This is a top-notch TV with superior picture quality. I got pretty much the last one before the new ones with 3D capabilities came out, but the basic TV should still be the same (I have LG 50PB6550), and I cannot stand 3D anyway.
I tried to get it straight from Adorama, but they recognized my IP address and automatically charged me shipping, although I am a VIP member. So I ordered it from Amazon (still shipped from Adorama); Amazon did not charge shipping. It was supposed to arrive after 3 weeks with normal shipping, but that was not true. It actually arrived just 6 days after BlackFriday. I had the same positive surprise with Adorama before, where my MacBook Pro came very early and therefore made it on my trip to Europe! For the TV delivery, UPS told me "at the end of the day", which turned out to mean 1:45pm!! So they delivered again the next day, and then I was fortunate enough to be able to be present in the early afternoon.
Setup was relatively easy; I did it without any help. The TV weighs 66lbs, so some may need help. It was, however, significantly lighter than my old Sony Trinitron. Philipps screwdriver standard is required. I put the TV on the couch for attaching the stand.
Once the TV is switched on, it will guide you through installation. I attached it to my DirecTV receiver via HDMI. No channels were recognized, so I went online for a chat with DirecTV. That worked immediately; I was reminded to reset the (DirecTV)receiver, which is located behind a panel. Once this was done, the TV came on without any problems.
Functionality: I will test the 600Hz refresh rate tomorrow with soccer games, but everything else is just stunning. I set all low frequencies to a low level with the TV remote, so that action movies at night will not disturb my girlfriend. I usually had to keep the sound level up in order to understand the dialog, but when music came up it was so loud that she started screaming. Hopefully this problem has been solved. Pretty much everything can be adjusted with the TV remote. I set the color space to movie, because that is still the nicest on the eyes, but manual adjustments are likely in the future. I do not have LGs magic remote, so I have to change channels and some settings with the DirecTV remote and sound and some other settings with the LG TV remote. O well, I can live with it, but maybe I will buy the magic remote.
Smart functionalities: They simply don't work together with DirecTV. I have HBO, so i really don't care, but I tried anyway. Webbrowser? Forget it. The only thing of use to me is AmazonPrime, and that app does not work at all. In fact, by playing around with the Smart options, I had to reset the TV several times. Now I think that probably was avoidable, but Smart still does not work. Or maybe it will work for anyone with a Netflix account, but again, I don't care. Fortunately I own the said MacBook Pro; connecting the TV to the laptop with a second HDMI cable takes no time; the TV recognizes the second cable, and I can simply use the TV screen as a monitor. Should be fun for large tables, but mostly it means I can play Amazon (or any other) video content (or any other app) straight on the TV. I therefore purchased a 15foot HDMI cable for 11$ at Amazon. Smart functionality in this way comes straight from the computer, but that is not why I bought the TV. I am sure pictures can be watched directly on the TV, too, via the 3 USB ports, or from the laptop connection. If I wanted any more Smart capabilities, I would buy a Roku (ca. 100$), but I have no need for it.
By pressing on the DirecTV res button (ca. 2 seconds), the resolution on the screen is changed directly. It will cycle up to 1080i, but not 1080p. However, in the DirecTV settings is is clearly visible that the TV supports 1080p. So it is DirecTV that cheats. I don't know about cable and what they do resolution-wise, but they will not see me again, if I can avoid it.
So to summarize: The Plasma TV fulfills all what I wanted, and more. It is relatively easy to set up, and it has just stunning picture quality. It is necessary to play with the sound and color settings (in my opinion), and the connection to other devices functions without any problems. It sucks as a Smart TV (at least for AmazonPrime), but that's not why I got it, and the problem can be solved via a laptop or a Roku (or maybe it works for Netflix).
Overall, I am so glad to have gotten the TV. The girlfriend is currently watching and has forgiven me for past mistakes. She also loves a 50inch Plasma TV.
| Brand Name | LG |
|---|---|
| Item Weight | 66 pounds |
| Package Dimensions | 51.5 x 32 x 8.5 inches |
| Item model number | 50PB6650 |
| Color Name | Black |
| Special Features | Flat |
| Standing screen display size | 50 Inches |
| Aspect Ratio | 16:9 |
