Samsung PN63B590 63-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV Customer Talk - Page 2

I just received my PN63B590 today. From reading the manual, there is no burn-in? There is a lot of talk about 100 to 300 hours burn-in for plasma tvs but it seems that none is needed for the newer models. Right?

You mean break-in?

What are you using to connect your PS3? HDMI I'm assuming? Make sure your picture settings aren't on Cool for color temp, and your brightness and contrast are kept in check. Different inputs have different settings sometimes.

Yes I mean break-in. So, what say you?

Hope you don't mind me jumping in. I did a lot of reading on the forums about this and the concensus as I saw it was that newer models, post 2007, shouldn't need as much break-in as prior units. The product manual does not mention it but it does make several warnings about IR and screen burn.

I've been running the Spears & Munsil calibration DVD and that has given my screen a lot of temporary IR. That and the fact that the manual warns about this made me feel more comfortable doing at least a partial break-in. I took all the information I found and followed this strategy:

1. Downloaded the break-in images to USB flash drive and ran those for 50 hours using the media play slideshow feature
2. Self-calibrated using the aforementioned DVD
3. Watch movies/programming full-screen (no bars at all) and zoomed to avoid any programming logos, tickers, etc.
4. No gaming
5. Continue this for at least 100 hours before I start using the set normally

This is just the way I've chosen to approach the issue and has not been tested or recommended by anyone else that I know of.

Would enjoy hearing any feedback on my methods.

Once I'm comfortable with my calibration I'll post my settings. But from what I've read, every unit has variations (not to mention the differences in viewing environments) and one person's perfect settings may not be appropriate for another.

I have a 590. I ran the break-in slides not for the purpose of wearing the set in in terms of IR but just to assure even pixel/color break-in. The realitiy is I probably didn't need to but it didn't hurt and it built-up some hours on the set so I could get to a couple hundred quicker which you'll want to do before calibrating it (whether yourself or with an expert). When I would get IR after a viewing session, I would run the scrolling bars from the TV menu for 15 minutes.

But otherwise I just enjoyed the set from day-one. I didn't dial down the picture settings below the defaults, I didn't avoid movies with letterboxing or gaming with my PS3 or Wii, etc. I just relaxed and enjoyed the set.

thanks for the input, I will check it when tonight. It is connected with HDMI, however, it is my BD player and it is fine with movies, just that game I run into the issue. I haven't had a chance to further investigate but I will tonight.

Thanks

I ran my set on a lower contrast and brightness setting for the first week and then set the unit up with my calibration disc and now have the contrast at 95,brightness at 48, lamp at 8, color at 31, most all the settings are to off,, I use the set in a theater room with dimmable lighting and the picture quality is outstanding,,

had considered the 100 & 200 hour cooking in but from what I have read the new sets do not require so figured why do it,,

looking forward to several years of enjoyable viewing,,

Derry

what is the difference between PN63B590 VS PN63B550.. i see the 550 is about 600 to 800 cheaper in price.. should i go for the 590 or is the extra money not worth it and just get the 550? loving this thread btw..

I can just comment on one difference. I know the screen coating is different. The 550 has the filterbrite and the 590 has the filterbrite Ultra. From what I hear (and this is strictly hearsay) the 550 has very bad reflection in a room with ambient light. 590 filter is a very big step up.

that was the main factor that pushed me towards the 590. I hate reflection and glare, and with my great room having 8 windows I chose to spring the extra $$ for the 590 pretty much on that basis alone.

Not that much of a difference at BB.

I was originally looking at purchasing a 65 inch Panny V10 based solely on research. Now that the V10 seems next to impossible to find, I finallly went out to stores to compare pictures. My eyes actually much prefer the picture, better colors and pop, etc on the Sammy 63 B590.

I only have two concerns about the set. I am mostly going to use this for watching hockey. What I believe i have read is people complaining about is some effects of a mostly white screen in relation to some "jumpiness" of the white level and some additional buzz when screen is mostly white.

Anyone here have any comments about this with experience watching NHL broadcasts?

I hooked up my new Samsung PN63B590 yesterday. First of all, for those in the RPTV forum that says rptv is as good as any flat panel tv, THEY ARE WRONG ! The pq is much better. The same tv cable feed on hd is much much better than my old rptv.

