Dead/Stuck Pixel questions - Pioneer Plasma

DReilly1:

I used Nero to create a DVD with all-white, all-black, all-red, all-green, and all-blue images, which makes it easy to check for stuck pixels. (had help/suggestions from Evangelo2 )

Start here: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...&&#post9202050 <- Evangelo2's Download Break In DVD (SVCD) thread
and read through the Dec 18th posts until you see what I'm talking about.

I believe the only warantees you're going to get are
a) store's 100% satisfaction guaranteed or return it policy
b) manufacturer's warantee

Usually you'll only get (a) from the big chains (BestBuy, Costco, etc), and not the little stores. Invision Displays (forum sponsor -- appears in yellow on the top of this page) used to have a pixel perfect guarantee, but I'm not sure if they still do. The various stores I contacted locally about the Pioneer ProFHD1 didn't want to give me any warantee other than the manufacturer's warantee.

Here's a piece of advice. Don't go 'hunting' for dead pixels. If you can't see them during regular programming you shouldn't worry about. If you hunt for them using a solid color screen and find one, it's going to upset you. One dead or stuck pixel isn't something that is grounds for warranty service, though it might be for an exchange from someone like BB. Dead and stuck pixels most definitely fall into that "what you don't know won't hurt you" category. I had at least 2 of them on my Bravia LCD, but couldn't even come close to seeing them from a normal viewing distance.

My Pioneer plasma doesn't have any that I am aware of because I haven't gone hunting. I can't see them at normal viewing distance, so they must not be there

DReilly1:

Where are you in the world? (city/state/province/country)

I agree with instantpop -- for most things, you'll never be able to see a dead pixel. I don't mean 99.999% of the time, I mean never.
Dead pixel's aren't a problem, but stuck pixels are (always on full blast).
But you don't need a test DVD to find a stuck pixel -- you'll see that eventually with normal viewing. I'd bet stuck pixels are extremely rare.

Stuck pixels can be pretty hard to notice, too. I've got a Sony PSP that has 1 stuck pixel and I usually can't see it unless the screen is displaying dark content. Keep in mind, that's on a screen of a much smaller scale that is usually held less that 2 feet from my face. Now, on a 50" display that you should be sitting at least 6 ft. or further from, I think you'd be hard pressed to see even a stuck pixel.

I'm not discounting that it can be a frustrating experience. I've exchanged plenty of TFT screens (count 12 different Apple Cinema Displays) before I eventually just gave up. Pioneer seems to have a handle on their QC and I haven't noticed any on my display. In fact, one of the reasons I went Pioneer was because of the low numbers reporting pixel issues.

It's a fantastic display. I say if you see a dead or stuck pixel feel free to contact Pioneer or your retailer about it. But don't go hunting for it while standing 6" from the screen because all it will do is upset you when you do find one. Dead and stuck pixels are a nature of the flat screen business.

This seems quite strange. If you can't see a "stuck pixel" while watching regular content, why would you utilize conditions that will never exist in the real world to decide whether there are "stuck pixels?"

just buy the avia calibration disc. it has solid color screens you can put up. its how i confirmed my dead red pixel on my 5070. however after 2 months, that pixel is now working correctly.

SaltiDawg:

I bought a Pioneer Pro-FHD1. For that kind of money I wanted it to be perfect.


dtrell

I have that, and the others (DVE, Sound&Vision, etc). However in my case I wanted to look for the pixels quickly while the store installation guy was there -- and navigating the Avia menu seemed like a waste of the installation guy's time. I don't remember which one I looked at, probably DVE, but there were an all-red, all-blue, all-green in one spot, but the all-white and all-black were nowhere to be found (there were ones with the middle of the screen all white with a black border). So I burned my own DVD with just the tests I wanted to perform -- worked great. I put it in, it showed all-white, pushed next-chapter on the dvd player remote and it showed all-black, next-chapter it showed all-red, next-chapter it showed all-blue, next-chapter it showed all-green -- and all was well. And it was easy to do since I'd just downloaded Nero and had recently burned another one with it.

i can get to the color fields in avia in 10 seconds.

Pioneer does not have a set pixel policy. The Pioneer protocol starts with a technical support call and the assignment of a case#. They will want to know how many pixels have issues, what is their functionality and where they are located at on the screen. They will coordinate the dispatch of a technician and they will make the assessment on behalf of Pioneer as to what can or should be done.

dtrell:

I accept your challenge!

On my AVIA DVD, I also can go to
(remote TITLE button) AdvancedAvia > VideoTestPatterns > ColorAdjustment > ColorFields > and there's Red/Green/Blue and Cyan/Magenta/Yellow.



But I also wanted all-white and all-black.

On my AVIA DVD, I can go to
(remote TITLE button) AdvancedAvia > VideoTestPatterns > GreyScaleAndLevels > GreyFields > 100 IRE Field
That's all-white.



