Samsung Plasma TV buzzing sound

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › Samsung Plasma TV buzzing sound

Talkiet

4792 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#71858 18-Nov-2010 15:08

This has been done to death on overseas forums, but I am experiencing this problem with my TV (58" C7000) and I am currently having a nightmare with Harvey Norman, Next Electronics and Samsung. They all maintain they don't know about any such 'buzzing noise' issues and Samsung NZ claimed that they have never heard of any buzz type problems with their TVs in NZ for the last couple of years.

Does anyone here have a similar set and have experience of this buzzing annoyance?

This thread describes the issue ( http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1144869 ). I know it's an old thread, but it goes through to almost current day and there are other threads about the specific model I have.

I HAVE tried the normal troubleshooting and have taken it off the wall, made sure it's not parallel to the wall, added ferrite chokes to the power cable, tried various inputs, reset the TV to defaults, used different picture modes etc.

Fact is, at normal volumes, there's a really noticable buzz in speaking parts of TV shows or movies. It's very intrusive.

Normally I would try and let the standard warranty process take it's course but Next said they have no field techs in Chch so would need to uplift the TV and take it away, simply to plug it in somewhere else and do a subjective listening test! They also said they didn't have internet access and weren't prepared to look at any evidence I wanted to supply to support the assertion it's a widespread problem.

Samsung refused to even acknowledge any issues and said Next needed to take the TV offsite to perform the test. They admitted no test equipment was involved, and that they don't have any specific acceptable noise measurements.

Harvey Norman won't do anything until they get a report from a service agent.

My proposed solution was to find a service company that would be able to verify the existence of the noise issue without taking the TV away, and report to Samsung. (Next refuse to do this)

I guess I just had to vent, but if these guys are going to follow process so slavishly and actually refuse to even look at evidence suggesting this is a common problem then I'm not going to be very understanding when Harvey Norman finally need to either refund or replace.

I'd warn anyone that at least in Christchurch, Samsung Plasma service is likely to be a nightmare and there's currently no field techs able to even inspect the TVs onsite, so for _ANY_ issue at all, they will need to take the TV away, even to confirm an obvious problem.

At the moment, I am consoling myself with the knowledge that the longer these guys drag this issue out, the more my refund will buy me when they finally need to give me the money back :-)

Cheers - N

Please note all comments are from my own brain and don't necessarily represent the position or opinions of my employer, previous employers, colleagues, friends or pets.

1 | 2 | 3

1961 posts

Uber Geek

#406354 18-Nov-2010 17:51

I would demand that Harvey Norman replace the set under warrantee and if they decline then threaten them with the Consumer Guarantee Act. The set is obviously faulty and therefore it is their problem.

merve0o0

492 posts

Ultimate Geek

#406470 18-Nov-2010 22:16

I also get a buzzing. Mostly on tv3 and not a plasma but samsung la32r81bd lcd

Only been noticing it last few months. And only on analogue tv. When I had freeview there was no buzz don't know about dvd's and don't think the xbox does it

deliveryguy

42 posts

Geek

#406525 19-Nov-2010 02:13

Hi
This may sound like a silly question but are you using the inbuilt tuner or do you have sky or another external decoder/receiver?
if you have sky is the volume on the decoder set to full or have you turned up the tv volume and turned down the sky volume.
I only ask as I have seen may Tvs that people moaned about a buzzing only to find the tv volume was set to max and the sky volume was being used for the level (almost any basic amp will buzz at full volume).

mrphil

424 posts

Ultimate Geek

#406614 19-Nov-2010 10:05

i have heard about this problem before oversea and it seems like there is no fix for it

i would ask for your money back

Talkiet

4792 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#406616 19-Nov-2010 10:09

mrphil: i have heard about this problem before oversea and it seems like there is no fix for it

i would ask for your money back

Sounds like it's not an option. Since I took more than the 14 days DOA period to raise this, they seem to be sticking to their guns and are prepared to attempt as many repairs as they are allowed to under the CGA.

(The reason I didn't raise it sooner was I was going through a relationship breakup and didn't have time to deal with this)

The CGA works really well in most cases, but for a massive piece of equipment like this, having them take it away multiple times (when I don't have a spare!) is only going to piss me off.

Cheers - N

Please note all comments are from my own brain and don't necessarily represent the position or opinions of my employer, previous employers, colleagues, friends or pets.

mrphil

424 posts

Ultimate Geek

#406730 19-Nov-2010 13:36

Talkiet:
mrphil: i have heard about this problem before oversea and it seems like there is no fix for it

i would ask for your money back

Sounds like it's not an option. Since I took more than the 14 days DOA period to raise this, they seem to be sticking to their guns and are prepared to attempt as many repairs as they are allowed to under the CGA.

(The reason I didn't raise it sooner was I was going through a relationship breakup and didn't have time to deal with this)

The CGA works really well in most cases, but for a massive piece of equipment like this, having them take it away multiple times (when I don't have a spare!) is only going to piss me off.

