Plasma TV's have been retreating from LCDs to the safety of sizes larger than 50-inches, but emboldened LCDs are striking into that territory as well. Embarking on recon from CEDIA is Samsung's LN65B650, a 65-inch behemoth sporting a 4ms response time, 120-Hz Auto Motion Plus frame interpolation, Medi@2.0 connectivity, and Samsung's Touch of Color treatment in grey. All the latest wizardry, you say? Not quite -- it's CCFL backlit; but even without LEDs -- the LN65B650 is probably too big for edge-lighting to cover, and would take roughly a gazillion LEDs to backlight directly -- the real plasma killer here might be the little check mark in the "Energy Star qualified" box. The $6,000 price (and we'd guess ultimate picture quality, too) means that biggie-sized plasmas are safe for now, but we know how prices and performance go with time. Full details on this beast after the break.
ATLANTA, Ga. – September 10, 2009 – Today at CEDIA EXPO 2009 (Booth #925) Samsung Electronics America, Inc., a market leader and award-winning innovator in consumer electronics, announced availability for its latest CCFL-backlit LCD TV– the 65" LCD 650 Series (LN65B650) with 1080p resolution. The latest entry in the LCD 650 Series TVs will deliver Auto Motion Plus™ 120Hz refresh rate, fast 4ms response time for motion clarity and high dynamic contrast ratios for deeper, more natural blacks. The LN65B650 will also include expansive networking and connectivity capabilities including Samsung's Medi@2.0 Suite, the unique Touch of Color™ design, and it will meet the latest Energy Star® qualifications.

The Samsung booth will also showcase additional products designed for the true HD and home entertainment aficionado at the show, including the recently announced 8500 Series LED TV. In addition, CEDIA attendees can check out the latest line of Samsung Blu-ray players (BD-P1600, BD-P3600 and BD-P4600) that feature Netflix, Pandora, and YouTube™ streaming capabilities, as well as the new HT-BD8200 Blu-ray Soundbar, the latest Blu-ray Home Theater Systems (HT-BD7200, HT-BD3252 and HT-BD1250), and the HT-WS1 Soundbar. Samsung is located at Booth #925 at CEDIA EXPO 2009, just inside Main Entrance #3 in Building C.

"We are excited to showcase a variety of our offerings this year at CEDIA, which we feel are ideal for the custom installer or enthusiast looking to build the ultimate HD experience," said Tim Baxter, co-president of the Consumer Electronics Division, at Samsung Electronics America. "From our new 65" LCD 650 Series TV and latest LED TV's, to our Blu-ray players with network streaming capabilities and Blu-ray Home Theater Systems, we're aiming to set a high bar for delivering innovative technologies along with sleek design."

Enhanced Picture Quality
The newest member of the LCD 650 Series TV family will utilize Samsung's proprietary Auto Motion Plus™ 120Hz frame-interpolation technology, partnered with a quick 4ms response time, to reduce blurring caused by fast movement shown onscreen. Advanced users can also customize how Auto Motion Plus handles judder and motion blur to suit their taste. The LN65B650's Ultra Clear Panel technology creates a vibrant picture by enhancing colors and reducing glare, even in rooms with a lot of ambient light. The Wide Color Enhancer 3 ensures accurate reproduction of colors with shows, movies, games and more, regardless of the viewing environment.

Connectivity and Content
The 2009 LCD 650 Series TVs (40-inch class and larger) come equipped with the new Samsung Medi@2.0 suite of multimedia features. Ready for both wired and wireless connectivity, the LCD 650 Series TVs offer access to a breadth of content via the Internet@TV - Content Service, built-in Content Library, DLNA and USB 2.0 ports to play movies and more. Internet@TV delivers access to Internet content from Yahoo!, Flickr, YouTube, and more while watching TV via easy-to-use TV widgets. The smart, user-friendly USB 2.0 interface makes it easy to share and view media files on your TV from a digital camera, MP3 player, or even a thumb drive.

A New Touch of Color™
The LN65B650 further distinguishes itself with a Touch of Color, or ToC™, design, which is produced through a dual-injection molding process that luxuriously coats a translucent surface over the frame for a premium look. The 65" includes a two-tone gradation of a stylish gray tone color along the curve of the bottom edge, with transparent color finishing along the bezel's outer edges.

Energy Friendly In Any Home
As with all of Samsung's LCD 650 Series TVs, the LN65B650 features low power consumption, meeting Energy Star® v3.0 efficiency guidelines and saving energy and money for the consumer. Additionally, the dual-injection process used to create the unique ToC bezel design is done so without the need for sprays, paints or dyes, which typically release Volatile Organic Chemicals (VOCs).

Specifications -- LCD 650 Series TV – LN65B650
Screen Size
· 65-inch

Resolution
· Full HD 1080p

Design
· Touch of Color™ (ToC™) with gray accents
· Crystal neck swivel stand

Video
· 100,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio
· 4ms response time
· Auto Motion Plus™ 120Hz frame interpolation Ultra Clear Panel
· Wide Color Enhancer 3

Audio
· 15-watts x 2 (55-inch class) SRS TruSurround HD™

Features
· Medi@2.0™
· Internet@TV - Content Service with Yahoo! Widget Engine
· Content Library ™ (1GB flash memory)
· USB 2.0 Movie with MPEG4, DivX, MP3, JPEGdecoders
· DLNA-CERTIFIED™ for wired / wireless access (USB dongle for wireless sold separately)
· Energy Star® v3.0 compliant
· Built-in ATSC/Clear QAM digital tuner
· Picture-in-Picture

A/V Connections
· 4 HDMI (HDMI-CEC) version 1.3 inputs (3 rear, 1 side) (32-inch class and larger)
· 2 component inputs (2 rear)
· 2 composite inputs (1 side, 1 rear, shared with component)
· 2 USB 2.0 inputs (side)
· 1 Ethernet connection (rear)
· 1 optical audio output (rear)
· 1 PC input (rear)
· 1 RS232C (rear)

Estimated Selling Price
· $5,999.99

Availability
· September 2009