Panasonic 37LZD800 problem!

[admin_exported]

Hi,

I just bought a Panasonic 37LZD800, took it home and set it up with Freeview last night. Was only watching SD, but it looked good and also sounded better than I had expected. But, after an hour or two of viewing I noticed that 2 of the corners looked as though there was too much brightness. After a bit of googling, I found out that this is what's refered to as "backlight bleed". I'm super annoyed!!! The 37LZD800 is supposed to be Panasonic's flagship LCD! It's not just the corners, but at the very top of the entire screen, there is also faint backlight bleed.

I wanted to know whether anybody else has had this same issue and if they knew what Panasonic were like in cases like these? I'm totally gutted because I've been deciding which TV to get for months and now I'm back at square one considering all my options again! 37inches is the perfect size for our living room not just because the TV isn't overbearing, but the viewing distance is just right too. I'm now considering plasma, but the choice for 37 inch plasmas isn't great.

John

 

[trackstar]

This problem can occur on most makes of LCD TV's. As shown by comments on other forums people have been supplied with this model free of the problem, as your research has lead you to choose this TV I would suggest you return it and ask for a replacement and see what that ones like.

 

[bf1]

Sounds like a faulty set and just a question of getting it replaced.

However, if you are considering the plasma option then I can wholeheartedly recommend the Panasonic TH37PX80. I have this set and am massively impressed.

The quality of SD is exceptional and if you have HD / PS3 the pictures are just outstanding.

 

[Anonymous]

I have recently purchased a TX37LZD800. HD looks amazing on it and blacks are good. I sit 8 feet away from the screen and notice on an SD feed from sky there is some pixilation. Does anyone know if this will disapear in time as you adjust to the size of the screen? (Prev 32" CRT)

I have noticed a big problem with light bleeding from the backlight. It might have to go back. I am seriously condidering going for the TH37PX80 instead. Will this be better with an SD feed? and at 8ft will you notice the fact that it is only HD ready rather than Full HD with a 1080p input?

 

[Anonymous]

Hi le_vicar,

If you've also noticed backlight bleeding, then it looks like it'll be a bad idea for me to get a replacement - I don't want the trouble of having to keep swapping TVs... it is extremely annoying. This leads me to believe that plasma is the way to go. Problem is that I want a high-end model and apart from the px80 that everyone raves about, there aren't many 37"plasmas out there. May have to go to 42".

Also, if you've had a "big problem with light bleeding", you really should send it back... why settle for something sub-standard - especially when you've paid a premium for it... the LZD800 is not cheap!

I'm not sure what causes bleed, but it sounds like a common issue with LCD technology and I'm very surprised that big players like Panasonic continue to churn out TVs that have this problem.

 

[Anonymous]

I have the 37LZD70 and have some "light patches" in the corners on really dark scenes but it does get better the longer the set is on. You cant see it unless it is in a dark room and the screen is blank (i.e. no signal black screen). If you cant see it on normal viewing does it really matter?

I also contemplated returning the set but after reading lots and lots of threads on this and other forums I decided against it. It seems to me that some backlight bleed is normal on LCD TV's - if people say their set is completely free of backlight bleed then they are lying!! One of the Mods on AV Forum also agreed with this statement.

Got to say though I have had the TV now for 2 months and I love it. The inbuilt free view picture is great (I was worried about this) and the pic on XBox is just so crisp. Really happy with it. Plasma is good but is not as crisp as LCD IMO.

 

[Anonymous]

Have got to agree with rch19754 - depending on the level of bleed you have, it may not be worth taking back. I had two in a row and couldn't be bothered with the hassle anymore. If you can ignore the lighter patches then do so. I have also read somewhere that Panasonic are now aware of the problem and are repairing them. Its something to do with the screen not being sealed properly...

 

[Anonymous]

Re Panasonic repairing the sets - surely they would have sorted this out on the latest flag ship model 800 series? It actually says in the instruction book that the screens/LCD are meant to be loose - when you touch them lightly you can actually feel them move around. Are Panasonic really repairing them? I am not so sure.

 

[Anonymous]

Well I read that Panasonic are repairing the sets on this forum somewhere. Apologies but I can't find it to post the link. Its here somewhere though...

