Am I really unlucky with LCDs?

Kargo · 19-12-2009, 19:22

Ive had to repost this as im getting a strange error when trying to open my previous post

//

Hey guys, You may have seen my previous thread a few days ago here where I bought a Hitachi 22 inch TV from Argos that had a continuous buzzing noise from the back even when in Standby. I was advised by forum members to take it back as faulty which I did yesterday. I was recommended to buy a set from LG and having took this advise, I took my refunded money and popped into Comet. I bought the LG 22LH2000.

The TV is superb, the menu's are so clear and crisp and the digital reception and sound is much better then the Hitachi. But like the Hitachi, I've spotted something which im not sure is common or not.

When theirs a scene with plenty of black colour, I see small glowing areas at the top and bottom of the screen. these do not occur when their is a light colourful scene.

Here are some screenshots to show what I mean

Changing Channels - http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/2888/imag0186.jpg

Black Screen - http://img521.imageshack.us/img521/6536/imag0187.jpg

Watching a Programme (Take That Concert on ITV) http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/1421/imag0185q.jpg

I must admit, if this does seem to be yet another fault, im starting to get a little bit ticked off with the back and forth trips im having to take to get a refund/replacement. Is this problem a common one? and is their anyway I can fix this myself or at least reduce the glow?

Thanks guys

techsmedders · 19-12-2009, 21:58

I don't think this is classed as a 'fault'. It looks like the backlight light bleeding around the edge of the screen to me

Kargo · 19-12-2009, 22:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by techsmedders

I don't think this is classed as a 'fault'. It looks like the backlight light bleeding around the edge of the screen to me

Ah I see, thats a relief. Do you know if their is anyway I would be able to fix this?

techsmedders · 19-12-2009, 22:11

Unfortunately I'm not aware of any way of fixing it as I think it is down to the design of the TV. Reducing the brightness level may help, but it may affect the overall picture more than the benefit you would get from leaving it alone

Chris Frost · 19-12-2009, 22:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kargo

Ah I see, thats a relief. Do you know if their is anyway I would be able to fix this?

It's a combination of how LCD TVs work (lighting from the back edges of the screen) which is made more noticeable as manufacturers try to produce ever brighter screens whilst also cutting production costs so the retailers can sell TVs at lower prices year-on-year. There's nothing practical you can do to fix this that wouldn't involve invalidating the warranty.

frasera · 19-12-2009, 22:34

its just that model, and well you expect black perfection from a cheap tv esp in the dark?

RobinOfLoxley · 20-12-2009, 02:30

Need a 10:000 to one Contrast Ratio, 1000:1 doesnt quite do it.

Orbitalzone · 20-12-2009, 17:45

Contrast ratio's are not a guide to quality... there's no single standard to measure the contrast so manufacturers quote high and probably theoretical figures. Google provides many links to info on this 'bigger is better' trend. Example - The electronic manufacturers know we are suckers for figures... whether it's contrast ratios, maximum power output power ratings for speakers or megapixels.... they know we'll buy the higher figure as we assume more is best.... so they fabricate high figures in their labs... sure they can prove the stats but it's not a real world test that helps us really.

My LG 22" has varying cloudiness but is only an issue should I watch very dark images with the brightness/contrast set too high and in a very dark room. Luckily I don't do that and don't really suffer.I knew this model (22LS4R) suffered a bit but for the price I accepted it was cheap n' cheerful. I'd expect it more on really cheapy 'brands'.

What bugs me more about small LCD's is the use of 16:10 ratio screens... again my LG has one of these despite being mainly sold as a TV and a monitor second....slightly distorted images are far more annoying than slightly wishywashy pictures on this particular TV... many small and especially cheaper TV's use these cheaper (PC based) LCD panels.

My Sony 32" W4000 slightly suffers if I am being very fussy and again, watching dark movies in a dark room. Careful setting of picture controls seems to sort this out... contrast low(ish) brightness/colour/sharpness all fairly low by most people's standards I suspect, ie a natural picture.

