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10 Responses to 'Samsung 50-Inch 720p Plasma HDTV (Black) PN50C430'

1. ECP - November 13th, 2010 at 12:35 pm

   Rating

   I did a lot of homework before buying the Samsung PN50C430 HDTV. I ended up buying the product on a Friday and received it on Tuesday…Thanks Amazon. I am very impressed by the quick shipping. I then setup the tv and have enjoyed it now for the past 4 days. It has a really nice picture. I know I have only had this tv for a few days but I felt I needed to let everyone know how impressed I was so far. Great job Samsung and Amazon. I am a very happy customer!!!!

2. Michelle Michaud - November 13th, 2010 at 2:43 pm

   Rating

   Thought I was gonna love this tv, and did for 3 mos, now I am just so sorry I ever believed samsung was the way to go. I Purchased the Samsung 50″ Plasma TV from Amazon on 4/3/2010, delivery date of 4/7/2010. Sale price total $674.00 paid, now selling on amazon for $749. Problem occurred on 7/23/2010. Sitting watching tv, screen went black, audio still working. Turned off & on again, then heard a fizzle/pop, and a burning smell. Upon closer inspection, could see inside panel had popped a starburst on interior only. Immediately called samsung to report need for repair or replacement under 1yr manufacturer’s warranty. Was told they would be sending a certified samsung tech from Roche Service Co from Wethersfield, CT and they should call in next 48 hours, gave wnty reg#. On Monday I called them myself and scheduled the neded appt. Roche sent the 1st tech on 7/27/2010. He removed the tv from the wall, opened it, and confirmed the mounting brackets had nothing to do with it, no exterior damage whatsoever, and it obviously had some kind of interior malfunction. Roche reported this to samsung. On 7/30/2010 Roche informed me the company would not approve a new panel/or tv until seeing photographs and I needed to take the pictures and email them in. Then roche would in turn submit them to samsung. On 7/6/2010, I’d had no results, then was told I was being denied because the pictures show physicl damage to the front of the screen, meaning the starburst. They stated the starburst looked like it had a white impact mark in the middle of it. I pointed out that there was no exterior damage at all, the certified tech from roche confirmed that already and of course you were going to see the starburst in the pictures through the clear screen…it was still interior. I was told they understood my frustration but the samsung claim techs could only authorize a replacement based on photographs and nothing else but he would escalate my claim to the executive claim dept. On 8/10/2010 I checked in with Roche and was told by an owner that samsung was asking for better photographs showing I had not caused exterior damage to my tv, I was so upset. He decided to come take pictures the night of 8/10/2010 himself. He took 27 pictures, my husband was here. Roche sent them in to samsung. On 8/16/2010 I contacted Samsung again and was told i had once again been denied a repair or replacement under warranty because they had determined by the photos that there was a physical exterior damage (the starburst)to my tv. I AGAIN explained that that is not the real situation, the damage is interior and simply visible thru the screen in photos. She verified this information had been stated before, she also verified TWO certified samsung techs from Roche had been to my house on the two seperate occasions and both confirmed the same information…so the last thing she could try for me was to escalate my claim to corporate and ask them to make an exception to the photos because it in fact was interior damage, not related to anyone creating damage. She asked me to please hold off on doing any further action on this until she tried to get suthorization from them, stating she would get back to me by Wed or Thursday (8/19/2010) the latest. I called on 8/19, 8/20, still no answer. Called back on Monday 8/23/2010 only to be told again that I was being denied due to exterior damage and that my warranty was now null and void based on those photos. I explained yet again that this made no sense, there was no exterior damage, no foul play, it had been confirmed by the techsand I told them I would contact BBB, CR, the news stations, a lawyer and write the necessary reviews of their co…but was told they would do nothing else for me, a report would be written up stating there was exterior damage seen by way of photos, and that I could go ahead and do what I had to do but they would not be assisting me any further. So now I have no tv, I’m out $674, any respect I had for samsung, warranties, & new technology. Now I have filed with BBB, and will write reviews, contact the news, and a lawyer next…what a mess. Good luck to all the fellow owners of Samsung products.

   UPDATE: A WIN FOR THE LITTLE PEOPLE!!! I did file last Fri 9/4 w/ the BBB. So, I received an email this morning (9/10) from the BBB saying they accepted my claim yesterday, and provided me a file #, told me they sent the complaint to samsung, and samsung’s initial deadline to get back to them would be by 9/24, then they would send a reminder and I should expect a resolution within 30 days total. Well, 20 minutes after reading this email to my hubby, my house phone & cell phone start ringing off the hook w/ a # I don’t recognize…when I answer, it’s SAMSUNG! Calling to inform me that she was authorizing an exchange and that their trucking company would be contacting me to set up an appt within the next 2 weeks to pick up my old tv and bring me a new upgraded model…the PN50C550. Sweet, the one hanging on the wall can stop knifing me in the back everytime I walk in the room now…If only I didn’t have to go thru all the bull to get them to respond…but at least its ending well BBB ROCKS!
   

