Strengths: + Unbelievable picture quality + Incredible image processing power + Plethora of calibration options

Weaknesses: - Quirky remote dial - Early sets may need firmware update - Attracts dust

Summary: The Samsung LN40A650A is an incredible TV and a marvel of modern technology. First and foremost the picture processing power of this television is astounding. This set includes a 50,000:1 contrast ratio as well as a blazing fast 4ms response time. Equally as important is Samsung's "Auto Motion Plus" 120hz technology which adds frames to images and eliminates motion blur in film and television. This TV is great for the fast moving action that appears on television, video games, and movies. The LN40A650A also has 1080p/24 support which, when combined with a compatible blu-ray player, brings video imagery one step closer to recreating the original photography of film. All of these processing features combined give the LN40A650A incredible clarity and detail when compared to other LCDs and it truly has to be seen to be believed. The TV offers a plethora of inputs including 3 HDMI, 2 component, VGA, and even standard composite to satisfy all sorts of connection needs. Additional features include a unique "InfoLink" feature which allows the TV to grab stock quotes, weather, sports scores, and news updates from the internet when connected to a home network through the included Ethernet port. Also of note, is the "WiseLink" feature which allows direct view of images and play of music when a USB ThumbDrive is connected to the included USB port. The appearance of the bezel even received attention with a beautiful piano black finish that includes a hint of amber color altogether making for a great accent to home decor and giving the TV an original artistic style. The TV includes a built in tuner which for my particular location picked up all local over-the-air HDTV broadcasts without a hitch. The TV also features a "signal strength" meter that helps a ton when positioning your antenna. Finally, the adjustments and calibrations that this set offers are astonishing. Each input can be separately calibrated with the standard brightness, contrast, sharpness, and color options but Samsung took this one step further and offered additional options such as HDMI black level, DNIe, Auto Motion Plus, and many more, all of which can be tweaked to your particular viewing preferences for all of your connected components. There are three minor quirks with the LN40A650A that are worth mentioning. First is that the rotating directional control on the remote takes a little getting used to but isn't necessary for proper operation. Second is that early sets were prone to a "shut-off" issue where the television would randomly turn off. Thankfully this particular issue was immediately addressed by Samsung via a very simple firmware update from Samsung's website and it is no longer an issue. Third is that the piano black bezel does like to collect dust. If this is of concern, Samsung does include a microfiber cloth in the box which can be used to wipe down the bezel. All in all the Samsung LN40A650A is a high performing top-tier LCD TV; currently one of the best on the market in its price range. The performance and features of this set are sure to please and amaze, setting this television apart from others where it matters most. I highly recommend the LN40A650A as it truly is an incredible TV and a marvel of modern technology.

Strengths: Outstanding picture, super-smooth 120Hz, Excellent configuration.

Weaknesses: None so far.

Summary: As stated in the title, the BEST 40" out there to date for the money I've come across. I can't stress enough; if you can, get one. Period.

Strengths: Amazing picture, clear, touch of color highlights the LCD, easy menu operation

Weaknesses: none

Summary: I've been shopping around for a new LCD for quite some time, after reading many reviews and speaking with many electric departments and seeing the different LCD's (compared Sony, Samsung, and Toshiba) I decided on Samsung (with Sony you're paying for the name and Toshiba didn't compete with Sony and Samsung). I had originally decided that I would be purchasing either the 4069FX or the 4071FX, but after seeing Samsung's latest - the 650 series with TOC (touch of color) I was hooked. I thought the crimson accent from the TOC was a perfect accent to my home entertainment area. With the new line up of LCD (the 650 and 750 series) the contrast ratio more than double to 50,000:1, the response time quickened to 4ms, and the 120hz processor was a must with my PS3 - not to mention 4 HDMI inputs.The hookup was relatively easy, I was able to walk through the menus and have everything up and running within 20 - 30 minutes. One could spend hours playing and fine tuning every aspect of the LCD - the menus have a lot of options and an added plus is the brief description of each icon at the bottom of the screen.I have been thoroughly impressed and blown away by the clarity, sharpness, and crispness of the display - especially when playing movies (Blu-Ray) and PS3 games on my playstation 3. My current setup is the Samsung 40a650, Onkyo SR-705, with infinity primus 7.1 surround, and Playstion 3.For anyone that is looking for an LCD I would highly recommend the Samsung 40a650 (or any of the 650 series LCD's).

Strengths: * Looks great: Burgundy bezel is fantastic!* Picture quality: Makes HD and analog channels look great! Lots of picture settings* 4 HDMI ports: Future proof* 4ms response time: Fastest in market

Weaknesses: Just one: The jog dial on the remote takes a little getting used to but once you do it's great and easy to use. So no real weaknesses. Love the set!

