The problems you're describing seem to be inherent to LCD technology in general. Looking at the Canada Samsung site, the 530 and 550 seem to have the same contrast ratio, by the way. A 650, on the other hand, does have an improved contrast ratio (though it has a glossy screen).
Anyway, off-angle viewing is a general problem with LCDs -- most sets give you some washing out past 30 degrees off angle, so if you can make it to 60 degrees, that's pretty good.
LCDs' black levels have gotten better, and I think in a normally lit room, they're sufficient, but if you watch your TV in a really dark room, you'll see that the blacks aren't really black. Again, it's a pretty common problems with LCDs.
The gray in the corners is also known as flashlighting, and again it's pretty common for LCDs. Sometimes they improve with time, sometimes they don't -- if it really bothers you, your best bet is to return/exchange the TV.
Just like anything else, LCD and plasma have their strengths and weaknesses. If you have a dark room, care very much about viewing angles and screen uniformity, and don't mind the weaknesses of plasma, then plasma may be a better match up for you.
Hi !
I bought a LN40A530 2 days ago. and i am quite disapointed.
I went from a 32HS500 (1080i ready trinitron HD from Sony) and the black level is not what i was waiting for. At the dealer store, the panel was great and at home, it's a different game.
I did calibrate the HDMI input using AVIA DVD yesterday evening. after calibration, I have some grayish corners when watching a 2.35:1 movie. (Blue ray)... when I have an angle more that 60 degrees, black is more a gray than a black and colors are bleaching a little. This appears because I did reduce the brightness : is it a trouble of uniformity of the backlight ?
Well, i would like to know if i would be happier with a 550 (contrast ratio is better) or if i need to wait one or two weeks to see if this "grey corner" effect disapears ?
when using the TV with dynamic black to off, is it saying that i'm using the native contrast ratio wich may be 2500:1... will it do the same with the 550 ?
my model is a canadian LN40A530P1FXZC version AA10 (spetember 200![]()
thank you
I need advices from a real samsung guy... maybe a Plasma would be better for me as my room is quite dark.
thanks again.
Yann

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