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The Samsung PN51E6500 performs like a true plasma champion with rich and consistent colors supported by a foundation of deep blacks. Crushed velvet to your eyes.

LED backlit TVs have begun to catch plasmas in their ability to produce deep blacks. But I continue to opt for a plasma because edge-lit LED displays still tend to exhibit uniformity problems.

Also, I know that I'm just imagining this, but watching a good plasma TV is a tactile experience. I feel as if the picture is caressing my eyes, especially when the Picture Mode is set to Movie.

The perceived 3D performance of any TV partially depends on the 3D content you are feeding it. For example, there are scenes on the 3D version of Brave where the animators really heightened the sense of depth and the 3D playback on the PN51E6500 was striking.

On the other hand, we just received the Wreck-It Ralph Blu-ray and the 3D version on first blush is not as eye grabbing.

Here's a 3D viewing hint. No matter what 3D TV you are watching, try sitting at different distances from the set. For me, I find that if I sit closer than I normally would when watching 2D content, the 3D effect is more pronounced. Experiment and see what your ideal viewing distance is for the best 3D experience.

Also, you may notice that when the PN51E6500 senses that it is being fed 3D programming, it will shift to the Standard Picture Mode and push the Cell Light to the Maximum of 20 and Contrast to 100. The active shutter 3D glasses by their nature cut down the amount of light reaching your eyes. The TV is compensating by making the picture brighter.

If you are a 3D fanatic, Samsung has included an Explore 3D feature on the Smart Hub. Currently, it is offering almost 200 3D titles that you can stream for free. The biggest category is Kids with 95 programs.

For the 3D D-I-Y type, many still cameras will shoot 3D images that can be played back in 3D on this plasma.

As for audio, the fidelity of the pair of 10W speakers that are built into the bottom of the PN51E6500 is acceptable. And Samsung provides a good menu of tools to customize the sound output to your tastes.

But don't expect to rattle the walls of a mid-sized room with those little speakers. Pay some respect to this plasma's sublime picture by pairing it with at least a 5.1 or 7.1 surround system. If your budget doesn't allow that kit, then consider a good sound bar and subwoofer.

I like the Samsung PN51E6500 plasma first and foremost for its beautiful picture quality. In addition, its Smart TV lineup of content providers and apps is impressive. But it's Samsung's willingness to strip away features like motion and voice control that make this 3D TV easy to use and earns the PN51E6500 our Highly Recommended rating.