Samsung LN46A550 LCD HDTV

User-friendly and a certified eye candy - two reasons why this TV set is an excellent choice.

Except for some minor problems like images that are lacking in fine detail and a user's manual isn't completely helpful, the Samsung LN46A550 is almost a complete package. It is easy to see that this TV is almost perfect.

First up is an image test. We scouted nine 46- and 47-inch high definition sets and among these it is the one from Samsung that got attention. This set particularly got a high rating for its how it displays Blu-ray movies. The set makes pictures look like they've come straight from 35mm print as shown when we viewed Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. Vizio's VO47LF and the Syntax-Brillian's Olevia 747i followed the ratings of the Samsung.

Speaking of audio, the TV's audio system isn't primed for a high-end sound experience. But if you're in for talk and regular shows, then the set's audio will just be fine and you can omit the surround sound stereo. However, if you prefer to listen to deafening sounds in your movies, an external amplifier can easily be used to improve the sound quality.

Yes, this Samsung LCD TV is easy to use. It has an icon-based on-screen menu that can be understood easily. Need help? Then there's an explanation about the menu as well. When you need to check up on options for the current input, all you need to do is to access the separate tools button on the remote control.

This works just like your PC's mouse. There's more:; when you need to play a connected device, the easy-to-use LN46A550 instantly switches the input to that source. A major feature of the Samsung is the convenience factor. Many of the controls that need to be used can be used automatically, without the need of a few extra steps.

One of the only problems that you will find involves the remote control. It has backlit buttons that are large enough to be viewed by almost everyone. However if you like the picture in picture option and use it frequently, you will have to go through the menu option each time - there are no buttons assigned to it. Another issue with the remote is that you cannot use it to control other electronics such as a VCR because there is no way to program it.

The set-up guide and bilingual manual is supposed to facilitate that easy set-up. But the opposite happens. The guide is difficult to comprehend for the non-techie person and the manual is long and too complicated. While the price of some flat screen TV's are too high due to a bad product, the Samsung offers enough options to justify the price.

So why is the LN46A550 such a good buy at $1500? That's because of its features. Its USB port is helpful when you want to view pictures and listen to music. On the side of the set are the easy-to-access HDMI, S-Video and the USB. Want to change the angle of the set for viewing pleasure? Then you can do that as well, as the set can swivel on its stand. Reasons such as these help make the set a well-rounded HDTV and a winner.