Hey Guys, noob here with a couple questions.
Just got my first HDTV (hls5086w). I was wondering about the picture quality of HDMI vs. component inputs. I have a toshiba DVD player SD-3990, hooked up through component and just watched ICE AGE 2, the picture was amazing and I couldn't imagine a better picture. But I still have time to exchange the DVD player for the another model with HDMI and up-conversion for a little more $$.
Has anyone seen a big improvement going from component to HDMI?
Also is DVD player up-conversion a big deal?

Thanks

Hey generalpatton78,

I was wondering if you had tried watching TV with the Game Mode setting on over component cables. I had heard some bad things about it somewhere on this forum but I turned it on on my 4266 and everything looks great. The colors are just so much more vibrant and overall picture is better (especially in HD). I think I am going to keep this setting for awhile unless someone else can give me a better setting to use. Anyone have their own experience to share?

I use gamemode for my 360 only. I haven't did any "tests" or anything to determine of it changes any color settings or anything. From my knowledge it's just suppose to speed up processing to avoid any audio and input lag. Somebody asked about my connections so here they are again. My HR-250 is set at 720p because that's what the displays native res is, but I can change the tivos res at a touch of a button if I need to. My 360 is connected at 480p with component for DVD's and 720p for games. I also seem to have a very small case of black grass or none at all. So all is good on that front.

No one can help me ?This tv is very new in Italy , no one got it yet.We are some years behind the usa marker in rearpjTV...just 1 fullHD one, so this samsung that's "only" hd will be great for me.My only doubt is the noise of the fan. I've heard a sony 3lcd kef50a11 and i found it very loud.
Please tell me something about the samsung fan.Thanks a lot....greetings form Italy.

I have had that model for a few days... I have not yet even heard teh fan noise unless my head is behind the TV :)

I suppose if you watched TV with no sound then you might be able to hear it, but it is certainly not a noticably annoying by any means. I had to actually try to listen with teh TV on mute to even hear any fan...

I have a 4266w with a build date of October 2006, and the black grass effect is still there. I don't think Samsung has come out with a fix for it yet since my TV is nearly fresh off the production line.

I've got another strange defect. When the screen is dark, two faint reddish purple blobs about 2" in diameter are on present the top edge of the screen. The blob are spaced equally 7" from each side of the screen. The defect is only visable during dark scenes. A pure white screen shows no discolorations or variations at all. I took a peek at the projection lens inside the cabinet. The lens had a noticable purple glow coming off one edge of it. I think there might be a defect in the light engine. I can't really see the black grass at normal viewing distance, but this problem is more annoying to me.

Hi guys,

I bought my 6186W 2 months ago and loving it so far. But, 2 questions though:


1. When I first turn on the TV, the picture is dark and does not reach full brightness for about 20-30 seconds. Is this normal?

2. When the tv is off, i can see a white, bell-shape like figure on the bottom of the screen. ???



otherwise, the tv is spectacular. I have it hooked to comcast DVR/HD via component cables and HD channels look GREAT. SD channels look decent enough, some better than others.

i got the TV on wed., and i have had significant black grass but i could live with that

just today, however, i realized that my TV isn't detecting the HDMI signal from my cable box. neither HDMI1 or HDMI2 work. i tested the cable and box on another TV and they work fine.

Samsung is sending a tech out now to check out the ports and the black grass....

i really hope this all gets fixed soon.

4001168368, Lance

has anyone tried hooking up the xbox360 via the VGA HD cable? I ask because it displays "Not Supported Mode" when I select PC as the source connected via the VGA input. Is this not possible on the HL-S4266W?

I had the xbox 360 connected via components and thats fine, but after reading much into this the only way you can get your standard dvds upscaled up to 1080p (720p/1080i in my case) is thru the VGA HD cable. Anyone have any thoughts on this...thanks in advance!

About the overscan on the HL-S4266, has anyone ever been able to get a service tech to get completely rid of the overscan?

has anyone tried hooking up the xbox360 via the VGA HD cable? I ask because it displays "Not Supported Mode" when I select PC as the source connected via the VGA input. Is this not possible on the HL-S4266W?

I had the xbox 360 connected via components and thats fine, but after reading much into this the only way you can get your standard dvds upscaled up to 1080p (720p/1080i in my case) is thru the VGA HD cable. Anyone have any thoughts on this...thanks in advance!

The native resolution of this set is 1280x720, or 720p Upscaling to 1080i, or 1080p, will mean the set will have to downscale the image again to 720p to display it which could actually cause a loss in picture quality.

The set supports plug n play. My computer automatically determined that it was a 1280x720 display and used that resolution. The Xbox 360 might not be so good at supporting plug and play monitors and set the resolution, and/or refresh rate to something that is not supported. If I remember correctly the set supports 1024×768 at 60hz.

Happy Birthday! I have D* and the H10-250. I run HDMI from the TV to the DVR. Then I run a toslink (optical) cable from the DVR to my receiver. My DVD player is hooked up via component (doesn't have HDMI port). The DVR manual has several connection scenarios and your HT will too. To help figure out what is best for you I have some links below. After all is said and done it depends on what looks best to you. I tried HDMI and component on my DVR and did not notice any difference. The articles seem biased to me but it's a starting point.

I currently have the HLR. Getting it swapped for the HLS this week.


Here is a link to an index of connection articles:
DVI and HDMI versus Component Video--Which is Better article link:


I have a problem and thought I would ask my question here as I have similar connections. I have an 8300 ExplorerHD PVR hooked up with HDMI cable to my Samsung HL-S4676S. For audio I have digital audio cable out of the Explorer box in to my AV receiver so I get DD 5.1 audio.

The problem is when I switch to watch a DVD for instance and then come back to watch TV, the video signal on the TV is just snow. To get the picture thru HDMI back, I have to switch to another station and then back to the station I was watching. If I was last watching an HD station, I have to switch to a 4:3 station or vice versa to get the picture back. This seems to cause a "refresh" of the HDMI connection and resets the video.

If I turn on the Digital Audio output from the cable box and choose the HDMI output instead, the problem goes away. I can change video sources and come back to tv and everything is just fine. Of course I don't get DD 5.1 that way, but it does eliminate the issue.

Just wonder if anyone else has this issue. Is it my TV, cable box, or HDMI cable that is the problem?

thanks

I have a 4266w with a build date of October 2006, and the black grass effect is still there. I don't think Samsung has come out with a fix for it yet since my TV is nearly fresh off the production line.

I've got another strange defect. When the screen is dark, two faint reddish purple blobs about 2" in diameter are on present the top edge of the screen. The blob are spaced equally 7" from each side of the screen. The defect is only visable during dark scenes. A pure white screen shows no discolorations or variations at all. I took a peek at the projection lens inside the cabinet. The lens had a noticable purple glow coming off one edge of it. I think there might be a defect in the light engine. I can't really see the black grass at normal viewing distance, but this problem is more annoying to me.

Your blob problem sounds somewhat similiar to my circles in the corner which only show up in when the screen is dark. I haven't had a chance to call Samsung yet because of term papers, let me know if you get word on the issue though.

Ok a question about the HDMI input on the 4266... Someone here said it can't "pass through" Dolby Digital 5.1. I assume this means that if I hook my cable box and DVD player to the TV via HDMI and then the TV to my receiver via optical cable, I will only get PCM sound? That strikes me as odd - the TV doesn't have to do anything to the audio at all, just pass on the signal. Also, I read Samsung's site and it said "all Samsung DLP support Dolby Digital 5.1 unless otherwise noted." I checked the 4266 manual and say nothing about it not receiving 5.1 via HDMI and passing it on to the receiver. This is somewhat important to me, because I have limited ports on my receiver.

ProV1x - there should be a piece of paper in your owners manuals and stuff that says something about a white patch on the screen. and the bulb needs to "warm" up so to speak. both are very normal things.

jp

too all with "grass", its not fixed and most likely will not be. i was supposed to have a tech calling me on thurs or friday and they stiffed me. i called them in raleigh and some snotty woman got attitude and cut off every word i tried to get out. assured me twice they would call no later than 4pm on friday. called samsung and they said there is nothing they can do other than cancel the service ticket and reissue another one, taking another 3 days to "maybe" get a call.

honestly ive talked to 10 different people in three days and they all are telling me the chances of the issue being TOTALLY resolved is zero. they can change out multiple things and might get it less visible but even the engineer that i talked to said, verbatim "its not going to go away 100% and if that isnt the result you want take the tv back and get something else (because) we just dont know what to do..."

i called CC and they are taking it back on monday with a full refund, no questions asked if its in the 30 day window. the manager said he's taken three back since the 26th that people bought on black friday morn. the 46" is on order.

jp

Well jp you must have gotten a very bad set. I can be very picky and I don't have any black grass. I wish you luck.

For all black grass issues, read my previous post on this same page. It's the screen that needs to be replaced because of the material it's composed of. If you're outside the 30-day return window, get your screen replaced. Otherwise, return it and get a bigger model.

I'm not an owner yet but will be in a couple days, just wondering which set is newer, 66 model or 86.

Looking at the HL-S6166 atm but can get the 6186 for $400 less.

Any help would be appreciated!

For all black grass issues, read my previous post on this same page. It's the screen that needs to be replaced because of the material it's composed of. If you're outside the 30-day return window, get your screen replaced. Otherwise, return it and get a bigger model.

"Buy a bigger model" seems common advice here. The problem is some of us don't have an extra 400-600 bucks lying around for a bigger model.. buying the 42 was a stretch, to say the least. And some of us have small rooms where a bigger model isn't appropriate. I'm just hoping I get one where the "grass" is only noticeable when the TV is on but not displaying anything.

"Buy a bigger model" seems common advice here. The problem is some of us don't have an extra 400-600 bucks lying around for a bigger model.. buying the 42 was a stretch, to say the least. And some of us have small rooms where a bigger model isn't appropriate. I'm just hoping I get one where the "grass" is only noticeable when the TV is on but not displaying anything.

That's ok too. Replacing the screen is no big deal, it's just an external part. It's not part of the "heart" of the tv like the light engine, DMD chip, reflective mirror, or even the bulb. It's a simple free replacement under warranty.

rimshaker-

The thing that concerns me.. is if they replace the screen, won't the new one be made out of the same "black grass" prone material the first one was? Or has Samsung indicated they actually are putting a different type of screen on when you get it replaced?

Also, I have a question regarding black grass in general.. is it something that can get worse over time, or is pretty much constant? Put another way, if the black grass is minimal enough it doesn't bother me when I get the TV, am I safe?

The native resolution of this set is 1280x720, or 720p Upscaling to 1080i, or 1080p, will mean the set will have to downscale the image again to 720p to display it which could actually cause a loss in picture quality.

The set supports plug n play. My computer automatically determined that it was a 1280x720 display and used that resolution. The Xbox 360 might not be so good at supporting plug and play monitors and set the resolution, and/or refresh rate to something that is not supported. If I remember correctly the set supports 1024×768 at 60hz.
so basically what you saying I'm out of luck. There is no other way around it I guess. I'm only trying to connect via VGA cause of the upscaling of standard dvds up to 720p. There are HD sets are there are native 1280x768 and those would work I guess. Thanks for the reply...

rimshaker-

The thing that concerns me.. is if they replace the screen, won't the new one be made out of the same "black grass" prone material the first one was? Or has Samsung indicated they actually are putting a different type of screen on when you get it replaced?

Also, I have a question regarding black grass in general.. is it something that can get worse over time, or is pretty much constant? Put another way, if the black grass is minimal enough it doesn't bother me when I get the TV, am I safe?

If you can live with black grass, then even better. Your 4266W is perfectly fine otherwise, and it never has to be taken apart by some technician. If a new screen still shows some black grass, then it's probly safe to assume samsung doesn't have any 42" screens composed of different material... and you have a legitimate argument to ask samsung to give you the next bigger 46" model. Couple users in this forum have done that. Price difference between 42" and 46" is negligible, if any.

How is the 4666w on xbox 360?

According to this, the other models have problems with gaming lag.

I will be primarily using it for 360, but also for some ota hd.

This is copied from ign's report.
I cant post the link because I dont have 5 posts yet.




Samsung LN-S4051D LCD HDTV
Severe lag in 480i, 480p. Game Mode doesn't help much.

Samsung HLR-5087, 50" widescreen DLP
Lags even with DNIe off. Bad with 480i, 480p.

Samsung HL-R5064W 50" DLP HDTV
Gaming Mode doesn't help, horrible.

Samsung HLR5067WX/XAA 50" DLP
Serious lag with 480i, 480p no lag.

Samsung HL-P5085W DLP
Heavy lag on S-Video and Composite.

Samsung SP-46L6HX

Samsung DLP HDTV, Model #HLR5067WX/XAA Version:PW01

Samsung HL-S4266W
Even in 720p

Samsung 32" LCD TV LE32T51

Samsung HL-R6168W DLP
Very bad lag with component. Reduced with VGA.

Samsung DLP 5078 models

Samsung HL-S5086W
Very minimal lag with Gaming Mode.

i played gow on my hls4266w from time to time and it never lag on me either on 720p or 1080i. never lag. hope this help for you. btw, i hook it up through component and vga and both doesn't seem to lag.

my new tv is arriving this week.Does anyone know the exact model of the lamp ?does any owner of the HLS5686W can help me with infos about the fan noise level ?and another thing that's very annoying me...can anyone post a picture of this sadly famous "black grass effect" ?thanks.

There are some pics of the black grass earlier in the thread.
(By earlier, I mean in the first 10 to 12 pages if memory serves.)

I'm pretty sure its only an issue with the 42 inch model, so you should be fine.

i played gow on my hls4266w from time to time and it never lag on me either on 720p or 1080i. never lag. hope this help for you. btw, i hook it up through component and vga and both doesn't seem to lag.
hey lonelydreamer213, can you please tell me how you connected your xbox 360 via VGA? Like what settings on the xbox and all. I tried and I keep getting a "Not Supported Mode" message in the middle of the screen.

I too don't lag on my 360 at all. And I play now on 720p with the game mode on with no problems whatsoever, the only problem I have is that the graphics look amazing on it. And even on 1080i it never lags one bit.

Update: Local repair shop took the set on Wed. Got a call from them yesterday and they said the inside of the set was bowed and the screen was affected. They are calling Samsung on Monday. Should I push Samsung for a completely new set at this point? The service guys are guessing somehow the set was subjected to some sort of external heat source.

The thing that really sucks is I had planned on staying home the day after Thanksgiving and enjoying the set! I waited/researched/etc for well over a yr before taking the plunge. I origianally recevied the set last Friday and here it is a week later and now suffering major HDTV withdrawl.

I'm hanging in but its going to be murder this upcoming week with all the ads for HDTV constantly reminding me of the situation I'm in...

<sigh>

Well, Its now over been over 2 weeks and I still do not have the set back yet. A call to the Tech said that all the parts still were not in as yet. Apparently, the cabinet needs to be replaced as well because of the bowing. The Tech told me he called in the parts order on 11/18/06. Does it normally take Samsung over 2 weeks to get parts to authorized service centers? This seems very long when you consider that I could buy a new one and get it shipped in shorter time than it takes to get the parts. The Tech sympathizes with me.

I am so frustrated I could chew nails at this point. AARRGGHH!

Just for fun, I ordered the service manual for the set. That order was placed on Tues - 11/28 and I got the manual on 12/1.

To rub salt in myself, after receiving the call from the Tech on Sat, 12/2. I spent the rest of Sat nite hooking up 2 HDTV's for friends...

<SIGH>

Hi there, im new here and just purchased my Samsung HLS5086w today.........i read every single post on the 'best dlp 1080p for gaming' and almost every post on the HLSxx87/88w threads.......And was for sure set on getting the HLS5087w 1080p.

I was going to use it for the Xbox 360, and get the Xbox HD DVD add on , and use 1080p through component or VGA so it would convert regular DVDs too. Well, circuit city changed the price by 400$ on that model , so i opted for the hls5086w that was on sale for 1299 yesterday. I know the samsung is the only ones that accepted 1080p through component/vga but does that matter now that I got a 720p? Does the HD DVD play through 720p, and is there any point in getting one still? I probably couldve opted for the sony since I didnt get a 1080p tv now, but it was a bit more (the e2000 50'' and a2000)

The samsungs at the store had football in HD playing, and the scorebar across the top was perfectly straight. The samsungs all had a pincushion effect on the edges or one side would warp up right at the left or right end........and the one I bought has a similar effect...is there a fix?

Also, i used the eliab settings, and the games are real dark (gears of war, call of duty 3) And i tried messing with the settings but it still doesnt look that great. What setting should I have the xbox on (720p, etc) I also played CARS dvd (regular dvd thru xbox) and its kinda grainy and has black bar across top and bottom. Does the regular xbox 360 upcovert regular DVDs, or only the HD DVD drive? How will the hd dvd look?

I still have the 30 day return policy, and honestly most of the sonys looked better, but could have been the settings. Sorry for the ridiculously long first post, but Id appreciate any help! Thanks!

i played gow on my hls4266w from time to time and it never lag on me either on 720p or 1080i. never lag. hope this help for you. btw, i hook it up through component and vga and both doesn't seem to lag.


Thanks.

That was the only thing that was concerning to me, and it doesnt seem to be an issue.

Thanks.

That was the only thing that was concerning to me, and it doesnt seem to be an issue.

I played alot of GoW and COD3 last night on regular mode, through component, and pretty sure I noticed some lag in both games....hard to tell. I switched game mode on, and it seemed to go away completely, (shouldnt be any lag with 360 and this isnt a 1080p TV) also, game mode was much brighter and easier to see, yet it didnt look as clear, objects far away were hard to see (for a HDTV) Not sure what the deal is...

Hmmmm....

Ill be playing it through component.

Anyone else have any lag problems?

So guys, i need some advice -

I am new to the projection TV scene, so i am unsure about what i should do. I recently got the 4266, much like many others on BF. Now, i know that the bulb will eventually die, so i am at a loss of what to do. The way i see it, i have these options:

1) Buy the 2 year warrenty from Circuit City, and hope the bulb goes out while it is covered.
2) Buy a spare bulb now, and try to keep it safe for a few years
3) Buy neither, and hope that when the bulb does go, the bulbs are still available, and for cheaper, since the TV will be ~2 years older at that point.

Any advice?

Divine_Madcat im in the same shoes and I'm new to this whole HD stuff, and to be quite honest I'm very pleased and happy with my HL-S4266W BF purchase. $799.99 well spent and I have no problems or regrets. So if you want my opinion I'd say buy the extended warranty just because you never know what else may break. Me personally I will purchase my extended warranty right before the 24th of Dec because you do have 30-days after the purchase to decided on it.

