Manage updates with the Download AppSamsung PN50B850
Manufacturer: Samsung Part number: PN-50B850
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- With picture quality that matches its less expensive brother but not the best of the stiff competition, the main appeal of the Samsung PNB850/860 series is based on its sleek, ultrathin panel.
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Where to buy
| store | customer rating | inventory | tax & shipping | price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memory4Less.com | Not yet rated | In stock | Enter zip code to get total price: Price +Tax +Shipping =Total price | as of 05/20/2013 Refurbished |
CNET editors' review
Samsung PN50B850 price range: $2,938.69
- Reviewed by: David Katzmaier
- Reviewed on: 08/24/2009
- Released on: 04/15/2009
The good: Striking design with 1.2 inch-thick panel; reproduces deep black levels; accurate color with superb saturation, properly handles 1080p/24 sources; extensive feature set with Yahoo widgets, network streaming and built-in content; solid connectivity with four HDMI and one PC input.
The bad: More expensive than thicker plasma HDTVs; no S-Video inputs.
The bottom line: With picture quality that matches its less expensive brother but not the best of the stiff competition, the main appeal of the Samsung PNB850/860 series is based on its sleek, ultrathin panel.
User reviews
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Great product, rivals best LED for pure picture quality
by jayrandall1 on August 26, 2009
Pros: Stylish design, great menu system, amazing depths of colors and black levels.
Cons: Like most plasmas, this model tends to run hot, but can be remedied by running in Standard viewing mode.
Summary: For those buffoons that note the Buzz and Hot issue, you are wrong. The buzz and heat are only amplified when running in DYNAMIC viewing mode. Who watches in that ...
Summary: For those buffoons that note the Buzz and Hot issue, you are wrong. The buzz and heat are only amplified when running in DYNAMIC viewing mode. Who watches in that mode? It's for the Best Buy showroom. Geesh ....
Amazing Plasma TV, great price despite what Cnet thinks ... compared to similar LED models from Samsung.
Go for it!2 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Stunning PQ, Buzzing needs to be fixed
by hudder23 on January 7, 2010
Pros: Picture quality, colour, motion all OUTSTANDING. Slim panel looks great. 4 HDMI inputs
Cons: It buzzes...loudly. Remote is useless except to adjust picture settings, buy a harmony. Few rca inputs
Summary: I own this TV. It buzzes..more than a plasma should. Late at night when the kids are in bed and the volume is down you can REALLY hear it. ...
Summary: I own this TV. It buzzes..more than a plasma should. Late at night when the kids are in bed and the volume is down you can REALLY hear it. Annoyingly so. During the day with all of the ambient noise it is not that noticeable but I know it's still there. The lighter the scene the louder the buzz (ie: watching a hockey game? The buzz is REALLY loud) and commercials/anything with graphics on-screen seem to set it off. A Samsung Tech is coming in to fix this. If you read online threads the problem has been fixed since late summer but I bought mine prior to this.
see my other review on this same TV. It is an amazing TV and I still love it, do not even hear buzzing anymore...maybe my ears have become accustomed.
For that negative I must say that I don't think I've seen such a clear, perfect picture. Colours are vibrant and perfect, the menu is easy to navigate and seems endless on picture adjustments. Watching hockey/sports on this is flawless, no motion blur compared to LCD. SD and HD is outstanding.
Not many inputs other than the 4 HDMI. My Wii uses up all 5 rca inputs but with the panel being SO thin you have to sacrifice something.
I do not regret buying this TV, just pray that the Tech can fix the buzzing so I can really enjoy the experience that much more...
Updated on Jan 28, 20111 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Great TV - No buzz
by Motomoney on October 14, 2009
Pros: Beautiful TV - both the picture and the unit itself. I would recommend this to anyone.
Cons: The built in speakers are weak, but I'm not concerned since we will be using an external audio setup for movies and other demanding sources.
Summary: My wife and I went to the store with almost preconceived ideas about what kind of TV we wanted to bring home. We wanted to see them side by side ...
