Got My First Plasma! Need some help!

[lucaaugustus]

I received my PN51D6500 last week. I love the picture on this TV and decided to go over this set for the included 3D Kit and BD player.

I have been reading about breakin' in the Plasmas with a break in DVD or color slides for the first 200 hours. Do I need to do this? Since I have googled and I cannot find any recent details, they all fall back to 2005 and 2008.

Also, I was playing FIFA 11 yesterday for less than 30 minutes and right after taking the disc out I noticed that I had image retention with the EA logo on the bottom. I popped in a dvd to help remove the image and after about an hour I could barely notice it. It finally disappeared shortly after. What do I need to do to keep this from happening?

I want to keep this TV since I have heard great things from Plasmas but if this keeps happening I feel like I have to reconsider.

The sales rep told me that there should be no problem and that the image retention happens and then it goes away. Is this correct?

I'd appreciate everyones feedback.

[giosipiano]

Originally Posted by lucaaugustus

I received my PN51D6500 last week. I love the picture on this TV and decided to go over this set for the included 3D Kit and BD player.

I have been reading about breakin' in the Plasmas with a break in DVD or color slides for the first 200 hours. Do I need to do this? Since I have googled and I cannot find any recent details, they all fall back to 2005 and 2008.

Also, I was playing FIFA 11 yesterday for less than 30 minutes and right after taking the disc out I noticed that I had image retention with the EA logo on the bottom. I popped in a dvd to help remove the image and after about an hour I could barely notice it. It finally disappeared shortly after. What do I need to do to keep this from happening?

I want to keep this TV since I have heard great things from Plasmas but if this keeps happening I feel like I have to reconsider.

The sales rep told me that there should be no problem and that the image retention happens and then it goes away. Is this correct?

I'd appreciate everyones feedback.

He's correct to an extent.

I've always been told to keep the 'Contrast' setting lower than usual during the first 100 hours. There should also be a 'Pixel Orbiter' setting which you should use.

Try to turn off any in-game HUD as well - on Fifa you should be able to turn off the players' status bars.

Hope this helps

[lucaaugustus]

Giosipiano, I do have the pixel shifter on. I will go ahead and turn off the HUD in the game. Also, I have at the moment the contrast and brightness set to 50. The image during the day looks too dark and during the night it looks good but still a bit in the dark side.

If the image retention continues to appear after the 100 hours, do you suggest for me to contact Samsung.

[B Brazil]

Congratulations on buying your first new plasma tv. I also recently just purchased my first new plasma tv, a Samsung pn59d550. I am not doing the break in. I just calibrated my tv and started using it. I suggest not to use the dynamic picture mode. Use movie or standard. I would also suggest using a calibration blu ray to set brightness, contrast, sharpness, and color correctly.

[lucaaugustus]

B Brazil, which is a great calibration disc?

Also, at the moment are you watching BD movies with the top and bottom black bars? I have a bunch of these movies and I don't want to watch them at the moment for the image retention. I change the picture size but it does not zoom in all the way to make the bars disappear. I noticed that the black bar was creating a slight line on the bottom of the screen almost around the same location where the EA logo was at.

[kurtis21]

I wouldn't be too worried about it. I bought my first plasma tv (also a Samsung) over a year ago now. I never "Broke it in" and never had any issues long-term. If my daughter is watching NickJr all day long with the black bars down the side of the screen....when i get home i'll notice light lines down the sides of my screen...but after i change the channel to a full screen picture (16.9) the lines disappear after 5 minutes or so. Like B Brazil said...make sure it's not on blast mode!!(Dynamic)...keep it on standard and you shouldn't have any problem!! Congrats and ENJOY!!!!!

[lucaaugustus]

Thanks, guys!

I have the TV set up on Movie mode and also the 3D setting in movie mode. I will keep running the TV with full screen movies at the moment until it seems that image retention is not that obvious.

[Almadacr]

If you want a great tool to calibrate your set you should get Disney WoW or Spears & Munsil

[My_Two_Cents]

The reason it is recommended (by top calibrators) to run break-in slides for the first 100-200 hours is to evenly wear the phosphors in their "new" state. By doing this, you can then properly calibrate the set and not be concerned that the picture will change. It's also been suggested by some that this initial period is when the phosphors are most susceptible to IR, hence the recommendation to keep non-full screen and/or gaming with static images to a minimum until after 100-200 hrs.

[B Brazil]

Digital Video Essentials: HD Basics on blu ray is my favorite. I also have the Spears and Munsil benchmark on blu ray, it is good also.

[B Brazil]

I do watch movies with black bars. And, so far, so good.

[oppopioneer]

Protect your tv's with a good surge eliminator/power conditioner... go with SurgeX or Brickwall.

http://surgex.com/

http://www.brickwall.com/

[My_Two_Cents]

Originally Posted by oppopioneer

Protect your tv's with a good surge eliminator/power conditioner... go with SurgeX or Brickwall.

http://surgex.com/

http://www.brickwall.com/

Or get the exact same (or better) surge/spike protection by installing a whole-house protector at the breaker for a fraction of the price.

