Samsung LE32R41BD LCD IDTV vs. Sony KV32FX20U CRT TV

[MJZ]

I did six hours worth of tests last night, using various settings, running the Samsung LE32R41BD LCD IDTV and a Samsung DVD-HD850 next to my six year old Sony KV32FX20U CRT TV and Sony DVP-S725D, I also tried the Xbox and 360 on the LCD and this is what I found with it all compared to the Sony kit:

• Sony DVD player through RGB on LCD looked terrible
  
  
• Samsung DVD player through composite on LCD looked terrible
  
  
• Samsung player through HDMI on LCD looked okay, but changing the resolution between 480p, 720p and 1080i I couldn't see any difference (should it look better than the Sony RGB set up?)
  
  
• Samsung player through HDMI on LCD didn't look better than the Sony player through RGB on CRT, in fact the Sony kit looked sharper
  
  
• Sin City on Samsung player through HDMI on LCD looked more grey/very light brown than the black and white it should look like and did on the Sony kit
  
  
• Horizontal lines were more noticeable on the Sony CRT after watching things on the LCD, especially when the picture was stretched
  
  
• Xbox through S-Video on LCD looked terrible
  
  
• Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory on 360 through component (1080i) on LCD looked brilliant
  
  
• Halo 2 on 360 through component (720p and 1080i) on LCD looked okay, but not as good as SC:CT
  
  
• 360 games through component (720p and 1080i) on LCD looked awesome

I tried a lot of old and new DVDs and PAL and NTSC and various settings and resolutions and in all instances the Sony set up looked better than the Samsung set up. The colours and quality of the picture looked better. Is this because I'm familiar with how it all looks on a CRT? LCD does have its own unique look.

In conclusion I wanted to like the Samsung kit, I wanted it to be better, but overall it doesn't look better. I like the extra visible screen size (real 32" diagonal) and the 360 in HD looks fantastic, but I don't think it's worth the upgrade when I'll be losing picture quality for TV and DVD.

Have I just chosen the wrong LCD TV or is the technology not where it could be yet? I guess HD Ready TVs are only really any good when being fed a true HD signal, but am I wrong expecting six year newer technology to look at least as good as my Sony kit for non-HD?

[Iguana Man]

Wow man, you really went at it! Good for you but may I ask if you calibrated both sets first?

Damn...6 hours...you got patience dude!

[MJZ]

Originally Posted by Iguana Man

Wow man, you really went at it! Good for you but may I ask if you calibrated both sets first?

Damn...6 hours...you got patience dude!

Before I knew it the time had passed and there were DVDs, leads, DVD players and consoles all over the place!

Both sets were set up according to guides, but I kept hearing about how good and noticeable the picture quality of the Samsung was out of the box (or six year newer mid to high end LCDs in general). I was surprised to see the upscaling, progressive scan DVD player through HDMI on the LCD TV look at best the same (that's being generous) as my non-progressive DVD player on a CRT TV through RGB scart.

I keep hearing how crisp and vibrant DVDs look on LCD, particularly ones like Episode III etc, especially with the new set up and connection I was using, but it didn't.

I'm considering exchanging it for the more expensive Toshiba 32WLT58.

[sub780lime]

i still like DLP sets better than LCD's

[MJZ]

After using my LE32R41BD for a few months now the picture quality has improved across all sources, but I turned it on today to be greeted by two black pixels when the blue screen is on (no signal), but I can't see them when the screen is black, watching TV, DVDs, or playing console games.

I don't know if these are dead pixels or not. Any ideas?

If it gets worse I shall be making use of the warranty.

[chlngr1970]

Sorry to hear about your dead pixels. Check on what your warranty covers as some require a minimum number of pixels to be out before they will replace the pannel.

j

[Iguana Man]

What "j" said. It's not all that uncommon to get a few dead pixels from LCD, and I somehow doubt (sorry) that only 2 are going to get you a new set.

[MJZ]

On Saturday all was fine and I was commenting on how good the MotoGP looked on channel Eurosport and then on Sunday I see two black pixels.

