Samsung 490 Series 43" 3D Plasma TV Review

The Samsung 490 Series 3D plasma television may be the key on your search for a budget friendly 3D television. With a slim 2.2" profile, SRS theater sound, 600 Hz subfield motion and 3 HDMI inputs means you can make the leap to 3D for only $550.

What You Need to Know

• The Samsung D490 3D plasma TV has a 43" screen and measures only 2.2" deep.
• The TV also features a reduced bezel, which gives more screen real estate.
• The D490 weighs about 40 lbs which means it's wall mountable.
• There are 3 HDMI inputs but only on one side.
• We wish there were more available.
• There are also 2 component and PC inputs on the back.
• The Samsung plasma TV also has built in speakers on the bottom and an SRS theater sound feature, which sounds surprisingly great.
• The sounds are crisp and the highs are really good.
• There's no distortion when you crank up the volume.
• The SRS theater surround sound feature works and makes this a great TV for a small room.
• There's also a USB Connect Share feature to watch your media.
• The USB port is along the side, which is convenient, allowing users to play music, view images and watch video files.
• In 2D, the Samsung TV displays in 720p with bright colors that are a bit grainy.
• The blacks are deep but the display is glossy.
• The 600 Hz subfield motion smooths out action scenes.
• The 3D capabilities are pretty good: it requires Active 3D glasses, which you'll have to charge between usage.
• The 3D images look sharp with no ghost, but prolong viewing may give you a headache.
• Best Buy has a current promotion where you can get two free pairs of glasses with the purchase of a 3D TV, which is a $100 value.

Price

• $550 from Best Buy, including the 3D glasses.

Rating

• 4 Seals of Approval out of 5. (How do we rate gadgets?)
• If it wasn't for the current price and promotion, we would have rated this Samsung TV a 3 out of 5.
• If you're looking for a 3D TV, you can't beat this price or deal with the 3D glasses.

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