Oh and another thing to I sent CC an email via the website and the return policy is extended during the holidays so if you are not satisfied with the tv you have till Jan 25th to return if for a full refund. Just thought I'd let you know. Hope that helps...

My two cents:

I really don't think the extended warranty from CC is worthwhile.
I think its around $180 for two years.
And that two years starts when you purchase, not when the manu's warranty runs out.
So really, you are paying $180 for a one year warranty.

Again, just my two cents, take it for what its worth...

hey lonelydreamer213, can you please tell me how you connected your xbox 360 via VGA? Like what settings on the xbox and all. I tried and I keep getting a "Not Supported Mode" message in the middle of the screen.

I too don't lag on my 360 at all. And I play now on 720p with the game mode on with no problems whatsoever, the only problem I have is that the graphics look amazing on it. And even on 1080i it never lags one bit.

sorry for the late response. i hook it up through vga on the back of the tv and put the setting of the xbox 360 to 1280x720 since that is the native resolution on the tv w/game mode turn off. for the vga, you can grab the ms vga which cost about $40 and its very well worth it since it can upscale dvd when watching it on your 360. hope this help yah.

My two cents:

I really don't think the extended warranty from CC is worthwhile.
I think its around $180 for two years.
And that two years starts when you purchase, not when the manu's warranty runs out.
So really, you are paying $180 for a one year warranty.

Again, just my two cents, take it for what its worth...

Well, the one difference i see, is that the CC warrenty covers the bulb for those two years, where as the manu warrenty does not cover it at all. IF the bulb does go out in that time frame, that is a big difference..

Best Buy offered a 4 year warranty for 200 bucks, and it includes the bulb. I went for that, because its a good bet the bulb will die within 4 years. I tend to doubt it would be a problem finding a bulb to purchase though - I'm sure the life cycle of the TV is pretty long.

So guys, i need some advice -

I am new to the projection TV scene, so i am unsure about what i should do. I recently got the 4266, much like many others on BF. Now, i know that the bulb will eventually die, so i am at a loss of what to do. The way i see it, i have these options:

1) Buy the 2 year warrenty from Circuit City, and hope the bulb goes out while it is covered.
2) Buy a spare bulb now, and try to keep it safe for a few years
3) Buy neither, and hope that when the bulb does go, the bulbs are still available, and for cheaper, since the TV will be ~2 years older at that point.

Any advice?

The cost of the extended warranty is pretty close to the cost of a bulb. The factory warranty is one year, and includes the bulb. If you registered the warranty online, samsung will extend the warranty another 3 months. I would not buy the bulb until the factory warranty runs out.

I posted this on the 8300HD thread and I doubt I'll get any response, so i'll ask here too:

I recently got a new Samsung HL-S4266W and it doesn't seem to recognize the HD signal coming from my 8300HD box.

In other words, neither of the HDMI ports work nor the component imputs. It does recognize the composite signal. The TV also works fine with my Xbox 360 over component.

Samsung is supposed to send out a repair person, but I don't know how much good that will do - he might just blame it on the cable box. Meanwhile, the cable company says it's the TV.

Any ideas? I've already tried rebooting the 8300HD. I've tested it with my older TV via HDMI and it works fine. Thanks.

EDIT: i'm pretty sure it's some sort of compatibility issue between the TV and 8300HD. I did a hard reboot of the box and when i normally don't get signal, the logo "Power TV" showed up for a split second. So i'm pretty sure it's not the TV's fault. Yet, the box works perfectly on my Sharp 26" LCD. WEIRD.

Should i just get a new box, even though it works fine on my other TV? Or should I go ahead and tell the repair person to replace the TV (assuming he can't get it to work)? Help!

Don't quote me on this, but I'd bet its a TV issue... The 8300HD is a VERY common cable box, I can't imagine its a compatibility issue with all 4266s.

I posted this on the 8300HD thread and I doubt I'll get any response, so i'll ask here too:

I recently got a new Samsung HL-S4266W and it doesn't seem to recognize the HD signal coming from my 8300HD box.

In other words, neither of the HDMI ports work nor the component imputs. It does recognize the composite signal. The TV also works fine with my Xbox 360 over component.

Samsung is supposed to send out a repair person, but I don't know how much good that will do - he might just blame it on the cable box. Meanwhile, the cable company says it's the TV.

Any ideas? I've already tried rebooting the 8300HD. I've tested it with my older TV via HDMI and it works fine. Thanks.

EDIT: i'm pretty sure it's some sort of compatibility issue between the TV and 8300HD. I did a hard reboot of the box and when i normally don't get signal, the logo "Power TV" showed up for a split second. So i'm pretty sure it's not the TV's fault. Yet, the box works perfectly on my Sharp 26" LCD. WEIRD.

Should i just get a new box, even though it works fine on my other TV? Or should I go ahead and tell the repair person to replace the TV (assuming he can't get it to work)? Help!

Don't quote me on this, but I'd bet its a TV issue... The 8300HD is a VERY common cable box, I can't imagine its a compatibility issue with all 4266s.

Yeah, that makes sense. It would also explain why I haven't seen any other similar issue, with serious googling. I think I'll let Samsung repair/replace the TV and see what happens. Thanks :)

Best Buy offered a 4 year warranty for 200 bucks, and it includes the bulb. I went for that, because its a good bet the bulb will die within 4 years. I tend to doubt it would be a problem finding a bulb to purchase though - I'm sure the life cycle of the TV is pretty long.

True, but they will only replace the bulb twice during the 4 years under warranty. Read the fine print or ask.

True, but they will only replace the bulb twice during the 4 years under warranty. Read the fine print or ask.

Yeah, but don't the bulbs cost 150 bucks +? If so, even if they replace it only once in four years, its still well worth the price. Put another way, the warranty is like buying 1 bulb ahead of time and getting a comprehensive non-bulb warranty for 50 bucks.

Its not a bad price - but i assume that it only can be bought for TV's bought from BB, correct?

Yeah, as far as I know, only if TV is bought from BB.

In other news, I received my TV last night. I used the Eliab callibration settings and it looks great (only change is I left sharpness at 25 and gave +2 to red to eliminate slight green push).

It appears perfect to me.. I have looked and looked for the so-called black grass (this is a 42" model) and have yet to find it. If its there, I certainly don't notice it when viewing anything. Only thing I noticed when TV is on with no signal is, around the Samsung label, there is a "half circle" that is ever so slightly brighter. There is no banding in it though, so I'm not sure that is related to black grass or not. In any case, its unnoticeable when viewing, even on dark scenes. I guess I got a cherry! :)

jahutch - it sounds like what would be black grass, but it sounds like you got the best. I too have not noticed any black grass - but for the life of me, i don't see any build date on my Unit, so i can't even share what to look for...

...- but for the life of me, i don't see any build date on my Unit, so i can't even share what to look for...

The build date is on a sticker located at the approximate center of the set's back side.

I just set up my 4266 & was hoping that someone had the optimal picture settings available for regular TV, DVD, & PS2. If anyone could help it would be appreciated.

The build date is on a sticker located at the approximate center of the set's back side.
Thats the thing, i looked, and didn't see anything -I'll check again though.

I just set up my 4266 & was hoping that someone had the optimal picture settings available for regular TV, DVD, & PS2. If anyone could help it would be appreciated.

I am also interested in this ... I can't seem to find it via the search ... maybe I'm just a noob but if someone could provide a link it would be great!

I just set up my 4266 & was hoping that someone had the optimal picture settings available for regular TV, DVD, & PS2. If anyone could help it would be appreciated.

The calibrators that frequent this forum (this is from Eliab) recommend this as a starting point for all Sammy HLS sets:

Digital NR - OFF
DNIe - Off
Mode - Movie
Contrast - 40
Brightness - 45
Sharpness - 0
Color - 45
Tint - G50/R50
Color Tone - Warm2

Starting with these settings they recommend taking it to the next level by using a DVE calibration disk.

My experience with the HL-S4266 is this. I find the above settings too dark. And after calibrating with a DVE disk, I find the settings I arrive at are very close to the factory defaults for Movie mode.

I use the factory default Movie mode settings for standard definition TV, HDTV and DVDs. Occasionally I use the factory default Standard mode settings for bright sunny days when we have all our curtains open. For both modes I always leave Digital NR set to OFF. And for standard definition TV I set the Film Mode to ON.

When using the Standard mode I play around with DNIe a lot but most of the time its OFF. (BTW: In Movie mode you can not set DNIe to ON because its grayed out by default.)

Hope this helps.

Can you adjust the settings PER input on these tv's? I am fixing to buy the hl-s5086w and i'm wondering, at a 11 foot distance would I notice the added resolution of the 1080p(5087) model instead of this one?

At least on the HLSXX66W, you can do per input settings (at least that is what it seems like to me - every time i used a new input, i had to go in and turn off the dynamic picture mode, as it was on for each input).

Also - build date of Oct 06 and no black grass at all.

sorry for the late response. i hook it up through vga on the back of the tv and put the setting of the xbox 360 to 1280x720 since that is the native resolution on the tv w/game mode turn off. for the vga, you can grab the ms vga which cost about $40 and its very well worth it since it can upscale dvd when watching it on your 360. hope this help yah.
no problem, thanks for the reply. I tried what you mentioned several times and it still doesn't work. You do have the HL-S4266W right? Just making sure...may I send you a pm with my email to figure this out, please? Thanks in advance!!!

no problem, thanks for the reply. I tried what you mentioned several times and it still doesn't work. You do have the HL-S4266W right? Just making sure...may I send you a pm with my email to figure this out, please? Thanks in advance!!!

yeah sure. i have the hls4266w which i bought during thanksgiving black friday. you got the vga cable for 40 bucks right made from ms? just plug that behind the tv where the vga input is at. make sure you go to the xbox dashboard then to system and check on 1280x720. i hooked it up with a breeze. you can just send me email thru lonelydreamer213@yahoo.com since i check that email periodically.

hi there.

read this site extensively before pulling the trigger and buying a samsung, hls4666. just got it; i have not had a chance to run calibration dvd yet, but will soon. for now, ive made adjustments suggested earlier in this thread.

i'm having a few problems though:

1. I have time warners hd dvr w/hdmi, and a phillips dvd/home theater system in a box w/hdmi. i bought hdmi cables and conencted one of them from the cable box to the tv and then other from the dvd/receiver to the tv. i switch to hdmi 1 to access dvds, and i get the audio thru the home theater system. however, i cannot get audio thru the speakers for regular television. i've read thru all my manuals and cant figure it out. i muted the tv's internal volume but that didnt work. do i need any other cable (optical?) from the receiver to the tv? i thought the hdmi handled both video and audio.

2. i cant figure out if i can one remote for all 3 items: tv, cable dvr and dvd/receiver. tried programming the sammy remote to operate home theater but the codes didnt work.

sorry if these are painfully obvious questions. i'd appreciate any and all help!

thanks,
jon

I bought this an HLS4676S about 2 weeks ago, and I'm not sure if I like it. I've had a 32" tube with Directv for years. I got Directv HD service with the H20 receiver hooked up via HDMI and a DVD player via component. This picture is good most of the time except when there are white or very light colors which look like a bunch of little sparkles to me. My wife sees the same thing but described it as pixilated. This happens on DVDs and Directv, and I've tried many settings and it doesn't seem to get better. A very light background just looks grainy or sparkly to me, is this something that can be fixed with calibration? Also I have a good power strip but not a power conditioner, would that make any difference? I'm going back to the store soon to see if I can see the same thing with other sets, but I'm leaning towards returning this.

Any help would be appreciated.

Hey guys, glad to say that I too am now a proud owner of the 5086w and so far it's been problem free. The question I have is concerning calibration. Following the link below:
http://brighamrad.harvard.edu/research/topics/vispercep/tutorial.html
you can find a pattern involving black/white and greyscale. I run this test by hooking up my laptop to the tv via vga.
A part of the test is being able to tell the difference between 0/5 black and 95/100 white. Whenever I bump up the brightness on the tv to about 90, I can see the 5% black square within the 0% black square, but regardless of anything I've tried, I can't get the 95% white to differentiate itself within the 100% white square. Has anyone tried this test pattern to find optimal settings, or perhaps would like to give it a go?

Hey guys. the previous problem i had was solved by getting a new cable box

New Issue: i have a serious "halo effect" when white text/images are displayed on a dark/black background and it's starting to bother me more than black grass.

This is an example from a DVD (hooked up via VGA) on my HL-S4266w:

http://i11.tinypic.com/2epsgw8.jpg

(note: the text is way sharper in real life, the image looks a little blurred b/c i took the picture without flash. still the halo effect is almost the same though)

Is this normal? Seems pretty bad to me. I know i shouldn't expect perfection but this and black grass are making me want to just return this TV.

I'm seeing a large amount of visual noise in video output on my 4266, even on the PS3 over hdmi, I'd assume its not normal, but has anyone else experienced this problem? It really detracts from the image quality, especially while playing back bluray

I bought this an HLS4676S about 2 weeks ago, and I'm not sure if I like it. I've had a 32" tube with Directv for years. I got Directv HD service with the H20 receiver hooked up via HDMI and a DVD player via component. This picture is good most of the time except when there are white or very light colors which look like a bunch of little sparkles to me. My wife sees the same thing but described it as pixilated. This happens on DVDs and Directv, and I've tried many settings and it doesn't seem to get better. A very light background just looks grainy or sparkly to me, is this something that can be fixed with calibration? Also I have a good power strip but not a power conditioner, would that make any difference? I'm going back to the store soon to see if I can see the same thing with other sets, but I'm leaning towards returning this.

Any help would be appreciated.

All I can tell you is I have the same TV and do not have any of the problems you describe, my pictures are crisp and clean with no sparkles. With my HD projector I had some interference problems which I found out was a grounding problem. After getting the grounding problems resolved the sparkles went away. Hope that helps.

All I can tell you is I have the same TV and do not have any of the problems you describe, my pictures are crisp and clean with no sparkles. With my HD projector I had some interference problems which I found out was a grounding problem. After getting the grounding problems resolved the sparkles went away. Hope that helps.

The sparkles are generally a sign of corruption of the signal - so first thing first - check the cable? If the wire is crushed, or anything else, you could see such problems.

Does anyone know if playing the XBOX 360 over VGA gets rid of some of the overscan?

Hey guys, glad to say that I too am now a proud owner of the 5086w and so far it's been problem free. The question I have is concerning calibration. Following the link below:
http://brighamrad.harvard.edu/research/topics/vispercep/tutorial.html
you can find a pattern involving black/white and greyscale. I run this test by hooking up my laptop to the tv via vga.
A part of the test is being able to tell the difference between 0/5 black and 95/100 white. Whenever I bump up the brightness on the tv to about 90, I can see the 5% black square within the 0% black square, but regardless of anything I've tried, I can't get the 95% white to differentiate itself within the 100% white square. Has anyone tried this test pattern to find optimal settings, or perhaps would like to give it a go?

I too have the 5086W, and am going to test this out. I won't be able to test it until another week or so because we just took out the carpet in our house and are getting our hardwood floors re-finished this week. So, all of the furniture, and yes the tv too, is snugly tucked away in my garage. Yes, no HDTV for a week :(

As soon as I get a chance, I'll test it out and let you know what I find.

The sparkles are generally a sign of corruption of the signal - so first thing first - check the cable? If the wire is crushed, or anything else, you could see such problems.

I see the same effects over HDMI and component so I don't think its related to the wire. I'm going to get a calibration disk and try that.

has anyone seen this picture? is this normal??

Hey guys. the previous problem i had was solved by getting a new cable box

New Issue: i have a serious "halo effect" when white text/images are displayed on a dark/black background and it's starting to bother me more than black grass.

This is an example from a DVD (hooked up via VGA) on my HL-S4266w:

http://i11.tinypic.com/2epsgw8.jpg

(note: the text is way sharper in real life, the image looks a little blurred b/c i took the picture without flash. still the halo effect is almost the same though)

Is this normal? Seems pretty bad to me. I know i shouldn't expect perfection but this and black grass are making me want to just return this TV.

Wild - i get something like that, but only if i am literally standing over the TV (~ 170* viewing angle. Striaght on, i get nothing of the sort.

Wild - i get something like that, but only if i am literally standing over the TV (~ 170* viewing angle. Striaght on, i get nothing of the sort.

yeah, i'm getting it straight on :(

i went ahead and called Samsung, AGAIN

It looks like the actual lens setup is just out of focus, or is dirty. It certainly should be something covered under warranty.

So guys - i am having another weird issue; i think. The TV has shut off twice without reason so far, in the time we have had it. It shouldn't be overheating - there is at least 6 inches from the vent to the wall, and the room is cool. Once has been while watching a DVD (connected via HDMI); i dont remember the source of the other time.

Also - the DVD connection gives a high pitched squealing sound out of the TV - now, i do have it connected to my 5.1 reciever, over the digital coax. Is this an issue anyone else has heard of before?

Hey all,

I am wondering what the best Video setting is for my cable box, a Scientific America Explorer 8300HD, on a HL-S4266. I have it hooked up via HDMI and there are 4 options:

1) Upconvert 1 --> upconverts everything to 1080i and sends it out to TV, which then of course downconverts it to the TV's native, 720p. I'd assume you wouldn't want this.

2) Upconvert 2 --> Converts everything to 720p, then sends it to the TV. This includes downconverting 1080i to 720p.

3) Fixed --> Seems to leave the signal in its native format and allow the TV to process it. HD signals are left in their native format, while SD signals are transmitted as 1080i (according to the box anyway).

4) Auto HDMI/DVI --> Seems to do exactly the same thing as "Fixed"

Initially my thought was 2 was the best bet, but some testing led me to believe 3 or 4 may provide slightly better image quality. I'd assume this could be because the TV is better at downconverting 1080i to 720p than the cable box? In any case, the difference was awfully hard to discern, if indeed there was any. For now I've left it on Auto HDMI/DVI. Things look great for the most part, except a CBS football broadcast which seemed to have some flicker in it.

Also I noticed last night, occasionally, I'd get a few grey spots on the TV, or lose sound for a second - both smack of lost digital data. This happened once an hour or so, if that... Is this likely just the cable broadcast having a bit of trouble, or could it be my HDMI cable. Its dirt cheap but only 3 feet long.. so I'm not sure that's the culprit.

Thoughts on either issue would be appreciated!

Hi all!