3. John D. Segress - November 15th, 2010 at 9:38 am

   Rating

   I also waffled about spending more for the newest 1080 technology; after checking this tv out I’m glad I didn’t spend the extra money. We previously bought a 52″ Mitsubishi DLP 1080 from Amazon in 2006. At the time I wanted the biggest hdtv I could get for under a thousand dollars. Big mistake; the picture was great out of the box, but as the bulb deteriorated so did the picture. We have the tv on a lot (12-15 hrs average) and it was tough to get more than a year out of a bulb, which costs about $230! Not quite 4 years into this tv it developed serious color problems (huge yellow streaks across the screen). Estimate was $400/500 to repair. Never again with Mitsubishi or DLP. I’m telling potential customers this because if you’re price shopping you may be considering that option because of the relative low cost/screen size. This Samsung plasma has a better picture out of the box than the 1080 tv and no bulb to worry about. My wife loves to watch old movies on TCM and this plasma really shows them with great detail and contrast. I researched a long time on plasma vs lcd and finally decided that the old plasma problems (heat, energy consumption, burnin) had been mostly solved. Don’t be afraid of this tv; I think you’ll be impressed.

4. P. Carew - November 16th, 2010 at 2:28 pm

   Rating

   This was my first flat screen purchase so I did a lot of research. It paid off because this is a really nice looking set with a beautiful, crisp picture. Haven’t gotten a blu- ray player yet but I’m still stunned by the crispness of the picture at 720p. Previous reviewers claimed I would not be able to tell the difference on a 50″ set between 720 and 1080 and I have to agree. So the roughly $600 savings i gained on purchasing this set gives me a cushion for the next generation, 3d set I’ll probably buy in 3 yrs or so. By the way, the sound is very good as well. If you don’t need the full surround sound theater effect with a booming sub woofer, this electronically sophisticated sound system should make you happy.

5. K. Brown - November 16th, 2010 at 8:36 pm

   Rating

   Purchased last Friday and received today as requested…and couldn’t be HAPPIER!

   Perfect replacement for someone toting a 65″ DLP and a 55″ tube from 2002, who wanted to keep size and gain space.

   Have only witnessed standard def via RGB so far and the quality is exactly what you would figure, standard. However, HDMI upconvert with standard DVD is B..E..A..utiful! You’ll need to tweak your picture settings obviously…factory settings looked a bit bland…but I found a combo I enjoy, rather than one I’ve been forced to “put up with” in the past.

   Considering this is my first plasma, I am hooked. Was more affordable than similar LCD’s and even caught a discount over some “Big Box” options…and the black frame has got the wife’s approval for “matching our decor”

   Would love to put HDTV to the test, but if the upconvert can look this flawless, I don’t have any nervous thoughts.

   Only quarrels are the lack of computer connection…an almost standard with LCD units…and no RCA inputs. But, hey, it’s a new decade right? If only my 8-bit NES had a component output

   Thanks Amazon!

6. Dave - November 17th, 2010 at 11:42 am

   Rating

   How can you beat $674 SHIPPED w/NO TAX for a 50in Samsung Plaz?!?!?!?! You can’t, and that is why Amazon is the best.

   Delivery was a breeze, “Pilot” delivery driver called my cell and scheduled delivery sooner than planned…which was great because I couldn’t wait any longer. TV itself is great, no issues so far. It does buzz but if that bothers you then you should be out fighting crime because you’re Superman, and only someone with INSANE hearing will be able to hear it more than 4-5ft away.

   Like all plaz’s it does get some image burn, but can easily be corrected by running one of the 3 built in burn protection systems.

   Remote is huge but it’s logical and functional.

   Light reflection is an issue if you have a VERY well lit room. It’s no problem for me due to the position of my lights.

   PS3 looks gorgeous on this screen. Avatar looks real.

   This is one of the best purchases I have ever made, it took me 2 months of research and a lot of debating but I’m glad I pulled the trigger and bought it.

   A+++ Samsung & Amazon.

