The subject of today’s review is the beautifully crafted Samsung LE40C580. It is a semi-low-end Samsung TV model catered for the casual user and gamer with performance in mind. So without further ado, let’s move on to the Samsung LE40C580 Freeview HD TV review.
Note: The specific model we reviewed was the Samsung LE40C580J1KXXU, which may be marketed by retailers and e-tailers as either Samsung LE40C580 or Samsung LE40C580J1K. While we did not test the 32-inch Samsung LE32C580, there shouldn’t be any drastic difference in picture performance.
Design
Samsung is no stranger to crafting beauty with substance. Over the years Samsung consistently produced iconic devices that we have all come to love and adore – the LE40C580 is no different. It features the illustrious piano black finish with red highlights and translucent border that will complement most interiors. The simple yet elegant glass stand once exclusive to the elite also features red highlights and transparent edges, giving the set an expensive look.
In terms of build quality, Samsung amended the cheap plastic feel by completely replacing the plastic enclosure with resilient metal frame, which also helps to reduce heat build-up. It is surprising to witness such attention to detail applied to a semi-low-end model like the Samsung LE40C580.
Fortunately, removing the LCD panel from the box and then assembling it onto the stand are quite easy and straightforward. It is better to have a partner but it can be assembled by one person alone providing the individual possesses both strength and balance.
For those who are green-minded, I am sorry to inform that the Samsung LE40C580 does not feature a hard switch, therefore during prolonged absence it is best to opt for the wall switch.
Connections
The location of the AV ports and the build quality are in keeping with today’s standards. The PSU is located on the left and the mainboard (which contains the processing elements) is located on the right. However, it is odd that Samsung still hasn’t shifted the 3.5mm Headphone Jack to the right or left side for ease of access.
Operation
The GUI on the Samsung LE40C580 is identical to the 2009 version found on the B750 series with negligible performance improvements, which is understandable considering the unit’s price point. Navigating through various layers of the user menu and the Freeview guide is effortless thanks to the effective layout. It is worth noting that the Main Menu did freeze twice and the unit automatically restarted once during the week-long review. However, it can hardly be considered as a problem and it is extremely rare for one to periodically access the menu beyond the initial set-up.
The sub-menu (dubbed as Tools) allows users to configure the picture and sound modes as well as connected devices via HDMI-CEC (Anynet+), but it is still missing a much desired shortcut to the Game Mode.
One of the chief selling points of the Samsung LE40C580 is the ability to tweak and control a number of configurations that governs the over-all image quality. Unlike higher-end models, the Samsung LE40C580 does not feature 3D Colour Management System (CMS) or test patterns designed to aid user calibration. However, its performance out of the box (post 24 hour break-in period) was quite amazing. There was no need to alter the Greyscale (While Balance) to obtain 6500K CCT.
Like competing models, the Samsung LE40C580 features independent source customisation, which allows users to customise and maximise the potential of every source. The Samsung LE40C580 also features simple on-screen guide and simple connection guide (located under support menu).
Remote
The supplied remote is exceedingly practical but lacking in aesthetics. In my opinion, it simply fails to complement the Samsung LE40C580’s lavish appearance. Then again, the topic of aesthetics is highly subjective and cannot be quantified. So in terms of functionality, the buttons are extremely responsive and accurate. The layout is easy to get around, and the unit itself is lightweight, robust and comfortable to use. In addition, although the supplied remote does not feature a backlit option, it does feature a button that is far more practical (a dedicated HDMI input control), which enables users to cycle through the four HDMI ports effortlessly.
Calibration
Greyscale and Gamma are vital for portraying a given image accurately. Therefore, the display must be calibrated to a set of standards used by the motion video industry. In the case of HDTV, the set standard for colour space is Rec. 709 which is similar to sRGB, and both standards share identical white point (D65) and we chose the gamma value of 2.2.
Greyscale calibration ensures all greys between black and white are free from colour dominance, which is achieved by assigning the RGB values to 6500K Correlated Colour Temperature (CCT). Regrettably, it is not possible for a display to yield 100% accuracy. So the goal is to maintain errors within acceptable levels, which are indicated by Delta E values.
Greyscale, Gamma & Colour
It was quite amazing to witness a preset colour temperature [WARM 2] yielding stable 6500K by default (following CCFL break-in period). But sadly, the Samsung LE40C580 does not feature 3D CMS due to cost, so the colours had to be balanced by altering the Tint (Red-Green) and Saturation levels. Rather oddly, Game Mode yielded slightly accurate colours than Movie Mode. Since Game Mode doesn’t degrade the image or disable any vital controls, I decided to continue evaluating the image quality in Game Mode.
Note: The results below were obtained by placing the colorimeter at the centre of the screen. It is done to ensure error values are kept to a minimum.
 |
| Pre-calibration CCT in [Movie] mode |
 |
| Pre-calibration RGB tracking and delta errors (dEs) |
![Post-calibration CCT in [Movie] mode](/news/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/hdtv_Samsung-LE40C580_post-cct.jpg) |
| Post-calibration CCT in [Game] mode |
![Post-calibration RGB Tracking in [Movie] mode](/news/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/hdtv_Samsung-LE40C580_post-rgb.jpg) |
| Post-calibration RGB tracking and dEs in [Game] mode |
Gamma
![Gamma curve in [Game] mode](http://www.hdtvtest.co.uk/image/hdtv/Samsung-LE40C580/post-gamma.jpg) |
![Gamma tracking in [Game] mode](/news/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/hdtv_Samsung-LE40C580_post-gamma-tracking.jpg){kind=tracking} |
| Gamma curve in [Game] mode | Corresponding gamma tracking |
![Post-calibration CIE chart in [Game] mode](/news/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/hdtv_Samsung-LE40C580_post-cie.jpg) |
| Post-calibration CIE chart with reference to HD Rec.709 |
![Post-calibration Luminance levels in [Game] mode](/news/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/hdtv_Samsung-LE40C580_post-colour-luminance.png) |
| Post-calibration colour luminance |
Benchmark Test Results
Power Consumption
Uniformity
The Samsung LE40C580 produced excellent overall uniformity, which is quite remarkable for an SPVA panel. During the pure white test (100IRE), the classic red and green tinting commonly found on LCDs was absent. Backlight bleeding was well controlled (non-existent to the human eye) and the panel uniformity was typical for a consumer grade display. There were a few visible defects and imperfections across the panel, which slightly hindered calibration accuracy. However, such errors are common to most consumer-grade LCD TVs, and are extremely difficult to avoid.
Contrast Ratio
The Samsung LE40C580 in [Game Mode] with white level (contrast) set to 100 yielded excellent dynamic range of 6100:1 (Backlight 2) and ANSI of ~4067:1 (Backlight 2), which is a significant improvement over the 2009 models (also known as B Series). The Samsung LE40C580 continues to amaze us, and whatever auto-dimming there was did not produce any visible variation in Average Picture Level (APL).
Shadow detail benefited greatly from the improvement: subtle details that previously went unnoticed were highlighted, which of course improved the overall image depth. It would seem that Samsung has finally created an LCD panel that can match most of today’s plasmas in both dark and bright environments at a fraction of the cost. If the trend continues at the same pace, we may witness the first LCD TV that can natively render blacks comparable to high-end PDPs as early as next year.
Motion Performance
PixPerAn is an excellent tool designed to evaluate motion artefacts, and it immediately highlighted the usual overdrive errors and a certain degree of pixel lag, which are still common to VA panels of late. Both Low and High-tone smearing were present, but did not cause notable quandaries with “real-world” contents. However, users with keen eyes may notice a slightly translucent negative-glow induced by the overdrive error (black ghosting), which manifests itself as grey outline (devoid of colour) around moving objects in dark reigns of the image. Such errors also amplify low-bandwidth compression artefacts, which is further exaggerated by the off-angle gamma shift (but this can be rectified by viewing the display dead-on from the recommended distance of two meters). Given the Samsung LE40C580’s other positive attributes, the imperfections stated above can be easily forgiven. After all, no LCD is perfect (especially not consumer-grade panels).
Please note the following images were carefully chosen and purposely captured to illustrate the terminologies used above and to provide visual evidence for our readers. They do not represent day-to-day viewing experience.
Motion blur inherent to LCD televisions is widely regarded as a negative attribute. In truth, the detrimental effect is exclusive to High-Motion Contents (48, 50 and 60i/p) as it obscures fine details during motion. Low-Motion contents (24, 25 and 30p) however benefit from the inherent blur as it helps to reduce frame-judder caused by prolonged latency between individual frames thus creating the illusion of continuous free-flowing motion, which appears easier on the eye. Some refer to it as soft motion as opposed to hard motion where continuous images appear as a series of stills due to the lack of blur. Since the majority of today’s contents are based on Low-Motion (including the majority of PS3 and Xbox 360 titles), a standard 60Hz LCD is more than sufficient. However, fans of fast-paced contents (e.g. sports) and 60p games probably should invest in a plasma TV instead.
Overscanning: The aspect ratio can be configured by pressing the [P.Size] button on the remote or via the Main Menu. Alas, the Samsung LE40C580 does not feature the option to zoom into contents mastered in Cinema Scope Aspect Ratio (2:39:1). But, doing so will degrade the perceived resolution due to crop and scale.
Blacker than Black (HDMI): The Samsung LE40C580 accepts both 0-255 and 16-235 formats via HDMI (RGB).
Viewing Angle: The viewing angle of the Samsung LTF400HM01 (1012-Slovakia) LCD module embedded within the LE40C580 is quite average, and suffers from excessive gamma shift. On bright contents, off-angle gamma and colour shifts were kept to a bare minimum. However, on dark contents, off-angle gamma shifts highlighted portions of the image that should remain invisible to the viewer. It also highlighted noise and dithering artefacts caused by heavy compression, which could pose a problem during off-axis viewing. Thankfully, viewing the unit dead-on from the recommended distance of two meters does cure the imperfections. If one requires a display with wide viewing angles, it is best to opt for a plasma television or an IPS LCD TV (preferable locally-dimmed for deeper blacks).
Sharpness: The Samsung LE40C580 fully supports 1:1 pixel mapping, as well as the option to configure edge-enhancement.
Picture Quality
To evaluate the picture quality rendered by the Samsung LE40C580, a small number of carefully chosen images were used to detect visible artefacts/ errors. The image Aeon is used to detect errors in skin tones, luminance and depth. The image Acela Express is used to detect greyscale and gamma error in addition to black crush.
Note: The following tests were conducted under [Game Mode].
The Samsung LE40C580 yielded excellent results following basic calibration in Game Mode. The mass shades of warm colours that envelop Charlize Theron’s face, neck and chest were clearly visible and easily identifiable as very close to a calibrated display. A sense of depth was also present. However, in Movie Mode, the skin tone did appear rather off-coloured and over-saturated, which may not affect casual users.
As predicted, the performance of the Samsung LE40C580 was excellent and comparable to the calibrated Dell 2209WA. There was no evidence of any serious black crush, nor any form of gamma error.
High Definition
HD contents on the Samsung LE40C580 were beautifully rendered as expected, thanks to the outstanding embedded processor and the new SPVA panel. I failed to spot any error that would normally destroy or severely impact the picture quality. The displayed images remained clean and faithful to the source with an ever-so-slight offset in colour that can only be detected by professionals in extreme cases. Material that rely on deep blacks to convey immersive and thrilling experience blossomed on the Samsung LE40C580, thanks to its ability to render blacks once exclusive to modern plasmas.
In terms of visible artefacts, grey ghosting was perceptible in certain scenarios (heavily compressed dark scenes in particular), but the effect was subtle at best. In addition, due to the LCD panel’s off-axis gamma shift and TV-grade anti-reflective coating, certain shadow detail appeared to have a lucid effect, which created a very prominent “LCD look” as illustrated below. It is by no means off-putting, but may deter those who have grown accustomed to phosphor-based displays (CRTs and PDPs). Such effect could be masked with the use of reflective coating, which the Samsung LE40C580 does not feature.
On the negative side, the Samsung LE40C580 lacks true 24p support, which is the only major flaw the Series 5 suffers from. During testing, the LE40C580 accepted 1080p/24 video signal but it was converted to 60p via 2:3 (Telecine Pull-Down). I cannot provide a reason why the Samsung LE40C580 failed to switch the LCD panel to 48/72Hz, but we will be passing our findings onto Samsung in hopes that they will release a firmware update to resolve this issue. After all, proper 24p handling is no longer limited to premium sets as it is now offered as standard by most manufacturers. In fact, the 2009 Samsung LE32B450 had such a feature.
Standard Definition
The LE40C580 produced excellent results with negligible noise via YPbPr and RGB SCART as we’ve come to expect from Samsung. Freeview SD was equally excellent and the on-board noise reduction effectively suppressed micro-blocking and maintained maximum detail. Trident’s processor also triumphed in surpassing ATI’s UVD 2.2 in both jaggies pattern 1 and 2 found on the HQV DVD; and the overall picture quality dare I say (at times) was superior to SD CRT. As I watched “Taking Lives” on ITV via Panasonic Sky SD set-top box, I failed to notice the usual artefacts that often negatively impact viewing experience. The rendered image was clean and free from visible posterization, false colours and detectable colour bleed. Such excellence will no doubt benefit users with SD contents and legacy video game consoles.
Furthermore, as with HD, it would seem SD sources via external inputs also benefited from Game Mode as it produced more accurate colours. However, Game Mode does disable Motion Adaptive Noise Reduction, and does not permit users to configure the audio options.
Scaling: Upscaling 576i via YPbPr produced excellent results, but failed to beat the ATI UVD 2.2, which is understandable.
Film and Video Mode De-Interlacing: The Samsung LE40C580 did an excellent job of reducing aliasing to negligible levels during de-interlacing of high-motion contents, which can be easily mistaken for progressive source. The LE40C580 also passed pull-down detection found on the HQV disc with flying colours.
Digital Noise Reduction: The Adaptive Noise Reduction algorithm found in Samsung LE40C580 did not cause any form of adverse motion-related artifacts (e.g. smearing, loss of detail, etc.). Motion detail and saturation levels remained true to the content. In fact, the image of Sky SD via RGB SCART was completely clean and free from compression artifacts. The NR algorithm even managed to clean channels 146-149 and 319-328 effortlessly.
Gaming
Gaming has become an integral part of our lives but in recent years, it has become difficult to find a HDTV that combines low input lag with good picture performance. Thankfully the Samsung LE40C580 excels in both regards. I was able to use the Samsung LE40C580 as a PC monitor and play FPS games without any detectable lag. I also failed to detect any lag between my Dell 2209WA monitor and the LE40C580 during side-by-side comparison. Hardcore gamers may want to stick to TN monitors or PDPs/ CRTs until the release of OLED TV, but for the majority of gamers, the Samsung LE40C580 should be an ideal gaming HDTV.
Apart from the low input lag, the Samsung LE40C580 also breathed new life into games thanks to its deep blacks and clean image. The LCD TV also disguised visible aliasing to an extent.
That said, gamers who play 60p games often may want to invest in a Panasonic NeoPDP for smear-free/ blur-free motion with ultra-low input lag, but it would be wise to factor in phosphor trailing which may annoy users who are sensitive to uneven phosphor decay.
Audio Performance
Aside from notable improvements in build quality and black level, Samsung also managed to improve the sound quality on the LE40C580 to satisfactory levels. The two bottom-firing speakers provide fuller sound (with help of the built-in equalizer) as opposed to the cheap and metallic sound often common to previous Samsung models. However, it’s best to not to exceed volume level beyond 30 as it causes audible distortion.
In Game Mode, users cannot alter EQ or any vital options that is required to obtain full-body sound. Fortunately, users can purchase a pair of cheap active speakers and connect it via the 3.5mm Headphone Jack on the Samsung LE40C580.
Conclusion
Pros
- Excellent HD Performance
- Excellent Design and Built Quality
- Accepts Blacker than Black (HDMI-RGB)
- Excellent Performance After Basic Calibration
- Very Good Primary Chromaticity and Excellent Greyscale
- Excellent Digital Noise Reduction
- Excellent GUI and User Configurable Options
- Inaudible Transformer Noise
- Responsive Remote
- Excellent Overall Uniformity
- Improved Sound Quality (in Comparison to 2009 Model)
- Excellent Dynamic Range and ANSI contrast Ratio
- Superb SD Performance via YPbPr and SCART (Including Freeview)
- Relatively Low Input Lag
Cons
- Viewing Angles (Excessive Gamma Shift)
- Perceptible Overdrive Error (Black Ghosting)
- Lack of True 24p Support
- Panel Lottery (Excluding UK)
- Pixel Response (Room for Improvement)
Summary
Samsung unsurprisingly produced yet another winner that will appeal to consumers (including gamers) due its exceptional performance especially considering its price tag. In fact, I was so impressed with the Samsung LE40C580; I purchased one myself. To my surprise, the Samsung LE40C580 I received was embedded with an older SPVA panel (1009), which was made in China (our review unit sported the new 1012 panel manufactured in Slovakia).
Upon testing, the 1009 version produced ANSI black level of 0.04 cd/m2. It also had the classic white tinting and certain degree of backlight bleed, which did vanish following break-in. The response time on the 1009 version was identical to the 1012 version but did lag in certain circumstances (dark tones), and the 1009 did require greyscale calibration as the default setting was too warm. Aside from the minor differences, both LCD panels are an improvement over the 2009 version, and both share the same pixel structure.
After reading the above, I’m sure many will try and hunt for the 1012 (or above) version of Samsung LE40C580 in hopes of obtaining slightly better blacks, but in my honest opinion it’s best not to unless the panel purchased suffers from poor blacks, dead pixels or poor uniformity. If an individual (outside the UK) already has an 1009 panel, it is better to retain it, since the replacement model may contain the MVA panel from CMO, which could be much worse. However, if an individual notices persistent “grey ghosting”, then it may be worth attempting to obtain an A-MVA panel by AUO as they are known have better pixel response (in comparison to the latest S-PVA panel).
Samsung is no stranger to panel lottery and such dealings are not exclusive to Samsung. It is in fact a common practice among manufacturers. As far as I’m aware, only Sharp and Panasonic embed in-house panels on the majority of their product line-up.
Please note that the main review is based on the Samsung LTF400HM01 (1012-Slovakia) panel, and apart from the white uniformity and black level, the 1009 (LTF400HM01 – China) version is essentially identical to the 1012. In the LE40C580, Samsung has produced an excellent HDTV that is extremely difficult beat in terms of cost vs. performance (regardless of the panel), and therefore has earned our Highly Recommended award.
Update 1 [Thursday, 29th of July 2010]: After returning the 1009 panel, I placed another Samsung LE40C580 order in hopes of receiving an AUO panel to benchmark, but I received an SPVA one instead, which led me to believe the UK consumers have a greater chance of obtaining SPVA than A-MVA or P-MVA panels. Thankfully, the received version (1015 – China) did match the blacks rendered by the Slovakian panel, but retained all the characteristic of the previous Chinese panel (average white uniformity and pixel response).
In addition, the supplied remote is notably less responsive than the one bundled with our Samsung LE40C580 review sample. It would seem that Samsung has already set its cost-saving agenda in motion.
[Correction]: The quality of the remote depends on the supplier. So the chances of getting a responsive remote is purely down to luck.
Update 2 [Saturday, 31st of July 2010]: It would seem the differences between the Samsung versions are minute at best. The Slovakian model does seem superior as our review sample had better over-all uniformity, which may have helped it to produce 0.03 blacks. However, there’s no guarantee that all panels produced in Slovakia are identical. So if you have a Samsung panel and and happy with its performance, please do retain it.
In addition, I will be uploading the setting I currently use on my 1015-Chinese SPVA panel and if you wish to minimize the black/gray ghosting, set backlight to 2 and enable noise reduction on SD contents.
Update 3 [Friday, 17th of September 2010]: I ‘ve returned the 40C530 due to severer horizontal banding and re-obtained the 40C580, which seem to feature higher grade panel. It also features superior video processor and its advantages are highly obvious (including internal Media Playback). So in that sense, C580 is greatly superior to the C530 in every regard. However, the panel I received (1017 Slovakia) did has the classic S-PVA banding, which is far more tolerable but did significantly improve after 24 burn-in.
I also have to state that the majority of Samsung models can indeed accept and display 4:4:4. But in order to do so, the user must connect the source to HDMI 1 (HDMI/DVI) and rename it to PC via the user menu. Since the PC Mode locks out color and hue, the display must be profiled, so it’s only suitable for PC use. However, the C650 should allow the user to customize color via 3D CMS. But the lag may pose a problem.
Thanks very much for the detailed review.
Have you got any calibration settings for this TV?
Thanks for the nice review. Finally HDTVtest is talking about the panels used in the review samples, I would like to have that as a standard as many people have trouble obtaining S-PVA panels from the shops. Point is for example that it’s like given that every review is based on an S-PVA (Samsung) panel when it’s quite normal to find only AUO panels in the shops on a specific models and/or sizes (or CMO from time to time). Thus if a review is based on an AUO panel then finding an AUO Samsung TV in the shops won’t be a prob as that’s what has been reviewed here and. And if a review is based on AUO panel then finding Samsung one in the shops won’t be an issue as it’s always considered as the better choice overall. However probably HDTVtest don’t want to turn much attention to the panel lottery as that will make buyer’s life harder, but after all these reviews are very detailed and I really believe there’s a place for more panel information.
Sounds like a great value TV for gamers and SD TV content but the lack of true 1080/24p support is a surprising omission for a 2010 HDTV.
@Nielo Gan
Incredible work you have done here!! it was so detailed that my head hurt! But damn that was a good review, maybe the best one ever published on the web!
hope it was not too hard for ya :)
looking forward to your next encounter….
Excellent review!
For those interested in the 32 inch C550/580, I tested the AA01 (AUO) panel and got 0.05cdm/2 @ 120cd/m2 brightness after profiling it with Eye One Match 3. Pixel response was great compared to my reference TN panel (Acer G245H).
The 32 inch version would make a great pc gaming monitor.
Very very GREAT REVIEW!!
