If you have the space for a 58-inch widescreen plasma TV, then the expense of the Samsung FP-T5884 shouldn't seem too unreasonable. (Chances are you can probably find this massive 1080p set for far less online.) We recommend using professional help if you decide to wall-mount it, but either way, the fact remains that this 58-inch Plasma HDTV will surely dominate the room--and it will do so with a very decent picture that will transform the room into a serious home theater.

We did find the design of the 84 series to be a bit stark. The bezel design isn't the thinnest on the block either, so this 58-inch set won't seem small to anyone, but from the sweet spot viewers will be treated with a sweet picture. The set uses Samsung's proprietary processing engine, DNIe, which sharpens the picture into crystal-clear high definition images. The blacks are reasonably deep, especially for a TV in this price range, and the FP-T5884 also features 18-bit processing along with a new algorithm to further adjust the color balance, which Samsung naturally calls "natural true color". The colors are vivid, but we did notice shades that appear a little unnatural for our tastes. This didn't detract from the overall viewing experience, but some of the colors weren't among the most lifelike we've seen.

We were pleased with how the Samsung FP-T5884 FilterBright anti-glare filter reduces the reflections from ambient room light. While direct sunlight will still wash out the picture, and any lights shinning directly on the screen will be seen as reflections this set can be enjoyed without the need to turn the room into a cave during the day. The FilterBright also helps reduce energy consumption by reducing the need to increase the brightness when the room is dark. A sensor at the bottom of the panel can read the ambient light and adjust to one of three brightness settings. This model is also energy star-compliant, which Samsung claims can reduce the energy used by 25 percent over similar plasma TVs--but powering up a 58-inch set is going to require a lot of juice, and plasma sets can be power hogs.

We were pleased with the multiple video adjustments, including the color and contrast presets. There are enough options for those looking to make the most subtle changes, as well as presets to get a picture with limited fine-tuning. This set features multiple aspect ratio modes, as well as the picture-in-picture modes so you can watch a movie and still catch the last minutes of the big game.

Getting those connections to the set is easy enough thanks to the multitude of connectivity options. The Samsung FP-T5884 features a total of three HDMI inputs, which is really the minimum number we'd want to see in a set this size. We aren't happy to report that one of these is on the side of the panel, which could require you get a longer HDMI cable--not to mention that this cable could ruin the otherwise stark lines.. We were satisfied with the other A/V inputs, which include two components, one composite, one S-Video, and a PC input on the back. On the side there is an additional composite input as well as an S-Video input, along with the HDMI input. We were pleased to find that Samsung included the stereo headphone jack, a nice feature for those wanting to enjoy the large 58-inch TV without disturbing others.

For other times, you'll have to rely on the built-in 15-watt speakers. These are capable of SRS TruSurround XT sound, which will suit casual TV viewing, these fail to deliver much of a punch of movies or even action-packed TV. Even with the surround sound mode, and the bump from the 10-watt speakers of the smaller size sets in the 84 series, these fail to replicate the surround sound experience as well as true home theater system.

Chances are, this is moot point anyway. A set like this will be the center of a home entertainment system, and for the money it is a larger sized panel that delivers a very good picture.

Pros: Great black levels, three HDMI inputs
Cons: Some minor color processing issues, underpowered speakers, one side-mounted HDMI input is hard to access

Warranty
2 years, parts and labor