Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

General discussion

PN50A530 questions

Feb 4, 2009 2:03AM PST

I have a new PN50A530, bought from Sams Club. A few questions.

(1) This tv has a circular on/off button on the front, near the samsung logo. All the pictures of this TV, including those on the samsung and sams club wesites, don't have this button. Is my tv an older version? In terms of specifications, is it identical to the 'newer' A530 in every way (including the specs that are not advertised).

(2) After calibration using a THX optimizer disk, the contrast setting comes out very high - 95 to 100. The picture looks better at this setting, and looks dark at lower settings such as 75-80 contrast. Is it going to damage the tv or reduce its life to run it constatnly at a contrast of 100?

(3) What is the "true" contrast ratio of A530? I know that the dynamic contrast ratio is 100,000 for both A530 and A550? Is there a difference in the true ratio between these models?

Thanks!

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
PN50A530 questions
Feb 6, 2009 8:08AM PST

Anyone?

- Collapse -
Sams... Not A540 Series?
Feb 6, 2009 1:13PM PST

newhd,

Is it possible to double check the model number for your unit? The reason I ask is that the A540 Series is a Sam's Club model, and the A530 is more widely distributed.

Also, the A540 series doesn't appear on the website, so I'm leaning towards thinking that you indeed have a A540.

I'll be happy to answer your questions once I'm able to confirm the exact model. I apologize for the request for into, but I just want to make sure we're discussing the same unit.

--HDTech

- Collapse -
model info
Feb 7, 2009 9:33AM PST

This is the model info. The manual, the box, and
the label on the tv all say A530. It was bought at sams club.

Model number - PN50A530S2FXZA
Serial number - AMGX3CHQ800101Z
Version - KX03
Manufacture date - Aug 2008

- Collapse -
Hmmmmm
Feb 7, 2009 12:04PM PST

That's a good question.

Let me ask around and see what I can find out. I looked at the pictures on the website, and I see your point.

Stay tuned.

--HDTech

- Collapse -
Pictures and other questions
Feb 9, 2009 4:00AM PST

newhd,

1. You are absolutely correct. The photos on the website are not accurate, as the current stock photo I had sent directly from Korea shows the button, and the website's picture does not. The specs are indeed the same, but the photos are not. Please accept my apologies for the confusion, and I'll see what I can do to change that.

2. The high contrast setting will likely not reduce a significant portion of the life of the panel, however, as with anything else, running it at full settings (We call that "torch mode" in the industry) will likely reduce a small percentage of hourage. The panel itself has a half-brightness rating of 100,000 hours, which means that if you watch television for 8 hours a day, the panel itself could well last in excess of 20 years.

Also, static images should not be left on with a full contrast panel. That does make it a little more succeptible to retention, so keep an occasional eye out for that. Things such as gameplay or movies that don't fill the screen, I'd personally recommend lowering it down to your tolerance. If you watch movies at night, your settings will obviously change from a brightly lit room in the daytime, so adjustment in that area might be an option to consider. Full contrast in a dark room is a little overkill, if I may inject an opinion. Happy

3. I don't quote anything outside of the advertised specs, which is actually 1,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio. I don't know, and I can't speculate.

Thanks for your patience, and hope that sufficiently answers your questions. Let me know if you have more.

--HDTech

- Collapse -
Thanks
Feb 9, 2009 7:23AM PST

Ok, thanks much for your help. The reason I asked the last question is that this set seems to be darker/duller at the recommended settings (e.g., contrast 78, brightness 45-55, gamma 0 or -1, movie mode). Scenes look like they were shot without enough light. Even in the store it looked duller than other tvs. The only way to get rid of (or reduce) the darkness is to crank up the contrast to 100, use brightness of 60-65 in the standard or movie mode. So I suspect that this set does not have the same specs/technology as A550, even though the official specs are the same. There is something else that is not advertised but is different. I doubt that the A550 calibration settings posted by so many people can be wrong. I understand, though, that you can only speak about official things.