@Pyramidenkopf, nenito2k and Stefano: Thanks
@ NCX: Took your time ^_^ Thanks for posting the 32″ results
@ Dan: Yes, Vincent should upload it soon (most likely on Facebook)
Kiril Georgiev: Before I proceed, I would like to thank you for the feedback. We often identify the panel type via pixel structure, but in this instance, the extend of S-PVA versions only became clear once I’ve decided to purchase the unit and the fact that it is possible to read the label through the vent.
We will continue to post information regarding the panel type, but please understand that it’s difficult when the label is hidden and we can’t afford to purchase multiple items in hopes of obtaining the a panel other than the one we reviewed.
If you’re located in the UK, then there’s a greater chance of you receiving S-PVA than AUO or CMI (ChiMei-Innolux).
Is this model the same as LE40C550 sold in continental Europe?
You put the word “review” in other level with this. Reference level.
@ N Gomes: Yes, but the beware of the panel lottery. Hopefully the link below will provide some insight
http://forum.ixbt.com/topic.cgi?id=62:16909-129
@Illusion4u: Thank You ^_^
Nielo: Thanks for your quick reply and I am really happy that you plan to continue to post more detailed information regarding the panels of your review Samsung TVs. I am not really looking for a new TV right now, but I am always trying to be up-to-date :)
As for the label, I understand that not every unit has a side sticker and especially those made in Hungary. For example a friend of mine has just got a 32C550 (made in Hungary) and there was no side sticker. Looking at the service menu revealed the internal code: 32L6AF0C which according to the info available on the internet is being decoded as:
32 – Inch
L – Vendor (A: Samsung, D: CMO, L: AUO, I: CPT)
6 – Panel frequence (6: 50/60Hz, 1: 100/120Hz, 2: 200/240Hz)
A – Panel (A: AntiGlare, T: TN U: Ultra Clear)
F – Resolution (F: FHD, H: HD, U: UD)
0 – Panel 1st/2nd (1st: 0, 2nd: 1…)
C – BLU (BackLight Unit) C: CCFL, L: LED, E: Edge LED
I can confirm that all of the above is correct aside of the panel used as my friend is yet to make a picture of the pixel structure. There is no way to be 100% sure if the above information is always correct, but hopefully it is.
You don’t have to purchase different units at all. I’m only asking to post pic of the side sticker (if available) and/or post the internal code of the TV tested as 32L6AF0C.
http://img2.pict.com/15/17/26/2913470/0/800/img0339.png
I’m not in the UK, but in Bulgaria. A few months ago I have recommended to a friend to buy 32B650/1/2/3, however we went to like… 7 stores and could only find models with an AUO panels (made in Slovakia). What was interesting is that the 32B550 was easily available with S-PVA panel as well as the 40B650. In the end the Sony 32EX500 just showed up and as a W5500 replacement and a S-PVA based TV he went for it without thinking twice.
Cheers :)
@ Kiril Georgiev: Thank you for providing such valuable information. We will definitely provide the necessary info when available, but please understand that we can only access the service menu of the unites supplied by Samsung. We prefer not to access the service menu of the unites supplied by retails as the unit maybe sold to consumers at later date.
Thankfully, only four panel manufactures currently produce LED-LCD (Sharp, Panasonic, Samsung and LGE). As far as I’m aware, they do not swap panels among them and only supply the panel to companies who do not produce LCD modules (Sony, Vizo, Toshiba, JVC, Hitachi etc.). So it shouldn’t be too difficult to figure out the panel type.
In the CCFL sector, it can be quite complicated as there are total of five manufacturers who produce VA based panel (AUO, CMI, CPT, Sharp and Samsung). We know Samsung never used ASV and CPT do not manufacture panels larger than 32″. At least not according to their site, but it is possible they could be manufacturing 37, 40 and 42″ exclusively for select group of companies.
PS: All three 40C580 we tested were made in Slovakia and had SQ01 printed on the right. There was no manufactured date or any information regarding the panel version, which can only be identified by label on the module itself.
Update: We recently discovered that AUO and CMI (formally known as CMO) are also manufacturing Edge-LED-LCD modules specifically for 3rd party manufacturers. In addition, it would also seem Samsung is contracting UV2A modules from Sharp (possibly to compensate for high-demand).
@ Nielo. Thanks for that, it would be fine only if possible :) I am not really demanding, hopefully I didn’t sound like that. If so, I do appologize.
I am pretty sure that for the (at least) last 5-10 years Samsung has never used a single LG or any S-IPS panel, probably because Samsung does not want to give money to its Korean competitor or there’s something deeper than that.
Samsung has been widely criticised because of the panel lottery, but if all of the manufacturers are doing that to some degree then (for me) it’s better that there is a way to find out what’s the panel inside of a Samsung TV, mainly thanks to the side sticker of Slovakia-made TVs.
@ Kiril Georgiev: Not at all and there’s no reason to apologize :)
I believe they may have used LG’s TN panel, but not IPS due to its poor black performance.
No problem ^_^
Your reviews are excellent – thank you. Until this one I had not appreciated the full extent of the ‘panel lottery’ problem. I was amazed to realise that your knowledge and expertise did not allow you to be certain of the performance of a set before you bought it. Yes, you could return it – praise be for the distance selling regulations and understanding retailers – but surely that should not be necessary. Should not the complete information about the panel (that some can tease out by reading and interpreting obscure labels within the set) be an integral part of the product description and available to all? The absence of this information is misleading. Cannot the trade be persuaded to add full panel details to their product descriptions?
Thank you for a great review!
I have just bought one of these (LE40C580) in the UK.
It says made in Slovakia on the label at the back of the set. SQ01 on the Label on the side of the set and LTF400HM01 on the label on the panel itself (seen through the top vent), how do I identify whether it’s a 1009 or 1012 version?
@ Andrew Mair: If you ask the manufacturer they will always say that all panels used in their TVs are in line with their specifications. In short that would mean that the least quality panel (say CMO for Samsung) supports TV specification 100% (at least on paper) and it’s only that… the other 2 panels (AUO A-MVA and Samsung S-PVA) are better ;) But why would by a CMO when you can buy AUO or even better – S-PVA (deepest blacks)?
Great review Nielo really good work! Guess Samsung’s whole 5 series is great quality/price deal.
Also when we could get the calibration settings that you have used (will they work with any C5xx series lcd) ?:)
Hope I’ve done this right… I’ve uploaded Nielo’s calibrated settings for the Samsung LE40C580 on our Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/HDTVTest/110909255620125
Warmest regards
Vincent
Samsung > AUO
but one question pls,
is the c580 the same as the c550 or the c530 ?
@ Andrew Mair: Thanks you for your kind comments. As Kiril Georgiev stated, Samsung will simply quote their required specs and dismiss any wrongdoing. As long as the performance falls within the preset category, there’s nothing one can do (unless the unit in question is an high-end).
@ John: Sadly no. The settings are unique to the Samsung 1012-Slovakian version.
@ bnu: I can’t answer with 100% certainty as it varies across Europe. In the UK, it seems the only major differences are HDMI and FreeView HD.
Nielo really awesome settings!!
I’ve got the Slovakian 1012 panel, in the evening blacks are just freakin AWESOME! Tho when it’s sunny I’ve cranked up the backlight to 6, because the picture was a bit too dark. Thanks mate!
@ Eric_AV: It should be on the left-middle.
It’s about half the price of a 40″ panasonic V20. How much better is the V20. Is it worth paying all that extra money.
Mine is a 1008 (made in China) version so different again……
I could take it back, but how would I ever be certain of getting the right one!
I wish Samsung would be up front about this and differentiate, ie. create 2 versions of the same TV but with different panels, I would happily pay £100 more for the better panel.
@ Eric, I for one would always like to have Samsung panel rather than AUO or CMO, but I think that returning a 1008 just to get 1012 is too much. I wouldn’t care thaaaaaat much :) As long as it’s a Samsung panel… i would be happy. But thats me.
@ Eric_AV: I completely agree with Kiril Georgiev. There’s no reason to return the panel unless it has serious problems with black, gray and white uniformity, defective pixel, color inaccuracy etc.
If the one you have is perfect, then please do keep it. The slight variance in black level could have been caused by poor uniformity, which we have no control over; and the replacement model could contain a panel that is inferior.
PS: I am completely aware of the urge to secure the perfect panel, but consumer LCDs are far from perfect. The chances of one receiving a problem free panel is slim to extremely slim. In any case, if we focus too much on the little problems, we can never fully enjoy the content. After all, TVs meant to provide new and exciting experiences :)
The Review has been updated
Great review, good to finally see an offering that appeals to gamers and isnt too bad on the wallet. I noticed the introductory note says the 32″ screen shouldn’t show a significant difference in performance from the 40″, would the same apply to the 46″ version?
I have the 32″ and if im looking at the right thing my one shows Made in Slovakia but 1021?
@ Sheetal: From what I gather, the 32″ seems feature panels manufactured by AUO. I am not aware of the panel lottery ratio and there is a possibility of certain batch embedded with CMI and CPT panels.
As for 46″, there is a greater chance of it having SPVA panel as opposed to MVA from either AUO and CMI. But I can’t provide any info regarding its performance.
@ Judah: I assume the panel is made by Samsung? If so, then the digits are likely to be unique to 32″ models.
I really wonder what is the continental version model of c580. Funny that I cannot find it even in Slovakia. Does anybody have idea?
hristoslav2 just posted new set of information regarding the 2010 Samsung LCD panels.
http://www.avforums.com/forums/12687411-post20.html
xaxa: I think that continental version is C550 – with DVB-T and DVB-C tuner. There is also C570 with DVB-T/C/S2 .
Great review Nielo! Do you know whether Samsung have the same issue as some other manufacturers in that they are unable to put panels of the same quality in their 37″ models as those they use in the 40″? I am about to push the button on a purchase of a 37″ set and if the LE37C580 meets the performance of its 40″ sibling it would be a strong contender.
Thanks for a great review, had mine for 2 days…..
I’ve noticed slight juddering when DVD upscaling (from XBOX 360) through HDMI. Based on what I can glean from here, it looks like Blu-Ray signals processed at 24fps may still have this issue. (Gaming is flawless though)
I take it a firmware update as noted in regards to the True 24fps should address this – am on the phone to Samsung now…….! Should this fix it? Or should I choose my as yet unpurchased Blu-Ray player carefully?! Thanks
@ Leif on: Thanks:). Unfortunately so because Samsung do not manufacture 37″ modules. They contract it from AUO and CMI, So the blacks level may not be able to reach 0.03/4.
@ Ben Rhodes: X360 is a very poor software based DVD and it does occasionally skips frames. It also can’t output 24p.
As for the firmware, I’m sure if it does address the problem.
Thanks Nielo, much appreciated. Should a 2010 Blu Ray work OK with this TV, regardless of the 24p being “True” or not, as long as it supports 24p? I’m guessing yes as you’ve bought one yourself.
Apologies if you’ve already alluded to or answered this…… I seem to have a very keen eye for motion judder, so if it works OK would love to know what machine you tested
BD players will work with the C580, but it is not possible to view 24p in even form at the moment. So you will see telecine-judder.
I have yet to try the update as the description is very vague. I am waiting for the update to go online, so it can be downloaded directly to the TV.
Two great reviews of the C650 and then the C580.
I am looking to buy one of these in the next week so which is better for someone who will put it on Movie / Warm 2 and watch mainly SD on SkyHD (via HDMI) and movies from a BD player. I just want very good, natural pictures without having to pay £100s more for it to be calibrated. Thanks.
Also I have quite a large lounge (16″x14″) and thus could manage the 46″ C580 for much the same price as the 40″ C650. Would the PQ on the 46 generally be as clean as you describe for the 580? Or would the 650 always be the better choice?
I am absolutely amazed about this review/tv. Giving an LCD at this price a ‘highly recommended’!
I found an LE37C550 for 419 euro. 550=580 right? And should fit my needs almost perfectly.
Whats the best way (on the box or the tv) to see what panal they used?
@ jason: The series 5 is an excellent all-round display. So if you’ll be gaming on the set, it is better to opt for the C580. However, for pure video, the C650 might be a better choice as it has greater options (including test patters to aid basic calibration) and I believe it has a better processor as well, but there’s no way to guarantee which will produce accurate colors [without having to touch the advance controls] due to panel lottery. In addition, C650 can also accept and display 24p but we have no word on the C580.
As for noise, you’ll have view the panel directly from 2-2.5m to escape from gamma shift , which only applies to S-PVA .
@Chris: C550 is european version without DVB-T2. Samsung does not produce 37″ panels, so 37C550 use AUO or CMI panels.
@Nielo – many thanks. I do a few hours of X360 a week and thus looks like the 580.
Final question, any reason to suspect the 46″ 580 wont perform as well as the 40″ version? I will be viewing from 3-5 metres.
Jason – you won’t be disappointed mate. I set my expectations fairly low for X360 games, as the LCDs I’ve seen gives games a slightly flat, well basically more artificial look (albeit with amazing detail).
I thought moving from the warm and deep colours of my old CRT would take some getting used to. But the colours and general animation match and even surpass it – plus the motion and detail are excellent.
Could someone please tell me how I can find out what kind of screen I have? I’ve just received a LE32C550 made in Hungary but I can’t figure it out. I’ve tried to access the service menu like a previous poster said, but I can’t make that work either.
Can someone tell me which is the higher rating on here. Qualified recommendation or highly recommended? I don’t know the order and can’t find them anywhere. Obviously reference level is top.
@marcus: Sorry for the confusion. Reference Level > Highly Recommended > Recommended > Qualified Recommendation.
Warmest regards
Vincent
Thanks, for the detailed review.
I hope you don’t mind but I have a couple of questions. Would the lack of true 24p support be noticeable when watching blu-rays on this TV from a distance of 1-2 metres?
If so would the C650 be the better choice for a TV that’s main requirements would be for watching blu-rays with the occasional gaming session on games like MW2.
Hey as a long time user of this website, would just like to say how helpful it has been when it comes to input lag in gaming. I have just been banned on the what hi fi forums for asking why they dont introduce input lag figures in their reviews too! I must say that site is a joke compared to the detailed reviews we get on here.
Hi Guys
@Nielo TM,
Dude the tv does accept AND display 24p (24Hz)!
My friend just got his Samsung 46 inch C550 (same as C580 just without a sat tuner) and I had my Dark Knight Blu-Ray with me, so we tested it and it switched from 1080p 60 Hz in PS3 Menu to 1080p@24Hz when the actual movie started!!!! The 24p playback was very smooth and stable. No 3:2 pulldown judder etc….
By the way he also has the Samsung 32 inch A550 and it only shows 60hz while in movie playback from bluray…. And you can clearly see all the judder from the pull down!
Unfotenetly he has the AA002 Panel insede which is a AUO panel and its Black has a violett touch. But we left it at Backlight level of 12 which produced already very deep blacks.
@ Craig: The tele-cine judder can be noticed at distance, but the severity depends on the individual. The C650 is ideal for BD and certain types of games that doesn’t require quick response.
@ Alex: The three 40″ C580 models we tested failed to display 24p correctly. I tried the new update on my C580, which didn’t amend the 24p playback issue.
@ Ginder: Thank you for the complement ^_^. The lag value we provide is only approximate as it is difficult to measure it at the moment. Hopefully we will be able to provide an accurate value sometime in the near future.
Niel TM
what does the tv display when u are playing a Bluray and hit the “info” Button on the samsung remote?
either 1080p 60hz or 1080p 24hz?
1920 x 1080 @ 24Hz
So You know that it applies a 3:2 pulldown because u can see the judder with your eyes.
May be i have to chek it out one more time today… will report!
But still:
Well telecine judder is someties used when it shouldnt be. Many “normal” people think of telecine judder when they see a 100 hz and 50hz TVs side by side. the 50 hz tv does not have telecine judder, but because it isnt as smooth as the 100hz, they think the 50hz judders…
I wonder if my friends TV will judder when i turn that cinema smooth option off.
I still do not get how 24p can be still such a problem for Samsung TVs. It sure isnt the lack of power of the processor chip, it is very powerfull…
Just came back from my buddies new house and:
The 46^ C550 does NOT have a 24p problem!!!
If somone thinks i have no clue of telecine judder and 24p playback well here is the proof that I have:
My buddy has also a Samsung 32inch full HD model A579! The old A5 series were known for their inability to handle 24hz from blurays properly! I took a BD that I knew from my Sony 46 inch W4000 (which handles 24p perfectly) and played it on the Samsung. The result was that even scenes where I tougt the camera movement is too short to see the pulldown telecine judder, i could clearly see it. In fact it was too much judder for me…
The B550 never had a 24p problem and the C550 also does NOT have one.
Ether the reviewer Niel TM does not know what telecine judder is or there seems to be a specific problem with the c580 models (triple tuner version of c550).
The review is based on the 40″ model, which utilizes different panel compared to the 46″ version.
http://www.avforums.com/forums/12687411-post20.html
In order to accuracy display 24p accurately, the panel must operate at a frequency that is multiple of 24 (e.g. 48, 72, 96 etc.). The problem could be due to panel lottery. By that I mean one of the three panel used in the 40″ version of C5XX series (Samsung, AUO and CMI) may not be compatible with frequency ranging from 48-96Hz..
On the other hand, it could be due to imitation of the Trident’s LSI. The 32C6000 I reviewed earlier could only display 24p accuracy when Motion Plus is enabled. Thankfully, both anti-judder and and anti-blur can be set to 0 so it doesn’t adversely affect the motion
Anyway, I’m currently reviewing Panasonic 37G20, which accepts and display 24p perfectly. So there’s no fault with our equipments.
24p content seems to be an issue but how does this TV handle sports compared with 100Hz LCD panels (or more specifically the c650)? This set is tempting to say the least, but I’m slightly worried about lack of a 100Hz panel. Is this something that significantly affects sports viewing?
Hi Nielo
aside from the 24p issue… could you please post your complete settings?
especially the white balance settings….
I am asking because the shadow detail on my oana G10e plasma is so much better… and yes i have set the levels rgb (0-255 and 16-235) correctly on the ps3 and samsung le46c550…
And also the sticker which tells us what panel we have, is that the sticker with “SQ02” or “AA02” ?? If so, aa02 is AUO and SQ is samsung panel?
What i have noticed is that the my buddies TV has
Hi great review, recieved my tv today but can not find game mode?? Could anyone tell me where to find it in the menus please?
Many thanks Mark
I’ve got a Thailand made C650 with a Cn01, we get screwed by getting asian models here.. I have the set being sent back for replacement because of 4 dead pixels, but I think I’m likely to get another CN panel. Is it better to try and switch to a Sony set if they’re getting Samsung panels and we get the European models ?
Game mode is found in MENU->Setup->General
kuden
sony has most often samsung panel (except 37inch) and also you will get 3d color controll and 24p handled right
@ Tum: I was quite happy with the motion.
@ Alex: I didn’t have to touch the grayscale as it was calibrated out of the box. As for the panel. AA01 means the TV it fitted with AUO’s A-MVA3 panel and SQ01 means the TV is fitted with S-PVA panel. IMO, A-MVA is so much better, but it’s impossible to find one in the UK.
@ Mark: It is hidden inside the Set-up menu
@ kuden: I’m sorry to hear that. I don’t know if you’ll be able to obtain AUO but if you’re happy with the CMI’s blacks, then stick to it as S-PVA has black ghosting, which can be annoying if you’re a video enthusiast.
Update: I have returned the 40C580 due to black ghosting. Since I’m aware of the type of contents it’ll be most prominent, I kept seeing it even though I tried my best not to.
Thankfully, most haven’t even head of it until this review so I assume most people simply can’t see it or impervious to such artifacts.
However, if you’re affected by it, then try and hunt down the AA01 (AUO – AMVA3) version. Since it’s near impossible to obtain AA01 in the UK, I’m forced to pay additional £40 for the 37″ model. If Amazon agrees to refund the full amount , I’ll immediately place an order for the 37C580 and post a mini-review ASAP.
Where is the sticker that says AA01 or SQ01? The only sticker I see at the back is the big one above where the connectors are and the one u can see through the vent in the top left corner (when looking from the back).
It should on the right. Anyway, it is better to identify the panel via the top vent.
Nielo TM
black ghosting is something i noticed with the AA02 panel. grey uniformity was also … NOT good it looked like there was a big yellow stain in the middle of the creen. Black uniformity was very good!
I have a Plasma g10e from Pana and a 46 inch sony w4000 as well (with samsung panel). I have to say the w4000 is much better in terms of panel it has no ghosting at all! no grey niformity problem etc… also blacks do look alot like the blacks on my pana plasma while on the 46inch AA02 blacks look purple -ish
also the samsung 46 inch c550 AA02 seems to have some black crush.
Example: Dark Knight Blu-Ray
scene: HongKong at night , opening sequence before the Jump.
The camera spins around the skyscraper and the rest of the city in the background is dimmed but still visible on the w4000 and with even more shadowdetail on my Pana plasma. On the Samsung u see … almost nothing there, except the building and the batman. RGB Levels (16-235) ont TV and PS3 where set correctly
Gray uniformity is poor on most panels these days, sadly.
If you don’t mind, could you please expand your experience with black ghosting. On what scenes did you notice it the most and did it manifest itself as glowing grayish color that surrounds moving segments? Was it easy to spot etc.?
if the ghosting was grey with no tint in it i could excuse it but it was more of a violetish glow. Same color as the pannels “black” when viewing from the sides.
I know that ghosting is caused by overdrive technology. But it is not as you described it. The ghosting does not surround objects… its more of a smearing
example:
I noticed it only in gaming (COD4 MW2) when I was moving very fast in shadowy dark areas. So the ghosting was inside of the shadow it self. While standing still in the dark room every think was ok detailed but when i started moving the walls the ground lost there detail… everything that was dark before just started smearing. So its more of a grey to grey response thing?
In The dark knight movie (blu ray) I couldn´t see it realy. At least if it was there it did not annoy me so I guess I wasnt looking for it.
funny thing is that the sony w4000 is supposed to have a slower grey to grey time and it handles the same spots in gaming so well. not only is there more shadow detail but also the detail stays sharp when i am moving.
My buddy does not see it. It´s his tv so he wont sent it back…
hi,was wondering if someone could help me out.I purchased the C580 a couple of days ago,and running the ps3 through hdmi at either 720/1080p produces some rather nasty aliasing and shimmering on the textures of pretty much every game i’ve tried. Is this normal? if so,is there anyway to fix it?
