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samsung corp Avoid TXM2796HF family of Samsung HDTV models - have color distortion problems Anywhere USA Internet .....

I bought a TXM2796HF Samsung HDTV model from the BJ's store in Stoneham Mass in Oct 2002. Noticed it has vertical color distortions on scenes with 2 predominant colors of similar shade. Color is distorted in vertical bands of approx 2 inches width.

This happens especially when using a S-video connection from my DVD, mostly when scene has a predominant color that has an irregular shape. Also happens with regular cable w/ RCA connection, but less annoying.

Samsung repair representative came to my house, was very nice but suggested I return the set - since he thought he can't reproduce or fix the problem in his shop. I hooked up my second TV to the same DVD SVideo connection - a Samsung SyncMaster 170MP LCD monitor, and showed the repairman that same scenes had no distortion on the other set.

Here is what repair person wrote on slip:

"Hooked up TV to color generator. Video OK. When viewed through DVD SVideo intermitent slices have distortion vertical left & right sides. Unable to tune Diagnose Probe in Home. Would need shop sevice for diagnose, if problem can be seen!"

I returned the set to BJ's, got it replaced with an identical set from Sears - on the repairman's suggestion that the picture tube might have gone bad on the original set.

Surprise surprise: the second TXM2796HF set exibits the same identical problem!!! Will probably return the second set as well.

This indicates ALL Samsung HDTV TXM2796HF have this problem. Similar models may have same problem, given that they probably share components and digital signal processing software/firmware.

List of other models I *SPECULATE* may exhibit problem:
TXM3296HF
TXM2797HF
TXM3096WHF
TXM3297HF
TXM3097WHF
TXM3098WHF
TXM2798HF
TXM3298HF
TXM3281HF

I list these in case you searched on the web for the model number of the HDTV set you're shopping for. AT THE VERY LEAST, IF THINKING OF PURCHASING ONE OF THESE SETS ASK THE SALES REP TO HOOK UP A DVD WITH S-VIDEO SO YOU CAN CHECK YOURSELF THE PICTURE QUALITY.

All these models are sold at Sears, and some of them at BJ's and Cambridge Soundworks.

Funny thing is after all the trouble I went through I did myself a search on the web and found the following posting on a newsgroup from early 2002. I wish I did my homework better before buying this TV set.

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The web posting in question:

I bought a 32" Samsung HDTV monitor, model TSL3293HF.
I think the overall
picture is great, and you certainly can't beat the
price compared to other
brands, but I noticed two key aspects of my new TV
that concern me and am
hoping someone here can either allay or confirm my
fears.

1. In the upper right-hand corner of my screen, I
notice a slight
discoloration, especially when the TV displays whites
and light colors. It
starts off as a slightly pinkish hue and becomes a
darker tint the closer
you get to the right-hand corner. Actually, the
screen itself looks
discolored in that region when you look at it while
the TV is even turned
off. Because the screen is protected by a sheet of
glass, I can't get to
it.

When I described the discoloration to a Samsung tech,
he advised me to turn
the TV completely off, unplug it and let it set for at
least a half hour
before turning it back on, so that the TV's internal
degaussing circuitry
can kick in. He suggested doing this several times
until this corrected my
discoloration. Unfortunately, that did not work.
I'm wondering if
there's not actually something up with the screen
itself, since I noticed a
rainbow-like discoloration at the upper-right hand
corner both when it's
turned on or off.

2. When watching some DVD's with dark colors or
shadows, I noticed a degree
of color diffused shading. Colors look like they
"bleed" into one another
in a splotchy, diffused fashion. I do note this also
when playing the same
DVDs in my computer and viewing them from the computer
monitor, so perhaps
that is more of a DVD issue. I was curious, however,
if anyone is familiar
with this and what causes it.

Andrei
Lexington, Massachusetts
U.S.A.

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