Samsung Plasma TV buzzing sound

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4080 posts

Uber Geek

#410321 28-Nov-2010 07:12

While the Pana 58S is a nice plasma, the styling is a little 'last year'.
I'd disagree re: picture quality though...
The Samsung not only pushes the reds far too hard, it also suffers from the worst image retention issues I've seen on a modern TV, and can't compete on black levels.
I think they've compromised a little too much in getting the Samsung skinny in order to sell it at the low price.
If 3D is the key at that size, then yes, you are a little stuck...

The 54" V, mounted on the wall would be my pick (not a fan of the big rectangular pedestals personally). But as you say, it's not 3D.

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Bolly

68 posts

Master Geek

#411409 30-Nov-2010 21:56

Plasmas BUZZ, Thats what they do, some can notice more than others depending on were you place them ie on wall, infront of curtains, 30cm away from wall etc, Samsung buzz more than Panasonic and some people are more sensitive to this buzzing than others.

I have a 42" Samsung in bedroom which buzz's I'm just used to it and don't notice it, If it try and listen for it its loud as! But it was the best TV when I brought it so put up with it and now don't care image quality is more important for me.

I find the 1st post abit hard to believe the guys at the Moorhouse branch are generally pretty onto it and usually bend over backwards to sort cust issues.

Also with this sort of problem any store should go out and listen to it or get one of there installers to go and have a listen first, because if you send out the service guys straight away you could get a no fault fee which nobody wants. Samsung service isn't the best, Next are the folks in the middle and just want to get paid for whatever they do (But should have techs and made a service call if needed as thats what they do!) but the fact that nobody would help you at all seems a bit odd? Very bad business practice if thats the case.

Whats the outcome?

Talkiet

4786 posts

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Trusted

#411416 30-Nov-2010 22:08

Bolly: Plasmas BUZZ, Thats what they do, some can notice more than others depending on were you place them ie on wall, infront of curtains, 30cm away from wall etc, Samsung buzz more than Panasonic and some people are more sensitive to this buzzing than others.

I have a 42" Samsung in bedroom which buzz's I'm just used to it and don't notice it, If it try and listen for it its loud as! But it was the best TV when I brought it so put up with it and now don't care image quality is more important for me.

I find the 1st post abit hard to believe the guys at the Moorhouse branch are generally pretty onto it and usually bend over backwards to sort cust issues.

Also with this sort of problem any store should go out and listen to it or get one of there installers to go and have a listen first, because if you send out the service guys straight away you could get a no fault fee which nobody wants. Samsung service isn't the best, Next are the folks in the middle and just want to get paid for whatever they do (But should have techs and made a service call if needed as thats what they do!) but the fact that nobody would help you at all seems a bit odd? Very bad business practice if thats the case.

Whats the outcome?

I promise I have reflected what happened as accurately as possible. The buzz is noticable (I previously had a 50" Panasonic Plasma and it had a very subtle buzz/humm) and annoying.

Harvey Norman weren't at all interested in stepping outside the "Next need to take it away before we'll even consider what to do next" policy until I twittered and emailbombed which got me someone senior at HN Moorhouse on the phone to me. Since then they have done all I would expect from a good customer focussed retailer.

There's no final resolution yet. I have a replacement model (exactly the same) giving the same loud buzz so HN have sent the one they picked up off me to Next for "service"... I know it's going to get back to them with "Sorry, that's just the way this model is" and I honestly don't know what's going to happen at that point.

The guy that dropped off the replacement was a specialist installer (signwritten van, several other high plasma/LCD boxes in the back of the van) and I asked him if he'd heard the buzz on the Samsungs... He paused for a second and then said "Yes, I've heard it myself, hopefully this one won't be too bad" or something very very close to that.

I really like the picture on Plasma but it doesn't appear there's a single model out there that satisfies the size, quality and not being massively thick requirements I have. The nearest unit quality wise is the Panny VT20, but it's only 50" and it something like 10cm thick... It also has fans but they are more a low hum rather than a higher pitched buzz. (There's a 65" VT20 coming out shortly but it's $$$$$)

As a final point, I should point out that I have bought a lot of stuff from HN Moorhouse and I have had a couple of times needed to use their service, and in the past there service had been really exceptional - very responsive. That's what made my first attempts this time so frustrating - I knew they should be better than they were being.

