Bought the Samsung 50" C550.

[sanjay0864]

I found the same settings at two different reviews

1) Samsung PN50C550 Review

2)Amazon.com: Samsung PN50C550 50-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV (Black): Electronics

Would like to hear your opinion

Actually the second reviewer (Amazon) has simply reproduced the same settings given by the 1st reviewer.

I will try out these settings as soon as I get some time and get back with my thoughts on them.

 

[frankmehta]

Till that time, some photos please???

 

[sanjay0864]

Till that time, some photos please???

Will try. But cannot promise anything right now. Time is my enemy right now.

 

[sanjay0864]

*WARNING* I am facing major color banding issues with the Samsung PS50C550

Guys I have some bad news, as a result of which I would like to withdraw my recomendation of this TV, ie. atleast until I sort out what the issue really is. The TV had been working fine until a couple of days ago when I started noticing 'color banding' issues while watching SD channels. At first I just ignored it thinking that the problem might be of the generally very poor quality of Indian DTH/IPTV. But then the problem seemed to increase and I started noticing it a lot more. The problem is now beyond my tolerance and I have started to notice the problem in HD channels too. Strangely enough though, the problem is far greater with SD channels and it seems the better he source the less the problem. But nevertheless it is a problem and I have tried to play with the picture settings but to no avail. Now the question is, whether this is a problem with all TVs of this model or is this just my luck that I am stuck with a bad TV. The greater problem though, is how am I going to convince Samsung that this is an actual problem and not just an individual opinion. By the way I have confirmed the problem with three different sources, ie. SunDirect HD, Dish TruHD and Airtel IPTV. Thus it is certainly not a problem with the source but rather with the TV. Although, strangely enough the problem seems to be more magnified and clearly noticed on channels with English programming, channels such as Star World, Zee Cafe and all the English movie channels. With Blu-rays, on the other hand, I am yet to be able to see a problem. The problem by the way is what one would see in a very low color bit signal. For example the color of a persons face is uneven and almost blotchy and at times making people look ghost like or as if you were watching a negative being displayed. It's a hard thing to explain and has to be seen to understand. Those who are familiar with what 'color banding' is, will understand what I am trying to convey. In any case I shall get back and update how things go with Samsung. Although not sure when I will be able to actually take care of this, since I am pressed for time over the next few days. By the way, what I find most disturbing about this problem is that it was not there initially and only appeared later. Which means that no matter how much someone reviews the TV before buying it, there is no assurance that the problem will not show up later.



PS: It is a real shame that this forum chooses to not allow us to edit our old posts. I would have preferred to edit my original review post to add this very important information and ofcourse also withdraw my recomendation. I would hate for others to read my post and as a result of which make a decision to buy this TV and then god forbid, be stuck with the same problem that I have.

 

[sanjay0864]

I will try out these settings as soon as I get some time and get back with my thoughts on them.

I did try out those settings a couple of days ago and personally I was not quite satisfied with them. The other thing is, strangely or I should say co-incidently enough my problems with the TV seemed to have started right after the time I tried those settings. I know, I know, that my problems with the TV, really cannot have anything to do with it, but just thought I'd mention it anyhow.

 

[venkatcr]

Re: *WARNING* I am facing major color banding issues with the Samsung PS50C550

PS: It is a real shame that this forum chooses to not allow us to edit our old posts. I would have preferred to edit my original review post to add this very important information and ofcourse also withdraw my recomendation. I would hate for others to read my post and as a result of which make a decision to buy this TV and then god forbid, be stuck with the same problem that I have.

Not to worry, my friend. I have added a red colored warning in your first post referring to your post no. 64.

Cheers

 

[KonfuSed]

Oops bad news. Eagerly waiting for further news.

 

[borg]

I did try out those settings a couple of days ago and personally I was not quite satisfied with them. The other thing is, strangely or I should say co-incidently enough my problems with the TV seemed to have started right after the time I tried those settings. I know, I know, that my problems with the TV, really cannot have anything to do with it, but just thought I'd mention it anyhow.