I too picked up a 4266w from CC for $799. After living with it for a couple weeks, I'm overall quite pleased with it. Yeah, I've seen the "black grass" a few times, but have learned to ignore it by not focusing on it. I even sometimes will catch a glimpse of small rainbows if my eyes quickly scan horizontaly across the screen, at just the right time. But I must say, at $799 for a 42" with a picture this good, is a steal. The positives far outway the negatives, IMO.

Different tv's and technologies all have pros and cons, and I don't think I could have done better then this tv for this price. And it fits in our existing entertainment center perfectly :-) The wife and kids just love it, and they have not noticed the occasional black grass or tiny rainbows, and I'm not going to point them out.

Would I buy this tv for $1399? No. Would I buy it again for $799, even after knowing it's drawbacks? Most definitely!

Hi all!

I too picked up a 4266w from CC for $799. After living with it for a couple weeks, I'm overall quite pleased with it. Yeah, I've seen the "black grass" a few times, but have learned to ignore it by not focusing on it. I even sometimes will catch a glimpse of small rainbows if my eyes quickly scan horizontaly across the screen, at just the right time. But I must say, at $799 for a 42" with a picture this good, is a steal. The positives far outway the negatives, IMO.

Different tv's and technologies all have pros and cons, and I don't think I could have done better then this tv for this price. And it fits in our existing entertainment center perfectly :-) The wife and kids just love it, and they have not noticed the occasional black grass or tiny rainbows, and I'm not going to point them out.

Would I buy this tv for $1399? No. Would I buy it again for $799, even after knowing it's drawbacks? Most definitely!

yup, i feel the same way.

So guys - i am having another weird issue; i think. The TV has shut off twice without reason so far, in the time we have had it. It shouldn't be overheating - there is at least 6 inches from the vent to the wall, and the room is cool. Once has been while watching a DVD (connected via HDMI); i dont remember the source of the other time.

Also - the DVD connection gives a high pitched squealing sound out of the TV - now, i do have it connected to my 5.1 reciever, over the digital coax. Is this an issue anyone else has heard of before?

Ok.... so, it just did the shutoff thing again - any ideas folks?

Ok.... so, it just did the shutoff thing again - any ideas folks?

One thing you can check is to make sure the cover for lamp access is attached correctly on the back of the set. On that cover, there is a small flange on one side that actuates an interlock switch that can cause the power to shut down if the switch is not actuated correctly by the flange. You can't see the flange or switch without removing the cover. Instructions for removing the cover are in the owners manual. This is the same cover that is removed when replacing the bulb. Before removing the cover, always unplug the set.

There have been a few reports here of sets shutting down for no reason and it was found that the cover was not installed correctly causing the switch to not be actuated. If my recall is correct, some found the plastic flange was slightly bent and after straitening it, all was fine.

Good luck.

I'll check that out, thanks!

I'll check that out, thanks!

Read again. I did some edits after your post.

[more edits]
Here's another thread where the lamp door actuator switch was causing the problem.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=764401

It sounds similar, with one exeption - the TV stays on once powered back up. But still, i will check on it. Ill post back in a bit.

I have just gotten a HL-S4676S and I love it except for one thing.
The sound, routed through my reciever, is about a half a second ahead of the picture. It's driving me nuts. I went out online and found a few recievers that offer a sound delay, but I really hate going that route. Does anyone out there have a solution for this?

Hey there,

I just got my HL-S5086W and I'm having a hell of a time getting it to look the way it should. I've read this entire thread and I tried many of the settings you all suggested, but it still doesn't look quite right to me (too dark, not crisp and very pixelated). I'll obviously keep playing with the settings to see if I can find something I like.

My question is does living in a high-rise building in Chicago that uses Dish Network for all the apartments (at least 8 units per floor and 46 floors) weaken my signal enough to allow this poor image? I can't get a DVR in my apartment since I don't have my own individual dish, and I'm also not receiving all the HD channels since I don't have my own dish either (according to AT&T Home Entertainment).

Right now I have the Dish Network 811 receiver that's hooked up with a component cable, but I also just ordered a DVI to HDMI cable to see if that makes any kind of difference (which I doubt it will).

The image just looks very pixelated to me when it's in "standard" mode and not bright enough when I'm in movie mode, even at night with just regular lights on. Does distance have something to do with this? I'm sitting about ten feet away. I hate having this buyers remorse, but I don't want to make an expensive mistake.

I should note that I also have a 32" Sony Bravia LCD that used to be where the Samsung is now and I had no problems at all with the Sony.

I wish I could have waited for SED CRTs, but I had to buy now. My overall impression is that
these sets handle HD very well, but analog signals suck.

I just got the 50" 720 DLP last week. I have Comcast (no choice). I have the Motorola STB connected to the TV using the component cables. I got basic cable and the HD channels. So far the HD signals look great. I have seen 3 problems(more annoyances) so far. I have seen the screen door effect, but only once. I also have this thin vague purple horizontal line that runs up the screen every once in a while. Has anyone seen this? I also notice that with the HD picture that far away clustered objects, such as people sitting in the cheap seats when I'm watching a basketball game seem very difficult to focus on, like the gain is up way too high.

Now for the analog channels. They are borderline unwatchable. I've been watching analog tv for the last 8 years on a 36" JVC digital TV where the signal came from a DTV STB via the s-video jack, into a panny dmr-e80h dvd recorder, out the component jacks, into the TV component jacks. The picture was awesome.
Is there something I can do to make the analog pictures better?

Also anyone interested in buying this can get it at BB for $1,499. Then after you have it a few days, print out the price from the target.com website, which is $1,299 and get $230 off the set.

Hi All.

I just got the 5086W. I love the TV and so does my 2 year old. I read the manual but did not see a way to lock the buttons on the front of the TV. IS there a way to do this?

Any help is appreciated.

INow for the analog channels. They are borderline unwatchable.

SD TV on our HL-S4266 looks very good. Better than the standard CRT TV it replaced. On some channels like Discovery it almost looks like HD. Maybe its because of the smaller screen and higher pixel density. BTW for SDTV (480i) I always have the Film Mode set to ON.

to clarify my noise problem, it only shows up on pictures coming through the inputs, not on signals internal of the set, and is most discernible in what should be a pitch black screen where a lot of random pixel noise is prevalent, has anyone else experienced this?

I just got the S4666W and have watched it maybe five hours. Tonight I was using it and it was working fine when I set it to autoscan for channels via the antenna. I wasn't looking at the screen but I know that process was working when after a minute I heard the same sort of musical sound it makes when you turn it on or off and the screen was dark but the set was still on - the black screen is illuminated sort of but with no picture or sound.

Pressing buttons on the remote doesn't do anything except make the "timer" light on the front of the screen light up. If I unplug the TV and plug it back in, it comes out automatically without being turned on and the problem persists.

I called CS but after 30 min plus on hold had to go because I also had to fix a flat on my car (not a good night for me). Any advice before I call them abck?

Thanks!

Joel

back again, thought i would just update the saga.

oh and a quick note... the words "pull the trigger" NOT COOL ANYMORE..STFU.

samsung never was able to get a tech out from there recommended service center. these people were a complete friggin joke and if you would like to pm me ill be sure to fill you in if you live around the triad/ws/raleigh area.

i got a tech on my own thru a local high end HT store to come and check it out. he wasn't an employee but services all there high end tv's, etc. without saying i voided my warranty, he "checked" everything out that has been mentioned here. front to back, ill say no more. he and his associate do custom 100k rooms so i felt safe with my 800$ tv, lol ;)

the grass is a combination of issues that are inherent ONLY to the 42". i went to his place of business and checked out the screens, totally different. the specs for adjusting it are different but i was told many techs dont have info on every tv model so they guesstimate on tension, etc. scary i know.

bottom line, the grass IS NOT ONE THING.

he checked the guts and everything was compared and noted. at his shop many things were confirmed by this guy and an associate who both have been in this business for 20 years each. 90% of the 42" will have this problem, FACT. last week i got a call from him and he somehow got an internal memo on the 42" that spelled out the problems and no solution as of November 06. it went on to say they have known about this since March 06 and again spelled out there would be no fix. this tv will be replaced in mid 07 if not before and that is from samsung. one of the guys i talked to had replaced the screen and engine on two separate tvs and the grass was still there, he put the old engine back in and tried that.. nada. tried just the screen, still had the issue.

i ordered a 46" thru those bookseller people and have gotten the run around still, the supplier that is an AVS sponsor, they acted like they had their head up their can so i quit waiting on them to provide acceptable customer service. thru samsung you can ask for an "upgrade" of sorts, this is an approval process and is based on the person "trying" to get the tv fixed. in my case i tried since the 25th of november to get anyone on the green earth to contact me with zero results. its taken multiple phone calls and hours of time on my part... im far into this process now and really am gambling with time on this. if it wasn't for me dealing with the same dude at samsung id be up shite creek.

my best advice is if you bought the tv at cc or bb, take it back within your 30 days is the best advice i can give you. i should find out this week about my exchange thru samsung and if they deny it i only had a few days to box everything back up and take it back for the refund. ive talked at length with cc, where i bought mine, and they are full aware as is all the cc and bb stores in the area about this issue. since bf the store in hp has gotten a lot of them back. i can say for fact that cc and their 30 full refund policy is for real as i have talked this over with the department mgr and store mgr at length.

dont know what else to say on it. kudos to sites like this that have REAL info and not just speculation and bs being spread. this forum should be a staple for those that want to do anything HT related.

oh and http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/search.php? is your friend...

jp

I am really starting to notice the purplish horizontal lines traversing my screen from bottom to top. I have a motorola STB from Comcast connected to my tv via component cables. I only notice it when watching TV. I have never seen this when watching DVDs. I noticed it last night when I was watching Law&Order CI. I noticed it in the scenes when the background was grey, like when they were in the interrogation room. Has anyone else seen this? I know if I call Comcast, they will tell me that no one else has ever complained about this. I'm seriously considering taking the TV back. Help!!! Thanks - John.

I just got the S4666W and have watched it maybe five hours. Tonight I was using it and it was working fine when I set it to autoscan for channels via the antenna. I wasn't looking at the screen but I know that process was working when after a minute I heard the same sort of musical sound it makes when you turn it on or off and the screen was dark but the set was still on - the black screen is illuminated sort of but with no picture or sound.

Pressing buttons on the remote doesn't do anything except make the "timer" light on the front of the screen light up. If I unplug the TV and plug it back in, it comes out automatically without being turned on and the problem persists.

I called CS but after 30 min plus on hold had to go because I also had to fix a flat on my car (not a good night for me). Any advice before I call them abck?

Thanks!

Joel

Try a reset by unplugging the set and pressing the power button on the front panel for ten seconds while its unplugged. Leave the set unplugged for 30 seconds and then plug the set back in and power it up.

You can also read the Troubleshooting section in the back of your owners manual.

Thanks, dsl_steve, I'll try that when I get home.

The owner's manual was no help - the most trobuleshooting it could offer was "is your tv plugged in?" and the like. Hopefully what you suggest will work!

Hi gang:

Sorry for the length in advance, want to see if anyone has any ideas on this...

Bought the HLS4266W last weekend at BB for the bedroom. We've had the 50" in the LR for almost 3 years and love it. Brought it home and stuck a rabbit ear (yes, just one, not two, short little antenna) into it, dangled the antenna down the back of the stand, and got beautiful OTA HD immediately, even though we're 25 miles from the towers. Fabulous picture!

Monday came and we picked up the SA 8300 HDDVR box from Cox. It only has component, no hdmi or dvi. Hooked it up and immediately saw the wavy grass diagonally moving beautifully across the screen. It was an awful distraction. I messed with different picture setting after my husband left the room to go sulk about our purchase, and after awhile it went away. Thought it might be the settings, but I've determined it wasn't. However, now it is just intermittent wavy black grass, which is no fun. However, when I switch over to the antenna, the OTA hd still looks great, no wavy lines. The wavy lines to me look like interference used to look on our old time tvs before cable--anyone remember? I've looked through all the posts, and don't see any reference to it being some type of interference. I've seen the posts about possibly changing the glass, but why wouldn't it be showing on the OTA signal? Why does it come and go?

I haven't called Samsung yet, trying to figure out if there's something else I can do. I always think I can somehow fix everything. We really maxed out size here with 42", and a 46" probably won't work in the bedroom (I know, I know, getting old about talking about inches here, believe me :o .)

So, you guys have helped me so much over the years here, anyone have any thoughts?

Robin

do you have a clock radio or speaker near your tv? could be a magnet? any high power sources like a jacuzzi in the bath room? how old is the home? could be a ground problem on that socket which is a two dollar fix... maybe the antenna is not "tuned" enough if its a higher end antenna that you can adjust the vhf/uhf on it?

an old roommate at college had a sony flat panel and the thing would go ape sh__ when any cell phone was in the room. sometimes the screen would distort a little when the phone would receive a call but most of the time there would be a slight amount of interference from a cell anywhere around the tv.

my .02

jp

Would living in an apartment building that requires us to use QAM mode take away from the HD/standard PQ at all? I live in a high rise and am just curious if I'm not seeing the greatest PQ because I'm sharing my connection with so many other people.

Hooked it up and immediately saw the wavy grass diagonally moving beautifully across the screen.

You have a problem with your cable box signal. The *black grass* you've read about that is common to the HL-S4266 does not move. It is stationary, and is usually more visible on a "No signal" screen such as a DVD player input with the DVD player OFF (when the screen actually says "No signal detected".)

I'll see if i can get a new cable box today, hopefully with an HDMI connection. The wavy lines don't move a lot, they just seem to oscillate a little. It's not like the old vert-hold, horiz-hold days.

Thanks!

Robin

Hi All.

I just got the 5086W. I love the TV and so does my 2 year old. I read the manual but did not see a way to lock the buttons on the front of the TV. IS there a way to do this?

Any help is appreciated.

We purchased an L shaped piece of plastic at Babies R Us that blocks the big button perfectly.

Perfectly enough that we cant use it either and have to use the remote.

Okay, gang, thanks for the help with the 42". I swapped cable boxes, and it solved the problem so far. Not seeing anything weird, so we'll let out our breath for a bit and see if it's a keeper!

Robin

I am really starting to notice the purplish horizontal lines traversing my screen from bottom to top. I have a motorola STB from Comcast connected to my tv via component cables. I only notice it when watching TV. I have never seen this when watching DVDs. I noticed it last night when I was watching Law&Order CI. I noticed it in the scenes when the background was grey, like when they were in the interrogation room. Has anyone else seen this? I know if I call Comcast, they will tell me that no one else has ever complained about this. I'm seriously considering taking the TV back. Help!!! Thanks - John.

this happened to me too. i fixed the problem by getting higher quality component cables. the ones that worked for me were the Acoustic Research ones that Best Buy sells at a relatively reasonable price. The crappy ones that came from my cable provider kept showing the purple bar.

You can also get an HDMI or DVI cables to fix this issue

Hope this helps.

Let me apologize in advance if this is a stupid question. I'm a newbie, just got my HLS4266 delivered today. Been trying to read through this thread (obviously didn't do enough reading before I purchased, as I didn't know about the "black grass" thing until afterwards. I have noticed it, but it isn't that bad).

Now to my question: Earlier when tweaking the picture mode, I was able to choose Standard, Dynamic, Movie, whatever. I hooked a new dvd player up (Samsung DVD-HD860), was trying to adjust the picture and it's stuck on Dynamic Mode and won't let me change it. I go back to the HD/DVR cable box and it's stuck on Standard and won't let me change it either. I'm not able to get to the Sharpness, Contrast, Color controls. Both are hooked up with component cables. All the other menu options work fine. It's really trying my patience. Am I missing something?

edit: its still kinda there, wish i'd purchased a better set.

Let me apologize in advance if this is a stupid question. I'm a newbie, just got my HLS4266 delivered today. Been trying to read through this thread (obviously didn't do enough reading before I purchased, as I didn't know about the "black grass" thing until afterwards. I have noticed it, but it isn't that bad).

Now to my question: Earlier when tweaking the picture mode, I was able to choose Standard, Dynamic, Movie, whatever. I hooked a new dvd player up (Samsung DVD-HD860), was trying to adjust the picture and it's stuck on Dynamic Mode and won't let me change it. I go back to the HD/DVR cable box and it's stuck on Standard and won't let me change it either. I'm not able to get to the Sharpness, Contrast, Color controls. Both are hooked up with component cables. All the other menu options work fine. It's really trying my patience. Am I missing something?

Try resetting the set by unplugging it for 30 seconds and while its unplugged, press the power button for 10 seconds. Then plug it back in and power it up.

You can also try resetting the DVD player by powering it ON with no DVD and pressing the front panel FF button for five seconds.

Just a suggestion, try using an HDMI connection with the DVD player. The two Samsung products both using HDMI work very well together.

BTW: I also have an HL-S4266 and an HD860. An awesome combo. I let the DVD player upscale to 720p (the default setting) and the picture it puts out looks fantastic.

Ok all, I'm wondering if I have a bad HDMI cable. When I have my cable box hooked to my HL-S4266 via component, and the box is off, and I select the component input, there is a blank, black screen. When I do the same thing with HDMI (cable box off, TV on HDMI), the screen is black but there is some "snow" in the picture. It looks like the old days of bad analog antennas quite frankly. I don't notice much difference between HDMI and component when I have the box on, but I'm wondering if a cheap HDMI cable is allowing some form of interference to be introduced. This thought goes against everything I know about digital signal, but the cable I bought IS pretty chincy (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16812189135)

Alternatively, it could be the cable box is allowing some digital noise to be introduced, that is unnoticeable when it is actually on.

What do people think? Should I try the $17 cable from monoprice? Or is this something I shouldn't concern myself with (we are talking a 3ft cable after all).

Ok all, I'm wondering if I have a bad HDMI cable. When I have my cable box hooked to my HL-S4266 via component, and the box is off, and I select the component input, there is a blank, black screen. When I do the same thing with HDMI (cable box off, TV on HDMI), the screen is black but there is some "snow" in the picture. It looks like the old days of bad analog antennas quite frankly. I don't notice much difference between HDMI and component when I have the box on, but I'm wondering if a cheap HDMI cable is allowing some form of interference to be introduced. This thought goes against everything I know about digital signal, but the cable I bought IS pretty chincy (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16812189135)

Alternatively, it could be the cable box is allowing some digital noise to be introduced, that is unnoticeable when it is actually on.

What do people think? Should I try the $17 cable from monoprice? Or is this something I shouldn't concern myself with (we are talking a 3ft cable after all).


I would say you have a bad HDMI cable. Try a monoprice cable. Its a cheap way to troubleshoot your symptom.

