Samsung PN50A550 / PN58A550 Owners Thread

[pbc]

Eh, just updated it. Figured what's the worse that can happen? If it crashed my set I'd have to go out and get a shiny new Plasma, that's all.

Wow, I was on 1000.7, 1005.3 seems like many updates have happened since my set was manufactured. Interesting. Hopefully I will get a chance to measure the set with my settings to see if it still measures the same.

[pbc]

Interesting, it only reset my white balance user settings. Everything else remained the same ...

Edit: Ignore this, guess I never reset my component connection white balance settings when I last measured my set. My HDMI white balance settings were my old ones.

[pbc]

Just a heads up. The lock into a signal is WAY faster now when running through my Integra. I.e., before when I would go say from an HD signal to an SD signal, I had at least 4 or 5 seconds of "Searching for signals". Now it literally pops up and goes away almost immediately. Not sure if this is 1005.2 or 1005.3 or a previous version that we didn't see on the site, but regardless, I'm much happier with the lock now!!

[daniel'son]

^^ .. good feedback pbc; thanxs, sounds like a positive FW update.

[pbc]

Well, maybe not so good. Watching hockey, and now I see a pink/green blur/haze with the white ice (similar to what I used to see with my Panasonic 85U and what I guess others are talking about). I don't remember seeing that 30 minutes ago. Wonderful.

Guess I will measure the gray scale when I get a chance.

[campb292]

Originally Posted by pbc

Well, maybe not so good. Watching hockey, and now I see a pink/green blur/haze with the white ice (similar to what I used to see with my Panasonic 85U and what I guess others are talking about). I don't remember seeing that 30 minutes ago. Wonderful.

Guess I will measure the gray scale when I get a chance.

Maybe Lex Luthor was at the game and brought kryptonite! They made that in green and pink/red didn't they? ><

[pbc]

Not unless he also managed to get on the Stanley Cup playoff final game that I have taped on my PVR. Ah well, strange, and it's probably going to drive me nuts for a while. I'll see what calibration does, if anything, and take it from there.

[videoaddikt]

Originally Posted by pbc

Interesting, it only reset my white balance user settings. Everything else remained the same ...

Edit: Ignore this, guess I never reset my component connection white balance settings when I last measured my set. My HDMI white balance settings were my old ones.

Interesting. I know you need your numbers recorded if you go in the SM because everything gets reset.

I understand if you already have a calibration done, there is some risk a firmware update will change the values in the SM, so putting back the numbers in the user's menu may not put you back where you were. I don't know if that has happened yet, but it's a scary thought.

[funkydonkey]

I am thinking of ordering this set along with a up converson dvd player but having trouble choosing cable they give it to you free but you have to choose which one I read this tv is 1.2 hdmi but all their cables are1.3 hdmi does this matter I know nothing about hdmi cables ty for any in put

[campb292]

Originally Posted by funkydonkey

I am thinking of ordering this set along with a up converson dvd player but having trouble choosing cable they give it to you free but you have to choose which one I read this tv is 1.2 hdmi but all their cables are1.3 hdmi does this matter I know nothing about hdmi cables ty for any in put

You don't need to worry, the set isnt 1.2 it is 1.3 HDMI. HDMI 1.3 is what you want.


http://www.samsung.com/us/consumer/d...PN50A550S1FXZA

[Largamelion]

Any European users with a PS50A550 noticed any issues of pink banding?

Just wondering cause I 'm about to order one (tomorrow if everything goes well).

[bobbis]

Is pink banding noticeable from the start, or does it take time to develop? I don't see this effect on my 550. I was watching closely last night during some snow landscape scenes on Discovery Theater and looked great.

[pbc]

I didn't notice it until last night while watching a poor feed on cable of Hockey, and for that matter, after I put through the firmware upgrade (was watching hockey before as well). It's very evident with hockey, watched a taped HD feed of the playoffs that I had PVR's (humorously enough because I had seen this pink/green crap on my 85U before returning it) and it was evident.

Then changed to Planet Earth which was on an HD channel and was showing white mountain landscapes, it was ever so barely noticeable, but to the point where had I not known exactly what to look for I would have never seen it.

Put up a white screen (the screen burn protection screen) and again, very difficult to see.

So unless you're a big Hurricanes fan (the hockey team that is), you may never notice it ...

[bobbis]

I'll check it out....

Go Rangers!

[funkydonkey]

ty for answer I must have misread something about the 1.2 ty

[Cupajava]

Originally Posted by pbc

I didn't notice it until last night while watching a poor feed on cable of Hockey, and for that matter, after I put through the firmware upgrade (was watching hockey before as well). It's very evident with hockey, watched a taped HD feed of the playoffs that I had PVR's (humorously enough because I had seen this pink/green crap on my 85U before returning it) and it was evident.
.

