Samsung LN55A950 LCD TV — The Total Package
Posted by hdtv buying guide on May 21, 2009 under HDTV Reviews, LCD HDTV, LED HDTV, Samsung | 
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If you were making a checklist of all of the features you were looking for in a new high-definition television, it might go something like this: 1080p resolution, a panel capable of creating bright, vivid colors, internet capability and an Energy Star certification.
Those features — and quite a few more — are in the Samsung LN55A950, which retails for $3,999.99. The LN55A950 has a 55-inch panel and is loaded with the best technology Samsung has to offer. As a bonus, it can usually be found for several hundred dollars less than retail from both online and brick-and-mortar retailers.
The biggest technology jump in the LN55A950 is its LED (light-emitting diode) backlighting. Rather than the standard cold-cathode florescent lamp (CCFL), the LN55A950 has an array of white LED lamps behind the screen. That allows for higher contrast levels, and therefore more detailed pictures.
The LN55A950 panel also runs at 120Hz and uses Samsung’s Motion Plus system, which promises to eliminate blur in high-action scenes. Because it is LED-powered, it uses less power than a CCFL-fired panel.
Internet connectivity options make the LN55A950 a versatile performer as well. With DLNA (which requires an add-on module), the television can be used to access and view content stored on computers and other networked devices. Also, Samsung’s InfoLink system can display streaming content from USA Today, as well as customized local feeds.
For additional content, the LN55A950 has a built-in trove full of things like games for children, a recipe book and fitness exercises. The content gallery can also be edited and expanded with your own pictures or recipes.
Plus, the LN55A950 has a USB jack on the side, which can be used to plug in digital cameras or personal music players. That means high-definition photos from DSLR cameras can be displayed in a large format, and music on an iPod can be piped through the speakers with ease.
Unlike many other flat-panel televisions, the LN55A950 has received decent reviews on its built-in speakers. For at television at this price, you’d still want to hook it up to a quality home theater system, but for quiet viewing, it should do well.
If there’s any complaint about the LN55A950, it could be the price. $4,000 is a lot to pay for a television. But with the picture quality and connectivity options of the LN55A950, it could be well worth the extra money for years to come.
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