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.

Bolly

68 posts

Master Geek

#411445 30-Nov-2010 23:55

Talkiet:
Bolly: Plasmas BUZZ, Thats what they do, some can notice more than others depending on were you place them ie on wall, infront of curtains, 30cm away from wall etc, Samsung buzz more than Panasonic and some people are more sensitive to this buzzing than others.

I have a 42" Samsung in bedroom which buzz's I'm just used to it and don't notice it, If it try and listen for it its loud as! But it was the best TV when I brought it so put up with it and now don't care image quality is more important for me.

I find the 1st post abit hard to believe the guys at the Moorhouse branch are generally pretty onto it and usually bend over backwards to sort cust issues.

Also with this sort of problem any store should go out and listen to it or get one of there installers to go and have a listen first, because if you send out the service guys straight away you could get a no fault fee which nobody wants. Samsung service isn't the best, Next are the folks in the middle and just want to get paid for whatever they do (But should have techs and made a service call if needed as thats what they do!) but the fact that nobody would help you at all seems a bit odd? Very bad business practice if thats the case.

Whats the outcome?

I promise I have reflected what happened as accurately as possible. The buzz is noticable (I previously had a 50" Panasonic Plasma and it had a very subtle buzz/humm) and annoying.

Harvey Norman weren't at all interested in stepping outside the "Next need to take it away before we'll even consider what to do next" policy until I twittered and emailbombed which got me someone senior at HN Moorhouse on the phone to me. Since then they have done all I would expect from a good customer focussed retailer.

There's no final resolution yet. I have a replacement model (exactly the same) giving the same loud buzz so HN have sent the one they picked up off me to Next for "service"... I know it's going to get back to them with "Sorry, that's just the way this model is" and I honestly don't know what's going to happen at that point.

The guy that dropped off the replacement was a specialist installer (signwritten van, several other high plasma/LCD boxes in the back of the van) and I asked him if he'd heard the buzz on the Samsungs... He paused for a second and then said "Yes, I've heard it myself, hopefully this one won't be too bad" or something very very close to that.

I really like the picture on Plasma but it doesn't appear there's a single model out there that satisfies the size, quality and not being massively thick requirements I have. The nearest unit quality wise is the Panny VT20, but it's only 50" and it something like 10cm thick... It also has fans but they are more a low hum rather than a higher pitched buzz. (There's a 65" VT20 coming out shortly but it's $$$$$)

As a final point, I should point out that I have bought a lot of stuff from HN Moorhouse and I have had a couple of times needed to use their service, and in the past there service had been really exceptional - very responsive. That's what made my first attempts this time so frustrating - I knew they should be better than they were being.

Cheers - N

Did you point out the buzzing to the installer when he was there to drop off replacement, he should know if normal buzzing or not. Hence if he says its normal it may pay to wait & get something else?

Otherwise fair enough to the rest of your comments.

Talkiet

4786 posts

Uber Geek

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#411453 1-Dec-2010 00:20

Bolly: Did you point out the buzzing to the installer when he was there to drop off replacement, he should know if normal buzzing or not. Hence if he says its normal it may pay to wait & get something else?

Otherwise fair enough to the rest of your comments.

The installer was only contracted to drop the set off and pick the other one up. I thought it was only going to be a HN delivery person so I already had the set packed up into the original box...

From his response he certainly seemed to be aware of a specific issue with the new Samsungs...

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.

wreck90

780 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

#411471 1-Dec-2010 07:51

my old panny plasma used to buzz, so got rid of it.

The buzzing increased as the set got older. Was annoying enough to sell.

You don't notice the buzzing in the stores as they are noisy environments compared to the living room at home.

Jaxson

7991 posts

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#411482 1-Dec-2010 08:33

Checked again last night and the buzzing is noticeable from a seated position on my Panasonic Plasma, but obviously only when there is low ambient noise and there is a quiet patch in whatever you are watching.

Seems to vary in pitch based on how much full white/how bright the shot is at the time.

Annoying but in my case acceptable.

