Samsung PN51D6500

• Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 5 reviews
• My rating: 0 stars

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• 10 stars

  Worth Every Penny!

  by ClydeMN on January 27, 2012

  Pros: The picture quality is hands down one of the best I've seen
  Blacks are very deep and the colors vivid
  Surprisingly easy to set up
  The set itself is very thin, light, and sleek

  Cons: Speaking of volume is good but not great

  Summary: It's only fair that I preface my review by admitting this is my first HD television. Comparing it to the 32" SDTV I previously owned is...well...not realistic, ...

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  Summary: It's only fair that I preface my review by admitting this is my first HD television. Comparing it to the 32" SDTV I previously owned is...well...not realistic, or worthwhile. And needless to say, I can't compare it against any HDTV I've owned previously. However, I feel like I'm qualified enough to make a review based on a few things -- exhaustive research between LCD, LED and plasma, my experience with this particular tv, and hands-on experience with other HDTVs belonging to friends, family, and tv dealers. I've had plenty of opportunity over the last few years, while biding my time, to hone in on what I wanted.
  
  I've stood in front of countless HD displays at store level (and living rooms) comparing everything from picture and sound quality, price, and overall appearance. I've read literally thousands of product reviews on Amazon, Cnet, and other sources. Time and again, plasma tvs rated higher than their counterparts, this particular tv being no exception, and Samsung was the brand I came back to over and over.
  
  This television is absolutely amazing and surprisingly easy to set up. I have mine on its stand atop a media cabinet in the living room and it looks beautiful. It's a very well lit room with lots of windows and lamps and I haven't noticed any bothersome glare issues. The set itself is very thin, light, and sleek. The picture quality is hands down one of the best I've seen. The blacks are very deep and the colors vivid. I watch a lot of sports and action movies (DVD upconverter w/ HDMI is my config) and in my experience these can be challenging in HD if refresh rates are not good. Not a problem with this television.
  
  Even the fastest action is processed flawlessly. I've had no negative experiences to speak of regarding picture quality with this set (light fluctuation, shuddering, pixelation, etc), or the annoying buzz that has been described with other sets. There is barely the slightest hum with this set, but you literally need to be standing right next to it with the volume off to hear anything. Speaking of volume, this set produces good, but not great, audio. The sound is better than adequate though, and will only improve with if integrated with a receiver and surround system. No audio complaints here.
  
  Regarding 3D, I did not purchase this set for 3D capability and cannot speak to how well it works. I don't even have 3D glasses. Maybe some day. If 3D works as well as the rest of the set...it should be another great feature. The Smart Hub is also a nice and I synched the television to my home wireless network flawlessly in about a minute.
  
  In short, you'd be making a wise move to purchase this set. There are certain to be some cons with those more HD savvy and nuanced than myself, but this set absolutely blows me away! It does what a tv is meant to do - provide visual entertainment - and does it as well or better than any HD set I've seen.
  
  *Note, before you're will buy this TV, I suggest to check for lowest price before you decide at: knol.google.com/k/mario-demaio/samsung-pn51d6500/1el2xpb0xulzr/1#
  
  Bottom line - my experience with this set has been nothing but the best. VERY happy with this purchase.
  
  Thank for reading!

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  4 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.

• 9 stars

  The previous review is rediculous

  by fnpony on November 16, 2011

  Pros: Color accuracy, black level

  Cons: Week audio, but who cares

  Summary: The previouse reviewer is stup*d.
  In HD time, you should consider HD audio too, which is loseless format of audio. For such an audio you cannot use "audio-return" anyway. ...

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  Summary: The previouse reviewer is stup*d.
  In HD time, you should consider HD audio too, which is loseless format of audio. For such an audio you cannot use "audio-return" anyway.
  
  Review a TV as bad just because you have a crap theater system?
  
  Upgrade all components to match each other, receiver, speakers, etc., before leaving a proper review!!!

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  2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.

• 3 stars

  Great Video, No 5.1 Audio pass through

  by F-Cubed on April 26, 2011

  Pros: Video, sleek look, very thin design, much better Anti-Reflective filter than the PN51D550 (I spent a lot of time in front of both in the show room checking this out).

  Cons: The TV Down-Converts 5.1 surround sound audio from HDMI connected sources to 2-Channel audio before sending the audio out the Digital Optical cable to the receiver - thereby eliminating the surround sound of your system.

  Summary: I am a very unhappy Samsung customer today :-(
  
  I just got my Samsung PN51D6500 3D TV and Samsung HTD5300 receiever (Home Theater In-a-Box; HTIB) last night. I was very ...

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  Summary: I am a very unhappy Samsung customer today :-(
  
  I just got my Samsung PN51D6500 3D TV and Samsung HTD5300 receiever (Home Theater In-a-Box; HTIB) last night. I was very excited and was up late last night getting everything set up.
  
  I will start by saying the the picture on this set is great. But I was very unhappy with the sound processing of the TV. I am a big fan of watching shows in HD and listening in 5.1 surround sound and that is why I bought this whole system. I even spent a day last weekend pre-wiring the family room for rear speakers, locating the subwoofer behind the couch, and running an internet connection and coax to the TV location.
  
