Variateur
Novice Member
BEWARE: Samsung UHD - uses cheap Taiwan / CMO panel
I recently bought a Samsung 65' UN65HU8500 UHD TV for more than $ 3,300 from a local (Australian) retailer.
When looking up the best calibration settings to adjust the TV to its best appearance in our bright living room, I realised that the TV's serial code indicates that it has a NON SAMSUNG panel. The TV is "made in Mexico" and has version "IS02"...indicating that this is a third tier Chi Mei Optoelectronics (CMO) / Innolux Taiwanese manufacturer. (The LCD code from the technician's service menu also confirms this 65D1UU8EH, the "D" indicating a non Samsung, CMO manufactured panel.)
Despite calibration, the daytime brightness is insufficient, black levels are non-satisfactory and viewing angle (off axis) is very limited for this panel. (tested with 4K calibration content).
All this in the 'top of the line' flagship UHD TV. :-(
There is also evidence that Samsung sends only Samsung Panels to testers / reviewers...and Samsung being well aware of the inferior performance of outsourced, third party manufacturers. I've relied on these tests / reviews to pick this model over the competitors.
According to online sources, this CMO panel utilises a different LCD screen technology.
Samsung Panels - Nxsfan
Evidence of Samsung "Panel Lottery"
Samsung Panel Lottery - CNET Samsung Forums
I then called Samsung "premium service", they sent a technician who spent all of 5 minutes taking screenshots of the service menu, suggesting "Samsung will call me". After I've called 5 times over the last two weeks, a Samsung case manager finally called me yesterday and said "TV is performing to Australian standards" and there is no fault, no refund, no exchange. He admitted that Samsung is outsourcing panels.
I mentioned that this is not acceptable....when I buy a BMW I don't expect a Hyundai engine under the hood....! These panels can be found in $ 1000 cheaper TV's... and I'm not happy with this purchase!
What would you do?
I recently bought a Samsung 65' UN65HU8500 UHD TV for more than $ 3,300 from a local (Australian) retailer.
When looking up the best calibration settings to adjust the TV to its best appearance in our bright living room, I realised that the TV's serial code indicates that it has a NON SAMSUNG panel. The TV is "made in Mexico" and has version "IS02"...indicating that this is a third tier Chi Mei Optoelectronics (CMO) / Innolux Taiwanese manufacturer. (The LCD code from the technician's service menu also confirms this 65D1UU8EH, the "D" indicating a non Samsung, CMO manufactured panel.)
Despite calibration, the daytime brightness is insufficient, black levels are non-satisfactory and viewing angle (off axis) is very limited for this panel. (tested with 4K calibration content).
All this in the 'top of the line' flagship UHD TV. :-(
There is also evidence that Samsung sends only Samsung Panels to testers / reviewers...and Samsung being well aware of the inferior performance of outsourced, third party manufacturers. I've relied on these tests / reviews to pick this model over the competitors.
According to online sources, this CMO panel utilises a different LCD screen technology.
Samsung Panels - Nxsfan
Evidence of Samsung "Panel Lottery"
Samsung Panel Lottery - CNET Samsung Forums
I then called Samsung "premium service", they sent a technician who spent all of 5 minutes taking screenshots of the service menu, suggesting "Samsung will call me". After I've called 5 times over the last two weeks, a Samsung case manager finally called me yesterday and said "TV is performing to Australian standards" and there is no fault, no refund, no exchange. He admitted that Samsung is outsourcing panels.
I mentioned that this is not acceptable....when I buy a BMW I don't expect a Hyundai engine under the hood....! These panels can be found in $ 1000 cheaper TV's... and I'm not happy with this purchase!
What would you do?