I previously had the C650 for a day,before swapping for the C580 due to the input lag just being too much for me.Even in game mode it felt very sluggish.But the C650 never produced this jaggy effect and shimmering.Is it due to the C650 being 100hz?? sorry i’m not exactly clued up on all this stuff,lol.
Thanks
@ Alex: Its seems you’re describing the usual smearing that is norm to overridden 50/60Hz VA based panel.
On the Samsung 40″ (S-PVA), the effect was highly noticeable [to me] because I knew where and when it’s likely to occur. I’ve managed to capture it at its worst but it wasn’t easy. I had to increase the backlight to maximum so most people won’t even notice it. It seems to be inverse ghosting, but it behaves somewhat differently as the effect is limited to dark tons only (0-20 IRE).
http://tp4yoq.bay.livefilestore.com/y1pMDExZ64pSlu_bxBhLH4c-npbAJ5cGzw8haCF7K8tPma9z8mxT-0vLARExI5-w9DAe_8ArZ8OnmQZ_HRkwxWk4TkAiMGBftjx/Overdrive%20Error.png?psid=1
If you can, increase the backlight to 20 and set contrast to either 10 or 0. That should help to highlight any black ghosting caused by overdrive overshoot (but don’t let your friend see it;). If you can see any artifacts, please let me know.
PS: Who made the panel? Was it AUO or Samsung?
@ jimbo: The image should be clean. Have you tried applying the settings I’ve posted?
Nielo TM did u delete my last posting?
I will test it as soon as i am at my freinds place
Nielo TM
the sticker on the right side says AA02 but i cannot see if “T” or “LTF”
@ Alex: I didn’t delete the post. Maybe it’s taking time to appear.
PS: Thank you for your effort. I really don’t want to get another panel with black ghosting. I suppose this is the price I pay for being a reviewer .^_^.
I have the 46″ version (C535 in Sweden, C530 in the UK I guess). Would you say that the settings you used for your review also applies to the 46″-panel?
@Nielo & others – I thought there no better recommendation than you having bought this set and now what with the 24p item and the ghosting item I am moving my finger away from the buy button.
Do you still think this the better choice than the C650 for your average user. BD, SkyHD and X360 (3 hours a week, racing and FPS)??
I can get the 40C650 for £620inc from Costco inc 5yr warranty or the 40C580 from John Lewis for £600inc 5yr warranty.
How significant would these two issues possibly be in normal usage (I know you can not predict my eyes or even the sets performance absolutely).
Btw, my panel apparantly is an AA04. What does that mean? It’s made in Slovakia.
@ jason: The input lag is too high on the C650 for it to be any use for gaming. The black ghosting on the 40C580 was very difficult/impossible to notice on majority of the contents. The sole reason why I returned it is because I knew exactly where and when it will occur and I was subconsciously looking for it. In fact, I have yet to read any complaints regarding black ghosting anywhere on the net. Maybe it’s not an issue with AUO’s A-MVA panel or my eyes are just too sensitive.
PS: It’s better to buy it directly from Amazon UK as it is £130 cheaper can you can return it free of charge within 2 weeks (if you’re unsatisfied with its performance). Alternatively, if Amazon were to grant me a refund, I can purchase the 37″ version and evaluate its performance and post my findings here.
@ Sven: You may need to fine tune certain values and AA04 means you have the AUO’s AMVA panel.
Thank you. I’ve never experienced reviewers being this communicative with readers. That’s great.
Since I’m not an expert when it comes to judging LCD-panels, I doubt I’d see much of a differnce, but is the A-MVA panel a good thing in my case?
Yes it’s very good. It is only a problem if you received a panel manufactured by CMI.
Nielo TM,
I was wondering can you provide ANSI contrast with peak white of 120cdm2 in your reviews?
@ Dan: I have been providing ANSI value for sometime. Check the benchmark section
@ Nielo
Thanks for the reply.Yes i tried putting in the hdmi settings you posted on your facebook page,but the problem still persists.The shimmering effect i mentioned is actually more like a flickering tbh.It’s extremely distracting.For instance,panning the camera left or right in games,’causes this flickering effect across the whole screen.Textures that should be sharp and crisp i.e uncharted 1 are flickering and juddering.
I just don’t get it.The C650 blew me away with the clarity of the picture,and i thought the C580 would be at least the same albeit with better input lag and less buzzing.
Has this anything to do with the difference in refresh rates between the models?
Once again thanks for the response.This is easily the most informative site i’ve come across.Keep up the great work!
@ Nielo
Oh i forgot mention,i have the 37inch model of the C580 if that makes any difference.
Thanks.
@ jimbo: Thanks for the complements. I had no such issue with the three 40C580s I’ve tested. There was the obvious aliasing artifacts, but that’s cannot be helped due to the games.
Have you tried any other CGI contents? If not, try connecting the C580 to a PC via HDMI if possible and display various contents to see if the issue can be replicated.
PS: Does your 37C580 accept and display 24p correctly? Also, is it fitted with AUO panel (AA01) and was purchased in the UK?
@ Nielo
Yup,hooked up the pc and the problem is still clearly visible.It’s actually enough to give you a headache.It really gives the picture a rather cheap look,which i know should’nt be the case.Jagged lines,flickering/juddering on any kind of motion.
No it does not display 24p correctly(blu ray right?) .It is an AUO panel and i bought it from comet not 3 days ago : )
@ jimbo: Thanks for the info. It seems the panel is either faulty or poor quality and if you can, replace it or obtain a refund.
Since it can’t display 24p correctly, I’m having second thoughts bout getting the 37C580 tbh.
Maybe the lack of 24p is caused by the LSI used inside the 570 and 580 series because according to David, the 32C530 can accept and display 24p correctly.
@ Nielo
Thanks for all your help.I will definitely be taking this back for a replacement.Besides the flickering,i absolutely love this tv.Game’s feel very responsive,just a shame about the artifacting.
Thanks again.
@ Nielo
Just for reference,what tv would you recommend for a gamer who wants low input lag,1080p,deep black levels and at least 100hz?
Apart from the C5XX series, there are none. Other sets with deep blacks and low input lag have issues that could be considered worse.
I think I might try the 37C530 and if that doesn’t do it for me then I would have to bite the bullet and get a Samsung plasma.
WHERE IS THE REAL INPUT LAG IN GAME MODE ED IN STANRARD MODE PLEASE????? THANKS
@ Nielo
Hmmm,so you reckon i should just put up with it.As you are right,i could end up with a panel that has significantly worse problems.
The other strange thing i noticed earlier is that my 360 through component produces none of this juddering/flicker.Could it be a problem with the hdmi on my panel,or is there an hdmi setting that would rectify this problem.It’s almost like when you have dynamic contrast on and it darkens everything everytime you move the camera in a game.
@ ivan
I believe nielo found the input lag to be 35ms in game mode.Standard i’m not sure,but from the feel of it when i was playing there was’nt a big difference..unlike the C650!
35ms in game mode isn’t low input lag!
I have now tried your settings, and I get the impression that it shows the picture like it’s a Panasonic Plasma TV. :)
Also, I can’t change the “Colour Tint” setting, but I don’t think that’s a biggie. The manual says it’s not available in TV, Ext and AV modes.
However, since it’s in “game mode”, isn’t it a bit too much hassle to change between the “RGB” and “HDMI” settings, since you have to leave game mode to change?
Is there a way to have settings similar to these without turning on game mode?
@ ivan
It certainly does’nt feel sluggish,and i can tolerate it.But maybe thats just me.
The C650 on the other hand was extremely heavy feeling when playing games.
Gaming
Gaming has become an integral part of our lives but in recent years, it has become difficult to find a HDTV that combines low input lag with good picture performance. Thankfully the Samsung LE40C580 excels in both regards. I was able to use the Samsung LE40C580 as a PC monitor and play FPS games without any detectable lag. I also failed to detect any lag between my Dell 2209WA monitor and the LE40C580 during side-by-side comparison. Hardcore gamers may want to stick to TN monitors or PDPs/ CRTs until the release of OLED TV, but for the majority of gamers, the Samsung LE40C580 should be an ideal gaming HDTV.
35ms??? impossible!!!!!
Nielo TM
I am gonna report romorrow on the c550 AA02 panel hopefully i can look at the panels own sticker (if LTF or T)
about 24p judder …
Have u tested the mivie modus instead of standard… could it be that movie handles 24p properly? Because seriously if there is judder then its not even close to the desastreuse judder on the A5xx series samsungs!
@ jimbo: Inform Comet of the issue just in case. If I can get my hands on the 37C530, I’ll let you know how it preforms so at least you’ll the option to exchange.
@ ivan: The input lag value in only an approximate as I don’t have the necessary equipment to obtain the absolute value. In any case, the level of lag is perfectly fine for console gaming. If you’re a fan of ultra responsive PC gaming, you’ll need a fine-tuned TN monitor or CRT.
@ Alex; I’ve tried all modes (including Movie) and without any success. It just refuses to playback 24p correctly.
Hopefully when you do obtain the info, maybe you could add your findings to the thread below:
http://www.avforums.com/forums/lcd-led-lcd-tvs/1303039-samsung-series-c5xx-database-24p-panel-type-etc.html
Ordered one and arrives tomorrow. Looking at the Samsung support page is this the firmware that is currently being shipped or is it new and could solve the 24p issue? – it says ‘to improve the picture quality’ in the description.
http://www.samsung.com/uk/support/detail/supportPrdDetail.do?menu=SP01&prd_mdl_cd=&prd_mdl_name=LE40C580J1K&prd_ia_sub_class_cd=P
@Nielo
have you measured the input lag on this review?
because I think the value table (35ms) is wrong as it does not match the review…..
some help?
and the motion resolution where is?? ….confused…..
Does the 3:2 pull down have a real impact on the viewing experience? Being a novice, I really can’t see how bad it is or could be.
If I set up my PS3 not to send any 24p signal, will that solve the telecine judder problem?
Hi Nielo,
Thanks for doing such a thorough review on the Samsung LE40C580.
I understand that you, like many other people, are looking for a TV that combines great picture quality with low input lag. I therefore wondered if you had seen the LG 42LD450 TV? From a little online research it looks as though it should have very low input lag. However, I have not yet found a full assessment of its picture quality from someone who really understands this area like yourself.
Kind regards,
Pete
@ jimbo: It seem the Toshiba RV series also use VA panels and Tosh sets are known for their low input lag. But unfortunately, there’s no detail review on any of the RV range.
@ Nielo
Thanks for all your help.I returned my C580 to comet today and settled on the panasonic TX-P42S21B.Wow! games feel incredibly fluid on this panel :D
Again,thanks for all your help. ^_^
@jimbo The tx p42s20/21 is an amzing tv! I have the TX-P 42 G10E and its basicly the same as s20 like yours… but higher model from 2009! the old s10 was bullshit.
i would be careful the 1st 500 hours because of burn in!
@Nielo
about my freinds samsung LE46 C550
the panel type was behind the lower vent! It says:
———————-
Panel
uj100430c1a0
bn96-13171d
———————
the sticker on the left side of the TV says AA02. The TV is made in slovakia!
There was no ghosting issue.
Hope this helps some how
funny thing is that we thought the panel would be either LTF or A maybe C but its neither one of them lol
Thanks for the info Alex
I wish Samsung would allow us to choose whether to get AUO’s AMVA3 or S-PVA because AMVA3 is a well balanced panel. As far as I’m aware, the only way to increase the chances of obtaining the AUO’s AMVA3 in the UK is to get the 37″.
@ jimbo: I’m glad you’ve found a replacement. I take it you’re not sensitive to phosphor trails .^_^.
PS: If you don’t me asking,what exactly happened when you tried 24p on the 37C580? I’m hoping to get the 37C580 inside of the 37C530 as I love the design. To tell you the truth, I miss the 40C580 so much:(. But if the the 37C530 can display 24p correctly, then I’ll just have to go for that instead.
@ Kirky: I’ve tried the update and I didn’t notice any improvements.
@ Titoin: It depends on your sensitivity to motion. If you’re sensitive to uneven motion, then it maybe best to go a panel with true 24p support.
As for the PS3, selecting 60Hz instead of 24p will not amend the issue.
@ Pete: Thanks for the kind complements. It is best to avoid budget LG LCDs due to poor blacks and average performance. ATM, it is very difficult to obtain a quality LCD HDTV with low input lag.
Thanks for the reply Nielo.
Why is it so hard to find a good TV for both watching blurays and playing games :/
Nielo,
It’s absolutely incredible to see expert reviewers like yourself being so interactive and forthright with readers. Thanks a ton.
@ Nielo
Lol,do you mean the slight yellow effect you get on moving scenes? only noticed a slight bit last night.
If i weigh it up,i definitely prefer the look and feel of the plasma compared to the two lcd’s i had.There’s absolutely zero banding on this plasma,very deep blacks,low-input lag(felt this straight away),zero juddering/flicker and the viewing angles just seal the deal!
As for the 24p issue on the C580.When i tried it,it produced this judder effect you had mentioned previously.I’m guessing this is the issue.I have a seperate blu ray player and older hdtv in the house and it certainly does’nt run like that on the older model.
I never knew there were some many pro’s and con’s to each model of tv.I can say i have really learnt alot in the past week.Mostly thanks to you and everyone on here that has been so helpful.
@ Alex
Yup,its a lush panel thats for sure.This is my first plasma,so what exactly can i do to preserve the picture for those first 500hours? Thanks man.
@ Nielo
– you have any issues returning your set? Some on-line sites T&Cs talk about even the packaging being untouched despite Distance Selling regs.
– you seem to have not considered the 46″. Any quality reason or is this just personal choice and size of room? I would have thought such ‘pros’ as yourself would have gone large for the sake of a couple of hundred over what could be a 5 year purchase.
– I’m still looking at the C580, having had the 37B530 for 3 months now I find it the best set I’ve ever had – and yup I use pretty much your 580 settings which work a treat even though I have to use standard and not movie in Game mode.
PS. I will be buying the 580 for my larger room (having just moved). The 37″ 530 will remain in the other ‘family room’ :). Just in case peeps thought it contradictory to say I loved it but buying again so soon.
The philips 40pfl5605 have 20-30ms input lag in game mode…
@ jason: It has always been easy and effortless with Amazon, but I haven’t received any updates regarding the 40C580 yet.
As for the size, I would like to opt for the 46″ but sadly I can’t (unless I’m forced to). Mainly because VA panels have limited viewing angle, so I would have to sit even further to fully escape from gamma shift. In addition, the slow address uniformity of 60Hz becomes apparent on larger panels as there’s ~16ms delay between line 1 and line 1080. So moving vertical lines will appear diagonal, which is noticeable when playing games. To amend the issue, the operating frequency has to be increased, but all 100Hz+ VA panels have high input lag.
PS; I usually upgrade between 2-3 years simply because technology advances so rapidly these days. For an example, the improvements over last year’s series 5 are huge and not just in terms of of black level performance.
@ jason: Were you able to get the 37C530 to display 24p correctly?
@Nielo – my 37″ is the B530 not the C530. Its still rather good with your settings though. As for 24p I’m no expert I can just say it shows on the set as switching from 1080 60 to 1080 24 when I stick a BD in. But as it says in many posts here thats no indication it handles it correctly. I’ve not noticed any issues on BDs though.
This is a fascinating review with lots of interesting comments. May I make some comments of my own?
I’m not technical, but I am very picky about quality. Like many others, I bought the LE40C580 without the benefit of proper reviews. I had, however, already bought the LE19B450C4 for the kitchen, and was very impressed by the quality of the picture. The sound, of course, is another matter, but who cares in the kitchen?
Once I had investigated (messed around with) the various settings on the LE40, I eventually ended up with what I thought was an excellent picture on Freeview SD and on normal DVDs. (We can’t get HD for a couple of years yet.) So I was gratified to find this complimentary review.
What I didn’t realise was that the product didn’t have 24p. On the other hand, my LE19 does. But can I tell the difference when films are being shown? No, I can’t. Am I happy to watch films on the LE40? Yes.
The only area where the LE40 seems to have problems is when there is scrolling text. The worst example occurs during BBC’s Formula 1 coverage. They have a CG image of the grid positions, and this scrolls down diagonally from right to left. The juddering makes the text unreadable. (There was no problem on my Panasonic CRT.)
Anybody care to explain or comment?
I purchased the 32C580 and have very bad ghosting while watching football Red and Blue how can i fix this. It was made in Hungary.
Hi Nielo, thanks very much for this review, was looking for a TV mainly for PS3 gaming, then DVD/BluRay, watch TV only rarely. The Sony TV’s I initially looked at getting seemed to suffer quite badly from input lag, so I was quite surprised to see this one so cheap ( I paid £476) getting such a good review.
Anyway I received TV on Friday, and am very impressed so far. Gaming is far better than an old 32″ Samsung I had been using ( COD4 and KZ2 on this old TV used to give me motion sickness ).
An un-scientific test, using Rock Band 2 auto-calibration feature, gives an input lag of 29ms on 40C580 (game mode), compared to 65ms on old TV.
Have only watched a couple of BluRays so far, but again very impressed, the TV is reporting 1920 x 1080@24Hz, but I don’t know if this means it is displaying 24p properly – I’ve no complaints about the quality though.
Normal freeview seems fine, our area has Freeview HD switched on on Wednesday 18th Aug, I’m not a big TV watcher but will be interested to check out BBC HD and C4 HD.
Once again, I want to thank you for your review, I was initially wary of this TV because of the low price and the fact I couldn’t find a single review (Googling for ’40c580′ only threw up hundreds of crappy price comparison websites) but am very glad i bought it.
You are wrong about Trident :(
It’s Valencia based TV
Just check name of Firmware :)
If you interested in platforms
http://forum.ixbt.com/topic.cgi?id=62:16909:4255#4255
http://forum.ixbt.com/topic.cgi?id=62:16909:4309#4309
1012 is n’t version of panel. It’s just production week.
10 is 2010 year
12 – 12th week
Hi
Can someone please tell me how important the 24p is. I am looking to purchase asap as i have just got rid of my 36 inch Panny crt. Will i still get the fantastic quality that bluray gives and does it matter what bluray player i buy ? How important is 24p ? I was originally trying to decide between the Sammy and the Sony EX503 because of the 100hz and five star reviews but looking at overall picture i thought the Sammy looked best even though it was 50hz. To me there seemed to be more annoying judder with the sony than the Samsung even though the sony was 100hz. Hope im making right decision …………. the deciding factor is how important the 24p thing is
Thanks
@ jason: Thanks for the info ^_^
@ Unfortunately such artifact is common to LCDs. Even 120Hz LED-LCD have issues with moving/active texts. It is caused by slow response of the pixels combined with high-hold time and backlight strobbing. As far as I’m aware, PDPs do not suffer from such problem but you may notice yellow streaking.
@ Jacki: Sadly, motion handling is not VA’s strongest attributes. If motion quality the prime factor, then it is better to invest in IPS based panel or PDP at this time.
@ Jakey: Thank you for your kinds words and enjoy your 40C580. If you have any issues or question, please feel free to ask .^_^.
@ Davey P: Apologies for the late reply. Only BD and certain downloaded video contents benefit from true 24p support. If you’re sensitive to uneven motion caused by 2:3 pull-down where frame A is repeated twice and frame B is repeated three times and are unable to tolerate its effects, then it is best to invest in a panel with true 24p support.
According to a few users, the 46″ seems to accept and display 24p correctly but I have no proof it unfortunately.
Update: As expected Amazon offered me the full refund for the 40C580 and I have placed the order for the 37C530 today. Hopefully it’ll be delivered on Friday.
Nielo TM: 3:2 pull-down process is used for 60Hz display. Do you know, if there is a a BD player, which can be set to 50Hz out and than use classic Film to PAL conversion (speed up to 25fps and display at 50p)? This process eliminates uneven motion and C580 displays 50Hz correctly.
@ Jirka: All three 40C580 I reviewed could only display 50 and 60Hz. Unfortunately I’m not aware of BD players with such feature. However, it can be done via PC via ReClock.
@Nielo – fyi Costco currently doing the 37″ C580 for £479 inc 5 year warranty.
Hi Nielo and everyone.
I didn’t read all the 100+ replies, so sorry if this was asked earlier, but I’m in the market for a tv and was looking at the LE40C650. But now this review has me wondering if it’s worth a price difference of around £140.
The usage would be mainly movies (mainly HD, some SD), some TV and some gaming (Wii, nothing HD).
Thanks in advance.
P.S.: Sorry, just remembered to add: I didn’t find the C580 on the Samsung site, so just wanted to ask if it has USB and LAN connectivity (mainly LAN, to stream movies)
Thanks once again.
Is there an easy way to evaluate shadow details? I use Nielo’s setting but I don’t know, there is something with the black areas, I find them way too big somtimes, with no distinguishable details.
Daniel: C580 is UK model, so you can find it on http://www.samsung.com/uk European version is C550 and C570 with DVB-S.
Thanks for the information Jirka. Any idea about my doubts on wether to get the C580 or the C650?
Then again, for the same price of the C650 there’s the UE40C5100. Decisions, decisions….
Daniel: It’s quite hard to choose. Both 580 and 650 have good colours, black level and contrast, scaling. 580 has lower motion resolution, 650 is better, but Samsung’s 100Hz IFC has it’s own weakness. I would not go for C5100. Every Samsung LED LCD has problem with auto-dimming.
Thanks once again for your reply Jirka. Down to 2 again :)
Couldn’t find the 580 on the Samsung website although the 550 is listed. Seems strange that they don’t promote their latest TV’s. It just states Freeview HD ‘coming soon’
Keith Millington: Try http://www.samsung.com/uk/consumer/tv-audio-video/television/lcd-tv/index.idx?pagetype=subtype and select Series 5
I retired my words..but finally i have the reason; ” There are
golden units of Samsung tv’s and bad ones of the same model
and factory..Samsung sucks or what ?
@ Daniel: The C650 is an excellent set, but it’s difficult to play games on due to lag.
@ ertoil: At least with Samsung, it is easy to identify the panel type and to evaluate its performance. So in a way, it’s the lesser evil. Also, in Europe, we only seem to get S-PVA and A-MVA panels, so consumers can choose between balanced A-MVA panel or sacrifice motion and viewing angle for deeper blacks (S-PVA).