Summary: My wife and I went to the store with almost preconceived ideas about what kind of TV we wanted to bring home. We wanted to see them side by side and decide for ourselves which one looked the best to us. After much deliberation in the store, we narrowed the field to two and ultimately selected the Samsung over the other model. They didn't have any in stock, so we had to wait a few days for the next shipment to arrive. We were initially very happy with our selection.
When we got home, we started reading the user reviews of the TV that we had committed to and panic began to set in. A bunch of user reviews claimied that there was a distracting buzz that plagues this model. Some even suggested that the design was defective.
It is sad that others have had this experience, but I'm pleased to report that there is no audible buzz coming from our Samsung PN50B-850. Some of the reviews stated that the buzz began after a month or so of use, but ours has been quiet for at least that long. I'm an experienced audio technician who has worked in live and studio sound environments and a buzz like the one described would probably send me over the edge. Fortunately our TV is stone quiet - even when there is a bright picture being displayed.1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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The new SAMSUNG plasmas are defective. Can you say BUZZ
by zpop on August 26, 2009
Pros: These plasmas are all show and no go. While the aesthetics, picture and feature set are excellent they are unermined by a loud and annoying buzzing sound emitted constantly even with the sounds turned off.
Cons: These TVs buzz constantly! Totally unacceptable for a $2,000 TV. Check out the thread at avsforum. http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1144869
The Yahoo widgets are slow as molasses too!Summary: I can't believe David Katzmaier neglected to include the buzzing defect in his review. Escpecially since there are multiple threads about the buzz problem on CNET.com including the ...
Summary: I can't believe David Katzmaier neglected to include the buzzing defect in his review. Escpecially since there are multiple threads about the buzz problem on CNET.com including the following:
http://forums.cnet.com/5208-13973_102-0.html?threadID=349119
http://forums.cnet.com/5208-13973_102-0.html?threadID=344409
Buyer beware!!!1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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CAN'T BELIVE CNET OESN'T MENTION THE "BUZZING" PROBLEM
by ashako on August 26, 2009
Pros: The best picture I have seen on any HDTV. In my opinion even better then the aforementioned Panasonic.
Cons: A progressively loud BUZZING! I returned and bought same TV twice from Best Buy. I confirmed it again w/ the model in the stores. Has plagued Samsung plasma TV's this year apparently. In Europe they have admitted it. You can read
Summary: I loved this TV but unfortunately the loud BUZZING was very annoying. I won't trust CNET again for not mentioning this, because it is all over the internet too. ...
Summary: I loved this TV but unfortunately the loud BUZZING was very annoying. I won't trust CNET again for not mentioning this, because it is all over the internet too. Or go listen for yourself, it starts after a few hours of use.
2 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Thin, good looking TV.
by sammen89 on June 2, 2009
Pros: - Good Blacks
- Unique Styling
- burn-in prevention scan (white wash, pixel shifting)
- BANG FOR BUCK!Cons: - awkward to assemble
- still not feeling plasma technology.Summary: I'm an electronics sales associate and I truly love this TV. I'm eagerly waiting for Cnet's review because I give this TV a 9.2!
Summary: I'm an electronics sales associate and I truly love this TV. I'm eagerly waiting for Cnet's review because I give this TV a 9.2!
1 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Spontaneous catastrophic failure after 2yrs 10mos
by tweezak on July 29, 2012
Pros: Nice picture. Great viewing angle.
Cons: Buzzing (as others have said), runs hot, whites appear pinkish, limited life due to fatal design flaw - see summary
Summary: The 58" version of this set was my first Samsung and my first plasma and maybe my last of both. After 2 years, 10 months my wife and I were ...
Summary: The 58" version of this set was my first Samsung and my first plasma and maybe my last of both. After 2 years, 10 months my wife and I were watching a DVD and heard a loud pop. The screen went black and a loud buzzing started. I investigated and found that a large crack had formed in the sub-surface glass. A quick web search confirmed that this is a common issue with Samsung Plasmas and that in recent years they have changed their policy and are denying all claims writing them off as "user damage." It appears to be a thermal management issue which causes the glass to crack. A class action suit is being brought according to what I've read. Based on Samsung's response to the failure of their poorly engineered design I will never give them another dime of my money. I will go so far as to confirm that any future TV I buy does not have a Samsung-built display. As far as plasma...other manufacturers do not seem to be having this problem so I may still buy that technology.
