DLP failure warnings?

pzaur

pzaur

Audioholic Samurai
Anyone know of telltale signs that the bulb, color wheel, or board is going on a DLP? My dark colors are way off and I can't figure out why. Trying to narrow down what I'm seeing.

-pat
 
J

jostenmeat

Audioholic Spartan
Anyone know of telltale signs that the bulb, color wheel, or board is going on a DLP? My dark colors are way off and I can't figure out why. Trying to narrow down what I'm seeing.

-pat
Not really, Pat, but I'll chime in with 2 cents anyways.

Bulb: I'd imagine that inaccurate colors would not occur suddenly, but progressively over time. Now, as a PJ owner, 200 hours is a nice chunk of time, but to most display owners, it isn't. Still, even with 200 hours, while there will be a fading of color accuracy so to speak, it still isn't technicolor all of a sudden. Was this sudden?

Color wheel: it might be that the most common complaint is noise. I saw this DIY article on your behalf. $40 for his model.
http://www.jangro.com/electronics/samsung-dlp-replace-color-wheel/

Then here is another thread, where the replacement of color wheel made for a very bad picture. He was then told the following, after which he said his pic was incredible:

According to my HLR service manual, after replacing the color wheel you need to go into the service menu and adjust the Index Delay and CCA. The adjustments are 6 and 7 step procedures, each (but they look easy in the manual). You can get a service manual for your tv at samsungparts.com and do the procedures if you are comfortable with the service menu.
http://www.highdefforum.com/rear-projection-tvs/66623-samsung-50-dlp-new-color-wheel-bad-picture.html

As for motherboards, you are really hoping that is not the issue here, at least in my experiences. Depending on how long a model has been DCd, or how long any certain company has no longer made DLP/RP, it can be enough to "total" your display. Luckily, Samsung still makes them AFAIK.

I believe I've now seen a couple of board issues with DLP. One had many static horizontal lines, some of them much more bunched up together. This friend finally replaced it with a plasma, which the family is very happy about.


Now, just to cover all the possibilities: Are you seeing this with ALL sources? If so, are all sources fed thru your receiver?

If say it's sat/cable that is the biggest offender, I highly recommend you try a different type connection. IOW, if it's happening via HDMI, try component, and if component, well vice versa.

I have seen dying STBs that had the funkiest colors ever, with any certain output. Just to be redundantly safe, you can try different inputs on TV and receiver too.
 
pzaur

pzaur

Audioholic Samurai
I'm pretty sure it's the TV. It only appears on low lit scenes and there is a lot of banding when a color is fading out. Pretty annoying. I don't recall ever noticing it before. But, I used to have the best TV of all my buddies and I'm now at the other end of the spectrum.

I've got that article bookmarked for future reference. I'm anticipating having to replace the color wheel at some point. It's got a pretty decent whir going on.

And...no, I haven't tried all the inputs. That requires moving out the entire entertainment center and doing some serious moving around of cables. I'll have to try that when I get my set of 6 RCA cables. Gotta replace the random assortment of SACD cables with cables that allow me to pull out devices without yanking out cables!

-pat
 
J

jostenmeat

Audioholic Spartan
Ok, so I assume it happens on all sources still, and I also assume everything is thru a single HDMI fed by receiver.

As with MidnightSensi's issue, I would take some photos. Some experts at various forums are pretty good at narrowing down the possible list of culprits, based on system layout and screen captures, like here, where one guy believes he's narrowed it down to color wheel, DMD board, or digital board.
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=18286596&highlight=#post18286596

I also found this reference for you, though it may be old news to you, as I believe I remember you've done some SM work already:
HLN Calibration Crash-Course, as requested

edit: I also caught this thread . . . I am starting to get a little pessimistic for your cause . . . good luck, let us know how it works out . . .
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=18238681&highlight=#post18238681
 
Last edited:
pzaur

pzaur

Audioholic Samurai
Ok, so I assume it happens on all sources still, and I also assume everything is thru a single HDMI fed by receiver.

As with MidnightSensi's issue, I would take some photos. Some experts at various forums are pretty good at narrowing down the possible list of culprits, based on system layout and screen captures, like here, where one guy believes he's narrowed it down to color wheel, DMD board, or digital board.
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=18286596&highlight=#post18286596

I also found this reference for you, though it may be old news to you, as I believe I remember you've done some SM work already:
HLN Calibration Crash-Course, as requested

edit: I also caught this thread . . . I am starting to get a little pessimistic for your cause . . . good luck, let us know how it works out . . .
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=18238681&highlight=#post18238681
Those photos are pretty much what is going on with my TV. As the image darkens the detail disappears. Fabulous...

Thanks for finding those pics. I haven't had any luck finding pictures up until now!

-pat
 
L

lbolts20

Junior Audioholic
I have a 52" toshiba dlp and I just replaced for the 2nd time the light bulb. Both times I didn't really notice any picture change. From what I've read it's supposedly suppose to slowly have the picture get darker but that didn't happen either time. Just turned it on one day and no picture. 3 years ago the bulb cost me $200 and this time it was only $132.
 
A

allargon

Audioholic General
Pat, do you have a Mitsubishi DLP? If so, you might simply need to clean the lens on the light engine.
---
D'oh... I just read your signature. You've got a Sammy. Forgot what I just said.
 
F

flovour

Audiophyte
i am not sure of this plasma Tv i have seen all your plasma photos i will tell you tomarrow.
 
pzaur

pzaur

Audioholic Samurai
I have a Samsung HLR5067 DLP (not a plasma). I'm still on the original bulb after 6 years or so of use. I'm hoping it's a bulb or color wheel and not the board.

-pat
 
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