Here we go again.... GT50 with screen burn...

[Deleted member 2457]

As a quick update on my VT65's "repair," the engineer called yesterday, effectively to advise that nothing has been done.

Well, he's changed the fans for identical fans, but Panasonic advised that the red and cyan blobs affecting the centre and left of the screen are within tolerance. So, my TV's being returned on Monday in precisely the same condition.

Incidentally, the engineer was able to photograph the problem, which has nothing to do with settings, but this obviously held no sway with Panasonic. The blobs remain visible to the same extent when colour is set to zero.

I'm unsure of what to do now. I can push John Lewis for a refund, but what alternative TV could I go for? There are no Samsung F8500s available from reliable retailers; and I have almost no confidence that a replacement Panasonic will be any better.

I also can't bring myself to buy an LED TV. Most of my viewing is done off-axis due to living room shape and furniture arrangement.

TVs really are expensive trash these days.

[/quote

If your fans are still noisy definitely push for the fan fix. I was the first one the guy had done in Milton Keynes. Saw a new Panasonic 50VT65 in our John Lewis today for £1350 and it hadn't been used.

 

[bigboss]

I think you should arrange an extended demo of LED lit LCD TVs strapped.

 

[BIGBERNARDBRESSLAW]

@ Strapped

It sounds like you're in exactly the same position as me Strapped, and I still haven't rung JL, because I'm unsure of what I want. Unlike you, I am prepared to go the LED route, as I'm absoloutely fed up with having to restrict my viewing of certain channels because of possible image retention. I have the Sky Sports logo burnt in to the top right of the screen, and that's from being very careful, so in my opinion, Panasonic plasmas are not fit for purpose.

Is there any fault with a Panasonic which is not within tolerance?

I have to be careful what I say here, as the words I was going to use would probably get my post removed, but if a used car salesman had the same attitude towards the goods they sold as Panasonic do, no-one would buy from them.

 

[strapped for cash]

I think you should arrange an extended demo of LED lit LCD TVs strapped.

Cheers BB. I've already had a very good look.

I'd find an unevenly lit screen just as distracting as my VT65's blobs; and my off-axis viewing requirement creates further difficulties.

I happily buy an F8500 now, but there are none left for sale from decent retailers. Maybe I'll have to hang on in there and see what plasma models Samsung offer in 2014.

 

[strapped for cash]

Is there any fault with a Panasonic which is not within tolerance?

Panasonic will "fix" problems if all that's needed are four small pieces of foam with a combined cost of less than ten pence.

 

[strapped for cash]

If your fans are still noisy definitely push for the fan fix.

Hi Gel,

Fan noise isn't my concern, I'm afraid. It's the cyan and red blobs that are bothering me.

 

[bigboss]

I think you should arrange an extended demo of LED lit LCD TVs strapped.

Cheers BB. I've already had a very good look.

I'd find an unevenly lit screen just as distracting as my VT65's blobs; and my off-axis viewing requirement creates further difficulties.

I happily buy an F8500 now, but there are none left for sale from decent retailers. Maybe I'll have to hang on in there and see what plasma models Samsung offer in 2014.

Which models did you demo? It's impossible that all LED lit LCD TVs have unevenly lit screens.

 

[Deleted member 2457]

It is strange that our John Lewis still have the Samsung plasma on demo and it still has tickets.

 

[Deleted member 2457]

If your fans are still noisy definitely push for the fan fix.

Hi Gel,

Fan noise isn't my concern, I'm afraid. It's the cyan and red blobs that are bothering me.

I can't believe they are not doing anything about it!

 

[Deleted member 2457]

Have a word with a manager.

 

[strapped for cash]

Which models did you demo?

I've had a good look at the Sony 905 and Samsung F8000.

It's impossible that all LED lit LCD TVs have unevenly lit screens.

Isn't that the nature of edge-lit models? Inevitably the edges are brighter than the centre. I'm yet to see an edge-lit TV with uniform lighting. There may be a minority of freak panels out there that look subjectively OK.

In my experience, uneven lighting and poor uniformity are inherent to LED technology, which is why it's such a shame that full array local dimming technology is a thing of the past. (Not that full array sets were perfect, but they didn't suffer from torching or light pooling.)

In my experience, uneven lighting is something LED TV owners have to accept, just as plasma TV owners have to accept dynamic false contouring and buzzing.

The short version of this is that LED TVs don't suit my tastes or requirements, but then neither do plasma TVs with blobs. Perhaps I'm the problem. (I'm not being confrontational here. I may have unrealistic expectations.)

 

[strapped for cash]

Have a word with a manager.

The problem isn't down to John Lewis, unfortunately. It's Panasonic classing the problem as within tolerance that means nothing will be done.

Based on my conversations with John Lewis, I'm sure I'll be able to arrange a refund. The question is, what do I do next?

 

[BIGBERNARDBRESSLAW]

Gel's saying that JL have the PS51F8500 in stock at the MK branch; I'm heading to the centre later, so I'll have a look to see if they have.

It's also in stock at Peter Tyson, though it's not cheap, and Currys/PC World too, though I'm sure you'd rather not get it from them.

http://www.petertyson.co.uk/ebuttonz/ebz_product_pages/samsung_ps51f8500.shtml

 

[strapped for cash]

Gel's saying that JL have the PS51F8500 in stock at the MK branch; I'm heading to the centre later, so I'll have a look to see if they have.

