Samsung 5 Series (2008)

The 5 series of LCD televisions are part of Samsung's 2008 line of sets. The 5 series are the least expensive of the line that feature a 1080p native resolution. Above the 5 series is the 6 series line that adds 120Hz mode, and an ethernet connection. What the 5 and 6 series share in common are the 3D content support, and integrated USB port. The 5 series does use an anti-glare screen, however it's not the same "clear view" panel used in the higher end 6 and 7 series.

Where to Buy

Samsung LN40A550P
MSRP$950 - $2,099
Release date March, 2008
BrandSamsung
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Pros & Cons11
Reviews12
Details
Buy It1
Competitors17
Comments
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Pros & Cons

ProSCORE
12 reviews
72
negative
mixed
positive
10 positive
0 mixed
2 negative

[i] How is the ProSCORE calculated?

show me!

Pros:
Do you agree?
•
High contrast ratio
+10agreedisagree

•
Good black levels
+8agreedisagree

•
1080p native resolution
+7agreedisagree

•
Glossy screen, but not as reflective as 71F series
+6agreedisagree

•
Great for gaming
+1agreedisagree

Cons:
Do you agree?
•
USB port only displays pictures and firmware updates. Video support would of been great!
+1agreedisagree

•
Doesn't have the same 'super-clear' screen as the 6 and 7 series
-1agreedisagree

•
Glossy bevel can be distracting
-2agreedisagree

•
Only 3 HDMI inputs
-2agreedisagree

•
No 120Hz display mode
-2agreedisagree

•
Poor built-in speakers
-2agreedisagree


13 people added to this review by submitting or voting on pros and cons. Add your say!
See individual votes »

Details

Specs

  • 1080p native resolution
  • 30,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio
  • 5ms response time
  • Built-in HD Tuner
  • Inputs: 3xHDMI 1.3, 2xComponent, 2xComposite, 1xS-Video, 1xVGA

550 features

USB port - view digital media content such as pictures and audio that are stored on USB mass storage devices without the need of a computer.

3 HDMI ports - the lower level series feature 3 HDMI ports, with the high-end models adding an extra HDMI port for more expandability. All HDMI ports are version 1.3.

Common to all 2008 Samsung plasmas

Anti-glare screen - first introduced in the Samsung's 71F series of television released in 2007, Samsung claims they have improved the glossy anti-glare screen to reduce glare and reduce reflections.

3D support - the televisions can accept and properly display 3D content. If you have the proper glasses and source conent the TV will handle 3D images.

Models

The 5 Series has the following naming convention: Samsung LNxxA550P. Where XX is replaced by the size of the television.

The 530 models which follow the Samsung LNxxA530 naming convention are exactly the same as the 550 models but use a non-glossy matte screen

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This report was started March 13, 2008 at 2:07 pm by Omar
with the last edit occurring Thursday, 9:37 AM by WikiWizard
This page has been viewed 48310 times, with 216 edits by 17 contributors.
See the full report history »

Buy It

Samsung LN52A530

• Samsung LN52A530 52-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV

• LN52A530 52" LCD TV

UPC: 036725228313

EAN: 036725228313

MPN: LN52A530P1FXZA

Samsung LN37A550

• Samsung LN37A550 37-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV

• LN37A550 37" LCD TV

UPC: 036725228160

EAN: 036725228160

MPN: LN-37A550

Samsung LN40A550

• Samsung LN40A550 40-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV

• LN40A550 40" LCD TV

UPC: 036725228177

EAN: 036725228177

MPN: LN-40A550

Samsung LN40A530

• Samsung LN40A530 40-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV

• LN40A530 40" LCD TV

UPC: 036725228290

EAN: 036725228290

MPN: LN40A530P1FXZA

Samsung LN46A530

• Samsung LN46A530 46-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV

• LN-46A530 46" LCD TV

UPC: 036725228306

EAN: 036725228306

MPN: LN46A530P1FXZA

Samsung LN32A550P

• Samsung LN32A550 32-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV

• LN32A550 32" LCD TV

UPC: 036725228153

EAN: 036725228153

MPN: LN32A550P3FXZA

Samsung LN37A530

• Samsung LN37A530 37-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV

• LN37A530 37" LCD TV

UPC: 036725228283

EAN: 0036725228283

MPN: LN37A530P1FXZA

Samsung LN46A550

• Samsung LN46A550 46-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV

• LN46A550 46" LCD TV

UPC: 036725228184

EAN: 036725228184

MPN: LN-46A550

Samsung LN52A550

• Samsung LN52A550 52-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV

• LN52A550 52" LCD TV

UPC: 036725228191

EAN: 335520263704

MPN: LN-52A550

Competitors

Samsung 5 Series (2008) is ranked 1st among it's competitors.  See the top picks in Televisions »
Sony Bravia S4100 Series

