Samsung LN52A550 52-inch 1080p LCD HDTV

Never a company to rest on its laurels as a market leader, Samsung has released several new series of impressive LCD HD televisions that are designed to offer a model for everyone, from the HD newbie on a budget to the hard-core videophile.

One such series is the 550-lineup, which seems positioned toward the low-price scale, aiming to please the first-time consumer on a budget. The 52" model profiled here, the LN52A550, offers big-screen, high-definition television at a price well within reach of the average buyer.

But what kind of features will you give up if choosing a 550 series model like the LN52A550 instead of its pricier cousins in the 650 and 750 series? The more expensive models boast a 4ms pixel response rate vs. the LN52A550's 5ms (hardly a deal-breaker), and the higher-priced sets include a 50,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio vs. the 550-series sets which offer 30,000:1.

Those are the significant differences, but there's also the added aesthetic of the "Touch of Color" bezel on the 650 and 750 models, absent here on the LN52A550. Hardly a feature worth hundreds more on its own.

The LN52A550 offers full 1080p high-definition resolution, which is the max pixel resolution output by current HD sources such as Blu-Ray disc players and gaming systems like the Playstation 3 and Xbox 360. When you think HDTV, the sound experience may not be one of the first things you consider, but you shouldn't overlook it, as it represents half the television experience. Fortunately, the LN52A550 employs patented SRS technology that kicks out virtual suround sound even if you don't have a full 5.1-surround sound set-up in your viewing room. The LN52A550 also includes Samsung's unique DNIe - Digital Natural Image engine, which is designed to enhance the overall picture by optimizing several aspects: motion, contrast, detail and color. And when comparing HDTVs, don't forget to check if it can connect to all your video components. Here, the LN52A550 does an acceptable job, with 3 HDMI, 2 component, 2 S-Video and 2 composite inputs. Your research won't be complete without first finding out what other buyers like you think of the television. Read user reviews for the LN52A550 at Amazon.com.

Comparisons vs. Top 52" LCD TVs

Samsung LNT5265F Samsung LNT5271F Samsung LN-T5281FX Sharp Aquos LC52D64U Sharp Aquos LC52D92U Sony Bravia 52XBR4 Sony Bravia 52XBR5 Sony Bravia KDL-52W3000 Toshiba REGZA 52HL167 Toshiba REGZA 52LX177

Model	Contrast	Refresh	Max Res	HDMI	Resp Time	Weight	Price
15,000:1		1080p	3	8ms	63 lbs	Check Price
25,000:1	120hz	1080p	3	8ms	128 lbs	Check Price
500,000:1	120hz	1080p	3	8ms	81 lbs	Check Price
10,000:1		1080p	3	4ms	63 lbs	Check Price
15,000:1	120hz	1080p	3	6ms	83 lbs	Check Price
18,000:1	120hz	1080p	3	8ms	108 lbs	Check Price
18,000:1	120hz	1080p	3	8ms	108 lbs	Check Price
16,000:1		1080p	3		95 lbs	Check Price
		1080p	3	8ms	140 lbs	Check Price
		1080p	3		90 lbs	Check Price

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