Official Samsung LNxxD630 Owner's Thread - Page 11

It's not been solved, but it can be minimized by changing its settings, or you can turn it off if you don't like it. Lots of brands gave a feature like AMP, and I haven't seen anybody claim that another brand does this feature better. But there are lots of good things about this TV, like picture quality, connectivity options.

Thanks pbarach.

It seems as if you are saying that the problem still remains even if amp is set on 'low'?

It seems as if the features designed to solve certain problems winding up creating new problems of their own. For example boosting contrast too much can lead to crushed blacks, or frame interpolation can lead to lag as the video processor attempts to process existing frames and create new ones.

Also, there is the issue of the samsung 'lottery panel' is there not?

I guess there is no such thing as a free meal, so to speak.

With the AMP set to "clear" or "low" you generally don't have any problems and that is what I leave mine set on for cable HDTV. Thing is that I can not tell a difference between AMP on Clear or just turning it off. The middle and high settings seem to work fine on most sports channels but sitcoms is where it either looks wierd or stutters quite a bit and alot has to do with the quality of the program feed. On bluray and DVD the AMP on standard or smooth (med. or high) works fine with just a slight frame skip every now and then. This is mainly on slow screen panning but you still get that wierd "sopa opera" look which I kinda like for some movies but not for others. Watched Star Wars V the other night on DVD with AMP set to Standard and it was unwatchable but then popped in Dazed and Confused and AMP on standard actually improved the movie in my opinion.

Not sure what lottery panel means. If you're referring to different LCD panels from different sources, I guess I was lucky--I have no complaints about the picture quality on my set. Big improvement over the Toshiba 720p plasma ca. 2006 that it replaced.

Well this caveman threw his hands up in frustration. I'm giving it another go on my own tonight, but let me share the brief details. Suffice to say I am a very easy going guy, but right now I was so frustrated with Samsung's Tech Support, I actually told them "Look, I can hear the frustration in your voice, which doesn't equal half what I'm experiencing, so I'm just done talking for now. I'll call back." Not like me at all.

As noted, I have all Samsung equipment: Soundbar, TV, and DVD/VHS recorder, along with the DirecTV and an XBox Kinnect. After reporting that I was not able to record with my unit (tunerless, and I was reading about that in the manual while I had them on the phone) I was basically told I needed to unhook my soundbar from the DirecTV box and use RCA cables whenever I'd want to record. Ridiculous. Tried to read them their own manual that talked about using RCA cables, but in conjunction with an RF cable and somehow setting a control/set top box code blah blah blah....

When I told her (a team leader no less) that with all Samsung equipment, it seemed illogical that I would have to disconnect a soundbar to be able to record, she said, "Sir, I'm telling you the correct way!" Right. The correct way is to disconnect something to use another???? Cmon.

ANYway, dug up the old RF modulator with the RCA cables already attached to it that my previous recorder used (however it had an antenna in/out) and going to hook it up directly to the recorder and presumably the coaxial that comes out of it should go to the TV IN on the new Samsung TV. (?) I'm still not sure how the recorder is going to know what channel it's recording, but I can't see going through that set top protocol and trying umpteen codes and probably find out it won't work anyway. That last line of the manual basically says "who knows if this will work in all cases?"

Last option. Pitch and return the Samsung recorder and spend the extra $100 bucks plus and get a Panasonic with a tuner already in it?? I don't know. I'm ready to pull my hair out and there ain't that much left. Thanks for the ear guys, just very very frustrated. I'll check in next day or two and see if there are any responses or if I can provide any more information that will let me be helped better than the company could. Not happy. I'm either plain stupid, the company is at least that ignorant or uncaring, or a combination of both. Just doesn't make sense.

The 40D630 is at the top of my list for weekend shopping.

I am extremely disappointed that samsung customer service would simply tell you to "turn it off"?!?

AMP is a feature benefit that COSTS CONSUMERS MONEY. If we pay for this feature, it should work, or be subject to widespread recall.

Yeah, another poster claimed there were at least 3 different panels being used for this line, maybe more. Supposedly, one was manufactured by Samsung and the rest outsourced. Ironically, those with non-samsung panels seemed extremely pleased with picture quality.

endgame,
I'm guessing from your post that you do not have a Directv DVR. That would be one option for recording. Another option is to get a Magnavox 513 or 515 which has a hard drive and DVD burner. I have both but I mainly use the DTV DVR.

I do have DirecTV DVR. What I've wanted to do all along with this new configuration is be able to say, DVR a program and then later burn that DVR to disc. I realize you have to be 'watching' the channel you're recording, but as it is, I can't record anything as no one can tell me how to configure any connection. I'll poke around with it this weekend, but something tells me I'm going to reach a dead end....again. The Samsung DVD/VHS is a recorder and I'm also using DirecTV DVR, but the problem lies in getting the recorder to be able to know what channel I'm watching. As it is, the recording feature is useless. And thanks for your input. Greatly appreciated.