Summary: I bought my LN40A650 on Amazon for a low price of $1556.88 with free white glove delivery. Best deal available as of 5/11/2008. The default settings work for a great picture quality for both HD and analog channels. However I changed the energy saving from Off to Medium and adjusted the contrast, brightness, color and flesh tone settings a little to bring out a truly mind blowing picture, and this was for an international channel for which there's no HD available. So you can imagine the absolute gold quality picture I get for the HD channels. Worth every penny I spent on this set! The burgundy bezel goes great with my chocolate colored entertainment center. Looks like it all came as one custom designed package. Actually the bezel color was also a factor for me going for this model. Glad I did! The jog dial takes a little getting used to but once you do it's 100 times easier to use than pushing buttons. Just like using your iPod. I read some reviews about the panel attracting dust but in the past week I haven't seen it attract any more than my Sony so may be it just depends on where you keep the TV. Either way, it's a minor concern for the kind of technology and aesthetics you are paying for :) Before I purchased I spoke to Samsung customer care via their on line chat support to clarify some technical details and I must say I'm very impressed with their support team, so that's a big plus also when putting in this kind of money for a TV. So the bottom line: Amazon credibility + Samsung support + The best LCD technology out there = A no regrets, value for money purchase!

Strengths: picture quality, tons of configuration options, general appearance

Weaknesses: remote, audio

Summary: APPEARANCE: The set itself is a nice looking piece of equipment. The Touch of Color feature you will either love or hate. While I?d prefer the standard black exterior for better matching with any décor, the burgundy accents aren?t too intrusive.The connection panel on the back is straightforward and well organized. The plastic stand is sturdy enough that a wall mount isn?t mandatory. Indeed, for cleaning reasons, there are arguments for not doing a wall mount -- this set will attract dust.CONTROLS: Operationally, The panel itself has some surface switches for on/off, volume, and channel but they are fingerprint magnets. I stuck with the remote. The thumb wheel on the remote isn?t great, and it looks like the remote can't be programmed for other devices. For me, this means multiple remotes or a good universal after market remote.STARTUP: From the time when power-on is pressed until the set is on takes perhaps 10 seconds. While you?re waiting, the set plays a startup series of tones through the built-in speakers. The tones can be turned off.INITIAL CONFIGURATION: After starting up the set, I entered calibration values I found in an online forum, and that helped a lot. Next, the TV did a channel search. The tuner itself seems relatively sensitive. With a weak signal, it was able to pick up most of the HD broadcast signals in my area.PICTURE: Picture quality via off air HD is excellent, sometimes extraordinary. The local news broadcasters in HD pop out of the screen giving a very 3D effect. Color is very good. There are some overscan issues with some source material that may be just some adjustment issues. There were some motion artifacts that required tweaking of the AMP function to resolve. But all of these are minor issues. There is no doubt that this is really superb picture quality -- some of the best I've seen.AUDIO: How good can a couple of speakers stuck in a narrow panel be? In this case, it?s not so good. For casual use, it?s fine, but a nice A/V receiver and surround speakers would help.Overall, this is one great set. Highly recommended.

Strengths: Vibrant colors, Picture quality, nice sound

Weaknesses: remote is a little touchy

Summary: I bought my 3rd LCD Samsung and they are getting better and better. I have been going up in size and quality and this particular model is by far the best sound, best picture and best options that anyone could ask for. I just love it. Had a problem with it turning off but I downloaded the fix and installed it with Autolink and now I am thrilled with it. I don't know a lot about TV's but I do know a good picture when I see one. It is well worth the money!

Strengths: Excellent contrast, good brightness and deep black levels, minimal clouding

Weaknesses: Does not do as well in very brightly lit environments

Summary: Overall I am very satisfied with this TV. I'm not sure how different it is from the A550 series in terms of performance and I don't use the infoLink features but that doesn't stop this TV from being great. I immediately installed the newest firmware and had no problems with the TV turning on or off at all, as some had complained about before. I also had no clouding on my set.I'm not sure how big of a difference the 120Hz feature makes, I use the set mostly for gaming and can't tell much of a difference. However the picture is most clearly seen on HD sources like BluRay. So far I have watched SWAT and Pirates on it, and the TV looks fantastic. The picture is by far the best thing about this set. The sound is decent, but I'm used to true surround sound which no TV speakers can really match. All things considered, I'm very pleased with my purchase.

Strengths: Sharp picture, lots of inputs, video game mode

Weaknesses: None

Summary: The LN40A650 is a fantastic HDTV. When viewing HD content the picture is gorgeous. DVDs played through the Playstation 3 have a sharp picture and great color with dark blacks. Blu-ray discs look even better. Games on the PS3 connected with HDMI cable and on Xbox 360 connected with the green/blue/red component cables both look amazing. I'm finally able to read the small text in games like Dead Rising. With regular settings, fast moving objects can get blurry. For example in Metal Gear Solid 4, aiming reticules such as laser sights or sniper scopes will blur if you pan back and forth quickly. If you turn on the HDTV's game setting, the blurring is eliminated. Standard definition TV content connected via yellow/red/white component cables looks OK but not as good as a standard definition tv. I think this is the same for all HDTVs. I will be upgrading to HD satelite TV soon and expect the picture to improve. Overall, the LN40A650 is an excellent HDTV and I am very happy with my purchase.