Sony Bravia S4100 Series

MSRP  $1,200 - $1,600    Released  June, 2008
Pros
  • 10-bit panel
  • Slick interface
  • 1080p/60Hz support on component
  • Great for gaming
Cons
  • More expensive than other manufacturers
ProSCORE
4 reviews
83
Vote! (6 votes)
vote Samsung 5 Series (2008) 67% vs. vote Sony Bravia S4100 Series 33%
Sony Bravia V4100 Series

Sony Bravia V4100 Series

MSRP  $1,499 - $2,699    Released  April, 2008
Pros
  • Accepts 1080p/60Hz and 24Hz content over both HDMI and component
  • Good entry into 1080p native resolution without paying for fancy extraneous features
  • 4 HDMI inputs
  • Same Bravia Engine 2 as higher end models
Cons
  • Minor upgrade over previous models
ProSCORE
4 reviews
94
Vote! (6 votes)
vote Samsung 5 Series (2008) 67% vs. vote Sony Bravia V4100 Series 33%
Toshiba Regza RV530U Series

Toshiba Regza RV530U Series

MSRP  $1,100 - $2,700    Released  March, 2008
Pros
  • Four HDMI inputs
  • Great black levels
  • Great price/performance value
Cons
  • Component input can't handle 1080p
  • VGA input max resolution is 1280x1024
  • TV is really 1080i steped up to 1080P (was told by toshiba techsupport)
ProSCORE
9 reviews
55
Vote! (6 votes)
vote Samsung 5 Series (2008) 67% vs. vote Toshiba Regza RV530U Series 33%
LG LG50 Series

LG LG50 Series

MSRP  $1,400 - $3,000    Released  March, 2008
Pros
  • USB2.0 port for digital media
  • Decent price for this level
  • Fast and easy menu
Cons
  • Only 3 HDMI inputs
  • poor contrast
  • Weak speakers
ProSCORE
5 reviews
89
Vote! (6 votes)
vote Samsung 5 Series (2008) 83% vs. vote LG LG50 Series 17%
Panasonic Viera LZ800 Series

Panasonic Viera LZ800 Series

MSRP  $1,399 - $1,599    Released  May, 2008
Pros
  • Great picture quality
  • Competes with the XBR6 series but comes in cheaper
  • Fantastic black levels
Cons
  • Unclear 120Hz mode
ProSCORE
2 reviews
83
Vote! (1 vote)
vote Samsung 5 Series (2008) 100% vs. vote Panasonic Viera LZ800 Series 0%
Toshiba REGZA RV525 Series

Toshiba REGZA RV525 Series

MSRP  $999 - $1,599    Released  October, 2008

The REGZA RV525 series from Toshiba introduced in the fall of 2008 replaces Toshiba's 530 Series as their entry-level 1080p line. As an entry-level line the 525s lack a lot of the fancier features of the more expensive step-ups, most notably the lack of 120Hz refresh rate and motion compensation technology. The 525s are...

ProSCORE
0 reviews
N/A
Vote! (2 votes)
vote Samsung 5 Series (2008) 100% vs. vote Toshiba REGZA RV525 Series 0%
Philips 5000 Series

Philips 5000 Series

MSRP  $799 - $2,099    Released  April, 2008
Pros
  • Attractive styling
  • Handles most common PC resolutions including 1080p
  • Support for 1080p/60Hz
Cons
  • Speakers definitely don't replace dedicated sound system
ProSCORE
2 reviews
75
Vote! (3 votes)
vote Samsung 5 Series (2008) 100% vs. vote Philips 5000 Series 0%
Philips 3600 Series

Philips 3600 Series

MSRP  $1,300 - $2,000    Released  April, 2008
Pros
  • Great connectivity options for this level
  • Attractive styling
  • Supports a lot of resolutions, including 1080/60p and 1080 over VGA
Cons
  • No independent backlight control
ProSCORE
1 review
75
Vote! (3 votes)
vote Samsung 5 Series (2008) 100% vs. vote Philips 3600 Series 0%
Westinghouse VK Series