For an example: in the UK, if one is after A-MVA panel, then it’s best to opt for either the 37″ or the 46″. If one is after S-PVA panel, then it’s best to opt for either the 32″ or the 40″. If 24p and low-input lag are essential and can live without OTA HD (e.g FreeView HD) then it’s best to opt for the C530/C550.
PS: ATM, Samsung TVs are the best opt for if the budget is ~£700 (excluding PDP). If one needs low input lag with good black levels and pixel response, 37C530 is an excellent choice.
Hi
I took the plunge and got the LE40C580 but when i eventually found game mode it was greyed out so i couldnt follow your calibration in game mode. Can you tell me why game mode is greyed out ?Is there something i need to do ? Also ive noticed that Screen Fit is greyed out.
Thanks
Hi Davey P
Game Mode cannot be used when viewing FreeView or FreeView HD. So apply the same settings but in Movie Mode.
If the source is connected via HDMI, it either caused by VESA timing or the HDMI/DVI port is renamed to PC/DVI by the user. Both basically the TV turns into a monitor. So there’s no need to select Game Mode or adjust the screen. But if you wish to adjust the color and such, it has to be done via the PC.
To get out of VESA timing, rename the HDMI/DVI (PORT 1) back to its default value or plug the source into HDMI PORT other than 1.
Thanks for your reply Nielo, it’s a tough choice… :) Would the lag be the same using component in, instead of HDMI? (sorry for the possibly daft question, have no idea if the type of input makes any difference).
Thanks
Hi Daniel
Unfortunately component won’t make any difference.
The C530 is ideal for gamers and the C580 I suppose can be classified as casual panel as it does everything (except 24p) to an high standard.
The C650 is purely designed for TV and movie with little gaming on the side. But if you’re sensitive to lag, then you will notice I’m afraid.
I ordered my Samsung LE40C580 (from BeyondTelevision) based on the strength of this review. It arrived on Friday and the first thing I checked when I unboxed it was the panel type. The side sticker read ‘SQ01’ and the panel sticker said 1013 – Made in China.
Having read some of the above comments I was initially disapointed, but do you know what – as soon as I switched it on it blew me away! The picture quality is amazing even on the factory settings, but a few quick tweaks here and there resulted in an image that surpassed my expectations.
I have Sky HD, Xbox and a bluray player hooked up to it and each one looks great. So the point of this post is to to say that if you’re considering buying one of these sets then don’t be put off by the ‘panel lottery’ concerns.
My only issue (and this is a minor one) is that it doesn’t play my PAL ts files properly. It’s fine with NTSC mkv files, but it really struggles with the ts files. Could be the codec, so I’m going to try converting them to a different format.
Thanks once more Nielo.
By the way, you mention in your review (the C580 one) that you had forwarded Samsung the information about the lack of 24p support, hoping they would maybe release a firmware update to fix it. Any news on that? (I think I’ll go with the C580 afterall :) )
No sorry. It would seem the fault lies with the trident chip. However, 32 and 37 C530 accept and display 24p perfectly. But I have no information regarding the 40″ model.
If Samsung use their own LSI, this wouldn’t be a problem.
Thanks Nielo. Think I’ll stick to the 40C580 anyway, though still a few weeks away from the actual buying :)
I’m not sure what the big issue is surrounding 24p on this TV. When I play a bluray disc, the TV says “1920 x 1080 24hz” in the top corner and the motion looks smooth to me; no obvious judder to be seen anywhere.
Hi NoDabble
What bluray player have you got as i have just bought this tv and need to get one as im anxious to see if there is a problem with my tv. Im very happy with the tv so far but if there was a problem playing blurays i think that would be quite a minus point
Davey P – It’s the Sony BDP-S370. I was fortunate enough to order it from Amazon a couple of weeks ago when it was just £99.99. Since then the price has gone up to around £120. I have tried playing several bluray discs and I can’t see anything wrong with them. Avatar looks truly stunning!
Then consider yourself a very lucky man ^_^
People who are sensitive to motion hate telecine pull-down.
Is it the technical wizardry of the sony player i wonder ? Out of interest do you get black bars top and bottom of the picture when you play films ? Im new to all this !
Ive seen the Samsung bd5300 bluray for £99.00 including 6 films which i was thinking of getting unless the Sony is better
I don’t know about the Samsung player, but I can tell you that the Sony BDP-S370 is probably the best player for under £150 and has received heaps of praise from the industry and consumers alike. Some films will have black bars, but when you’re watching on a 40″ screen you tend not to notice!
@Neilo – you could charge for this you know! By the response!
The debate on the 530/580/650 continues. Silly Samsung releasing so mnay good value sets in the same cycle.
Anyway I am still undecided. I appreciate the 650 and 580 are prob about the same PQ wise with the 650 having the issue of not being able to remove the samsung processing completely on BD and the 580 having no true 24p support.
Does the 530 beat both of these on BD playback then and is it as good on SD playback (the Corrie and Footie test)? Does it have any greater issues with viweing angle?
If its as good PQ wise, and no other significant issues, then its a no brainer (freeview HD means nothing to me as I have Sky+ HD).
Thanks a bunch and point me to your favourite charity.
@Jason – My rationale behind choosing the 40C580 was as follows:
Not interested in 100Hz so that ruled out the 650. Also my budget limit was £500.
Not interested in Freeview HD as I have Sky HD, however the extra HDMI socket and the negligable price difference made the 580 the better choice.
If anyone is concerned about bluray playback on this set then why not nip down to your local Currys/Comet/RS etc and try it out. Ask if you can hook up a bluray player to the TV and give it a whirl. As I’ve said above I can’t see anything wrong with bluray playback on the 580.
@ Neilo
Hi
Ive applied your settings and the picture is quite dark and very different to how it came. Does this sound right or do you think i could have missed something. Some programmes can look really quite dull. Is it a case of getting used to it because i got used to the wrong settings it came with
Thanks
@Davey P – Why not configure the picture to what you feel looks right?
I found Nielo’s calibrated settings to be too dull and orangey. For Sky HD and Bluray I have ended up using the Standard picture mode, Game Mode off, backlight set to 12, tint slightly to the right and colour, brightness & sharpness all reduced slightly. To me this produces a clear, vibrant picture with natural skin tones and white-looking whites!
@ Davey P: BD players can’t remove telecine-judder. For that, you’ll need a display that can accept and display 24p correctly.
@ Davey P: Since you have Sky HD, it is better opt for the C530 as it can do 24p and has excellent on-board scaler.
@ Davey P: The settings I’ve provided are for evening viewing under home lighting. During the day time, you may have to increase the backlight to 8-10. Also, the setts are unique to the test and it can vary. It is also worth noting that if you’re used to high-temperature (cool colors), then it will some time get to the accurate 6500K.
I suppose what you can do is start off by setting the color temp to standard, then later to WARM 1 and then to WARM 2. Give yourself some time to adopt.
Forgot add, try the settings below. I’ve updated it before it returned the C580.
http://cid-9c09d09ec80b78d1.office.live.com/browse.aspx/Public/Temp/40C580%20Settings?uc=3
Anyone know what the difference is between Auto1 and Auto2 on the Film Mode setting? The instruction book isn’t altogether clear on this…
“Film Mode (Off / Auto1 / Auto2): Sets the TV to automatically sense and process film signals from all sources and adjust the picture for optimum quality.”
Great – but which option is best???
Auto 1 detects the content format and applies de-interlacing accordingly to the entire frame. For an example, if it detects 25i, it’ll apply WEAVE and and if it detects 50i, it will apply (an unknown form of) de-interlacing (possibly an advanced form of motion-adaptive).
So if you’re watching 25i content and 50i content appeared on screen at the same time (switches back and forth), the 50i content wouldn’t be de-interlaced properly [e.g. http://tiny.cc/0wvte%5D.
Auto 2 allows both 25i and 50i to be de-interlaced correctly when displayed at the same time but it doesn’t work 100%. So you may notice slight field-mismatch artifact
Off will de-interlacing everything regardless of the content.
So the best hassle-free option is AUTO 2, but if you wish to manually control de-interlacing, select off as default and select AUTO 1 when viewing movies.
Mine is on order and due for delivery on Saturday – I’ll let you all know what panel I’ve got and how I find it. Great price too!
It went up recently. Amazon used to sell it for £450, which is one of the reasons why I gave it highly recommended award.
Nielo, would you say it still represents good value at 489.99?
I am looking for a 40 inch TV for SD TV, DVD, PS3 and eventually SKY HD – what other options do I have around the 500 mark? Or is this still the best bet?
FreeView is exceptionally good on the C580, but I haven’t tested the C530 yet. I assume you have been using the PS3 to play DVD and BD and Sky HD is a worthy investment. If you all already own Sky or Sky+, I am you can work out a deal with them. If that doesn’t work call to cancel and they’ll be all over you ^_^. So there’s no need for four HDMI pots and if you manage to secure a deal with Sky then there’s no need for on-board FreeView/HD either, which means the C530 would be a better choice (as it has lower input lag and true 24p playback).
Thanks for the advice. I am relocating to England from America so will be a new Sky customer. C530 seems to make sense but I’m a bit reluctant about buying what seems like an outdated model. What about if I upped my budget to 600? Are there any Sony models? Or perhaps the Sam C630?
C530 is not outdated. That would be the B530 ;)
If you’re a gamer, then C530 is the ideal choice.
Hi Nielo! You mentioned about 37G20 review, when can we expect it? I’m very interested in this model especially comparing input lag to 37S20.
Hi Sebastian
Unfortunately the model I received was faulty and was returned to Panasonic. I’m currently reviewing the 37V20. But TBH, you’re much better off with an alternative model.
Hi
Some time ago I was reading 37V20 review on AvForums and input lag was very low, all in all it is exceptional set. I’m considering 37G20 because of price tag but I didn’t see any review.
I’m looking for Panasonic LCD because of built quality, viewing angles and no ‘panel lottery’.
Nielo, You mentioned about alternative model, did You mean V20, G20 or something else ? :)
Thanks!
580 is currently £446 on Amazon
Great inforormation. As Lymbo said the 580 is £446 on Amazon and the 540 is £396. I’d be using it mainly for gaming but quite like the idea of HD freeview so would it be better to save the cash and opt for a stand alone HD tuner (don’t have sky) Been thinking about an 42 inch LG 650 for around the 380 mark but most reviews for the samsung seem positive.
Ok so i went out and bought the Sony BDPS370 and i borrowed two bluray discs. Transformers 2 and The Dark Knight. There was plenty of fast moving action between the two films and i didnt notice any judder. Maybe im better off not knowing but anyway the films looked good to me and no detrimental effects were noticed. One thing i cant see is how NoDabble got a 1920 / 1080@24hz reading though because mine read 720 / 480 @60hz.
Does this mean i am not getting full bluray quality or is that with reference to the motion thing ?
I rang Samsung to ask about a fix for the 24p and they said there would not be one.
Overall im disappointed . My neighbour has last years B550 which ive watched a lot of and i think thats superior to this years effort. I would probably send this tv back if i could but i suppose being disappointed with it isnt good enough reason
@ Sebastian: The built quality isn’t any better than Samsung or Sony and black levels rendered by the G20 was somewhat high [0.15cd/m2]. The only major advantage is playing 30p games with IFC (MCFI) enabled.
@ Dale: For pure gaming, IPS panel is better. The C580 is an all round (general purpose) display.
@ Davey P: You have to set the BD player to output either 1080p or 1080p24. As for the 24p, Samsung is aware of it and have identified the issue.
@ Neilo
When you say have identified the issue do you mean they are working on a fix ? They told me there was no fix
Thanks for the reply Nielo it’s much appreciated
hey man, amazing review first of all.
I have a quick question for you, taking into account everything, do you recommend this tv or the panasonic P42S20?
I have heard good things about both and am unsure as to which is best to go for? I will be using it to play PS3 and watch freeview SD (although I think both come with freeview HD), and watching sports and movies, so an all round experience really.
Thanks a lot, and keep up the good work!!
Mark
@ Davey P: I’ve send an email to one of the QA personal and they have identified the issue. Hopefully it can be fixed via firmware update. I’ll keep you posted once I get more info.
@ Dale: Glad to be of help.
@ Mark: Thanks for the complements (^_^). The S20 is an excellent choice if you’re not sensitive to phosphors trail or can tolerate it. But the 40C580 has inverse ghosting, which occurs during dark scenes. So it’s difficult to recommend one over the other in that regard. However, in terms of FreeView performance, the 40C580 produces cleaner image.
I’m just wondering if you knew how the Eco Sensor works, since you mentioned manually adjusting the backlight settings. Can the set do this automatically for you in the daytime/nighttime?
Hi, i’m new to hdtv’s I wanting to buy a new tv soon. it will be my first hdtv. I was more than happy with a 32″ tv but my parents are insisting I pick a 40″ tv :P. I have been looking around and this tv in this review looks really good. But i’m also torn between some others, can someone hekp me decide which would be best for me. I have looked at the LE40C530 which seems almost identical to this in features bar freeview hd, but i do prefer the design on this tv. I also like the look of Sony KDL40EX403U but don’t know if it’s any good compared to this. I’m really stuck which tv to go for. I game quite a lot and watch movies also, sports I watch rarely. If there are better tv’s out there for about £500 please can someone let me know :). It has to be 40″. Thanks in advance if anyone can help me. ^_^ (I hope the 24p problem is fixable via firmware as it’s a shame such a good tv has this problem)
Amazing site this :-)
For purely PS3 gaming & blu ray (no TV use at all) do you suggest the 37″ 530 rather than 40″ 530 based on likely panel lottery outcome?
And in terms of the Pana TXP42S20B (what’s different about 21B version?) if not sensitive to phosphors trails would it be worth the extra £150 over the £400 40″530?
Thanks.
@Andytizer – The Eco Sensor is supposed to dim the screen according to the amount of light in your room. I have the backlight in my LE40C580 set to 11 – which is reasonably bright in most conditions, but too bright for subdued night-time viewing. I have enabled the Eco Sensor and told it never to dim the backlight below 8, and watching TV last night I found the picture to be very comfortable to view; not hurting my eyes at all.
My TV is only a week old so I still need to do some more experimentation to see if the Eco Sensor really does work.
@Ste W – I too was considering the 40″ Sony models, both the 401 and 403 so I went to my local Comet to try them out, where they were lined up next to a Toshiba and the Samsing C530. Initial impressions weren’t great… I found the Sony remote to be too fiddly and the sound to be too weak. Also, when all TVs were tuned to the same channel the Sonys seemed to lag behind the others whenever there was a scene change.
So I opted for the Samsung – and I think it’s great! Wish I’d hung on for another two weeks though; Amazon are now selling it for under £450 which is amazing (I paid £475 from BeyondTelevision while it was £500 on Amazon) and the C530, at under £400, is a steal!
@Peter: Nielo is best suited to answer your panel lottery question, but from what I can tell, the Panasonic TX-P42S21B is simply a version of the S20 that’s exclusive to Comet. I’m not sure if there are any performance differences.
In case anyone is interested, I bought my LE40C580 about a month ago from John Lewis for £549 including a five year warranty. I now see their price has been reduced to £480, still with a five year warranty. (Damn!)
After a month’s experience, I think this is a great TV, and hard to beat at JL’s new price. (I’ve no connection with JL, needless to say…)
@ Ste W: The 40C580 and 40C530 share the same panel, but the processors are different. If you don’t need 4 HDMI inputs or FreeView HD, then it’s better to opt for the 40C530. Amazon is currently retailing it for £396 but it’s out of stock.
I strongly recommend that you purchase the 40C530 from Amazon directly as they offer 30 day hassle free returns.
@ Peter: All 37″ UK models are fitted with AUO’s AMVA3 panel and it is ideal for gaming and doesn’t suffer from inverse ghosting. However, there is a buzzing problem and Amazon have took it offline to investigate.
After trying three 37C530, I picked the 40C530 because to me, inverse ghosting is more tolerable than constant buzzing noise.
PS: Comet, Currys etc. obtain exclusive models (e.g. S24, C551 etc.) so they don’t have to price match and so forth. Such models do not offer anything new or exclusive.
Anyone know why the Auto Wide picture size is greyed out??
I have a Sky HD box connected to the C580 via HDMI. Sky box is set to Auto mode so it outputs 720×576 for SD material and 1080i for HD. However, the TV doesn’t toggle aspect ratios automatically between 4:3 and 16:9 on either SD or HD material.
I can manually select various picture sizes (16:9, 4:3, Zoom etc) and there is one called Auto Wide. However it is greyed out and not selectable. Why is this???
@Neilo thanks for reply :-)
Play have the 40″ 530 @ £400, so think I’ll go for that, think the 42″ Panna plasma be too big anyway.
Thanks for great review.
PS my current 32″ Samsung has an irritating high pitcher tone, swapped it a few times from Currys, one I have just now is only really noticeable when on stwndbt & that’s only firvacfew seconds before I switch off at the wall.
Amazon has much better customer service than Play.com. So be careful.
PS: I’ll post the calibration settings once I have it finalized.
Nielo, what about that John Lewis site, what’s your opinion? It’s about £40 more than Amazon, but includes a 5 year warranty which is nice.
@Daniel – JL have a 28 day return policy – no quibble, any reason, e.g. if you didn’t like the colour even if you’ve had it in use and upside down for 4 weeks. That and a 5 year guarantee swung it for me. A lot of the internet site acknowledge the distance selling regulations as they should but try to wiggle from it by saying even the packaging has to be perfect as new which is nigh on impossible. The downside with JL is that its the 580 and not the 530 and thus has the BD 24p bug that Nielo has commented on extensively.
I live in hope that I dont see that (in which case I’d return it to JL anyway) and/or Sammy fix it in firmware.
I’d have gone for the 530 at JL for the same price if they had it – trusting Nielo n all :)
I did consider the 650 but that has it own BD ‘bug’ and the input lag for even my occasional Xbox and PS3 play put me off.
I’m using the 37″ B530 currently which will remain as my second TV in another room and tbh if the C530/580 is even as good as that I’d be delighted.
Arrives Saturday.
Update: After trying three 37C530 without success, I went for the 40″, which I’ve received yesterday and it is very different to the 40C580.
1. The on-board tuner embedded within the 40C580 is much better compared to the tuner embedded within the 40C530. If you have an external source, then it’s not an issue
2. The sound quality is better on the 40C580, but can be outsourced to pair of active speakers, which is what I have done. The Creative T20 [Series II] is now £55 over at Amazon UK.
3. The design and status of the 40C580 is better. It appears very expensive and can be easily mistaken for a £800-1000 set. But I prefer the simplicity of the C530.
4. The processor of the 40C580 is better as it can detect pull-down and has better noise reduction and de-interlacing algorithms. However, the C530 is doing an excellent job displaying Sky HD.
5. The 40C580 can produce acceptable to exceptional level of image quality after basic calibration as where 37C530 and 40C530 require heavy grayscale calibration, which can only be done via colorimeter
PS: IMO inverse ghosting is far more tolerable than constant buzzing noise. It’s a shame that such a simple fault completely overshadowed the advantages of the 37C530.
PPS: Here’s the calibration data for the 40C530 [Samsung – S-PVA – 1012 – China]
Source: HDMI
Main
* Picture Mode: Movie
* Backlight: 3
* Contrast: 100
* Brightness: 42/43
* Sharpness: 0
* Color: 45
* Tint: G50/R50
* Eco: Enable No Signal Power Off
Advanced Settings:
* Black Tone: Off
* Dynamic Contrast: Off
* Shadow Detail: -2
* Gamma: 0
* RGB Only: Off
* Colour Space: Auto
* White Balance: See Below
* Flesh tone: 0
* Edge Enhancement: On
Picture Options:
* Color Tone: Warm 1
* Size: Screen Fit
* Digital Noise Filter: Off
* MPEG Noise filter: Off
* HDMI Black Level: Low
* Auto Protection Time: 2 hours
Grayscale:
* Red Gain: 26
* Green Gain: 25
* Blue Gain: 20
* Red Offset: 48
* Green Offset: 24
* Blue Offset: 20
Nielo, is the reason you (eventually) swapped the C580 for the C530 because of the 24p issue because otherwise from what you say above the C580 is better.
Nielo – is the Auto Wide picture size option greyed out on your C530 when viewing Sky?
@ RJD: The C580 is better (minus the 24p). I initially swapped the 40C580 for 37C530 because I wanted AUO’s AMVA3 panel as it has excellent pixel response (no inverse ghosting) and lower input lag, which are ideal for gaming. Sadly, it is plagued with buzzing issues. So after trying two 37C530, I was forced to give up as Amazon took it offline to investigate.
When I discovered Amazon was retailing the 40C530 for £396, I decided to buy it instead of taking another chance on the 37C530. I would have chosen the 40C580 but I recently upgraded to Sky HD and I have a colorimeter to overcome the greyscale issues. So for me, it wasn’t an issue. However, for those don’t own a colorimeter or external source, it’s better to opt for the 40C580.
@ NoDabble: Apologies for not responding earlier. Unfortunately, it only works with SCART and built-in tuner. When using HDMI, you have to use the remote to change between 4:3 and 16:9.
Sky should release an update for the new Amstrad DRX890 so it preserves the aspect ratio when scaling SD to 1080i. They also need to fix the odd interlacing issue.
This site gets a big thumbs up from me. You should really be happy with it, its excellent.
I wanted to know if there is any realistic timeframe you would expect Samsung to address the 24p issue within of whether they are likely to do it at all?
Hi Nielo,
I currently have a 32″ Sony 32D3000 and I’m looking to upgrade to a set that is at least 40″. I’m very interested in the Samsung LE40C580, however, the black / inverse ghosting issue is the one thing I’m not sure about. I have no idea if I will notice this issue, as you do mention that individual suscebtibility could vary quite a bit and so it did occur to me that my current set may even suffer from this issue and I simply can’t see it with every-day viewing material.
I have therefore downloaded PixPerAn to test my current TV with and I wondered if you could let me know which particular test and speed settings are enough to reveal the black / inverse ghosting issue on the C580?
