Samsung HL-S5086W 50-Inch DLP HDTV
By: Samsung Average Rating: 4.5 Total Reviews: 96
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 On: 2008-05-05
I was skeptical about making such a big purchase by mail order, but after all, this is Amazon. It was delivered ON TIME and was a great bargain. It was less expensive than my local dealers and HD is amazing. If you like movies, or sports, or the nature shows on PBS.... heck, if you enjoy watching TV, youll LOVE this purchase.
On: 2008-02-11
We purchased this TV a year ago, and absolutely love it. There have been no surprises, or disappointments. Amazons price was the best and we would buy it all over again.
 On: 2008-01-13
I was thinking about buying one of these televisions used. He has had it for 7 months and wants $600. He said that Samsung just replaced the screen in it because of a gray line going across. He said it works like new now. After reading alot of the negative comments on this television, I have decided not to buy it and I will most likely never buy a Samsung television because all of the negative comments talk about how bad their tecnical support is. It seems that everyone who has bought this television and left a negative comment basically has had the same problem. It seems that this should be a recalled item. Its sad that people have paid alot of money to get this television, that Samsung has profitted from, and Samsung gives them the run around when it needs to get serviced. Sounds like they hope you get tired of holding on the phone and you hang up. They drag their feet to fix your problem to keep the money in the bank. Sorry to everyone who got screwed by Samsung.
On: 2008-01-12
I was thinking about buying one of these televisions used. He has had it for 7 months and wants $600. He said that Samsung just replaced the screen in it because of a gray line going across. He said it works like new now. After reading alot of the negative comments on this television, I have decided not to buy it and I will most likely never buy a Samsung television because all of the negative comments talk about how bad their tecnical support is. It seems that everyone who has bought this television and left a negative comment basically has had the same problem. It seems that this should be a recalled item. Its sad that people have paid alot of money to get this television, that Samsung has profitted from, and Samsung gives them the run around when it needs to get serviced. Sounds like they hope you get tired of holding on the phone and you hang up. They drag their feet to fix your problem to keep the money in the bank. Sorry to everyone who got screwed by Samsung.
On: 2007-11-08
I ordered the 1080i 720p model and received the 1080p, I am not complaining one bit got way more bang for the buck than I ever expected. This TV has a very nice bright picture and is really light.
 On: 2007-11-05
I did a ton of research when I finally decided to go big. LCD, Plasma, DLP, there were just so many choices. Ultimately I went with this unit. I didnt plan on mounting so the DLP worked great and its still not a bulky, heavy unit. I went with 1080i because this is my first HDTV and I knew that the 1080p units would just get cheaper with time. Eventually this unit will be in my bedroom and I will get a 1080p unit for the living room. SD channels look horrible, but my guess is that is what you get with a 50 in. TV. I havent moved forward with HD programming yet, so I cant talk about that. Movies look absolutely gorgeous on blu-ray and upconverted DVDs look good too. I assume HD-DVD would look great too. It has two HDMI inputs which is great for the gamer. I have a 360 and a PS3 hooked up to the unit. Games look and play great. I love the easy source changing on the remote as opposed to Vid1, Vid2, Vid3, etc. All in all a pretty good unit.
On: 2007-10-22
I bought the HL-S5086W after researching alternatives. The price, quality and, well, the low price convinced me to purchase the unit. It was a great decision. The tv was excellent for the first 60 days and I enjoyed every moment of it with friends and family.
Just before 90 days I started experiencing a green noisy effect in the darker areas of the picture. As any competent consumer would do I rushed to the phone to call Samsung before I could be stuck with the bill for repair. This is where the happy story ends and the horror story begins. After a few failed attempts at getting help over the phone, I went online and filed a repair order. I was "assigned" to a repair company outside of my city. They were friendly enough but the experience felt cheap as I was being asked to email them purchase info on my television. Since I bought it from Amazon I forwarded them the email receipt which I had received. After not hearing from them for a few weeks I picked up the phone and tried to call them. The number is now unlisted.
I called Samsungs "support" once again to find out what had happened to my repair order (the online status was now marked as "cancelled" without a phone call or email to notify me of the change) Now I am asked once again to send them a copy of my receipt. I try to upload it to their site and after numerous attempts I am met with a timeout/failure to connect page. The Person on the phone not so helpfully suggests that my router might be the culprit even though she has no idea what configuration might alleviate the issue.
No matter how great the product is there is no excuse for this horrendous service experience.
On: 2007-08-10
It arrived in perfect condition, but after reading the other reviews, the handlers did nothing extra but set the box in my house and go.
We are very happy with this tv. Except for a minor issue... it is not very loud. So we usually put it on mute and use our surround sound.
If you do not have surround sound and was just going to use the built in speakers, I would not get this tv.
On: 2007-07-12
Very happy with the purchase of this TV. We have gone 7 months without a problem. The picture and sound are incredible and it is very easy to operate and add components to. Highly recommended.
On: 2007-05-14
I bought this product after doing alot of research to find the best TV at the best price. I have had my TV for over a month and have not yet been able to watch TV. The TV has worked for no more than an hour, then does not even turn on. The repair man has been there 4 times and so far nothing he has done has corrected the problem. Samsung has been good about sending a certified repair man but they are not at the point yet to replace the entire TV (they are doing it one piece at a time). Obviously, I am not happy with the TV.
On: 2007-05-14
We are pleased with our Samsung S5086W 50" DLP HDTV. The transportation company called before delivery to schedule a time for delivery and they removed it from the box and put it on our stand. The picture is beautiful. We are very pleased.
On: 2007-05-13
We bought this T.V. for one of our living areas and it was even better than the $2,400 Sony that we had just bought about 5 months ago. great image and superior sound.
Do buy it!!
On: 2007-05-12
After lots of research, I settled on the this Samsung. I could not be happier with my choice. Great picture, easy to use features, and great sound are just a few of the excellent attributes. I highly recommend this set.
 On: 2007-04-20
I ordered one for the awesome price. But the TV had a line across the screen of several finger tip-sized smudges or micro abrasions. They would not rub off. It was as if another screen rubbed against it on the assembly line. The line would be very visible when the background was white or light. Amazon was great about the return and sent another in no time. But unfortunately, the replacement had the same problem but worse! I liked the TV a lot especially at the price and I considered keeping it and having Samsung come out and replace the screen. I called Samsung and the first person told me that yes the screens (there are 2, inner and outer) can be replaced but I needed the serial number. So I called back the next day but the woman told me that this was a cosmetic defect and since it was not known where the scratch came from, it would not be covered by the warranty. So I had no choice but to return it instead of having it fixed. I wanted to keep the TV but Samsung and their inconsistent corporate voice and flawed customer service prevented me. Samsung, it is NOT cosmetic if there is stuff on the screen that prevents you from enjoying the HDTV. Cosmetic would be a scratch on the casing. If I didnt have the recourse to return the TV, I would have had a fight on my hands with Samsung. Ive been reading a lot of reviews here, and Samsung customer support seems to be real bad. They seem to have pricing power because of their reputation they have been building, but that seems to be waing with bad CS. As for EGL delivery service, they are 50/50 - awesome service to downright rude.
On: 2007-04-11
Great TV. Ordered from Amazon for great price. First Tv shipped to me got damaged in shipping, but shipping company sent back, and Amazon sent another one out in a reasonable amount of time. Final product was worth it. Very glad I purchased this sleek tv.
On: 2007-04-08
i bought this tv from circuit city for $1000 and been 3 months and still going strong, bought the $180 warranty for 2 yrs just in case. this is my second tv from samsung my other being 8rs old never had a problem, i stand behind samsung and their products.... as far as those people with issues, well 1 out of 83 reviews isnt bad. not evreything is made perfectly so that nothing can happen, all i know better u than me...
On: 2007-04-05
I have had this tv for 6 months. I hace had no problems with it at all. I was worried about buyingit online but it was delivered right away and everythign is great.
I noticed today it is 20% off - BUY IT NOW!!!
At best buy htey want $1,850 plus tax and delivery.
For the $1,100 they have it at is a steal.
On: 2007-03-31
I bought mine right before Christmas and it has been working great! The picture is really clear and smooth. Ive been really happy with mine. I have never bought something this expensive on amazon before and I was a little nervous, but the whole process was easy. A company called "Eagle shipping" brought the TV to my house, they even took down my old (heavy 36") TV and set this one up for me to make sure I was satisfied with everything. I did buy the extended warranty (which does start after the manufacture warranty ends). So far, this has been a great TV! What a great deal!
