Samsung LN46E550 Review

LN46E550 Specifications, Dimensions, Picture Settings

by , Senior Editor

Strengths

  • Smooth Motion Presentation from the CRM feature
  • Dark Shadow detail is fairly good
  • Solid reliable performance for low price
  • Long Lasting (15+ years we expect)

Weaknesses

  • Off center viewing contrast degrades at 25 degrees
  • Black levels not the strongest
  • No upgrade features such as Internet, 3D, Wifi

This 1080p traditional LCD TV will not win any innovation awards, but it is going for your basic market and will be sold as a budget, entry level TV at stores like Walmart and other discounters. So pricing will be very important in its value proposition.

Upgrade features include SRS TruSurround HD, a third HDMI input, the ability to watch video off a USB thumb drive and Samsung's AnyNet+ which allows communication between similarly equipped Samsung home theater equipment.

Picture Quality - 6.5/10

Samsung LN46E550 LED TV
A picture of the LN46E550 with a scene from the BluRay of Troy reveals average contrast and but good shadow detail

Micro Dimming Ultimate

Color presentation looks bit washed out and blacks are not as strong as with many newer TVs on the market, however the picture presentation during fast action scenes is smooth and stable, which is a big plus in this price range. At times there could be more light throughput at times to enrich colors. We noted some jerky motion artifacts in the background of some scenes. However, I did not see much offensive negatives in the foreground and was very pleased with the detail offered in 480i standard definition content in general. I certainly would not describe the picture as poor but it's not going to overwhelm you either.

Colors certainly have more pop with an HD signal than with standard def. Depth is somewhat lacking from the anti-glare LCD panel which is not of the clear coat variety. Another negative that would not have been so noticeable a couple of years ago is that the overall presentation is fairly flat, without a lot of depth.

Note: Best Picture feature: Clear Motion Rate from Samsung. Even though it is rated a 60Hz panel, the CMR technology provides a nice smooth flow of on-screen images even during fast action. Worst Picture Feature: Side angle viewing – blacks and contrast degrade starting at around 25 degrees.

Features - 4/10

Features-wise there is not a whole lot to discuss. The E550 is not a feature laden model. It does not have Internet function or 3D capability. It has SRS trusurround to give the audio funtion a little more zip from the 10w speakers. The CMR picture smoothing mentioned above is really its best feature.

Samsung LN46E550 LEDTV

Appearance

It's shiny, bold black gloss frame is so OK, that's it's oh-so-status-quo, even to mention it in today's market. The frame is about 2” in width. The total depth of the unit is a little over 3”.

Audio Output Quality

At 50% of volume the E550 produced enough output from a 10 foot distance. The sound output is of average quality. One option that helps somewhat is the SRS TruSurround option in the Sound Menu. Samsung's Clear Voice feature is not offered on this TV.

Aspect ratio picture sizing options include basic Zoom 1, Zoom 2, 16:9, 4:3. The algorithmic sizing remedies in the TVs processing do a nice job. Quick access to aspect ratio size is provided by the P. Size button on the remote control.

The input selection of the E550 gives an ample 3 HDMI inputs, a composite, component, USB (which allows video viewing). The component and composite inputs cannot be shared – only one at the time.

The remote control is large, basic, is not backlit, but contains sufficient controls – especially for this size of TV. There is a nifty “tools” key that allows from quick selection of frequently used controls. The onscreen overlay menu is very complete with some surprising inclusions such as Advanced Picture settings.

Ssamsung LN46E550 Remote

Aspect ratio picture sizing options include basic Zoom 1, Zoom 2, 16:9, 4:3. The algorithmic sizing remedies in the TVs processing do a nice job. Quick access to aspect ratio size is provided by the P. Size button on the remote control.

Value Rating - 7/10

Currently the LN46E550 costs around $700 from authorized Internet dealers. It has a weak feature set overall and the picture is average too, although it is better than most all the off-brand discount competition due to its CNR technology. In the smaller sizes, it might be a decent second or third room TV.

Overall Rating: 6/10

Picture Settings

Calibrating to near D6500 was fairly easy although you wont be able to dial it in perfectly with only a 2 point while balance scale and no Hue, Saturation, and Brightness Color Gamut settings.. With smaller TVs we are not quite as concerned with pinpoint accuracy to D65. However, the below picture settings are “in the range,” so use them if you like. There are more white balance controls and advanced settings than I anticipated based on size and price, such as Black Tone, Dynamic Contrast, a Gamma setting.

  • Picture Mode: Movie
  • Backlight: 12
  • Contrast: 85
  • Brightness: 44
  • Sharpness: 20
  • Color: 55
  • Tint: Unchanged
  • Black Tone: Off
  • Dynamic Contrast: Low
  • Shadow Detail: Unchanged
  • Black Tone: Dark
  • Edge Enhancement: Off
Specifications:
  • Without Stand (W x H x D): 43.4" x 26.1" x 3.1"
  • With Stand (W x H x D): 43.4" x 28.9" x 10.2"
Inputs
  • 3 HDMI inputs
  • 1 composite
  • 1 component
  • USB – which also allows video viewing


Robert Wiley Having reviewed and written about Television Technology for over 10 years, Wiley never tires of researching the newest qualitative trends related to the technology. Most people do not get excited about possibilities behind the latest video engine...Wiley does. Read more about Robert

 



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