Kind regards,
Pete
@Nielo
Thanks for the reply. The freeview HD and HDMI ports aren’t really important as I only own a PS3 that uses hdmi. I would normally go for the cheaper option but I do prefer the design of the 580 :P it’ll be a difficult one. What’s your opinions on the bug it has, do you think it’ll be fixable in a firmware update? Also what’s your opinions on the Sony 40″ models like the KDL40EX403U? Someone posted that it lagged behind a bit compared to the samsungs? Sorry about all the questions I just want to make sure before we spend this much. As for buying off Amazon or Play. I think I’ll pass, one I wouldn’t trust something that expesive over the internet, and two I work in the call centre for one of the delivery companies that deliver these things for Amazon and Play and lets just say the service from the drivers/ depots leaves a little to be desired :P. I probably shouldn’t be saying something like that XD.
Correct me if I’m wrong here, but regarding the current lack of 24p support, ask yourselves this:
When you’ve watched a film on video, TV or DVD have you been bothered by motion judder?
None of these formats are 24p, so if it’s never bothered you before then bluray playback on the C580 won’t bother you either.
Just trying to put it in perspective! :)
NoDabble: When you watch film on PAL TV, there is no problem with motion judder. Because for broadcast, video or DVD film is always converted to PAL. It is done simply by changing the speed. 24 fps is played as 25 fps and than transferred as 50i (or 25p on DVD), so everything works well, no frame is lost or inserted twice. But when Samsung plays 24 fps, it converts it to 60 fps. Because 60 is not multiple of 24, there is no way to convert it without telecine judder.
On my 32C580 when connected to my PC via HDMI, my graphics card has the option to select 24Hz and when selected the TV does say ‘1920×1080@24Hz’…..If that’s helpful to anyone..
Jirka – I do appreciate that some PAL conversions are simply speeded up 24p sources, but I also have a lot of NTSC 60hz material which I have watched without any discomfort.
As a quick test I tried playing the opening scene scene of Terminator 2 (where the camera pans across a baron post-war Los Angeles up till the point where a Terminator stamps its foot on a skull) and I could tell any difference between VHS video, DVD, NTSC mkv file, and bluray at both 1080p and 576i resolutions.
So is lack of 24p such a big issue?
> and I could tell any difference
aarrgh, stoopid typo! I meant to say…
> and I couldn’t tell any difference
Anyway – I guess my point is that this particular TV is clearly a budget model, which means it is aimed at casual viewers, as opposed to the more discerning home cinema purists.
The fact that it exceeds certain expectations (as highlighted in Nielo’s review), looks good, and has a game mode to entice console users is a major plus, but the average High Street shopper won’t appreciate this.
But will target audience truly notice the lack of 24p playback? I seriously doubt it.
I just think this whole issue is something of a mountain out of a molehill.
@NoDabble
I forgot to thank you earlier for your reply to my first post :). Also in terms of does the motion judder bother me. On some films yes it does a lot but I usually dismiss quickly after it as those scenes don’t tend to last long. But saying that my current tv is really old so that might be why. When I go into shops and see blurays playing it always astounds me how smooth they play and I bet half of them aren’t even running at 24p. So I am kind of making a big deal out of nothing :P I just wanted to make sure that if the feature was there, that it worked properly before I forked out that much money as it is a lot to me. I guess I am a casual viewer so I probably would love any new tv either way. Going to go to the shops tomorrow to make a sort of final decision before I commit to buy as most have all 3 tv’s i’m torn between up next to each other.
So which one is better (LE40C580 vs LE40C530)?
I don’t care about freeview hd, sound or design, only day by day experience like:
1.sky+ hd box watching 30% HD channels 70% SD
2.watching mkv(720p/1080p) and divx(SD/dvd rip) movies from hdd connected to tv
3.Playing Wii and xbox360
4.blue-ray player with 24p output (I really like good movies in good quality,so lack of full 24p in 580 is very visible comparing 530?)
On some websites I find info is only 550 have 1080/24p Real Movie function (48hz).
true????
@ NoDabble
Hi ….. I got the Sony S370 to go with this tv on your recommendation which is excellent apart from one thing and i wondered if yours was the same. When playing bluray discs the machine gives off a high pitched frequency which when your ears tune into it is really annoying and spoils watching a film. Sony shop did reluctantly exchange it but the latest one is just the same. So i am now thinking that maybe its just the way the machine is and dont know what to do. I dont really know the best way to describe the noise but its a certain frequency which just goes through you. I would also be interested if anyone else reading this knows what im talking about …………….. Thanks
@ Davey P
I’ve read comments on AVFourms about this but it’s not something that has plagued our S370. My wife and I sat through Avatar the other night and neither of us noticed any high-pitched noises coming from the player.
I’m sorry to hear that yours (both of them!) exhibit this fault. I guess you can either keep exchanging until you get one that is silent or try a different brand.
Perhaps you should ask the staff at the Sony shop for a replacement but try it out in the shop first (proving its quiet enough in there)?
Hi all,
Had delivery from Amazon yesterday of my 40c580 (orderded Thursday-very efficient) and I must say I am very pleased so far. SD content is very good but HD is stunning. I had a 2 year old LG 32 full HD telly which had a good HD picture but wanted to upgrade to a newer and larger panel. I have been looking around what seemed like weeks and plumped for this one.
PS3 COD4 is so much improved compared to my old panel, the detail is stunning. Have not tried BD yet but was watching Discovery HD last night on my Sky HD and was blown away…even the standard picture settings are good.
I really don’t think imo you can get a better alround telly for the money. Very , very pleased. :)
ps. my one is an SQ01 with 1021 China panel.
Hi all, After much deliberation I purchased this TV over its Sony and Panasonic rivals. Did I do the right thing?? Well the Jury is still out, Nice looking set, easy to set up (INITIALLY). The picture is my primary concern, I only have Sky HD and a Sony BD player plugged in at the moment. The sky HD picture is fine and the set plays back Blu ray disks in 1920 1080 24hz with no problem.
T
Sorry about that it cut me off!! I have tried all the calibration settings mentioned on this review and find the picture way too dark for me. The default settings are too high in contrast. I am trying to find a good overall settings for ‘Standard’ mode to provide an allround watchable picture. Whenever I change anything I cannot get rid of distant faces looking like pink paint splodges! news readers etc are ok but if there is someone behind them their face is just a pink blob. Again what ever I do I cannot get this to alter. If I think I have got it right, with one channel after a channel change the picture is either too dark or too bright!! I know SD Channels can alter drastically, but is there something I haven’t done or are not doing right……….I could do with some help please.
I am still in the 28 day cooling off period at the moment and to be honest unless I can strike a happy medium, it may have to go back : (
@ Garry
I went for this from JL also . too good a deal to resist any longer.
I use Nielo’s settings – but as he and others say remember every set and environment and source is different so you will have to tweak accordingly.
I’d put everything as he has it and then adjust the Backlight and Brightness setting to your taste.
@ Nielo – in general is it better to increase the backlight or the the brightness setting to personal taste / to meet basic calibration using DVE brightness screen? I have gone to backlight 4 and adjusted brightness based on my room against pattern.
Hi Thanks for replying so quickly, I have considered buying the DVE Calibration dvd or the ,Spears & Munsil Bluray Calibration Disc do you think that any of these may help? One of the best settings I have had is when I followed Nielo’s guide and turned game mode off. Problem was some HD channels were still very dark. My wife watches the shopping channels …a lot and they are appalling bad, they are much worse on this set than the Sony KDL32V5500 that I have just sold! (getting lots of grief for that!!)
HD and BluRay are noticably better than the Sony, so I cannot grumble too much
Also got this TV from JL for £470 with 5 year warranty!!!
Just basically wanted Neilo’s opinion as to wether there could be a problem with the panel? (Slovakian made SQ01 Version)
Thanks again
@ Garry
Achieving a good all-round picture is very much a subjective matter. What is pleasing to one person may be off-putting to another. Anyway, for the record my settings are (currently) as follows:
Game Mode: Off
Picture Mode: Standard
Backlight: 10
Contrast: 95
Brightness: 43
Sharpness: 20
Colour: 41
Tint: 50/50
Advanced Settings…
Black Tone: Off
Dynamic Contrast: Off
Shadow Detail: -2
Gamma: 0
RGB Only: Off
Colour Space: Auto
Flesh Tone: +2
Edge Enhancement: Off
Picture Options…
Colour Tone: Normal
Noise Filters: Auto
Regarding calibration discs, it’s probably worth mentioning that some bluray films come with a THX optimiser which can help you tune your picture and sound settings. They’re not as comprehensive as dedicated calibration discs but at least you get a film thrown in for free!! Terminator 2 Salvation Edition is one such film, which can be picked up for around £7 from Amazon or Play.
Hope this helps.
ps – I should probably say that my source is a Sky HD box with its output resolution set to Auto and contrast set to medium.
@ alliz: Thanks. I’ll e-mail Samsung tomorrow for an update
@ Pete: PixPerAn doesn’t fully highlight the issue. The best way to detect the presence of inverse ghosting is by decreasing the contrast to minimum and backlight to maximum. If you can, do it when Eastenders is on the air as it will immediately highlight it. Afterwards, set the values back to normal and see if you can tolerate it.
@ Ste W: I can’t comment on the Sony models, but I won’t go near them since Samsung offer so much for so little. The 40C580 is easier to calibrate than the 40C530. So it’s upto you really.
Also, if you’re not sensitive to phosphor trails, try and opt for the Panasonic 42S20 plasma.
@ lesley: If you’re sensitive to motion or can detect uneven motion, then 24p is a must. If you wish find out if you’re affected, download a 24p clip from quicktime trailers etc. and view it on your monitor. Make sure the monitor’s refresh rate is set to 60Hz. and make sure the clip has panning shots.
Also, the C580 is easier to calibrate and as where the C530 will require some effort.
@ lesley: The C530 and C550 do have native 24p support. The problem lies with the C580 model.
@ Naistar: Good to hear. Enjoy the set ^_^
@ Garry: Apply my settings and increase the backlight to ~10 in the morning and 3-4 at night. But make sure to alter the color according to the backlight. If you increase the backlight, the color has to be decreased. Also, try playing with the tint (e.g. slide it towards green) or try the NATIVE color space. It’s not possible to obtain perfect colors but it can produce acceptable level of accuracy. If you want the option to configure color in detail, you’ll have to opt for the 40C650, which has 3D CMS.
Alternately, if you’re not sensitive to phosphor trails, then exchange it for the Panasonic 42S20 plasma
@ jason: The backlight controls the luminance and brightness controls the black level. So the backlight should be set to the environment (don’t exceed 3 or 4 when viewing in pitch black). To configure the brightness, display a black image and set the brightness value to 48 and slowly lower it until there’s no change, which usually occurs at ~44/45.
@ Garry: Try the following
Source: HDMI
Main
* Picture Mode: Movie/Standard
* Backlight: 3-10 (Night-Day)
* Contrast: 100
* Brightness: 43
* Sharpness: 0
* Color: 37 (Depends on the Backlight)
* Tint: G55/R45
* Eco: Enable No Signal Power Off
Advanced Settings:
* Black Tone: Off
* Dynamic Contrast: Off
* Shadow Detail: -2
* Gamma: 0
* RGB Only: Off
* Colour Space: Auto
* White Balance: See Below
* Flesh tone: -5
* Edge Enhancement: On
Picture Options:
* Color Tone: Warm 2
* Size: Screen Fit
* Digital Noise Filter: Off
* MPEG Noise filter: Off
* HDMI Black Level: Low
* Auto Protection Time: 2 hours
Grayscale:
* Red Offset: 22
* Green Offset: 25
* Blue Offset: 25
* Red Gain: 21
* Green Gain: 25
* Blue Gain: 25
Thanks guys for the help I appreciate it, I will try Neilo’s latest settings, although I have been through most settings now and there isnt a lot of difference. While I still have to time to return it, If I cannot strike a happy medium, I was considering the Sony KDL40EX403 ?? would this be bad move??
Opinions appreciated
Gaz
@ Garry
The thing is, it might not be anything to do with set but more to do with the source material. If you’re watching SD channels, especially ones with low bitrates, then there will be a lack of detail in certain areas – and the larger the screen the more noticable it will be.
Personally, I am pleasantly surprised at the way the C580 handles SD material. Having previously owned a 32″ Toshiba LCD I was worried that it would be blocky and unwatchable on this 40″ model but this’s not the case at all. (Maybe I’m sat sufficiently far away to not notice?)
Why not pop in to one of your local electrical stores and compare various sets using their built-in Freeview tuners?
Hi I have just tried Neilo’s last suggested settings, and the pics are a little better, I put a blu ray disc in (3.10 to Yuma)( which was brilliant on my old Sony 32) , and it played ok, but seemed very heavily orange!! Just do not get uniform acceptable quality over SD/HD/Blu ray. I am considering getting Freeview in the not too distant future, I hope the tv displays this a little better.
Read some reviews re; Sony KDL40EX403 It appears that this set too has its own issues!
I expect that I may be sitting too close (8ft away) and all errors are sticking out like sore thumbs!
Thanks again all
If you’re unsatisfied with the image quality, then please do act ASAP. Because one the cool-down period is over, that’s it.
The only suitable set I can think of is the Panasonic TX-P42S20. You could also try the Toshiba 40″ RV series.
@Garry: isn’t that just what 3.10 to Yuma looks like?
What’s the best prices folks have found for either sammy 40c530 or Panna P42S20?
I’ve found on Amazon LE40c530 @ £397 or P42S20 @ £554.
John Lewis list P42S20 @ £599, with 5yr warranty, but not in stock :-(
I’m still unable to find a 40C650 with Richer Sounds (I have credit in hand) and they are not set-up to provide delivery dates for anything thay don’t currently stock. So I thought I’d have a look for other good sets…
They (RS) sell LED models with a similar number, but not this one. They also sell a 32″ C530 but no other sizes. Grrrr. I’m still Seriously considering a credit against a BD player and a Humax and go buy a telly elsewhere…
Dont particulary want a 40″. Put off by the buzzing on the LE37C530.
Was looking at the SAMSUNG LE37C580. Is this tv any good?
For xbox 360, dvd and blue ray
Please post calibration settings for those of us who have AUO panels
Hi I have had the LE40C580 for a couple of months no and it has suddenly developed a floresent pink distortion on faces, reds and yellows, basically on no matter what settings I have it on, had it on the settings suggested here but have tried the all the standard settings. Back to the shop?? any ideas?
@ Matt
Could this be related to the issue Garry had (on 5 September 2010 2:57 pm) where he describes faces as appearing as “pink paint splodges” with his brand new C580? If so I wonder if your TVs have anything else in common (eg panel type)?
@ Matt I have tried to rid my set of distant faces looking like pink blobs and cannot find any setting that cures it. (Bin tweaking ever since I got it two weeks ago) I am also in two minds as wether to return or not. The contrast on my set seems to be set way too high (at factory) Whilst watching Ice road truckers it is very noticable, (total whiteout!!) even having the contrast setting on 45% !!!
…………may ne panel problem…..dont know
Slovakian made SQ01 Panel
Awesome site. Recently bought Samsung P2270HD Ecofit 22-inch LCD Monitor for my daughters room and suitably impressed with the whole Sammy experience to look for the living room replacement (was previously a bit of a Sony snob but quality has not kept up with price increases, IMHO)
Anyway, settled on th 580, and just deciding whether the JL extended warranty option is better for me or go through Amazon. My question is whether anyone has experience with streaming from their PC to this – there is some great internet sports coverage that whilst not perfect, would be better on this than on my 19″ monitor. Can this be done, and if so, does anyone have tips please?
Hi
We dont have freeview hd in our area yet but it is coming soon . Can somebody please tell me how i can find this on this tv as i cant yet see anything
Thanks
Would the 46″ version of this TV have greater input lag?
I’ve had the 40C580 for 2 weeks now and am generally very pleased with it. However, I watched football (MOTD) on Freeview tonight and noticed a flickering of the players during movement. It was almost as if they became holograms for a few seconds when running.
Is this ‘motion blur’? Is it because the TV is 50hz rather than 100hz?
It bothered me quite a bit and I’ll be watching football a lot on this TV. I’m now considering whether I should upgrade to the Samsung C650. Any advice?
Ben,
I have noticed that, as with all SD Freeview programming, the quality of sports output does vary. Both BBC’s and ITV’s football programmes can look a bit rough at times, with soft noisy images and jerky movement. At other times, coverage can be well-defined with no noticeable juddering. For example, BBC’s F1 transmissions and Channel 5’s cricket highlights are superbly smooth. (I’ve not seen anything on HD yet, so I can’t comment. Nor can I say whether 100hz would improve matters.)
All in all, I’m very happy with this TV. I have just spent the evening watching Avatar on DVD (not blu-ray) with the audio connected optically to my old Yamaha sound system, and I find it hard to criticise on any count.
I cant quite confidently decide on this or the direct lit with local dimming led Sharp LC40LE600E for £485, Anything you can comment on the Sharp Nielo?
Davey P – The three HD channels are within the Freeview guide on the TV – channels 50, 51 and 52 (BBC HD, ITV1 HD and Ch4 HD respectively) So if you have any taste, you’ll be able to enjoy superb HD on two channels, as the x factor and other guff they show on ITV does not get any better when you can see Simon Cowell’s nose hairs
I’ve updated the review (located beneath the summery section).
I have to stated that after trying three 37C530 and a 40C530, 40C580 is far superior in every regard.
Nielo, I have had the c580 for about 3 weeks now and am generally happy but the c650 is tempting from Amazon at just over 600. Do you think I’d see a big difference in Blu-Ray/SKY HD if I upgraded?
Nielo:
In your summary you state the following: the majority of Samsung models can indeed accept and display 4:4:4.
What does this mean exactly???
Please accept my apologies for not responding to earlier questions. If anyone is still awaiting an response, please let me know,
@ Ben: It’s only worth opting for the C650 if you own a colorimeter and a compatible software. But even then, LCDs do not produce stable gamma, black, white, colors etc. from corner to corner. On the other hand, if you’re unable to tolerate the telecine-judder, then it maybe be worth investing in the C650. Having said that, the question you should be asking yourself is, it is worth the hassle and the extra £150?
@ NoDabble: Usually, TVs sub-sample 4:4:4 to either 4:2:2 or 4:2:0 upon processing. It is done to keep the cost of LSI down and to reduce lag. The effects of down-sampling is difficult to notice when viewing TV, movie or playing games. However, when using the display as a monitor, it does become somewhat problematic. By labeling HDMI/DVI to PC, the signal bypasses processing and retains its full 4:4:4 data.
You can find more info regarding chroma sub-sampling on the link below
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chroma_subsampling
I use my PC connected to my 32C580 to watch blu-rays, I have an HDMI cable connected from the PC to the TV (HDMI1/DVI). Should I set the label name for HDMI1/DVI to ‘PC’ or ‘DVI PC’? or does it not make a difference? i’m not using a DVI to HDMI adaptor or anything just a straight HDMI to HDMI cable as my PC graphics card has an HDMI socket.
Great review. I got the LE40C550. I guess it’s the same except for the tuners (here in the Netherlands it seems it only supports DVB-T and DVB-C).
I got my PS3 hooked up. And watched the Blu-ray Planet Earth from BBC. I was prepared for motion judder. But it was more like continuous stottering. Not only with panning shots. In the settings of my PS3 I turned of 24P. It is way better now.
The Dark Knight is watchable again. Gonna try new firmware and to connect the PS3 directly to my tv and leave out my denon 1909. See if that helps.
Hmm spoke a bit too soon. Turning off 24p in PS3 makes a bit better but not by much and in some scenes there’s no difference at all. It can be smooth with 24p turned on.
Did some research and the problem lies with my PS3 probably. It is not the best at smooth playback :( Ah well got to live with it I guess till I get a dedicated Blu-Ray player. But that can take a while :p
Again..the C550 is an excellent TV and excepts 24p just fine. Wish I could test with a dedicated Blu-ray player to see it fixes the not so smooth playback at times.
hmm no edit here…24p is wrong ofcourse its 24Hz ;)
Hi guys. First of all: great review, Nielo! But I still got a question for all the people here. Since I am a kind of hardcore gamer, low input lag is mandatory for me, but due to my fear of burn-in, plasma is a no-go for me. Now I have the choice between the C530 with a measured IL of 14ms and the superior C579/580 with an estimated lag of 35ms. I wonder if any of you have the possibility to check the true input lag vs a CRT? That would be really great :)
Thanks in advance and a nice day,
torhal
Just a heads-up for everyone. Though out of stock at the moment, Amazon are now selling the TV for £404.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B003DNSJ5Y/ref=oss_product
I have recently purchased this TV and have a few issues with picture quality.
For example, if I am watching say the news and the picture is a close up of a face, the quality is brilliant. When it is zoomed out a little and you can see a couple of people, the picture quality seems to suffer. It looks a little blocky lets say.
I am watching though my Humax PVR via a scart lead (standard def). I am thinking of getting either sky or virgin (not HD though)
Is the poor picture caused by my PVR and do you think the picture would improve using a sky or virgin box.
I am still within the 30 day return time, so should i return it, do you think it is a faulty set?
Any body else noticed this pitcure issue?
@tom – Do you notice the same issue when watching a DVD? If not, it could simply be down Freeview’s poor SD picture quality. (The bigger your screen, the more you notice it!) How does it compare to your TVs own built-in Freeview decoder? Also, you may have your sharpness set a bit high which could be accentuating the blockiness.
Well i sent it back. Amazon dropped the price but wouldn’t refund the difference. So i have opted to return it and order it again.
John Lewis have it again at 479 i think
@tom – Not a problem with the tv I guess. Bad analog signal. Digital is the best way to go. Also next adjust some settings. Like NoDabble said.
This is a really great review. Thanks! I’ve got mine delivered 2 weeks ago and I’ve been struggling to connect my PC to this TV. I use a DVI to HDMI cable which works fine. For audio, I use a stereo cable from the PC line-out jack to the DVI/PC audio-in jack on the TV. For some reason I can’t hear any sound. The stereo cable is fine. I’ve tried connecting an iPod audio-out to the TV audio-in jack. It doesn’t work either. Any idea?
@ Judah:The difference between PC and DVI PC is the audio input. PC will decode audio from HDMI and DVI PC will decode the audio from the 3.5mm analogue jack.
