HELP! Firmware messed up my Samsung 4661F

[Mermen79]

Hello,

I downloaded a firmware update from Samsung's official website for the LN-T4661F television. After it installed and turned back on, the colour and pixels are all messed up. It's barely recognisable. Please help me.

There is no way to undue this. Is there another firmware update that I can try? Maybe it'll fix the issue.

[TooBlu]

Not Sure

[JR8300]

With the set turned off press Mute-1-8-2-Power.

Once in the service menu make the following change to the "Lvds TX Fmt" from JEIDA to VESA and that should do the trick.

Just for your comfort I am 100% sure this will fix your problem.

[Mermen79]

^wow, how did you know that? What exactly happened to the television? It's fine now. Thank you so much.

So updating firmware isn't to add new features or anything?

[JR8300]

You have to be careful with firmware updates on Samsung LCDs...some of the second run main boards carry a different processor and Samsung does not do a good job of calling this out when they post the updates online.

I do calibrations for as a side job, I've become pretty familiar with these sets.

[Mermen79]

Wow, thank you again.

What are the best settings for this set? Hmm.. I've seen settings all over the place on the internet and I'm so confused. I'm no TV whiz.

So far I'm using this off a post on the avs forums:
Movie Mode settings for HDMI and Component:
Picture
Mode Movie
Contrast 85-100 (85 if you have a dark room and/or like subdued settings, 100 if you like a lot of "pop" or the room is well-lit)
Brightness 44 (46 for Component)
Sharpness 20 (0 for Component)
Color 50
Tint 50
Backlight 0-10 (4 if you have a dark room and/or like subdued settings, 8-10 if you like a lot of "pop" or the room is well-lit)

Color Tone Warm1
Digital NR Auto

Detailed Settings
Black Adjust Off
Dynamic Contrast Low
Gamma -1
Color Space Auto
Edge Enhancement On
xvYCC Off

White Balance
R-Offset 21
G-Offset 20
B-Offset 21
R-Gain 0
G-Gain 19 (21 for firmware versions below 1032)
B-Gain 26

My Color Control
Pink 21 (17 for Component)
Green 15
Blue 15
White 15

Setup
Energy Saving Off
HDMI Black Level Low (will be grayed out if the input is Component or if your HDMI video source is putting out a YCbCr signal instead of RGB - this is OK but RGB may be better as noted above)


Thank you again.

[JR8300]

I think the firmware you installed took care of an issue where the TV would shut off sometimes with OTA HD content. Also, it fixed a bug where the channels wouldn't save over the air.

It's good that you upgraded but as a rule of thumb if you're not suffering from any issues hold off on firmware updates for TVs

[JR8300]

Ah yes the famous post 1499 or something like that haha....no worries those settings are wrong for your set. Those are from a Trident processor...what you have is a cortez...it will look very green on your TV.

Try these out instead...

[Mermen79]

^try what out? Thank you for the help. I appreciate it. I would like it to look as best as possible. I guess there are many different versions of the Samsung 4661F out there? I'm confused.

[JR8300]

Mode Movie
Contrast 93
Brightness 47
Sharpness 0
Color 47
Tint R51
Backlight 3-4

Color Tone Normal
Digital NR Off

Detailed Settings
Black Adjust Off
Dynamic Contrast Off
Gamma 0
Color Space Auto
Edge Enhancement off
xvYCC Off

White Balance
R-Offset 15
G-Offset 16
B-Offset 14
R-Gain 28
G-Gain 15
B-Gain 22

My Color Control
Pink 15
Green 15
Blue 15
White 15

Setup
Energy Saving Off
HDMI Black Level Normal

Keep in mind that every panel is different from a color reproduction standpoint. While 6500K is just 6500K the way each TV gets to that point is different (White Balance). You will see that some people start with Warm 1 or 2 because that gets you closer to 6500K to start. The white balance in the service menu is way more accurate but DO NOT change anything in there you can hit one button under calibration and toast your tv. Let me know how they look. If you brick your set in service Samsung will not cover under warranty. Keep in mind that my service menu has also been tweaked but even these settings should give you better picture on your TV...with the dynamic contrast on your set you have way too much brightness from your backlight which makes black look grey or gray.

