Samsung DLP Reliability - Page 2

Ok..let's see. I had an HLP5688 which Samsung replaced because it was defective. They replaced it with an HLR5688...which is also defective and is getting replaced. So there you go. Awesome picture. Crappy quality. Either way a ton of $$$$ I would rather have spent on something else.

Let me start by saying I love the picture on my DLP...when I'm watching TV and not using the component inputs. I bought the TV last Feb and went problem free until Sept. Since then, while I'm playing a game or watching a DVD through the component inputs, the screen will "FUZZ OUT", then go blank and say "Searching for signal."

Now, Input 1 doesn't work at all and Input 2 lost the red color. Picture is still great while watching high-def TV with my DVI connection. I already called Samsung in Sept and have had a repair guy out to may place 5-6 times. They've replaced the component board and just recently replaced another part the guy claimed retailed at $700.

I'm at a loss. Samsung continues to call my local repair shop to fix it, and they're content to continue to put new parts in it. Luckily I bought the 4-year warrenty from Best Buy. Unfortunately, it looks like I'll be spending the next four years taking time off work to let the F-ING repair guy in my house! I almost sent him a X-mas card since we've spent so much time together.

Anyone heard of my problem? Any suggestions?

There are only two boards in this model that could possibly cause that problem. One os the analog board, the other is the digital board. There could also be a problem with the cables that connect the two boards together. See if the tech has replaced those boards. If he has, then there possibly could be an intermittent power problem on one of the voltage lines from the SMPS.

HLP5674W over a year old. Not a problem with it so far. Averaging about 10hrs/day usage in my house (between wife during the day and myself in the evenings + weekends.)

CCourtney

I bought and HLN-507W in July 2003. In October 2003 I had the color wheel replaced because of excessive noise. I had the same thing done again in July 2005. I was assured that the July 2005 color wheel is of a revised design and shouldn't cause me any further problems.

I replaced the lamp in August 2005 at 8,000 hours. It still worked, but it had lost some brightness. I'm keeping it as an emergency spare.

In summer and fall of 2005 my Sammy developed a video "freeze-melt" phenomenon. At first just once a month, but by the time it was fixed in early November, it happened every 5 to 10 minutes. The fix was replacement of the digital board and its sister board. All is well now. All service, except the lamp replacemet, was done under a 5-year extended warranty from Ultimate Electronics.

In discussing my digital board issue w/ two different service techs and Samsung higher level tech support, I found that my problem was a rarity. I found among my acquaintances and friends that those w/ similar vintage Sony LCD/PR sets have had far more service calls (w/ problems remaining unsolved) than those of us w/ Sammy DLPs. So I wouldn't say there are any above average reliability issues w/ Sammy DLPs.

Quick question, how do I check the lamp hours on a HL-R5656W? Is there a coounter buried in the menus somewhere?

Greetings,
I've had a Samsung hl-p5674 from Costco since May 2005 and it has been no problem what so ever. It's been ISF calibrated and modified by Eliab @ www.avical.com. It runs on component cables via Comcast stb and dvi via Oppo dvd player. Outstanding display so far...
YMMV,
b.

Too many moving parts on a DLP for my tastes, more chances of something going wrong, and especially stay away from Samsung too many horror stories that I've read over the past couple of years.

Then you're missing out on a great technology. DLP reliability is no worse than LCD or LCOS.

My reseller "Bay Bloor Radio" used to sell a TON of samsung products in Canada. They stopped selling them about 6 months ago because they had a ridiculously high number of repairs or returns. They said all manufactures have problems but Samsungs was much higher than normal.

They are not a cheap Mom and Pop shop. They cater to higher end clients and have moved over to selling Plasma and LCD almost exclusively.

And Consumer Reports last year listed Toshiba DLP as having the best reliability and JVC LCOS (DILA) as having the worst. Broad statements that one technology is better for reliability than another are just not correct (IMO, brand is more important than technology).

I don't have a problem with DLP. I have a problem with colour wheels. Since some of the newer sets will not have wheels I may go back to DLP again but NEVER samsung. I have never owned a product with so many defects before and such poor service.

Mark, as I recall, you had a problem with exactly 1 Samsung DLP set, which was eventually swapped out for you for a Sony LCD, so all's well that ends well. You are entitled to your opinion, but to be fair, there are numerous problems posted on the Sony SXRD threads, the HP DLP threads, the JVC DILA threads, etc. etc. IMO, an extended warranty is needed for all microdisplays since they all stink for reliability (although my Sammy DLP has worked perfectly now for 2 1/2 years, knock on wood). Well, we have gone round and round on this many, many times, my friend.

All the horror stories aside, I'm still gonna buy the used (Costco return) HL-R5656W that I found on eBay. I have a DLP projector that I love so I trust the DLP technology. The TV was made in October 2005 so the warranty is still intact for another 10 months.

My question still remains though, does anyone know how to check the lamp counter on this unit? I want to make sure it wasn't a store demo but rather a customer return. Thanks.

You can check in the service menu.

Sorry to be a pest (and even sorrier if it's already been posted ) but could you tell me how to access the service menu? Thanks!

Another original power buyer, hlm507 bought in december 02. Still going strong in my sister's house. Lamp replaced a few weeks ago.

The original 1080p set i ordered had a bad hdmi board, was replaced by tva. New one is going great.

Accoding to Samsung, they've sold more dlp sets than the next 2 mfg combined, i think the elvated reports have something to do with just sheer numbers.