Try resetting the set by unplugging it for 30 seconds and while its unplugged, press the power button for 10 seconds. Then plug it back in and power it up.

You can also try resetting the DVD player by powering it ON with no DVD and pressing the front panel FF button for five seconds.

Just a suggestion, try using an HDMI connection with the DVD player. The two Samsung products both using HDMI work very well together.

BTW: I also have an HL-S4266 and an HD860. An awesome combo. I let the DVD player upscale to 720p (the default setting) and the picture it puts out looks fantastic.


Thanks for the suggestions. It's fine now. About 30 minutes after I posted that message, I was trying again and everything worked. Still don't know why it happened or how it corrected but I'm not complaining. And I do plan on going HDMI at some point, just didn't want to overpay for the cable at Best Buy. Question though: My receiver is an older model that doesn't have HDMI, if I connect the TV and DVD player via HDMI, I still need to send a digital coax or optical cable to the receiver in order to get the 5.1 right?

I'm buying a larger screen tv but not upgrading to HD yet--for the time I'll be staying with my directv digital signal. I'm choosing between the Samsung HLS5086W DLP and the Sony KDF-50E2000 rear LCD. My question is, between the two technologies is there a significant difference in ability to display standard def signals like my directv signal?

When I eventually upgrade to HD I'll buy whatever 1080p technology has emerged triumphant and this TV will be relegated to a bedroom, so while the HD picture is important, for now it's the std def picture that will probably drive my choice.

Can anybody give me some good advice comparting picture quality for the two or is there no real difference?

...And I do plan on going HDMI at some point, just didn't want to overpay for the cable at Best Buy.

For good cables that are very low cost: http://www.monoprice.com/home/index.asp

They are a forum sponser as-well

Question though: My receiver is an older model that doesn't have HDMI, if I connect the TV and DVD player via HDMI, I still need to send a digital coax or optical cable to the receiver in order to get the 5.1 right?

Yes, I believe so.

I would say you have a bad HDMI cable. Try a monoprice cable. Its a cheap way to troubleshoot your symptom.

Should I buy the 24AWG one with the net jacket, or is the 28AWG with the ferrite cores just as good?

Thanks!

Should I buy the 24AWG one with the net jacket, or is the 28AWG with the ferrite cores just as good?

Thanks!

Flip a coin. They're both good cables. Generally the ferrite cores are helpful when purchasing long cables (more than 12 feet). If your cable is 6 feet or under, get the 24AWG.

My question is, between the two technologies is there a significant difference in ability to display standard def signals like my directv signal?

SD TV programs will look better on smaller screens. Seeing that both your choices are 50 inch screens with comparable tuners, there will probably be little difference.

So the reset suggestion didn't work and I called CS again and was referred to a regional center to schedule a repair. When I talked to them, the guy asked if I was using an over-the-air antenna and when I said yes, he told me that there is a problem with antennas "burning out" the "main board" and Samsung currently has no solution to the problem but is "working on it, call back Monday."

While I'm baffled as to how an antenna conenction could "burn out" anything, has anyone else heard anything about this? Anyone use over the air antennas? Could it be some problem with digital signals in Chicago?

Again, I have the S4666W, ordered from Amazon.

Well, i reseated the back panel, and was ok for a while; but today, it reset twice (a few hours apart). I will reseat again, but aside from that, any other idea what might be wrong? I am within my 30 Circuit City exchange time still, so if you think that is what really needs to be done; so be it. But i would rather not do that if i could avoid it for something more simple.

Basically when it shuts down, it just turns off and the temp/standby light goes on. It shouldn't be heat (it stays on just fine again after turning it on), especially since the tv is a good foot from the wall.

Well, i reseated the back panel, and was ok for a while; but today, it reset twice (a few hours apart). I will reseat again, but aside from that, any other idea what might be wrong? I am within my 30 Circuit City exchange time still, so if you think that is what really needs to be done; so be it. But i would rather not do that if i could avoid it for something more simple.

Basically when it shuts down, it just turns off and the temp/standby light goes on. It shouldn't be heat (it stays on just fine again after turning it on), especially since the tv is a good foot from the wall.

Well, whatever the cause is, it ain't right. Save yourself the headaches and either exchange it, or have it serviced. Then enjoy it :)

That is what i figured. I just hate the hassle. THis is my 4th TV (only first of this model though - other three were Olevia 32" LCDs...) that i will have exchanged after Black Friday. It gets to be a real hassle after a while, you know?

Got one thing going on with my TV that concerns me a little, but not much. As it is "heating up," it obviously starts dim, and gradually brightens to its normal brightness. I know this is normal. However, right when it reaches full brightness, the color on the TV will change. Its almost as if the picture setting (Movie in this case) is not being "applied" until after the TV "heats up." Its a subtle change, and it looks fine before the change, and looks even better after. It does this at exactly the same time every time its turned on. Once the change occurs, there are never any further changes. I assume this is just related to the bulb "heating up" but I wanted to be sure nothing is wrong with the TV. Not that I want to return it.. there is so little black grass on this TV that I wouldn't risk it!

Got one thing going on with my TV that concerns me a little, but not much. As it is "heating up," it obviously starts dim, and gradually brightens to its normal brightness. I know this is normal. However, right when it reaches full brightness, the color on the TV will change. Its almost as if the picture setting (Movie in this case) is not being "applied" until after the TV "heats up." Its a subtle change, and it looks fine before the change, and looks even better after. It does this at exactly the same time every time its turned on. Once the change occurs, there are never any further changes. I assume this is just related to the bulb "heating up" but I wanted to be sure nothing is wrong with the TV. Not that I want to return it.. there is so little black grass on this TV that I wouldn't risk it!

Normal. The bulb ballast is driven by soft-start circuitry to ramp up the bulb current slowly. This extends the life of the bulb and avoids excessive turn-on current draw.

Normal. The bulb ballast is driven by soft-start circuitry to ramp up the bulb current slowly. This extends the life of the bulb and avoids excessive turn-on current draw.

Great, thats what I figured. Thanks for the quick response!

Does anyone know definitively how this TV down converts 1080i to to 720p? Does it down convert to 540p and then back up to 720p?

That is what i figured. I just hate the hassle. THis is my 4th TV (only first of this model though - other three were Olevia 32" LCDs...) that i will have exchanged after Black Friday. It gets to be a real hassle after a while, you know?
Not to mention - my set is black grass free; I would REALLY like to avoid having exchange it, now that i think about it....

Does anyone know definitively how this TV down converts 1080i to to 720p? Does it down convert to 540p and then back up to 720p?

Yes, thats pretty much how it works. If you have the option, there's less processing if you send the set a 720p signal.

Not to mention - my set is black grass free; I would REALLY like to avoid having exchange it, now that i think about it....

When you checked the lamp cover, did you make sure the interlock switch was getting actuated by the tab on the lamp cover? [As always, when doing this unplug the set.]

TO be honest, i can't say i checked that hard. I just redid the panel to make it more secure. I will be more careful this time. I just wish the problem was easier to reproduce. I mean, it went fine for two days, and then the next day, turned off twice.

Has anyone used a Nintendo Wii on a HL-S5086W with the composite cables, if so, how is the quality, and did the component cables make a big difference? I have ordered the component cables, but as of right now all of the component inputs are taken (360 and Moto 3416 cable box). I am thinking about the VGA kit for the 360, but don't really want to fool around with resolution settings, should I just be able to plug the VGA kit into the 360 and set the resolution to 1280x720 (if not, what settings on the 360 and TV should I expect)?
My kids are getting a PS3 for Christmas and I expect to use the HDMI port for it, has anyone had any experience with the PS3 and if it plays well with the Sammy HDMI port (the Moto 3416 doesn't and I get HD "static").

Thanks

as far as the wii one of my neighbors has it and is using component to his 42" dlp and it looks fine. i wouldn't even bother with composite to be honest, find a way to use component.

as far as the ps3 a buddy brought his over and we had a "round table" discussion... basically we drank home brewed beer and ate pizza and evaluated it. the hdmi playing blu ray fifth element and gone in 60 seconds, very very nice.

he used his 2m monster cable m1000dav hdmi to my 46" sammy dlp. he had a sample ps3 disk he got thru where he works that had future games on it. w o w. colin mcrae DIRT and the next gen grand turismo are going to be unfreakinbelievable. ill buy the ps3 just for GT. pure sickness.

and if you want to adopt one more for xmas my mailing address is 1809 abbet... lol.

jp

end of my tv saga, i hope.

ended up with the HL-S5086W. waited since the day after black friday for samsung and the repair place to get someone out to check the 42" out. a little pissed @ samsung, there service was decent at best. i do feel that they should have gotten someone higher up involved when no one ever bothered to show up for service. consolidated electronics in raleigh, nc can officially bite me. two weeks worth of bs from them.

big kudos to CC on there 30 day return/exchange policy. pulled up with the old tv and within 10 min of being in the store they offered several options. in 20 min i was out the door with new tv. they were curious on the whole grass issue so the dept mgr hooked up the old one and got the info from it. we checked out my new tv and had me out the door in 20 min. very good experience.

for those with grass, dont wait for samsung, they try to help but in the end cant do anything about it. the process to "upgrade" to a different tv is very long and the price difference isnt anything better than what cc bb etc can do. samsung put me in touch with everyone they could and no one knows what to do about the grass. oh well, its an excuse to upgrade and thats never a bad thing.

jp

quick questions to all u hl-s4266w owners connecting your 360 via VGA or even a pc via VGA.

I managed to get my replacement 360 unit connected via VGA this time and everything works great now (kudos to lonelydreamer), but I do have one concern. I notice that say my 360 dashboard or even a movie playing from the 360 will kinda of default in position more to the left side of the screen (the edge) and will have about a 1/2 black space on the right. Is this normal? now if I play the same movie say on my dvd player it will take all of the screen from left to right if the movie is WS.

Is it because the input is VGA it will always be just like a regular pc monitor that you have to position the screen in the middle? And still have some black space on all 4 sides?

I hope all this makes sense. I just wanted to use the VGA cables on my 360 to be able to upconvert my current dvd collection with the HD-DVD player since my current stand alone dvd player will not upconvert to 720p. And only with the VGA will it upconvert.

to lonelydreamer, I sent you a reply to your email just thought I'd post here if anyone else could provide some assistance. Thanks in advance guys!

I will take some pics of even a small video to be more clear.

quick questions to all u hl-s4266w owners connecting your 360 via VGA or even a pc via VGA.

I managed to get my replacement 360 unit connected via VGA this time and everything works great now (kudos to lonelydreamer), but I do have one concern. I notice that say my 360 dashboard or even a movie playing from the 360 will kinda of default in position more to the left side of the screen (the edge) and will have about a 1/2 black space on the right. Is this normal? now if I play the same movie say on my dvd player it will take all of the screen from left to right if the movie is WS.

Is it because the input is VGA it will always be just like a regular pc monitor that you have to position the screen in the middle? And still have some black space on all 4 sides?

I hope all this makes sense. I just wanted to use the VGA cables on my 360 to be able to upconvert my current dvd collection with the HD-DVD player since my current stand alone dvd player will not upconvert to 720p. And only with the VGA will it upconvert.

to lonelydreamer, I sent you a reply to your email just thought I'd post here if anyone else could provide some assistance. Thanks in advance guys!

I will take some pics of even a small video to be more clear.
What resolution do you have your 360 set for? I used to have mine set higher than 720p, but after I set the 360's resolution to 1280x720 I had the image perfectly centered on the screen.

What resolution do you have your 360 set for? I used to have mine set higher than 720p, but after I set the 360's resolution to 1280x720 I had the image perfectly centered on the screen.
I have it set at 1280x720, you think something is wrong with my tv set? Let me ask you this is it possible to reset the tv if so how do I do this? Maybe that can help...

I've got the 50" Sammy DLP (I think it's the 5066W), and I've started noticing a problem over the last couple weeks.

When I first turn the set on at night, there are times when it runs fine for about 15 minutes, then turns off suddenly. Lately, it seems to be happening more frequently.

I picked up the set in early July, and have a service plan from BB to cover any service needed, but if anyone has any thoughts on what could be causing the problem, I'd appreciate any recommendations before setting up a visit or potential replacement.

Thanks in advance.

I've got the 50" Sammy DLP (I think it's the 5066W), and I've started noticing a problem over the last couple weeks.

When I first turn the set on at night, there are times when it runs fine for about 15 minutes, then turns off suddenly. Lately, it seems to be happening more frequently.

I picked up the set in early July, and have a service plan from BB to cover any service needed, but if anyone has any thoughts on what could be causing the problem, I'd appreciate any recommendations before setting up a visit or potential replacement.

Thanks in advance.

One thing you can check is to make sure the cover for lamp access is attached correctly on the back of the set. On that cover, there is a small flange/tab on one side that actuates an interlock switch that can cause the power to shut down if the switch is not actuated correctly by the flange. You can't see the flange or switch without removing the cover. Instructions for removing the cover are in the owners manual. This is the same cover that is removed when replacing the bulb. Before removing the cover, always unplug the set.

There have been a few reports here of sets shutting down for no reason and it was found that the cover was not installed correctly causing the switch to not be actuated. If my recall is correct, some found the plastic flange was slightly bent and after straitening it, all was fine.

Here's another thread where the lamp door actuator switch was causing the problem.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=764401

Good luck.

quick questions to all u hl-s4266w owners connecting your 360 via VGA or even a pc via VGA.

I managed to get my replacement 360 unit connected via VGA this time and everything works great now (kudos to lonelydreamer), but I do have one concern. I notice that say my 360 dashboard or even a movie playing from the 360 will kinda of default in position more to the left side of the screen (the edge) and will have about a 1/2 black space on the right. Is this normal? now if I play the same movie say on my dvd player it will take all of the screen from left to right if the movie is WS.

Is it because the input is VGA it will always be just like a regular pc monitor that you have to position the screen in the middle? And still have some black space on all 4 sides?

I hope all this makes sense. I just wanted to use the VGA cables on my 360 to be able to upconvert my current dvd collection with the HD-DVD player since my current stand alone dvd player will not upconvert to 720p. And only with the VGA will it upconvert.

to lonelydreamer, I sent you a reply to your email just thought I'd post here if anyone else could provide some assistance. Thanks in advance guys!

I will take some pics of even a small video to be more clear.

had that same problem. press picture size and it would wide up the screen for you. it would say pc wide

I know it may not look as good as a CRT set, and it varies depending on providers, but could someone post some shots of an xx66W series showing SD programming?

Crash - i would certainly be happy to do that for you when i get home. I can take a picture using both Cable and OTA. Just let me know!

Both would be great if you could, thanks in advance.

Np!

Crash- just letting you know; i haven't forgotten to take the pics. I will get them today for ya; my camera battery was dead last night, so i needed to give her a charge.

this happened to me too. i fixed the problem by getting higher quality component cables. the ones that worked for me were the Acoustic Research ones that Best Buy sells at a relatively reasonable price. The crappy ones that came from my cable provider kept showing the purple bar.

You can also get an HDMI or DVI cables to fix this issue

Hope this helps.

Wildnuts - DSL_Steve
Thanks for the input. I'll give it a try.

I just bought a 42" and since this is my first DLP HDTV, which DVD player matches it best?

Should I go with an Oppo 970 since DLP sets can macroblock? Which SD upconverting DVD player is the best match for this HDTV?

Thanks....

PS - OR, would I be best convincing my son to trade with his mom his old 50" HDTV for this new 42" Samsung and then he could get the HD-DVD unit to connect to his XBox 360 and connect both via the VGA connnection?

quick questions to all u hl-s4266w owners connecting your 360 via VGA or even a pc via VGA.

I managed to get my replacement 360 unit connected via VGA this time and everything works great now (kudos to lonelydreamer), but I do have one concern. I notice that say my 360 dashboard or even a movie playing from the 360 will kinda of default in position more to the left side of the screen (the edge) and will have about a 1/2 black space on the right. Is this normal? now if I play the same movie say on my dvd player it will take all of the screen from left to right if the movie is WS.

Is it because the input is VGA it will always be just like a regular pc monitor that you have to position the screen in the middle? And still have some black space on all 4 sides?

I hope all this makes sense. I just wanted to use the VGA cables on my 360 to be able to upconvert my current dvd collection with the HD-DVD player since my current stand alone dvd player will not upconvert to 720p. And only with the VGA will it upconvert.

to lonelydreamer, I sent you a reply to your email just thought I'd post here if anyone else could provide some assistance. Thanks in advance guys!

I will take some pics of even a small video to be more clear.


I have the same tv and had almost the same situation. After choosing the PC input, set the picture size to WIDE TV. Then go to the menu and choose SETUP -> PC -> AUTO ADJUSTMENT. That solved all my problems and now i can actually see slightly more of the screen than when i was using components.

I just took this plunge, myself, online Sunday night, when I could no longer pass up the deal after Circuit City offered the set online for $899 with free home delivery (I could pick it up at the store, too, which is what I usually do -- since it's only a mile away -- but I figured WHY struggle with a getting a box THAT BIG in and out of the car when they'd deliver FOR FREE this time???).

Before clicking the purchase, I DID read a number of the reviews, including a few about the "black grass," but I wasn't able to find my link to AVS because I recently upgraded computers and lost a lot of my links (happily, my birthday was yesterday, and like a lot of my forums, AVS sent me a Happy Birthday message, which reminded me how to get back here :)

Anyway, I'm expecting delivery tomorrow (although they were SUPPOSED TO call me tonight to confirm that and didn't), and I'm just a TAD edgy about the potential for things like "black grass" and other problems. Even at $900, this is almost twice as much as I've ever spent for a TV and quite a stretch for my budget (it's a Christmas present for the family, but that means myself and my elderly folks, who will likely question my sanity on spending this much money unless the picture looks so spectacular they can't resist it), so any suggestions on setup and tweaking will be greatly appreciated...

I'm gonna TRY to take delivery "on the sly" and perhaps set it up where my current 27" Olevia is temporarily to test it out and get all the tweaking done while I wait to get a second HD box from Charter, then hopefully sneak it into place where the family set currently is (moving a 32" TUBE TV by myself in the middle of the night so I can set this one up in its place, lol) and surprise them the next morning, which will likely be past Christmas unless I take my HD box upstairs until I can get the second one.

Anyway, again, any hints will help. I will, OF COURSE, AND AS ALWAYS read AND digest that owner's manual to try to make sure I get the most out of the set, but those of you who've had this set for up to as long as 8 months (based on what I've been reading here) may know some practical things not really covered in the manual...

At any rate, wish me luck, and...