Edit: To clarify, I can record DirecTV DVR, but can only play from the DVD/VHS Combo (which is understandable, I only have a HDMI that currently connects it to the system) and where/what to connect the RCAs etc... to from the recorder has been the obstacle. There's a section in the manual that says I have to enter a satellite receiver code and so forth, but it starts to feel like taking a pilot's test just to be able to ride a bicycle.

You and I basically have the same setup except for the DVD/VHS. The Mag 513/515 would be perfect for what you are trying to do. However there is no reason you shouldn't be able to do what you want with your existing equipment. In fact I have done the very thing you are trying to do. What I ended up using is an S-video cable connected between the DTV DVR and my DVD recorder. Does your DVD recorder have S-video input? Even if it doesn't you could still use the composite video (yellow) connection from the DTV box to your DVD recorder. Also the type of tv you have really has no bearing on all this. I also just bought a sound bar but have not connected it yet.

I just reread your post and noticed you have the sound bar connected to the DTV box. I would say you should connect this to your tv and not the DTV box.

What I can do tonight or tomorrow is look at my connections and how to setup the DTV box to output to the DVD. I will let you know. Hang in there

Thanks, rta. Much appreciated.

Hey All,

So what is the difference between the SQ and SN panel? I currently have a SN02 1/2012 and a SQ01 9/2011 side by side w/ the same firmware. I pulled out my binoculars and the pixels look identical. They're not chevron pixels, they look like vertical rectangles. The LG LK520 I had before was an IPS panel w/ chevron pixels. Both of the Sammies have a nice uniform black light and both look the same to my eye w/ the same settings.

I would say the main issue with this is people's paranoia about whether they got the "good" panel. I have the SN02 and it works just fine. I have bigger things to worry about.

I demo'ed the 630 again, this time with remote in hand.

I tried out amp in demo mode again. The effect is not jarring at all. Even in demo mode, it takes patience to discern the difference, if any.

I then decided to cranked up amp full blast. The picture does look noticeably smoother; there is no denying that. Having said that, it does not eliminate motion blur; but images in the foreground will look far cleaner.

I thought there was an appreciable difference in picture quality overall compared to the samsung 550 and the sony 60 hz tv of the same size right next.

Ok here is my setup. I have HDMI cables from the DirectTV DVR to the Samsung TV and from my DVD recorder to the TV. My guess is this is also what you are doing. So if you want to watch DirectTV you select that HDMI source on your TV. Likewise if you want to watch a DVD you select the DVD/VCR source.

Now for the connection between the DirecTV box and the DVD. In my setup I have an S-video cable running from the S-video output on the DTV box to the S-video input on my DVD recorder. I also have a red and white RCA cable running from audio out on the DTV box to audio in on my DVD recorder. If you don't have an S-video cable you can just use the standard composite video which is the yellow plug. Once you have this connected you need to select the proper input on your DVD recorder using the remote. In my case it is L1. You should have a button on your DVD remote that allows you to select which input to use. Maybe you only have one input, but if the recorder has connections on the front for red, white, and yellow that would probably be considered L2. Once you have L1 selected turn on your DTV box and your TV if it is not already on. Select the HDMI source on the TV that is your DVD recorder and you should be seeing the signal from the DTV box.

One caveat with this is that the new HD guide from DTV will give you a message on your screen if you are viewing it from your DVD recorder. But that is another issue for later.

Thanks. I'll review this in detail when I'm home tonight or tomorrow night. As goes updates, I gave up on the tunerless Samsung and secured a Panasonic with tuner and connected it with HDMI along with RCA cables from the unit to the DirecTV box and to the TV. I took your advice prior to doing this and ran the soundbar audios direct to the TV, if for no other reason to free up the connections on the back of the satellite receiver.

Currently, when I view the TV channel after selecting the HDMI 2 source (which is the DVD/VHS recorder), when I play a DVD the sound from the TV channel continues to be heard, not the DVD. I've tried to adjust the soundbar to Digi2, etc... so I may have an IN/OUT connection backwards or something. May have to resort to the S-connection, simply don't know. I'm baffled that it takes an engineering degree and a whole lot experimentation to get anything to work anymore. Am I getting that old?

So regardless of source, XBOX Kinect, DVD/VHS recorder, etc.. the channel the TV is on is the sound. And I haven't even moved to testing the recording option yet to see if it works. There's a niche out there untapped, unlike the PC, for fellas who you can call, pay 'em $50.00+ to just come set it all up for you. In fact, I may just resort to that before it's all said and done.

