Samsung viewing angles
Discussion
Fell in love with Samsung LED TVs in the store and finally bought one (32" C5800) from Amazon before Christmas.
It's lovely, and when you sit straight in front of it, the picture is stonking. But move outside a 20-degree cone of view and the picture starts losing contrast; it's very washed out at 45 degrees laterally and vertically (eg standing up a few feet in front of it).
Are all LED/LCD TVs like this, or are some better than others? Quoted viewing angles are of little use because they don't quantify contrast loss. I ask because I have until the end of January to exchange it if there's a make that might be significantly better.
It's lovely, and when you sit straight in front of it, the picture is stonking. But move outside a 20-degree cone of view and the picture starts losing contrast; it's very washed out at 45 degrees laterally and vertically (eg standing up a few feet in front of it).
Are all LED/LCD TVs like this, or are some better than others? Quoted viewing angles are of little use because they don't quantify contrast loss. I ask because I have until the end of January to exchange it if there's a make that might be significantly better.
I did look at plasmas. but none is 32" HD, and in comparison (in the shop at least) the pictures seemed rather dull in comparison. I appreciate this is largely to do with the input signal, but there's no other comparison avaailable, and of course the real viewing area is one's home, not a brightly lit superstore.
I was curious because the neighbours have just bought a Panasonic 32" HD LCD and that seemed much better at viewing angles, but as it was in a different room this may have been illusory. Short of buying 10, trying them all and sending 9 back it seems rather guesswork.
I was curious because the neighbours have just bought a Panasonic 32" HD LCD and that seemed much better at viewing angles, but as it was in a different room this may have been illusory. Short of buying 10, trying them all and sending 9 back it seems rather guesswork.
PJ S said:
Cant you go up to a 37"?
Panny plasma 37X20 for £400 ish - I'm near sure that'll be cheaper than the neighbour's 32" LCD.
Why is off-axis viewing even an issue?
I am considering a 37", but my lounge is only 11' wide and I don't want the place to look like the Odeon.Panny plasma 37X20 for £400 ish - I'm near sure that'll be cheaper than the neighbour's 32" LCD.
Why is off-axis viewing even an issue?
Off-axis viewing is an issue because I don't want to have to sit on a spot marked with an X to get the best image quality. Even just standing a few feet in front of it (hence angle) wrecks the contrast.
(37X20 is only HD-ready BTW)
Not all LCD panels are the same.
We have two Panasonic 32" TVs, one is old style LCD the other is LED/LCD. I have not noticed any problem with viewing angle on either. There is a Eco mode on both sets which adjusts the picture depending on ambient lighting conditions. I turned it off as I didn't like the picture on both sets. The LED set seemed to be affected more then the older LCD. Maybe there is a similar setting on the Samsung which makes the viewing angle more noticable.
As our sitting room is large and expensive to heat we converted my old study (12ft x 12ft) into a smaller winter sitting room. The first TV was bought to use in the smaller room but replaced the old 25" CRT box in the main sitting room while we did the conversion. SHMBO commented that we would need another TV when the room was finished as she didn't want to go back to the old one. Hence purchase of second set, which is now used in the new room.
After playing with bits of wood the same size as various TVs we opted for 32" as even 37" looked too large. Where I sit in relation to the TV I can see a difference between BBC1 SD and HD and some of the other channels with older programs can be pretty poor. I hate to think how bad they would look with a larger screen.
We have two Panasonic 32" TVs, one is old style LCD the other is LED/LCD. I have not noticed any problem with viewing angle on either. There is a Eco mode on both sets which adjusts the picture depending on ambient lighting conditions. I turned it off as I didn't like the picture on both sets. The LED set seemed to be affected more then the older LCD. Maybe there is a similar setting on the Samsung which makes the viewing angle more noticable.
As our sitting room is large and expensive to heat we converted my old study (12ft x 12ft) into a smaller winter sitting room. The first TV was bought to use in the smaller room but replaced the old 25" CRT box in the main sitting room while we did the conversion. SHMBO commented that we would need another TV when the room was finished as she didn't want to go back to the old one. Hence purchase of second set, which is now used in the new room.
After playing with bits of wood the same size as various TVs we opted for 32" as even 37" looked too large. Where I sit in relation to the TV I can see a difference between BBC1 SD and HD and some of the other channels with older programs can be pretty poor. I hate to think how bad they would look with a larger screen.
