSG-3050 or SSG-3100 3D glasses for the 2011 D series?

[disturbed]

sir barrister..the film mode is disabled in my options..I am using the hdmi 1 input..

Film Mode: CinemaSmooth (1080p24, 96Hz

this is the only setting I can't change


edit
saw the post of sir skooter hehe

[DTNS]

malapit na ang April, which means malapit nang lumabas sa market ang 51F5500!