Compare the LN-40A550P to these 40" LCD HDTVs:
| Samsung LN40A550P 40-inch 1080p LCD HDTV
Samsung is reasserting its status as a leader in LCD technology with its latest models, including the 550 series, represented
here by the LN40A550P .
These releases come alongside Samsung's 650 series, which offers a number of enhancements along with a steeper price tag. Let's
take a look at whether what you get in the LN40A550P is enough for your money or whether you should consider springing for its
650 series cousin, the model LN40A650A .
Some of the big differences you immediately see when you compare the two models is that the 650 series set includes features
such as 120hz Motion Plus, the "Touch of Color" frame coloring, and 4ms
pixel response (compared to the 550 series sets' 5ms response).
So do the added bells and whistles on the LN40A650A
give you enough reason to choose it over the LN40A550P? It depends on what's most important to you.
Let's compare the differences one by one:
Dynamic Contrast Ratio: The 50,000:1 spec on the 650 model sets is better than the 30,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio
on the LN40A550P and other 550 series models, and you may notice this difference in a side-by-side comparison. The dynamic
contrast ratio is a measurement of the whitest white and blackest black and all the gradations in between that a set
can produce. So there's a difference, but considering the LN40A550P's ratio is higher than many other 40" LCDs on the market
today, it's still an excellent number.
120Hz Motion Flow: The 650 series models boast of having 120Hz Motion Flow technology, but many critics have
called 120hz processing -- which doubles the number of video frames per second that a set produces -- much ado about
nothing. In theory, the feature reduces motion blur and judder, but in performing side-by-side comparisons of similar
sets with and without 120Hz, most reviews are calling the difference nearly imperceptible.
TOC - Touch of Color: Want to pay extra for a subtle bit of red or other color around the frame of your set?
It's a nice effect, don't get us wrong, but this enhancement (available on the 650 models but not on the LN40A550P and other
550 models) doesn't justify the difference in price.
Pixel Response Rate: The pixel response, which measures the time that it takes the set to switch a pixel on or off, is another key difference between the 550 and 650 models. Sets like the LN40A550P have a 5 millisecond response, while the 650 series TVs boast a 4 ms response time. Sure, that's a 20 or 25% difference depending on how you look at it, but even 5ms is a marked improvement over many of the best-selling LCDs on the market today.
The 550 series sets such as the 40" LN40A550P will give you a good range of connections for hooking up your video components. This set will let you plug your gear into your choice of 3 HDMI, 2 S-Video 2 component, or 2 composite inputs.
Finally, before you make your purchase decision for the LN40A550P or any other television, be sure to research what other consumers think of the set after they've set it up and put it to the test in their own homes. Here's a link to user reviews for this television at Amazon.com.
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Amazon Prices on Top 40" LCDs: -
Samsung LNT4069FX
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Sony Bravia KDL-40XBR4
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Samsung LNT4071F
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Sony Bravia KDL-40W3000
