Samsung PN50B860 50-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV
Samsung PN50B860 50-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV
Samsung’s new 8 Series plasma flat panel HDTV represent our finest innovations in design and performance. Samsung’s 8 Series E-Panel technology combined with our Ultra FilterBrightTM Plus technology provides a stunning high contrast picture even in brighter rooms. It’s not just the images on screen that capture your attention – the Ultra Slim cabinet is only 1.2” deep and gives you added versatility with its stylish vibe. The new Medi@2.0 connectivity package offers customizable online content via user-friendly “widgets,” networking capability via the DLNA standard, and playback of your camera and camcorder via USB 2.0. Add 4 advanced HDMI inputs that feature Samsung’s Anynet+ (CEC standard) technology making system control of compatible A/V devices like a Blu-ray player or HTIB system a one-touch operation. If you’re looking for the best Full 1080p performance and advanced connectivity, Samsung’s new 8 series plasma HDTVs are designed with this in mind.
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars Simply Perfect
This TV is the most beautiful TV I have ever seen. There is however a buzzing noise….if your house is silent and your head is between the TV and the wall. Anybody who complains obviously doesn’t have the sound turned on, because even whisper quiet noise will drown out any minor buzzing…if you own a refrigerator, you will not be able to hear the buzzing. The only REAL flaw was the delivery company Amazon chose, CEVA Logistics. They never showed up on the scheduled delivery date, so we rescheduled. The new date, they called and said they couldn’t make the original time, so they rescheduled for later in the day. They were supposed to arrive between 1 and 5, they didn’t arrive until after 7pm. Forget about white glove service, the driver was in a rush to drop the box and run. Him and his partner had no idea how to set the TV up, and when they started getting fingerprints all over the screen I kicked them out. Terrible experience that was quickly forgotten as soon as I set the TV up. SO 5 stars for Samsung, 0 stars for CEVA Logistics, 1 star for amazon for choosing such a crappy company and only offering me $50 for my trouble!
5 Stars Awesome!
Picture quality is unbelievable. I love the built in art gallery. Looks like a wall painting. Very thin. No buzzing sound. I turned the volume all the way to 0 and still did not hear any buzz. So they may have fixed that issue for my TV. Coolest feature was… it was able to play most of my videos right from an external hard drive. Now I can have all my home videos and pictures in one external hard drive. I have not used the internet feature yet.
Overall a great TV. I feel this TV is same or better than samsung LED’s in picture quality and still is very thin 1.2″
5 Stars Most Accurate Picture Among HDTVs
First, a reality check - I totally cannot believe the complaints on this page about buzzing. I’ve had my set since mid-September and haven’t noticed any buzz beyond what is typical for plasma sets. If you stand right next to any plasma or CRT set you WILL here a tiny buzz or humm, period.
Now on to my assessment - I spent months researching before deciding on this set over the V10 that I had tentatively decided on until I saw the two side-by-side. The 860 blew it out of the water! There is no comparison when it comes to color accuracy. The V10 seems to give everything, including skintones a slightly green hue and the overall picture seems dull by comparison. Both sets (in my opinion) had excellent black levels but the experts say the V10’s are darker but I couldn’t tell! I also love the DNLA link that allows viewing photos, movies and listening to music directly from my pc (wirelessly). I love it. And I cannot overstate how it’s superior picture outshined all others in the BB Magnolia showroom, including the much-lauded Pioneer Kuro.
Full disclosure would dictate that the slightly lower price on the Samsung also entered into my decision. It also entered into my decision to go with this set over the somewhat smaller LEDs from Samsung which also have a decent picture but don’t hold up at off angles.
Finally, I think everyone should narrow their search to 2 or 3 sets and try your best to view them side-by-side before puchasing.
5 Stars Excellent - and none of that buzz!
It does look like LCD TVs are winning the battle for market share. Almost all my friends have chosen LCD TVs over Plasma sets. I find this strange because the newer plasma TVs (like this one) are such amazing value for money, that I am surprised people aren’t lining up to buy this.
Definitely, the issue about the buzzing noise has scared people away (I know I was mildly concerned). Then there is the FUD about image retention and screen burn-in (which also is a non-issue with newer plasma screens).
The fact is that both the issues mentioned above have been pretty much taken care of by technological advances. (You would need to display a static image for weeks to cause burn-in on these TVs).
What remains though is the public’s perception that plasma TVs are somehow inferior to LCD TVs - and that shows up in the markup that people are willing to pay for a comparable LCD TV of the same size and brand.
Their loss is my (and your) gain. I did the analysis and purchased this set at an incredible price point and I couldnt be happier about this purchase.
So here is what I think about the PN50B860.
Pros
+ THE best value for money. Period.
+ Looks fantastic. Appears thinner than the claimed 1.2 inches
+ Picture Quality is fantastic - and this includes SD content.
+ NONE of that buzzing noise that some people experienced.
+ Internet connectivity is good for updating firmware.
+ Nice and organized menus
+ Lightweight compared to its peers (only 55 lbs without the stand)
Cons
- Yahoo widgets are super sluggish
- Menus are sluggish
Bottomline:
Go for it.
5 Stars Samsung Plasma 860 Series - Impressive!
After over two months of research and many trips to Best Buy, I am extremely happy with the choice I made to purchase the Samsung pn50b860 plasma flat panel TV. I’ve watched several football games and movies thus far and am extremely impressive with the overall color and picture. I have two friends who both have recently purchase a Samsung LED (one 7000, the other the 8000 series). When both saw the picture on this plasma you couldn’t help but notice a little buyer’s remorse. The picture is crisp, clear and as close to the reality as you can get. Do get me wrong, the LED also has a great picture but with the plasma you get a great picture and the 1.2″ thin panel at a much reduced price. The SRS TruSurround HD is great for my Home Theater setup and technologies such as 600Hz Subfield Motion, Mega dynamic contrast ratio and Ultra FilterBright Plus allow the picture to compete with the best out there.
Some pointers to those looking for a great TV for a reasonable price; first, be careful when you walk into a retail store that has many LCD, LED and Plasmas on display. Do your homework first and then shop for the TV that has the features and style you are looking for. You will go crazy if you try to simply decide on your choice based on what is on display. Secondly, I found that there are many myths about plasma TVs that even the technical guru’s at the retail stores are parroting. I am an engineer and information must be based on factual data and not rumor. Everything issue I heard or read about plasma technology either has been resolved or is also consistent with the LED and LCD (e.g, glare which keeps the TV from washing out or absorbing any nearby light). The PN50B860 includes an e-panel glare reduction that helps lessen any glare from nearby light.
I purchased my Samsung Plasma over the internet from a store with a great reputation and great service with no tax and no shipping fees for $1,580 in late November 2009 and seems to be already coming down in price.
Filed under: 1080p HDTV Reviews