FlossyThePig said:
We have two Panasonic 32" TVs, one is old style LCD the other is LED/LCD. I have not noticed any problem with viewing angle on either. There is a Eco mode on both sets which adjusts the picture depending on ambient lighting conditions. I turned it off as I didn't like the picture on both sets. The LED set seemed to be affected more then the older LCD. Maybe there is a similar setting on the Samsung which makes the viewing angle more noticable.
Interesting, thanks - there are loads of picture settings that affect contrast and colour in many different ways, but I can't see how they would affect viewing angle which I would guess is a function of the physical screen/pixel design.I'll get the model number from the neighbour's Panasonic (32" full HD LCD) and do some research. Ta!
It's a pity because in all other respects the Samsung is great, but the greying out issue does bug me.
I have a 42" Sony Bravia and the viewing angle makes no difference to the picture quality. Straight out of the box the picture was spot on without having to mess with any settings.
I recently bought a 32" Samsung for the bedroom and have the same issue as you. The picture is fine (although not as good as the Sony) straight on but the contrast goes horribly wrong as soon as you move.
I must admit I paid over twice as much for the Sony so you probably get what you pay for but I always thought Samsung's had a good name for LCD TV's.
I recently bought a 32" Samsung for the bedroom and have the same issue as you. The picture is fine (although not as good as the Sony) straight on but the contrast goes horribly wrong as soon as you move.
I must admit I paid over twice as much for the Sony so you probably get what you pay for but I always thought Samsung's had a good name for LCD TV's.
Simpo Two said:
PJ S said:
Cant you go up to a 37"?
Panny plasma 37X20 for £400 ish - I'm near sure that'll be cheaper than the neighbour's 32" LCD.
Why is off-axis viewing even an issue?
I am considering a 37", but my lounge is only 11' wide and I don't want the place to look like the Odeon.Panny plasma 37X20 for £400 ish - I'm near sure that'll be cheaper than the neighbour's 32" LCD.
Why is off-axis viewing even an issue?
Off-axis viewing is an issue because I don't want to have to sit on a spot marked with an X to get the best image quality. Even just standing a few feet in front of it (hence angle) wrecks the contrast.
(37X20 is only HD-ready BTW)
What's you're viewing distance (any angle) and what source takes centre-stage?
PJ S said:
it won't look anywhere close to the local Odeon cinema, so you can relax on that front.
What's you're viewing distance (any angle) and what source takes centre-stage?
Just got back from the neighbours; they have a Panasonic Viera TX-L32G20B (LCD). The viewing angle is much better (45 degrees off-axis looks much the same as head-on) but the case looks cheap and not very attractive IMHO.What's you're viewing distance (any angle) and what source takes centre-stage?
Although their lounge is a bit wider than mine, perhaps 13-14 feet as opposed to 11, when I got back my Samsung seems smaller in my lounge than the Panasonic does in their lounge. Must be an illusion but it goes to show you can't tell just by looking in a showroom.
To answer the question, my viewing distance is (from nose to screen) about 9.5 feet when on the settee, but I also like to be able to see it from the door (about 15 feet away and 25 degrees off-axis) and from the other end of the room where I work (about 20 feet away and 50 degrees off-axis).
So tomorrow I shall prowl Comet, Bennetts and Currys for a 37" full HD screen with Freeview HD, good off-axis viewing and an attractive case. I wonder if such a thing exists?
Even though you feel opposed to it, I suspect the oft recommended Plasma 42G20 would be the ideal one for you, given the viewing distances and angles.
Assuming Freeview HD is in the area already, then aside from not being seated close enough to appreciate the extra resolution a BR movie at 1080p provides, with Freeview HD and FreeSat HD, you're well equipped for free-to-air HD broadcasts, but bear in mind a lot of it will not be true HD but rather Pro upscaled SD.
So on that note, I still consider the 37X20 Plasma as an option for little money, to which you can add Freeview HD via an external receiver, with a record function.
Not the one-box solution I grant you, but may prove a more useful alternative, even with the cost of the box factored in.
Assuming Freeview HD is in the area already, then aside from not being seated close enough to appreciate the extra resolution a BR movie at 1080p provides, with Freeview HD and FreeSat HD, you're well equipped for free-to-air HD broadcasts, but bear in mind a lot of it will not be true HD but rather Pro upscaled SD.
So on that note, I still consider the 37X20 Plasma as an option for little money, to which you can add Freeview HD via an external receiver, with a record function.
Not the one-box solution I grant you, but may prove a more useful alternative, even with the cost of the box factored in.
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