Now on the break-in. Some people say there is no need to break it in. Somebody said he used a calibration disc but it introduced some IR? I wouldn't use one if it gives my set IR. Dont understand that.

I just watch as I would normally. Most of the hd channels uses the full screen. I switch from channel to channel once in a while to not have that channel logo for a long time on the screen.

I watch a bluray movie. Its pretty good. The problem is I got black vertical bars on 16:9 aspect ratio. Can you get rid of it without going to zoom?

So far so good. I am glad to get this plasma tv.

Personally, I performed a semi-break-in period. I would have full screen programming on all day with the contrast turned down, then run the color slides at night.

For the first couple hundred hours, just turn the contrast down around 50 and watch TV as you normally would.

If you watch a movie or programming that has bars, after it is finished simply watch a full-screen program for a while to ensure even aging and/or if you feel like it, run the screen 'eraser' for bit afterwards. If you want to, run the break-in color slides at night.

Whether or not all this helps anymore, I don't know. It's really up to you.

I would guess that 95% percent of plasma owners do not break-in their sets or adjust the picture settings beyond the default and are very pleased.

It's the 5% of us who are obsessers that worry about things like break-in.

Picked up a PN63B590 in Mid-January to replace the Sony KDS-R50XBR1 television located in the Man Cave. Moved the 50" upstairs for the wifie to enjoy while I am watching movies or playing games.

This TV came from the factory with some interesting standard settings. By not enabling GAME mode the TV colors seem muted. GAME mode pumps up the color and makes everything quite bright and vibrant. It makes the colors overpowering in some respects. Well after watching Hi-Def TV (Comcast 1080I) and a few Blu-ray movies I decided prior to SuperBowl to get an ISF calibration (those are not cheap, and the Boss was on my case about spending the money on it). Well after the ISF calibration I must say the TV is GORGEOUS! The picture is near realistic. I watched Hunt For Red October on Hi-Def TV and must say that it completely immerses you in the experience.

Samsung has made a great plasma, well worth the purchase. I cannot wait for FOOTBALL and March Madness.

I will post my before and after ISF after recieving it from the Calibrater.

CheshireCat289

Does anyone know...is there a CMS in the service menu of the B590? Otherwise I assume ALL adjustments a calibrator would perform on this set would be in the user menu (so essentially greyscale would be the only thing they would need a meter for).

Man, I seem to have the worst luck. I ordered the 63b590 in time for the Superbowl, but my heart sank when I saw the guy delivering the box.

The box had a large gash on one side, the bottom of the TV box was completely torn open and when he opened it, most of the foam packaging was crushed as well. Shockingly, the TV screen was not cracked, but when I plugged it in, there was no image appearing on the TV, but I did get a highly annoying buzzing sound...

Oh well, I rejected the delivery. The retailer is sending another one after they receive this broken one back in the warehouse.

Huge bummer. Lets hope there's a more reliable shipper next time around...

Envy you guys enjoying your pristine TVs...

Correct. There is a shell of the CMS in the service menu but the full functionality is striped out of it. In theory you could try what others did and use the service menu to tell the TV it is a different model, like a 650, to get the full CMS. But since there is no 63" model with a CMS native to its functionality personally I would be careful about telling it it is a different size/featured TV (all the models with CMS also have internet functionality the 590 doesn't).

1) Much better anti-glare filter
2) Much better internal speakers
3) Native Cinema Smooth functionalty (though known to be buggy anyway)

Thanks Citivas.

Ya, I wouldn't try that with this model...a little too risky. I was just curious if there was any way to adjust the color, although it looks quite good to me.

So based on Citivas' facts below...

1) If glare could be an issue, add a check to the B590 box. If you can completely control lighting or it's going in a basement, add a check to the B550 box.

2) If you have a separate receiver and sound system, put a check in the B550 box. If not, the B590.

3) If you care about 24p, B590 for sure. If it's not a big deal, B550.

So I say, if you are in a bright room and don't have a separate audio system, go with the B590. If you are in a light controlled room and have a separate audio system, go with the B550. Just my opinion.

Yes, please do post it. I would love to see how much a difference it makes.