Some people over on the AVForums have suggested that with some Sony's that have uneven backlighting, they have loosened and retightend the case screws to change the tension on the case and LCD panel.... this apparently has improved some peoples.... I haven't tried and should give the usaul warnings that you shouldn't try this at home, results may vary, warranties will be voided, cats will be sick, etc etc ya dah ya dah etc..

frasera · 21-12-2009, 06:15

worse than that, contrast ratio might as well be a number pulled from the keester, its so easy to game. at best its for evaluating difference between one manufacturers models.

RobinOfLoxley · 21-12-2009, 06:21

Well I was only trying to help. If my contrast idea was wrong, I stand corrected.

Have seen other posts moaning about the backlight. Stays on even in standby. Or am I mixing my probs up again?

Nigel Goodwin · 21-12-2009, 10:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobinOfLoxley

Well I was only trying to help. If my contrast idea was wrong, I stand corrected.

Unfortunately it's meaningless, just look at the sets and compare the pictures.

Quote:

Have seen other posts moaning about the backlight. Stays on even in standby. Or am I mixing my probs up again?

I've never seen any such posts, and certainly never heard of any such problems - I've no idea what you're thinking of?.

Orbitalzone · 21-12-2009, 18:16

Well to some degree it's right.... the higher the contrast ratio the better - but compared to what and better than what?! ...... as long as you compare like for like and unfortunately that's the where the problem is.... You could hopefully compare the same brand to see how their models compare against one another (I'd hope they all got measured the same way) but you certainly can't compare Panasonic contrast ratio vs a Samsung (I think Samsung were one of the first manufacturers to conjure up the *400,000,000,000,000:1 contrast ratios if I recall. They may as well measure in photons for what it's worth.

*That figure may be out by a decimal point of two

GeoffNI · 21-12-2009, 20:20

It's possible that your backlight is too high. If using default settings it will be too high. When watching in the dark my backlight is at the minimal level which is 0 on my set and the tv's ambient settings will put it at this level also. For gaming on my HDMI 2 connection I have it set to around 30.

19-12-2009, 19:22	#1
Kargo Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Essex, UK Posts: 6,238	Am I really unlucky with LCDs? Ive had to repost this as im getting a strange error when trying to open my previous post // Hey guys, You may have seen my previous thread a few days ago here where I bought a Hitachi 22 inch TV from Argos that had a continuous buzzing noise from the back even when in Standby. I was advised by forum members to take it back as faulty which I did yesterday. I was recommended to buy a set from LG and having took this advise, I took my refunded money and popped into Comet. I bought the LG 22LH2000. The TV is superb, the menu's are so clear and crisp and the digital reception and sound is much better then the Hitachi. But like the Hitachi, I've spotted something which im not sure is common or not. When theirs a scene with plenty of black colour, I see small glowing areas at the top and bottom of the screen. these do not occur when their is a light colourful scene. Here are some screenshots to show what I mean Changing Channels - http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/2888/imag0186.jpg Black Screen - http://img521.imageshack.us/img521/6536/imag0187.jpg Watching a Programme (Take That Concert on ITV) http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/1421/imag0185q.jpg I must admit, if this does seem to be yet another fault, im starting to get a little bit ticked off with the back and forth trips im having to take to get a refund/replacement. Is this problem a common one? and is their anyway I can fix this myself or at least reduce the glow? Thanks guys

19-12-2009, 21:58	#2
techsmedders Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Chesterfield Posts: 422	I don't think this is classed as a 'fault'. It looks like the backlight light bleeding around the edge of the screen to me

19-12-2009, 22:08	#3
Kargo Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Essex, UK Posts: 6,238	Quote: Originally Posted by techsmedders I don't think this is classed as a 'fault'. It looks like the backlight light bleeding around the edge of the screen to me Ah I see, thats a relief. Do you know if their is anyway I would be able to fix this?

19-12-2009, 22:11	#4
techsmedders Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Chesterfield Posts: 422	Unfortunately I'm not aware of any way of fixing it as I think it is down to the design of the TV. Reducing the brightness level may help, but it may affect the overall picture more than the benefit you would get from leaving it alone

19-12-2009, 22:33	#5
Chris Frost Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Cheshire Posts: 6,462	Quote: Originally Posted by Kargo Ah I see, thats a relief. Do you know if their is anyway I would be able to fix this? It's a combination of how LCD TVs work (lighting from the back edges of the screen) which is made more noticeable as manufacturers try to produce ever brighter screens whilst also cutting production costs so the retailers can sell TVs at lower prices year-on-year. There's nothing practical you can do to fix this that wouldn't involve invalidating the warranty.