No set is perfect, Ive had a toshiba shipped to me with the speakers not screwed in and it nevre could hold a convergence, it was shipped back. Ive had a sony gw3 with the bad lamp/ballast problem, mitsu with blown covergence board 1.5 years into ownership.

No one consumer electronics company holds a quality edge over another, same crap different label.

Probably right, but my replacement set was a 50" SXRD and I am much happier.

Because Microsoft sells the most software does that make their software the most secure and stable?

Hello all, new here and im not sure if this is the right forum...but i just got a 42" samsung DLP....the only issue i have is that when watching HD sports, especially hockey, there seems to be an occasional lag or jump in the video..perhaps a frame rate thing....id love to be able to narrow it down to either a tv set issue or a comcast broadcasting issue.....please help
thanks in advance
brent

I started this thread www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=630815
due to all the FF-ing problems I've had with my 6768. Mine died at about day 40 and had the DMD board and digital biard replaced and now it has all kinds of screen anomalies. Sorry but I'm a bit chapped at they way I have been treated so far by Samsung CS. I have my letters ready to be mailed to the CEO and the vice pres of video systems. I am almost ready to hire counsel and once that happens I'm seeking to recover all my lost time and money this has caused me and not an exchange but a refund. I'm not the kind of person to do this kind of thing but this time I'm doing it because its the right thing to do.

Be sure that your cable box is set to output 720p. That is the native resolution for that DLP set. Many times these types of problems are in the incoming signal. These signals get compressed at different rates, depending on the cable company adn that can cause pixelations and a other problems. See if the set does the same thing with a DVD or any other source except cable. If it does not, then you have a cable problem.

Mark,
Here is a quote regarding reliability from HoustonPerson, who posted this last night in a thread in this forum titled "In Your Opinion." This is a lot more helpful to others on the forum than opinions based on a total experience with 1 set (whether my experience, kyungkim's experience, or your experience - they are all just based on 1 set). Maybe it's time to get over your Samsung bashing, considering it's based on 1 set, and last year's model at that.

".....all the major retailers are telling me throughout the Dallas/Fort Worth and Houston market place they are not happy with the high return rates on the SXRD, and yes it is true that 12 months ago Samsung was actually worse, but their current production sets are staying in the field with almost no returns.........the Mit's appear to be the worst; at nearly 20% (and have been over the last 12 months)........the Sony 3LCD are staying put, and they are not comping back. I have been to virtually every high end store in DFW and Houston, as well as most of the big box stores (however that is typically less reliable information),,,,,,,,,,they all say pretty much the same thing, that is nearly a dozen different stores over a very wide large market area............yes it is only their opinions.......and their motives could be all over the place.........and yes I still could be mis-informed. I am only going by what store managers, and reputable dealers have told me, so I honestly do not know, since I am no longer in the business."

BillP,

Thanks for the info that is very helpful as I am leaning towards a Samsung 1080p set also have been looking at the HP'S which seem to be hitting a rough patch these days.

The advantage of the HP is that it is the only 1080p set that accepts a 1080p input over HDMI. There do seem to be some problems with them, however, although it is difficult to know for sure what their reliability is due to the small number of sets sold. If you wait for the next generaiotn of 1080p sets due out later this year, most of them will accept a 1080p signal, if that's important to you.

Read the 1080p shootout in Home Theater Magazine, Feb issue.

It's a good article, but does not go into reliability issues, just PQ.

I live in Tijuana, Mexico, where I believe Samsung has a plant. In May 2004 I bought a 50" Samsung DLP from a local dealer who specializes in goods that have slight manufacturer defects. This particular set had a few permanent pixel dropouts in the upper right hand corner of the picture. It also lacked the side video inputs, which makes me think it might have been a preproduction model. In any event, it cost me about 40% of a new unit so I decided to take a chance.

It's given me excellent service and a lot of video watching to this point. Recently I have been noticing that the picture is not as bright and the colors not as vivid as I remember. I played around with the picture controls and while I can adjust brightness if I "brighten" too much the colors wash out.

Somewhere I read that the bulbs dim before they fail. I've researched this forum and this thread and I went into the Service Menu to check my bulb use and this is what I found:

Firmware version: T_DLPGVE01_1017 (I mention this, in case it is applicable, because I'm not sure which 50" DLP I have).

Lamp Life: 7059 (I'm assuming this is the hours on the bulb and that I'm now well past the realistic life of 5500 hours but not yet to the theoretical 8000 hours).

So, my specific questions are:

1) Is my dimming normal and caused by the age of the bulb?

2) Does anyone one have a recommendation for a source of replacement bulbs? And know their current cost?

3) Is the bulb user-replaceable or do I need a tech? (I'm reasonably electronically handy, having assembled my last 5-6 computers, but I'm not real theoretical -- just a good and careful follower of directions).

My thanks in advance to any members who help me.

OK, I think I can answer questions 2 and 3 myself. Samsung has the bulbs for $199 and it doesn't look like rocket science to change it. I have the Phillips 100W bulb BP96-00224C and apparently my set is the HLM507WX.

I'm still curious about the big picture, though: Did I correctly read the hours (7059) from the service menu? And, is it most likely the number of hours on the bulb the reason for the dimming?

I bought a HLP5063 in the TVA Power Buy about 2 years ago. Had the screen replaced under warranty (smudges) about a year or so ago and then had the digital board replaced to cure an analog audio issue (go figure) and the CW replaced (updated to air bearing because of excessive noise) about a month ago. Thanks to the quick thinking of a fellow AVSForum member, I submitted the $851 repair bill for the digi board and CW to AMEX as part of their buyer's protection plan and had the entire amount reimbursed to me.