0ur opinion: :Experience the next generation of HD television in all its glory The SAMSUNG LN40A550 has an incredible 30,000:1 contrast ratio that delivers the sharpest, most realistic picture quality you've ever seen. Full 1080p HD resolution offers amazing image detail, all on a 40-inch screen. Enjoy crystal-clear, lifelike HD sound, with SRS TruSurround XT. Want to get more entertainment out of your TV than movies and shows? With the Wiselink USB connection, you can easily and quickly hook up your MP3 player or digital camera and entertain family and friends with a photo slideshow set to music. SAMSUNG LN40A550 makes your high-definition dreams a reality. lt's advanced HD entertainment, only from Samsung.
Manufacturer's Description--March 24, 2008:Samsung's 550 Series is a perfect way to step up to Full HD 1080presolution. A fast 5 ms response rate produces smooth-motion scenes for sports and action movies, and a dynamic contrast ratio of 30,000:1 makes for deep blacks and crisp lines (15,000:1 in 32-inch and 37-inch models). Superb connectivity and networking with a USB port and 3 HDMl 1.3 ports with Consumer Electronics Control (CEC) means these HDTVs play well with all of your other electronics. Easily enjoy MPEG and JPEG files stored on external devices by connecting through the side-mounted USB 2.0, turn your LCD into a full-scale home viewing gallery, or connect your MP3 player for a dynamic audio experience.
Key Features
- New -- 30,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio: up from 15,000:1 on 2007 models (15,000 on 32-inch and 37-inch models) (Learn more)
- New -- Fast 5ms response time: down from 8ms on 2007 models thanks to a new high-speed liquid crystal
- Full 1080p HD (Learn more)
- 178-degree viewing angle from all four axes with Super Patterned Vertical Alignment (Learn more)
- 3 HDMl 1.3 ports: Simplay compliant (Learn more)
- USB 2.0 port: connect devices directly to your HDTV--view JPEG photos or MPEG movies or easily listen to your MP3 player through your HDTV's audio system or your home theater system
- DNle Digital Natural lmage Engine improves the picture by enhancing the contrast, detail, and white balance (Learn more)
- Hidden speakers with SRS TruSurround XT audio (Learn more)
- Wide Color Enhancer technology and Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamp (CCFL) offer a wider color range (Learn more)
- Picture-in-Picture (PlP) enables convenient simultaneous viewing of TV programs and video or PC sources
- V-Chip system allows blocking of rated TV and movie programs determined by the parent to contain objectionable content.
- Trilingual on-screen displays in English, Spanish or French.
- Variable sleep timer to turn the TV off in varying time intervals.
- Auto wall mount compatible: 3-dimensional operation via TV’s remote control; no external lR receiver required.
- Swivel stand included
- 1 year parts and 1 year labor warranty (90 days parts and labor for commercial use), with in-home service, backed by Samsung toll-free support
Step Up Features
- Series 6: 50,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, AutoMotion Plus 120Hz image interpolation for smoother motion, 4ms response time, Transparent and 0paque Color (T0C) bezel, Clear Panel, Ethernet port with lnfolink free RSS feeds, 4 HDMl 1.3 ports, Sports and Game modes, Compatible with Samsung's Home Digital Media Adapter for playback and navigation of lnternet and stored PC multimedia
- Series 7: lnternal flash memory (1GB) with pre-loaded interactive content such as cooking recipes, children's entertainment, HD artwork and more, lntegrated woofer for an enhanced audio experience, DLNA-Compatible: for better interoperability with electronics, computers and mobile devices from many different manufacturers
- Series 8: super-slim 1.9-inch thick profile
What size TV should you get?
Learn More
Full HD 1080P
 | Full HD, or 1080p, contains 1.5 times more scanning lines than conventional HD TVs. More scanning lines mean more pixels, more details and a better picture. The new Samsung LCD TV with resolution that is approximately 2 times greater than conventional HDTVs, creating the most perfect picture imaginable. Samsung’s 1080p panel uses a new high-speed liquid crystal to cut response time to 4ms. The fast response time, coupled with Samsung’s Auto Motion Plus 120Hz motion blur reduction technology dramatically reduces motion blur and judder.
| 
|
30,000:1 Dynamic Contrast Ratio/500 nit Brightness
 | 30,000:1 Dynamic Contrast Ratio will give you a picture better than you ever thought possible, with whiter whites, blacker blacks and a nearly infinite subtlety of gradations in between. As two of the most important determining factors in overall picture quality, contrast and brightness levels achieve new heights in this latest generation LCD panel. Samsung’s new LCD TV’s give the most stunning realistic picture quality ever.
|
 | DNle The Samsung Digital Natural lmage engine. This exclusive Samsung technology dramatically improves the picture by enhancing the contrast, detail, white balance and reduces.
| 
|
The NTSC (National Television Systems Committee) has established the color standards all TVs in America try to meet. And typical LCD TVs only meet about 72% of this standard. Samsung LCD HDTVs use Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamp back lights to give you 92% coverage of the NTSC standard, ensuring truer, more breathlessly vivid colors. Samsung’s exclusive Wide Color Enhancer technology delivers more brilliant colors, even in bright areas of the picture where blues and greens are washed out on conventional screens. The system displays wider color reproduction, showing you truer colors – the fresh green of spring foliage, the intense blue of the summer sky. |
 |  |  |  |

