Will Watching 4:3 on 16:9 LCD Cause Burn-In?

whataboutbob · 04-15-2012, 12:54 PM

Just purchased my first HDTV (Samsung UN46D6500) - a LCD/LED display. At the moment I do not subscribe to any HD content so all my cable channels are SD or 4:3 format. I really hated the stretched out look and changed the display from 16:9 to 4:3 so at least the picture looked somewhat normal. However, upon reading the user's guide - it states "not to set your TV to 4:3 for a long time." It goes on to say the borders surrounding the video may cause image retention (screen burn). Has anyone had problems in this regard? Am I stuck watching the stretched picture in 16:9? Any thoughts or opinions?

jkkyler · 04-15-2012, 03:40 PM

Will Watching 4:3 on 16:9 LCD Cause Burn-In?- NO

RBTO · 04-15-2012, 04:46 PM

A plasma TV can show signs of burn in, although most of the reputable manufactures have overcome that problem for the most part.

LCD based TVs (cold-cathode and LED backlighted) don't exhibit any burn in. This is due to the fact that each LCD "cell" responsible for allowing light to reach your eye can stay in either state, on or off, for any length of time without degrading, and therefore doesn't change its characteristics even though it may be in that blacked out border of a pillarboxed image.

In a plasma TV, there is potential for lighted cells to age differently than non-lighted ones and change their light output, but since yours is LCD, not to worry.

**rbinck** · 04-15-2012, 06:34 PM

There is a condition that can happen to LCDs called image retention. It differs from burn in because it is not long lasting. I have seen LCDs that have had the images from sports broadcasts (scores) retained for several minutes.

04-15-2012, 12:54 PM	#1
whataboutbob My plasma is High Def. Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 5	Will Watching 4:3 on 16:9 LCD Cause Burn-In? Just purchased my first HDTV (Samsung UN46D6500) - a LCD/LED display. At the moment I do not subscribe to any HD content so all my cable channels are SD or 4:3 format. I really hated the stretched out look and changed the display from 16:9 to 4:3 so at least the picture looked somewhat normal. However, upon reading the user's guide - it states "not to set your TV to 4:3 for a long time." It goes on to say the borders surrounding the video may cause image retention (screen burn). Has anyone had problems in this regard? Am I stuck watching the stretched picture in 16:9? Any thoughts or opinions?

04-15-2012, 03:40 PM	#2
jkkyler I bleed for HD Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 7,394	Will Watching 4:3 on 16:9 LCD Cause Burn-In?- NO __________________ HT- Panasonic TH-50PZ800U 1080p plasma, Panasonic PT-AX200u LCD projector, Elite Vmax Electric 100' screen, Onkyo TX-NR905 AVR, Paradigm Titan Monitor v5 fronts, Paradigm CC-190 v6 center, Paradigm Atom Monitors v5 surrounds(x4), HSU research VTF-2 sub, xbox360+hd-dvd player ,Sony BDP-S550 blu-ray, D*tv H21 HD-DVR Bedroom: Insignia NS-lcd26, Samsung BDP-1400 blu-ray Den - Vizio 20" 1080p LCD + Samsung BD-p1600 Don't believe everything you read on the internet - Albert Einstein

04-15-2012, 06:34 PM	#4
rbinck Administrator Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Katy, Texas Posts: 15,603	There is a condition that can happen to LCDs called image retention. It differs from burn in because it is not long lasting. I have seen LCDs that have had the images from sports broadcasts (scores) retained for several minutes. __________________ www.highdefinitionblog.com www.BlogOfHawaii.com

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04-15-2012, 04:46 PM	#3
RBTO High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Idaho Posts: 391	A plasma TV can show signs of burn in, although most of the reputable manufactures have overcome that problem for the most part. LCD based TVs (cold-cathode and LED backlighted) don't exhibit any burn in. This is due to the fact that each LCD "cell" responsible for allowing light to reach your eye can stay in either state, on or off, for any length of time without degrading, and therefore doesn't change its characteristics even though it may be in that blacked out border of a pillarboxed image. In a plasma TV, there is potential for lighted cells to age differently than non-lighted ones and change their light output, but since yours is LCD, not to worry.