The OFFICIAL SAMSUNG PNXXE550 OWNERS THREAD - Page 8

Anyone notice any positive changes with the latest the latest June firmware update?

"Upgrade File(USB type) (Firmware) - Jun 7, 2012

This firmware is for TV Model(s): PDP 51'' E550, E6500
The version is 1019
This firmware update will improve the following:- Prevents a potential issue - Resolves compatibility issue with DLNA devices. - Improves picture quality."

I just got samsung to swap out my old 2010 pn51c450b for one of these and am a bit leery with doing firmware upgrades considering
the last time I did one on the ole 450 it turned my tv into a cloud of red snow and despite 3 new panels and a year and some months later.. was still stuck with a few dead pixels.

I got a question about something on my 51". The tv sometimes shrinks the picture on some cable channels.. It's only on a select few channels but I was wondering why it does this. It's set on screen-fit mode. My gf's watching this Kendra show and it's like watching tv on a 40" screen.

So I got my 550 today. It looks like the 550 and below use a pen tile display. This may affect some people so look at this before you pull the trigger. From the PDF I found it says the 6500 and above are just 1080p.

That being said pen tile also has advantages also. Mine was a replacement for my C series so I am gonna live with it.

http://ramsaysmarthomes.ca/info/Samsung%202012%20Panel%20Chart.pdf

If that link does not work try this one and search for pen tile
http://www.plasmatvexperience.com/60-plasma-tv-samsung/

PDF is also good for basic comparison of models.

Does anyone gaming on a E550 notice any motion blur? I have recently tried a Panasonic 50PU54 PDP with horrible line bleeding and it would get IR after just a few minutes. I ran break in in slides and had low brightness and contrast. Also I just sent back a Panasonic EH5300 LED due to bad motion blurring in games.

I am looking at a UN46ES6500 LED or a less expensive PN51E550 PDP. The Samsung PDP panels seem to avoid IR so I would be willing to try one, however I am worried because a review recently ripped the E530 for terrible motion handling.

just got the PN60E550 delivered. i was only able to take it out and attach the stand, since I was doing this on my lunch break. to my surprise it came with a free blu-ray player (BD-E5900). I can't wait to put it through its paces tonite!

after spending some time with the set, i am a little unsure about the pentile display on this plasma. i wonder why samsung decided to make the 60 inch panel pentile but not the 51 or 64.

scoobdude or anyone else with the 60", do you have any other comments or observations about the screen?
Edited by steveliv - 6/30/12 at 9:33am

What does pentile display mean?

Text looks jagged and almost looks like the screen door effect. But is 40% more efficient than RGB stripe. Like anything else its a trade off. WAF is not going well for me... but mine is a replacement....

For more info on pen tile here is a good blog post about some of the issues and advantages and technical hoo ha of pentile.

http://pentileblog.com/tag/rgbg/

Pen Tile:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PenTile

EDitEDbyED:
That's sooooo cool!
Reproducing how the eye sees & arguably better for HiDef.
Whether it works or not (esp. w/this set) is a whole other matter.
It may be why we like Sammy color so much tho!
Edited by BIG ED - 7/3/12 at 11:28am

Thanks for the info . I too had noticed the rather large pixels on the E550 and E530 while looking at BestBuys instore displays (thinking it was just my eyes) and thought it was quite distracting (from the over all image quality) giving a heavy screen-door effect and more of of a let down on the lower-end 2012 models while comparing it to the Panny and LG models . Now I know why the 550/530 looked more like a 720p version on text and such.
After reading your post ( and doing further research) ,I think Iam going to shy away from the Samsung this time around due to the Pentile usage on these panels . Its a shame really , as I was probably going to stay with Samsung again as Iam upgrading a bedroom plasma from my 42B450/720p to a 50" 1080p this year . Since my bedroom plasma will be used mostly for Blurays but include "some pc gaming" , the Pentile tech on these panels is kinda just putting me off and step backwards for me (imo) even though its a 1080p panel ; as every instore demo (50" and 60") had that "jagged" look to it on everything they displayed kinda like a high-end graphics pc game when no AA (Anti-Aliasing) being used .

*EDIT/UPDATE

Hhmm , I went to look at the E550 this time at PaulsTV (they did not have the E530) and this time the screen pixels looked completly differant (no screen-door effect) . Seems BestBuy may have had thier display models "mis-labled" . Going back to BB and look again at the E530's (and E550 if they have'm) one more time , and this time making sure I was looking at the correct units .Report back on my findings .
Edited by stereo55 - 7/7/12 at 8:30am

Anyone else having a problem with no netflix esn on thier tv? My 550 shows netflix ESN - not support so I have no way to stream netflix to my device.

Looking on the net seems like a common problem with these devices, but the reps I've emailed seem to act like they have never heard of the issue.

Anyone figure out a fix locally rather then hoping to get a knowledgable rep?

Factory reset? Also if you enable D/N mode in the service menu those settings will survive a factory reset to help make your life easier
Edited by scoobdude - 7/7/12 at 2:54am

51 and 64 inch panels in the e550 line do not have the pentile screen, only the 60 inch panel. Personally I think I am going to return the set and get either a pn60e7000 or a Panasonic 60 inch ST50...

Guys as owners I need your opinions on this one.

I bought the 51-inch E550 this weekend and I'm generally very happy with it and even this problem isn't a deal breaker as it's invisible at full viewing distance. However I'm worried something deeper might be wrong and I'll rather take it back now than later.

Whenever something black or dark grey is displayed on screen there is this digital haze of green pixels running everywhere over the black/grey area or immediate surroundings.

Very bad picture below...



This only happens over HDMI as well.

Here is a photo of the PS3 background in blue...