7. Darcy - November 17th, 2010 at 11:04 pm

   Rating

   I have been looking for a TV for a good month before moving into my new apartment. Although I am on a budget, I usually would be willing to spend a lot more if it’s something I’m going to use for a long time. In this case, I was planning to buy a reasonable sized TV to watch for two to three years, then buy a 1080p 3D TV when the technology matures (remember HD DVD vs Blu-ray?). So I went to Sears, Cosco, compared specs online between Plasma, LCD/LED TVs, I conclude that this TV is the best performing and best value for me.

   Plasma vs LCD/LED:
   
   I compared various sources and in store. Yes the new LED LCDs have resolved almost all the problems with the previous generation of the LCD TV (off angle viewing, contrast, color etc.). But these LED TVs cost a fortune ($1500+ for a 42 inch). With 3D TVs coming, I would be a fool to spend so much money on a technology (3D) that has not been standardized (different TV manufacture is implementing their own ways to support 3D). The LCDs are brighter than the Plasmas, you can notice this in retail stores. But, these stores are not your normal viewing condition, they are 10 times brighter than your home. Even under these conditions, the LED TVs were very bright. I can imagine, you’ll have to turn them down at home. So it’s not something I would care for. The color of the plasmas are beautiful and vivid. I have no trouble watching the TV cleary during a bright sunny day. If you are considering between Plasma vs the order generation of LCDs (those aren’t using LEDs), I would suggest Plasma because they offer more benefits for less money. The LED LCDs are better overall, but they cost too much right now.

   Samsung vs Panasonic:
   
   I was about to get a Panasonic Plasma because they were given higher reviews than the Samsungs. But, after searching a bit, I found out Panasonic actually got a lawsuit from the consumers (and they admitted this) that they intentionally adjust the black levels of their TV as you watch them overtime. While the reviews are based on the initial performance of the Panasonic TVs, over time (after one year), their performance actually degraded quite a bit (as many users have noticed). There is no such issues with Samsungs. So I’m back to Samsung.

   720p vs 1080p:
   
   On paper this is a big difference, but when I compare them in person in retail stores, you simply can not tell the difference from 3 feet away. The 720p is just as sharp as the 1080p. Watching Blu-ray is just as beautiful on these as the 1080ps. When the 3D technology matures, sure, I would get the 1080p TV, but that wouldn’t happen for another good 3 years the least. I would mostly be upgrading for the 3D, not for the 1080p. I difference between 1080p and 720p is so small, I can’t even tell. Be happy you are saving money here.

   Features:
   
   At this price, I’m surprised that Samsung didn’t cut many corners. Initially I was looking at the 42 inch version of the c450 series. I was waiting for the price to drop and I thought it would be better/more feature than the c430 version. But I knew I also needed a receiver to connect with my PS3, cable and also my PC etc, so the number of HDMI connectors are not important to me, after all, I only need one connection from my receiver to the TV, and everything else are handled by my receiver (Onkyo 608). So the extra features on c450 are useless to me and I certainly don’t want to pay for them. So I started to seriously looking into the c430 and decided that this fits my bill perfectly.

   42 inch vs 50 inch:
   
   The 50 inch has another bonus over the 42 inch beside the bigger size. Both being called 720p, they actually have different screen resolution. That’s right! 42 inch has a resolution of 1024 x 768, where as the 50 inch has 1360 x 768 pixels. The higher resolution will theoretically give a better quality display because more pixels are used for display. Otherwise, the TV signals have to be down sampled to display on the 1024 x 768 screen. The screen solution information is obtained from the user’s manuals on Samsung’s web site. For about $100 more, bigger screen and higher resolution, this is a no brainer.

   Delivery:
   
   It was pretty smooth, I got called and they delivered into my apartment on the third floor.

   Pros:
   
   - beautiful image
   
   - great build quality
   
   - easy to set up
   
   - 1360 x 768 pixel display = almost square pixels, less distortion from image processing
   
   - girlfriend approved

   Cons:
   
   - same for all Plasma displays, they are not as bright as LED LCDs
   
   - mediocre sound
   
   - glossy screen reflection can be distracting

   Final words:
   
   I’m very happy with this TV, it’s a fantastic value and has great performance.

8. T. Smith - November 18th, 2010 at 4:03 am

   Rating

   Samsung and Panny’s are 1a & 1b when it comes to plasmas. You really can’t go wrong either way, they both offer exceptional value in their 720p sets. And obviously if you are checking this TV out value and price are a big deal to you (me too!). So why did did I go with this set over a Panny? It just happened to be cheaper at the time of purchase, I would have went either way.