On: 2007-03-30
Consumers should be aware of serious design flaws which exist in Samsung DLP televisions. Cooling fans and color wheels are highly susceptible to failing. (As a non-techniocal person I should have no idea what these parts are, but alas, I bought a Samsung DLP) Expect these to fail within 1-2 years. Expect to pay approx $400 to replace the color wheel and $200 to replace the colling fan. That is, if your service technician can find them in stock anywhere. These parts are commonly in a national backorder because of the very high failure rates.
You should also expect the lamp to fail sooner than advertized. Many people need to purchase a new lamp between 1-2 years, and some more often than that. The lamp costs approx $150-$250 depending on your model, but you should be able to replace it yourself without too much difficulty. This cost will be in addition to replacement costs for the color wheel and colling fan. Please remember that these maintenance costs are recurring, and you will have to fix them again in another 1-2 years.
While I was very satisfied with the quality and performance of my DLP, my color wheel failed very early. I called tech support to report a grinding noise, and was told to "turn it off", wait 15 minutes, and turn it back on like this would fix the problem. After doing this for a while, the color wheel finally failed, actually shattered! Now I am out of warranty, and Samsung wants nothing to do with me. I have even tried ordering the part myself from two different online vendors, and they are both backordered indefinitely! It has been 6 weeks and they have no estimate for when this part will be available. Samsung cannot even give me an estimate when the supply of replacement parts is expected to meet demand. I have had my TV for 18 months, and apparently there is a national epidemic of them breaking at the same time!
I have a 42" Samsung Plasma which is a beautiful set along with a 26" CRT. Both are wonderful products, but Samsung is selling DLP LEMONS and will not stand behind them. DLP is a great bargain up front, but a maintenance NIGHTMARE! You will pay in the long run, and by the long run I mean every 2 years. If you still want to purchase a DLP television, PLEASE BUY THE EXTENDED WARRANTY! IT WILL SAVE YOU A TON, BUT YOU WILL STILL HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE CIRCUIT CITY TECH TO FIND PARTS WHICH MAY TAKE MONTHS!
I expect Samsung to abandon their design flaw riddled DLP sector, and focus on their beautiful plasma line. Expect DLP prices to drop even further, but please...LOOK BEFORE YOU LEAP!
On: 2007-03-29
Ive only had the TV for one month but I am truly enjoying it. I have to work with getting the color right but everything looks good. The picture is clear and the sound is good. When I purchased this product, I received the receipt right away and the tv was delivered to me within a couple of days! My boyfriend loves the TV and is currently looking to buy one for himself.
On: 2007-03-27
This TV fit my budget and room perfectly. Highly recommended for the average television and movie viewer. 1080p is hugely overrated.
On: 2007-03-22
I would never buy this TV again or a Samsung product for that matter. I obviously purchased a lemon, have had two different service calls to come out and try to fix it with no luck. Samsung initially told me I would get an exchange but then got hung up on and when I called back I was told my two service calls only count as one because they were in a 30 day period. Hows that for sound logic.
I really like it when it works, but, unfortunately, an important aspect of a TV is that you can expect to turn on when you press the power button.
On: 2007-03-20
I bought this tv in early january in time for the superbowl, and the only complaint being from New England was that the Colts won. I have charter digital service which is connected to my tv through a DVI to HDMI cable (buy it from newegg for $6 instead of $60 at best buy). Sports games are awesome quality, and I can watch Discovery HD for hours on end. The tv itself is easy to use, and has a feature where it detects how bright the room is and self-adjusts the brightness of the tv. My friend brought his PS3 over, and we played Resistance: Fall of Man, and the new GT demo. It looked like we were watching real racing on tv. Ive also hooked up my computer to my tv and used it as a 50" monitor, which is really cool. It even has a USB plug to connect a jumpdrive or iPod. The only drawback is that its computer input is only VGA (I have a DVI-HDMI cable so I got around this)
On: 2007-03-19
Fast, safe delivery. The TV was perfect for our bedroom. Terrific picture quality at a very good price.
On: 2007-03-17
So, I had a gift certificate for Amazon, and I wanted a new TV. After some research, I decided to go with this model. It was overwhelmingly postively reviewed, and was only running ~$1150, with free shipping (Feb 2007).
Ordered it. It shipped and arrived 3 or 4 days BEFORE the estimated arrival date. A nice surprise. The shipping company called me the morning it was coming and we arranged for them to call me when they were a half hour away from my place.
They called later, I drove home to meet them, they were professional and nice. The delivery guy brought the TV inside and unpacked it.
TV looks pretty nice (not QUITE as nice as the 1080P TVs Ive seen, but then again its cheaper). Easy to set-up and use. Speakers sound pretty good, but Im not an audio-phile. No problems with it yet, had it a month so far.
Would I recommend someone buy this? Yes, if you dont care that it cant do 1080P.
On: 2007-03-09
I recently purchased this TV. It worked great right out of the box. Until I noticed a Smudge on the screen? I tried to wipe it off, but it did not go away? I called Samsung and they sent a TV Tech. 3 days later. He found gunk on one of the mirrors inside the housing. He removed that gunk but, the smudge was still present. He ended up replacing the entire Light Engine ($800 Part). I didnt pay a dime for the entire repair. SAMSUNG HAS GREAT WARRANTY & SUPPORT!!! THEY EVEN CALLED ME LATER TO CHECK ON MY SATISFACTION OF THE REPAIR. This all happen within the first month of buying this TV.
---4 out of 5 Stars for TV-----
On: 2007-03-03
I would say that I was skeptical about buying such a huge ticket item from Amazon. But the whole process was hassle free. Eagles white glove delivery was well managed and they opened the box for me and placed the TV where I wanted. The TV by itself is pretty sleek and is worth the price IMO.
On: 2007-02-23
I did not buy this TV at Amazon but Circuit City instead. The problem was that Amazon showed the TV available to Amazon Prime customers. However a phone call to Amazon showed this was not the case. It only ships via a trucking service called White Glove which takes about 2 to 3 weeks to arrived according to Amazon. Well for just $50 more at Circuit City and tax free in Delaware I just went down there, bought it and had it in the house the same day. I spent about a month looking at big screen TVs. I was really going to get a Plasma. However when you go to a store to look at them you are caught by the nice resolution of the picture and nothing else. One has to get over this. Plasmas still have a big problem with reflection of light off the screen. That is why when you go to a brick and mortar store to look at them they have the lights down low so that you will not notice light reflection off the screen. Plasmas still have a problem with burn-in which DLPS and LCDs do not. They are extremely heavy, use too much power and generate too much heat. Just run your hands over the top of a plasma while in a store. All this aside I was still thinking of plasma and had a look at the Samsung 50" which was between two DLPs at the local Best Buy store. The DLPs were not of a brand that I would buy. However after looking for 5 minutes the DLPs on either side looked better overall then the picture on the plasma. Thinking it was just me I brought others into the store to look at the pictures, I did not tell them which was a plasma and which was not. I just asked of the three which had a better overall picture. Everybody said the TVs on either side of the plasma looked better but looked the same. Only that the plasma had deeper colors. Well I then compared the Samsung 50" DLP to the Samsung 50" Plasma. The plasma consumed over twice as much power and way too much heat. I then compared the Samsung DLP to other brands of similar 50" DLPs. The Samsung beat them hands down especially with Samsungs DNIe Technology. The audio was excellent even though I have a Onkyo home theater system. The HL-S5086W has all the types of connections one would want for a big screen TV. I live in a big city and wanted to see how the over the air (OTA) reception was like for HD-TV. In my city we suffer from ghosting due to the fact that big buildings are between the TV station antennas and the southern part of the city when viewing on old analog TVs. So I went to the local Radio Shack and bought a $10 set of rabbit ears. I have to say with HDTV when the signal is good enough the picture is clear and perfect, no ghosting. However if the signal is not as strong you occasionally get pixilation and picture freezing. If the signal is too low you get no picture. Samsungs signal indicator helps immensely tuning in a perfect picture. After I bought this TV I found that everybody else I know had DLPs had bought the same model or the bigger 56" or smaller 42" model. This model seems to be a big seller. My only regreat is that I wonder if I should have bought the 42" model. My friend who has a 42" is always saying he wished he bought a 50" TV. Well we both sit the same distance away from the TV and when watching DVDs which I do all the time the picture does not look too good as all the defects are enlarged. If you moved back another 5 to 8 feet then it is prefect. I need to get an Up-converting DVD player to solve this problem with the DVDs. Watching non HDTV the picture suffers the from the same thing. However when watching HDTV programming you can sit right in front of the TV and the picture is perfect. If you have cable make sure you change your converter box to a HDTV model so as to receive HDTV programming. You would be amazed at how many people do not do this. HDTV programming is still scarce just like color programming was back in the 60s when color TV came out. I think this will be corrected in the next two years when all analog TV is done away with by FCC mandate and nothing but Digital TV will be available. All in all I think the Samsung HL-Sxx86W model is the best out there right now. I am extremely pleased that I bought this model. I only wish it was available on Amazon Prime as I buy most things from Amazon.
