Samsung HL-S5087W 50-Inch 1080p DLP HDTV

Samsung HL-S5087W 50″ 1080p DLP HDTV vs sony bravia, September 8, 2006

Was all set to buy sony bravia 40″ lcd at CC, but the new samsung 50″ 1080p was right next to it. The picture was AMAZING. Color was sharp, I was able to see a great picture from most angles and the color was fantastic. Plus even up close you do not see the pixels as you would see in a plasma to lcd. The sales person was right when she said, if I am not looking to hang it than for the same money you should go wtih Samsung new generation of dlp. I was never a dlp fan before but this new generation is almost as good from a viewing angle and color intensity standpoint when compared to the crt it replaced.

Needless to say I canceled the order at CC when I realize Amazon was selling this for $500 less plus free shipping. Bought the tv, stand $180, monster 3500 $160 and the samsung 950 upconversion 1080p dvd player $150 and onyko recever $260.

Why it didn’t get 4 stars?
The menu is slow, complicated and cumbersome. I would like to be able to switch between both hdmi ports (dvd player and directv). Its not as intutitive as the sony interface I am use to dealing with, the remotes were okay.

The speakers are weak not that thats a problem but it would be for anyone who has no plan to buy a home theater.

delivery was great, brought it to my seond floor, stripped down box, styrofoam and took it with them.

oh btw try figuring out how to turn the tv speaker off, I had to read the manual twice to do that. I have no doubt once I get everything set up the way I want it should be a piece of cake to navigate.

Its been 2 weeks, the picture is amazing even for non HD shows. For the non HD I would recommend setting it up so the picture is NOT stretched.

For those of you trying to size up your space. 50″ tv, I am sitting about 7 to 8 feet away. No eye strain, no pixelation but I will say when the picture moves too fast I get motion sickness.

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A phenomenal picture and good looking cabinet!, September 21, 2006

I agonized over this decision! LCD flat panel? Plasma? DLP? Rear projection LCD? And on and on and on!! Back and forth to the TV store and back again. Did my research on the net and back to the TV store. Then I placed an order on Amazon for $2249 with free shipping before the TV was in stock and waited patiently for 2 months. At the same time, the end of July, I priced this TV at Circuit City and it was priced at $2600!! And during that 2 months of course, I returned yet again to the TV store and did further comparisons. Well, my wait paid off. The TV dropped WAY down in price and Amazon, true to their word honored the lower price. With free shipping to boot. Hard to believe that the prices on this TV have fallen so dramatically in just 2 months!!

First of all, this is a beautiful TV. The high gloss cabinet first appealed to me and particularly to my kids but now I wish it were flat and no so reflective – a minor complaint. Secondly, the TV arrived in perfect shape from a shipper who used a local guy to do the final delivery. He was nice enough to help me into the house with this TV which only weighed, with packaging, 85 pounds or so. And don’t forget – shipping was FREE!

Amazon’s price is remarkable. The TV is still over $300 more at my local retailers. Only minor problem was I had to wait for the TV but Amazon made this clear at the outset. Now I understand they are in stock.

The picture is the best of all the TV’s I compared it to. The brightest with the absolute best colors. Only one minor complaint: The viewing angles are not quite as good as the LCD flat panel. But the TV is about $1000 less than a comparable LCD flat panel and honestly I can live with this minor issue. My friends and my kids friends are absolutely amazed at the picture quality this TV produces. I use a terrestrial antenna which gives the best picture possible.

Now, for why I didn’t choose the other contenders. The plasma suffers from burn in and fades over time so I ruled it out. The LCD was more expensive with no appreciably better picture, in fact I found the DLP image crisper, brighter and more colorful. This 1080p DLP just seemed to be the best value for the money with a breathtaking picture. That being said, when the LCD flat panel comes down in price I will definitely get one because I just love the form factor.

I’s strongly recommend this TV and Amazon. You are not going to find it cheaper anywhere. I hope you enjoy yours as much as I do mine.

