Dark Backlight bands on every 32" PFL9705 so far

[Freddy]

Hello all!

After having read a lot on this informative forum, interested as I am owning a 32PFL9705, I decided to post my problem here, as I have on another forum, hoping this one will catch the attention of one of you Philips guys!...

The problem is this:

when watching darker scenes with one or more bright objects (subtitles on a night scene for example), in the darker parts of the picture the Dynamic Backlight dims the LEDs unevenly, causing dark bands to appear.

An example of what I mean can be seen here:



Notice the two horizontal and the two vertical dark bands. It's as if complete lines of LEDs are turned off. The place where these dark bands appear depends on the place of the bright object(s), as well as on the darkness of the rest of the picture.

This happens very often, in all kinds of programs. It looks very bad in static pictures, as can be seen in the test picture I posted here, but also when the camera is moving, where it has a similar effect as what is usually meant with banding, only even more noticeable.
It does not matter where the signal is coming from (analog/SCART/HDMI/USB). To see it for yourself, here is the test screen I used:

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_YfqlomrpD7w/TP...3U/s0/Dark.jpg

And to be perfectly clear, this happens not only on my tv. I did a bit of research, with the help of many people online and in the local shop where I bought it, and I found out that:

- it does NOT occur on the 40" and the 46" 9705;
- but it DOES on EVERY 32" 9705 that I have tried (coming so far from week 26/29/30/33/40).

So Philips, I really hope you will take a look at this and find a solution, for me and many others. I love the picture quality when no dark bands are visible, but right now... I really can't enjoy it and that's a great shame.

If you need any more information, I would be happy to help. I'll be here if you need me...
Thanks in advance!

Freddy

[Toengel]

Hi,

very good description of the problem. I think this is a good start for the developers at Philips!

I will try your test image with my 58pfl9955.

Toengel@Alex

[Adamo]

Hi Freddy,

I have tried your test image on my tv (32pfl9705H - week 23) and I get the same result

Adamo

[Freddy]

Hi Toengel and Adamo,

I'm sorry to hear you're having the same problem Adamo, but I'm glad as well... if you know what I mean!?... Thanks for testing it!
Yes, I really hope this will be a good start for the Philips developers Toengel! And I'm curious to see your result, as I haven't had any tests on the 58PFL9955 yet. I don't expect any problems there though.

Freddy

[Toengel]

Hi,

I don't have the problem (I tested the image) with my 58PFL9955. It seems that this is a 32PFL9705 specific problem...

Toengel@Alex

[Freddy]

Hello again!

One month has passed, so... Just being curious!...
I've been following the problems and solutions concerning the PFL9705 all around the web and I hear that particularly the sound issue is being worked on very actively by the Philips guys!... That's really good to know!

But... I too would be very glad to know of this "Dark Backlight bands on 32PFL9705"-problem is being investigated as actively as the sound issue. For me... and I guess most owners of a 32" PFL9705... the problem I mention here is far more important than all the others!

So... I'm really very patient, but... could someone from Philips here at least tell me they are working on solving this?... And if there is more information about this available already, I would be very interested to hear that too of course.

Thanks again in advance!

Freddy

[mdiehl]

Same problem on my 32PFL9705K/02.

markus

[Philips]

There is a solution available, please contact your local workshop.

[Freddy]

Thanks a lot for the solution Philips!...
I contacted my local workshop today and... it worked! No more dark bands! Finally I can enjoy this tv the way I imagined it! It looks great now!

Thanks again for not forgetting about us!... I'm a happy customer again!

[Toengel]

Hi,

how does the solution look like?

Toengel@Alex

[david]

Thanks a lot for the solution Philips!...
I contacted my local workshop today and... it worked! No more dark bands! Finally I can enjoy this tv the way I imagined it! It looks great now!

Thanks again for not forgetting about us!... I'm a happy customer again!

So what was the solution?

[robertapple1]

There is a solution available, please contact your local workshop.

Yes, what was the solution? I own a 32PFL9705, am downloading the latest firmware at the moment, and have the same problem. Freddies testimage shows it clearly.
I am curious what the "local workshop" did?
And BTW, who is the local workshop. the dealer?

[Freddy]

Hello everyone!

The solution is actually very simple (now that Philips has solved it of course)...
It consists of two rather small files, one of which is the actual upgrade, containing an "update of LED backlight profiles", or simply put: a correction to the LED map.
It seems that the LED clusters behind the 32" panel are not in exactly the same spots as behind the 40/46/58" panels, whereas until now the firmware thought it didn't make a difference, or the wrong one at least, causing the dimming process to make mistakes.

And "the local workshop" is where Philips sends you for repairs and things like this. If you haven't gotten a contact before yet, then Philips support should be able to make a service appointment for you with them.
Referring them to this thread might help...

[Freddy]

Hello again everyone!

For those wondering how the test image should look like (and "Yes it can!" to certain support people in some countries ), I made a picture again of how it looks now, now that the problem has been solved:



Put it next to my first one in this thread:



and you can clearly see which one looks WAY better!...

[Adamo]

Hi Freddy,
I'm very happy that Philips solved the problem!

I need some more information and I wrote you a PM message.