Samsung PS50A656

Sicco · 06-01-2009, 9:46 AM

Hi Batsu,

when you download a new firmware there is also a guide you can download which explains how to update your set. All you need is a empty FAT formatted USB-stick. About losing your settings: I hear different stories. When I updated mine (my first set that is. this one I haven't updated yet) I kept my settings, but there are people whose settings were lost. When I enter the service menu my settings are lost.

Batsu · 06-01-2009, 10:11 AM

Ok I will go and check it!

ps how do you like your tv?

mine is ok, although I am experiencing quite some posterization effects

Sicco · 06-01-2009, 10:23 AM

The effect you describe (I don't really know what posterization means) I only notice when viewing normal digital SD television signal through scart. But not all the time. It depends on the broadcast that is on. Do you notice it when viewing HD material? I don't. You have to keep in mind that stretching out a normal PAL resolution (576 x ?) to a resolution to fit a 50" screen is quite a task... DVD has the same resolution, but is mostly of a far better quality than standard television broadcasts (here in Holland that is).

What I do notice sometimes is some judder when displaying pans. But again: it depends on the source. I think that there is no set available that doesn't show any judder at all from time to time. Also because sometimes the judder is on the disc itself I believe.

pkalltheway · 06-01-2009, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sicco

The effect you describe (I don't really know what posterization means) I only notice when viewing normal digital SD television signal through scart. But not all the time. It depends on the broadcast that is on. Do you notice it when viewing HD material? I don't. You have to keep in mind that stretching out a normal PAL resolution (576 x ?) to a resolution to fit a 50" screen is quite a task... DVD has the same resolution, but is mostly of a far better quality than standard television broadcasts (here in Holland that is).

What I do notice sometimes is some judder when displaying pans. But again: it depends on the source. I think that there is no set available that doesn't show any judder at all from time to time. Also because sometimes the judder is on the disc itself I believe.

I don´t know if it has something to do with series 6 vs series 7
the series 7 plasmas have real 100hz while the series 6 have double 50 hz
maybe that makes the difference...
when i watch SD the plasma makes a really good job to blow up the 720x 576 image.

i didnt notice any judder effects at all

For everybody go with the SERIES 7 its more improved

Batsu · 06-01-2009, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sicco

The effect you describe (I don't really know what posterization means) I only notice when viewing normal digital SD television signal through scart. But not all the time. It depends on the broadcast that is on. Do you notice it when viewing HD material? I don't. You have to keep in mind that stretching out a normal PAL resolution (576 x ?) to a resolution to fit a 50" screen is quite a task... DVD has the same resolution, but is mostly of a far better quality than standard television broadcasts (here in Holland that is).

What I do notice sometimes is some judder when displaying pans. But again: it depends on the source. I think that there is no set available that doesn't show any judder at all from time to time. Also because sometimes the judder is on the disc itself I believe.

I dont watch HD yet, only digital tv and DVD (via HDMI).

Mmmm maybe time to save up for a BR with good scaler on board ;-)

Sicco · 06-01-2009, 1:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Batsu

I dont watch HD yet, only digital tv and DVD (via HDMI).

Mmmm maybe time to save up for a BR with good scaler on board ;-)

absolutely! otherwise you really don't get the best out of your set!

tman · 06-01-2009, 1:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pkalltheway

I don´t know if it has something to do with series 6 vs series 7
the series 7 plasmas have real 100hz while the series 6 have double 50 hz
maybe that makes the difference...
when i watch SD the plasma makes a really good job to blow up the 720x 576 image.

i didnt notice any judder effects at all

For everybody go with the SERIES 7 its more improved

Real 100hz can introduce it's own artefacts due to the extra frame creation required to double the scan rate. The 50hz doubling feature on the series 6 perfectly watchable, and has never caused me any problems.

Low bit-rate SD freeview in the UK can struggle when scaled to full 1080P. I especially notice this on the sets internal tuner, where blocking can be terrible. When watching SD from my media center though (where SD is auto-scaled by the ATI GPU before being sent to the panel), the picture is hugely improved, and HD, well, that's another ball game altogether. It's what these sets were designed for...