   I could go into the big 720p vs 1080p debate and take up a whole page. I am sure you’ve read many reviews already making the case for each. But the truth is, you wouldn’t be looking at this TV if price didn’t matter. I am not calling you poor!! You just have some reason why you don’t want to pony up for 1080p, that’s cool, me too. The PN50C430 does exactly what it was meant to, a great picture for a great price. As for burn in/image retention, just don’t leave something static on there for hours and you’ll be fine. If you get image retention just watch some TV and it will go away. Don’t use the scrolling or white features, it’s better to exercise the pixels with TV to get rid of image retention.

   Ok first the PN50C430 vs. the PN50C450 model. These are basically the same TV. The 450 model has 1 more HDMI port and Touch of Color (a little red/maroon stripe of color on the bezel of the TV). That’s it. I went with the 430 because I didn’t like the red TOC. I wish it would have had that extra HDMI port, but there are solutions for that. I also own the 2008 PN50A450 model. It has a nice silver stripe on the bezel which looks better than both of the 2010 models. Anyway, now with the quick pro’s and con’s summary.

   Pro’s:
   
   Great picture for cheap! HD looks very good.
   
   Good colors and tones, realistic
   
   Nice looking (would like to have the silver stripe though!)
   
   Much thinner than the 2008 model
   
   More power efficient than the 2008 model
   
   Lighter than the 2008 model (+/- 20 lbs!)
   
   Good warranty
   
   Basic menus but enough to customize picture nicely
   
   Not a surround system by any means but decent sound for a flat panel

   Con’s:
   
   No swivel stand, the 2008 model has it and it’s great
   
   Remote, it’s cheap but serviceable. You could always buy a better one though.
   
   Hookups, it’s manageable but it should have had 2 more HDMI ports and it doesn’t have VGA
   
   Buzzing, but it’s not really noticeable unless right up next to the TV or with no sound on
   
   SD picture is ok, it’s crisp enough but a little dark even with AVS Forum recommended settings

9. S. Bailey - November 19th, 2010 at 2:25 am

   Rating

   I feel like i’ve waited forever for this tv. not because of shipping or anything but because i’ve been researching HDTVs for over 6 months before i settled on this model. Actually the first model i ordered was the Samsung PN50B450. It showed up as promised,on time, Thanks Amazon and Pilot. but wait……… it had no picture, only sound. Not even any system menus, and it was the last in stock so all Amazon could do was issue a credit or i order another model shipped and sold by amazon. This sucked cause i couldnt figure out why i had to go this route. Though Amazon’s customer service explained all this to me, I was still upset that my TV was D.O.A. Amazon had the TV picked up immediately and issued me a credit plus knocked off (…) off my alternate purchase which put my new 2010 model Samsung PN50C430 at (…). SWEEEEEEET.

   Well the TV showed up in a week’s time thanks to CEVA logistics. No problems so far.
   
   right now, all i can say is WOW!!!!!!!! Great TV. picture is awesome. Right now i only have standard def. TV but i do have a Sony HTCT100 Sound Bar with Subwoofer – Blackw/ HDMI hook up plus an XBOX 360 Elite with HDMI cable and let me say the sound and picture is stunning. I watched a Netflix instant movie, The Big Lebowski in HD and holy crap what a great picture. the sound through the bar and woofer was stunning with HDMI cables and digital optical sound. What a match!!!!!!!!

   Pros* easy set-up from the box. menus were simple and easy to follow
   
   * Digital tuners even found some other music channels that dont come with co-ax cable.
   
   * TV is loud. Of course not the best sounding but surround system takes care of that.
   
   * Great picture quality at 720p. Standard Def cable is ok but its so big who cares.
   
   *Best of all, the price for me @ (…). Thanks Amazon for all the follow up work you did on replacing my original purchase, thanks Samsung for a beautiful product and thanks CEVA for speedy and courteous service.

   No cons yet, but we shall see. I recommend this TV and this Business called Amazon.

10. J. North - November 19th, 2010 at 10:22 pm

    Rating

    I have enjoyed my Samsung PN50C430 (720p) for a week now and thoroughly enjoy it. I recommend it to you if you are waiting for the next generation of LED 3D-TV’s, would like something that has brilliant color and would like to save some money to put towards other things. I have spent a lot of time researching the difference between LCD/LED and Plasma and opted to go with the Plasma by Samsung. There are some reviews here that state there is a humming: Yes there is. This should only last a few days, after that it is not very noticeable unless you plan on listing to your TV from behind. As far as quality compared to a 1080p, you may notice a little difference, but not enough in my book to shell out extra money. I would suggest though, if the Plasma will be 6ft or less than where you are sitting, get a smaller TV or a 1080p. Sound from the TV speakers are nice.

    Here is the link to see the quick guide which will show you the connections in the back.
    
    [..]

    Have any questions, please ask.

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