New Panasonic plasma 46pz85u has 2 stuck or dead pixels

[bakesalee]

Well well well, all the worrying and anticipation over it, and it happened. Owned the TV for a few hours, ran an SD card with solid color images for "break-in" purposes, and I found them. The first was a spec of dirt - awesome! Then I saw 2 more that were underneath the glass. Here are what they look like

2 dead or stuck:

Pixel dead center:
On green screen: Appears black
On blue screen: Not apparent, no defect seen
On white or grey screen: Appears pink
On red screen: Not apparent, no defect seen

Pixel right of center:
On green screen: Not apparent, or no defect seen
On blue screen: Not apparent, or no defect seen
On white or grey screen: Not apparent, or no defect seen
On red screen: Black

Any hope they'll come back? I'm slightly hopeful since neither of them appear black on all colors, but then again, the lady at Panasonic said they were "burnt out." Yay!

Other than returning it, is there any real hope for having them come alive?

[bakesalee]

Totally bummed about this.

[DBlackGT]

I had that happen with my first 85u. but I took it back and got another one. so i cant tell ya if they will come back...but if you can return it, I would.

[bakesalee]

Amazon is coming to do a swap in about 2 weeks. With my luck the next set will have more than 2.

If it appears pink on white, and black on green, does this leave me any hope?

The other one looks black on red, and sometimes baby blue on white. But then I'll run an SD card with solid colors and it'll fix itself. But then later on I'll check it and it's back to being stuck.

Does the first one sound like an absolute no hope, or is there hope considering it's perfect on blue, black, and red screens?

[DBlackGT]

I dunno it just sounds as it they are not lighting up properly. Just see what it does within the next 2 weeks.

[bakesalee]

I've noticed even more dead pixels since my initial check. I'm starting to think the replacement set is going to be none better. I never should have bought a TV on the internet. I'd gladly have paid $200-300 more to make sure it's perfect on day 1.

[DBlackGT]

Originally Posted by bakesalee

I've noticed even more dead pixels since my initial check. I'm starting to think the replacement set is going to be none better. I never should have bought a TV on the internet. I'd gladly have paid $200-300 more to make sure it's perfect on day 1.

But once you have a new set in two weeks and it works you'll be happy that you paid less. More money to buy blu's

[Clark Kent]

That is some tough luck. I always dread getting and installing new components and finding out something is wrong.

[bakesalee]

Is it even possible to have 100% of the pixels work on all colors? I work at a home theater builder, and some folks here are like "that's normal, you're not sending it back are you?" With my budget, I can't help but feel $1309 is too much money not to be happy. This sux.

[David Craig]

Hang in there for 2 weeks.

I've had a Panasonic plasma for the past year with no problem whatsoever.

Probably you just got a bad unit.

[bakesalee]

Thanks for your support everyone. This is no joke: being a perfectionist is really a curse sometimes. Don't laugh, but I was physically ill over the weekend about this (headache, couldn't eat). Isn't that ridiculous? Wouldn't be this way if I had a choice. Will let you all know what happens with the next set.

[Go Blue]

Originally Posted by bakesalee

Thanks for your support everyone. This is no joke: being a perfectionist is really a curse sometimes. Don't laugh, but I was physically ill over the weekend about this (headache, couldn't eat). Isn't that ridiculous? Wouldn't be this way if I had a choice. Will let you all know what happens with the next set.

I hear you. When I got my first Pioneer, I was hawk-eyeing the screen up close actually looking for dead or stuck pixels. Sure enough, I found one, but could not see it when sitting at my normal distance. I swapped it out anyway and have decided not to look for this stuff anymore. My wife kept telling my I had gone crazy when I had my face up against the screen staring at it! Unless you are really looking for a single pixel, it is unlikely you will notice a dead one.