19-12-2009, 22:34	#6
frasera Inactive Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 8,063	its just that model, and well you expect black perfection from a cheap tv esp in the dark?

20-12-2009, 02:30	#7
RobinOfLoxley Forum Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Devon Posts: 12,873	Need a 10:000 to one Contrast Ratio, 1000:1 doesnt quite do it.

20-12-2009, 17:45	#8
Orbitalzone Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Sussex Posts: 12,173	Contrast ratio's are not a guide to quality... there's no single standard to measure the contrast so manufacturers quote high and probably theoretical figures. Google provides many links to info on this 'bigger is better' trend. Example - The electronic manufacturers know we are suckers for figures... whether it's contrast ratios, maximum power output power ratings for speakers or megapixels.... they know we'll buy the higher figure as we assume more is best.... so they fabricate high figures in their labs... sure they can prove the stats but it's not a real world test that helps us really. My LG 22" has varying cloudiness but is only an issue should I watch very dark images with the brightness/contrast set too high and in a very dark room. Luckily I don't do that and don't really suffer.I knew this model (22LS4R) suffered a bit but for the price I accepted it was cheap n' cheerful. I'd expect it more on really cheapy 'brands'. What bugs me more about small LCD's is the use of 16:10 ratio screens... again my LG has one of these despite being mainly sold as a TV and a monitor second....slightly distorted images are far more annoying than slightly wishywashy pictures on this particular TV... many small and especially cheaper TV's use these cheaper (PC based) LCD panels. My Sony 32" W4000 slightly suffers if I am being very fussy and again, watching dark movies in a dark room. Careful setting of picture controls seems to sort this out... contrast low(ish) brightness/colour/sharpness all fairly low by most people's standards I suspect, ie a natural picture. Some people over on the AVForums have suggested that with some Sony's that have uneven backlighting, they have loosened and retightend the case screws to change the tension on the case and LCD panel.... this apparently has improved some peoples.... I haven't tried and should give the usaul warnings that you shouldn't try this at home, results may vary, warranties will be voided, cats will be sick, etc etc ya dah ya dah etc..

21-12-2009, 06:15	#9
frasera Inactive Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 8,063	worse than that, contrast ratio might as well be a number pulled from the keester, its so easy to game. at best its for evaluating difference between one manufacturers models.

21-12-2009, 06:21	#10
RobinOfLoxley Forum Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Devon Posts: 12,873	Well I was only trying to help. If my contrast idea was wrong, I stand corrected. Have seen other posts moaning about the backlight. Stays on even in standby. Or am I mixing my probs up again?

21-12-2009, 10:10	#11
Nigel Goodwin Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: North Derbyshire Posts: 41,789	Quote: Originally Posted by RobinOfLoxley Well I was only trying to help. If my contrast idea was wrong, I stand corrected. Unfortunately it's meaningless, just look at the sets and compare the pictures. Quote: Have seen other posts moaning about the backlight. Stays on even in standby. Or am I mixing my probs up again? I've never seen any such posts, and certainly never heard of any such problems - I've no idea what you're thinking of?.

21-12-2009, 18:16	#12
Orbitalzone Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Sussex Posts: 12,173	Well to some degree it's right.... the higher the contrast ratio the better - but compared to what and better than what?! ...... as long as you compare like for like and unfortunately that's the where the problem is.... You could hopefully compare the same brand to see how their models compare against one another (I'd hope they all got measured the same way) but you certainly can't compare Panasonic contrast ratio vs a Samsung (I think Samsung were one of the first manufacturers to conjure up the 400,000,000,000,000:1 contrast ratios if I recall. They may as well measure in photons for what it's worth. That figure may be out by a decimal point of two

21-12-2009, 20:20	#13
GeoffNI Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Northern Ireland Posts: 2,609	It's possible that your backlight is too high. If using default settings it will be too high. When watching in the dark my backlight is at the minimal level which is 0 on my set and the tv's ambient settings will put it at this level also. For gaming on my HDMI 2 connection I have it set to around 30.

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Am I really unlucky with LCDs?