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A near-perfect TV.
by mfscheetz on December 20, 2010
Pros: Great picture. Great picture. Great look. Did I mention great picture?
Cons: Internet widgets could be improved.
Summary: Amazing TV. At around $1200 its hard to find anything better. Did a side-by-side comparison between various Sony, LG, Panasonic, Toshiba TVs at the store, This one was hands down ...
Summary: Amazing TV. At around $1200 its hard to find anything better. Did a side-by-side comparison between various Sony, LG, Panasonic, Toshiba TVs at the store, This one was hands down better than the others.
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The Best. Simply, the best. LED has nothing on this TV.
by xLuckydemonx on April 11, 2010
Pros: ...EVERYTHING!? Picture!!! Styling, just about everything. The price is a major plus! At the time of this review Sears has this TV for $1399!
Cons: Poor sound, but most TV's nowadays need a sound bar or HTIB anyway.
Summary: The best TV i have ever seen. The sytling is incredible, not much on glare, and just overall phenominal picture quality. Since all Samsung ultra-thin displays have terrible speakers I ...
Summary: The best TV i have ever seen. The sytling is incredible, not much on glare, and just overall phenominal picture quality. Since all Samsung ultra-thin displays have terrible speakers I didn't expect much and was impressed or dissapointed with the sound. It was...meh. Same as the LED's...But for nearly half the price.
It's not that I don't believe you guys but if your TV was made after August 2009 it shouldn't have the buzzing issue. Make sure you check the build dates on your TV's to be sure your weren't just told they were made after August 2009. Perhaps they were just left over stock from before the revision. Just my 2 cents.
I respected CNet a lot but they have lost considerable respect in my eyes since labeling LED's having the best picture ever. Standing in front of LED's playing HDTV and blu-rays for the better part of 8hrs I have to say, as well as the general customer opinion, the Plasma's can't be beat.
I have had many a customer come in looking specifically for the LED's, previously the UN55B8000/7000 and having the be surprised by how much better a picture the B850 has. Yes the LED's are great and make me more money but majority of people prefer the Plasma's. And don't think, "Oh it's the price!". I work near Blackhawk, CA an incredibly rich area and it's not uncommon for a resident to come in and drop a few grand on a handful of TV's right after buying all new appliances for their home. People just seem to outright prefer the performance and look of the plasmas, specifically the B850. I'm contemplating purchasing the B850 or waiting to buy the 2010 PN50C8000 with a new three processor setup and the tru black cone as well as it being 3D capable and supposedly retailing for the same price as the B850's normal price, $2099.
I'm not trying to discourage people for buying an LED because it's all about what you think looks best since it is your money right? But whatever your heart desires, but believe me when I say the B850 has a phenomenal picture. Watch the IMAX sequence of The Dark Knight when the police are transporting Harvey Dent under the roadway and are attacked by the Joker in an 18 wheeler. Just incredible.
The buzzing issue has been solved as of August 2009 FYI. All B850's manufactured after August 2009 do not have the buzzing issue.
Updated on Apr 11, 2010 -
Awesome TV, Great Purchase, NO BUZZING!
by orangeholder on March 14, 2010
Pros: The picture quality is much better than my Sony Bravia and rivals my Panasonic Viera... First Samsung I have ever owned. Sound is amazing and the slim design adds the perfect touch to the new house. We'll see how the reliability is over itme.
Cons: Putting the TV on a the base stand was VERY hard. + I was surprised to see it was MADE OF PLASTIC! Being a 50 inch, this is a heavy TV that is held by a heavy metal base but the part that attaches the TV to the base is actually made of plastic.
Summary: This is an amazing TV that i would recommend to anyone. Great Buy. (Aside from the plastic piece that attaches the TV to the base - see "cons"). I still ...
Summary: This is an amazing TV that i would recommend to anyone. Great Buy. (Aside from the plastic piece that attaches the TV to the base - see "cons"). I still love Panasonic... but this really raises the bar. I have no buzzing issues, maybe its because my TV was manufactured in January 2010? Not sure. Whatever the case may be, great TV, great sound and display... NO BUZZING!