On: 2007-02-17
We have had our tv since last summer and are quite pleased with it.
On: 2007-02-16
This TV is AMAZING! Ill start with the CONS since that list is shorter and that is probably what most people are looking for in these reviews anyway.
CONS: 1. 5-20 seconds start-up time after hitting the power button (the bulb has to warm-up or something). 2. The depth is bigger than plasma/ LCD which pretty much knocks out wall mounting. 3. I havent had this problem since my living room is setup different, but I know the viewing angle is not as great as plasma/ LCD.
As far as I am concerned that is IT for the CONS. Everything else about this TV is wonderful. The screen is big - real big. It has a slim profile all around (WxH). There is no burn-in worries with DLP so that is great for gaming and leaving TiVo paused for long times.
I play the Wii which has a lot of older Nintendo games through a service they call the Virtual Console. It is good to know that burn-in is not an issue with this TV since a lot of things such as life bars, scores, lives and such are stationary through most of the games from back in the day.
If I could do it all over again I would buy this TV again. It is fantastic and the picture is crisp and clear. I have been a Samsung TV owner for a longtime and highly recommend their products since the customer service they have is fantastic and the products they deliver are top-notch.
As for the warranty - skip the Amazon extended warranty and call Samsung and purchase their extended warranty after you get your TV.
On: 2007-02-15
Only time will be the test for reliability, but I must say that as of now, I am totally satisfied with my purchase of the 50" DLP Samsung HL-S5086W. The picture quality is fantastic, in HD, as well as in analog. The Amazon price beat out the closest competitor by at least $400.00. Even using the free super saver shipping delivery method, the TV arrived at my home approximately 10 days after ordering it. For comparison purposes, I would probably consider the Toshiba models, which are rated higher by a consumer guide, but value wise, I believe this purchase will be hard to beat.
On: 2007-02-14
Iam extremley Pleased with Amazon and all involved and also with my Samsung. The HD is Great and the regular channels and movies I watch threw my DVD all look great. It was however not without trouble shooting. The key to a Great Quality picture DOES lie in the connection. Its the difference between dial up and roadrunner or broadband..I tried 2 different price HD Cabels and the picture got better, But not until I spent the $ Money for a MONSTER Cable and Monster Surge protecter with Filter did I get a remarkable Picture...And those 2 cost me $250....But I can not say enough for BOTH...The Samsung and Monster is a Great Combo...I LOVE IT !!!! Equally amazing was AMAZON, No Problem, Smooth as Silk, Fast as Lightning ...Great all the way around Thank You Amazon
 On: 2007-02-13
Weve had the HL-S5086 HDTV for about a week now. We can get two HDTV channels over the air, one is CBS the other public. The public channel looks better, but neither are mind blowing. Our digital Direct TV picture looks absolutely horrible, but, I can get a pretty good picture using standard DVDs over an S-video cable. (they look horrible also if I use the component cables). My wife thinks I should send it back, but I dont think that would be allowed.
The over the air, being the only HD signal I get, I have to use that for reference. Its pretty bright, but fast moving images blur and the overall clarity isnt that much better than my 27 inch Toshiba CTR set.
I cant speak for other brands of HDTV, but if this is the best it gets its not worth the money.
On: 2007-02-12
For the money you cant beat this TV. Great picture, sound, and also it comes with the reliability of a great brand like Samsung. My parents just bought a 50 inch Samsung plasma for almost twice as much. Sure, the picture is better than mine now but I will be laughing all the way to the bank when the plasma is junk and Im only out the cost of a few bulb replacements.
On: 2007-02-09
WE ARE BOTH THRILLED WITH THIS SELECTION. I SEARCHED AND SEARCHED AND FINALLY AFTER READING REVIEWS SETTLED FOR THE TV. ALL REVIEWS WERE GREAT AND I AM PLEASED TO ADD ANOTHER. THE COLOR IS GREAT, THE SIZE IS PERFECT FOR OUR ROOM AND ALL IS WELL WITH THE WORLD IN THIS HOUSEHOLD! WE ARE EVEN ENJOYING LEARNING ALL THE INS AND OUTS OF THE WORKINGS OF THIS TELEVISION. THERE IS SOMETHING TO LEARN EVERYDAY NEW AND EXCITING. AMAZING WHAT THESE "BABIES" DO! GREAT CHOICE. THANKS AMAZON..... GLORIA
On: 2007-02-07
The Samsung HL-S5086W 50" DLP HDTV is everything I expected. The TV is the best bargain in the market today. [...] The delivery time was less than expected and the company that delivered the TV gets five stars as well. Upon arrival they contacted me by cell phone and were prompt and timely. The courteous and professional gentlemen who unloaded and delivered my TV, unboxed it, removed the packing, help me remove a large heavy projection TV from my media cabinet and then help me install the new TV. Very impressed. [...]
On: 2007-02-07
Like most people, i was at first skeptical on ordering a large item such as a TV online. However, it was a perfect process. To start Eagle called me the day before telling me my TV was to arrive the next day between 11-4pm. I asked them to call me 20 minutes prior so i could drive from work to pick it up. They called me and right as i pulled in, they were working on unloading it from their truck. All in all, i was at my place for about 10 minutes. Big props to Eagle.
About the TV. Everything looks great. I would not suggest going with default settings, but to browse around and see what settings others have had great success with. I changed mine and found the picture to be astronomically better. HDTV looks awesome. SD looks great too, big difference going from a 24" TV to a 50".
Xbox 360 looks absolutely amazing via component. Nintendo Wii is almost unplayable through the normal cables that come with the system, it feels like youre playing a game on a 14.4k modem. I would guess and have been told that the component cables fix this issue. Streaming from my computer also looks nice, although i wish there was a DVI in, but VGA works great also.
Overall, i would definitely purchase this TV again. No rainbow effect, no blemishes, perfect! Great job to Samsung, Amazon, and eagle.
On: 2007-01-28
I have been an owner of this 50" DLP HDTV for 2 weeks and I have loved every moment of it. I bought it at Best Buy for $1299 and I got the customer service manager to throw me the $200 credit for a free home theater system that I saw online on Best Buys website for TVs $999 & up. It pays to know what deals every stores online site has before walking into the store. The local store may or may not match an Amazon price but they most likely will match deals on their own website. I was always more comfortable with shopping at a local store even though it meant paying $100-200 more than an online price for servicing reasons. The free $200 credit made my choice easier.
I bought the 4-year warranty along with the home theater system and paid $200 extra for an up-converting DVR and HDMI cables. I bought it before the 2006 AFC Championship game between the Colts and Patriots and have noticed that the price of the TV has gone up to about $1400 at Best Buy now, maybe the demand has gone up here in Indianapolis :-).
The TVs picture is outstanding, the colors are brilliant, and especially if you hook an HDMI cable from your DVR/DVD player to the TV, that is the best picture you can get. I have watched DVDs from NetFlix, and watched DVDs of my own (Pirates of The Carribean), so far, it has been great clarity. The HDMI cables are sensitive to bending, so be careful there. The TVs own volume is Dolby Digital but only goes so far, for the best experience, get the home theater sound if you can get them well priced on a package deal.