@ torhal: Both C530 and C580 have identical lag. Only the 32″ C530 has one frame lag. The 40″ model has lag of ~35ms
@ michaeljubel: Apply the following: Menu > Input > Edit Name > HDMI1/DVI and either select DVI PC or DVI Devices
WOW. It works! How can that be possible? I’ve even asked for a replacement unit and that didn’t solve the problem. Is this mentioned in the user manual? If it is, I mush have missed it.
Thanks! You saved me a fortune. I was about to buy an AV Receiver and speakers, which I don’t really need.
Anyway, this question might be a bit unrelated but can anyone suggest the best way to use the TV speaker with audio coming from a connected laptop? I’m experiencing some noise and the audio sounds a bit powerless. I don’t usually experience this if I connect a headphone to my laptop. The stereo cable that connects the laptop to the TV is gold-plated.
I’ve been considering the following options:
– get an external sound card for the laptop (eg. Creative)
– get a better, insulated stereo cable
– get a new laptop/nettop that has HDMI (eg. Mac Mini or Asus Eee Box)
– forget the TV speaker and get a good AV receiver with a good set of speakers
Is the TV speaker of this Samsung TV good enough for audio coming from a PC?
Never looks at the manual, so I wouldn’t know ^_^
The 40C580 does has a good pair of speakers. But it is limited by the onboard audio processor.
The best [budget] option at the moment is to either get the Creative T20 Series II or T40 Series II. Both have sublime sound quality. But make sure to buy from a reputable store [e.g. Amazon] so you can return it if the power supply buzzes.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B001IZZ2PE/ref=asc_df_B001IZZ2PE1006232?smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&tag=h04-21&linkCode=asn&creative=22206&creativeASIN=B001IZZ2PE
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B001IZZ2PO/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=103612307&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B001IZZ2PE&pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_r=13CA6RQ0FT9FJ97SDZVM
Purchased this Tv based on this review and the picture is great, so thanks for the review! A couple of questions tho. How do you adjust the Tint setting? its grayed out and im unable to change it. Also how can you find out what firmware is currently installed and would you recommend upgrading to the lastest if you are NOT experiancing any problems? In short is there any value in running the latest firmware.
Hi Dean
Unfortunately, tint option is disabled when using RGB SCART. As for the firmware, it only improves internal media playback (e.g. via USB). So there’s no need to update.
Nielo, i was thinking to buy 40c530 but after i saw this review i changed my mind. You are saying that “C580 is greatly superior to the C530 ” but from where i live i can’t find 40c580 in stores only c530 and c550.
Do you suggest that i buy 40c530 nevertheless. i’ll use it mostly for ps3 and watching mkv films. Thanks for the review by the way.
In that case, opt for the C550.
Thanks for the quick reply man. Luckily i found this amazing site.
No problem. Let me know if you have any issues or questions regarding the set.
Thanks for the great review. It has me sold. I ordered this TV on Saturday, It will arrive on Thursday. I can’t wait to try it out on my 360. Been playing my 360 on a Samsung SyncMaster T200HD which is 20 inches, now I will get 40 inches of fun!! Yahoooooo.
One question though. If I put a Movie onto a USB stick, can I plug it into the TV and watch it directly off of the Stick?
Thanks again for the great review.
Sorry I forgot to add… The USB Stick, can it also play Music straight off the Stick?
@Donald – Yes on both counts! I have an external hard drive loaded with films, music and photos connected to my C580 via the USB and it handles them all really well.
Bought this TV and think it is great, with one exception. When playing DVDs the picture judders really badly. Is there anything I can do to correct this? Would a better DVD player make a difference? If I can’t fix this problem I will be returning th set unfourtunately. I dont understand how a company can sell a TV for £400+ and yet it cant play DVDs properly.
@bobthomas – What DVD player are you using? How is it connected to the TV? Do all DVDs judder? What Region are they?
Hi thanks for the quick reply. The DVD player is just a cheap supermarket job, connected via scart, however I didn’t have any problems with it with the old TV. The DVDs are region 2. The judder seems to occurr on all DVDs I’ve tried and is most apparent during slow steady camera movements.
@bobthomas – I guess it shouldn’t matter if it’s a cheapo player; if it works fine on one TV it should fork fine on them all!
Assuming the player is outputting a 50hz PAL signal and the TV is displaying a 50hz PAL signal (press Info on the TV remote to check this) then maybe the TV is faulty? I can’t say I’ve noticed any problems with DVD playback on mine.
Have you tried any DVDs that aren’t films, eg UK TV programmes?
Same here. All the C580s and C530 I tested had no problems with DVD or any motion related artifact.
Donald: Let us know of your impressions once you’ve received it ^_^
I know now why you gave this TV your Highly Recomended Tag. I recieved mine today at 3pm and have been on it ever since. I got the Slovakian model. No stuck or dead pixels.
Freeview play back is very good.
DVD play back is very good.
Xbox 360 games are smooth and crisp, (wow how going from 20 inch to 40 inch has made a load of difference in my games).
Colours look great and the Sound quality is great too. It was very easy to assemble and setup up too. From Box to sitting down watching a DVD took around 30 minutes.
Thanks for taking your time to write this review, it made my mind up on going for this TV. Well worth the £479 I spent at John Lewis. All round I am very happy with my purchase.
I still havnt tried it out on my PC, but I will get round to it and im sure I will be impressed.
Cheers.
Hi I am looking to buy this set tomorrow. My only concern is the panel lottery. Can it be told what panel is inside from outside of the box. Should the shop allow me to check inside? I have had problems with C panels before and dont want the hassle again. Cheers Joe
Are you living in the UK? If you. you’ll get S-PVA from either China or Slovakia
@ Donald: Glad you like the set. Make sure you calibrate it correctly.
Use the following for Interlaced Source [Sky HD, DVD etc.]
Main
* Picture Mode: Movie
* Backlight: 2-3 (~120-130 cdm2)
* Contrast: 100
* Brightness: 45
* Sharpness: 0
* Color: 45
* Tint: 50/50
* Eco: Enable No Signal Power Off and Disable Rest
Advanced Settings:
* Black Tone: Off
* Dynamic Contrast: Off
* Shadow Detail: -2
* Gamma: 0 [+1 on some sets]
* RGB Only: Off
* Colour Space: Auto
* White Balance: Default (you’ll need colorimeter or trained eye to do this)
* Flesh Tone: 0 or [-8]
* Edge Enhancement: On
Picture Options:
* Color Tone: Warm 2
* Size: N/A
* Digital Noise Filter: Off
* MPEG Noise filter: Off
* Film Mode: Auto 2
* Auto Protection Time: 2 hours
Use the following for Progressive Source [BD, PC, Game Consoles etc.]
Main
* Picture Mode: Standard (Game Mode)
* Backlight: 2-3 (~120-130 cdm2)
* Contrast: 100
* Brightness: 45 [For X360 and PS2, you may need to lower it to 43 or 44]
* Sharpness: 0
* Color: 45
* Tint: 50/50
* Eco: Enable No Signal Power Off and Disable Rest
Advanced Settings:
* Black Tone: Off
* Dynamic Contrast: Off
* Shadow Detail: -2
* Gamma: 0
* RGB Only: Off
* Colour Space: Auto
* White Balance: Default (you’ll need colorimeter or trained eye to do this)
* Flesh Tone: 0 or [-8]
* Edge Enhancement: On
Picture Options:
* Color Tone: Warm 2
* Size: N/A
* Digital Noise Filter: Off
* MPEG Noise filter: Off
* Film Mode: N/A
* Auto Protection Time: 2 hours
I am strongly considering either the Samsung le40c580 and the Sony 40EX503. Do you think the extra money is worth it for the Sony 40EX503? I will primarily use the TV for PS3 gaming, SD TV viewing and watching movies (DivX, DVD, Bluray). Any ideas?
I can’t recommend the the EX503 due to its higher input lag
40″ C580s with AUO’s A-MVA panel have now entered the UK market.
Where can I get one?
It is best to get it DIRECTLY from Amazon as you can easily obtain refund if you’re unhappy with the set (within 14-28 days).
Anyone tried the new firmware released 14th Oct 2010 ver. T-VAL5DEUC-1005.2
JL price now back up to £549 Amazon $459
does anyone have a link for the firmware update
You’ll find it here:
http://www.samsung.com/uk/support/detail/supportPrdDetail.do?menu=SP01&prd_ia_cd=02010100&prd_mdl_cd=&prd_mdl_name=LE40C580J1K&prd_ia_sub_class_cd=P
(I’ve not tried it myself yet.)
http://www.samsung.com/uk/support/detail/supportPrdDetail.do?menu=SP01&prd_mdl_cd=&prd_mdl_name=LE40C580J1K&prd_ia_sub_class_cd=P
under downloads / firmware
It only seems to mention a “Power on error when CAM is inserted”.
Does the new firmware enable the TV to display 24p correctly?
I took delivery of the 37″ C580 on Saturday and sadly it buzzes. Now, I have to decide whether to exchange or not. The buzz actually gets quieter after about 5 minutes to the point where I can’t notice it any more. Anyone know what causes it and why it would get quieter? The panel itself seems fine, no dead pixels etc. It is an AA01.
If I exchange I would probably go for the 40″ C580 to avoid the possibility of another buzzer (37″ problem only?)and also it has a better panel apparently. But in the real world would I notice any real difference in the panel between the AA01 and whatever the 40″ comes with in the UK. It will primarily be used for Freeview SD and HD and DVD only.
So stick with a panel that seems ok but needs warming up or go for the 40″? Any thoughts appreciated.
Am I right in thinking that this TV doesn’t have proper RCA audio outputs and that I have to send audio to an amplifier via a 3.5mm headphone jack?
What is the good of that?
Also, what are the chances of there being a firmware to enable proper 24p handling? Has this ever been done before by Samsung?
Will the 24p problem be apparent when attached to a PC’s HDMI port?
Im confused now!
great review on both this and the c530. Im after a 40? screen to be used with PS3, XBox and a humax HD freeview PVR recorder / decoder.
The 40c530 is £400 and the 40c580 is £460.
I presumed i wouldnt need the C580’s built in freeviewHD so I would go for the C530 but in your update to the C580 review you mention about sending a C530 back and that the C580 is actually a much better TV?
For my usage …. is it worth me spending an extra £60 on the C580 even though I wont use its built in freeviewHD at all.
Thanks in advance (been putting off buying a tv for a year now because I cant decide but the time has come and I’m buying one of these this week as soon as you answer really! )
To throw a 3rd into the mix the 40c550 is £415 from amazon. is this better than the c530?
I wonder if the 550 has roughly the same quality as the 580 just without the HD Tuner.
It might actually handle 24p better than the 580 as well.
Thanks Nielo for the great info on here. very interesting.
I have purchased a 46″ C580 on the info I have read above and am hoping for a good panel!
Thanks again for the info, very helpful.
Hey all. Bought the 32” at john lewis this week. The picture quality is brilliant but when not using game mode for games it seems like it is lagging a lot. On cod the aimings nowhere near as twitchy. Even on movie mode with all image enhancement off. It also seems to be experiencing motion blur on all modes on games like fifa and movies. Is this normal or shall I get it replaced. Cheers Joe
Had 40C580 for about a week love it, still awaiting delivery of my BD player and thought I’d check on the progress of getting firmware fix off Sammy. Thanks so much for the detailed review helped me make my choice with less worry.
Cheers@Nielo
Matt.
I’m torn between this and the Panasonic S20, which one would you recommend ?
I’ll mostly be using it for gaming and watching the occasional Blu-ray.
IS THERE ANY DIFFERENCE
Between 32ex503 and c580 in the graphics sharpness etc ???
and what about Panasonic VIERA S20 Series 32 inch TX-L32S20B
Please can anyone help me with my earlier problem. Ive only had it two weeks. Will I be able to get a replacement from john lewis straight away?
@ Nielo TM
Firstly, great review and fantastic feedback to your audience. You are a credit to the website.
I have a quick question if you have the time: I’m buying a 32″ set and will be using it for PS3 gaming. Is there a noticeable difference between the C530 and C580’s performance in this regard?
If yes how great of a difference is it as I will obviously be sacrificing the freeview hd and improved styling on the 580 if i do opt for the 530?
I’ve not seen much mentioned about this TV with a PC and I think it would benefit a lot of people if someone had some tips on settings. Personally the HDMI out on my PC looks terrible – It says it’s pumping out 1080p but for some reason it’s not filling the whole screen. The VGA port looks equally poor.
Fitst I like to apologize for the late reply. Been busy with Uni work.
@ Chris: Buzzing is a problem on most 37″ panels and the cause remains unknown at this point.
ATM, if you opt for the 40C580, you’ll either get S-PVA or A-MVA (3rd Gen) panel. The S-PVA is better quality but the A-MVA is more advanced. But since the prime use is FreeView, HD and DVD, either panel will do just fine. Make sure to lookout for Pillaring
http://guide2lcdtv.com/2008/10/checklists-new-lcd-televisions/
@Crash: Most TVs have poor DACs. So it’s not recommended to output analogue sound unless there are no alternatives.
Samsung TVs have been compatable with 24p for some time. The issues in question is isolated to the chip found inside the C580. I haven’t heard anything from Samsung accept that have identified the cause. And yes, PC is also affected.
@ Nathan: Speaking from my experience, the C580 is definitely better and IMO worth the extra £60. I don’t if the settings are changed recently, but I can’t comment on the recent versions.
PS: Stay well away from the C550. It is an European version and not sold by Amazon UK. It is in fact sold by 3rd party dealer.
@ Crash: The C550 is C530 inside the C580 casing.
@ Martin Roberts: Glad to be of help and I hope you get the panel you’re after.
@ Joe: The will lag behind when not in Game Mode. So when playing games, you must enable it. As for ghosting, you will notice slight streaking due to the panel. I assume the panel is fitted with S-PVA panel?
@ Matty: Glad to be of help.
@ Paul: If you’re not sensitive to buzzing, flicker and phosphor lag, then opt for the S20.
@ Mark: Thanks for the complements ^_^. From my experience, the C580 has better auto dimming control and accurate color temp (WARM 2). So it’s very easy to set-up and doesn’t require serious grayscale calibration. So personally I would opt for the C580.
Also, the C580 is manufactured is Slovakia and guaranteed to get the high-quality Valencia processor. If you opt for the 32C530, you might get either MStar (low-end) or semi-low-end Trident. .
@ Richard: I had no issue with PC. If you’re using an ATI/AMD card, then you have to set overscan to max. You also have either enable Game Mode or PC Mode. Game is recommended over PC mode as it doesn’t lock critical options.
@Nielo
Thanks for the reply. After also spotting some strange pound-coin sized circles towards the edges of the 37C580 on dark scenes I returned it to Dixons (fairly straight forward – quick refund) and ordered the 40C580 instead. Just evaluating it now. It has slight VB on the right hand side running the whole height of the panel (SQ01) but I only notice it on dark backgrounds occasionally when the scene is panning horizontally or when the guide is on. I’ll see how much it bothers me over the next couple of weeks, if at all.
Otherwise everything else about the TV is as good as your valuable review stated, so thanks :-)
@Nielo
Greetings
Since your Review is based on the UK model, but the best around, i have to secure things and ask you.
–Is the “C579” 100% the same TV re-labeled, or is there any difference you know of?
–Any difference on Panel Lottery regarding European TV’s? (i fear C’s)
–And how do you verify if you got the latest/best Chips in your Set? (Valencia)
I would aim for the 40 inch version.
Thank You.
I see mention elsewhere of audio sync problems on HDTV. Has anyone a comment on this?
Great reviews, Game Mode improves the picture an amazing amount, but makes the sound quite tinny. Anyone know how to get the improved picture without the loss of sound quality?
Quick message to say thanks to everyone for your help in choosing a tv, I ordered the c580 from Amazon yesterday, the price is only £415 now!
Can anybody please confirm that the C580 (specifically 40″) has an analogue tuner?
I’m considering the tv mainly for gaming in a second room but the room does already have an RF feed from a Sky box. It’s rarely used but would be a shame to lose the ability (ignore the fact that the picture won’t be up to much!)
Thanks
Hey guys, bit of a n00b question but I just got my shiny new bd player yesterday and connected it up to my 40in 580 with 24p set to auto on the player (it’s either that or off) and after hitting the info button it’s showing 1920*1080 24Hz. does that mean its actually running 24p? I’ll post model etc if it helps when i get home, but from memory it’s from Slovkia and the SQ01. advise would be appreciated. TIA Matt.
Hi Guys!
Thanks to Nielo TM for this great review. I just got mine yesterday, SQ01 Slovakia, and its my first LCD.
Great TV, apart from
1) the effect of ghosting, hghly noticable and annoying(to me) when a person with black shakes or even turns head. That is based on DVD played through SCART. I could be wrong, but it seemed to be far less of a problem when DivX film was played through USB port. Any comments on that? Or could it be because TV simply warmed up?
2)moving text is pretty much unreadable-not a smooth movement u would see on CRT :-)
Am I right saying that these 2 annoying features are related to more or less all LCD TV , and it’s not an issue of faulty model?
Thnk you.
Alexis
A person with black HAIR, sorry :-)
@Bradley – The instruction manual (which you can download from Samsung’s support website) does mention an analogue tuner. It says…
> TV System
> Analogue : Depending on your country selection
> Digital: DVB-T/DVB-C/DVB-T2(UK Only)
>
> Colour/Video System
> Analogue: PAL, SECAM, NTSC-4.43, NTSC-3.58, PAL60
> Digital: MPEG-2 MP@ML, MPEG-4, H.264/AVC MP@L3, MP@L4.0, HP@L4.0
I’ve never tried connecting an analogue source to mine so I can’t fully confirm it’ll do what you want it to!
@Matty – Although it says 24Hz it is actually converting the 24p signal to 60Hz. Nielo says he doesn’t like it but it doesn’t bother me.
@Alexis – Not sure about the black hair issue but scrolling text always tends to look less sharp on LCD TVs compared to CRTs, but certainly not unreadable. Some of the shopping channels (eg bid-up, price-drop) have two lines of scrolling text moving at different speeds. On on my 40C580 both scroll smoothly and are readable, but their edges aren’t quite as crisp as they would be on a CRT.
Got my tv yesterday and very happy with it, only had an hour to play with it but when i put my xbox on i could not seem to enable game mode via hdmi2, anyone able to tell me what I would need to do? Thanks!
@Neil – Game Mode setting is in the main Set Up menu, under the General sub-menu. (See page 19 of user guide.)
@NoDabble – How would one know if it was displaying @24p without the conversion?. also does anyone know if the UE40C5800 would display this correctly? Thinking of possibly exchanging, rather long story on how I’m going to do this but it is an option? any advce would be really appeciated. Matt.
@Matty – I think you would need to watch the same scene of the same bluray on a TV that displays 24p and on one which doesn’t in quick succession. Camera pans would look less smooth on the non-24p display.
Don’t know about the UE40C5800.
@NoDabble – I forgot to say it was on the tv that it shows 1920X1080 24Hz after hitting the info button I thought it would display 1920X1080 60Hz if it wasn’t displaying correctly? this is only from what I have been reading on AVforums and on here, so I might be mistaken?
Mine also says 1920×1080 24Hz but after I compared the opening sequence of Toy Story 2 on a friend’s TV (60″ Pioneer plasma) I was able to tell the difference. Not that it bothers me though. I can quite happily watch blurays without being distracted by 60Hz motion judder.
First of all, what a fantastic review site, some went over my head but what i did understand is the best i’ve seen. Now the TV, bought from amazon this week and i am very impressed, really good straight out of the box, tinkering now to try and improve it but it’s hard because it’s so good as it comes, fun trying though. The price is the other thing £415!! HOW! Absolute Bargain.
@ Chris: I have the same issue as well. But I try not to look for it.
@ arminius: It could also be re-branded C550, so I can’t say for sure. If it is C550, then it should have the Trident processor as only the C580 has the Valencia processor.
You can check it via Main Menu > Support > Contact Samsung. Under product information, look for the Software Version.
T-VAL: Valencia
T-TDT: Trident
T-MSX: MStar
As for the panel lottery, there’s no indication of European 40″ models fitted with CMI’s S-MVA panel.
@ Ben Hester: You have to play around with EQ and Surround option, but in Game Mode, both are disabled. What you can do is disable Game Mode and switch for Standard Mode and apply the Movie Mode setting.
@ Neil: Congratulations. Enjoy your new set ^_^
@ Matty: The C580 accepts 24p, but it converts it to 60Hz via 2:3 pull-down.
@ Alexis: Fast moving texts are difficult to read due to the LCD’s high hold-time. As for the black ghosting (inverse ghosting), it is a problem on all LTF400HM01 panel, but the effect is amplified when using RGB0SCART as the luminance reduced for some reason, which is why it is less noticeable when using the USB.
So to overcome the issue, you’ll have to switch to HDMI and lower the backlight to 3-5 and set Contrast to 100.
@Nielo TM: Thanx very much again! It was another brilliant advice, tweaking with settings did make big difference!
@Nielo
I have two questions regarding current panels.
Is there still certainty that UK ordered LE40C580s are all SPVA or are there already AMVA versions being sold ?
I own a LE46C580 – but after the second one still pillaring on the left side I am thinking about a move to SPVA.
Is there really such a big difference in contrast (4200/SPVA vs 1990/AMVA) according to some tests in DigitalVersus – Reviews & News, TVs, LCD Monitors, Laptops… ? Moving to 40″ from 46″ I would be missing the size. Is there a LE40C580 like panel SPVA on any of the 46″ TVs ? Again is there certainty I would get an SPVA ?
Thanks!
Hi, excuse me can you someone assure me, if the LE46C550 has the same imput lag like this 40´´? Thank you very much
Hi everyone! HDTVtest rocks! I got two questions couse I’m a newbie… Any response is highly appreciated…
1. I got the brand new LE40C550 (LE40C550J1WXXH), and after reading this ENTIRE page and ALL the posts I’m still confused… Is the C550 the same TV as C580 ???… it is clear that the C530 and C580 are not the same… but i own C550 (tv is made in slovakia, i live in croatia)
2. On Samsung official site (for Croatia) there are 2 update firmwares available: T-TDT5DEUC-1021.0 and T-MSX5DEUC-2005.4 . Do i need to install both updates or what…
Some info on LE40C550 for anyone who may be considering it: analogue & DVB-T tuner for SD channels plus MPEG-4 tuner for HD channels. Picture is awsome on all. SD/HD movies via USB-HDD works fine with briliant subtitles. Gaming via PC via HDMI –>DVI cable works great, smooth and clear /GeForce
I read almost every comment and what caught my attention most was that “40C580 is far superior in every regard” when compared with the LE40C530. Does this include console gaming as well?