Very interested to hear if the firmware update is the cause of your "pink" issues. I've had my PN58A550 for a few months now and I have no complaints about the picture quality. You know what they say, "if it aint broke,....".

[daniel'son]

^^ hum-m-m .. abit curious, the correlation btwn the newer FW updates & 'some' recent A550's owners who have had the pink issue. The recent FW update may not be the answer to some sets w/ weaknesses in one color spectrum or another. Appears Samsung tried to work a fix (to satisfy the masses) & may have fowled-up some older A550 models, specifically a/r my relative's purchase of Mar/Apr '08.

[Doug Blackburn]

Originally Posted by mmatheny

OK - I see now that mine is at 1002.1 - I was looking in the wrong area! Guess I'll be updating tonight! Does it wonk all your settings, or are they preserved? Also, see anything different? They need a FAQ on what was fixed in the updates!

What do you have the Samsung plugged into at your house? Any chance it was connected to a $30 or less power strip? If so, my bet is that the power strip has a problem with products that pull a lot of current... like plasma TVs. I would get a single-outlet power cord like the orange ones from a hardware or home improvement store and plug that directly into the wall outlet. Problem solved. Except your panel has no surge suppression/spike protection with that kind of hook-up. In my experience, the construction of surge/spike protection products is not very good until you have something that looks like it has AC plugs that would be in a wall-outlet. If the holes for the prongs and ground pin are molded into the product, it is going to have stamped brass parts inside for the AC connections and those just aren't adequate for higher-current products like plasma TVs and audio amplifiers. If you see the product has regular AC outlets (molded in brown, beige, white or orange) behind the panel, then the outlets will have better internal construction than the cheezy stamped brass in the all-molded products.

[campb292]

Originally Posted by Doug Blackburn

What do you have the Samsung plugged into at your house? Any chance it was connected to a $30 or less power strip? If so, my bet is that the power strip has a problem with products that pull a lot of current... like plasma TVs. I would get a single-outlet power cord like the orange ones from a hardware or home improvement store and plug that directly into the wall outlet. Problem solved. Except your panel has no surge suppression/spike protection with that kind of hook-up. In my experience, the construction of surge/spike protection products is not very good until you have something that looks like it has AC plugs that would be in a wall-outlet. If the holes for the prongs and ground pin are molded into the product, it is going to have stamped brass parts inside for the AC connections and those just aren't adequate for higher-current products like plasma TVs and audio amplifiers. If you see the product has regular AC outlets (molded in brown, beige, white or orange) behind the panel, then the outlets will have better internal construction than the cheezy stamped brass in the all-molded products.

So a $6.99 5 outlet "Only 3/4" thick DYNAMO POWER BUDDY" from Walmart isn't the best? It says it protects up to 100 joules isnt that good? Is that like 100% protection?

[daniel'son]

Originally Posted by campb292

So a $6.99 5 outlet "Only 3/4" thick DYNAMO POWER BUDDY" from Walmart isn't the best? It says it protects up to 100 joules isnt that good? Is that like 100% protection?

.. good one , though one should get at least a Belkin, more than least a Panamax, a TrippLite or even the Monster .. I have the 1000 MKIII purchased off eBay for ~$50 (Panamax used in GR) . Probably overkill, but my home has an Home Arrestor also, compliments of local electric Co. (~$300 or lease monthly).

some info for those who wonder:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surge_protector

[mmatheny]

Originally Posted by Doug Blackburn

What do you have the Samsung plugged into at your house? Any chance it was connected to a $30 or less power strip? If so, my bet is that the power strip has a problem with products that pull a lot of current... like plasma TVs. I would get a single-outlet power cord like the orange ones from a hardware or home improvement store and plug that directly into the wall outlet. Problem solved. Except your panel has no surge suppression/spike protection with that kind of hook-up. In my experience, the construction of surge/spike protection products is not very good until you have something that looks like it has AC plugs that would be in a wall-outlet. If the holes for the prongs and ground pin are molded into the product, it is going to have stamped brass parts inside for the AC connections and those just aren't adequate for higher-current products like plasma TVs and audio amplifiers. If you see the product has regular AC outlets (molded in brown, beige, white or orange) behind the panel, then the outlets will have better internal construction than the cheezy stamped brass in the all-molded products.

Was this meant for me? I don't see the correlation. However, I do have an expensive surge protector power strip at home - I'll get the brand and report back.

[mmatheny]

WARNING - when you do the update, it DOES NOT start the Plug 'n Play setup like the document says (at least it didn't for me!!).

I came home and just turned on the TV (with input set to my cable STB and the STB off), and after the first update, and it restarted, all I got was a blank screen!!! Scared the you know what out of me, until I realized I had the input device turned off - turned the STB on, and looked fine!! I will look closer for the pink thing tonight.

Wonder if we can get previous firmwares to downgrade to!?