Merry Christmas!
Jeff

Hmm. CC still has the '4266W for $900...and there's something to be said for picking up locally...but Amazon currently has the '4666W for $1050. In theory either set would be a modest upgrade from my bedroom's Toshiba 34HF82...decisions, decisions...

I posted on another Samsung thread (refering to the HLS6187), that the bowing is virtualy not there. The SD 4:3 is about 99.8% straight sides. So that works for me. It is extremely rare to see one at 100%, and by that I mean "all" RPTV's.

I have some pretty bad bowing on my HL-S5086W, super noticeable when ive got my computer hooked up to it, anything i can do about it or should i just accept it? :p

Well I finally took the plunge and bought myself my Christmas present. The last time I posted I was pretty set on the HLS4666W, but when I found the HLS4676S on Amazon for $1088, I couldn't resist. I like the look of the all black 76S better, the slimness of the unit and at 46 lbs, much lighter. I will take delivery sometime between the 25th and the 1st of January. In the meantime I am buying everything else I need (stand, cables, upconverting DVD player and a power conditioner). I also upgraded my Directv to HD but am waiting on an ETA on when they will be able to install my HD-DVR. Apparently, the are a little short on supply and there is a waiting list to get them. Hopefully, I won't have to wait too long. I am hoping to be good to go for at least part of the NFL Playoffs, I should definitely have it all together for the Super Bowl. Go Chargers!!!!

One question... I am planning to pick up some sort of calibration DVD but unsure of which one to get and would like to hear your opinions on what is the best one. I want to get the most out of the PQ on my new Sammy DLP and will probably be tweaking it. I am so excited to get it...I can't stand it. :)

Is it safe to assume that the odds on picking up an HL-S4266W without the "black grass" issue are pretty long? I'm still just short of pulling the trigger on an HL-S4666W off Amazon instead...

Is it safe to assume that the odds on picking up an HL-S4266W without the "black grass" issue are pretty long? I'm still just short of pulling the trigger on an HL-S4666W off Amazon instead...


I just got one last week, great price at CC, but I have bad "Black Grass" more like Black Onion.

Everything else is perfect and I love the size for my room, trying to decide what I'll replace it with, or try for another one. :(

Taking my chances with Amazon and the '4666W, I think...a $75 differential is too small to argue over.

The suck part: I won't even get the TV until next year...

Well, mine was delivered about 5:30 p.m. (turns out the delivery person DOESN'T call you the night before, and I could barely understand the mumbling message he left on my cell phone this afternoon, either, BUT I had the number and got him here just before dark).

I had them sneak the box into the basement hallway and just leave it down here (where my little Olevia 27" set is currently running DiscoveryHD), so I can play with it down here and then get it RIGHT before doing a SURPRISE HOOKUP upstairs while the old folks are snoozin' Christmas Eve, I guess... (later I saw on my delivery receipt where delivery was SUPPOSED TO include setup, but oh well, I didn't have time for that right then, anyway).

So HERE'S my dilemma now... I have NO WAY to get that 42" TV out of the box without turning the box on its side and sliding it out -- ACK! I figured I'd open it up and read the manual first, but, of course, that MUST BE on the very bottom, because I couldn't find it ANYWHERE I could reach -- so I went to Samsung.com and downloaded the .pdf version... All it says about TV position is to never lay it FACE DOWN because contaminants might get on the inside of the screen, so I figure if I turn it sideways to get it out of the box, I'm OK. It's not that heavy -- just BIG...

I measured and it will fit (just barely) where the 27" is, so if I unhook the Olevia first, move it somewhere safely out of the way and then safely get the Samsung out of the box, I SHOULD be able to get it up on the TV stand -- I HOPE!

Wish me luck!
Jeff

I just bought the HL-S4266W for my father for christmas. We gave it to him tonight because he is leaving tommorow. He went and got the hidef cable box but the hidef channels don't look any better than the standard def channels. Are we doing somthing wrong? I have a 32 inch westy in my room and the picture quality is way better on the westy from what ive seen so far. Im going to hook my 360 up to the sammy tommorow and see if he pic quality is any better.

Jeff,

I got my S4266W home tonight. Bought it on a CC price match at Tweeter and got it no pay, no int for one year. I set that sucker up so fast, that I never even took the time to check out the manufacture date.... BUT, got it set up, calibrated and IT LOOKS MAHVELOUS!!!

Using component inputs from a TWC HD cable box, and I see a Schultzy "NOTHING" when I turn the cable box off and stare at the black screen with the No Signal overlay.

So... either I am blind, or am not looking closely enough, or I got a unit without the Black Grass?

In the meantime, this set looks much, much, much better than anytime I saw this same model in a dozen or more stores..... so much for in store auditioning.

I am waiting on an Oppo 970 DVD player, so I haven't yet checked out DVD playback. But, I have checked out SDTV, using Zoom 1 mode, and it looks pretty dang good for SDTV.

Soooooo, so far, I have to give it a thumbs-up... a big one!

PDizzle,

There are so many unanswered variables in your post... I don't know where to start, but I'll try.

First, does your father have(did he already previously pay to get) HD(not digital) cable?
If so, what type connection are you using from box to HDTV(HDMI or DVI or component)?
What is the specific number of the channel you are trying to tune and what cable system is he using?
What output resolution are you using on the cable box(720P)?
What is the manufacturer and model number of your HD cable box?

Get back to us with that info, and we can better help you.

PDizzle,

There are so many unanswered variables in your post... I don't know where to start, but I'll try.

First, does your father have(did he already previously pay to get) HD(not digital) cable?
If so, what type connection are you using from box to HDTV(HDMI or DVI or component)?
What is the specific number of the channel you are trying to tune and what cable system is he using?
What output resolution are you using on the cable box(720P)?
What is the manufacturer and model number of your HD cable box?

Get back to us with that info, and we can better help you.

He just went and got the HD motorolla cable box from comcast today. We hooked it up via component. We were trying to view any of the HD channels. We checked out the office, my name is earl, and a few others. And with the output of the cable box...i try to set it to 720p but the screen just goes blank. I can only see the options when its set to 480i output. But i switched it to 720p and then turned the box on...i dont know if that actually worked. But Im going to hook my 360 up to it in the morning via vga and see if it was just the cable box that was making the tv look so terrible. Thanks for the help.

Forgot to mention that Circuit City DIDN'T use their own delivery folks to do this delivery, by the way... was just a dirty white truck with NO markings and a couple of guys in some kind of maroon uniform shirts, both of whom appeared to have just started doing this from their comments and admitted they were working for a subcontracter and were NOT happy with the work, lol.

Anyway, I GINGERLY got that sucker out of the box and set up and it's doing a GREAT JOB with the HD channels (watching the "What's Kewl at CEDIA show" right now on HDNET, where I can see all the even SO-MUCH-BETTER stuff I haven't gotten yet, nor can I afford, lol).

BTW, we had a Tweeter store here, but it was SO overpriced for our market it didn't last long, BUT I charged this TV on a Discover card that has 0 interest until next October, and I'm planning to pay that card off by then (which means I need to put it in a drawer now, since along with a couple of balance transfers, I now have it up to about $3,500, lol).

I'd note that the SDTV channels on this TV look even worse than they do on the Olevia (which ain't good) -- particularly the lower on the dial I go. In other words, if I tune to the local VHF channels, which come in at their regular 4-13 numbers, even with digital cable, the picture SUCKS. The GOOD NEWS is that except for the ABC affiliate, our local cable company offers them all in HD. The ABC affiliate broadcasts in HD, also, but the cable company doesn't offer it and I haven't gotten around to asking why, yet, although it pees me off every time I watch "Lost." For some reason, the higher the numbers on basic "extended" cable, the better the resolution... For instance, Sci-Fi and FX are 47 and 48, and they're much better, although still not as good as on a regular, non-HD TV.

Another note: this TV comes with DNIe, which enhances the picture... It seems to improve the picture on HD channels but makes the crappy picture on the SD channels look even worse, so I'd turn it off on those, or at least experiment with that, if I were you.

Now to your problem, PDizzle... If your dad JUST got this HD box and this is the first time you've hooked one up, I'm guessing you're not hooking things up right... If you're using the cable TV cable to go from the HD box to the HD TV, I KNOW you're not because that signal is NOT compatible with HDTV and it says so very early in the manual... Charter (my provider) won't even let you go get a HD box (or at least they wouldn't when I got my first HDTV). I had to get someone bring it out and set it up... possibly for just that sort of reason. There are two primary true HD ways to set up your TV: either using RGB cables from the box to the back of your TV (you'll have three different cables, with each one being either red, green, or blue where it plugs into the box or the TV -- sometimes all three are connected together and separate only at each end); the other way is to use an HDMI cable from the HD box to the HDMI input on the back of your TV...

Charter set mine up with the RGB cables. When I asked why, the technician just said "that's the way we do it," but the truth may have been because those cables are less expensive. However, from reading through this and other threads, I've also discovered that sometimes the HDMI connection DOES NOT give as good of a picture as going RGB, so I'm thinking RGB might be the best way to go, except that then you have to run separate connections for your sound, whereas the HDMI includes your sound, as well.

At any rate, try one or the other of those connections and see what happens. If your HD box is like mine, will also have S-video and the single, yellow-video connector on the back of it, as well, and either of those should work, too, but I don't know if they'll give you true HD.

One more thing... If you want to be sure to REALLY KEEP your savings, DO NOT buy any of those cables at the place you bought this TV, or at Best Buy. I know there's a sponsor for this site, called Monoprice, that has excellent deals. Wal-Mart and Sam's Club are also much better options (Sam's Club JUST started carrying the cables where I live).

Well, I've already gone through all the menus and done some tweaking, and I think I'll be ready to play Santa in a couple more nights... ASSUMING, that is, I can manhandle this TV back out the door, into the back of the minivan, through the door upstairs, remove the big 32" TUBE TV that's sitting where it's going, get it in place and set up and NOT have my second heart attack of the year in the process, lol.

Again, wish me luck, and...
Merry Christmas!
Jeff

in order to see it i had to:

1) turn off all of the lights in the room
2) switch to an unused input
3) stand very close to the screen

i can't see it at all, even in dark scenes, on either broadcast tv or from a dvd -- and certainly not with the usual ambiant light in the room or from my usual viewing distance.

so, i'm not at all bothered by it. everything else about my new hl-s4266w is great...and i'm sure it will be even better after i get an isf calibration in a month or two (i have calibrated it using dve).

Hi guys. I'm pretty new to the site, so forgive me if I overlooked any rules. I've been scrounging these forums, and in particular this thread, a good bit. I'm planning to buy a DLP next month, hoping to get a good pre-bowl deal. I see very little mention of the 6186 in this thread. Wouldn't this be the most the appropriate thread for that model?

Anyone out there own this particular model that can give some feedback? I've been considering this model the most.

I've searched & searched, but forgive me if this information is in an obvious place other than this thread.

Thanks for the plethora of information this forum offers!

Hey guys, glad to say that I too am now a proud owner of the 5086w and so far it's been problem free. The question I have is concerning calibration. Following the link below:
XXX
you can find a pattern involving black/white and greyscale. I run this test by hooking up my laptop to the tv via vga.
A part of the test is being able to tell the difference between 0/5 black and 95/100 white. Whenever I bump up the brightness on the tv to about 90, I can see the 5% black square within the 0% black square, but regardless of anything I've tried, I can't get the 95% white to differentiate itself within the 100% white square. Has anyone tried this test pattern to find optimal settings, or perhaps would like to give it a go?

Some PC's have low quality/uncalibrated VGA outputs. My PNY brand Nvidia GeForce 5300FX video card completely crushed the blacks and whites by default. I had to adjust the Gamma, and Brightness values in the video card configuration to get a good greyscale on the set. OTOH, my laptop's VGA output was within ballpark range without any tweaking.

in order to see it i had to:

1) turn off all of the lights in the room
2) switch to an unused input
3) stand very close to the screen

i can't see it at all, even in dark scenes, on either broadcast tv or from a dvd -- and certainly not with the usual ambiant light in the room or from my usual viewing distance.

so, i'm not at all bothered by it. everything else about my new hl-s4266w is great...and i'm sure it will be even better after i get an isf calibration in a month or two (i have calibrated it using dve).

Hi David,

I didn't figure out how to get a pure black screen last night and it's still too bright to try one today, but I'll monkey with that some tonight... Needless to say, I've yet to see the "black grass," either.

As for the calibration, although I've only skimmed the manual so far, I don't see any references to that and have no idea how to go about either a "dve" or an "isf" calibration method... I'm assuming you plug something into the TV through either the HDMI or YGB inputs, but don't know what the input source would be... As I don't have either a Blu-Ray or an HD-DVD player, my only option would be my computer, which DOES have DVI out on the video card and is capable of producing 720P images (probably capable of 1080P, but since I don't have anything that will display that, it's a moot point).

So a little info (or links) on this calibration business will be greatly appreciated.

Merry Christmas!
Jeff

Well, here it is the middle of the night when I could (theoretically, at least), test for "black grass," or onions, or whatever it's supposed to be while the Sci-Fi channel has relegated its content to a show featuring people like that obnoxious Rob Mariano who married the lovely Amber who won Survivor All-Star...

BUT, for the life of me I can't figure out HOW to get a black screen. I have no trouble getting a BLUE screen, but when I turn the blue screen feature OFF, all I get is a STATIC screen on the only option it allows me to even scroll to other than the only one I have hooked up, which is the RGB input for the HDTV (Component 1)... other than that, when I click "Source," it lets me toggle to "Air 3," which isn't connected to anything, and I have a choice of a blue screen, or static.

I can get a MOSTLY black screen by going to a pay channel to which I don't subscribe (Showtime, in my case), BUT it keeps the show info at the bottom of the screen as long as I stay there, defeating my attempt to get black at the bottom... Since this is a temporary hookup for only another 48 hours or so, I'm not going to hook up a DVD player to try to get a still image from a black scene from one of those -- besides the fact that such an image wouldn't be true 720P, anyway, and also besides the fact that although I DO have ONE "upconverting" DVD player, I just bought it Black Friday and it's still in the box, so I'd have no way of knowing any problems weren't with the player (God help me if that unit's defective, lol -- was one of CC's 5-hour deals)...

So anyway, whenever someone posts the info on calibration, perhaps you can also include how to get a black screen on the TV, lol.

BTW, I was in Sam's Club this afternoon and saw the 5066 for just $1,298, so for only another $400 I could have jumped from 42" to 50," but here's the rub... not only is this screen HUGE by comparison with anything my family is used to, I've also done my measurements again now that the TV is set up down here (where it's TOO BIG and the left 6" of the screen are partially blocked by my stereo cabinet from where I'm sitting), but it's gonna be a RAZOR TIGHT FIT where the OLD TV is upstairs, and I'm pretty darned sure my folks wouldn't be amenable to making a new space (especially since my mom will fuss that I've lost my mind doing this, anyway, lol), so I think this is it, for now...

Bear in mind my folks are 74 and 78 and I love 'em and I'll still do most of MY TV watching down here on the 27", so this really IS for them, mostly since they're half blind and I want them to be able to better see -- and I'd like them to be here FOREVER -- but I AM the only surviving son, and when the day comes I'm alone in this house (well, hoping to have a Mrs. one day, but you get my drift), the whole WALL behind where this TV is going might be one big screen, lol... but that's ME.

Merry Christmas!
Jeff

Hi, I'm new to the forum. I hope I'm posting this in the right thread. I've had my 5086W for about 3 months now and am very happy with it for the most part. (I do often get headaches when watching for extended periods... anyone else experience this) anyway... the first thing that I did when I got the set was to hook it up to an old antenna that I had set up in my attic. The resulting picture was so phenomenal and I got so many channels, that the second thing I did was cancel my cable subscription... (and believe me, that arrogant, over priced umbilicle cord felt really good to cut... OK, wanna raise your rates again? I'm going to lower them... to zero!) I've found that there's more than enough free TV over the airwaves, much of it with perfect HD signal to satisfy my needs. Now the problem... a couple of weeks ago I was flipping through the channels and suddenly the screen went blank and everything froze up. About 30 seconds later it rebooted and came back with a flashing light... I think it was the lamp light. Samsung sent a guy out a few days later. He found the powerboard to be bad, which he changed and everything was fine. 2 days ago however, the same thing happened. I called Samsung again and talked to the Tech rep who asked me a few questions about the problem. One of his questions was... "are you using an air antenna?" I said yes, and he replied with a heavy Asian accent... "Ahhhhhhh that is the problem." He went on to explain that he believed there is an inherent problem in the powerboards on the HLS's where under certain circumstances they fry the powerboard. I have a limited understanding of electronics, but it makes no sense how an antenna, especially one in the attic, which is properly grounded, could blow out 2 powerboards. Has anyone else ever experienced or heard of this before?

Are the HD channels supposed to take up the whole screen? Our cable Box outputs all of the HD channels in a super widescreen mode. With black bars on top and bottom. Even ESPNHD has the two black bars. The tv is supposed to be 16x9 so i think that it should take up the whole screen but i dont know how to fix it. Anyone have any ideas?

I think i might have figured out the problem with the bad PQ on the 42 inch sammy. I was messing around with my 32 inch westy lcd and changed the output of the cable box to 480i and turned to a hd channel and stretched the picture with the westy. That is what the picture constantly looks like on the Sammy. I try to change the output of the HD box to 720p but for some reason the sammy wont accept the signal. Is this the tv or the box? I also cant test it out with my 360. I bought the tv for my father and he wont let me touch it. He just says "Its my tv go mess with yours." hes such an ungrateful *******. I should just take the tv back. haha

Okay...so I finally bit and ordered a Sammy HL-S4676S. I got it for such a good price (with the wall mount) that I couldn't pass it up. I was looking at it in one of my local smaller shops and the picture was great. I bought my PS3 with me to try out games and BR playback and it all was wondeful.

I will recieve the mount on the 29th and the TV is being delivered on Jan 4th.

I've got a few things to do before it arrives (Like remodel my room and paint it). I wanted to know if anyone here with this model has run into any problems with the SA explorer 3250 HD box? I'm planning to get a DVI to HDMI cable from monoprice and I wanted to make sure it works before I order it.

Aslo, has anyone seen what the wall mount looks like? I can't seem to find a picture of it ANYWHERE! I'll post pics of the final product once it arrives...

like Samsung owns stock in some supplier of HD signals OTHER than over-the-air, huh?

Wouldn't surprise me one bit, since when I unpacked mine, a HUGE slip of paper was in there that said something like "It's not REALLY HDTV unless it's DirecTV"

How's THAT for "subtle???"