Since I will be using this TV mostly for gaming on my Xbox 360, what do you suggest Nielo? Does the C580 have a bigger input lag that might affect gaming? Or is it the same as C530? Also, does the C530 suffer from ghosting? I’m really confused on which one to buy.
I enjoy gaming online ( specifically COD series, which can only be enjoyed with low input lag). I tried reading every review of LCD’s that would not lag when using a gaming console.
After finally finding this review from Nielo, which was the most helpful to date, i went ahead and brought the TV ( since it was the only LCD I could find with a good low input lag review) and prayed that when i set it up and played there would be no input.
I received the TV yesterday set it up and it was amazing, in game mode there is no noticeable lag. I have upgraded from a computer monitor with VGA cable which i assume had no lag to this LCD, and my god is it good.
I Recommend this TV to any gamers out there, that want a LCD with very low input lag. and it looks the bomb as well. amazon sell it for a good price of £430 ish.
Does anyone know if the LE40C580 can be wall mounted and if so, what is a suitable bracket to use?
Hi,
I understand you recommend the le40c580 over the le40c530. I’m from Germany and it seems there is no c580 here. In your comments I read that the le40c550 would be the european equivalent, but on another board I read that it’s the lec579.
Do you know anything about that?
Here the c550 on amazon.de http://goo.gl/XhQmL
and here the c579 http://goo.gl/tNyQQ
Hi guys,
I know, everybody is asking for comments/advices on different topics and it is not an easy task to reply to everybody.
Said that, I am relocating to Europe from Canada and I am willing to get this Samsung tv. As already asked from Jay I would like to make sure that the 550 model is as good as the uk 580. In Italy you can find both 530 and 550 but I wouldn’t like to spend the extra bucks just to have a 530 with a 580 case (according to the fact that the 530 seems to be inferior to the other model).
Because this was asked many times in this review, I think it may be worthy to clarify the issue ones for all: is the 550 as good as the 580 or it is just a 530 with a 580 case?
Thanks for the time
Peace
Hi, I just bought my first LCD TV – LE40C550. 2 questions:
1) In comments under c530 review I read that Samsung panels are better than AUO. I read so on some Polish forums. But in comments under this review people complain about Samsung panels… Why? I’m confused.
2) The settings you posted on Facebook are for Samsung AO3. Does it mean I have to change them for Samsung Panel? And if so, what can I leave sam as posted and what should I play with in order to get the best quality?
I wonder why this model isnt available in Portugal, we only have the le40c530 and lec550…..so i wonder what differences are between those models….
regards
Also does the C550 and c580 read mkvs full hd with dts too?
How can i find which panel is the best?is this included in the serial number?how can i know before i purcharse?
Great review, in depth and discusses everything I want to know about the TV (unlike some other sites!). I’ve learnt to trust Nielo’s views implicitly, always great knowledge and advice. It’s just a shame I didn’t scroll down more on this page before I bought a 37″ C580!
Unfortunately the screen has the infamous backlight inverter problem.
It buzzes like a swarm of angry bees on any reduced levels of backlight. The only setting it does not happen on is at 20 (max)
The TV was made in Slovakia and the panel model is AA01 A-MVA from AUO (Taiwan)
The TV has been packed up and will be taken back to John Lewis, paid £485. More than Amazon and in fact more than the 40″ iteration but the 5 year warranty swayed me. It’s a great shame as the picture and uniformity seemed good to me. No banding either.
I’m amazed at the poor quality of the LCDs & LEDs on the market, I’ve had a KDL-37EX403U -AUO backlight inverter buzz once again, a KDL40EX403U – horrific horizontal banding and an LG-LE375300 – terrible backlight bleed and horizontal and vertical banding!
The search continues for a TV I can live with! I think I will try a Panasonic next or perhaps go with the C580 40″ version (but wife thinks it’s too big from 3 metres away)
How do you check what panel is?
There is a sticker on the side of the screen, otherwise you can get a torch and shine a light down inside the screen at the back. You’ll be able to make out the panel manufacturer from the sticker.
The codes are as follows
SS01 /02,03,04/ or SQ01 (02,03,04) S-PVA from Samsung
CN01, CN02 – S-MVA from CMO
BN01 ,BN02 (05,06,07) – S-MVA from CMO
AA01 (02,03,04),C02(04)- A-MVA from AUO
AC02 – new panel A-MVA3 from AUO
BA01 – panel from AUO with backlit from HILIN
I102 I203 – panel IPS-Pro from IPS-Alph
Hey rob, thanks. So which one’s should i be searching for.
Sorry Rob if i plan to buy on a vritual store how can i ask the sellers for this info?
regards,
OK, new one for here (I think!).
I know XBOX360 has distinct issues with outputting 1080p, as the usual native resolution for most games is 720p. So when certain games are on (Fallout 3,AC Brotherhood for example) I get noticible screen tearing in 1080p.
However, on the LE40C580, 720p for any game looks poor in game mode.
I know this depends a lot on how the display interprets the signal, and for this TV I’m finding 1080i looks best when the game has bad screen tearing.
Any suggestions on how to further reduce this for this display greatly appreciated. Maybe I’m missing a setting on the XBOX too………..
Many thanks to Nielo and other for the excellent feedback and advice so far aswell…
I ordered one of these TVs pretty much based on this review and the excellent comments. I have got a Slovakian model with the SQ01 screen from Amazon. The quality is excellent and I can’t find ANY problems, including all the quality issues posted here. I am watch a Lord of the Rings Bluray as I type this and cannot notice any juddering due to the 24p issue. I consider myself quite anal when it comes to picture quality and usually spot any errors, but no matter how hard I look the TV is excellent. The only quality problems are due to the usual artifacts that you get with regular SD digital broadcasts, but these are minimal. I have also tried a number of games on my PS3 and detected no lag. I could hardly see any difference with game mode on or off!
If you are thinking of getting this TV then DO IT!! lol
Minor edit: I’m not sure which model I have. The sticker on the pannel I can see through the lower vent says:
BN96-13171C, with what I guess is a serial number below it starting with HS1…….
On the side of the screen it says SQ01.
What does this mean?
sorry for spamming the comments: I’ve just seen the actual sticker at the top vent! Apparently I have a BN07. I needed a torch!
you bought the c580???im really having difficult in deciding wether i go for the c650 or this one…..
Well Joao, I’m going to go with the 37″ C650 as the latest reviews on Amazon state that the backlight does not buzz. I think it is probably a lottery though unless Samsung/AUO have finally stopped fitting low quality 32″ transistors to the 37″ models at last.
The 100 Hz motion could be beneficial to me when watching sports too. And true 24p support for my Blu-Rays.
Only £50 more here in the UK over the price I paid for the C580.
i know all 37″ models are AUO panels but the last one seemed fine to me apart from the poor viewing angles. I understand the S-PVA panels are superior in this regard but the black ghosting is an issue for the discerning.
I’ll let you know how I get on, ordering it from Amazon for their no nonsense return policy.
Point to note, I’m not a gamer on this panel so the greater input lag on the C650 does not bother me.
It might be the best way to go. I’m quite a gamer, so low lag was a major priority. But saying that I am very pleased with the set as you might have gathered. Virgin HD channels AND bluray are amazing. I’m beginning to wonder if the 24p issue has been resolved as I seriously can’t detect any juddering at all (PS3 as a player with Neilo picture settings)
My original thought was to get a 32″, since my puny CRT was only 22″ and the 10″ upgrade would make a big difference to me. I could go 37″ but I’ve read about buzzing problems which I am very sensitive too, is this still an issue or should I just forget it? I don’t think I could consider a 40″ as I’ll be sitting around 5.5/6ft away from the screen, and my brother’s 42″ plasma at that distance looks way too huge. Would a 40″ be just as bad at that distance?
As I’ve said, gaming is my top priority, and the Wii will be connected to it, so it’s good to know that both LCD’s have great up-scaling (Another reason for the 32. I might not notice artefacts on Wii games as much as I would on the 40, if at all. (They would REALLY bother me if I could see any). And, if it’s good enough, I’ll even hook up the 360. I’m used to having my face really close to the U2311 though as it helps with sniping, so I’m hoping the 32 or 40 will enable me to sit back and still play as well due to larger screen area.
I don’t plan to watch much TV on it, if at all, so that’s not a concern. However, I DO want to start watching Bluray’s – and this – is where the C580 worries me. Is there any updates from Samsung at all regarding the 24p playback issue? Is it fixed in newer models? For all intents are purposes, the C580 sounds IDEAL. Except, of course, for the 24p issue. For a test, I do have an MKV file of Advent Children at 24p, and I watched some of it on my U2311 (Displaying at 60p). From what I could see, it seemed fine to me. I did notice some ‘jitter’, but I don’t even know if that was jitter at all, or just something intended. What exactly is jitter?
I have heard that the C530 takes a lot more calibrating than the C580, that’s fine. I plan to get a colorimeter anyway to help me calibrate the U2311H’s. What meter and software do you (Nielo) use to calibrate the TV? Will it work for both the TV and monitor too? I don’t find the calibrating issue that much of a deal-breaker since I plan to properly calibrate either of the LCD’s I eventually buy.
Finally, I’ve read that you can determine what panel type you have by looking through the vent. What serial numbers should I be on the look out for? I’m reading that the S-PVA panel has better quality, and the MVA is more advanced (Slightly lesser quality but no ghosting) which would make the MVA the most desirable option. Am I correct in thinking that? Also, is it possible to get the MVA panel in either the 32 or the 40, in the UK?
I know this is a long comment, but I’m hoping that it can help others by grouping all the necessary info into one place for others with the same questions as me. Sorry for being such an AV noob, please forgive me. :P
Thanks.
Thank you for the good advise to buy Samsung. I have just received a LE40C530. For such a small price image and contrast are perfect and colour fantastic after few ajustements. Just use your eyes and common sense to calibrate and you will get a very good image. S.D. is very good depending from the quality of signal. In my opinion the 5 Samsung series main differences between the models apart the size of the screen is just the freeview hd receiver and more plugs.The rest is the same. There is also the media player included. If you want a very good Tv and don’t need lots of plugs and pay more it’s a real bargain.
Want a better image… just use your money to pay for H.D. services.
Fabio.
You can’t control Color saturation in PC Mode (HDMI1 renamed to PC)? What about VGA?! Can you?
Also can you set Game Mode in VGA or it isn’t necessary?
Thanks
@Nielo
It looks like you were right about the re-branding of an C550. The C579 was fitted with an Trident Processor on the Local Store, and someone else i asked also confirmed it on his Set.
It also appears, that you mostly get an AA01 Panel, since all Sets I’ve seen showed this sticker.
I really dont know what to do now. The 579 isnt the 580, the Panasonic Plasmas are told to have black level “puming” in local forums after some hundred hours, and the only good and available Full LED with Local Dimming, the LG LE8500 is said to be laggy for games.
Oh Boy…
I giving up trying to find this model from Finland.
Previously in the discussion the 550 model was stated as equal to 580 but in the latest messaging with Arminius it became clear that 579 is a rebranded 550, which has a Trindent processor so it is not the same as 580. Hence, 550 is not the same as 580. I could by the 580 from Amazon UK, but don’t want to risk it not working in Finland.
In Finland the official versions are 575 and 535 and I dont’t have clue if these are any good.
The model number game is driving me nuts. And once again I have no clue on what to by in this price range if I want good value for money.
Looking for 40” in region of £400 – £500.. Can see Samsung LE40C630 and LE40C580 … any recommendations… what should I go for???
The build quality of the 580 is far better than the 530. The 580 got freeview hd. After that i dont really know
Got the 40″ version from Amazon UK for £422. Happy to report I got the S-PVA panel.
It would seem the latest batch of screens on Amazon are Samsung panels if that helps anyone. I’ve had 2 AUO panels recently and both buzzed, the S-PVA does not.
Hi Neilo, great review and comment feedback, thanks to all the people posting comments too, helped a lot in my choice.
Decided to go for this TV from Richer Sounds.
Is there any info printed on the box that will tell me the panel inside? Or will I need to
unbox it?
Thanks in Advance,
Mike
Hey, I got this TV off Amazon (arrived this morning actually). I have a couple of questions. Firstly, it says it was made in Slovakia? Does that mean I have the slightly better panel? Also, I’m considering getting a PS3 and quite want to watch blu-rays. Have I made a mistake getitng this TV for that purpose?
Hi
last night I watched Illuminati in HD on my LE46C650/SQ02 panel. I must say I was disappointed – the dark scenes of the movie were mostly grey. I had alllights turned off and backlight set to 2. Is this normal ?
My conclusion albeit a great panel for normally lighted movies – it is not capable of providing a similarly great experience on the darker lit ones.
I would be grateful if anyone else with an equal panel type and size can confirm his experience on that movie or a comparable one. Or is this is just how it is ?
Many Thanks.
I would like to apologize for not responding on time. I had several course work deadlines to meet. Please let me if you’d like for me respond the questions above.
Thanks
@Daniel: Country of assembly doesn’t indicate the panel type. But the Slovakian plant does produce mid-range and semi-high-end sets. As for 24p playback, it depends on your tolerance to uneven motion.
@Mike: Unfortunately you’ll have to open the box.
@ Lime Tree’s: Will you be using it to play games?
@Rob Smith: I guess Samsung were using AUO panels keep up with the demand.
@ Tero: C575 is C530 inside the C580’s case with additional features (Just like C550). The C535 is basically C530.
@ arminius: Is it possible for you tryout the one fitted with AUO panel?
Hello,
Thank You for great review and such lively discussion!
My problem is that there is no C580 in my country (Latvia). Can it be C570 instead? The official site (Latvian version) says that there is C530, 550 and 570. How to find the truth?
The second: is there any great difference between 580 and 530, if I’ll watch analogue TV, DVD-s, DivX-movies ?
The third: can LG LD450 or greater compete with C530/580 from the mentioned point of view?
Thank you!
@Nielo
Thanks. Now i’m even more confused :-D Anyhow, I’ll be getting my 575 tomorrow (575€/483£). Hopefully it will be ok. I’m not an hawkeye in what comes to image quality and this is my first LCD, so propably I won’t be too dissapointed.
Does anyone know if the C580 outputs DD5.1 over the optical cable when watching Freeview HD channels with HE-AAC 5.1 audio tracks?
Currently my amp is only displaying Dolby Digital 2.0 as the received signal :(
@ Yuri: Hi
C580 is a UK Exclusive model. The European and N.American models are identical to the UK C530.
The C530 with Trident Processor does require some calibration (especially grayscale) to obtain accurate image. But if you have the skills, it shouldn’t be too much of a trouble. It also accepts and displays 24p correctly. Unfortunately, I don’t know the quality of MStar LSI. So try to get one with Trident Processor if possible,
PS: From what I can see, the difference between C530 and C550 is purely cosmetic. The C570 is identical to the C580 in a sense that it features Allshare and an extra HDMI port.
But performance wise, all three should be identical.
PS: Forget the LG. If you can, see if you can get hold of Toshiba 40RV753.
@ Tero: Make sure to check for the processor.
@ russellhq: Unfortunately I don’t. But hopefully someone will provide an answer soon.
@ Nielo: Thank You very much! I’m going to see Samsung today.
By the way I requested official information from Samsung Latvia and got the answer that all TV-s are delivered in Latvia from Slovakia and Hungary. I hope that I’ll get the right processor! :)
Hi, does anyone else have a S PVA panel made in Korea, the one I got from Amazon was from made in Korea. Is this good?
Hello,
I’ve got 32C550 (it was only extra 20Euro expensive than C530 for me, but has LAN-port :) )! It has Trident processor.
@Nielo:
Could I get calibration settings for SD and HD?
Thank you beforehand!
@ Vyse:Could you please provide the model number of the module. It should start with LT (e.g. LFT400HM01)
@ Yuri: Glad to
Main
* Picture Mode: Standard
* Backlight: 3
* Contrast: 100
* Brightness: 43
* Sharpness: 0
* Color: 37
* Tint: G55/R45
* Eco: Enable No Signal Power Off
Advanced Settings:
* Black Tone: Off
* Dynamic Contrast: Off
* Shadow Detail: -2
* Gamma: 0
* RGB Only: Off
* Colour Space: Native
* White Balance: See Below
* Flesh tone: 0
* Edge Enhancement: On
Picture Options:
* Color Tone: Warm 1
* Size: Screen Fit
* Digital Noise Filter: Off
* MPEG Noise filter: Off
* HDMI Black Level: Low
* Auto Protection Time: 2 hours
Grayscale:
* Red Offset: 23
* Green Offset: 21
* Blue Offset: 15
* Red Gain: 45
* Green Gain: 20
* Blue Gain: 21
@Nielo:
Thank you very much!
;)
Re 24p.
Santa brought a Sony BDP – S370 BD Player. I noticed slight uneven motion on slow panning shots (probably because I was looking for it) so I turned 24p off in the BD player menu. It now states “1920 by 1080 @ 60Hz” with smooth motion, looks like full 1080p.
Where’s the problem? Have I sacrificed somehting I’m not yet aware of…………? Cheers all, great site.
“but we will be passing our findings onto Samsung in hopes that they will release a firmware update to resolve this issue. ”
Good luck with that, Samsung are absolute terrible at providing/fixing bugs. I got refund on my Samsungs and bought Pioneers LX-5090’s instead.
Samsung a low quality brand, badly made bug ridden firmware.
Ben R;@ If it doesn’t bother you, don’t start looking for it ^_^
@Bob: Samsung are no longer a low quality brand (neither is LG). Samsung have over taken Sony and other Japanese brands in terms of quality vs performance vs cost.
Regarding the 24p issue, I have a BDP – S370 like Ben R and setting 24p off in the menu doesn’t seem to even out the motion for me. I still notice the judder even setting the resolution to 476i. Am I doing something wrong?
Samsung really need to fix this, as it is ruining an otherwise outstanding panel
Would be awesome if they released a patch for this!
“Main
* Picture Mode: Standard
* Backlight: 3
* Contrast: 100
* Brightness: 43
* Sharpness: 0
* Color: 37
* Tint: G55/R45
* Eco: Enable No Signal Power Off
Advanced Settings:
* Black Tone: Off
* Dynamic Contrast: Off
* Shadow Detail: -2
* Gamma: 0
* RGB Only: Off
* Colour Space: Native
* White Balance: See Below
* Flesh tone: 0
* Edge Enhancement: On
Picture Options:
* Color Tone: Warm 1
* Size: Screen Fit
* Digital Noise Filter: Off
* MPEG Noise filter: Off
* HDMI Black Level: Low
* Auto Protection Time: 2 hours
Grayscale:
* Red Offset: 23
* Green Offset: 21
* Blue Offset: 15
* Red Gain: 45
* Green Gain: 20
* Blue Gain: 21”
Tried that–the picture became more qualitative with less jitter (especially on analog TV). The things that I disliked: the picture is much darker and the colors are not so bright and “juicy” as let’s say in “Natural”-mode, where most parameters are at their defaults. It’s the first.
The second: with analog TV is clear, but I couldn’t change many color and grayscale parameters for USB-device (that parameters were just absent).
The third: tint is locked for me.
Is it possible to resolve at least the first problem?
Thank you!
Neilo,
Great review. Really tempted by the C580. I’ve read the whole review and noticed that you posted to yuri that he should try to get a Toshiba 40RV753. Is this a better set than c580? And does it suffer from the 24Hz problem? Both sets are currently £400 ish.
Cheers
@: You may need to increase the backlight because the settings I’ve provided are for nightime with dimmed lighting. As for the colors being flat, that how they are supposed to look ^_^. The default setting is very artificial and oversaturated,
As for the lack of setting on USB, unfortunately it is normal. And TINT is not avliable for PAL analogue TV and RGB SCART.
Hey Peter
The Toshiba is better than the Samsung C580 in terms of over-all performance, but there’s a big difference in black level.
So if you prefer very deep blacks as over to 10-bit processor, 10-bit dithered panel, full 4:4:4 support and semi-functional 3DCMS; go for the Samsung.
But if you prefer 10-bit processor, 10-bit dithered panel, full 4:4:4 support and semi-functional 3DCMS over deep black, then opt for the Toshiba.
Thanks Nielo,
That’s just made it more difficult!! Ive had a look at both tvs next to each other at my local currys and prefer the look of the samsung. I also have a 32 LCD tosh which has never let me down.
Which is the easiest to setup? Which would be best for gaming (PS3) and blue ray? And if it was your £400 which would you go for?
Sorry for all the questions, just want to make the right choice.
Your help is much appreciated
I went for the 40C580 purely because of its amazing black level performance. Given your requirement, I would recommend the 40C580 over the Tosh.
Thanks so much for this article!
I think this could prove to be a lifesaver in all of this model-mayhem for a person coming from noobie-land…
I’m also from Finland so share the pain with @Tero. Currently my options are C550 (500€), or the C650 (680€) and just can’t decide which way to go…
My use would be
– SD broadcast for most of the time, some HD channels also
– Some sports(football especially) so the 100hz sounds tempting
– Much more movies than sports(usually SD but I’m getting Playstation3 soon so some BD in the future) and movies also from external hard-drive. Those might be HD most of the time, I guess.
– Some gaming from that PS3. I guess the input-lag for the C650 wouldn’t matter that much as I’m not an avid gamer.
Anways, any suggestions based on this usage which way to go? Is the C650 that much better for sports and allround quality that it justifies the extra 180€( ~145£) with the input-lag for gaming still in mind?
Thanks for a wonderful review – I bought an LE40C580 from Best Buy in the UK using one of the cash back services which paid back the VAT and brought the price down to around £360 – at that price I think its truly unbeatable.
One question though I applied the latest firmware from the Samsung site and now when I play a Bluray on it it the TV reports that the resolution is 1920×1080@24Mhz – does this mean that the 24Mhz issue referred to above has been fixed?
