Philips LCD Backlight Dimming Issue

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Jizah

174 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 10

Topic # 25526 24-Aug-2008 14:36

So I too am having the issue discussed in this thread http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?ForumId=34&TopicId=22737
where the backlight dims during dark scenes. For instance watching a movie where a man is running through a jungle at night, the backlight can dim then brighten 4 times during that one scene. My tv is a 42PFL7422

I've had Next Electronics, the company who deals with Philips warranty replace the scaler board, then take it away for 2 weeks and do who knows what to it. It came back a couple days ago and it's still doing the exact same thing.

They also gave me a loan tv, a brand new Philips 42" something else. This tv had the same issue, but instead of it being like a switch flicking the backlight on and off, it actually faded in and out. Still a little annoying, but nowhere near as much as mine. And still no option anywhere to turn this "feature" off.

So anybody from the previous thread heard anything back from Philips? I am also wanting to know, if they can't fix this, is it reason for me to get a replacement, or as a last resort, a refund? Because I seriously can not handle having a tv do this.

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86 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 159484 25-Aug-2008 10:01

Hi, I started the original thread. I'm glad there is more of us out there.

I'm amazed the technician changed the board, the said dimming is not a fault, but a design feature, however stupid it is, no amount of changing components will fix it.

I have not heard back from the guy from Philips yet, he said to give him a couple of months (the wheels in big corporations turn slowly). I will give him a ring again in the next couple of weeks, but please call/email him yrself, we need them to realise how many people are put out by this ridiculous feature.

On a positive note, I have figured out that if you plug a pc into the PC port the backlight dimming feature is disabled!?!? So lately I have been playing back movies via my PC just too prevent this. Far from ideal, but it keeps me sane. Unfortunately the PC port only accepts a max res of 1280 x 1024, so 720p only.

raydenl

86 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 159486 25-Aug-2008 10:05

Oh yeah, about getting it replaced, money refunded... as I said it's a feature not a fault, but if you got the tv recently it may be possible... my tv's coming up 6mths old so I've got no show.

Jizah

174 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 10

Reply # 159496 25-Aug-2008 10:44

Mine is hooked up only to my HTPC. So at the moment I have just been leaving something else on the screen while watching a movie, whether it be a toolbar or a resized application hiding down in one of the corners. Will definitely be making some more calls. I can't handle it.

browned

608 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 31

Reply # 159501 25-Aug-2008 10:51

I had the same issue with a 37PFL7422 until it got nicked. Think it was the Pixel Plus HD stuff in the TV and Philips have made it do that so dark scenes appear lighter and you can see what it going on.

My second Philips a 42PFL5403/98 didn't do it so much but you have more control over the TV and it's features. But then again this TV didn't work well with my computer via HDMI cable so it went back. Turn off all of the features you can, dynamic contrast stuff, Pixel Plus, if using a PC where possible set the TV to PC mode. But I doubt you can fix it or that Philips will ever fix it either.

I now have a Sony Bravia which is fine with the computer and you can turn off the extra features.

Cheers
db

raydenl

86 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 159507 25-Aug-2008 11:02

Jizah: Mine is hooked up only to my HTPC. So at the moment I have just been leaving something else on the screen while watching a movie, whether it be a toolbar or a resized application hiding down in one of the corners. Will definitely be making some more calls. I can't handle it.

If it's hooked up to yr computer (htpc), use a d-sub to d-sub standard vga cable and use the tv's pc port, no backlight dimming happens when using the pc port, as stated above.

i tried a dvi to hdmi cable from my computer to tv, but the backlight dimming returned!

raydenl

86 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 159510 25-Aug-2008 11:08

browned: Think it was the Pixel Plus HD stuff in the TV and Philips have made it do that so dark scenes appear lighter and you can see what it going on.

They do it so that when there is a large amount of black on the screen, the back light turns of so the blacks appear "blacker" (to compete with plasma's), but in doing so you can't see anything else going on in the scene. i don't really give a sh*t about how black the black is, i would prefer to be able to see the movie i'm watching.

raydenl

86 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 159523 25-Aug-2008 11:42

I got worked up over it again, so just rang Barry Ward from Philips to follow up on this issue. He said he had received an update, to summarise the conversation:

-This feature is not able to be disabled
-It is a intentional feature of this particular model
-There will be no software update released to disable the backlight dimming issue
-The next model up has the ability to disable backlight dimming - you should have bought this one if you wanted that feature (well he didn't say it that bluntly)

It is a sad day.

Jizah

174 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 10

Reply # 159589 25-Aug-2008 14:55

Yeah I don't really want to settle for 720p, otherwise I probably would have got a non 1080p Samsung for a similar price. I'm going to give them a call and see what can be done.

Jizah

174 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 10

Reply # 160228 27-Aug-2008 17:41

So got a phone call today from Next Electronics and they said they have sent some paperwork to the 100% store where I bought the TV, and now I get to go in and choose a replacement TV. As they no longer make the model I have, they couldn't do a straight swap.

There are no similar TVs in the price range, so they're basically offering me a $2000 credit which is what I paid. Definitely not getting another Philips, but now I have to choose something else. It was hard enough the first time around....

raydenl

86 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 160248 27-Aug-2008 18:52

Lucky. How long you have your tv for?

Jizah

174 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 10

Reply # 160324 28-Aug-2008 06:17

Since 20th May. Didn't unpack it and start using it until early June though as we were moving. I think I might get a Sony, as they all say they have backlight control, and I am just paranoid about that now.

browned

608 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 31

Reply # 160627 29-Aug-2008 09:22

There are no similar TVs in the price range, so they're basically offering me a $2000 credit which is what I paid. Definitely not getting another Philips, but now I have to choose something else. It was hard enough the first time around....

I have a Sony KDL40W4000. It is great and has Freeview HD tuner builtin which my wife loves, as it allows her to watch TV if I break the Media Center PC.

Price was $2799 when I got mine, but most places will take a couple of hundred off especially if you ask for their best price and check what other places will do. You can also get the KDL40V4000 for about $2400.

I think there is a Panasonic with a freeview tuner built in as well but I am not 100% on that or it's price.

I would stear clear of the new Philips models as they do not work well with PC's via HDMI and do not have Freeview HD Builtin.

cheers
db

Jizah

174 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 10

Reply # 160763 29-Aug-2008 16:26

I was actually looking at getting a Sony, but I was thinking of getting the 46" version just for the simple fact that going smaller (even if it's noticeable or not) makes me feel like I'm moving backwards. Is there much difference between the V and W series?

browned

608 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 31

Reply # 160843 30-Aug-2008 09:33

Jizah: I was actually looking at getting a Sony, but I was thinking of getting the 46" version just for the simple fact that going smaller (even if it's noticeable or not) makes me feel like I'm moving backwards. Is there much difference between the V and W series?

Differences between V and W series from 40" and above.

10 Bit panel - allows more shades of colours (1024 steps / grades) reduces colour banding.
Wide Colour Gamut (WCG-CCFL) - Backlight that produces more colours than regular TV's.
Live Colour Creation - Colour management algorithm that expands the colours that needs to be enhanced.
x.v.Colour (xvYCCsignal compatable) for richer colour reproduction.

Striaght out of Sony's Pulse magazine.

cheers
db

Jizah

174 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 10

Reply # 162635 6-Sep-2008 13:55

Just picked up a replacement TV today. I asked for a refund earlier in the week, and they said they'll talk to a Philips rep and try replace it first. So now I have a 42PFL5403.
Already ordered a Samsung LA46A650 so I'm just going to list this one on trademe.

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