Westinghouse VK Series

MSRP  $1,099 - $1,499    Released  May, 2008
Pros
  • Less expensive than the competition
  • Powerful speakers
Cons
  • Doesn't differentiate much from the TX Series
ProSCORE
1 review
67
Vote! (3 votes)
vote Samsung 5 Series (2008) 100% vs. vote Westinghouse VK Series 0%
Westinghouse TX Series

Westinghouse TX Series

MSRP  $1,599 - $2,499    Released  May, 2008
Pros
  • Decent speakers compared to competition
  • Decently priced compared to competition
  • Great picture and price
Cons
  • No 120Hz mode
  • EPG doesn't work and can't digital 5.1 out of it
ProSCORE
2 reviews
60
Vote! (3 votes)
vote Samsung 5 Series (2008) 100% vs. vote Westinghouse TX Series 0%
JVC SL Series

JVC SL Series

MSRP  $1,899 - $2,399    Released  September, 2008
Pros
  • Low power consumption
  • Light weight
Cons
  • Need a special JVC motorized mount to take full advantage of slim profile
  • HDMI handshake problems
  • No 1080p support over component input
ProSCORE
1 review
40
Vote! (3 votes)
vote Samsung 5 Series (2008) 100% vs. vote JVC SL Series 0%
JVC P Series

JVC P Series

MSRP  $1,600 - $2,199    Released  March, 2008

The P Series is a line of 1080p LCD televisions from JVC releases in 2008 and is one of the first line of HDTVs to have a built-in iPod dock. Specification-wise the P Series is similar to the lower priced X Series though the difference in prices isn't significant. Similar to the X Series and other JVC...

ProSCORE
0 reviews
N/A
Vote! (3 votes)
vote Samsung 5 Series (2008) 100% vs. vote JVC P Series 0%
JVC 579 X-Series

JVC 579 X-Series

MSRP  $1,700 - $2,100    Released  April, 2008

The 579 X-Series is JVC's least expensive line of LCD televisions that falls in the mid-range of other manufacturers with a 1080p native resolution. JVC differentiates their televisions by using their own proprietary image processing technology on their "GENESSA" chip. The 2008 X-Series televisions succeed the 2007 versions, though the difference in specifications is...

ProSCORE
0 reviews
N/A
Vote! (3 votes)
vote Samsung 5 Series (2008) 100% vs. vote JVC 579 X-Series 0%
Vizio Envy Series

Vizio Envy Series

MSRP  --    Released  February, 2008
Pros
  • Better contrast ratio than VW Series
  • Well priced
Cons
  • Not much differentiation between other Vizio lines
  • No dynamic backlight
ProSCORE
1 review
50
Vote! (3 votes)
vote Samsung 5 Series (2008) 100% vs. vote Vizio Envy Series 0%
Vizio Evolution Series

Vizio Evolution Series

MSRP  --    Released  March, 2008
Pros
  • Decent price for the features
  • Dynamic backlight system
  • Good number of HDMI inputs
  • 30A revision uses 10-bit panel
Cons
  • 8-bit versus 10-bit panel
ProSCORE
4 reviews
92
Vote! (4 votes)
vote Samsung 5 Series (2008) 100% vs. vote Vizio Evolution Series 0%
Sharp AQUOS D74U Series

Sharp AQUOS D74U Series

MSRP  --    Released  March, 2008

The D74U Series of line of 2008 LCD televisions offer a 1080p native resolution and an ethernet port for accessing content and support directly from the Net. These sets bridge the grap between the lower end D64U series and the flagship SE94U series. Compared with the SE94s, 74U are missing the 10-bit panel and...