I got Dish Network, hence the local channels are not available in HD though some of them are available in HD from other cable and satellite operators (DirectTV has most local channels in HD except CBS where most of the Colts games are :-)). The TV comes with 2 antennae inputs and 2 HDMI inputs. So the Best Buy installation guys were very helpful and gave me free a foot of high quality co-axial cable, plugged it into one of the antennae input, the other end of the co-axial cable, the outer wrap was cut and about a few inches of it was exposed and acted as an antenna for me. In unison with the TVs powerful tuner, I was able to pick up my local channels in HD from downtown Indianapolis without paying for any extra antenna. It shows you the resolution for each station picked off the air, for ex. CBS is at 1080i locally and ABC is 720p. 1080i is what this Samsung TV is capable of. The downside with an antenna picking up local channels in HD is that you have to use the TVs volume and not the home theater volume. You could turn the TV volume down all the way, have the volume of your home theater system set to the same non-HD local channel via satellite and your TV video set to off-the-air HD local channel but in my area, I noticed that the satellite non-HD local channel audio lags behind the off-the-air local channel HD video transmission by a second, that can be irritating.
So, the options are endless, you have several inputs and outputs for HDMI, component, S-video, AV1, AV2, AV3, a Wiselink input for flash drives, the possibilities are huge as to what you want to do with them.
On: 2007-01-22
First, the TV. Have only had it a few days, but so far, great. An actual HD broadcast is fantastic. Am on Comcast digital cable. Standard broadcast quality is about like my previous round tube set. DVDs look great. Although I was expecting marginal sound quality based on previous reviews, I think the sound is fine. Its much better than my old 32 inch TV. I think other reviews are trying to compare with home theater systems. Now, about Amazon. My first set was delivered in only 6 days from ordered. I didnt have a place to open and set it up. Unfortunately, when I did two days later, the top 1/3 of the screen was blank, defective unit. I called Samsung, as packing directed. Got rude person who said I would be contacted in 7 working days. Its been 15 days now, havent heard from Samsung yet. However, at same time, I contacted Amazon customer service via internet, had immediate phone call returned. Explained problem. Was told would hear from "big item" return office in 2 to 4 working days. In just 3 days had email from Amazon saying new set had been shipped and old one would be picked up when new delivered. It was that easy. No questions, problems, or anything. New set arrived in 6 days, nice delivery persons unpacked, hooked up, worked fine, took old one. I was hesitant to buy large item on line, and when it arrived defective, I really had my doubts. But not with Amazon. Thanks Amazon. Excellent service.
On: 2007-01-20
hi, if u r looking for a bright clear picture do not by this TV. This DLP or i think all DLP are not as clear and bright like LCD and Plasma....
I have comcast HD and they just put all new cables and the picture is not clear and bright like lcd and plasma. there is always something in the picture like glare or bright little Crystals on the dynamic mode or standard mode .
it s only clear on movie mode but than it s dark..
not recommended for sport even with HD channels..
remote and features are great. The menu is very easy to use and has lots of options....
very light and very sharp.
50 inch for the money is great deal
On: 2007-01-20
hi, if u r looking for a bright clear picture do not by this TV. This DLP or i think all DLP are not as clear and bright like LCD and Plasma....
I have comcast HD and they just put all new cables and the picture is not clear and bright like lcd and plasma. there is always something in the picture like glare or bright little Crystals on the dynamic mode or standard mode .
it s only clear on movie mode but than it s dark..
not recommended for sport even with HD channels..
remote and features are great. The menu is very easy to use and has lots of options....
very light and very sharp.
50 inch for the money is great deal
On: 2007-01-19
I recently ordered this TV from Amazon.com and was completely amazed by the picture quality. I had a 3 year old Mitsubishi 1080i projection screen in my rec room before, and replaced it with this Samsung. The second I turned on the Xbox 360, it was almost like playing a completely new game, the quality difference was that impressive. The TV is nearly silent, very sleek looking, and extremely light considering the 15" depth. The 720p looks outstanding, so I would have a hard time spending another 500-600 dollars to get the 1080p model. Overall I am extremely happy with the purchase, and would recommend the TV to anyone. The price was 400 dollars lower on Amazon than through Best Buy or Circuit City, and with free shipping and no sales tax you save even more. Also, Eagle USA shipping was outstanding, I got the TV in less than a week, and they came inside, took the TV out of the box, placed it on the TV stand and even took the trash out with them. I really couldnt be happier with my purchase!!!
On: 2007-01-19
Ive had the Samsung HL-S5086W 50" DLP HDTV for a little over two weeks now and have to say it amazing. I have Satelite TV (Not HD) hooked up via S-Video and a Xbox 360 hooked up component. The Xbox looks amazing on this tv even the DVDs. I also purchased a Samsung Home Theater with the upscaling processor to 1080i,1080p or 720p option. I have yet to recieve the home theater yet, but it hooks up HDMI and I look forward to it.
I did alot of research before I made this purchase. It was hard for me to purchase a 720p tv when I knew there was better technology available. It was a review on HD that I read on either CNet or in my Xbox magazine that helped me choose. In the review they said that these satelite/cable companies just spent billions of dollars to put these 1080i/720p systems in place....its hard to imagine that well see them forking out another billion anytime soon to replace those systems with 1080p. Also, they commented on the size of the TV. How you would need something 55" or bigger to notice a real advancement in the resolution of a 1080p or sit less than 5 feet from the TV. Neither of these categories fit me.
To make a long review shorter....I decided that by the time the technology peaks (temporarily...we know how that is) I will be in the market for a much larger....much higher res (possible 1260p) by then.
My two cents.....
Edit:
I recently purchased the HD Drive for my 360 and wow. Ive also hooked up the 360 to my Samsung via VGA and its definately a better connection. I had to do very little fine tuning of the settings to get the picture I desired.
On: 2007-01-16
Bought this TV when the new 1080 technology was coming out and got it at a real good price. I am very happy with the picture quality and the HD is amazing! 1 week after my purchase the price dropped $100 so I called and received a credit for the difference! HIGHLY RECOMENDED!
On: 2007-01-16
Had this TV for about 7 months now and am very pleased overall. I admit it, Im cheap but have high standards and expectations. DLP was good choice when compared to plasma or lcd.
*Con*
There is no "power on light" indicating that the tv is on. Really only a problem when TV and cable box are out of sync. Also a problem for significantly older adults.
If it is not on HD channel some pictures are grainy, a problem lying with cable provider.
On: 2007-01-16
When its working its wonderful! However, after three short weeks, the bulb blew and now we are going to be two weeks without a television waiting for the repair. Its nice to have replacement, but who is going to pay for the loss of use and satellite fees in the interim!?
On: 2007-01-16
I just wanted to let prospective buyers know that buying this TV from Amazon was an extremely smooth transaction. The price is rock bottom, the shipping is free, and EagleUSA did a great job of bringing it into my house, dealing with the boxes, and setting it on my TV stand. They even came at the very front end of my scheduled delivery time (11a-5p window, they came at 11:10am). I was anxious, of course, with such a large purchase online, but now I can say "have no fear".
Im very happy with the TV itself, the black/silver look is very sleek and looks nice in your living room, even when turned off. Once we got everything hooked up properly with our digital cable provider, and tweaked some of the picture settings (Im very happy with the "Movie" setting, the other default "Dynamic" setting is way too bright and reveals a lot of noise (i.e. fluttering pixels) in bright spots), the HD picture is fantastic, especially for football. Standard definition is fine, too. Great value all around.
On: 2007-01-13
Easy hook up. Great picture so far, particularly when room is darker. Menu selection could be simpler. Ensure the TV is situated at eye level when sitting for best picture.
On: 2007-01-11
Excellent product!! After searching for months on types of HDTVs (plasma, LCD, DLP, etc) I finally decided DLP was for me. This Samsung was the leader of the pack, in my opinion, for 50" DLP (for the price). I was reluctant to make such a large purchase on the internet and have it shipped to my home, but with Amazon it was worry free.
Pros: Plenty of INPUT options on the connector panel for HDMI, component, composite, and audio signals. Excellent Blacks and Whites and picture controls (you will have to tweak settings a little for the best picture). Menus and options make this TV extremely customizable. Not a single noticeable "rainbow effect" after almost 2 months of using this unit (trust me, I am very particular to detail). There are right side inputs for composite video, audio, and a USB thumb drive. Nothing to do with the actual product but the delivery company (EagleUSA) was excellent, on time, brought it to the second floor, unpacked it, and even cleaned up the trash, all for FREE.
