Questions about Samsung LN40B650 LCD

RaoulJuke · 02-08-2010, 04:04 PM

Hey all. I just recently purchased my first NEW TV, let alone HD. We brought it home and plugged it in and were thrilled with the picture, especially during sporting events. After a few weeks of using it for HD Cable and XBox, I feel like the look of it has dulled appearing gray at times and not displaying as much detail as I feel it should.

I tried the settings recommended from C-Net and Tvtweak (Lower backlight, Sharpness at 0) but they looked even worse to me.

I started checking out information online and came across the concept of ISF Calibration. Does anyone have experience, insight or advice when it comes to this particular Television and calibration, or image enhancing in general?

Thanks so much.

d6500k · 02-08-2010, 06:03 PM

Raoul,

Using anothers settings in your environment will give you iffy results at best.

Your primary objective with your new display is to effectively adjust the Black and White levels. These controls Brightness for adjusting the blacks and Picture or Contrast for the whites must be set while the room is darkened somewhat.

Check my tips page on my website for the "how to".

You will need a test pattern which is available on any number of test disks.

Have fun!

Doug k

RaoulJuke · 02-08-2010, 06:24 PM

Great, thank you so much. After having read your "how-to", I can say that I am a casual viewer, and that I probably don't need to worry too much about precise calibrations. I'll follow the steps on your website and find an image that works for me.

My biggest concern now is that basketball has gone from looking sharp and impressive to grainy and weirdly distorted during fast-pace moments. Also, every player has an odd "aura" around them. Is there a chance my display is just busted? The XBox looks great, so I assume the TV itself is fine, but like I said this is my first one and I really don't know too much about it.

d6500k · 02-08-2010, 07:03 PM

If the picture is fine when viewing your xbox games and any DVD player that is in the loop, then it is a source issue. If you are using a set top box of any type, make sure it is set to display 1080i and a 16:9 aspect ratio.

PQ from cable is all over the grid. From pretty good to really poor. If you are watching games (basketball), and you are on a standard definition channel, there is so little data going to such a big screen, it can really cause issues.

Calibrate the display using the DVD input and transfer those numbers to the input designated for HD TV cable/sat or ota (antenna).

Doug k

RaoulJuke · 02-08-2010, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by d6500k

If the picture is fine when viewing your xbox games and any DVD player that is in the loop, then it is a source issue. If you are using a set top box of any type, make sure it is set to display 1080i and a 16:9 aspect ratio.

PQ from cable is all over the grid. From pretty good to really poor. If you are watching games (basketball), and you are on a standard definition channel, there is so little data going to such a big screen, it can really cause issues.

Calibrate the display using the DVD input and transfer those numbers to the input designated for HD TV cable/sat or ota (antenna).

Doug k

Well I'm glad it's not the TV! I'm watching a game right now on TNT HD on my Time Warner HD Cable Box, and it really looks awful. Like a bad computer monitor, there are all sorts of strange distortions, mostly surrounding fast moving players but also just in bright colorful areas. I've watched other games on this channel with this cable box that have had great pictures in the past week or so. Sorry to keep with all the questions, but I'm really puzzled.

RaoulJuke · 02-08-2010, 08:30 PM

I did a little bit of flipping around to see if maybe it's just TNTHD's feed that was causing the problem, and although I did get a little bit of Color Bleed with a basketball broadcast from another HD channel it wasn't nearly as bad. Also, the TNT Standard Def channel was also producing the strange distortion and aura's. I don't really know what to conclude from that but it seems significant.

d6500k · 02-08-2010, 10:13 PM

My first supposition would be that the TNT feed is highly compressed. This causes the anomalies you are seeing.

Do you get any HD channels like HDNET or NATGEOHD?

Film channels like HBO HD?

Check those if you can. If they are fouled, pardon the round-ball pun, then you may be able to ameliorate some of the issues with various noise reduction protocols in the user setup. Experiment some and get back to us.

Doug k

RaoulJuke · 02-09-2010, 01:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by d6500k

My first supposition would be that the TNT feed is highly compressed. This causes the anomalies you are seeing.

Do you get any HD channels like HDNET or NATGEOHD?

Film channels like HBO HD?

Check those if you can. If they are fouled, pardon the round-ball pun, then you may be able to ameliorate some of the issues with various noise reduction protocols in the user setup. Experiment some and get back to us.