So far they are only noticeable when blue is on the screen and you're sat close to it. If the screen's white they are yellow and you can't really see them at all from viewing distance. I couldn't see them at all on the Xbox 360 dash through component. It's annoying knowing they are there though, especially as the TV was only bought in January. I was hoping that if it hadn't developed any in the first couple of months it would be good for its life.

I've heard of Samsung replace TVs with one dead pixel and I have a two year warranty, so I'll see how it goes before going down the warranty route.

[Iguana Man]

Originally Posted by MJZ

I've heard of Samsung replace TVs with one dead pixel and I have a two year warranty, so I'll see how it goes before going down the warranty route.

That's amazing! Let us know how you make out.

[MJZ]

Originally Posted by Iguana Man

That's amazing! Let us know how you make out.

Well, with some further investigation I have found out that Samsung will now only repair a panel if it has at least seven dead pixels, so I'll have to see how it goes, although the retailer I bought it from have a good customer service policy and might replace it anyway.

[Iguana Man]

Originally Posted by MJZ

Well, with some further investigation I have found out that Samsung will now only repair a panel if it has at least seven dead pixels, so I'll have to see how it goes, although the retailer I bought it from have a good customer service policy and might replace it anyway.

You know, if I'm not mistaken, my fist PJ (Sharp) had the 7 pixel rule too. That's why I doubted 2 would cut the mustard. Hey, If you're mike me, you know its there in the begining and fixate on it, but over time, it's really no big deal. Fortunately for you, you hardly ever see them two dead soldiers anyway.

[MJZ]

Originally Posted by Iguana Man

Fortunately for you, you hardly ever see them two dead soldiers anyway.

I can't even see them up close on the 360 dash through component.

I think I'll stick with it for now unless it gets worse, as I could change it and have more problems, when these could be the only two this one suffers from in its life.

[Iguana Man]

Originally Posted by MJZ

I can't even see them up close on the 360 dash through component.

Wait a minute. You can't see them at all? If so, I'm perplexed since a dead pixel is a dead pixel as far as I know.

You really don't see them at all, even knowing where to look? Is it possible the dead ones are in a black area of the Dash?



Sorry man, that makes no sense to me.

[MJZ]

I'm just as confused.

When the background is blue the two pixels are black, when it's white they are yellow, this is for all sources except component, but when I play the 360 through component I can't see any difference in colour in the places these pixels are, I looked at each blade too.

I thought if they were dead they would be permanently black, so I thought it was odd when I noticed they were yellow when there was a white background.

I'm going to try a pixel fixer and see what happens, as massaging the screen didn't work.

[elwood731]

Is it possible they're just "stuck" and not "dead?" I've always heard that happens a lot with brand new LCDs.

[Iguana Man]

Originally Posted by elwood731

Is it possible they're just "stuck" and not "dead?" I've always heard that happens a lot with brand new LCDs.

Stuck?? I don't get that. Nor have I read that. Please link me if you can...sorry, but that sounds crazy (as well as his description) to me.

Edited: Crazy as in I never heard of this situation...dead pixels seemingly being 'half dead'.

[MJZ]

I had a closer look on the Xbox 360 dashboard last night, I'm using the Glass theme and official component cable, and here's what I found:

• On the Live blade with an orange background both pixels display the orange correctly
• On the Games blade with a green background both pixels display the green correctly
• On the Media blade with a blue background both pixels are grey/black
• On the System blade with a pink/purple background both pixels are yellow.

I've heard of both stuck and dead pixels and tried a couple of tricks to no avail: one was to apply pressure to the part of the screen where the pixel is and then turn it on, the other was to massage the area around the pixel.

[Iguana Man]

Originally Posted by MJZ

I've heard of both stuck and dead pixels and tried a couple of tricks to no avail: one was to apply pressure to the part of the screen where the pixel is and then turn it on, the other was to massage the area around the pixel.

I've never heard of this. I've heard of twisting a screen for geometry correction (rpj lcos sets) but never for reviving a 'dead' pixel.

Interesting.