Cheers - N

oh that sucks, i hope it all goes well for you

when i got my c7000 plasma earlier this year i only took the top of the box off and turned on the tv to make sure there wasn't any buzzing before mounting it on my wall

Talkiet

4792 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#406763 19-Nov-2010 15:01

mrphil:
Talkiet:
mrphil: i have heard about this problem before oversea and it seems like there is no fix for it

i would ask for your money back

Sounds like it's not an option. Since I took more than the 14 days DOA period to raise this, they seem to be sticking to their guns and are prepared to attempt as many repairs as they are allowed to under the CGA.

(The reason I didn't raise it sooner was I was going through a relationship breakup and didn't have time to deal with this)

The CGA works really well in most cases, but for a massive piece of equipment like this, having them take it away multiple times (when I don't have a spare!) is only going to piss me off.

Cheers - N

oh that sucks, i hope it all goes well for you

when i got my c7000 plasma earlier this year i only took the top of the box off and turned on the tv to make sure there wasn't any buzzing before mounting it on my wall

Well, after a number of well meaning but process bound automatons refused to help outside of their clearly defined process, I got a call from someone at Harvey Norman who seems genuinely interested in helping me out and I'm going in to meet him after work today.

I still think it's a shame I had to twitter, geekzone and emailbomb to get hold of someone that was able to address a situation and take into account individual circumstances, but it looks like there should be a way forward.

I'll update this thread with the outcome, but I'm a lot happier with the situation now I've spoken to someone not parroting a really inconvenient and inappropriate policy.

Cheers N

Please note all comments are from my own brain and don't necessarily represent the position or opinions of my employer, previous employers, colleagues, friends or pets.

Quic Broadband

Move to New Zealand's best fibre broadband service (affiliate link). Note that to use Quic Broadband you must be comfortable with configuring your own router.

mrphil

424 posts

Ultimate Geek

#406825 19-Nov-2010 17:05

good luck and keep us update

Crowbar

150 posts

Master Geek

#408521 23-Nov-2010 20:33

I had an issue with my 50c7000, called Samsung and then 2 days later had Next Electronics call me asking when they can come pick it up, one week later set was back in my lounge.

I found the service outstanding, its a shame they're not playing ball with your problem too!

Talkiet

4792 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#410168 27-Nov-2010 11:02

Update - Harvey Norman took ownership of the problem and arranged for a replacement set to be delivered at my convenience (which happened to be yesterday afternoon) and I duly swapped it out... I noticed 2 things.

1) The set I bought originally wasn't new, it had at least been unpacked and displayed. The replacement set came with a lot more of the protective plastic on the shiny bits.

2) The second unit exhibits the same buzzing as the first.I didn't have them set up side by side to compare, but it seems just as bad.

I'll log a fault against this set and see what the service company can do - but the stories of service success in killing the buzz are way outnumbered by the stories of "no fault found, it's just like that".

If the service doesn't fix it, I really don't know what I'll do. I can't enjoy any movies with quiet speaking scenes at all now. I don't really want to switch to LCD but I don't really know what choice I have.

Cheers - N

Please note all comments are from my own brain and don't necessarily represent the position or opinions of my employer, previous employers, colleagues, friends or pets.

bfginger

1268 posts

Uber Geek

#410243 27-Nov-2010 17:14

A Panasonic plasma?

Dunnersfella

4086 posts

Uber Geek

#410271 27-Nov-2010 20:36

Yup - I'd choose a Panasonic plasma too...

Talkiet

4792 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#410280 27-Nov-2010 21:06

Dunnersfella: Yup - I'd choose a Panasonic plasma too...

Well, yes, I have been looking at options... and unfortunately the equivalent Panasonic Plasma doesn't exist...

There is the 50" VT20 model at approx the same price, and it's apparently one of the best you can get quality wise, BUT it's 50 vs 58:, and it's DEEEEEP, it's about 9-10cm deep which doesn't compare well to the Samsung super thin design.

Panasonic DO have a 65" VT20 model coming out shortly but it's still thick, WAYYYY too expensive and heavy - not to mention it's probably a bit large for the room.

The other Panasonic models that are lower spec than the VT20 are either a level below the Samsung in PQ terms, and they are all still quite deep - and at least one has a massive ugly bezel.

I really can't identify a decent alternative to the Samsung 58" C7000 plasma - although suggestions are definitely welcomed!

Cheers - N

Please note all comments are from my own brain and don't necessarily represent the position or opinions of my employer, previous employers, colleagues, friends or pets.

Shoes2468

785 posts

Ultimate Geek

#410281 27-Nov-2010 21:07

I also have a PS58C7000 brought from Harvey Norman moorehouse, Mine seems to buzz a little however mine isn't intrusive, a little bit noticeable when no sound is coming out of the TV and I am standing closer to the set, but at my normal viewing distance (4m) it is not noticeable.

mrphil

424 posts

Ultimate Geek

#410320 28-Nov-2010 07:09

panasonic has a good PQ but its overall looks lets them down IMO

1 | 2 | 3