Is this the issue you mentioned in above post?
Posterization - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I have not seen this in my c550 so far,i have tried those amazon settings in all inputs and now reverted back to my own

 

[sanjay0864]

Re: *WARNING* I am facing major color banding issues with the Samsung PS50C550

Not to worry, my friend. I have added a red colored warning in your first post referring to your post no. 64.

Thanks, but could you please move the warning, to the very top of the post.

 

[Dushie]

Sanjay, call the samsung customer care and email their complaint department, let them come to your place and check the Tv out, you can ask them to replace the set and give you a new one. Talk to the dealer and let him know of this issue. Don't delay and act immediately.

 

[sanjay0864]

Is this the issue you mentioned in above post?
Posterization - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I have not seen this in my c550 so far,i have tried those amazon settings in all inputs and now reverted back to my own

Yes the problem is quite similiar, but not always exactly like this and not as apparent as the examples given in the article. Banding/Posterization seems to be an issue that quite a few people on the internet are complaining about with Samsung TVs. Also the complaints are not specific to any particular type of TV. In fact there are far more complaints with LCDs than with Plasmas, but this may simply be due to the fact that Samsung sells far more LCDs than they do Plasmas.

 

[vramak]

From what I've read on the internet, I think posterization/color-banding is a problem inherent to plasmas. Plasmas cells have a limited number of 'gradations', so although the color range of plasma's is wide, the 'steps' between colors will be limited. This is why we notice color-banding/posterization. Expensive plasma's will have more gradations so banding will be harder to notice if not impossible to notice. In budget plasmas, there are fewer gradations, so color-banding will be quite noticeable. Banding will be especially noticeable in darker areas because the gradation steps are wider for smaller values.

So, do consider the possibility that color banding might have been visible on your TV right from the beginning but you are noticing it only now.

 

[sanjay0864]

Sanjay, call the samsung customer care and email their complaint department, let them come to your place and check the Tv out, you can ask them to replace the set and give you a new one. Talk to the dealer and let him know of this issue. Don't delay and act immediately.

Thanks for the advice. I am following up with a friend to see what my options are. The immediate problem now is, even if I am able to get a replacement, I have lost confidence in Samsung as a brand. Not to mention that I am really not too thrilled about the 'image retention' issues with Samsung plasmas. Thus the problem is what TV to buy. Other than the fact that the Panasonic V20 is 60% more expensive, I really don't care for the fact that the frame of the V20 is grey colored and not black. If I were buying a 42" TV the decision would be quite easy with several options to choose from. But with 50" and above the choices are really very limited and in the case of Panasonic over priced and made worse by the V20 TVs being grey and not black. Is it really time to look at LCDs as an option? Although I doubt it, but are there any 50" LCDs in the Rs. 70k - 100k price range?

 

[sanjay0864]

From what I've read on the internet, I think posterization/color-banding is a problem inherent to plasmas. Plasmas cells have a limited number of 'gradations', so although the color range of plasma's is wide, the 'steps' between colors will be limited. This is why we notice color-banding/posterization. Expensive plasma's will have more gradations so banding will be harder to notice if not impossible to notice. In budget plasmas, there are fewer gradations, so color-banding will be quite noticeable. Banding will be especially noticeable in darker areas because the gradation steps are wider for smaller values.

So, do consider the possibility that color banding might have been visible on your TV right from the beginning but you are noticing it only now.

Believe me when I say that I have had years of experience with many plasmas and have come accross this problem for the first time. Infact there are atleast eleven plasmas in just my immediate circle of friends and family, and not one of them has any such issue. Also, I may not be an 'expert', but I am familiar, with good picture quality and thus something such as this escaping my notice for a day, let alone ten days is highly improbable if not impossible.