Perfect pixel grid with no problem at all.


Has anyone else seen this? Or is this maybe a normal Plasma thing I wasn't aware of? First time owner here after all.


****

Oh and it's not the HDMI cables as it does this across multiple sources using multiple cables, but only ever over HDMI. Even when I use the Smarthub and it does the picture in picture window at the top left...it will do it inside that window only and nowhere else on the screen.

Is the HDMI circuit board maybe buggered or something?

Hi!

I have the exact same problem with blacks/dark colours on my PS3 through HDMI. Luckily as you say it is only visible within 1.5 meters of the screen but when this close and on really dark scenes it is VERY noticeable.

I am also wondering if this is the case with every unit or just a few faulty ones? Haven't tried the other HDMI ports either BTW.

EDIT:

After doing some research it seems this is a common occurance on all Plasma models and across all brands due to the plasma trying to render pixels which are not pure black. Apparently it gets better after run-in...

Phew, that after run-in comment is exactly what I heard as well.

Also have a friend who said he's folks have this same TV with the same problem when viewing USB as well.

Just odd that I haven't seen it on any other source, but then I don't have anything non-HDMI.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Seems I have a PS51E550 not a PN as per this thread.

Wonder what the difference is? Wonder if the firmware is the same since I only get version 001010 and the TV says there isn't anything newer.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

i ended up returning the tv to best buy last night. i tried to get the PN60E7000 for $150 off but they said it was price protected and couldn't budge. I ended up ordering the Panasonic TC-P60ST50 from Amazon this morning, and between the fact that it will be delivered this thursday afternoon and i didn't pay any taxes, i'm happy.

i really tried to like the 60e550 but i couldn't get past that pentile screen. i've yet to see it professionally reviewed, and would be interested in how they feel about it.

New firmware as of July 9th version 1016.4

This firmware is for TV Model(s): PDP E550, E6500
The version is 1016.4
This firmware update will improve the following:

- Resolve escaping issue while watching movie on VUDU.

- Resolves compatibility issue with DLNA devices.

- Improves picture quality.

- Supports Samsung Wireless Audio Dock

- Solves the problem closed caption does not show

Thinking of picking one of these up tomorrow. Live in South Africa, so don't have access to the greatest range of retailers and especially limited online shopping. I'm keen to use this partially as a monitor for my multimedia/gaming PC in the living room and will be using an HDMI to DVI cable for the job. My question is whether there is any specific mode one would put the TV in in order to use it as a 1920x1080 monitor with no overscan? Secondly, does anyone know if one could play 3D games through a setup like this? Lastly, if I have a recent model blu-ray drive in my PC, would I be able to use that to play 3D films on the TV or can one only do it through a standalone blu-ray player?

1) screen fit will give you 1:1 pixel mapping in 1080p
2) I play ps3 3D games on mine
3) not sure. I would assume 3D is only a software upgrade for most players.

Picked up one of the 51E550's this morning and have been mucking around with it a bit. Generally very happy with it. No real buzz unless you're right up against it. There's a faint high pitched whine audible, but I am pretty sensitive to that kind of thing and many types of electronics give it off and no problem once there's sound coming out of it. The display is lovely and text is crisp when running PC's desktop to the TV in screen fit mode at 1920x1080. Playing blu-ray from PC's blu-ray drive is also fine, but I will spend some time adjusting the colour/brightness/contrast settings over the next few days.

My only issue now is that I can't get 3D content to work from the PC. I mean, I can run a blu-ray in 3D, but it's not outputting correctly to be viewed with the glasses. Having read up a bit about the issue, it seems Nvidia (of which I own a 460GT) want to charge me $40 to unlock 3D drivers, and then furthermore, I may need to purchase a proprietary goggle/infrared kit from them too. I'm more than a little annoyed about this, but thought I'd ask here if anyone has a suggestion? Also keen try 3D gaming, but more immediately I'd like to try get the 3D working on the blu-rays. The set comes with 3 movies (thor, ice age 3 and captain america) so been using those to test.

Overall I'm very happy with my purchase, and am looking forward to putting it through its paces. Is there some sort of test-file video I could run from a USB stick to test the 1080p 3D on the set floating around?

the "N" probably stands for North America, are you in a different region?
The "S" is probably for a different world region thats all.

Hi, can anyone confirm that the 51 inch is not pentile as someone mentioned that 550 is pentile and someone else said certain sizes were pentile. Which is it? I want to purchase the 51 inch but not if its pentile.

As per the document I posted it states that only the 60 is pentile. Do you have a Big Box chain you can go check out to confirm with? I checked fries and best buy when I was looking before I got mine. And in all honesty you do get used to pentile after some time , well at least I did.

Good luck either way

I will make time to check it out, was hoping i could get an idea before getting there. Did you get the 60 inch?

Yes I got the 60 via exchange. The pentile does not bother me much since I sit about 12 feet away and even though I pointed it out to the kids the still walk right up to the TV to play games. Plus this TV uses less energy than some LCD TVs

Ok guys, I hooked up the 60st50, which is getting rave reviews, and I have to say that even with the pentile the Samsung just looks crisper and more colorful...I'm not sure what to do. I am about to set them up side by side and make a final decision...

Thanks for the help. I read up on pentile and i must say there have been exaggerations about the tech.

Has anyone had any luck viewing 3D photos/images on one of the e550's? I'd be interested to hear what formats you've tried and what has worked/failed. I've tried PNS (stereo PNG) and JPS (stereo JPEG) on a USB drive and neither were recognised by the photo viewer. Will try MPO format this evening and report back.

Also, has anyone got IZ3D or TriDef 3D on a PC/laptop and tried using it in shutter mode with one of these TV's?