[Bigdog]

Originally Posted by Ricshoe

Or get the exact same (or better) surge/spike protection by installing a whole-house protector at the breaker for a fraction of the price.

Been thinking about doing this, i work for a electric co so finding someone would be easy enough.

Also Ricshoe i found a pretty good TV calibrator in my area, do you think it's better to pay a experienced video guy some cash to get this gt-30 i have set right after break in?

The guy does more then just use a disc to spec it out, said it will take anywhere from 3-5 hours to complete as he does two settings per. He is reasonable in price and seems, at least over he phone, to know his stuff so I'm leaning towards doing it.

[Mahatma]

If you keep it off,it'll be like brand new forever I have just bought a new 55" 3D panny,and I have set it up to my liking.Why worry about that 30 year lasting life since it will deteriorate of use.Use it and enjoy it.You probably will upgrade sooner or later,and when you do you've had full use of it until then,instead of that other guy who buys it from you get the goods.My 2 cents anyway.

To be clear:I think computer graphics is hard on a television-it has been stated in the past.I would perhaps use a secondary screen for that,but maybe that's not an option for you...

[Skulltap]

Originally Posted by Ricshoe

The reason it is recommended (by top calibrators) to run break-in slides for the first 100-200 hours is to evenly wear the phosphors in their "new" state. By doing this, you can then properly calibrate the set and not be concerned that the picture will change. It's also been suggested by some that this initial period is when the phosphors are most susceptible to IR, hence the recommendation to keep non-full screen and/or gaming with static images to a minimum until after 100-200 hrs.

This is basically the same approach I am using for my new Panasonic plasma. I am not doing a formal break-in for it. Instead, I am not playing games on it for the first 100 hours, and I keep static images (channels w/ logos, etc.) and letterboxing to a minimum. So far, my set looks awesome, and I notice no IR whatsoever. I am about 70 hours into it so far.

BTW, I do not necessarily think that the break in slide use is a negative, but with a wife wanting to actually watch TV on the new one I just negotiated upgrading to, I figured that trying to talk her into staring at slides for 2-3 days wasn't going to fly LOL!

[kris achar]

Originally Posted by Mahatma

If you keep it off,it'll be like brand new forever I have just bought a new 55" 3D panny,and I have set it up to my liking.Why worry about that 30 year lasting life since it will deteriorate of use.Use it and enjoy it.You probably will upgrade sooner or later,and when you do you've had full use of it until then,instead of that other guy who buys it from you get the goods.My 2 cents anyway.

To be clear:I think computer graphics is hard on a television-it has been stated in the past.I would perhaps use a secondary screen for that,but maybe that's not an option for you...

Very well said !

I tried to use break-in slides for a day and that left my tv with color patches here and there.So from the following day i started to use my new plasma like a ordinary crt tv.But i did get mild IR for the first 150 hours or so.But never cared about it.But i watch more of BD or HD content with settings in Zoom one mode and my tv is a panasonic 'V' series non 3D model.
Now i even use this tv with my hdmi out windows7 based PC.And i have changed the brightness/contrast/color settings to my liking.And iam fully satisfied with its performance & PQ.

love,
kris.

[kris achar]

Originally Posted by oppopioneer

Protect your tv's with a good surge eliminator/power conditioner... go with SurgeX or Brickwall.

http://surgex.com/

http://www.brickwall.com/

Thanks for that link,i think all the VT30 65 inches owners with dedicated HT system must have a look at these products.Iam sure those products are made to build to last.I do not know why those products reminds me of RR cars.

Thanks & Love,
kris.

[kris achar]

Originally Posted by Ricshoe

Or get the exact same (or better) surge/spike protection by installing a whole-house protector at the breaker for a fraction of the price.

I understand what you have said but when you got to protect a particular gadget or product,its always better to use separate protection units.Than clubbing them together with heaters,A/c,water motors & choke(blast enabled) lighting systems.And also depends on the purchasing power of each individual.

Love,
kris.

[My_Two_Cents]

Originally Posted by kris achar

I understand what you have said but when you got to protect a particular gadget or product,its always better to use separate protection units.Than clubbing them together with heaters,A/c,water motors & choke(blast enabled) lighting systems.And also depends on the purchasing power of each individual.

Love,
kris.

Actually, no, that is not correct. Ask any electrician or electrical engineer, and they'll tell you the first line of defense should be at the service entrance. That is where MOV devices were designed to work best. Having a backup device downstream is good for added insurance, as it will have a much easier time handling any issues that may have got by the initial defense at the breaker.

To clarify, I say this as it relates to power issues coming from outside the home. Devices at the equipment will help control and protect from internal surges caused by AC units and such. Breaker devices will not protect against that, if I understand things correctly (which I may not fully).