Talkiet

4786 posts

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#411706 1-Dec-2010 18:52

Well, the matter is now unfortunately resolved as far as the samsung goes... Next Electronics had a look and informed Harvey Norman that they couldn't find anything 'wrong' with it - which I had been telling HN would be the case all along.

Harvey Norman have graciously offered to simply refund the TV so that means I now do need to figure out what to buy. I really hoped Next would pull a rabbit out of a hat and be ale to fix it, but I never seriously expected it.

So now I need to start looking again... I remember when buying cool bit bits of electronics was fun... I'm honestly dreading going through this process again.

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.

Dunnersfella

4080 posts

Uber Geek

#411725 1-Dec-2010 19:41

The worst part of buying after you've returned an item...
Is you become even more critical of the replacement, it's human nature.
My suggestion, buy a 3D projector... it'll be VERY expensive, but you won't be able to draw comparisons, hence, you'll be happier. :-)

firefuze

510 posts

Ultimate Geek

#411751 1-Dec-2010 20:32

Have the exact same issue with my Samsung 58" C7000. Thought it was my AV receiver at first, but no its defiantly the TV itself. it drives me nuts it can get really loud at some points. Ive had a 50" Samsung plasma before my 58" and never had issues of loud buzzing while in use. I'm glad I am not the only one! But like you mention the style and features of the Samsung is hard to compare to other brands on the market at the moment. I might look at taking mine back as well, which was also from Harvey Norman.

timmmay

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Lifetime subscriber

#411763 1-Dec-2010 21:06

I had a 50" Samsung 7000 series which I returned because of the buzzing. I replaced it with a Samsung C650 series LCD. The picture's 95% as good and i'm happy with it :)

semigeek

1606 posts

Uber Geek

#411844 1-Dec-2010 23:09

This is not a plasma but my 32 inch tv in my dining room started humming loudly tonight when I came home from work and turned it on. It lasted about 10 minutes before it went silent. It is a samsung lcd. Will keep an eye on it and see if it does it again. Was quite an annoying sound.

timmmay

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#411845 1-Dec-2010 23:12

One of my energy saver light bulbs glowed blue and buzzed when I first switched it on tonight. Weird.

LostBoyNZ

574 posts

Ultimate Geek

#411858 1-Dec-2010 23:59

My Samsung C7000 buzzes too, but from reading a lot online that seems quite normal. Noel Leeming swapped my original set over after I mentioned it buzzed, but the new set sounds the same.

I was really impressed with Noel Leeming's service actually, not only did they agree to swap it as soon as they got another set in, but while I was waiting for one the big earthquake happened and smashed it to pieces. Noel Leemings still swapped it :)

Back to the buzzing though, with mine at least it's very directional. A step to the side of the TV and you won't hear a thing, likewise as soon as you move your ear level above or under the TV. That's some amazingly directional buzz.

So my advice would be to wall mount it so the TV is just above ear level if you really want to get rid of the buzzing. Or go LCD/LED, but you get a smaller size TV for your money.

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Talkiet

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#413361 6-Dec-2010 11:33

Final update:

I finally decided there simply are no high quality Plasma TVs available in NZ >50" unless you are prepared to spend megabucks (like more than $8k) so I sacrificed some size to give myself some better options quality wise.

I finally narrowed it down to a Panasonic 54V series (2d) or 50VT (3d) and after seeing them both side by side went for the 50VT based on the fact it's a little newer and everything I have read seems to indicate 3d TVs do a better job of 2d as well.

Panasonic do list a 54VT model, but no-one knows prices and I suspect it may not be available in the near future - although I now won't be surprised if it's available tomorrow for less than I paid for the 50 :-)

The 50VT is thicker than I would have liked, and it DOES have fans in it..

BUT.... It's great. It's not truly silent in that with my ear up against it I can hear the fans, but seated at a normal distance where the Samsung was obnoxiously loud, the Panasonic is completely inaudible over the very slight hum of a PS3 or MySki HDi.

I'm very very happy with the end result, and am now able to start my floating wall build since I have a TV to base the sizing on.

Now all I need to do is get a refund from Harvey Norman for the Samsung...

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.

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