| To make the Series 6 a true entertainment hub for any home, Samsung has incorporated advanced HD connectivity and networking capabilities that expand the HDTV’s functionality. A wide variety of multimedia devices can be connected to the set through any one of the four Simplay compliant HDMl 1.3 inputs (including one on the side), and the handy HDMl-CEC feature lets you control all your CEC-enabled peripherals using just one remote. Connect HD digital devices like disc players, game consoles, and satellite dish components into the 2 rear connections and use the side-mounted input for cameras, camcorders, and laptops. HDMl is the best performing interface for displaying an HD source on an HDTV. 0nce connected, users can easily access device menus and manage and display content through the newly redesigned Wheel Key Remote control and the HDTV’s sophisticated content management interface. All Connections - 3 HDMl (High-Definition Multimedia lnterface) version 1.3: (2 rear/1 side)
- Component video: 2 rear (Y, Pb, Pr)
- Composite inputs: 1 rear (shared with component) / 1 side
- S-Video: 1 side
- PC input: 1 rear
- Wiselink (USB 2.0)
- RF antenna inputs
- Headphone jack: side
|

| Samsung’s Super Patterned Vertical Alignment (SPVA) panel provides a 178-degree viewing angle from all four axes |
TruSurround is a patented SRS technology that solves the problem of playing 5.1 multichannel content over two speakers. TruSurround delivers a compelling, virtual surround sound experience through any two-speaker playback system, including internal television speakers and headphones. lt is fully compatible with all multichannel formats up to 5.1 channels. High-quality virtual surround sound can be experienced with just the two hidden, downward-firing side-mounted 2.2-channel dome speakers built into the TV.
SRS TruSurround XT technology delivers an amazing, simulated 3D effect with clear dialog and powerful bass.
TruSurround XT audio also adds three audio enhancement technologies to produce an amazingly immersive sound experience.
- Dialog Clarity brings movie dialog into Focus during the playback of any surround-encoded material to make speech much clearer and crisper.
- TruBass creates incredible deep rich bass allowing a person to perceive significantly deeper, richer low bass tones that are far beyond the physical low frequency capabilities of the speaker itself.
- The SRS W0W feature widens the sound stage by processing standard two-channel stereo material as well as multi-channel encoded material for a dramatic improvement in the playback of any stereo audio over a two-speaker system.
Stereo broadcast reception is offered for MTS and SAP with 181-channel capacity. A sound leveler keeps audio volume consistent during channel changing.

| With standard-definition TVs, the rule used to be that viewers would feel comfortable watching a set from a distance of 3 to 6 times the screen size in inches. With HDTV, the resolution is so much better that you can sit closer to a larger TV without noticing the pixels. So with HDTVs, the rule tends to be you can sit anywhere from 1.5 to 3 times the screen size (in inches) for the best experience. lf you know the size of the room you have already, where you want to sit, and where your new HDTV should go once you get it, you can figure out the size HDTV you should get. - Minimum size = Viewing distance/3
- Maximum size=Viewing distance/1.5
|
Some more accessories for this product for you:
click 4 more
Some more accessories for this product for you:
Piece Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
We found more related products for you:
click 4 more
We found more related products for you:
Testimonials
Average Buyer Rating:

Buyer's feedback: 
-
* Great display but frustrating experience ...
I had done a lot of searching and for this price range this is the best looking display I have found. Some other displays that I looked at handle motion and de-interlacing better than the Samsung, but to me the difference was not enough to justify the higher prices. The sound however is really horrible. Like others, I saw this in other reviews and thought how bad can it be? It's really bad. You don't have to be an audiophile to notice the lack of bass and hollow feeling coming from the speakers.
Dealing with CEVA for delivery had to be the most difficult part of my purchase. They never contacted me to arrange for delivery and I came home one day to find a notice on my door that they had attempted delivery and to call them. They would not deliver on the weekends and I had to arrange for a friend to meet them because I could not get home from work within their delivery hours. After enjoying my new TV for three days the thing just died. The status lights came on but no picture. After about 10 minutes of troubleshooting I called Samsung support. They seemed to know right away what the problem was and that it would require a service call. I had to call another company to arrange for service but the only appointment I could make was weeks away. At this point I had had enough and called amazon and told them I was returning it. On Sunday morning I decided I was not going to be denied another Sunday of football in HD so I drove to Best Buy, got them to match Circuit City's price which was about $130 more than amazon, put it in my car, drove home and set it up. The entire process took less than an hour. I then had to call CEVA and arrange for pick up of the dead TV; the earliest they could come was two weeks later on a Saturday and they could only tell me some time between 10am and 5pm. The Friday before they called to say they could not come on the weekend. I now have to take a day off from work to stay home and wait for them to come pick this up.
I have purchased Samsung TVs and monitors before and have always had good luck with them so I was surprised by the dud that I got. But I did end up purchasing the same model and I am very happy with it. I would never again order something from amazon that requires delivery from CEVA. If you don't have a job and can stay home all day to wait for delivery you can save some money, but for me the ability to deal with a brick and mortar store in the evenings or weekends is worth the extra money that I paid.
Buyer's feedback: 
-
Samsung LCD HD TV
Everything was as advertised. The picture is better than I had hoped. HDMI cable gives a crystal clear picture. Amazon rep unpacked and set up the TV and hooked everything up and made sure it worked before he left. Dedlivery was fast. No complaints
Buyer's feedback: 
-
* Great TV ...
This is the first HDTV I've owned. I've had it for about a month now, and I'm still blown away by it. Only downside is I find myself watching TV just to be blown away by the amazing picture. USB thing is pretty cool, too.
Buyer's feedback: 
-
A 10 as far as I am concerned
Best picture I have ever seen. I cannot express the excitement and joy I am feeling. Wow! I highly recommend purchasing. Also the price was outstanding for what you get.
Buyer's feedback: 
-
* Great Tv ...
Works great. Speaker are a bit poor but I run it thru a Yamaha AV via Hdmi so dont really care.
Picture is great on my old Dvd player via S video.
Direct TV HD connected as well via hdmi.
Logitech remote takes care of any issues with the supplied one so I havent noticed any startup time issues.
Over the air digital signal pickup was very good.