Cons: Only type of digital audio OUT is through a single digital optical port (NO digital coaxial OUT or other audio OUT). Cannot connect your computer to the TV via a DVI to hdmi adapter like you can with other HDTVs (You can still use RGB connector type however). If you are going to be sitting closer than 8 ft to this TV you will lose a lot of quality. At 8ft or less the viewing angle and sharpness of picture degrades drastically (like with most DLPs). I noticed this after I set up the TV too close to my couch and discovered moving it back to around the 10ft range makes a HUGE difference. There is a noticeable noise from the fan that cools the DLP bulb assembly while the TV is on (most noticeable during dialogue or silent parts of movies). Internal speakers could be better (lets be honest though, most people buying this TV already have or plan on having an external audio system connected to their home theater).
Warning: DO NOT BUY the Samsung TR50X3B Adjustable DLP TV Stand that is advertised with this TV. I was very disappointed with the stands design, poor craftsman ship, cheap hardware, and horrible assembly instructions.
Remember your home theater is only as good as its weakest component...
On: 2007-01-10
We love our new DLP HDTV. It is everything that it was advertised as, and when we saw a true HD picture.... we were blown away! Here is my "however"... We have had the TV for 32 days and already the TV needs to be serviced, or dare I say it, replaced. 2 and/or 3 LED lights have been flashing off and on ever since we got it, which means the lamp cover was loose or the lamp needed to be replaced. Really? Weve had the TV for 32 days. We shouldnt be having these issues so early on in our Samsung relationship. Amazon was no help and referred us to Samsung who have been great - so far. If there is any type of warranty offered when your purchase your DLP - GET IT!
***Update on Samsung customer service - our original call to them was on Jan 9 and as of Jan 30 we are still 2-3 days from hearing whether or not they were able to set up a service contract or will replace the TV. Either is fine but how much longer will it take?? I did ask if they could just send me a new lamp and I would replace following the Owners Guide, but they dont ship them UPS...too fragile. My question was "How do the service centers get them??" No answer. We are now looking at at least a month with no TV - very frustrating!!
I would now drop the rating to 2 stars at best due to the poor service from Samsung.
On: 2007-01-10
We have enjoyed our new tv. It came packed very well and in a very timely manner. Price was very good. We did a lot of research before buying. Thanks!!!
On: 2007-01-10
In HD format as good as any. Loaded with extras.
Place it at waist level and enjoy a great HD picture.
The weaknesses are two... 1. Analog signals are not as
good as digital 2. Viewing from a level higher than the
screen is poor.
The strengths are many, such as price, size, many inputs,
many outputs, and lots of controls over picture and sound.
Great Buy for the money.
On: 2007-01-10
This TV is amazing! Most features and best picture for the money that I found. Of course Amazon did a great job too. If you are worried about making such a large purchase online do nor fear. Amazon did a great job!
On: 2007-01-09
We are exceedingly happy with our purchase , great picture, with easy do it yourself instalation coupled with great pricing from Amazon make this a no brainer. You will not be disappointed. We didnt know what we were missing without HD TV until we got one. Dont pay more than you should by buying from your local store.
My only complaint would be with the shape and feel of the remote. They need to make the remote heavier, with a different shape. The controls though, are easy to work through.
On: 2007-01-09
love the picture of the new samsung, sit around amazing at the picture quality of dlp.would recomend to anybody
On: 2007-01-09
I just wanted a big screen TV for the lowest amount of $$$ :-) When I started looking around this was the cheapest one I found, and I didnt even think that its going to be this nice and this big - but I have to tell you - HD on this TV is amazing (Especially the football games) :-)
I really like it. Amazon had the best price, and shipping was free. I got the TV in 3 days.
On: 2007-01-09
What a picture. HD programming is insane. You can see the splinters on the court in an NBA game, the dirt flying from the cleats of football players and even the nose hairs on talk shows you DONT want to see! I researched HDTV for a while and was going to get a plasma but went with DLP for the reliability and size/price value. I dont recommend the 1080p models unless you will be sitting about 5-6 feet from the screen; which cant be good for your eyes anyway. Research hdtv resolution seating distance charts. Youll be glad you did. I dont think its worth the extra money.
On: 2007-01-07
Picture quality with DVD movies is exceptional even without an upconverting DVD player. HDTV through my cable provider is good; during football games you can see the pixels on the grassy parts of the field but the players and the game itself is fine. SDTV is just mediocre; my Sony 36" TV has a better image. This TV does have a sound issue though. the dialog and the lip movement on screen are not in sync causing a delay like watching a foreign movie that has been dubbed in english when using the TV speakers. It does go away when using the stereo surround sound on my stereo. Ive tried messing with the adjustments to no avail. Overall a good buy for a 50 widescreen HDTV especially compared to the over priced Plasmas. Free shipping and the TV was delivered to my living room and unpacked in a reasonably fast amount of time.
On: 2007-01-05
Excellent picture quality and brightness! The set is also very light and easy to transport. I can easily pick it up and move it myself. I am very pleased with this purchase.
On: 2007-01-03
I was one of the group who were waiting for the prices of large screen TVs to come down to a reasonable level which would at least be less than buying a first beater car for your kid. I figured that Christmas would be the right time to take the plunge. After researching the different types (Plasma LCD, DLP) I chose the DLP for its great picture which to me wasnt significantly different that the more expensive LCD and Plasma types and its seemingly better screen life expectatncy except for the reasonable price of a replacement bulb every few years. I DEFINITELY made the right choice. The Samsungs picture is spectacular and through Amazon I saved a few hundred bucks on base price, tax and free delivery than dealing with a Best Buy or Circuit City. Delivery was smooth, set up was easy and we are enjoying our TV. Definitely consider it. Also another comment. I was seriously having a debate whether I really need a 50" TV since I was coming from a 35" TV. I decided on the 50" and was glad I did. In fact I probably should have bought the 56 or 60 inch but the 50" inch is great. So, in the world of TVs with the picture quality as good as it is now, get the biggest you can fit and afford. No brainer huh?
On: 2007-01-03
Ive had this TV now for about 4 months and could not possibly be happier with my purchase. I researched HDTVs for about a month before settling on DLP technology for its long-life potential and value. Once I made that decision, this TV quickly became my frontrunner and Amazons price was unbeatable. The delivery was fast (only took a week to get to me) and easy (they bring the TV up to your apartment and help you take it out of the box).
Now for the TV itself - The HD picture is AMAZING. It cant really be described. I have a friend who just bought a 35" LCD and when I go to his place to watch football I cant help but be disappointed (and start trying to find excuses to watch at my place). Admittedly, the regular channels are not impressive, but dont let it be a dealbreaker. I still think they look great (at least theyre much bigger) and you can still get the most from DVDs, video games, and HD programming. Of course, if you dont have HD programming and arent planning to get it, you probably shouldnt be buying an HDTV.
The set looks great and its surprisingly thin. My living room is pretty small but it still doesnt feel like im sitting too close. The sound is the real surprise - I originally set up my 5.1 surround receiver (Onkyo) and find myself rarely using it anymore because the TV sound is so impressive. Obviously I still use Dolby Digital for movies and special shows, but for the most part I stick with the TV. Overall I would recommend this TV to absolutely anyone, especially people who want to upgrade to HDTV on a budget and dont want to waste money just to get a set thats 2" deep instead of 15". And dont worry about buying from Amazon, theyre trustworthy.
On: 2006-12-30
I have been shopping for a tv for several months and i finaly chose this particular tv. I recieved about a week ago and got it all hooked up and i am unbelievabley happy with it. One of the things i love most about it was the fact that it pickes up free HD channels with my regular rabbit ears. This a feature i did not even know it had when i bought it. but hands down this is one of the best tvs me or my family have ever owned. i decided to go with a Samsung tv because i have nothing but great things from several friends of mine that own one also. I will know recommend Samsung to anyone that is looking to buy a great tv. I was very happy with amazon and i will be glad to do buisness with them anytime in the future.