Ah - just found it http://whathifi.com/forums/p/8932/77351.aspx#77351

According to the post it is the Tech Guys who are repairing them (?!!!) at Dixons...

 

[Anonymous]

Seems strange that it is the tech guys at Dixons who are doing a repair on a brand new set. Even more strange that Panasonic have not rectified this issue with the very expensive 800 series model. I reckon the only way to solve the light patches is to buy/swop for the Plasma equivalent - I considered this swap but after a lot of comparing the 2 in the shop I still felt that the LCD had the edge on HD sources and XBOX/PS3.

 

[Anonymous]

How can people think it's ok to have bleed?! Maybe the levels are different on yours, but I think that if you're paying for a premium product, it should have premium quality features. Last time I checked, backlight bleed wasn't on the specification list for the LZD800. Maybe Panasonic should update their site!

"The 37LZD800... now with extra backlight bleed!"

"...Whathifi rated best bleeder in the 37" range!"

"Conclusion: It's a great set and we've now decided that backlight bleed is the most important picture quality feature above resolution and contrast."

I think that acceptance of substandard service tells the companies that it's ok to churn out substandard products.... because people will buy them anyway.

 

[Anonymous]

[quote user="JohnPain123"]

How can people think it's ok to have bleed?! Maybe the levels are different on yours, but I think that if you're paying for a premium product, it should have premium quality features. Last time I checked, backlight bleed wasn't on the specification list for the LZD800. Maybe Panasonic should update their site!

"The 37LZD800... now with extra backlight bleed!"

"...Whathifi rated best bleeder in the 37" range!"

"Conclusion: It's a great set and we've now decided that backlight bleed is the most important picture quality feature above resolution and contrast."

I think that acceptance of substandard service tells the companies that it's ok to churn out substandard products.... because people will buy them anyway.

[/quote]

Clearly you need to get your set replaced - I agree that for the money you have paid it should be faultless.

However from the research I have done it appears that backlight bleed is an extremely common feature on LCD screens - believe me I would never accept a substandard product BUT like I say my research leads me to believe that this may not be an actual fault (some people had upto 5 sets returned and each one was the same)

There are may threads on here suggesting that the bleed problem was due to a bad batch of the LZD70's - this is clearly not the case as you and others have reported the same issue with the LZD80 and 800 models - u may therefore have a long search to find a Panasonic LCD (or any LCD??) free of some bleed - please keep us posted if you do find one or if you manage to resolve this issue with Panasonic.

 

[professorhat]

Which raises the question, why buy an LCD model at this size when plasma has no backlight bleed (due to having no backlight)...

 

[Anonymous]

My backlight problem actually seems to be getting worse on my TZ37LZD800. And if that is not enough,I have noticed while listening to the sound at low volume there is a very distinct and distracting crackling sound. It now definatly needs to go back and I am very tempted by the TX37PX80 plasma. However I bought this TV because I wanted to enjoy bluray at 1080p. I am afraid there will be a noticible difference at 8ft away on an HD ready plasma.

 

[Anonymous]

[quote user="professorhat"]Which raises the question, why buy an LCD model at this size when plasma has no backlight bleed (due to having no backlight)...[/quote]

I just thought the LCD looked a sharper/crisper picture on HD sources - particularly blu ray. The Plasma slightly edged it on SD but only just.

 

[Anonymous]

Hi rch19754,

Sorry - was in a crappy mood yesterday - brought on by the hassle caused by my crappy new tv! Didin't mean to come across rude.... apologies.

I do agree with you... side by side on a 37" screen, LCD is sharper - and yes, especially blu-ray. The colours also looked much more vibrant compared to the plasma which looked kind of washed out. However, I had the problem that when I took my LCD home, the colours were too strong and not natural looking. Seeing my friends PX80 in his house, the colours are really nice and natural and of course the contrast is better.

Others in the forums have said that the lighting in the shops affects your judgement when deciding which technology (i.e. LCD or plasma) i best, and from the experience I have just had, I can say that they're right.

I too was obsessed (and still am!) about having a super sharp picure, but I'm starting to realise that other aspects of picture quality are also important. I've decided on the 42PZ800 - I'll be taking a risk going for such a new model (which hasn't been reviewed yet), but I'm going to take it anyway! Well, I've got to be honest, I wanted the Pioneer 4280XD but my wife said that there was no way we were getting it because it looked ugly compared to the Panasonic 42PZ800! Women!