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Samsung
- Part number: PN-50B850
- Description: Samsung 8 series plasma HDTVs represent Samsung's finest innovations in design and performance. E-panel technology combined with Samsung's Ultra FilterBright Plus provides a stunning high contrast picture even in bright rooms. It's not just the images on screen that capture your attention - the ultra-slim cabinet with Samsung's Touch of Color design adds beauty to the bezel and stand.
General
- TV type Plasma TV
- Screen size 50 in
- Color Platinum black
Features
- Connectivity IEEE 802.3 (Ethernet)
- Internet streaming services Smart TV
- TV features Video noise reduction,
On-screen menu,
FilterBright,
Wide Color Enhancer 3,
DNIe (Digital Natural Image engine),
Anti-glare filter,
Game mode,
Pre-loaded Content Library,
Touch of Color (ToC) Video
- Technology Plasma (PDP)
- Native resolution 1920 x 1080
- Resolution 1080p
- Refresh rate 600 Hz
- Motion Enhancement Technology 600Hz sub-field driving
- Response time (ms) 0.001 ms
- Progressive Scan Progressive scanning (line doubling)
- Widescreen Widescreen
- HDCP compatible Yes
TV Tuner
- TV tuner presence Yes
- HDTV Tuner Yes
- Tuner qty 1x analog,
1x digital - Digital TV tuner ATSC,
QAM - Analog TV tuner NTSC
- TV tuner reception system ATSC,
NTSC,
Clear QAM - Secondary audio program (SAP) Yes
Audio
- Speaker(s) 2 x Right/left channel speaker - Built-in - 15 Watt
- Surround mode Yes
- Sound effects SRS TruSurround HD
- Total output power 30 Watt
- Audio controls Balance,
Bass,
Treble Connectivity
- HDMI ports qty 4
- PC interface VGA (HD-15)
- Input/Output connections 3 x HDMI (19 pin HDMI Type A) - Rear,
1 x HDMI (19 pin HDMI Type A) - Side,
1 x Composite video/audio input (RCA phono x 3) - Side,
2 x Component video input (RCA phono x 3) - Rear,
1 x VGA input (15 pin D-Sub (DB-15)) - Rear,
1 x Digital audio output (optical) (TOSLINK) - Rear,
1 x Network (RJ-45) - Rear,
1 x USB 2.0 - Side - Video interface HDMI,
Component,
Composite Convenience
- Parental channel lock Yes
- V-chip control Yes
- Menu language French,
English,
Spanish Remote Control
- Type Standard remote control
- Second remote control type None
Built-in components
- Component type None
- Additional features Anynet+,
DLNA compatible Manufacturer Warranty
- Service & support 1 year warranty
- Service & support details Limited warranty - Parts and labor - 1 year
Stands & Mounts
- Stand included Included
- Stand design Tabletop
- Stand features Swivel
- Flat panel mount interface Yes
Power
- Power device Power supply - Internal
Dimensions & Weight
- Dimensions (WxDxH) 48.8 in x 10.9 in x 32.1 in - With stand
- Weight 71.6 lbs
Dimensions & Weight (Shipping)
- Width 60.6 in
- Depth 10.2 in
- Height 34.2 in
- Weight 89.3 lbs
Sustainability
- CNET Labs: Operational power consumption 207.01 Watt
- CNET Labs: Calibrated power consumption 292.21 Watt
- CNET Labs: Power Save Mode power consumption 156.34 Watt
- CNET Labs: Power consumption Stand by / Sleep 0.18 Watt
- CNET Labs: Estimated Annual Energy Cost 64.20 US Dollars
- ENERGY STAR Qualified Yes
- Greenpeace policy rating (Nov 2011) 4.1
- Greenpeace policy rating (Nov 2012) 4.2
Manufacturer info
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Samsung products on Shopper.com
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- Manufacturer:Samsung
- Address:
105 Challenger Road, Ridgefield Park, NJ 07660 - Phone: 1-800-726-7864
- Fax: 1-973-601-6001