[Mermen79]

^it looks quite different under these settings. Initially, I'm thinking, "it doesn't have the pop that the super high contrast of the other setting has." However, just cos its brighter doesn't mean its better. This one certainly looks much more "dull" but I need to watch some more stuff on it.

Thank you. Anything in response?

[JR8300]

Originally Posted by djepic112

^it looks quite different under these settings. Initially, I'm thinking, "it doesn't have the pop that the super high contrast of the other setting has." However, just cos its brighter doesn't mean its better. This one certainly looks much more "dull" but I need to watch some more stuff on it.

Thank you. Anything in response?

I 100% agree that in comparison it will look dull to the pop you see in with high contrast. You would be very surprised at how many people initially are set back by calibrations because the average consumer is used to seeing sets on flame mode in retail stores. I guess my point is you have to watch the set everyday if you want that high contrast pop you should turn it on. While it may not be the optimal setting it looks best to you. Know what I mean.

Good luck

[mr.hidef]

Originally Posted by JR8300

You have to be careful with firmware updates on Samsung LCDs...some of the second run main boards carry a different processor and Samsung does not do a good job of calling this out when they post the updates online.

I do calibrations for as a side job, I've become pretty familiar with these sets.

Can you tell me how to access the service menu on my Sony SXRD.....KDS-50A2000? I would appreciate it....

[JR8300]

Originally Posted by mr.hidef

Can you tell me how to access the service menu on my Sony SXRD.....KDS-50A2000? I would appreciate it....

I haven't done a lot with Rear Projection Sets but this is the A2020 code (should be the same)...with TV off (display), (5), (volume up) then power.

If you are trying to see how many bulb hours you have used with tv off press (display), (5), (volume down) and the bulb hours should be the last few numbers.

Have you changed your bulb yet or experienced optical block issues (when a white screen is on you see purple or green in the corners)?

[mr.hidef]

Just wanted to check the bulb hrs. It reads like this

0204-09095.........so 9,095 hrs? This seems a little high, but I've only had it since march of 2007..

[JR8300]

Originally Posted by mr.hidef

Just wanted to check the bulb hrs. It reads like this

0204-09095.........so 9,095 hrs? This seems a little high, but I've only had it since march of 2007..

Hmm that does seem very high for a RPTV bulb...nearing end of life cycle. Have you ever changed your bulb? Do you leave the set on a lot? Besides that I'm not sure why the bulb would be so high unless the bulb has been changed and the timer was not reset.

[SeanMF]

any suggestions on calibrating my samsung 46'' a650?

[callas01]

JR8300, I liked your settings, but I prefered xvycc on, and under setup the HDMI black level Low... normal just didn't look right.

[mr.hidef]

Originally Posted by JR8300

Hmm that does seem very high for a RPTV bulb...nearing end of life cycle. Have you ever changed your bulb? Do you leave the set on a lot? Besides that I'm not sure why the bulb would be so high unless the bulb has been changed and the timer was not reset.

Moderate use (6hrs a day) maybe.......unless I read it wrong...I'll check again later......thanx

[JR8300]

Originally Posted by callas01

JR8300, I liked your settings, but I prefered xvycc on, and under setup the HDMI black level Low... normal just didn't look right.

Interesting, I'm surprised the xvycc color looks correct. I find that without content using that color spectrum (don't think there is any yet) the color on the set looks unrealistic. When you get a chance and it may or may not change your mind look at a screen pluge with just yellow or red. Then switch back and forth between auto and on. I think you will change your mind (it's all about preference though).

In regards to the HDMI low feature this does make the color a bit more "vibrant" but you get some black crush in shadow detail. Do you have a DVE disk?