Not to be poking funnies at Samsung since I DID buy one of their sets based on their pretty good reputation in the industry and my great prior experience with a 17" LCD monitor I've used for 3 years (HEAVILY) with no problems, but these days, with so many corporate alliances, I'm always a bit suspect of ulterior motives.

Personally, I see no reason why a properly grounded TV antenna should be causing anything in your TV to burn out. In fact, there's a good bit of discussion in the early part of the owner's manual for the TV I just bought about how DIFFERENT digital signals are from analog, and how much less signal strength it usually takes to get a signal, and how it's either ON or OFF, so if you get enough signal strength on your antenna to pick up a digital channel, you'll get it full-strength, with no "fuzzies," like we use to get with analog antenna signals that weren't quite as strong as we'd like... So the manual actually almost seems to be recommending use of an antenna... Also, since the set I bought comes with two RG59 inputs, and we have a long-unused antenna on about a 30-foot mast outside with a cable still running inside the house, I just MAY try it on one of the inputs -- particularly since the cable company doesn't offer ABC in high-def, although they do the other networks and I KNOW the local ABC affiliate broadcasts in high-def.

Perhaps your antenna needs some kind of filter or something between it and the TV, though. I'm certainly no expert on these issues, just guessing. Where I live, we certainly wouldn't get enough content without cable for me to consider dropping it just yet -- but if they give me many more headaches, well...

Merry Christmas, one and all!
Jeff

Maybe i'm missing something but I can't figure out where to put the red and white audio cables from the microsoft vga cable. The video is working fine but no matter what I try...there is no audio.

Btw, i have the 4666w.

...can also include how to get a black screen on the TV, lol.

Two ways: (1) Have a DVD player hooked up and switch to the DVD input with the DVD player OFF, or, (2) when you turn OFF the set you get a blank 'no-signal' screen for about 3-4 seconds.

i was watching dl.tv the other day and i noticed that they had the pc hooked up through hdmi, if i 'm not mistaken ther samsung instruction book specifically says not to use the hdmi/dvi input for pc hookup...does anyone know if this is true? if i could hookup my pc to the hdmi port using a dvi to hdmi convertor it would make my life much easier and cheaper that way i don't have to buy a vga switch box (my 360 resides on the vga port right now) or would i be just better off getting a switcher? i plan on using the vga box from the dreamcast eventually but if i could use the hdmi port i would just live with s-video on the dc anyway.....any hep would be greatly appreciated tia!

Is anyone using the 4266w as a computer monitor?
I need to replace an old 19" CRT monitor, and the price is right for using this DLP as a monitor if it can produce clear sharp text?

Anyone using it as a PC monitor with office apps and online stuff besides gaming?

I am using a dvi to hdmi cable from my Inspiron 9300 to my Samsung hls4676s and it looks great to me. My video card in the computer is an ATI Radeon x300 and using the Radeon catalyst software, I can clone or extend my computer desktop to the tv. The best resolution is 1152x648 and it fills my tv with no overscan...ie the whole desktop fits nicely with this resolution.

I am surfing and writing this post using the tv as a monitor. I am sitting about 10 ft away and it is very nice but I use a 18 point font minimum in my browser. Tiny fonts don't work well from this distance but I may experiment in a bit and see how small fonts look up close to the screen.

The only office app I have used is Word and it looked real good on the tv. I tried my Quickbooks Pro and it is not really useable for me as I can't choose a larger font in the program. I have played some videos and viewed slideshows of my photos and they look real good.

I bought a 24' dvi to hdmi cable from www.monoprice.com for about $30. All their prices seem to be much much cheaper than local stores like Radioshack or CompUSA.

So, depending on the software you are using, your samsung may or may not be a total monitor replacement. It isn't that expensive to try and I believe the cables are returnable to monoprice if you change you mind.

One final word...my samsung manual states that computer hookup isn't supported thru hdmi. I am not sure what is meant by that, but so far I have had absolutely no problems using it. Your mileage may vary.

pdmath, Thanks for the help!

Currently, my old video card (ATI Radeon 8500?) in my office PC does have a DVI output, although I have never used it. Guess I should give it a try and see?

Hi Jack Texas...I can't tell you for sure. All I know is it works good for me. One thing I did forget to mention is that I do have a minor problem. I guess it is called "handshake". If I change the inputs on my tv...ie if I am using the tv as a computer monitor and then switch the tv to watch cable tv...when I go back to the hdmi computer input, there is no signal. To get the signal back, I have to turn the clone display off on my pc and then back on and this refreshes the signal and the tv connects to the computer again. This may be an ATI video card issue...I'm not sure. I did research a bit on the ATI web site, and there was mention of this issue. I don't remember at all where I stumbled on to it, but ATI said they were aware of it and were working on it. So, I do believe that these kind of "handshake" issues are fairly common on devices that use the hdmi inputs on the tv.

My solution was just to set up a couple of hotkeys in the ati catalyst software to turn the tv display off and on again to reestablish the connection.

Good luck giving it a try and let me (us) know what your results are. If you have more questions, I'll try to answer.

edited: I just noticed that this thread is for hls models ending with W. Mine ends in S - hl-s4676s - what is the difference?

I have the same tv and had almost the same situation. After choosing the PC input, set the picture size to WIDE TV. Then go to the menu and choose SETUP -> PC -> AUTO ADJUSTMENT. That solved all my problems and now i can actually see slightly more of the screen than when i was using components.
sorry for the late update to everyone that reponded to my problem. It works flawless now, I tried what "md1084" recommended and it worked...thanks again guys!!!

Hey guys,

I just picked up a Samsung HL-S5076W last Friday (my first foray into big-screen TV's). I immediately hauled it home and hooked it up. After a couple of hours of playing around with the picture settings, I am extremely satisfied with my purchase.

I have one of my desktop computers connected to it via the VGA interface with an ATI Radeon 8500 video card. It also has a TV tuner card in it running BeyondTV. Again, I am extremely satisfied with using it as a computer monitor. My Radeon 8500 synced right up at 1280x720 resolution and the text is very crisp and highly readable. I also picked up an ATSC antenna and can pick up all the HD stations here in the Minneapolis area.

I am waiting for my DVI to HDMI cable to arrive in the mail, but as it stands, the VGA connection is working 100%.

Anyways, on to my question - I have my Logitech THX certified speakers connected to my PC via TOSLink, and I have three of them sitting on top of my TV (until I figure out a good way to mount them on the wall). One of them fell down and made a scuff on my brand new TV! It looks like the scuff marks you get on a basketball court made from black-soled shoes.

Does anyone know a good way to get rid of the scuff mark without damaging my TV screen or the display itself? It's fairly small, about 3/8" x 1" high. It's only slightly irritating at this point, but I want it gone. Is there a safe product I can use on my screen to get rid of it?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

.:Christian:.

"Anyways, on to my question - I have my Logitech THX certified speakers connected to my PC via TOSLink, and I have three of them sitting on top of my TV (until I figure out a good way to mount them on the wall). One of them fell down and made a scuff on my brand new TV! It looks like the scuff marks you get on a basketball court made from black-soled shoes.

Does anyone know a good way to get rid of the scuff mark without damaging my TV screen or the display itself? It's fairly small, about 3/8" x 1" high. It's only slightly irritating at this point, but I want it gone. Is there a safe product I can use on my screen to get rid of it?"

Man! Scratch the CASE all you want, but ACK, THE SCREEN?!?!?

I'm really GLAD I'm no "expert" on this subject, because being the owner of 3 LCD screens and now a DLP projection TV, my best guess is, ahem, you'll rub a hole or something in it trying to remove that scuff mark, ACK! ACK! ACK!

I have to tell you I just CRINGED when I read that... Putting those speakers up there is NOTHING I would have attempted, but sounds JUST LIKE something I might have done in the not-too-distant past, and my current fear is that my little terrier mix who LOVES to jump up on the Niagara bed next to the TV and bark at animals or roucous people on TV will decide to "nuzzle it," although I never saw him actually TOUCH the old TV (he sure likes to get up there and BARK at it, though, lol).

I sure wish you luck with this and hope someone has an idea, because I'm afraid to suggest ANYTHING. All I know is the owner's manual for MY Samsung says not to clean the screen with ANYTHING but a clean, soft cloth.

Good luck!
Jeff

I've heard that using any kind of cleaning solvent, including window cleaner, may damage the acrylic screen. The only kind of cloth that should be used for cleaning a projection screen is a microfiber cloth. They can be found at camera shops, or auto parts stores. Hopefully, the mark can be buffed off, but acrylic plastics are pretty soft. I've seen the price of a replacement screen, and it isn't pretty.

Hi all... this is in response to my recent post on how Samsung's tech rep suspected that my air antenna was the cause of the frying of the powerboard on my 5086W. This is pretty interesting actually. The repair guy called yesterday and cleared up the problem over the phone. I live in the Chicago area, and he told me that the problem was caused by some errant signal that was being sent out by WFLD on channels 36, 61 and 62 that caused the powerboard to interupt power to the rest of the TV. (This made sense to me as my TV froze right after turning to channel 62). He told me to unplug the unit and disconnect the antenna for 1 hour and then re-hookup everything and I would be up and running again. The TV had already been disconnected for 4 days, so while I had him on the phone I hooked it all up and like he said, all was fine again. He explained since they suddenly had a huge spike in the number of repair calls, someone noticed that almost all of the calls were from DLP owners who were using air antennas. After a little digging they discovered that the problem was with the signal on 36, 61 and 62. WFLD's regular channel 32 is fine. I never watch those 3 channels anyway... (I think they may be Spanish) so I just deleted them from my channel guide.

I have some pretty bad bowing on my HL-S5086W, super noticeable when ive got my computer hooked up to it, anything i can do about it or should i just accept it? :p


I've also got some bowing on my hls5086w. It's only really noticable during football games however. (The 50 yard line appears about a foot lower than the end zones during a shot of the whole field) Is there an adjustment for this or is it something to learn to live with?

I've heard that using any kind of cleaning solvent, including window cleaner, may damage the acrylic screen. The only kind of cloth that should be used for cleaning a projection screen is a microfiber cloth. They can be found at camera shops, or auto parts stores. Hopefully, the mark can be buffed off, but acrylic plastics are pretty soft. I've seen the price of a replacement screen, and it isn't pretty.
I bought this when I purchased my laptop and now that I own the Hl-S4266W I will be using it to clean my screen when it gets dusty. The product states its for Rear-Projection tvs as well.

Monster Cable Screen Clean TV Cleaning Kit
http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Monster-Cable-Screen-Clean-TV-Cleaning-Kit-TV-CLNKIT/sem/rpsm/oid/52581/catOid/-12888/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do

Finally got my '4666W set up this evening, replacing a Toshiba 34HD82...not as good at SD material by and large, but HD material (once I got the thing sortakinda out of torch mode) looks pretty darn good. I'll have to sit down and really figure out the picture settings, though...and what's this I was reading upthread (I think) about not using anything other than fullscreen imagery on the set during its break-in period?

I bought this when I purchased my laptop and now that I own the Hl-S4266W I will be using it to clean my screen when it gets dusty. The product states its for Rear-Projection tvs as well.

Monster Cable Screen Clean TV Cleaning Kit
http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Monster-Cable-Screen-Clean-TV-Cleaning-Kit-TV-CLNKIT/sem/rpsm/oid/52581/catOid/-12888/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do

you mention, Halokilla, is that just about ANYTHING with the "Monster" name on it is invariably WAY overpriced -- particularly if it's for sale at CC or Best Buy (worst at Best Buy). The price on that kit ($25 after $5 instant rebate {I think it was "instant"}) isn't TOO BAD when contrasted with what they get for their HD cables and whatnot.

When I got my first LCD screen 3 years ago (17" Samsung that came with my HP m376n Media Center), I got a little Belkin LCD Cleaning System that's still for sale (I just checked their website and it lists it as "NEW," but the only thing I saw "new" about it was the product number. This system is only $6.99 and uses a little contraption with a brush on one side and a replaceable pad on the other, along with a bottle of cleaning fluid you use to wet the pad, and since I didn't need to clean that 17" that often and just got the other two recently, mine is still barely used, and I put it back in the packaging after every use so it all stays together, lol.

Here's a link to it at the Belkin site, although frankly, I think the Monster cloths would be a better choice for a large screen, as this thing is only about 3" wide, so you clean a path 3" wide at a time and that could get rather tedious on a BIG TV screen (it does an excellent job, though, and the brush is also good at getting dust out of keyboards, so it' might be handy to have both -- think I got it at Best Buy... did a search for it at CC while I was at your link and nothing came up).
Belkin LCD Cleaning System (http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Product_Id=198337)

AT any rate, my guess is still that the chances are SLIM TO NONE that either cleaner will remove a true "scuff mark" off the screen. In my previous post, I "bit my tongue" and didn't suggest taking it back and claiming it came out of the box like that (that's dishonest, but we all know folks do things like that).

However, Christian, if you try the Monster cloth and/or the Belkin cleaner and neither does the trick (and be really gentle -- follow directions on their packaging and be careful you're not rubbing any of the acrylic off trying to get the scuff off), my BEST ADVICE barring that dishonest practice is to just fess up and call Samsung direct, tell them what happened, and ask their tech support what your best option is.

It may be you'll have to either learn to live with it or replace the screen... Then again, they may have a trick or two they're not sharing with the general public because it's not something you can trust the "average Joe" to be prudent with... Like say, maybe, cigarette lighter fluid, for example (this is JUST a hypothetical, so DON'T get the idea I'm saying this works), but say lighter fluid used very carefully WILL remove scuff marks from certain plastics if applied a certain way... Well that's certainly not something you'd want to put in an owner's manual because there'd be idiots all over the place setting their TVs on fire, BUT some compassionate tech support guy might be willing to share that info with a disheartened customer.

So try the Monster Cleaner, and/or the Belkin (and I'd buy both just to have options), and if neither works, take a deep breath and call Samsung's tech support.

I sure wish ya luck with this, Buddy. I bought my set primarily for my mom, 74 and my dad, almost 79, who have failing eyesight and could USE a larger screen with better definition. My mom, however, has always been the world's worst about thinking the top of the TV was a PIECE OF FURNITURE and a place to put decorations and whatnot... I told her YOUR story tonight and EMPHASIZED that with that narrow top, NOTHING bigger or heavier than the gift bows I put up there for Christmas Day was to be put on top of that TV, PERIOD.

Best of luck!
Jeff

new hls4266w purchased about a week ago. Great price, nice features. HUGE improvement over my 12 year old Hitachi that was getting painfully blurry.
-dvd picture is awesome, tested using Pirates2, and Cars, and a few others.
-I don't have a directtv HD reciever yet, so I'm using component for now through a DTV Tivo. Some/most channels and shows picture quality is great, but...
-I'm noticing some quality issues with 'some' shows. Watching ER right now (wife has the remote, not my choice), and the picture seems to be fairly poor with shadows and skin tone. pixelated at times during movement. For lack of a better explaination, it's like a very poor quality video setting on a computer monitor.
-Yes it's an OOB set up. I don't have AVIA, or the skill probably required to use it.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to improve the picture using what I have? Simple settings to try that might help?

I got mine a HL-S4666W from the book store and it arrived really fast. The quality is great, I was watching CSI Miami (HD) on monday and it was awesome.

unfortunately the TV arrived with some smudges, 2 big and 2 small ones.
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f126/jrmm2006/smudges.jpg

Has anyone encounter the same problem? How did you solve it?

anayway I'll call 1-800-SAMSUNG today and see what they can do about it.

Has anyone encounter the same problem? How did you solve it?

well to be honest, I have a very very small smudge like that on my screen but its on the far left almost to the edge. And you can only see it if you get like really close to the screen. But since I seet about 5-9 feet back you can't see it at all. Doesn't really bother since I can't see it. But mine is really small, hardly noticeable unless u get right in front of the screen.

When I first saw it I was wondering the same thing, but I can live with it. For $799.99 I still love it! :)

Anyhow please post on here what Samsung tells you.

You're KILLING ME here, halokilla! Where did you get THAT deal????

And I thought my $899 was a "killer deal!"

I NEED to know, since I'm still in my "30-day window" with Circuit City!

As for getting yours from "the book store," hiperion, does that mean "Amazon.com" or somebody?

If so, that's exactly the sort of reason I hesitate to get a TV online... I get all kinds of things online, but to me, Big, Heavy TVs are just A BIT MUCH to deal with having to box up and send back, lol (unless it happens to be one of the several brands that are offering one-year in-home service, now, like Syntax-Brillian/Olevia and some others I've seen).

I haven't "micro-inspected" my screen for smudges and so forth at this point, but now I might, since a couple of you have noticed this... Thanks for pointing this out.
Jeff

new hls4266w purchased about a week ago. Great price, nice features. HUGE improvement over my 12 year old Hitachi that was getting painfully blurry.
-dvd picture is awesome, tested using Pirates2, and Cars, and a few others.
-I don't have a directtv HD reciever yet, so I'm using component for now through a DTV Tivo. Some/most channels and shows picture quality is great, but...
-I'm noticing some quality issues with 'some' shows. Watching ER right now (wife has the remote, not my choice), and the picture seems to be fairly poor with shadows and skin tone. pixelated at times during movement. For lack of a better explaination, it's like a very poor quality video setting on a computer monitor.
-Yes it's an OOB set up. I don't have AVIA, or the skill probably required to use it.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to improve the picture using what I have? Simple settings to try that might help?

Now that you have a High Definition Television, you are now capable of seeing every defect present in your video source. I don't know what channel you were attempting to watch ER on. Many channels, such as local TV stations, are highly compressed to save satellite bandwidth and will have problems with pixelation. The dish companies can really mangle the picture quality your local TV stations. Depending on your circumstances, recieving OTA HDTV may be a viable option.

You will notice, especially during local/national news broadcasts, when programming has been recorded on analog videotape. Lots of 80's-mid 90's tv shows were mastered on analog tape. The medium only allows for 300-340 pixels of horizontal resolution and sticks out like sore thumb compared to todays modern digital formats.

Read through this whole thread for tips on suggested picture settings.

I got mine a HL-S4666W from the book store and it arrived really fast. The quality is great, I was watching CSI Miami (HD) on monday and it was awesome.

unfortunately the TV arrived with some smudges, 2 big and 2 small ones.

Has anyone encounter the same problem? How did you solve it?

My HL-S5066W had the exact same type of smudge. I could only see it on bright scenes. It was in the lower middle and once I noticed it, there was no way I could ignore it. It was about the size of a dime.