On: 2006-12-29
Pros: price for the size, multiple inputs, custimization for audio/video settings is superb, low-maintenance, 720p native resolution
Cons: Will eventually need to "upgrade" whenever the standard catches up to 1080p
Overall: First off, I am a self-proclaimed electronics guru affectionately referred to as "the gadget man" by my circle of peers. Did months and countless hours of research on high-end tvs before making this purchase. And after comparing, decided to sell my 42" plasma EDTV to be replaced by this 50" DLP HDTV because I didnt like the resolution limitations or black levels of my plasma. Since hooking the Samsung up two days ago, I noticed a MAJOR improvement in picture immediately, even before tweaking the settings (but thats to be expected from Samsung)! Out of the box, this tv is surprisingly lightweight to be so massive. Did NOT buy a service plan because the only REAL threat to this set is the possibility of the lamp blowing out (between 2000-4000 hrs). Which if and by then, Ill either buy a new lamp and install myself (pretty much plug and play) or upgrade to the 1080p verson! So as to not write a 20-page essay on my level of excitement alone, Ill conclude by saying for this size hdtv with all its capabilities, plus the name brand alone-----BEST $1,160 Ive ever spent! 100% satisfied until I decide I need the 1080p version of this set. (Wink) Highly recommend this tv over others for anyone in the market for an incredible viewing experience!
On: 2006-12-12
Bought a Samsung 50 inch DLP about six months ago. When we got it home we couldnt get it to stay on, so the store sent over someone to replace the bulb. Unfortunately the store support ended after 90 days. Then...Samsung was supposed to take over. Fast forward five months "today." The TV started shutting off after five mins of playing. Called Samsung, unfortunately we moved and didnt have the receipt. A call from the store didnt help Samsung understand that the TV is still covered. Our six month old $1699 TV, is now going to cost us $717 to fix. Thanks Samsung...from a guy who bought two laptops and two TVs and a microwave from you...never again.
On: 2006-12-10
I paid $1,350.00 total for this TV online. The TV looks really, really good aesthetically w/brush metal accents. Think black iPod nano. I got it primarily for the Xbox 360 and eventually HD-DVD. Of course, its also my primary TV and it shows all of my basic cable channels nicely, though fuzzy as w/all HDTVs. Im certainly now in persuasion of DirectTV.
The Xbox 360 through component was tolerable, but VGA is how you should connect the 360 to your Samsung DLP. This TV looks perfect on/off, sounds great, is really lightweight and has amazing colors and the deepest black levels Ive seen... The black levels really make me happy, oh, and theres NO PIXELATION!! Seriously, when you play Gears of War or watch HD-DVDs you will be stunned. Its fun to chainsaw a 2-foot dude on the screen.
If youre thinking about "jumping in" to the HDTV market, this is the one. The SamSUNG. (that rhymed)
On: 2006-11-17
I purchased this TV reluctantly because it uses DLP technology. However I couldnt resist because of the size, features, and price. I am now so thankful that I did. This TV rivals LCDs and plasmas for picture quality. Ive hooked it up to my HD digital cable service and my XBOX360 and it looks absolutely stunning. Add a decent speaker system and you have an unreal home theater.
On: 2006-11-10
This is the second Samsung DLP I have bought this year, and it is great. It looks amazing with both digital HD cable, and my XBOX 360.
On: 2006-11-10
As of August 2006 $528 cheaper than the equivalent at your local Best Buy. Free delivery by an independent carrier resulting in less trauma than the boxes from your local store. Excellent buy, save the money over the local box store and buy an extra lamp or professional HD tune up with the savings.
On: 2006-11-10
Ive had a couple of HDTVs before this one. I had a tube HD and an LCD projection. The tube was a little better quality than the LCD. The LCD was just horrible (in comparison).
This DLP shines bright and has amazing color and detail. You cant beat the price, especially Amazons price. Must buy for someone wanting a big screen.
On: 2006-11-06
Picture quality is excellent. Contrast is excellent. Im not able to get HD broadcasting yet, so the picture is not the sharpest possible. With regular Directv satellite the picture is quite watchable. (Not perfect by any means!) I have an upconvert Sony DVD player attached via HDMI cable - Excellent picture!! Watching DVD movies on this set is pure ecstasy! The sound is not the greatest, however acceptable. (I dont have a theatre system hooked up yet) It took me a few days to get the picture, contrast, etc. to my liking. Havent had to change anything since. Overall, for the money a great set.
On: 2006-11-06
We shopped around for over 6 months and finally found the best deal for the money....This TV was delievered right to our house and it was in perfect condition. The set-up was easy and it works beautifully....Ill continue to look at this website 1st for the most "bang for your buck".
On: 2006-11-04
This DLP TV has exceptional picture quality with intense colors and brilliant whites. The black is a true black. Sound quality is very good with nice tonal response. The Remote Control is awful with a poor layout and extremely poor setup of keys. It is a cheapo and its a shame because the TV seems to have high quality components.
Samsung - Get with it! My cable box remote is far, very far, superior to this piece of junk
On: 2006-11-04
This is a great TV, when it works!!
I have been trying to get my TV fixed/exchanged since I bought it. Its been a long and very frustrating time and believe me I have not finished yet!! I have to be after the manufacturer constantly to get the information I need. Currently they tell me I may have a new TV before the end of Novemeber.
I have not been able to get an answer that satisfies me from the manufacturer, the worst thing is that my warranty will not be extended!!
I am very bitter about this whole process!!
On: 2006-10-16
It was time to update my 6 year old 52" Samsung Projection and break into HDTV...I knew I was going with Samsung again because of the pure satisfaction of my previous big screen, and DLP was the way to go fo me after much research. Ive had this TV for 3 weeks now and could not be happier, it is everything I knew it was going to be and then some, and it is a very good looking TV as well. Amazons price could not be beat and the delivery company Eagle was top notch(for free to boot)!! Great TV and the HD is awesome, I paired this TV with the Samsung Home Theater HT-Q80, and it is a match made in heaven, Im able to run the DVDs through the second HDMI input and they look amazing!!
On: 2006-10-14
Ive been watching and waiting for over 6 months before buying. I was certain I was going to get the Samsung DLP HDTV but which model I was unsure. After reading review after review I knew I wanted the option to turn off the DNIe feature. The HLS-5086w allows the option to turn it off if wanted and so I just recently purchased this TV.
I cant begin to say how much Im pleasantly surprised by the incredible image and Im only watching digital cable signals, not HD signals. I cant get the HD signal for a few days and will update this review at that time. This set is user friendly and offers all sorts of fine tuning to get the color exactly as you want it. I was under the mistaken belief that non HD programs would be grainy. Nothing could be further from the truth. Watching basic digital is a new exerience in clarity, picture pop, and general WOW factor. When I get the HD signal I know Ill be even more delighted with this set.
This is by far the most bang for the buck HDTV available, in my opinion, and Ive been researching for more than six months.
To any that are considering purchasing a HD set, look no further than Samsung DLP. It is THE set to buy. Im extremely happy with my purchase and the total exerience with Amazon.
Edit: I now have the HD signal and I cant say enough about this set. The picture is amazing. HD programs are incredible. Ive given this set a 5 star rating and if possible Id go higher. Im extremely happy with my Samsung DLP TV.
On: 2006-10-08
I cannot tell you how elated we are to have this television. We had just moved into our new home so my wife and I decided we would like to have a larger television for our new den. I did ALOT of research on the subject while we were trying to attempt a decision.
At first I had pretty much decided we were going to get a 42" plasma tv, but after looking at the pictures and comparing prices, the DLP was the way to go for us. (I will tell ya, Im no big techno-geek, so price was a huge factor over the small differences in picture quality) I had shopped all of the main electronics stores and Sams, but the most cost effective purchase was through Amazon. (We saved almost $500 over the local stores, including the purchase of the stand)While looking at BB, my wife actually decided we could go with the larger screen, and who was I to argue? I was extremely skeptical about ordering such a large electronics item over the internet, but all the reviews were very positive...and we were able to get FREE shipping the weekend we ordered, which saved us an additional $100!! (Can you tell price was a key factor?)
Anyway, after ordering, we were told our new DLP television would arrive in approx. three weeks. It was delivered about two weeks early, just in time for the first Thursday night NFL Football game! WOO HOO!
Now after having the television for about a month and a half, I feel we made a great decision. The television is outstanding. The HD channels are AWESOME, especially the FOOTBALL games! My wife has even sat and watched a game or two just because of the clarity...that in itself is close to a miracle.
On: 2006-09-27
As someone who has never purchased anything this expensive off of amazon, I was a bit skeptical, especially when I read some of the reviews of others about their issues w/ the tv not being in perfect shape etc.
I have had nothing but good experiences with this TV in the first 2 weeks that Ive had it.
Xbox 360 HD games look INCREDIBLE on it. Madden, The Godfather, Oblivion etc.. Amazing.
HD sports is an amazing experience as well.
I highly recommend this tv to anyone.