Le_vicar, please take your tv back. I really hate it when people are made to take rubbish from companies. I don't think it's right if people are having to send their TVs back 5 times to try and get one that is finally working (as rch 19754 said).... and in this case it seems that after 5 times it still had bleed!!! And what really annoys me is that if you've compained to Panasonic once, surely they should be checking that the TV they're sending as a replacement doesn't have that same issue?! Isn't that courtesy?!

 

[professorhat]

[quote user="le_vicar"]
My backlight problem actually seems to be getting worse on my TZ37LZD800. And if that is not enough,I have noticed while listening to the sound at low volume there is a very distinct and distracting crackling sound. It now definatly needs to go back and I am very tempted by the TX37PX80 plasma. However I bought this TV because I wanted to enjoy bluray at 1080p. I am afraid there will be a noticible difference at 8ft away on an HD ready plasma.
[/quote]
If there is (and I'm stretching to think there will be here) it ain't going to be a lot. And surely it will be better than having a backlight bleed in all the dark scenes?

 

[Anonymous]

[quote user="professorhat"][quote user="le_vicar"]
My backlight problem actually seems to be getting worse on my TZ37LZD800. And if that is not enough,I have noticed while listening to the sound at low volume there is a very distinct and distracting crackling sound. It now definatly needs to go back and I am very tempted by the TX37PX80 plasma. However I bought this TV because I wanted to enjoy bluray at 1080p. I am afraid there will be a noticible difference at 8ft away on an HD ready plasma.

[/quote] If there is (and I'm stretching to think there will be here) it ain't going to be a lot. And surely it will be better than having a backlight bleed in all the dark scenes?[/quote]

Cheers, I know in my heart that plasma is probally better than LCD (unless gaming) and I am probally getting hung up on the Full HD issue. It probally won't make allot of difference at 8ft. I am just strugling with the concept that a plasma produced by the same company that is £500 less than the LCD equivelent is going to be as good, if not better. Taking price out of the equation which would you say is the better TV?

You will have to bear with me on this one as I have just decided to move from CRT into the HD world.

 

[professorhat]

Personally, I'd go with the PX80. Are you able to arrange a demo somewhere (and by that I mean in a proper demo room rather than comparing them in a brightly lit showroom)?

 

[Anonymous]

The engineer came out today and confirmed the fault, so I am swaping it for the TH37PX80. And with the money I saved I am getting the DMP BD30 bluray player (result !!). Just hope I won't regret the lack of 1080p. I would just like to thank everyone who has given me advice on this issue.

 

[bf1]

On a 37" TV you will not notice the difference in 1080P, so don`t worry.

 

[Anonymous]

Bit by bit you could see the plasma hating crumble away in this thread.

 

[Anonymous]

Looks like I am raising this ghost again.

I also bought this TV in July and noticed this light bleed problem. Unlike you guys, the problem is not in the corners but at the bottom of the screen. It's spreads at least 2cm into screen and is obvious in dark sceens. I have been trying to ignore it, but why should we?

In the end I phoned Panasonic's customer care and had an engineer down to take the set away to mend. He too mentioned with problem with the frame, but thought it was the panal. To prove my case I gave him two pictures of the problem to send to panasonic.

Today, I was informed by the engineer that Panasonic regarded my set to be "within normal limits" and that he had been instructed to return my set - happy I was not!

I phoned up Pana's customer care and complained, but they would not budge - definately unhappy!!

This whole senario is crazy. We spend a grand on Pana's flag ship model, customers tell them that the set is faulty and they tell us in effect that the sets are "faulty within normal limits" The question is, would you have bought this set (or any other) if this problem had been demonstarted in the showroom? Also, light bleed is not seen on all sets, then surely those that do are faulty? What ever happened to the customer always being right?

Tomorrow, the sets being retured and I hope to be able to get a replacement from Empire Direct.

One last moan - Why is not this problem more widely discused. I have been reading the mags for years and have never seen it mentioned. What's the good of giving a set a 5* picture rating, when it is degraded by light bleed?

Over to you -