I returned it and got a Sony A10 instead. :o

and this is NOT a slam against Samsung, as you may note I just bought one of their TVs...

But several months ago, I was in a Best Buy, looking at their demo Blu-Ray disc, playing on their $1,000 Samsung Blu-Ray player hooked up to a 1080P Samsung LCD TV... I watched it as it played through short scenes of several different movie clips on that demo disc, and in every scene there were artifacts... jaggies along sharp rock edges, white pixels popping up in fast action, etc.

I mentioned to the BB "sales associate" who was standing nearby that I sure was seeing a lot of artifacts on that playback, and he said something like, "Yeah, I know! Isn't that Blu-Ray AMAZING?!?"

Showed me just how much HE knew about what he was talking about, lol. I just said, "yeah, it is," and walked away, lol, determined to BIDE MY TIME on this new technology, LOL.

As for seeing all the poor quality from the old broadcasts, well, I'm also pleasantly surprised by some of the GOOD I see... For instance, some of the non-HD channels give me a picture that rivals the HD channels. I watched the Bruce Campbell/Ossie Davis Horror Farce "Bubba Ho-Tep" on the Independent Film Channel last night, and had I not known it wasn't in the Hi-Def "tier," I may have been fooled into believing I was watching in Hi-Def.

However, I can't understand why the lower the channel numbers go on cable, the worse the reception is. Thankfully, all my network channels except ABC are available on the High-Def tier, because they look LIKE CRAP on the "VHF side" of the band... As I scroll up through the box, when I get to Sci-Fi and FX, which come in on 47 and 48 here, the resolution is just starting to get decent, but still not as good as I'd like... Get past 100 or so, though, and it's just fine. I can't figure that one out.

I also can't understand why my HDTV showed better quality on the "low-tier" channels BEFORE I got a HD-box than after, even though the input I'm using is higher quality now. Before I got my first HD box with my first set, I was still going from the cable box to the TV via coax cable... Afterwards, it was using YGB component cables... One would THINK that would improve EVERYTHING.

Sure is a cornfusling world, this world of electronics, huh?
Jeff

However, I can't understand why the lower the channel numbers go on cable, the worse the reception is. Thankfully, all my network channels except ABC are available on the High-Def tier, because they look LIKE CRAP on the "VHF side" of the band... As I scroll up through the box, when I get to Sci-Fi and FX, which come in on 47 and 48 here, the resolution is just starting to get decent, but still not as good as I'd like... Get past 100 or so, though, and it's just fine. I can't figure that one out.


Call your cable company and have them send over a tech to check your signal levels. Poor quality VHF reception is an indication of a problem. The cable company's distribution amplifiers could be malfunctioning or in need of adjustment. You could have a coax connection somewhere with a bad shielding. Cable companies used to install signal traps on cable lines to block analog premium channels. Those traps are known to go bad over time and degrade your reception. You still may have one of those.

Hello all. Just picked up a Samsung HL-S5086W DLP and am very pleased with my purchase. I have a Denon DVD-2910 as my source, running component cables into the TV. Some information/settings after using DVE to calibrate:

Brightness...48
Contrast...42
Color...36 (seat-of-the-pants adjustment as DLP's can't be properly calibrated with DVE)
*Sharpness...25
Tint...50/50
"Warm 1" color temp
DNR & DNiE...off

Viewing distance: Approx 9ft.
Rainbow effect: No.
Lag: No.
4:3 Geometry: Looks good; straight and centered.
Artifacting: None that I have noticed.
Misc: Not the deepest blacks I've seen, but still very good. Signal via Cox digital cable.

*An interesting note on the sharpness setting; I've always been able to run past TV's at Zero sharpness---the Samsung, however, gets too soft at 0. Even at the maximum setting, DVE showed no false edge artifacts--strange. I set sharpness at 25 because the writing on the pattern snapped into perfect focus around that setting.

I'm outputting 480p (component) from the Denon, the Denon set in "Mode 1" and all picture settings in default (not adjusted) on the DVD player. Movies are stunning---I can't think of any other word to describe it; absolutely beautiful color, clarity, contrast. I found that disabling DNiE actually made cable digital broadcasts (SD) look far better. With that said, DNiE did work some magic on purely analog cable. We don't have High-Def yet in my remote location, but word is it's coming soon.

I'm really pleased with this HDTV, especially at $1174 from Sears.

new hls4266w purchased about a week ago. Great price, nice features. HUGE improvement over my 12 year old Hitachi that was getting painfully blurry.
-dvd picture is awesome, tested using Pirates2, and Cars, and a few others.
-I don't have a directtv HD reciever yet, so I'm using component for now through a DTV Tivo. Some/most channels and shows picture quality is great, but...
-I'm noticing some quality issues with 'some' shows. Watching ER right now (wife has the remote, not my choice), and the picture seems to be fairly poor with shadows and skin tone. pixelated at times during movement. For lack of a better explaination, it's like a very poor quality video setting on a computer monitor.
-Yes it's an OOB set up. I don't have AVIA, or the skill probably required to use it.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to improve the picture using what I have? Simple settings to try that might help?

Cable TV is all over the map in terms of quality where I am as well. Try backing your color level way down to around 20. I found that this helped eliminate alot of the grain in the picture. Some channels look gorgeous, some look hideous---it's not the TV, it's the "source."

If you're really bored one day, what I did was go through all the most watched channels, set ech one individually for a good picture, and got an average setting that worked well with all of them.

Call your cable company and have them send over a tech to check your signal levels. Poor quality VHF reception is an indication of a problem. The cable company's distribution amplifiers could be malfunctioning or in need of adjustment. You could have a coax connection somewhere with a bad shielding. Cable companies used to install signal traps on cable lines to block analog premium channels. Those traps are known to go bad over time and degrade your reception. You still may have one of those.

I'm positive it's not a cable signal problem, eyager, for two reasons...

First, we don't have ANY signal traps in our area any more, since Charter went all digital-cable, and in my immediate area, at least, not for quite some time before, as the signal traps they put on Channel 2 to block HBO caused CONTINUAL signal problems on channels 3 and 4 for us, and they kept having to come out and replace them, so for our years of trouble with Channels 3 and 4 we ended up getting HBO free for a few years, until they went digital.

We now have two HDTVs and two HDTV digital boxes, and the same problem I described above on both sets... I played with the DNIe control and turning it off DID seem to somewhat improve the picture on the lower-tier channels on the Samsung, but since that's the "family TV" and my elderly folks (who have trouble enough just figuring out which remote control to use) are the primary users, I didn't think it was worth the trouble, so I decided to leave DNIe on, since we'll be watching the HD channels enough of the time to make it worth the trouble...

It is possible I could go through and fine-tune each channel and get them better, which I haven't tried yet, but the only network channel I don't get in HD yet is ABC, so it's not an issue for me (yet).

It's just a mystery to me why the lower on the dial we go, the worse the picture gets. Anybody have any idea of a technical explanation for that?
Jeff

I bought the HLS5086w from CC 45 days ago. Love the TV, picture, etc. I may be nitpicking but when I change channels and the screen is blank (black) I get a big glowing "T" on the screen. Looks like a flashlight shining through from the back. I dont believe that is affecting the picture when it is on but looks kinda rinky dink and bothers me.

I know two other friends with HLS models and it is pitch black when they change channels. I have comcast DVR box (HDMI). Any one else have these issues?

Tech guy is coming out tomorrow night because the thing shuts down 10 times a day and needs a new power supply, so I guess I can ask him as well.

My guess is that the two issues could be related... perhaps the power supply is putting out too much power, which is overloading the lamp and causing the "flashlight" effect during what should be black-screen between channels, which might also be causing the light and/or power supply to overheat and thus kick in overload protection circuitry, which causes it to keep shutting down every so often.

Just a theory, but it makes sense to me.
Jeff

Thanks for the input JeffA. I like the theory. I'll make sure I post after the guy shows up tomorrow. Maybe I can get a spare lamp out of the deal;-)

Thanks for the input JeffA. I like the theory. I'll make sure I post after the guy shows up tomorrow. Maybe I can get a spare lamp out of the deal;-)

Well, that may be a possibility... My thinking on this is that if he says it has been a power supply issue and the power supply has been putting out too much power, then it's likely been overloading EVERYTHING electronically "downstream," including not only the lamp, but probably any circuitboards, wires and whatever else might be in that electrical path. So if he confirms that's what it was, I'd ask him about either getting the entire unit replaced, or at least all the electronics from the power supply on, because if that IS the case, I would think it's done damage to all of them that will shorten their life if not create an actual safety hazard in the case of some of the wiring.

Just a thought, and it never hurts to ask,
Jeff

Hi,
I just received my HL-S4666W and am very impressed so far. The SD picture is better than I had been expecting, but I am a little disappointed with the gray bars on either side of the picture. I'd be much happier if the bars were black, but I have been unable to find a way to change their color. Am I missing something? Or will I just have to get used to it? I suppose I could cut out a cardboard frame to place around the picture :) but I'd like a more elegant solution.

The bars on either side of the SD picture on my 4266 are black, so all I can figure is that either Samsung changed a default setting, or you have your contrast set too low or your black level set too low.

I'd try playing with the color and contrast settings, but make sure you write down (or take a photograph of) the original settings before you start making changes, so you can get back to where you started if you really screw things up.

Good luck!
Jeff

Hi,
I just received my HL-S4666W and am very impressed so far. The SD picture is better than I had been expecting, but I am a little disappointed with the gray bars on either side of the picture. I'd be much happier if the bars were black, but I have been unable to find a way to change their color. Am I missing something? Or will I just have to get used to it? I suppose I could cut out a cardboard frame to place around the picture :) but I'd like a more elegant solution.


I just got my HLS4666w yesterday and it has black bars on the side when watching in 4:3. :confused:

I just picked up my HLS4666W yesterday. So far I really like it. Game mode is great with my xbox360. I'm wondering if there is something I can do to make my DVDs look a little better though. I have the LG DN191H upconvert dvd player hooked up to the TV via HDMI. The picture was very bad at first but after playing with the settings, I have a decent picture with the DVD player set at 720p and the TV set to movie mode.

Can anyone recommend some good settings to try?

Thanks for the replies. The gray is a rather deliberate gray, which doesn't change with the contrast or brightness settings (I set them with AVI). It occurs to me that it might have something to do with my cable box settings.... I'll try that later.

Another question: is the set supposed to be silent? Mine emits a low hum that I find annoying...

I just picked up my HLS4666W yesterday. So far I really like it. Game mode is great with my xbox360. I'm wondering if there is something I can do to make my DVDs look a little better though. I have the LG DN191H upconvert dvd player hooked up to the TV via HDMI. The picture was very bad at first but after playing with the settings, I have a decent picture with the DVD player set at 720p and the TV set to movie mode.

Can anyone recommend some good settings to try?

Try as a starting point:

Contrast...46
Bright...50
Sharpness....25
Color...40
Tint...50/50
Color temp...Warm 1

i would get a DVD to calibrate. each player out there outputs differently so white and black will look different across the same display but different players. same with colors

Picked up a HL-S4266W yesterday and i'm very happy with my purchase. It was a nice upgrade from my Westinghouse 32W-1.

Tech guy is coming out tomorrow night because the thing shuts down 10 times a day and needs a new power supply, so I guess I can ask him as well.

JC, Where do you live? I'm in the Chicago area and Samsung has been giving me a story about DLP's getting shut down by an errant signal that WFLD has been sending out. They changed out the powerboard on mine once already for that reason, but it recently started shutting itself down again. As far as expecting another bulb somehow from them... you might be more able to get blood out of a rock.

I have a question about gamma. What is a good gamma setting? I have toyed around with it from 0-7. I just want it so that I can see details in the shadows. Can anyone share any ideas?

I just got my HLS4666w yesterday and it has black bars on the side when watching in 4:3. :confused:

Surely you jest, Morph. If jest you don't, please familiarize yourself with the concept of 16:9 vs. 4:3 and think about it a bit... there's a glossary here for just such considerations.
Jeff

I have a question about gamma. What is a good gamma setting? I have toyed around with it from 0-7. I just want it so that I can see details in the shadows. Can anyone share any ideas?

The factory default setting for gamma on my set was 4. The only other usable gamma setting was 0. All others washed out the picture. After a trial period I found that it made the picture too dark, especially during daytime viewing, so I switched it back to 4.

Supposedly the Cinema picture mode has its own seperate gamma value. I would make all my adjustments in that mode. Keep DNIe turned off. This is most important; it WILL crush your blacks. I have found that using the HDMI inputs instead of component slightly decreased the amount of noise in the picture during dark scenes. In any case the use of test patterns, especially a PLUGE pattern, would be valuable for the adjustments you are trying to make.

Surely you jest, Morph. If jest you don't, please familiarize yourself with the concept of 16:9 vs. 4:3 and think about it a bit... there's a glossary here for just such considerations.
Jeff


Why don't you point me in the right direction since I'm obviously a complete moron.

Thanks to those that gave me the recommendations on the picture settings. Crank looked fanatastic on the new TV last night. Those settings definitely helped.

No problem enjoy!

I bought the HLS5086w from CC 45 days ago. Love the TV, picture, etc. I may be nitpicking but when I change channels and the screen is blank (black) I get a big glowing "T" on the screen. Looks like a flashlight shining through from the back. I dont believe that is affecting the picture when it is on but looks kinda rinky dink and bothers me.

I know two other friends with HLS models and it is pitch black when they change channels. I have comcast DVR box (HDMI). Any one else have these issues?

Tech guy is coming out tomorrow night because the thing shuts down 10 times a day and needs a new power supply, so I guess I can ask him as well.


Local Samsung tech came out yesterday with two big boxes and replaced the guts of my DLP. Both the power supply and inputs box as well as the entire light engine. They were in and out in 30 minutes and my DLP is like new. No more turning off issues, so far, and no more flashlight effect. A+++ to Samsung for backing up their product and making things right. If your having trouble with your DLP in Seattle area these, guys were from Fairwood TV (Renton) and I would reccomend them highly.

So try the Monster Cleaner, and/or the Belkin (and I'd buy both just to have options), and if neither works, take a deep breath and call Samsung's tech support.

I sure wish ya luck with this, Buddy. I bought my set primarily for my mom, 74 and my dad, almost 79, who have failing eyesight and could USE a larger screen with better definition. My mom, however, has always been the world's worst about thinking the top of the TV was a PIECE OF FURNITURE and a place to put decorations and whatnot... I told her YOUR story tonight and EMPHASIZED that with that narrow top, NOTHING bigger or heavier than the gift bows I put up there for Christmas Day was to be put on top of that TV, PERIOD.

Best of luck!
Jeff

I had to laugh out loud when I read that. If I can be a poster boy for your parents on what NOT to do with their new TV, then I feel better :)

I bought the Monster product, but I haven't gotten around to using it yet. For the past couple of weeks, I've just lived with my new scuff mark and it doesn't bother me that bad. If this stuff fails me, then I will call Samsung and let you guys know what they tell me so we can all be informed.

.:Christian:.

I certainly appreciate you taking it that way, Christian, and I still really feel for ya (you really CAN'T beat those little Logitech speaker combos, can ya? I found the 530 computer combo {5 powered satellites plus a powered subwoofer} on closeout at Sam's club for $35 around Christmas -- usually $59 there and THAT's a $10-$20 better deal than anywhere else, and I got the last set they had -- had already given my dad one set at full price to use with his bedroom stereo setup and he was ecstatic with them... Now that's my computer speaker setup ) ;)

I still really hope you get your situation worked out, too!

Good luck and Happy New Year!
Jeff

The *black grass* you've read about that is common to the HL-S4266 does not move. It is stationary, and is usually more visible on a "No signal" screen such as a DVD player input with the DVD player OFF (when the screen actually says "No signal detected".)

Ok, I have read and read about black grass, back to mid summer when I was buying my HL-S5086W and was in this thread researching the 50".

I am about to purchase a TV for the bedroom, and I have two choices. I can go with a 37" LCD (probably Vizio because of price point) or the HL-S4266W. The reason I am limited to those TV's is because of space. My current CRT based TV (and it's replacement) is housed inside of an armoir in my bedroom. The inside is 40" wide, and I can accomodate something as tall as 35" or so by lowering a shelf. There is already a whole in the back of the armoir, so I don't think ventilation on the Samsung will be a problem.

Back to grass. In the above quote, the poster said the black grass is most noticeable on a "no signal detected" screen. My question is how noticeable is it when watching normal TV/DVDs, and should I sacrifice 5" of diagnal viewing size to avoid it?

I don't care about whether or not the black grass being there is wrong and Samsung should fix it, I am only concerned about whether it will drive us crazy when we are watching TV and make us regret buying the TV.

Thanks

You're KILLING ME here, halokilla! Where did you get THAT deal????

And I thought my $899 was a "killer deal!"

I NEED to know, since I'm still in my "30-day window" with Circuit City!
Jeff
Sorry for the late reply Jeff, been away for a while. Anyhow I got it on Black Friday stood in line (#2 in line) from 7p till 5am...yeah it was tough, but it was all worth it!!! Later man... :D

this set produces one of the best PQ when playing xbox360 especially Gears of Wars!

Anyone else have a problem, or heard of, the HL-S4266W reverting it's picture settings back to factory default? I've searched this, and other, forums, but haven't found reference to this problem.

I have it calibrated OK using Avia, but after a watching TV for a while, it switches to Dynamic and "Torch" settings on it's own. Even if I set it back to Movie, I have to re-do all the adjustments. Also, it's always factory default when powering on. It won't save my settings.

Any advice would rock the house, but I'm anticipating a service call. :mad:

Thanks in advance,

Scott

Having read through the thread some more, I find that I have only three choices for my bedroom as the armoir is 40" wide (inside dimension) and I can accomodate anything up to 35" or so tall:


Leave my 27" TV in my armoir and deal with the tiny letterbox picture when watching TV shows on DVD.
Buy a HL-S4266W and likely have some degree of black grass, which might or might not drive me crazy.
Buy a 37"-40" LCD and have it burn in the 4:3 sidebars, as most of what we watch in the bedroom is SD TV (with some TV shows on DVD, which is why I want the wide screen) and then be driven crazy by the dark ghosting of the 4:3 'burned/retained' sidebars.


:( Not good choices.

Having read through the thread some more, I find that I have only three choices for my bedroom as the armoir is 40" wide (inside dimension) and I can accomodate anything up to 35" or so tall:


Leave my 27" TV in my armoir and deal with the tiny letterbox picture when watching TV shows on DVD.
Buy a HL-S4266W and likely have some degree of black grass, which might or might not drive me crazy.
Buy a 37"-40" LCD and have it burn in the 4:3 sidebars, as most of what we watch in the bedroom is SD TV (with some TV shows on DVD, which is why I want the wide screen) and then be driven crazy by the dark ghosting of the 4:3 'burned/retained' sidebars.


