Samsung 50" PN50B530 1080p Plasma HDTV + Samsung HT-Z320 5.1 DVD/DivX Home Theater System $776 Or $753

After your tv is delivered, go HERE for setup, questions, calibration, etc.
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If you have ordered this combo, please answer this poll.

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Orders have started to ship. Some people have received the TV and HT. Enjoy...mupals
Please enter your shipping information here :Google Spreadsheet: http://spreadsheets.google.com/cc...3UGc&hl=en
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To check shipping status from Pilot (vendor):
here's how you can get your tracking number if your order has shipped from Pilot (likely so if it shipped 12/3):

-Go to your order status page from your email confirmation.
-Click 'Invoices' and log in.
-Copy your 'Waybill number' and paste under 'Quick Track' at http://www.pilotair.com/ and search. You can also call them at 866-421-0982.

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Link to optical cable to connect TV to HT to get audio from 5.1 HT...
You probably want the 6 ft one:
http://www.monoprice.com/products...1&format=2
Link to 3 ft cable (kinda short):
http://www.monoprice.com/products...1&format=1

Question: can you use regular RCA cables to connect from TV-out to HT-in and still get 5.1 surround? Or will that only give me 2.1? Do I HAVE to get optical cable for 5.1?
Answer: yes, you need an optical cable (TOSLINK) to get 5.1 sound from the TV-out. RCA cables will only give you stereo sound.
But please note that some TV broadcasts are still only in stereo (2.1), not 5.1. In this case, even if you do hook up the TOSLINK optical audio cable from the TV-out to HT-in, you will only hear it coming out of the front left and right speakers.


Note that this TV definitely does NOT have a PC input/VGA/D-sub. The description in the front page is WRONG! Q&A section on samsung's website confirms this:
http://www.samsung.com/us/consume...&tab=forum

Calibration Settings [plasmatvbuyingguide.com]

Quote : "HDMI black level" should be set to normal, otherwise you will lose important shadow detailing. Colour space should be set auto in order to prevent the TV from using a extended colour gamut resulting in too saturated and unnatural colours.

Quote : Plasma Break-In Like a fine new automobile, the performance of a plasma TV can be optimized by allowing a break-in period. By properly following these simple break-in instructions, you should be rewarded with long-term enjoyment of your plasma TV. Plasma phosphors are most susceptible to image retention in the first hundred hours of use. The panel becomes considerably less sensitive to burn-in after this period. Very often, televisions, including plasma, are shipped from the factory with the contrast control at a high setting to provide a bright picture under typical dealer showroom lighting conditions. In your home, the room light levels are usually one half or less than that in retail showrooms. The contrast control may need to be lowered in your home for comfortable contrast levels that do not induce eye strain. When the plasma is initially installed, videophiles say it is best to do the following: * Make sure the display is in a viewing mode (aspect ratio) that completely fills the screen (there are often three or more settings from which to choose). * Turn down the picture control (contrast) to 50% or less. * Briefly engage the 4:3 mode to confirm the side bars are set to mid-gray (there is usually an adjustment in the Set Up menu that takes the sidebars from black to gray) to minimize the chance of burn-in. * Return the set to a “full screen” (Just, Zoom, Full) position during the first hundred hours of use. * During the first hundred hours of use it is best not to view the same channel for extended periods. This should prevent channel logos and other fixed images found on some channels from being retained. * Avoid any static images (video games, computer images, DVD title screens, etc.) during the hundred-hour break-in. After the hundred-hour break-in period, during the next nine-hundred hours: * Continue to retain the picture setting at 50% or less. * Limit the use of 4:3 aspect ratio mode (traditional picture size that does not fill the entire screen) to 15% of viewing time. * Limit the use of static images (computer, video games, etc.) to less than 10% of viewing time. After one-thousand viewing hours, panels are much less likely to experience image burn-in.

From the AVS forums, here's a free break-in disc! [avsforum.com] It is recommended you do this step because it can reduce your risk of burn-in.

Should you want to do your own calibration, here's the free AVSForum calibration disc in multiple formats. [avsforum.com] Download, burn to dvd, and enjoy!

but WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO CHANGE IT TO A/B560??? (below)
It seems (according to the AVS forums) that you can turn this one into an "A/B560":
Credits to "pbc" at the AVS for the following info and settings:
To get into the service menu; Make sure that the TV is fully off then press the following on your remote:Mute, then 1-8-2 followed by power on your remote
Once in the Service Menu, press enter on options. On the next screen go to model and simply select A560. REMEMBER: all your settings will now be factory default.

From Samsung Website:
A: There are a few differences between the B550 and the B530 Samsung Plasma TVs:
1) The B550 offers a Touch of Color Charcoal Gray.
2) The B550 offers USB2.0 which allows you to view pictures and listen to MP3s via a usb device.
3) The B550 offers one extra HDMI and Composite connection along the side.
4) The B550 also offers one PC connection (RGB D-sub)
-MrSamsung


another Calibration link posted in the thread:
samsung-pn50b550-review [plasmatvbuyingguide.com]



*** ALERT ***
This is a must if you still want this package:

I had the following message displayed when I was trying to see the status of my order:
When I logged in to my dell account just now, there was a message with the following:

Due to unforeseen circumstance, we have experienced another delay with your order number XXXXXXXXX. Our new anticipated ship date will be on or before 11/19/2009. Due to this additional delay, the Federal Trade Commission requires we receive your consent to continue with this order else we will be forced to cancel the order automatically.

You must choose one of the following Links:
Consent to this delay and continue with this order
Help
Consent to this delay and all future delays and continue with this order
Help
Cancel this order
Help

Dell is trying to cancel these orders any way they can! Go to your order status page and consent to delayed delivery immediately, or your order may be canceled--you will not receive an email notification!! - jperlin


Dell automated customer service number (to check on order status): 1-800-433-9014

Order Status Google Spreadsheet
http://spreadsheets.google.com/cc...3UGc&hl=en

This thread is getting too big with discussions about order status, created this new thread for people who have already received their TVs and are ready to set it up:
Tech Support thread for setup: http://slickdeals.net/forums/show...?t=1717146