Doug k

Alright after doing a little bit of pointed channel surfing, it's become clear to me that it must be the feed from TNT HD like you've suggested. The picture from HBOHD, and Travel Channel HD are significantly better. They are still not as stunning as maybe I'd hoped when I made this purchase, but I think that has to do with some "fine-tuning" on my end and they have NO digital distortions.

On your suggestion, I did a little more looking into the symptoms of over-compression and the problems I was having were definitely consistent.

I also just read elsewhere on this board that Time Warner Cable customers with Samsung televisions have had bad experiences, so I might look into the availability of FiOS in my area.

If you have any suggestions, remedies or "band-aids" for over-compressed signals it would be greatly appreciated! I'm definitely going to pick up a DVD and make some adjustments according to your tips page. Thanks again for all the help.

02-08-2010, 04:04 PM	#1
RaoulJuke My plasma is High Def. Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 5	Questions about Samsung LN40B650 LCD Hey all. I just recently purchased my first NEW TV, let alone HD. We brought it home and plugged it in and were thrilled with the picture, especially during sporting events. After a few weeks of using it for HD Cable and XBox, I feel like the look of it has dulled appearing gray at times and not displaying as much detail as I feel it should. I tried the settings recommended from C-Net and Tvtweak (Lower backlight, Sharpness at 0) but they looked even worse to me. I started checking out information online and came across the concept of ISF Calibration. Does anyone have experience, insight or advice when it comes to this particular Television and calibration, or image enhancing in general? Thanks so much.

02-08-2010, 06:03 PM	#2
d6500k ISF Technician Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Oregon Age: 57 Posts: 1,333	Raoul, Using anothers settings in your environment will give you iffy results at best. Your primary objective with your new display is to effectively adjust the Black and White levels. These controls Brightness for adjusting the blacks and Picture or Contrast for the whites must be set while the room is darkened somewhat. Check my tips page on my website for the "how to". You will need a test pattern which is available on any number of test disks. Have fun! Doug k __________________ Website: www.6500kcalibrations.com Serving Oregon, Washington and Idaho. Twice yearly tours to St. Petersburg/Tampa Fla. & Southernmost Texas.

02-08-2010, 07:03 PM	#4
d6500k ISF Technician Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Oregon Age: 57 Posts: 1,333	If the picture is fine when viewing your xbox games and any DVD player that is in the loop, then it is a source issue. If you are using a set top box of any type, make sure it is set to display 1080i and a 16:9 aspect ratio. PQ from cable is all over the grid. From pretty good to really poor. If you are watching games (basketball), and you are on a standard definition channel, there is so little data going to such a big screen, it can really cause issues. Calibrate the display using the DVD input and transfer those numbers to the input designated for HD TV cable/sat or ota (antenna). Doug k __________________ Website: www.6500kcalibrations.com Serving Oregon, Washington and Idaho. Twice yearly tours to St. Petersburg/Tampa Fla. & Southernmost Texas.

02-08-2010, 10:13 PM	#7
d6500k ISF Technician Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Oregon Age: 57 Posts: 1,333	My first supposition would be that the TNT feed is highly compressed. This causes the anomalies you are seeing. Do you get any HD channels like HDNET or NATGEOHD? Film channels like HBO HD? Check those if you can. If they are fouled, pardon the round-ball pun, then you may be able to ameliorate some of the issues with various noise reduction protocols in the user setup. Experiment some and get back to us. Doug k __________________ Website: www.6500kcalibrations.com Serving Oregon, Washington and Idaho. Twice yearly tours to St. Petersburg/Tampa Fla. & Southernmost Texas.

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02-08-2010, 06:24 PM	#3
RaoulJuke My plasma is High Def. Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 5	Great, thank you so much. After having read your "how-to", I can say that I am a casual viewer, and that I probably don't need to worry too much about precise calibrations. I'll follow the steps on your website and find an image that works for me. My biggest concern now is that basketball has gone from looking sharp and impressive to grainy and weirdly distorted during fast-pace moments. Also, every player has an odd "aura" around them. Is there a chance my display is just busted? The XBox looks great, so I assume the TV itself is fine, but like I said this is my first one and I really don't know too much about it.

02-08-2010, 08:30 PM	#6
RaoulJuke My plasma is High Def. Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 5	I did a little bit of flipping around to see if maybe it's just TNTHD's feed that was causing the problem, and although I did get a little bit of Color Bleed with a basketball broadcast from another HD channel it wasn't nearly as bad. Also, the TNT Standard Def channel was also producing the strange distortion and aura's. I don't really know what to conclude from that but it seems significant.