ProSCORE
0 reviews
N/A
Vote! (2 votes)
vote Samsung 5 Series (2008) 100% vs. vote Sharp AQUOS D74U Series 0%
Sharp AQUOS D64U Series

Sharp AQUOS D64U Series

MSRP  $1,100 - $6,000    Released  September, 2007
Pros
  • Very Thin
  • True film conversion to 48Hz in some models
  • incredible black levels - great contrast and sharpness
Cons
  • Confusion over which models offer true film conversion
  • Larger display sizes exhibit noticeable banding problems
  • Does not pass thru Dolby Digital 5.1 Altho it will output 5.1 from antenna source.
ProSCORE
3 reviews
50
Vote! (2 votes)
vote Samsung 5 Series (2008) 100% vs. vote Sharp AQUOS D64U Series 0%

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Reviews

Sort by: Most helpful  •  Newest  •  Most positive

ace660

avatar
January 7, 2009
approved
reviewer
ProSCORE
83
negative
mixed
positive
5 pros
1 con
want itwant it
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Pros

  • High contrast ratio
  • Good black levels
  • 1080p native resolution
  • Glossy screen, but not as reflective as 71F series
  • Great for gaming

Cons

  • Doesn't have the same 'super-clear' screen as the 6 and 7 series

Competitors

ace660 prefers Sony Bravia V4100 Series over Samsung 5 Series (2008)
Did you find this review helpful?
Yes
 / 
No

Omar

avatar
April 7, 2008
approved
reviewer
ProSCORE
38
negative
mixed
positive
3 pros
5 cons
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Pros

  • High contrast ratio
  • Good black levels
  • Glossy screen, but not as reflective as 71F series

Cons

  • Doesn't have the same 'super-clear' screen as the 6 and 7 series
  • Glossy bevel can be distracting
  • Only 3 HDMI inputs
  • No 120Hz display mode
  • Poor built-in speakers

Competitors

Omar prefers Sony Bravia S4100 Series, Toshiba Regza RV530U Series, LG LG50 Series over Samsung 5 Series (2008)
Did you find this review helpful?
Yes
 / 
No

WikiWizard

avatar
Thursday, 9:37 AM
approved
reviewer
ProSCORE
67
negative
mixed
positive
4 pros
2 cons
love itlove it
have ithave it

Pros

  • High contrast ratio
  • Good black levels
  • 1080p native resolution
  • Glossy screen, but not as reflective as 71F series

Cons

  • USB port only displays pictures and firmware updates. Video support would of been great!
  • No 120Hz display mode

Did you find this review helpful?
Yes
 / 
No

AtK

avatar
March 1, 2009
approved
reviewer
ProSCORE
100
negative
mixed
positive
5 pros
0 cons

Pros

  • High contrast ratio
  • Good black levels
  • 1080p native resolution
  • Glossy screen, but not as reflective as 71F series
  • Great for gaming

Cons

Did not agree with any cons

Competitors

Did you find this review helpful?
Yes
 / 
No

Procisutobt

avatar
March 19, 2009
approved
reviewer
ProSCORE
75
negative
mixed
positive
3 pros
1 con
love itlove it
have ithave it

Pros

  • High contrast ratio
  • Good black levels
  • 1080p native resolution

Cons

  • Poor built-in speakers

Did you find this review helpful?
Yes
 / 
No

rogerchoi

avatar
June 5, 2008
approved
reviewer
ProSCORE
75
negative
mixed
positive
3 pros
1 con
want itwant it

Pros

  • High contrast ratio
  • Good black levels
  • Glossy screen, but not as reflective as 71F series

Cons

  • Only 3 HDMI inputs

Competitors

Did you find this review helpful?
Yes
 / 
No

Matthew Kidd

avatar
September 29, 2009
approved
reviewer
ProSCORE
33
negative
mixed
positive
1 pro
2 cons
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Pros

  • 1080p native resolution

Cons

  • Glossy bevel can be distracting
  • Only 3 HDMI inputs

Did you find this review helpful?
Yes
 / 
No

Coop

avatar
July 23, 2009
approved
reviewer
ProSCORE
100
negative
mixed
positive
3 pros
0 cons
have ithave it

Pros

  • High contrast ratio
  • Good black levels
  • 1080p native resolution

Cons

Did not agree with any cons

Did you find this review helpful?
Yes
 / 
No

brandonink2001

avatar
July 19, 2008
approved
reviewer
ProSCORE
67
negative
mixed
positive
2 pros
1 con
have ithave it

Pros

  • High contrast ratio
  • Glossy screen, but not as reflective as 71F series

Cons

  • Glossy bevel can be distracting

Did you find this review helpful?
Yes
 / 
No

kselich

avatar
August 7, 2008
approved
reviewer
ProSCORE
100
negative
mixed
positive
2 pros
0 cons
have ithave it
love itlove it

Pros

  • High contrast ratio
  • Good black levels

Cons

Did not agree with any cons

Did you find this review helpful?
Yes
 / 
No
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