On: 2006-09-22
Ive had this TV for about 3 weeks now and have been extremely happy with it. Let me say first that if you have any reservations about ordering a big-ticket item from Amazon you should put them aside. The delivery service was very informative about my order and it was delivered on time (I live in the Chicagoland area). The TV was gently unpacked and placed unto the stand I had already purchased (its the stand specifically for this TV). The only thing was they left the huge TV box so you have the responsibility to trash it. Not a problem.
Now the TV: The first thing you will notice is that it takes a good 30 seconds for the TV to warm up. Dont be alarmed. This actually caught me off guard the first few times I turned it on. The colors from HD are awesome. So much so that I actually thought they were almost too "bright" so I tweaked the settings to get it just right. Analog channels look OK, but HD is where this TV shines the most. Ive watched a few DVDs (Kill Bill and Star Wars III: Return of the Sith) and am impressed with the quality of the picture. I can only imagine how HD DVD will look (although you have to remember that HD DVD natively will be at 1080p so my TV may not be as "sharp" at 720p, but to me there is a point of diminishing returns....)
Audio is a little weak as others have stated and that is the reason why I didnt give the review 5 stars. I havent hooked it up to my stereo system yet, but, to be honest, Im not really watching TV for 5.1 sound anyway. Of course, I probably will change my mind once I do connect it.
Overall, Im extremely happy at the price of the TV (no taxes or delivery too),responsiveness of the delivery service, and the TV itself. Ill admit I was a bit hesitant to buy such an "expensive" item on Amazon, but the experience has left me very satisfied.
On: 2006-09-07
I had been going back and forth between the HLS5086 and the Sony Grand Wega. Amazon finally made up my mind for me when they put the HLS on sale with free shipping. Amazon was great to deal with... no BS from them and their shippers were very good. I hooked the TV up to a regular outdoor antenna in my attic today and the HD is awsome. I had been apprehensive about DLP before I purchased this set but after extensive research on the subject Im convinced that its sound technology.
On: 2006-08-29
What TV these days doesnt have VGA input??? Youll need to get an RGB to Component transcoder, or scan converter to hook a high quality PC signal into this TV which isnt cheap.
BTW, you cant simple run VGA straight to HDMI, youll need an A/D transcoder which is expensive.
On: 2006-08-29
I have had this TV for the last 2 months and it has been fantastic. Sure you could get the 1080P model instead, which I will admit does have better picture but youd end up paying at least $500 more for it. Given the ever dropping prices of these kinds of TVs Id rather save that money and use it in a few years to upgrade when I have the room for something bigger and better.
I had extensively compared this model to the Toshiba 50HM66 and in stores I will say the Toshiba did look a bit better. Dont let yourself be fooled though, for some reason Toshiba always seems to do the best job of making their TVs look good right out of the box while Samsungs require some adjustments to get the best picture. Once you do all of this they will look very similar in regards to picture quality.
In regards to the previous poster I will assume that he doesnt have the TV nor has done any research on it. This TV most definetly has a VGA input (although the competing Toshiba doesnt). Also you have been missinformed in regards to using HDMI to connect a computer. I have had a high end media center pc connected to my Samsung HL-S5086W using a DVI to HDMI cable and the picture is outstanding. Pretty much any computer with DVI out on the video card can be connected to this TV using a DVI to HDMI cable which can be picked up for ten dollars online, no other equipment needed.
Overall I am very happy with this purchase and would completly recommend this TV to anyone on the market for an HDTV on a budget.
On: 2006-08-28
This is my first venture into HDTV, and this Samsung unit is very impressive. Picture quality, even using component video cables (Im waiting for my HDMI cables to arrive) and watching a non-HD channel is good. Go to an HD channel, or use an S-Video cable from a DVD player, and only the most picky videophile cant help but be impressed. The onboard sound system is adequate for everyday viewing, but most people will want to hook up a more robust sound system for watching movies. What really makes this a "slam dunk" buy is the price. This is an outstanding value at Amazons current price and shipping charge (nothing). The only "negative" was the delivery itself. The TV arrived in good shape but the shipping and delivery agents had to be prodded a bit to do their jobs. This may very well be a problem specific to where I live. Amazons customer service was very responsive. Ive ordered a bunch of stuff recently and they are the most efficient and reliable online retailer Ive dealt with.
On: 2006-08-28
This television has a very good resolution -- crisp, clear colors. At 50" wide, it does tend to skew windowbox DVD or video pictures a bit, but not intolerably so. Widescreen is fine. I also purchased the companion stand for the television -- it was about 6" lower than I would have liked to be able to see opposite the television at standard couch height, but was stable and good looking -- you have to have a hex key set of your own to assemble it. Set up of the television and kid lockouts was relatively easy and the instructions were fine.
Looked at a lot of different televisions before I bought this one -- for the money, its about the best resolution you can buy for the size of screen and thats what ultimately sold me. Its also nice for connecting a computer and having a bigger screen for gaming.
On: 2006-08-26
This item has spectacular resolution. I dont have cable or satellite as yet and I still get High Def pictures from my rabbit ears that are better than being there. I am getting cable or satellite soon so I cant wait. It was easy to hook up even though Im not a techno geek. It has several ports for hooking up peripheral devices. I did get my DVD player hooked up to the set. Watching DVDs is a real treat on a 50" screen.
Highly recommend.
On: 2006-08-23
I purchased this @ Best Buy over the weekend for $1840.00 (CA@ 8.25%). I liked the look of the TV all in Black. The HD tuner is OK. I purchased an HD Antenna so that I could watch Sunday Night Football. It did the job however I received a lot of flicker when action was moving on the screen.
On Monday I upgraded my digital cable to HD cable & that solved the problem for Monday Night Football on ESPN HD. The picture was amazing & this really showed off the HD aspect of this set.
The down side to this TV & why I took it back on Tuesday night was the viewing of analog & digital signal. The analog is not acceptable, and the digital is not much better. Lots of grain, and the annoying gray & black bars on the side of the picture.
The DVD through the HDMI was very good. Not as bright & real as the HD broadcast picture. I did find the menu system easy to navigate. The sound coming from the built in speakers was very good. I did not like the remote (thumbs are sore). I do not know why the manufacturers are not making light up remotes.
So if you do not watch cable news, and old TV or Movies this set might work for you. I am going to try out a SAM or PAN Plasma. Consumer Reports says they get a better cable picture. If that doesnt do the trick I will stick with my 32" 1996 Sony Trinitron that has nothing wrong with it except No HD
On: 2006-08-23
If you are a techno-enthusiast anxiously awaiting the advent of HD DVD, then I would encourage you to look into 1080p televisions, not a 720p like this one. But if are a more casual TV watcher who is looking for an excellent HDTV experience with great DVD picture at an incredible price, then go for this. I bought this tv for the upstairs after purchasing a 56" Toshiba DLP. My research said that Samsung was creating quality DLPs, and I have been more than happy. The larger Toshiba is 1080p, and if you look really, really hard, you can notice only the slightest difference when watching hi-def channels, but it is very insignificant, and for the price difference, not even a consideration for the casual observer. Easy to set-up, menus are intuitive and simple, and havent had any glitches yet. A wonderful purchase.
On: 2006-08-18
Granted, I was upgrading from a thirteen year old Sony Trinitron, but still. When we went shopping for TVs, the picture on the Samsung DLP was way superior to the LCDs and almost as good as plasma -- you could see the difference right away in the show room. The picture on the high def channels is AMAZING. Its hard to get used to the way some high def programs broadcast with the black border around the picture -- and though you can choose to stretch the piture to full screen, the picture quality isnt nearly as good. We have about 10 high def channels; I cant wait for more to be added. Watching a movie is awesome! Ordinary channels are fine, certainly better than what I was accustomed to watching.
I also bought the Sony one disc high def DVD player -- you cant watch high def on an ordinary player. I think that its a bit misleading -- most people would think you could go home, plug in your TV, and voila! All high def channels! You need to do some serious research before you decide what to buy. For example, I looked at the 1080 model (instead of the 720 I bought) and decided it would be too long for me to actually get much benefit from that type of resolution.
Amazon first quoted a month window for the TV to arrive; it came in two weeks, so that was a wonderful surprise. The TV is lightweight, and hooking it up wasnt complicated. Also the price offered here with free shipping is way below Circuit Citys price.