Sicco · 06-01-2009, 1:46 PM

That's what I was affraid of with the 7-series: some sets are just too smooth and sharp that movies look like the making off of the movie

You lose the film-layer that makes a movie look like a movie... I don't if you guys understand what I mean?

tman · 06-01-2009, 1:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sicco

That's what I was affraid of with the 7-series: some sets are just too smooth and sharp that movies look like the making off of the movie

You lose the film-layer that makes a movie look like a movie... I don't if you guys understand what I mean?

I agree 100%. I remember even on my old Sony 36" 100hz CRT from many years ago, whenever I wanted to watch a movie, I would have to turn off 100Hz as it would almost make the movie unwatchable. I think 'real 100hz' is more of a gimmick that many will switch off.

True 24P support is more important for me.

Sicco · 06-01-2009, 2:15 PM

I'm glad you agree tman. Most people don't understand what I mean

Or they just don't see the difference... I notice this effect also a lot on LCD which made me decide to go for plasma (and other reasons)

pkalltheway · 06-01-2009, 6:54 PM

Anyone can help`?

when i insert a usb stick with movie files on it no problem watchin them...
when i add an external harddrive via usb it always says no video content...

anyone knows a solution?

Sicco · 06-01-2009, 10:24 PM

is it FAT formatted?

Batsu · 07-01-2009, 8:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sicco

absolutely! otherwise you really don't get the best out of your set!

Hi Sicco,

did you watch dvd's or digital television on your set?

You don't recognise the things i describe? Meaning, you didnt see them on yours?

Sicco · 07-01-2009, 9:07 AM

This was my previous reaction

The effect you describe (I don't really know what posterization means) I only notice when viewing normal digital SD television signal through scart. But not all the time. It depends on the broadcast that is on. Do you notice it when viewing HD material? I don't. You have to keep in mind that stretching out a normal PAL resolution (576 x ?) to a resolution to fit a 50" screen is quite a task... DVD has the same resolution, but is mostly of a far better quality than standard television broadcasts (here in Holland that is).

pkalltheway · 07-01-2009, 9:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sicco

is it FAT formatted?

its a 150gb harddrive
i formatted it in FAT32 first i made 5 32gb partitions then i merged them together with partition magic 8. now it should work FAT32 is supported so i dont know what went wrong...

anyone who tried to add an external harddrive to samsung and had simular issues?

thanks alot in advance

Batsu · 07-01-2009, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sicco

This was my previous reaction

The effect you describe (I don't really know what posterization means) I only notice when viewing normal digital SD television signal through scart. But not all the time. It depends on the broadcast that is on. Do you notice it when viewing HD material? I don't. You have to keep in mind that stretching out a normal PAL resolution (576 x ?) to a resolution to fit a 50" screen is quite a task... DVD has the same resolution, but is mostly of a far better quality than standard television broadcasts (here in Holland that is).

thanks, however for me it is strange that I also see it on dvd with HDMI. But ok, maybe a better scaler (in dvd/BR) will do wonders!

Sicco · 07-01-2009, 10:40 AM

what kind of dvdplayer do you use?

Batsu · 07-01-2009, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sicco

what kind of dvdplayer do you use?

I have a Panasonic DVD-S511 DVD Player with 1080i upscaling (however I have set it to 720p)

Batsu · 08-01-2009, 11:32 AM

Sicco,

I think I saw you in an other forum, what do you think about an ISF calibration for your samsung?

Sicco · 08-01-2009, 11:43 AM

Hi Batsu, which forum would that be?

I calibrated my previous set (Philips HD-Ready CRT) and the results were amazing!
I think I will calibrate this set as well, although I'm not sure yet how big a difference it will make... The settings I am using (and probably everyone in this thread

) are the settings of a calibrated set. And since we can adjust the white balance and gamma etc. just from the standard menu I don't know how much better it can be with a calibration that uses these same menu-options...

Batsu · 08-01-2009, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sicco

Hi Batsu, which forum would that be?