Strengths: Fantastic picture quality.

Weaknesses: Expensive because its the top of the line.

Summary: This TV is for those who want and need all the bells and whistles. It has 4 HDMI outlets (if that's not enough for you then I don't know what to say!). It has a 50,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio which along with it being 120hz is why you have to pay the big bucks for this machine. If you are into gadgets and have to have the best of the best when it comes to technology this this could be the TV for you. However, if you just want a TV with a good picture save money and go with a lower priced model.

Strengths: Easy to set up and has an awesome picture quality

Weaknesses: The speakers are its weakest link. They face downward thus they are not loud

Summary: The most exciting thing is being able to change the quality of the picture or sound without having to go into a full blow menu. The touch ot color is the eye catcher.

Strengths: good quality, nice picture, good amount of HDMI ports

Weaknesses: audio quality isn't great, remote control is a bit different

Summary: This is quite a nice TV set, I've had good luck with Samsung products lately and this is no different. I can't say if the 120hz helps much, but it must be doing something as I don't see any smearing or other odd picture issues. There are a lot of picture-tweaking options in the menus to play with for hours. Audio quality isn't great and never seems to be on flat screen TVs unless you get a special one with upgraded audio components (likely more expensive). I don't mind the audio quality much for now, but others might. Remote control has a circular device in the center that allows you to "spin" through options in the on-screen menus. It works fine but it does take a bit to get used to, almost seems like you have to put pressure on the circular part first, then you can spin the dial through the menu. Inputs are plentiful on this thing, and you can always get additional HDMI ports by buying a switcher. There are not a ton of traditional "old school" inputs (like RCA) but you probably won't be using those as we continue into the future. If I run into issues I will update this review.

Strengths: Numerous HDMI inputs. Superb picture quality. Great contrast. Good sound quality - although I have mine hooked up to a separate speaker system.

Weaknesses: Does not turn on instantly. It takes around 5-10sec to get fully functional. I have it connected to an Onkyo A/V receiver with which it works very well.Touch of Color. Red

Summary: Overall, I recommend this television to anyone. I would have gotten a larger one, but none larger would fit in my armoire (wife wouldn't let me get a new tv stand).

Strengths: Swivel stand, produce less heat & power than plasma.

Weaknesses: Out of focus sharpness, flashlight, purple haze, clouding, laggy for 120hz set, stuttering fast foward AMP feature, cheapy design, blind touch screen & price.

Summary: This HDTV is the worst major purchase I ever made. Why you ask, my other hdtv Panasonic 720P 60hz 42 inch plasma?s picture is 10 time better than this TV(did compare side by side) and much cheaper. And it display closed caption properly on both SDTV and HDTV mode whilst this TV can?t display CC on SDTV mode. My 60hz plasma display picure motion is way smooth than this laggy 120hz set. Right now my TV about 2 week old and already have a flashlight issue on three corner which I just found out that is common on this model. Go buy this TV if you want out of focus picture, purple haze, flashlight with loose bezel on the corner of your frame. It is impossible to find touch screen button on front of your set. I still can?t believe I pay $1,400 for this set compare to my old plasma set. I wish I went out and bought a plasma HDTV instead of this Samsung garbage. The only best thing about this purchase is fast smooth shipping by Buydig.

Strengths: Price, Picture Quality, Tons of connections

Weaknesses: Remote Control

Summary: Some sites mention these samsungs have poor audio quality, but I have not had a problem with them. The remote control on the other hand seems to lag on any button you want to press. The 120hz and 1080p makes watching TV and especially blurays extremely smooth (maybe too smooth?). For example, during a chase seen in Kiss of the Dragon, vehicles appear to glide, as if on ice, during accelerations and turns. There are options however in the menu that allow you to control your AutoMotion sensitivity. The set is visually pleasing to look at while off, and for those on the fence by being turned off by the Touch of Color, the red is actually a deep red that almost blends into the frame anyways. At first, I was also displeased at Samsung's ToC, but when looking at it from a distance in stores and at home, one would barely even notice it. I feel for what it's worth, this is the best bang for the buck series of LCDs on the market today.

Strengths: very bright/vibrant picture, natural color reproduction, sleek footprint, nice shape , many inputs

Weaknesses: price

Summary: I just moved to a new house and purchased this TV for my living room. I surveyed so many models on line.The final decision is Samsung LN40A650. I have to say if you can buy it you will not regret it . Actually, I have another Sony 40XBR5 at dining room! Samsung's picture quality is astounding and looks extremely realistic compared with Sony. Especially the dark level. If you are considering to buy Sony XBR now, try to go to BB or CC to take a look to see how different is between Samsung A650 and Sony XBR5.Do not hesitate to get one if you can afford it. The price difference is well worth the better picture!