:( Not good choices.

As someone who owns the HL-S4266W, I highly reccomend it. This is coming from someone who has the "black grass" problem pretty badly(I've got it on the top and bottom). Like others have said, it's really only noticable on a no-signal screen. It is noticable during some dark scenes, but only when we're talking nearly total black(like a night sky or something). Other than this flaw, the HL-S4266W gives a great picture, and after having this TV for about 3 weeks, I've gotten used to the "black grass".

P.S.: I was in the same boat as you, didn't have room for the HL-S4666W, which doesn't have the "black grass" problem.

Having read through the thread some more, I find that I have only three choices for my bedroom as the armoir is 40" wide (inside dimension) and I can accomodate anything up to 35" or so tall:


Leave my 27" TV in my armoir and deal with the tiny letterbox picture when watching TV shows on DVD.
Buy a HL-S4266W and likely have some degree of black grass, which might or might not drive me crazy.
Buy a 37"-40" LCD and have it burn in the 4:3 sidebars, as most of what we watch in the bedroom is SD TV (with some TV shows on DVD, which is why I want the wide screen) and then be driven crazy by the dark ghosting of the 4:3 'burned/retained' sidebars.


:( Not good choices.

Another happy HL-S4266 owner. Had mine since July 06 and have been very happy with it. The set had a very small amount of black grass at the bottom that has gradually faded away almost completely. Its not caused by the electronics, its an optical artifact caused by how the outer and inner screens interface. Great set though. SD and 720p look best on the smaller screens like the 4266.

I was reading this thread starting from the beginning but after 3-4 pages I skipped to the end. It seems that the 42in black grass is still a problem, but earlier I saw some one mention that if you maybe got a build after a certain date it might not be there? Can anyone confirm this or fill me in on the black grass controversy. I think I am going to go buy this TV tonight... I'm guessing that I'll return it by friday based on my recent luck with new TVs. I just hope I get one that is less noticeable.

thanks for any help anyone can give
d

I was reading this thread starting from the beginning but after 3-4 pages I skipped to the end. It seems that the 42in black grass is still a problem, but earlier I saw some one mention that if you maybe got a build after a certain date it might not be there? Can anyone confirm this or fill me in on the black grass controversy. I think I am going to go buy this TV tonight... I'm guessing that I'll return it by friday based on my recent luck with new TVs. I just hope I get one that is less noticeable.

thanks for any help anyone can give
d

After the person that posted that he had received an August '06 build with no Black Grass, there was another post from someone who said he had an Oct. or Nov. build that did have black grass. I have seen nothing that indicates it has been corrected.

[...black grass] I have seen nothing that indicates it has been corrected.

...and it hasn't. Because it is an optical artifact from how the outer and inner screens interface, the set can have no black grass out of the box, then be lifted incorrectly, and then have the black grass. It happened to HoustonPerson who posts here.

I have been reading a majority of these posts. I owned a HL-S4666W, since August of 06. I noticed a few posts where people say that it is very bright and in a brightly lit room they can see everything fine. I guess I just have been noticing this in the past month, but during the day, I can barely see anything on the TV. The shades are down but the room is still moderately bright. Even putting it on dynamic mode with the contrast to 100 (just for testing, I never watch it like that), it is still hard to see any picture. Now at night with no lights it is much better but to me it doesn't seem as bright as it should be. I assume that the bulb has just gone dimmer? Is it a normal occurence for bulbs to eventually go dim? I have read they usually stay the same until they just die one day.

I have been reading a majority of these posts. I owned a HL-S4666W, since August of 06. I noticed a few posts where people say that it is very bright and in a brightly lit room they can see everything fine. I guess I just have been noticing this in the past month, but during the day, I can barely see anything on the TV. The shades are down but the room is still moderately bright. Even putting it on dynamic mode with the contrast to 100 (just for testing, I never watch it like that), it is still hard to see any picture. Now at night with no lights it is much better but to me it doesn't seem as bright as it should be. I assume that the bulb has just gone dimmer? Is it a normal occurence for bulbs to eventually go dim? I have read they usually stay the same until they just die one day.

I've had my HL-S4266 since July of 06 and I can't say that I've noticed any change in screen brightness. I never use Dynamic mode and even on bright sunny days Movie mode is fine. I do occasionally use the Standard mode on very bright days once in awhile. In all modes I use all the factory default settings (Reset).

I recently bought a Samsung HL-S5086W. I have read this whole tread and I tried all the clues on how to solve my issue - video lags audio on both HD and SD. I have set my Charter Scientic Atlantica HD DVR to output in 720p, the native resolution of the set, but the lag is pretty substantial. I am using a Onkyo 602 receiver with it's audio being fed directly from the STB.

I have tried both HDMI and component. And I have tried passing the digital audio through the TV. I have also turned off DNIe.

This does not seem live a very common issue. Would I have any better results with a different STB? Or would a newer receiver with HDMI switching help at all? I know there are also receievers that have a audio delay function. I don't like the idea of spending a lot of money to solve this. Any other ideas?

Having read through the thread some more, I find that I have only three choices for my bedroom as the armoir is 40" wide (inside dimension) and I can accomodate anything up to 35" or so tall:

Buy a 37"-40" LCD and have it burn in the 4:3 sidebars, as most of what we watch in the bedroom is SD TV (with some TV shows on DVD, which is why I want the wide screen) and then be driven crazy by the dark ghosting of the 4:3 'burned/retained' sidebars.
[/list]

.
LCD will not burn in, As you mentioned before I'd consider the Vizio for a bedroom TV I have the HL-S5086 as my main TV and a VX32L from Vizio as my Bar tv. I have both connected to the same feed and for the price the Vizio is very close to the Samsung. in PQ

LCD will not burn in, As you mentioned before I'd consider the Vizio for a bedroom TV I have the HL-S5086 as my main TV and a VX32L from Vizio as my Bar tv. I have both connected to the same feed and for the price the Vizio is very close to the Samsung. in PQ

I know many people say that LCD's won't burn, but my experience is different, I have had both an 20" HP LCD monitor burn/retain an image and a Panasonic AE900U projector retain a 4:3 sidebar image in only two days of watching SD TV.

Here is an excert from the Samsung user manual on an LCD I was looking at:

Changing the Screen Size

Screen size selection depends on the type of video input.

- 16:9 : Sets the picture to 16:9 wide mode.
- Zoom1 : Magnifies the size of the picture on the screen.
- Zoom2 : Expands the Zoom1 format picture.
- 4:3 : Sets the picture to 4:3 normal mode.



If you watch a still image or the 4:3 mode for a long time (over 2 hours), an image may be burned onto the screen.
View the TV in 16:9 mode as much as possible.
HD (High Definition)
16:9 - 1080i (1920x1080), 720P (1280x720)
In TV, VIDEO, S-VIDEO,and all COMPONENT (480i, 480p) modes, all screen modes can be selected.
(16:9 • Zoom1 • Zoom2 • 4:3).
In TV(DTV), DVI, PC, HDMI, COMPONENT (720p, 1080i) modes, only 16:9 & 4:3 modes can be selected.
You must select Zoom with P. Size button on the remote (not in the OSD menu) if you want to move the Zoom 1 or 2 picture up or down.
You can not change the picture size when PIP is set to Double.

http://downloadcenter.samsung.com/content/EM/200602/20060224172016437/EN/5_sub.htm

I recently bought a Samsung HL-S5086W. I have read this whole tread and I tried all the clues on how to solve my issue - video lags audio on both HD and SD.
I also have a new HL-S5086w connected to a Time Warner SA 8300hd. I'm using component cables and have optical audio going into a Sony (four years old) receiver.

The only way I can notice any lag is if I turn up the audio on both the TV and the receiver. You can then tell that the audio from the TV is a fraction of a second behind the Sony Reviver.

How much does your's lag?

I also have a new HL-S5086w connected to a Time Warner SA 8300hd. I'm using component cables and have optical audio going into a Sony (four years old) receiver.

The only way I can notice any lag is if I turn up the audio on both the TV and the receiver. You can then tell that the audio from the TV is a fraction of a second behind the Sony Reviver.

How much does your's lag?

Quite a bit, unfortunately. Somtimes it seems like I am watching a badly dubbed foreign film. Even when I use the TV's internal speakers there is a big lag. While that seems to point to the STB, it seems strange that I didn't have this problem with my last TV.

I guess I need to return the TV or look at a receiver with a delay feature.

I did a search and came up with nothing, but is there an option in the SM about closing the iris on the HLS-4266? Thanks in advance.

Thanks to everyone and I promise to contribute to the appropriate board on this forum once I buy a Big Box Picture Thing to repay the great advice here - I apologize for asking a Q in an owners forum.

That being said - I am in love w the 5686 for many reasons. I have 2 factors that I cant seem to reconcile:

1) Will the xx86 (being a 720p native set) be a better set for gaming (Xbox 360 and Wii) than the xx87 (1080p) set? -

2) If you could go back in time and purcahse the xx87 (1080p) set for $400 more then the xx86 set you have now - would you?

Thanks in advance for your answer - It is appreciated.

I have read through 17 pages of the thread and may need to make my buying decision before I have a chance to finish - Great stuff!!

s

Ref: HL-S5086W

Settings (DVD calibrated by DVE):

DVD (Denon DVD-2910/component out/progressive scan):
"Movie"
Contrast: 38
Brightness: 40
Sharpness: 25
Color: 28
Tint: 50/50
Mode: Normal
DNR: Off
DNiE: Off

SD digital cable TV (connected from STB via S-Video cable/no HD in my area yet):
"Standard"
Contrast: 30
Brightness: 58
Sharpness: 25
Color: 14
Tint: 50/50
Mode: Normal
DNR: On
DNiE: Off

Audio is handled by my 2-channel rig:

- Musical Fidelity A3CR preamp
- Parasound HCA-1500A amplifier
- C.E.C. CD-3300 CD transport
- Benchmark DAC1 DAC
- Denon DVD 2910
- Energy Connoisseur C-9 speakers
- Kimber Hero/8TC cables

Notes: I found that "Warm 1" was just too red/orange on a number of movies, so I went back to "Normal." Color started off at 40, and because color can't be set on a DLP with DVE, I adjusted for natural skin/sky/grass tones. At 40, grass was too neon looking, and faces looked unnaturally colored. Dances with Wolves is an excellent movie to fine adjust color.

My standard defintion tv channels now look beautiful, better than my 36" Panasonic CRT, and far better than what I had initially. Dropping contrast down, along with color, snapped the picture in perfectly.

I love this TV. Can't wait to see some high definition content on it.

Having read through the thread some more, I find that I have only three choices for my bedroom as the armoir is 40" wide (inside dimension) and I can accomodate anything up to 35" or so tall:


Leave my 27" TV in my armoir and deal with the tiny letterbox picture when watching TV shows on DVD.
Buy a HL-S4266W and likely have some degree of black grass, which might or might not drive me crazy.
Buy a 37"-40" LCD and have it burn in the 4:3 sidebars, as most of what we watch in the bedroom is SD TV (with some TV shows on DVD, which is why I want the wide screen) and then be driven crazy by the dark ghosting of the 4:3 'burned/retained' sidebars.


:( Not good choices.


I've had my HL-S4266W since the black friday sale at CC.
I LOVE IT!

Judging from the descriptions on here, I have one with a prettys severe case of black grasss, but I've only ever been able to see it when the room is pretty dark, and the cable box or xbox360 is turned off. (ie no signal present)
I have never seen it while watching a DVD/TV or while gaming.

So to me, even though it is certainly there, its a non issue.

Going along with my previous post on the HL-S4666W, does anyone else notice that when there are a lot of shadows or a dark scene it is just really dark? Like its hard to make out what is doing on at times because it is so dark. Maybe my brightness is too low but to me it seems like the dark detail is too low and it makes things hard to see, or could this be related to my bulb?

I just bought the HLS-5665W cant seem to see anything about it anywhere, anyways love the tv not a single problem with it from all the ones i have read on here.

I have a few questions does your hls models have the option of low and high output of the bulb? Mine doesnt but the lg and the toshiba i have seen do.

Also if you set your settings say under dvd , or hdmi or what ever, are they diferent for every other input? I cange of settings for colour,contrast ect and its the same on all inputs regardless.

I think i just got the cheapo of the hls series but i love this tv and the colours are fabulous and HD is freaking awsome, what a picture, but it does wreck all of the other sd and digital channels i have, and dvd:)

DNIE can affect low-level detail, try turning that off if you have it enabled. You may need to fine tune your brightness some. Remember, every source (and disk) is going to be a little different.

Anyone know how easy/hard it is to get a lamp from Samsung? timeframe?

Hey guys, new to the board and just picked up the HLS5086WX. After reading the majority of this thread im a bit confused as to finding out if my WX has a QAM tuner or not. I've been trying to search for local HD tv via my cable signal but have had no luck. Getting HD OTA is ok, but my antenna doesn't pick them up perfectly in my area, and am not able to mount an external antenna as I live in an apartment. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

my cable box out puts 1080I and 720p which would be the best resolution for my 720 hls samsung doesnt samsung support 1080I?

my cable box out puts 1080I and 720p which would be the best resolution for my 720 hls samsung doesnt samsung support 1080I?

720p. Or, try both and see which one looks better.

my cable box out puts 1080I and 720p which would be the best resolution for my 720 hls samsung doesnt samsung support 1080I?
Either way it's going to end up back at 720p since that's the TV's native resolution, but you can try both and see if you think one looks better than the other.

I have asked this question before but noone replies. Has anyone called Samsung to come out and remedy the black grass problem with the hl-s4266? if so what did they do or say about it? I think that someone must have issued a complaint already.

have had the hl-s4266w since july of '06
overall, i'm quite happy with it

i also get the "black grass" intermittently but unless you concentrate on it, it isn't (to me) that aggravating
and seems to me to be a by-product of all rear projection (dlp?) hd tvs

that being said, now i'm noticing a rainbow effect parallel to the bottom of the screen that actually gets thicker and higher in definiton as it progresses to the right of the screen

this is starting to drive me bleephouse because i notice it all the time especially watching hockey with the clear/white background

any suggestions on fixing this?

i had to have samsung come out to fix/replace my ln-r32 and they were fantastic about it, but it took three months of hounding them and phone tag for the replacement (bad lcd screen)

i don't want to go down that road yet

any suggestions?

thanks in advance

"Question"
HL-S5086W

I've read through as much of the Samsung thread as possible and the "black grass" issues mainly with the 42" box, but my problem seems to be diffrent and not "black grass" effect.

Recently I noticed a light smudge in the picture offset to the left center of the screen. It's almost like a very light cloud and it's only noticable when the picture goes dark or completely black and yes in any light. This 4-6" light cloud is always in the same spot too. It's watchable, but if it can't be fixed I'm going to get Samsung to fix. Keep in mind I've never cleaned the screen with anything but the Monster ScreenClean™ LCD Display Cleaner kit. The display has never been banged around in my house and the little smudge only became apparent to me in the last few weeks. No magnets anywhere around it either. I think I just have a deffective display. TV was purchased in Aug 06'.

Has anyone seen this problem before?

What would you do?

Does anyone know how to adjust the iris in the SM on the 4266?

I know everybody has posted settings on here with movie , contrast , colour ect but what about "my colour control" setting you got easy control with blue,green,pink,standard,custom. whats everybody doing with this setting?

"Question"
HL-S5086W

I've read through as much of the Samsung thread as possible and the "black grass" issues mainly with the 42" box, but my problem seems to be diffrent and not "black grass" effect.

Recently I noticed a light smudge in the picture offset to the left center of the screen. It's almost like a very light cloud and it's only noticable when the picture goes dark or completely black and yes in any light. This 4-6" light cloud is always in the same spot too. It's watchable, but if it can't be fixed I'm going to get Samsung to fix. Keep in mind I've never cleaned the screen with anything but the Monster ScreenClean™ LCD Display Cleaner kit. The display has never been banged around in my house and the little smudge only became apparent to me in the last few weeks. No magnets anywhere around it either. I think I just have a deffective display. TV was purchased in Aug 06'.

Has anyone seen this problem before?

What would you do?

If it looks like a dim flashlight coming from the inside the set, its normal. It is internal reflected light from your room. To check this, at nighttime turn off all lights and see if you still see it. BTW: There is an insert that came with the Owners Manual that explains this anomaly.

I know everybody has posted settings on here with movie , contrast , colour ect but what about "my colour control" setting you got easy control with blue,green,pink,standard,custom. whats everybody doing with this setting?

Since I use Movie mode most of the time "My color control" is greyed out and not an option. When I occasionally use the Standard mode I leave "My color control" at its default settings.

I have asked this question before but noone replies. Has anyone called Samsung to come out and remedy the black grass problem with the hl-s4266? if so what did they do or say about it? I think that someone must have issued a complaint already.

If you read this thread you would already know that the answer is yes and the black grass is not repairable. It is an optical artifact that is caused by the interface of the inner and outer screen stack.

I know everybody has posted settings on here with movie , contrast , colour ect but what about "my colour control" setting you got easy control with blue,green,pink,standard,custom. whats everybody doing with this setting?

I don't use it, haven't found a need for it.

I don't use it, haven't found a need for it.

I agree. Its worthless eye candy for the showroom floor.

I have asked this question before but noone replies. Has anyone called Samsung to come out and remedy the black grass problem with the hl-s4266? if so what did they do or say about it? I think that someone must have issued a complaint already.

Can you call Samsung and let us know? If you already have, what did they say?

HELP!!!!

1st off, I'd like to thank all of you for this wonderful forum. It helped me a lot in making my decision on what to buy. Equipment list:

Sammy HL-S4666
Sammy DVD-HD860
JVC RX-884V Dolby Digital Receiver

The DVD Player is connected to the TV via HDMI. The TV is running into the Receiver via a Optical audio cable. The Receiver is getting sound from the TV, but it not coming through as Dolby Digital. It is playing through my rear speakers, but not in surround. I haven't changed anything on the Receiver from the previous DVD player that was connected to it via the Optical cable. Is there some setting I am missing somewhere on the TV or DVD for the Audio? I've tried tooling around in the Audio setup menus and haven't been able to get it to work.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

FYI-I love the TV!!!! Watched Star Wars Episode III last night with a huge grin on my face. Total eye candy, and a great fit for my living room.