I calibrated my previous set (Philips HD-Ready CRT) and the results were amazing!
I think I will calibrate this set as well, although I'm not sure yet how big a difference it will make... The settings I am using (and probably everyone in this thread

) are the settings of a calibrated set. And since we can adjust the white balance and gamma etc. just from the standard menu I don't know how much better it can be with a calibration that uses these same menu-options...

that would be Htforum.nl ;-)

You understand that I am still trying to get the best out of my set as I am pleased but not over-excited yet. I know that may be part of the content I am playing, however teh effect I see looks non-content related.

I go to amsterdam on saturday, and maybe I will go to MM there to buy a samsung BR + 9 BR discs included...

Sicco · 08-01-2009, 3:33 PM

I really think that you will be more pleased with your set when seeing HD. These kind of screens are, in my opinion, not made for viewing standard PAL-resolution material... I have never seen a LCD/Plasma set (not even a Pioneer) that displayed tv-signal or dvd content better then my 32" HD Ready Philips CRT. That image was simply flawless. But it was too small

And now I got a screen that's not even 10 centimeters thick instead of 50!!

HD is really stunning, espacially in 50"! DVD and Digital TV is not as good as on my old set, but that was the choice that I had to make... And don't get me wrong: it still is a good image (very good from time to time depending on the source) but it simply can't compete with CRT on a smaller size.

Batsu · 09-01-2009, 7:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sicco

I really think that you will be more pleased with your set when seeing HD. These kind of screens are, in my opinion, not made for viewing standard PAL-resolution material... I have never seen a LCD/Plasma set (not even a Pioneer) that displayed tv-signal or dvd content better then my 32" HD Ready Philips CRT. That image was simply flawless. But it was too small

And now I got a screen that's not even 10 centimeters thick instead of 50!!

HD is really stunning, espacially in 50"! DVD and Digital TV is not as good as on my old set, but that was the choice that I had to make... And don't get me wrong: it still is a good image (very good from time to time depending on the source) but it simply can't compete with CRT on a smaller size.

hmmm yes I agree. It's a shame that we bought a lot of clothes in december/january and that now our budget is somewhat low. Maybe tomorrow I will go to MM anyway to check out the BR player!

Wich BR player do you have people? Are there things that I should pay attention to?

Sicco · 09-01-2009, 8:56 AM

I'm using the PS3. There are different players on the market and I don't think there are bad players amongst them. But correct me if I'm wrong

Samung, Panasonic and Sony have players starting from around €250.

Batsu · 09-01-2009, 8:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sicco

I'm using the PS3. There are different players on the market and I don't think there are bad players amongst them. But correct me if I'm wrong

Samung, Panasonic and Sony have players starting from around €250.

I saw a samsung player on internetshop for 175.... no money, and the same one at MM for 244 with 9 BR discs!

Sicco · 09-01-2009, 9:16 AM

You should keep in mind that profile 2.0 is the new standard for BR. Older players might be profile 1.1.
So with 2.0 you're future proof, but you should google around to see what the exact differences are and if it's worth the extra money...

Batsu · 09-01-2009, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sicco

You should keep in mind that profile 2.0 is the new standard for BR. Older players might be profile 1.1.
So with 2.0 you're future proof, but you should google around to see what the exact differences are and if it's worth the extra money...

hmm yes but i think that profile 2.0 is not that interesting for me. what is more interesting is the dvd playback. In that case i am more willing to buy the pana bd35...

Sicco · 09-01-2009, 11:01 AM

I've read that the Pana is very good in dvd playback.

Batsu · 09-01-2009, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sicco

I've read that the Pana is very good in dvd playback.

Yep that's also what i just saw.
Maybe for the future then!

I am still a bit bummed that the dvd picture quality is below expected. I can handle unsharpness, noisy or what else. But not the posterization/banding.

Tonight I will start from scrap to see what effects all the changes have!

Sicco · 09-01-2009, 11:59 AM

It still is strange that you see it with DVD... I only see it on digital television and even then not all the time... FW update?