 

[vramak]

Believe me when I say that I have had years of experience with many plasmas and have come accross this problem for the first time. Infact there are atleast eleven plasmas in just my immediate circle of friends and family, and not one of them has any such issue. Also, I may not be an 'expert', but I am familiar, with good picture quality and thus something such as this escaping my notice for a day, let alone ten days is highly improbable if not impossible.

Ok, that's fair. I was considering this possibility because I've seen you say that you didn't do critical viewing in the initial stages.

One more thing - IMHO, the difference between 50" and 42" is not much. 42" will look like 50" or bigger if you sit a feet or two closer. If you can adjust your viewing distance my humble suggestion would be that you go for a more expensive 42" TV and be guaranteed of better picture quality. This rationale is what I applied when I rejected 50" PK550, 50" C450, 50" C550 in favor of 42" V20.

 

[sanjay0864]

One more thing - IMHO, the difference between 50" and 42" is not much. 42" will look like 50" or bigger if you sit a feet or two closer. If you can adjust your viewing distance my humble suggestion would be that you go for a more expensive 42" TV and be guaranteed of better picture quality. This rationale is what I applied when I rejected 50" PK550, 50" C450, 50" C550 in favor of 42" V20.

Thank you for your suggestion, but honestly, I have been finding even the 50" way too small and have been complaining about it every single day. Thus a 42" is absolutely out of the question. Please do keep in mind that my viewing distance is approx. 11 - 12 feet and also I have been used to a 55" TV viewed from a 10' distance. The viewing distance having increased due to the change from a rear projection to a flat panel.

 

[harry10]

Should i be worried.
I was planning to pick c450 tomm' but after reading your updates am confused.
On the other hand Lg thread has their own issues.
Sigh, what to do

 

[vramak]

Thank you for your suggestion, but honestly, I have been finding even the 50" way too small and have been complaining about it every single day. Thus a 42" is absolutely out of the question. Please do keep in mind that my viewing distance is approx. 11 - 12 feet and also I have been used to a 55" TV viewed from a 10' distance. The viewing distance having increased due to the change from a rear projection to a flat panel.

Ahh! THX recommended screen size for 11 feet is 100" ! No wonder you're looking for bigger sized TVs.

In my case, my viewing distance was 7'. Now I've rearranged furniture and made my viewing distance 5.5'. 42" looks huge from that distance.

 

[Gfreeman]

From what I've read on the internet, I think posterization/color-banding is a problem inherent to plasmas. Plasmas cells have a limited number of 'gradations', so although the color range of plasma's is wide, the 'steps' between colors will be limited. This is why we notice color-banding/posterization. Expensive plasma's will have more gradations so banding will be harder to notice if not impossible to notice. In budget plasmas, there are fewer gradations, so color-banding will be quite noticeable. Banding will be especially noticeable in darker areas because the gradation steps are wider for smaller values.

So, do consider the possibility that color banding might have been visible on your TV right from the beginning but you are noticing it only now.

Banding is not just an issue with plasmas but with LCDs as well.
Here are some links where people have reported banding issues. One of them has posted the image of a Samsung C750 and the other a Sony HX701.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=18586310#post18586310
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1233487&page=11

Here is an LG 9500 with banding issues. See how the gradients in this image not smooth. They instead form bands. Sadly a few folks on AVS have returned these sets due to this issue

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=18914556

Dithering is another method aimed at reducing posterization on plasmas in addition to the increased number of gradations

In short AFAIK banding is an issue on both types of HD displays.

 

[Imrahn]

Best of luck that u can have the problem solved mate.....

Its ridiculous that plasmas in this gen is exhibiting this much hardware problem...esp the budget ones.Was looking at a Samsung 50C550 myself as i am pretty much sure from previous experiences that once calibrated properly, these will come real close to the higher end Pana and will give LG a run for its money.but now all sorts of buzzing and banding are surfacing.feels Plasma is shooting itself in the foot with the lack of R&D.