Am I killing my HDTV? Please help/advise

[the_dudeman]

Hello all,

I posted in HDTV Technical forum but thought it wouldn't hurt to post here.

First some background, I'll try to be brief. I've had my Samsung LN-T4665F for about 2 yrs now. A couple of weeks ago, It started having an issue where there would be like a dark blackish shadow, for lack of a better word, over the left half of the screen. This would happen mostly when the TV was turned on for the first time that day. By turning on my HTPC, I could make it go away, or it seemed like I was making it go away, in any case it would go away. In the beginning it would stay away for the rest of the night. Next evening when wanting to watch TV, it would be back. Now it will sometimes go away and stay away, but other times come back while I'm watching. By monkeying with the HTPC display settings I can get it to go away again. But as I said, "I think" I am, making it go away but possibly it's going away on it's own. What makes me think playing with PC display settings is doing something is, turning on Blu-ray or D*TV will not make it go away.

Everything is connected to my Onkyo TX-SR876 including HTPC via HDMI, with a single HDMI from the Onkyo to HDMI 2 on the TV. I don't think the Onkyo is at fault because I can turn on the TV by itself with no sources on, and still see the blackish shadow.

Is my TV dying? Am I killing it?

Please advise.

dudeman

[the_dudeman]

79 views of this thread and not one reply of advice, comment or help?!

dudeman

[sharkcohen]

If it did not used to do this, that can't be good. I doubt you are doing anything to cause it, though.

[Benny42]

Originally Posted by the_dudeman

First some background, I'll try to be brief. I've had my Samsung LN-T4665F for about 2 yrs now. A couple of weeks ago, It started having an issue where there would be like a dark blackish shadow, for lack of a better word, over the left half of the screen.

Can you take pictures?

bye
Benny

[amirm]

Sounds like one of the backlight tubes/drive circuit is going bad. When it does, part of the screen becomes darker, looking like there is a shadow over it. Playing with on the PC should have no effect on it.

[the_dudeman]

Originally Posted by amirm

Sounds like one of the backlight tubes/drive circuit is going bad. When it does, part of the screen becomes darker, looking like there is a shadow over it. Playing with on the PC should have no effect on it.

Thank you, this sounds very plausible. Have you had experience with this, seen this?

What are my options, seeing that this TV is out of warranty? Will local repair people be able to fix or replace this faulty circuit?

If not, can you suggest a good repleacement TV? My budget is around $1500.

Thanks again.

[amirm]

Originally Posted by the_dudeman

Thank you, this sounds very plausible. Have you had experience with this, seen this?

Yes, but in computer displays.

What are my options, seeing that this TV is out of warranty? Will local repair people be able to fix or replace this faulty circuit?

They certainly can. The cost would be hundreds of dollars though as they would simply swap out the entire backlight assembly together possibly with the drive circuit.

If not, can you suggest a good repleacement TV? My budget is around $1500.

Thanks again.

It is best to read the threads here . I would try to stay with mainstream names. If you don't know where to start, research Toshiba LCDs which tend to be priced more reasonably yet, have good quality.

[sharkcohen]

The backlight is likely integrated with the panel, requiring replacement of the panel.

[MrBobb]

I cannot reply until u post a pix.