  I have several A/V devices to hook up to the TV: WOW! HD digital cable box, PS3, Wii, old VCR and some interactive kids games. Several of these items output 5.1 Dolby Digital (surround sound) audio and I was really looking forward to being immersed in the experience. I hooked the HD / 5.1 audio devices to the TV via HDMI and ran a digital optical cable from the TV to the HTIB. THE PROBLEM is that the TV DOWN-CONVERTS the 5.1 audio to 2-channel audio before passing it to the HTIB. So all you get is 2-channel audio, and it only used the front left and front right speakers. That to me is another problem as the largest and best speaker in a 5.1 system is the center channel and that is not even being used now.
  
  I have set up many HD systems in the past and I think I know what I am doing, but I figured I was missing something here so I went to the manual. And the manual CONFIRMED that the TV will only output 2-channel audio from HDMI sources.
  
  And then, just to be sure, I called Samsung Customer Support today. I will say that they were very friendly and took them time to try and help me out. But they also ended up saying that this is just how the TV is designed. Here is an excerpt from the manual:
  
  "When the receiver (i.e Home Theater) is set to On, you can hear sound
  output from the TV's Optical jack. When the TV is displaying a DTV (over-the-air)
  signal, the TV will send out 5.1 channel sound to the receiver. When the
  source is a digital component such as a DVD player (or cable box, PS3, etc.) and is connected to the
  TV via HDMI, you will hear only 2 channel sound from the receiver."
  
  That is on page 263 of the manual at http://downloadcenter.samsung.com/content/UM/201103/20110323191523565/[ENG_US]X6ATSCA-1007.pdf
  
  I don't know, perhaps there is some technical reason for the TV to down convert 5.1 audio to 2-channel audio, but I must say that I think this is a serious design flaw and that someone at Samsung made a big mistake in how this is processed.
  
  Samsung's solution, per the manual and Customer Support, is to run the video to the TV via HDMI and run the audio directly from the A/V devices to the receiver via a Digital Optical cable:
  
  "To hear 5.1 channel audio, connect HDMI cables to your Anynet+ DVD player,
  satellite box, etc. Then, connect the DIGITAL AUDIO OUT (OPTICAL) jack on
  your DVD player, Satellite Box, etc. (i.e. Anynet + Device 1 or 2) directly to the
  Home Theater, not the TV."
  
  This is from page 259 of the manual: http://downloadcenter.samsung.com/content/UM/201103/20110323191523565/[ENG_US]X6ATSCA-1007.pdf
  
  I agree that this will work IF you have a receiver with enough Audio inputs for each device you are connecting. However, my Samsung HTIB receiver (which I bought as a package) only has 1 Digital Optical In. That means if I hook my cable box audio directly to the HTIB, then I CAN'T listen to any sound from the TV or any of my other devices through my receiver - I would have to use the TV's 2 speakers. And then, what would be the point of having a receiver and 5.1 system?????
  
  I think Samsung missed the mark badly here and if they find a way to get this 5.1 audio issue corrected, then I think they will have a winner. In the meantime, I am going to stop by my local A/V store tonight to see if they have any possible work arounds for this. And if not, then my system is going to be returned.

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  1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.

• 1 stars

  Will not turn on after 6 months & Samsung won't fix!

  by blurgor on July 14, 2012

  Pros: It used to work.

  Cons: Now it won't turn on.

  Summary: This is a known problem both on the internet and by Samsung.
  Excerpts from my live chat with Samsung Support:
  
  Sasha: Samsung has performed research on this issue and found ...

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  Summary: This is a known problem both on the internet and by Samsung.
  Excerpts from my live chat with Samsung Support:
  
  Sasha: Samsung has performed research on this issue and found that there were limited models were effected and show these symptoms.
  Sasha: Samsung has prepared a list of models that were having this issue.
  Sasha: I am sorry to inform that this model TV is not listed in the models that were effected.
  Visitor: So what you are saying is that Samsung is aware of this issue across multiple models and has done nothing to proactively contact customers to fix the issue. Is that correct?
  Sasha: I can understand your concern.
  Sasha: Samsung is offering service for the TVs that were qualified.
  Sasha: However, there were no reported issues on your model TV.
  Visitor: So now you are saying, that even though Samsung is aware that this issue has been occurring across a range of models, you refuse to fix my tv that is having this common problem because my model in not on your special list. Is that correct?
  Sasha: I am sorry; as there were no reported issues on this model TV, Samsung would not offer service for this model TV.
  Sasha: I sincerely apologize for the inconvenience.

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• 9 stars

  Great TV. Ultra Thin great Picture.

  by tekguy75 on November 28, 2011

  Pros: Size, 3D, Apps, Smart Hub, wifi

  Cons: Wifi 3D promos in smart hub wasn't great.

  Summary: Excellent tv would highly recommend this tv to everyone looking for a wifi ready, apps, and 3D TV.

  Summary: Excellent tv would highly recommend this tv to everyone looking for a wifi ready, apps, and 3D TV.

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