Hello everybody...
I have a lot to report.
Finished break-in on Wednesday. TV looks great! totally even screen even when totally black. Also it is pixel perfect.
I mentioned in an earlier update that there was no significant buzz. This was based on listening to the back of the panel where I had noticed buzz on my last 2 Pioneers. However about halfway into the break-in period I noticed the buzz coming from the
front of the TV. I can't say for sure that my previous 2 Pios had no front panel buzz, but I had my 5080 for a full year and I think I would have noticed it. My first 5020 I only had for about a month and I wish now I had educated myself on buzz then and really analyzed the rear power source buzz
and the front panel buzz. Then I could say easier whether the buzz on my current TV is abnormal.
Here is what I do know:
1) Turning the power save to Mode 2 drops the pitch so that the noise is significantly less noticeable.
2) Even on power save Mode 2 I can hear the buzz at my normal viewing distance (12 feet)
if the room is quiet and the TV is either muted or its a very quiet scene.
3) I went to Best Buy and listened to
2 6020's on display to hear the buzz. Because of ambient noise I could not hear it unless I literally put my ear tight against the glass. When switching between power save "Off" and Mode 2
the same exact difference in pitch as my 5020 could be heard. When I came home I preformed an experiment: I put a box fan in my living room and put it on low. I also turned on some music. This replicated the ambient noise of Best Buy pretty well. Then when I put my ear next to the TV the buzz was non existent or maybe almost non existent. I then put my ear tight to the screen to see if it sounded like the 6020's at Best Buy... can't say for sure. Right now I am leaning toward-- my TV is at least
a little louder... then again, it may be that the ambient noise at Best Buy was greater. But it seems like ambient noise wouldn't be a factor with ones ear tight to the screen.
A very likely possibility is that all of my Pios buzzed but after already exchanging 2 TVs I am freaking out a little. Also, I may be suffering from the 'I-made-a $3000-investment-and-it-should-be-perfect' syndrome.
I am not willing to exchange a third time (especially after waiting through the 150 hour break in period.. I'm not doing that again any time soon!)
So my latest questions are:
A) Does it sound like my TV is abnormal? (The manual says that panel buzz is normal... but how much?)
B) With my current awareness of the panel buzz I can not tolerate power save "Off". I know that D-Nice recommends "Off" for the best picture but I can't stand it! However in "Movie", "Off" and "Mode 2" appear close to identical. I just bump the brightness from -1 to 0, and it seems fine to me. Should I be fine with that? [Saving energy is good right?]
C) When pressing my ear tight to my screen (several times) I left oils from my skin. I knew this would happen but I thought the provided cloth would get it off just fine... It doesn't! I have tried 6 or 7 times and I can still see the residue. When I look at the screen close the reflection looks more bluish where the oils have been smeared around. Have the oils done permanent damage? Is there something I can use in addition to wiping with the provided cloth?
The manual says not to use any liquid on the screen because it could 'seep into the panel'. This makes it sound like liquid could penetrate the glass [?!], or maybe damage some "magical" finish. Is that possible or does it just mean that it could drip down into the edges?
I am very tempted to try a little rubbing alcohol on a cotton t-shirt to cut the grease but I don't want to damage the "magical" finish on the glass, if there is such a thing... and I haven't already damaged said magical finish...
What can I do to make my screen clean?
How can I get my head right about the buzzing? Try to keep your comments positive, for the sake of my sanity!