Again, thanks for the insight. I'll see if things improve over the weekend. One other side note: high definition spoils you, I'll say that. The DVD play is sure nice on the bigscreen, but in the back of my mind I'm thinking "maybe forget this recording option- sorry wife -and just get a BlueRay player to be able to take advantage of that unmatched clarity of HD. :2cents:

So I'm reading a bit here and still not sure I get this 120hz deal. The HDMI readout says it's 60hz, but I'm to understand the 120hz comes into play at certain times? Is it auto or is there a setting I have to adjust to utilize the 120hz? Can't say in my short experience with this set I've ever seen the display say it's 120.

To have 120hz, Auto Motion Plus (AMP) must be enabled. It only merges some frames in-between frames to have a smoother image. Some like it, others not.
It doesn't support 120hz input, so it's not true 120hz.

The reason you don't see 120hz is because programs aren't broadcast at 120hz.

That display info is only the frame rate of the source input, which is 60hz in that case.
The 120fps is created internally artifically by duplicating or interpolating the input frames. Video sources are not available with 120hz.

I am the one who originally posted those settings along with the text shown, including the phrase that you misunderstood. What I meant by "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" as it pertains to calibration is that my settings look great but they may no be exactly what you want. I encouraged people to play around with them and adjust them to their viewing environment, and their taste. That is how I arrived at those settings. With that being said many people have responded with positive feedback towards the settings.

I don't think there is a definitive setting for each LCD TV or the manufacturer would calibrate them professionally before they shipped. They do the opposite and calibrate them to sell, or to look better (or brighter) next to competition. Also if the digital producers want people to view their products as they intend then why not supply proper calibration for major brand TVs with your content? In all honesty that statement referred more to the backlight setting than the other adjustments. So in the end instead of a condescending response to a constructive/contributing poster, why don't you post your settings for this particular set? Most of the people here are looking for help and tips for their custom setup, and are not here to be lectured about accurate digital reproduction.

Someone needs to get out more.

Lol, people, can't we all just get along? Do keep in mind that some people take their job or whatever it is they do very seriously and come off as being arrogant or a-holes but in the end, they all mean well.

Mr. Brown has a point. If your tv has its picture set up to show you something completely different from what a film maker intended, then you aren't seeing what the creative artist intended. For example, Gordon Willis photographed Godfather with a lot of very dark shots. You can wreck what he did by turning up the brightness etc. Do it if you like, but then you're no longer watching the movie that he and Coppola wanted you to see.

The Godfather hasn't looked like what Coppola intended for over 35 years.

Actually, Coppola doesn't really know what the Godfather looked like back in '72, either.

Coppola is on record as saying that Willis photographed it dark so his images couldn't be messed with when printed. In any case, it's clear that setting your TV to Dynamic isn't what Willis intended.

Coppola has a very vague, general recollection of how the film looked, or at least about how it was supposed to look. No one knows what the original looked like at this point. The restoration is a digital frankenstein composited from the best available sources from approx. 4 years ago (from the studio as well as from private collectors).

Check out emulsional rescue: Coppola doesn't really know what the film looked like at the time of it's release; very few do.

I'm willing to bet that the current 4K digital version is much more yellow/brown than the actual theatrical releases. I consider it to be a pretty good stylistic interpretation of the original, in lieu of any actual original.

There is no absolute or right answer to calibration. I am willing to bet that if you had three professionals come and calibrate the same TV all three would calibrate it differently. I think that if producers want their content to be displayed accurately they should take it up with the TV manufacturers and not the owners. Some video games offer a calibration screen when you do the initial setup and have you increase or decrease the darkness until an image is barely visible. Resident Evil comes to mind, among others. Also it has been pointed out that your viewing environment, especially the lighting in the room can effect your view and possibly change your optimum settings. Granted some people (who don't know what they are doing) just raise and lower the settings until they think it "looks good" and that may not give them accurate color reproduction.

Did Coppola tell you that? Because I saw the 2011 documentary "These Amazing Shadows: The Movies That Make America" in which he describes why Willis filmed dark images, as i described in an earlier post. Now are you going to tell me that somebody who cranks up the brightness and color controls on their TV is getting a more accurate version of what Willis filmed than the maybe-off-a-little-bit that is on the most recent consumer release?

Just to be clear, I don't get incensed by what people do with the controls on their TV, as long as they understand that many settings are not getting an image that is even close to what the filmmaker intended. I dunno, some people (e.g., Ted Turner) loved the colorized Casablanca...

Why not calibrate the monitor with the lighting set up as it typically is for viewing?