[richericks]

I have a PN50A550 that displays some of the pink and green banding issues others have been talking about. The build date is August '08. A service tech came by today to look at it and his solution is to replace the panel. Has anyone with this issue had the panel replaced? Did it help?

[Doug Blackburn]

Originally Posted by burnsco

I just purchased the 50A550 tv today and didn't know where else to post this question. The salesguy was trying to sell these power surge protectors that were like $400 stating that they were pretty much necessary. Could anyone help me out with the basic stuff I will need for new tv and surround sound system? Possibly a cheaper surge protector recommendation?

Look at APC products - very competently designed. Reasonably priced for what you get. You need a fairly beefy one to provide power for a plasma... figure almost 500 watts just for the plasma. I've reviewed over 85 power conditioning products for several publications. In the last several years since switching to all-digital video (HDMI connections between all video components) I haven't seen any power conditioning product that changes the image quality in any way. With analog video, you did get some visible differences from worse to noticeably better. Digital video seems immune to problems from dirty power. But surge suppression is a good idea. It's also a good idea to get a product that will cut power if the line voltage goes too high or too low - even when the TV is off, it is still using a little power and can be damaged if the power line goes nuts. You'll pay a bit more for a power conditioner that can remove power for over or under voltage conditions because they have to have a microprocessor-controlled line voltage monitor, but it won't add a huge amount to the MSRP, especially if APC offers that sort of product.

Protecting expensive componets (and most appliances now have microprocessor controls and need protection also! it's not just audio and video components) is a good idea - the power grid is worse than it has ever been and we aren't getting fewer lightning strikes - though there are a precious few locations where lightning strikes are rare (though Portland, OR and the San Francisco area had such rare ligthning that when it did happen, it was quite an event).

[laajr]

Originally Posted by Doug Blackburn

Look at APC products - very competently designed. Reasonably priced for what you get. You need a fairly beefy one to provide power for a plasma... figure almost 500 watts just for the plasma. I've reviewed over 85 power conditioning products for several publications. In the last several years since switching to all-digital video (HDMI connections between all video components) I haven't seen any power conditioning product that changes the image quality in any way. With analog video, you did get some visible differences from worse to noticeably better. Digital video seems immune to problems from dirty power. But surge suppression is a good idea. It's also a good idea to get a product that will cut power if the line voltage goes too high or too low - even when the TV is off, it is still using a little power and can be damaged if the power line goes nuts. You'll pay a bit more for a power conditioner that can remove power for over or under voltage conditions because they have to have a microprocessor-controlled line voltage monitor, but it won't add a huge amount to the MSRP, especially if APC offers that sort of product.

Protecting expensive componets (and most appliances now have microprocessor controls and need protection also! it's not just audio and video components) is a good idea - the power grid is worse than it has ever been and we aren't getting fewer lightning strikes - though there are a precious few locations where lightning strikes are rare (though Portland, OR and the San Francisco area had such rare ligthning that when it did happen, it was quite an event).

Doug, are there any problems with using the stepped sine wave backup ups's with a plasma (50A650)?

[campb292]

Originally Posted by Doug Blackburn

Look at APC products - very competently designed.

I disagree with the APC recommendation. If you were referring to the APC made by Schneider company and apc.com, I have had negative experience that relates to quality control. I read a review through Cisco that these were recommended and they seemed fairly priced so I got one about 9 months ago. I bought the $50 P11VMT3, perhaps their top model at the time. What I got was not only cheap feeling and very light, it had those "molded" jacks you mentioned staying away from. When I plugged things in, I could not insert a plug into 2 of the jacks. I called the company, which outsources their support, and was told to exchange it. So, I shipped it back and got another, 3 weeks later. This time it had a hairline crack in the side and I could not even force a plug into 3 of the outlets. On this one I could actually see some plastic blockage inside the neutral slots of each.

Having two random suppressors sent to me both with defects stinks of horrid quality control practices at their factory in the Philippines which produces most of their goods. If you cut corners on service, cut corners on production, cut corners on quality control, you probably cut corners everywhere.

[bobbis]

http://www.psaudio.com/power.asp

http://www.richardgrayspowercompany.com/products.aspx

http://www.audience-av.com/conditioners/

http://www.shunyata.com/Content/products-PowerDist.html

Some good stuff here....maybe a little pricey but just wanted to share.

[pbc]

Wonder if we can get previous firmwares to downgrade to!?

I'm wondering the same thing. Unfortunately I don't recall seeing the pink/green before, but that could be because I got the set after hockey season ended. The "preseason" game feeds are so bad on SD that I likely wasn't even noticing the fact that anything was amiss. Maybe it wasn't the firmware upgrade, but who knows now.

[mmatheny]

Well, didn't see any color issues last night, but also didn't watch hockey (I'm in Texas - not a big sport here!)

[CRG74]

I had slight pink-banding before the recent update and, unfortunately, still have it now.