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Result of 5 months of careful research, October 13, 2006

First, let me say that I am not in a place in life where I feel the need to justify a purchase and subsequent expenditure to the world at large via a review. If I felt I have made a mistake of sorts, I would warn other technical soujourners to heed my call and avoid the jagged rocks that ended my High-Def exploration. That being said, this Samsung will blow you away. I spent at least 5 months going between technologies..Plasma-vs.LCD-vs. LCD projection-vs.DLP. When I saw this set in the 60″ at Best Buy I was impressed..but not over Plasma. But using a HD Tv for movies and Xbox primarily…I went with DLP for the ‘no-fear’ factor of burn-in issues, color and longevity. Looking at Plasma sets change pictures…I could see ‘ghost’ images left over from the second before..and LCD screen-door effects are noticable to me. I don’t get it…I have always been hyper-alert to details and just KNEW I would be the type that would ‘see’ things that others can live with…but will drive me slowly insane over time..leaving me rocking and mumbling alone on the florr with my medications in years to come. Anyway…I liked the fact the the only thing that will decay on a DLP is the bulb…and once replaced, the set is a good as new year after year..as opposed to LCD and Plasma reality that things will dim over time…maybe a lot of time..but they will. Okay..High-def decisions made. Sweaty hands clutch the charge card and press in the numbers on line. Done. (PS..I compared prices between 30 storres across the USA. Amazon beat them all with no tax/no shipping. Many chains will SAY no shipping cost….but then just ask about getting a call to alert you your order is coming..and you have to upgrade your shipping…for another $200. Amazon offers TRUE no-cost shipping with white-glove service whichin means a courtesy call so you can meet the delivery at your home)
Set arrived and it was lighter in weightthan expected. Unpacked and the finish is incredible…the look is very clean. Read the manual…and understand the picture modes…movie-dynamic-std-custom. With the unit on..the bulb takes about 45 seconds to achieve full brightness. The picture was bright but harsh…the reason was it came on dynamic setting and with a test-DVD movie in..it seemed very high in contrast. I read and dicovered that there are several quick-chioces for room light..and that standard or movie would be best…switched and it was incredible. I also bought a Sony HDMI upconvert DVD player from Amazon…and a HDMI cable from another vendor on the internet. PS…listen to previous posts about cable costs. In the ‘old’ world of analog..Monster cables are great…and gold connectors, cable braiding, etc makes some difference in the qualnity of electrons getting from point a to point b. But this is digital. Digital o’s and 1’s either ‘get’ to their destination or they do not. If there is a connection…it is either ‘on’ or ‘off’. So any cable will work…a $15 dollar HDMI cable will transfer digial info as well as a $125 cable. That is reality.
Okay, so now that I discovered the quick buttons for screen brightness and also picture size…I was on the move…learning more. The menu is VERY easy and fun to use. Xbox 360 is scary beautiful….movies are stunning and you cannot believe the color and crisp picture. IT is mesmerizing and hypnotic. I bouth a HD antenna ($38) at Best Buy becaue I am not ready to get a cable package yet. The search function scans and finds all local channels..thenyou can go back an erase all you don’t want. PBS is brodcast in HD here and the picture even with a cheap antenna over the air is GORGEOUS! Fox sports also brodcasts in widescreen…720i and its beautiful. Amazing.
The USB port on the side finds a jump drive quickly on the ‘wiselink’ setting and you can show groups your pictures in a slide show faship or one-by-one…its so awesome. The PC connection works well and you now have a 50″ PC monitor in HD.
I am so jazzed about this Samsung and the new DLP technology. I have friends over who say the color is so bright…so vivid..they were thinking Plasma, but will get this set now. Side-fade is not and issue..you can see the picture in even brighter room light from many angles. And Xbox 360 people…you will passout at the color. Once you go into your game console, set up the High Def setting on Xbox, and on the Samsung set the ‘game mode’ on. These settings will now be remembered when you turn the game on and select ‘Game console’ setting on the Samsung’s input options. Game detail, color and clarity will take your breath away. Promise. And no burn in worry…..ever.
I simly have a 3-way system for sound right now. Twin satellite speaker cubes and a sub-woofer. The Samsungs speakers are ‘ok’….but you will want great sound. I simply have a stereo setup for now until I eventually get a surround sound something. (sigh….more research)

This Samsung will be the best decision you…

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