[brett_day]

good luck with your next set! i too have a panny plasma and have never had an issue. I am sure your next set will be blemish free

[bakesalee]

So you guys actually check for dead or stuck pixels too? I have to be honest. From where I sit, I can't see them. But up close I can, and knowing they are there comes as an extreme disappointment, considering I'll be paying this off for months to come.

If it wasn't expensive, it might be another story, but this is now the second highest valued thing I own behind my car.

So seriously, you guys on here check for stuck or dead pixels too?

[brett_day]

Originally Posted by bakesalee

So you guys actually check for dead or stuck pixels too? I have to be honest. From where I sit, I can't see them. But up close I can, and knowing they are there comes as an extreme disappointment, considering I'll be paying this off for months to come.

If it wasn't expensive, it might be another story, but this is now the second highest valued thing I own behind my car.

So seriously, you guys on here check for stuck or dead pixels too?

when i first got my set i did, just to make sure everything was in perfect order.

from where i sit i cannot see any blemishes so i have not done another check again! until something becomes so apparent that i can see it from where i am sitting, i will be happy with the way my tv is performing.

[bakesalee]

But you for the most part, all agree that an initial, scrutinized check isn't too insane of me?

[brett_day]

Originally Posted by bakesalee

But you for the most part, all agree that an initial, scrutinized check isn't too insane of me?

of course not. i always check everything i buy, whether it is $2 or $20000! when i buy something i want it to be good, out of the box

[DetroitSportsFan]

Both of my Panny plasmas have zero dead pixels.

Your replacement will probably be fine.

[bakesalee]

Something bizarre just happened. I was doing dishes for about 45 minutes, and unbeknown to me, ESPN froze on a close up of a Tampa Bay Bucaneer in a red jersey, and the most annoying of all 3 pixels (stuck on red, really annoying on a white-grey-green screen) disappeared.

Just for the hell of it (and this is before I remembered about the freeze - remember - I have no concern for the well being of this soon to be gone TV) I again for the 1000th time did the SD card to "check if they're gone" and the middle one is gone. I couldn't believe it.

The constant SD card didn't do anything, the "pixel fixer" rapid DVD didn't do anything, totally weird.

Even though I'm returning this set, this gives me a little hope that the next one, if need be, might be correctable - who knows.

I still have a stuck on red on the left (shows pink on about any possible TV image), and a stuck on blue on the right (only way to see it is on an all red screen). And there was a light "gash" on the frame that you can't see from where I sit - but this all adds up to me still exchanging it.

Maybe the gash, and possibly the pixel problems arised when the delivery carrier propped it on it's side to put on his dolly cart. The box explicitly states "this side up." Well the box was on it's end (left or right side) for some odd reason. Now I gotta try and beat this guy to my house from work when he shows and delicately say "DON'T DO THAT."

Thanks for everyones encouragement. I laughed out loud hysterically at how much this affected my emotional state. Can't wait to put this all behind me. Let's hope I don't add to this thread on Friday (AKA "It happened again") Thanks again!

[bakesalee]

Update on my swap. New set has problems showing blue on 2 pixels. No problems detected on any other colors, which the other did on red, white/grey, and green. So...2 stuck or dead. Considering keeping this one. Any thoughts?

Last set had 2 that were black on green, pink on grey and white, but looked fine on red and blue. And it had one other one that looked black on red, but fine on all others.

So, this is an improvement right? Should I just chill out on this?

New set:
Green screen: perfect
Blue screen: 2 dark pixels (look black, unsure what color they're stuck on-had to go back to work)
Red screen: perfect
White or Grey screens: perfect

Old set:
Green screen: 2 pixels look black
Blue screen: perfect
Red screen: 1 looks black (different pixel than the other 2)
White or grey: 2 pixels look pink (same 2 that looked black on green screen).

I have to say it feels better not having any dead or stuck on green. On green it was totally obvious, and those same pixels showed red or pink on almost all regular HDTV viewing content. The only time they were invisible was on black.

Encouragement to be done with it? Encouragement to continue hunting until it's 100% pixel perfect on all primary colors?