It's also in stock at Peter Tyson, though it's not cheap, and Currys/PC World too, though I'm sure you'd rather not get it from them.

http://www.petertyson.co.uk/ebuttonz/ebz_product_pages/samsung_ps51f8500.shtml

Cheers BBB.

I'll be interested to hear how you get on. Have you seen an F8500 in action before?

I bought my V20 from Peter Tyson. That might be a good call! First of all, I need to speak to John Lewis to clarify my options.

 

[BIGBERNARDBRESSLAW]

Gel's saying that JL have the PS51F8500 in stock at the MK branch; I'm heading to the centre later, so I'll have a look to see if they have.

It's also in stock at Peter Tyson, though it's not cheap, and Currys/PC World too, though I'm sure you'd rather not get it from them.

http://www.petertyson.co.uk/ebuttonz/ebz_product_pages/samsung_ps51f8500.shtml

Cheers BBB.

I'll be interested to hear how you get on. Have you seen an F8500 in action before?

I bought my V20 from Peter Tyson. That might be a good call! First of all, I need to speak to John Lewis to clarify my options.

I don't think I've seen one in action, hopefully it'll be impressive.

Peter Tyson are a very good retailer, and their price does include a 5 year warranty, so not an awful price.

 

[bigboss]

Which models did you demo?

I've had a good look at the Sony 905 and Samsung F8000.

It's impossible that all LED lit LCD TVs have unevenly lit screens.

Isn't that the nature of edge-lit models? Inevitably the edges are brighter than the centre. I'm yet to see an edge-lit TV with uniform lighting. There may be a minority of freak panels out there that look subjectively OK.

In my experience, uneven lighting and poor uniformity are inherent to LED technology, which is why it's such a shame that full array local dimming technology is a thing of the past. (Not that full array sets were perfect, but they didn't suffer from torching or light pooling.)

In my experience, uneven lighting is something LED TV owners have to accept, just as plasma TV owners have to accept dynamic false contouring and buzzing.

The short version of this is that LED TVs don't suit my tastes or requirements, but then neither do plasma TVs with blobs. Perhaps I'm the problem. (I'm not being confrontational here. I may have unrealistic expectations.)

Not all TVs are edge-lit though. Check out backlit LED TVs with local dimming.

 

[bigboss]

http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-33199_7-57572740-221/led-lcd-backlights-explained/

 

[bigboss]

Personally, I'm going to hold out for either a 4K TV (when Sky announces its 4K plans) or a projector, although a TV is more realistic option.

 

[Deleted member 2457]

Gel's saying that JL have the PS51F8500 in stock at the MK branch; I'm heading to the centre later, so I'll have a look to see if they have.

It's also in stock at Peter Tyson, though it's not cheap, and Currys/PC World too, though I'm sure you'd rather not get it from them.

http://www.petertyson.co.uk/ebuttonz/ebz_product_pages/samsung_ps51f8500.shtml

Cheers BBB.

I'll be interested to hear how you get on. Have you seen an F8500 in action before?

I bought my V20 from Peter Tyson. That might be a good call! First of all, I need to speak to John Lewis to clarify my options.

I don't think I've seen one in action, hopefully it'll be impressive.

Peter Tyson are a very good retailer, and their price does include a 5 year warranty, so not an awful price.

It is behind the Samsung curved OLED TV in John Lewis. They have a 50 vt65 for £1350 too.

 

[Deleted member 2457]

Personally, I'm going to hold out for either a 4K TV (when Sky announces its 4K plans) or a projector, although a TV is more realistic option.

Samsung 4K TVs are impressive.

 

[BIGBERNARDBRESSLAW]

It is behind the Samsung curved OLED TV in John Lewis.

If I get the time, I'll definitely have a look, and I'll also chat to someone about my tv, and the possibility of exchanging it.

They have a 50 vt65 for £1350 too.

Panasonic have now lost my custom, never again.

 

[strapped for cash]

Not all TVs are edge-lit though. Check out backlit LED TVs with local dimming.

Well, the last TV with a local dimming backlight was the Sharp Elite Pro. (Which had problems with colour reproduction and in any case isn't available now.) Of course some older Philips TVs used this method, too.

All current retail models from major manufacturers use edge lighting in some array, resulting in an unevenly lit screen.

 

[bigboss]

Panasonic have now lost my custom, never again.

I was just about to suggest you this one!

 

[Deleted member 2457]

Phone up John Lewis central line and ask have any branches got the Samsung plasma? You will find it on their website - I have done this before.

 

[bigboss]

Not all TVs are edge-lit though. Check out backlit LED TVs with local dimming.

Well, the last TV with a local dimming backlight was the Sharp Elite Pro. (Which had problems with colour reproduction and in any case isn't available now.) Of course some older Philips TVs used this method, too.

All current retail models from major manufacturers use edge lighting in some array, resulting in an unevenly lit screen.

Sony's flagship doesn't, although you don't like its off axis viewing.

If you still want to trust Panasonic one more time:

http://www.trustedreviews.com/panasonic-studio-master-4k-lcd_TV_review

I'm interested in Sony's 2014 4K offering, especially with its tie up with Netflix.