Two clarifications. Re: 2) I would say "if you have a separate sound system that you use exclusively for TV audio." Many people, myself included, have a great sound system but don't use it exclusive for TV. I use mine for blu-rays or big TV events, for example, but not the majority of day-to-day viewing. Having the excellent internal speakers in the 590 has been a real plus, even though it wasn't a dead-breaker point when I bought it.

Re: 3) 1080/24p looks just fine for many people without Cinema Smooth. I have the feature but leave it turned off. Some people (not suggesting you but for other readers) are under the belief that they can't play 24p content without the feature or the they will get a lesser resolution picture without it. You get exactly the same resolution either way. It exclusively helps with smoothing frame motion, which many people don't notice especially since until these recent sets with the variable frame refresh rates we've all been watching the same 3:2 pulldown for native 24 frame content for decades.

Also, the price difference is not always that great. When I bought my 590 at BB I negotiated it to a price hundreds LESS than local retailers were selling the 550 at the time. I probably could have leveraged that to get the 550 even less, but probably only by a couple hundred at the time. Now I haven't kept up with current online pricing deals so I don't know if the delta has spread. But do note that there's no reason to pay advertised price at BB or other retailers -- they definitely negotiate.

24p can be enabled in the service menu easily on the 550 model and works as well as on the 590.
So it comes down to antiglare which also reduces brightness and better tv speakers.
Given this big bad tv deserves an appropriate soundsystem I wish i could buy it cheaper wih no speakers. Other wise lose surround sound on all my hi def programming!

Agreed, it works equally bad in both models if you access the service menu and change the model setting in the 550.

As for the sound, many people who do have great sound systems still like using internal speakers too. I always find it amusing here at AVS, where we are all audio-videophiles of varying degrees, that we sometimes assume everyone would always use a sound system if they could. We represent the significant minority overall. And even among us, some of us, believe it or not, are traitors. I have a Denon 3808ci hooked up to my Sammy and still use the internal speaker 90 percent of the viewing time.

But everyone has to make their own decisions based on their priorities.

why would u do that?
I have a harmony remote so turning on the tv also turns on the receiver and the HD pvr. So it is no extra work for me and i get best sound all the time.........

I have a Harmony One remote too, so that's not the issue. There are a lot of users in my household and a lot of them just aren't as comfortable with using a universal remote, for one, whether its the 4 year-old or the grandparents or the older babysitter, and even my wife. She flatly refuses to use it and is unapologetic about it. This site is full of tech-friendly people. We're not the norm. Statistically, a vast majority of people don't use AV systems with their TV's, even among owners of higher end sets. But what's interesting is I found over time that I got used to not always using the universal remote and turning on the receiver too. For a lot of TV watching it's just not really necessary. Does the news need a great speaker sound? Does SpongeBob? Does Dirty Jobs? Not really. I still use the Denon religiously when watching DVD's or Blu-rays or games on the PS3, but rarely for regular TV. Nothing wrong with it, but the internal speakers do just fine. For every buyer who doesn't care about the internal speakers, there are multiple buyers who do...

To each their own I guess, but in my household my wife and children are not keen on complicated home theater setups either. That said, at the minimum they would still have to turn on the cablebox/pvr and the TV. So using the harmony with the activity settings they learned that pressing watch TV does it all for them they only need to remember to hold the remote aiming it ofr the extra 1-2 seconds.

The help menu on the remote also makes it easy to fix if the rare time one device doesn't get turned on. I agree about your point for home theater enthusiasts or non.
But also figure anyone investing in a 63 inch 1080p TV is likely usually watching a hi def source so at least 2 devices will need to be turned on.

The DirecTV remote handles the TV automatically so they only need one remote... And that extra time you mentioned about holding the Harmony -- and the need to step back enough so it has a good fline of site to all the devices -- has messed them up and generally many people don't like to be "fooled" more than once with a device if they are not tech savvy. They feel stupid the first time they need to ask for help and decide after that they just want to use what they know.

I was looking at getting a Pioneer Kuro 600M at one point and my wife, who'll otherwise let me buy whatever I want, actually vetoed it solely on the basis that she refused to "downgrade" from our existing plsama that had internal speakers to one that would have exclusively required the Denon.