One minor drawback -- I wish I could find a universal remote that actually could do ALL the functions for each attached device. For example, the cable universal with my DVR controls is great except that I cant access the TV menu -- meaning I cant change the color, sound, size of picture, etc, without using the TV remote. It took forever (and my spending hours trying every TV remote code in the world) before someone finally said that a weakness of TV remotes is that they can power up and down, change channel and volume, but not much more than that.
On: 2006-08-15
Ive had this TV for a little over 3 weeks. I have it connected to DirecTV. The HD channels are great. The SDTV is not quite as good, but the HD quality more than makes up for it. The picture is very good even from angled views. Right out of the box it was easy to set up and all the available options for movies and sound is also very nice. I have a hearing problem and the sound quality is better than most TVs I have listened to. The one thing that Im still having a problem figuring out, is how to hook up my wireless headphones and also external speakers. I have to admit I was somewhat reluctant to buy a TV over the web and have it shipped to me. I was pleasantly surprised how well the shipping went. I contacted Eagle shipping in Milwaukee (Brian was extremely helpful) and he informed me that my TV would be dropped shipped by N&M Transfer. N&Ms driver was helpful and careful. So I can say without a doubt, I would buy this TV again and have it shipped. By the way the price was the best I could find and I did a lot of looking.
On: 2006-08-12
The picture quality is brialliant. I am actually suprised that the black levels and contrast are the way they are. HD picture is simply awesome. There are some drawbacks like absence of PIP, limited USB usage with diferent types of external drives. It does not read from my Canon SD 450 as well as my Simpletech external hard drive.
You will definitely need a home theater system.
On: 2006-07-28
The Samsung HL-S5086W 50" DPL HDTV has a great picture and very good sound. The price for this TV is very reasonable! Good quality for a great price.
On: 2006-07-27
If you dont need a flat panel to hang on a wall, the HL-S5086W provides an excellent balance of price/performance. We did look at the newer model but its front bezel is gloss black [the 5086s front bezel is flat black]. The picture might be a tad brighter in the newer model BUT the gloss black causes light reflection which the better half found annoying. Weve got the set connected to a an Onkyo TX-SR603 Home Theater AV Receiver so we appreciated the optical audio output provided by the 5086.
Set was delivered as promised and unboxed by the shipper [Eagle freight].
Were totally satisfied.
On: 2006-07-17
I bought this by comparison SONYs. Because other brands looked darker picture at shop. I am satisfied picture quality when I look at DVD. However this TV has poorer picture expand function for 4:3 pictures to 16:9. Expanding too big to screen with little picture quality control, even chosen smaller expansion, or just horizontal liner looking expansion. I think my previous 7-year-old-Hitachis has better function. It is quite hard to check this function before buying, because almost all shop displays are used HD or DVD quality source.
On: 2006-07-14
..... Customer support....
If I had read the letter (below), I would not have purchased a Samsung projection TV.
I give an "F" as a grade for Samsungs customer (follow-up) service and a "D" for its quality control.
To those who are considering purchasing a Samsung TV, look at Mitsubishi instead. The reason? Right out of the box, I received an inferior DLP (5067). Three months and three circuit boards in the TV to get the TV to show a decent picture. When its working properly, as stated in previous posts, it has a terrific picture, but at a cost and frustration.
Do you want to take a chance that YOU would go through the same frustration and expense as Im stating???? When the TV works it has a terrific quality picture, but if you happen to have a defective television, Samsung isnt the brand to choose.
My local Samsung TV tech, which Samsung contacts from their main base of operations, did a terrific job in customer service. UPDATE: This great Samsung tech is not longer with Samsung and a new tech has come and worked on a new problem (NBC HD station) has happened....this station doesnt come up. The new tech is terrible. Add this to all the problems Im having....Ive asked for a newer working TV. Its been over a week and no response from Samsung as to a replacement (still under factory warranty).
At Samsungs customer service phone center, the "techs" arent techs at all, but average "Joes" posing at techs. They use a script, with your questions, and they look for the answers from their paper script. Including putting you on hold so you think theyre getting answers from a higher authority. If they feel youre a problem customer, they LEAVE YOU ON HOLD hoping you just go away.
As stated above, it took three months (phone calls to Samsung to get my TV to work properly (poor quality control at Samsung). I called customer service to request an extension of my warranty to reflect my "factory defective" TV, but they left me on hold on more than one occasion.
Another phone call to Samsung tech support for another TV tuner problem. Samsung sent out a local tech to fix the problem. I am now due another (replacement-Lemon Law). I contacted Samsung and they told me Id hear from them as to a decision, in three to five days. I waited two weeks and still no contact from Samsung. I called and was told they needed a copy of my sales receipt. I asked them why the tech, two weeks ago, didnt tell me that. Within an hour, via a fax # they gave me, I sent the needed purchase receipt.
With my warranty up in one week, Samsung seems to spead out responses so your warranty expires and youre left with an expensive paperweight. I hope you learn from what Ive gone through. Another update: Im still waiting for Samsung to contact me as to replacement but they are not following through with their responsibilities to their customer/s.
This is not a "sour grapes" situation, but a real on-going technical problem. Potential customers: look for a TV brand (reviews from other brands) that seems to support their products and gives positive reviews/posts.
On: 2006-07-14
I have been very pleased with my Samsung DLP TV. Picture quality is excellent, inputs are easy to use, sound quality is only adequate, remote works well.
On: 2006-07-13
TV is great price was best and delivery was quicker the expected
On: 2006-07-11
I upgraded from a standard CRT 32" Sony to the Samsung 50" DLP. I specifically chose this model because of the dimensions to fit into a custom built entertainment center. Im very pleased with the TV. I occassionally get a rainbow across the TV but I think thats my Direct TV signal and not the TV itself. I havent experienced the rainbow around the images. I do get a "fuzzy black". Watching very dark scenes such as HBOs Deadwood can be annoying.
Overall, I would recommend this TV as an upgrade. The price/picture combo is hard to beat. I paid $1629-$100 rebate=$1529. A similar plasma was over $3000.
The trucking service was lousy. It was sitting on their dock for 3 days until I called them and they arranged to have it delivered. I guess they didnt have the sense of urgency that I did until I called them. I would suggest another carrier if possible.
On: 2006-07-10
The TV LOOKS great. Two HDMI ports on something that looks this good, at this price, is superb. But I am having a huge audio/visual delay problem. I have every reason to believe that it is something to do with my cable companys DVR box, but until that is confirmed, the rating remains a 3 of 5. I will update this review if it gets fixed (they have been out twice, and I am waiting on a third time).
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EDIT:
It was the DVR apparently, the TV looks great. I still hedge, a bit, because I have yet to hook up surround sound, and I have heard that Samsungs can be pronlematic in this regard. If THAT works, I will give this TV 5 stars. What a picture!
On: 2006-07-07
Shopped this tv for a month or so. Finally decided to purchase and went to local big box dealer. They were more concerned with their warrenty than the tv. Found this here and got for over $300 less. Also got Sony DVPNS75H Single Disc DVD Player. What a great set up. Delivery was fast and free. Amazon and delivery company answer all my questions and gave me constant updates about arrival. Picture, sound, price, and size perfect fix. Great TV for your "Man Cave".
On: 2006-06-22
Loved the TV and Amazon did an awsome job with delivery service. Very fast and easy set up. Not sure about the other reviewer however I hooked my Xbox 360 up to the TV using component input and it worked great. Just a beautiful picture. Watched the Incredibles, Walk the Line, and The Ringer the very first day we had it and the picture was just amazing. We had looked a few other TVs in about 8 stores when we came across the Samsung DLP tv series AND boy are they great.
A+ to Amazon using Eagle shipping. They had it here 3 days after I ordered the TV. 3 Business days ahead of schedual.
On: 2006-06-20
Got this set home and put it through its paces. Found that component input (R-G-B) input (supposedly highest quality analog in), has serious design issue causing misalignment of the three colors. Problem not evident with lower quality inputs (AV1/AV2/S-Video). Reproduced problem in sets at dealer as well. A test pattern input from component in, will make this issue obvious on vertical borders between red and green bars. Can also be seen by looking at the lettering on the far right of the default opening screen of Nemo DVD, among others. It shows up as a green shadow of the letters to the left of where the letters should be. A very competant tech from Samsung confirmed this design flaw and said he will feed the info back to the factory. Will update this review if/when Samsung addresses the issue and issues a fix.
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