I couldn't find an all-black anywhere on AVIA. Doesn't mean it's not there, just that I didn't find it. Closest I found on my AVIA DVD, is
(remote TITLE button) AdvancedAvia > VideoTestPatterns > GreyScaleAndLevels > BlackAndWhiteLevels > BlackBars
but that isn't all black. It's mostly black.


(Anyway, this was still more hopping around than I wanted to do with the installation guy there. I didn't want to think/remember. )



I think the way I did it is the optimum way to do it.
As for whether it's practical, that's another question ...

I have personally had Pioneer replace a screen when there was a single dead pixel. They pretty much go case by case but your chances are higher if you have a credible dealer behind you.

Roman
Invision Displays - A FORUM SPONSOR

roman, keep in mind that it appears that these panels need a real pixel break in period, and a stuck or dead pixel can regenerate itself over time. i had a dead red pixel and it came back within two months after i noticed it..slowly, and now it works right all the time. people shouldnt jump the gun on this and give it some time. as far as pioneer dropping the price of this unit at a larger % from release than on any model theyve ever had, to the tune now that i paid 700 dollars too much (and it would have been 900 too much had i not gotten a 200 dollar refund from TVA), that i want to shoot someone at pioneer for.

The best way to avoud dead pixels is to check it in the store. Well, next time when you buy one. (NOT on the internet.)

I was allowed to check my LCD before actually buying it. Downloaded this: astris.com/dpl copied it on my flash drive, plugged in in the store, run it. If they want your business, they should let you do it.

Hi Roman,

I recently bought a Pioneer PDP5020FD, its an awesome display and actually my second pioneer plasma panel. About 2 weeks into ownership I noticed a few stuck pixels, it seems like a group of maybe 3 together red, and another blue one close by. They are on the left side of the panel. Its very hard to notice from viewing distance, but from a few feet away you can see them spot on (especially 'knowing' they are there) I read your post about how you had your Pioneer panel replaced over a single dead pixel. I was wondering how the process was and how the Pioneer technicians made the suggestion to replace the tv? I contacted Pioneer and stated my case and displeasure and they are sending a technician over this week, I was wondering what I should expect and if was truly a case by case deal. I appreciate your time. Thanks!

THey will not replace it automatically there are some things you have to do. I would first try to run Pixar animated DVD's alot and that usually helps the pixels get unstuck. If you need more help contact your dealer or PM me.

I fall into the category of 1 stuck red pixel on a Toshiba 50 plasma.

The thing that kills me is it is located at almost 12 o'clock... So on a show like CSI with dark scenes it's right on Grissom's forehead.

Drives me nuts!. I bought the pixel protector dvd and ran it quite a bit of times but nothing has helped it.

This has ruined my experience with the TV, and I am secretly looking/hoping for the whole panel to break so I can replace it.

So as an update to my situation, I called Pioneer Tech. Support and explained my pixel issue and they had a service technician come by to take a look. He ran a few white screens and diagnosed the pixels as dead not stuck. He wrote down some notes and a report and let me know Pioneer would probably not do much to help and explained it was well within their quality standards.

So after discussions with Roman (this guy is very helpful and knowledgeable btw, I'd strongly recommend going to him with any tv issues and purchases) he suggested I try calling Pioneer again and talk to their customer service dept. I calmly explained that it was a brand new tv and I expected a perfect tv that met my complete satisfaction. I further explained that it was my 2nd Pioneer Plasma tv purchase in 4 years. They said they'd call back in a few days after reviewing my case. A lady from Pioneer called yesterday morning and let me know they were sending me a replacement unit as a one time courtesy for the pixel problem.

I am so excited and relieved that my tv "should now" meet my complete satisfaction. A few minor drawbacks is I'd have to break-in the tv all over again and also hope that there are no further problems with the next one. I wonder if I'd be able to open and set up the tv to make sure it was ok before fully accepting?

So the point of the story, Pioneer is still decently good and given mature communication and a little luck they should help you out.

Very good In terms of delivery from Pioneer it will depend on the driver

All PDP manufacturers adhere to the policy that de d/stuck pixels is considered normal for the technology and usually does not warrent a replacement.

This IMO is unacceptable, which if a concern for you I recommend buying from a local B&M with a 30-day return/exchange policy.

That said, I own a PRO-150FD, a TH-50PX50U an HP laptop and a Gateway 21" LCD PC monitor and none of my displays has a single errant pixel; at least that I have noticed.

As you can tell there is always an exception and there has been allot of them. So I don't see that as a strong selling point of buying from a B&M.

I totally agree with what instapop wrote....on a 1080p screen you would have to search very close and carefully to the screen to notice it. Why bother if everything else is top-notch? Finding a dead/stuck pixel on a plasma or lcd isn't an indication that more will show up later...like instapop said, if you don't see it during regular use then don't sweat it.