@Nielo: Thank you very much! I’m already got used to the “dark” :)
Wierdly I found that turning on game mode actually made the picture quality a lot worse (using the settings posted on facebook by Vincent Teoh on 29 July).
As soon as I switched it on, the brightness jumped up noticebly (appearing oversaturated) and I started noticing artifacts on the screen. This happened both from the standard SD tv signal, and playing a DVD through HDMI from my S370 (no blu-rays to check with).
This immediately went away when i switched off game mode.
Is this normal? Any chance of some settings that don’t use game mode?
First of all I’d like to thanks Nielo for this thorough review. Also, I’d like to thank all you guys who have contributed to this very informative page, and for all the comments that put some light on these subjects.
I’m writing here to ask for some advice:
Two days ago I bought a LE32C550 which was delivered to me today. I had checked in 3 different stores for this model, and checked the processor and the LCD panel that came with the units. All the 3 monitors I checked at the stores were made in Hungrary, came with Trident processors, and had SQ0# on the side sticker which made me think that they all come with a SPVA panel (Samsung). At the store I bought mine from, I even checked the panel code in the service menu to see if it had a Samsung panel, and indeed the code was “32A6AF0C”.
The problem is that the unit I got:
a) Has a MStar processor instead of a Trident processor (the firmware says T-MSX5DEU….)
b) The panel doens’t seem to be the SPVA from Samsung, dispite the code in the service menu is “32A6AF0C”. I say this because the sticker on the right of the panel says BN64… the one on the back (in the vent) says BN07… (although the one in the vent says made in Korea). The sticker with the serial number says it’s made in Hungrary.
I feel like I’ve been fooled… These specs are nothing like the ones from the sets I saw at the stores…
Please, could anyone with true knowledge on this issue please answer me these questions:
-Does this mean I got the SMVA panel from CMO!? Is it really much inferior to the SPVA from Samsung or the AMVAs from AUO?
-Is this MStar processor inferior to the Trident? I wont be using this set for gamming, but for my home theatre (for HD stuff) and also watching TV (HD and SD).
I would ask for a replacement right away, the problem is that this monitor disapeared from most stores in Portugal (I’m from Portugal and bought the TV here). So, do you guys think I should go through all the trouble just to try to get a better unit? It’s gonna be a tough fight…
I would be very much obliged for your answers and advices =). Thank you guys!
I have pictures of the service menu and the stickers I just mentioned from my TV set. I can post them online if anyone needs to take a look in order to give a better answer, or if a prospective buyer wants to know how they look like…
Hello all at hdtvtest.co.uk! I’m considering purchasing this TV but I have some questions:
Firstly – how is the input lag for gaming? The C530 is apparently pretty good – is this model comparable?
Secondly – (it might sound rather silly) is there an off switch? I have read some user reviews and some have mentioned that there isn’t such a thing on the TV itself.
That’s it – keep up the good work!
Thanks,
Richard
So much info here that my head is melting.
I am after a 37″ (40″ is just too big) for gaming and blu-rays. If I have read this thread correctly then I am out of luck as the only real option appears to be a TV that buzzes. How annoying.
Good work in the reviews though. This is the only place I could find where there is any mention of gaming use.
@Richard
Have you read the section of the review on gaming???
Happy New Year to all!
@ Jani: Thanks for the complements
From the sound of things, the C650 could be the ideal choice (minus the extra lag) due to better processor and possibly better panel. It will also likely to come with better preset values. Also with the C650, you havethe option to access 3D CMS and 10p gamma (should you wish preform detailed calibration).
@ Aden: Congratulations on your purchase ^_^
The C580 always had the ability to accept 1080p24, so that’s normal. The problem is that it converts 24p to 60p internally.
@ Yuri: No problem
@ Mike: Game Mode has its own preset values, which you need to reconfigure. So after you’ve enabled Game Mode, go back to Picture Mode and apply the settings again.
@ Emanuel: The panel is S-PVA as its the only VA panel to be made in Korea. So don’t worry about that. If you look closely though the top vent, you can see Samsung logo or model number beginning with LT
As for the MSX processor, I can’t comment on its quality as I’ve never had the chance to compare it. But I doubt it is considerably inferior to the Trident processor.
@ Richard: The input lag under Game Mode is the same as C530. But 32″ and 40″ have different lag
As for the power switch, no there isn’t any (but there’s no need anyway).
@ Emanuel: Happy New Year
So what is the lag difference on the c580 32″, 37″, and 40″ ?
IT depends on the panel as well.
40″ (S-PVA) has around ~35ms
37″ A-MVA: Unknown
32″ (S-PVA) has around 14ms
So the 40″ has pretty average lag then. I thought it would be less from reading the review.
Just goes to show that there is no real way to know what your getting. 37″ is the ideal size for me. Pity they do t do any decent plasmas that size. Might have to sacrifice deep blacks for the lower lag of an LG or something.
It was stated on the review ;)
There’s no decent 37″ PDP for gaming unfortunately
Hi Nielo. I have been considering one of these, but the issue of what panel you might get has put me off quite a bit. The other option is a Pana 42″ S21B, but is a bit more money.
As I would be ordering from a big UK web shop starting with a ‘D’, I dont want to get involved with trying to swap units around if I feel I have got an inferior unit. Is there really that much difference between the best and worst? I would be using it mainly for TV through Sky and any Freeview HD channels I can pick up, and my PS3.
Who would have thought picking a TV could be so hard???
Thanks
Both type of panels have their own pros and cons. S-PVA provides deep blacks and has better built quality. AUO’s A-MVA has better pixel response and lower lag, but its black level and quality control are inferior.
I believe we now receive more S-PVA than A-MVA, but if you don’t mind me asking, do have to buy it from Dixons? ^_^
@Nielo:
Thank you for your prompt response ;). I got confused about what which panel I got because as Rob Smith mentioned of his 22ndNov post these codes on the side or vent stickers render what panel there is:
“SS01 /02,03,04/ or SQ01 (02,03,04) S-PVA from Samsung
CN01, CN02 – S-MVA from CMO
BN01 ,BN02 (05,06,07) – S-MVA from CMO
AA01 (02,03,04),C02(04)- A-MVA from AUO
AC02 – new panel A-MVA3 from AUO
BA01 – panel from AUO with backlit from HILIN
I102 I203 – panel IPS-Pro from IPS-Alph”
As I have BN07 and BN64 in the respective stickers that was the source of my confusion… But yeah, it has the samsung logo, it’s made in Korea and the model number begins with LT, so I guess you’re right. You’re the expert after all ;) .But I got really confused about how to tell which panel it is…Like, in the review you mention the 1009 vs. 1012.. where do those numbers come from? Is there anyway to get this sort of “underground” information related to the panels and processors used through Samsung? I can’t find any info about this except in foruns and sites like this one.
So, in principle this panel should be as good as the one you reviewed and the calibrations settings should work just as good, right?
As for the processor… I can’t compare because I’d have to have both sets side by side with the different processor and equals setting to get a feel on the difference in image quality and response… It bothers me a bit that the image doesn’t flow very well, but I guess it’s symptomatic of 50/60Hz LCDs, although I don’t get it on my PC’s LCD which is also 50/60Hz… If there’s any sort of tests you’d like me to do on this one to evaluate anything, let me know ;) . Once again I thank you for all the valuable information, time and patience spent here =).
Cheers
Firstly – great site, brilliant help for researching for a new TV, but I’m now incredibly confused at the lack of options/information regarding 37″ TVs in particular.
I’m looking for a tv for my bedroom, upgrading from a 2005 (ish) Panny TX26 model. 40″ is probably too big, so 32″ or (preferably I think) 37″ are my options.
I watch Blu-Rays from my PC connected by HDMI, powered by a Radeon 5850 graphics card and PowerDVD software. Pretty sure it’s capable sending 24p to the TV but the c580 seems to be dodgy with this, which is annoying as everything else seems great!
I also play xbox 360 and wii, plus watch football/F1 on TV, so good motion handling would be helpful.
Basically, the c580 would be perfect if it were’nt for the 24p issues, although the 37″ version also seems to be something of an unknown quantity. I can’t seem to find a decent 37″ option, especially from Samsung (probably due to the fact they don’t manufacture that size panel) and no-one seems to make decent plasmas under 42″.
Bottom line, can Nielo or anyone else, recommend a good 37″ display for my needs, preferably under £500?
If not, then what 32″ TV has the quality to compensate for the lesser size?
@ Emanuel: The motion irregularities seems to be caused by the MStar processor. The best option is to get 50 or 60p video and see if there’s any issues.
Also, the TV does loose pull-down lock occasionally when viewing interlaced content. So you might notice weaving and odd frame skips. You can however disable pull-down detection by setting Film Mode to Offf.
@ Stuperman: It is very difficult to choose a 37″ panels due to buzzing and panel quality. I would say opt for Panasonic LCDs, it has taken the turn of the worse. TBH, I can’t think of any (accept Samsung LED range).
@nielo
Thanks for the quick response!
It’s such a shame none of the manufacturers seem to provide a viable option between 32 and 40 inch sizes, especially considering there are valid options in smaller increments above and below those sizes.
I figure 1080p on a 32″ is a bit pointless (not totally), but 40″ in my room is a stretch! So frustrating! Especially when Samsung have such great options in those sizes…
Just got the 40″ C580 from Richer Sounds and I’m amazed! SQ01 panel, great quality even over VGA.
Haven’t fully calibrated yet as I’m waiting on several pieces of kit, but so far it’s turning out to be a great TV.
Thanks once again to Nielo and fellow commenters for great info and advice!
Mike
Firstly, Great site.. Extremely informative.
As the saying goes, ‘the more I find out, the less I know’.
I am looking for a 32″ HD TV to use primarily for the XBox 360. After reading your reviiews, I have kind of settled on the Samsung LE32C580 but I have one reservation.
Some games on the XBox 360 (e.g. Forza 3) requre 60Hz, but, the manufacturers specification for the Samsung LE32C580 mentions a ‘Clear Motion Rate’ of 50.
Does this ‘Clear Motion Rate’ mean that I will not be able to play 60Hz games?
Regards,
David.
Has anyone tried the 15th Dec update?
http://www.samsung.com/uk/support/detail/supportPrdDetail.do?menu=SP01&prd_mdl_cd=&prd_mdl_name=LE40C580J1K&prd_ia_sub_class_cd=P
Hi Nielo,
Do you have any settings for SD sky, upscaling DVD and PS3?
I have used some of the settings posted previously for sky HD. Just wondering if they may be different.
Also my set has a 1049 panel.
Cheers
Pete
Hi guys,
Just recieved the LE32C580 I ordered a few days ago and it looks great.
Could someone direct me to where I can find the panel number for the tv?
I’ve looked allover and I’ve got the main sticker with the Samsung logo and the model number and also a sticker behing a vent with various numbers and letters, but none of them resemble panel numbers posted above?
Thanks for your help,
Jack
Regarding the above post, I just checked another site and found I have the T315HW04 screen.
Is this a good one?
Fantastic review site and this forum is out of this world!! Sorry if my following questions have been covered elsewhere but I need help!! I have been trying to decide on which TV to go for. I was all primed to buy a Sony Bravia KDL40EX403U then al the £399 stock seemed to vanish and I missed the boat with amazon and play. I was loking at an LG 42 490 but then saw the reviews of this Samsung TV on this site. Amazon and Reevoo also give very positive user reviews!!! So……I have taken the plunge and ordered one from John Lewis at £499 as the idea of a 5 year warranty appealed!! £422 on Amazon is also very good – so do you think the 5 year warranty is really needed ??? How goo is LCD reliabilty these days??
What I am really worried about at the moment given some of the previous posts is the 24ps issue surrounding the blue ray playback. At the moment my familys viewing habits revolve around watching SKY (SKYHD in the future), DVD and Wii – though will be looking to get a blueray and xbox in the future and maybe a PS3.
How much of a problem is this 24ps issue? My eyes are not perfect, far from it, so is this likley to be noticeable?? I was really gald I ordered this TV but now………. not so sure. Also the panel lottery gives me some concern… Is there really such a discernable difference that a layman would notice?? Any comments / help but be very much appreciated.
Best Regards All
@ Stuperman: I know and its odd that no one noticed that gap
@ MikeWard1701: Glad you like the set. BTW, there’s no need to use VGA on the C580.
@ David:
Hi
Clear Motion Rate is just one of Samsung’s long list of marketing terms. The can indeed accept 24, 50 and 60Hz from HDMI and 50 and 60Hz from all other external sources.
Simply put, you can play all you X360 and PS3 games on the C580.
@ Luke: Yes and I can’t notice any improvements.
@ Peter: Here you go
http://www.avforums.com/forums/13692648-post697.html
@ Jack Malster: Yes, you have the AUO AMVA panel. The black level is not as deep as the S-PVA panel, but it has faster pixel response, no dragging blacks and lower input lag. All of which makes it ideal for gaming
Hi Dr B
In general, LCD’s reliability is very good these days, it varies based on individual models and the environment.
The 24p issue only affect a minority of people (myself included). Certain people can notice the uneven motion quite easily and to some, it is intolerable. But for the majority people, it has no affect what so ever.
As for the panel lottery, we don’t get the “bad” version luckily. The S-PVA provides deep blacks, but A-MVA has better motion and lower lag. So each type have their own advantages and disadvantages. As long as you’re happy with the image, there’s noting to worry about.
We had to mention the panel lottery because some people are after a specific type of panel.
Nielo
Many thanks for your fast reply – sets my mind at rest somewhat!!!
One thing I’ve seen mentioned here is a potential lip synch issue when using game mode. Is this a common issue to this TV / using game mode?
Cheers
I haven’t noticed such issue. If you’re using optical, the TV does allow you to set the latency.
Thanks guys for some great reviews – all the best for 2011 – keep up the good work. It would be great if you guys could document further how you test the gaming element and input lag peice – eg: a seperate page on this whole topic. Whilst i understand that playing PC games or older systems causes serious lag, there is mixed thoughts on what happens when you play a PS3 or Xbox game in Hi Def = some sites claim that the 720 or 1080 means that input lag is reduced. I have spent some time reseaching and based on your recommendation purchased the LE40C580 as I was worried about PS3 lag etc. The screen is a good as you state, the picture quality good and for gaming its very very responsive….thanks for that….however, I still feel that perhaps a newer LED would of given me an even better picture / more features / slimmer design etc and I question would I have noticed the lag? Thanks again though – very happy with the TV – recommend to anyone – just keen to learn more about the lag and whether its a real concern – also keen to here peoples experiences of Richersounds in the UK – historically very good, they DONT agree there is any lag and STATE that games will run better with 100Hz newer TV etc
Regarding the questions if the C550 is similar to C580. I would say yes. The C550 has also an ethernetport, allshare, 4 hdmi inputs and 2 usb ports. Unlike the C530 that has no ethernet, no allshare, 3 hdmi ports and 1 usb port.
So that the differnence between the c530 and c550 as Nielo said in earlier posts is purely cosmetic is not right. Hope that clears that up :)
Yes that is the case, but C550 and C530 both share processor lottery. So you can get either Trident or MStar processor. So in terms of performance, both C550 and C530 are identical.
C580 on the other hand is excluded from the lottery and it is fitter with superior Samsung’s very own Valencia Series 5 Processor.
Hi Mr T:
When I get some free time, I’ll try and do an article on lag and explain how we test them.
As for the LED-LCD models, only certain models have identical or lower lag than the C580, but LED doesn’t offer better image quality over CCFL unless it can be locally dimmed. Unfortunately, we haven’t seen any 2010 locally dimmable LED-LCD with less than 35ms lag .
Also, we still haven’t seen Edge-LED-LCD capable of producing 0.03 cd/m2 black @ 130 cd/m2 white. So CCFL is still in the lead, but that may change later this year.
nielo
thanks for a great review.on the strength of this i ordered the c580 which arrived yesterday.very pleased
thanks again.
… but the C580 with the Valencia Processor has problems with 24p :)
(the C550 is the same as the C579 without DVB-S2)
Hello,
Can’t be sure if I should buy the Samsung LE40C580 or the Panasonic TX-L37S20.
Minimal picture lag is the most important thing because, having looked at many TVs in showrooms, it’s very distracting when pictures struggle with even a slow panning shot.
I like the Samsung but my one concern is that it’s 50Hz. I’ll mainly be watching freeview and blue-ray DVDs so if I was viewing both TVs, side by side, would I notice the difference between 50hz and 100hz?
I understand that ‘response times’ make a difference to the “smoothness” of the picture too!!!
All, comments appreciated.
Thanks
Btw how do u tell exactly what panel you have? on the sticker on the side it says version SQ01, the back says it was made in Slovakia, inside the grill I can just about see it says LTF400HM01, 1040, P7AL, BN07-00800A and says made in china… which panel do I have?
@ lee: Glad you like it
@ Mariechen: Although the VAL5 has issue with 24p, it does produce better image quality.
@ simon: The 37S20 has better motion, but its blacks are gray as opposed the C580, which has excellent black levels.
I’ve been using 50/60Hz panels for years, and I personally have no issue with motion. It does blur at times, but it’s perfectly tolerable IMO.
@ Jason: You have Samsung’s very own S-PVA panel :)
Update 4 [Tuesday, 25th of January 2011]: If you are an avid gamer and have the X360 connected to the C580 via HDMI, go into display setting and select 1360 x 768. This will reduce the lag, but at the cost of image quality. So only use it for multiplayer.
Hi Nielo,
Thank you very much for your reply (07/01/11). After many hours of research on the subject, your web site and personal advise instilled confidence that the Samsung LE32C580 was the right television for my particular needs (XBox gaming).
I purchased the television from John Lewis (£399 inc 5 year warrenty) and when it arrived, Wow.
It is absolutely amazing, the picture is crystal clear / sharp and I have experienced no ‘lag’ in any of the games I play. Sound quality is also excellent.
I therefore want to once again thank you for your web site and wish you all the best for 2011.
Regards,
David.
Glad to be of help and if you have any question, feel free to ask ^_^
anyone know what panel would be in the 40″ C580 or its just random ?
will be using it for gaming. blu-rays and sd tv
How can I tell what panel I have? Label says I have 1038 made in China. Is the S-PVA?
@ pesser: We now get more S-PVA than A-MVA
@ Gortraney: You have the S-PVA panel
bought this tv a couple days back and im happy with it apart from 1 thing,
when i have my ‘ COMMON INTERFACE CARD ‘ inserted and turn tv on the HD channels dont display. i get an message on screen saying ‘ UNABLE TO DISPLAY COMMON INTERFACE SERVICES. CHECK MODULE IS WORKING PROPERLY. ‘
when i unplug the ci card the HD channels come on, so i then have to re-insert card and HD channels stop on.
I have to repeat this everytime i switch tv on to standby and is doing my head in!
CAN ANYONE PLEASE HELP?????
Can anyone tell me what panel I have.
I can see LTF400H plus three or four more numbers/letters.
1042
P7AL
BN07-00800A 7BAJ041260
On the side it reads : SQ01. On the box it reads : Made In Slovakia.
Thanks.
@ CRAIG: Have you updated the formware?
@ Paul: You have the Samsung’s S-PVA panel
ive tried but tv says theres no file on my usb stick. downloaded the update from samsung.com, this version – T-VAL5DECU-1006.1 (release date 15th DEC 2010)
http://www.samsung.com/uk/mysamsung/main/myssMain.do?page=MY.SAMSUNG
I dont know if i have the same version on my tv. my version on the tv dont have the .1 on the end.
many thanks.
sorry about link.
try this 1
http://www.samsung.com/uk/support/detail/supportPrdDetail.do?menu=SP01&prd_ia_cd=101&prd_mdl_cd=LE40C580J1KXXU&prd_mdl_name=LE40C580J1K&srchword=LE40C580J1K
Hi folks…
I’m having a serious problem with my C550’s Media Player
When playin 720p mp4 movie via USB HDD (500GB NTFS, connected to side USB HDD port) the player suddently stops at 2:03 (h,min) so i can’t watch any movie longer than 2 hours… Very serious bug…
Does anyone have this problem? Firmware update didn’t solve the problem…
PLEASE HELP !!!
TV Details: Model: LE40C550J1WXXH Panel: SQ03 Processor: MStar
HDD: Transcend USB NTFS 500GB portable
P.S. I was very impressed with TV’s picture but sound wasn’t very good (almost no bass) so i did what Nielo said, bought Logitech Z-323 speakers and connected it to TV’s headphone out. This corrected everything… Awsome…
@Jay,
my sister has no problems to watch movies longer than 2 hours with her C550.
Re 24p – I take it this issue is effectively closed? Samsung have not made any kind of definitive statement more than 6 months after the issue was raised.
I can only assume they either disagree that it’s an issue (I can’t get a straight answer when I try them personally), or the telecine pulldown can’t be corrected by a firmware update.
Update 4 [Tuesday, 25th of January 2011]: If you are an avid gamer and have the X360 connected to the C580 via HDMI, go into display setting and select 1360 x 768. This will reduce the lag, but at the cost of image quality. So only use it for multiplayer
Is this applicable for an Xbox connected via HDMI/DVI? I was connecting using a VGA cable but I am experiencing noticable lag on Black Ops and I want to reduce it as much as possible.
sorry for double post.
Having a play around with the setting I cannot set the game mode ON when I connect the Xbox using a HDMI cable, in any of the HDMI ports, or a Microsoft VGA cable. When I go to the Game mode option in the menus I cannot select it. Am I doing something stupid?
I have my TV connected to my hi fi amp via the headphone out— not ideal as it should be line out— however I get really bad noise “squelch” when watching Freeview— is anyone else getting this? It’s very annoying as it’s always there. Doesn’t appear to be an issue when playing video files directly or with the Xbox.
James
@James: Why on earth don’t you use the optical audio out? Absolutely no problems at all via that method…
hey bro.
1. I’m in NL, so no 37 c580 for me. It’s gotta be the c530 (same as 550). Any code a store clerk can tell if it has the trident or mstar processor? Like a serial number or something on the box or sticker?
2. I already have a 32c580 spva. The lag is great i.e. None.. Any idea if the 37c530 will lag more?
3. Any idea if the 37c530 will buzz more than the 32c580?
Thx bro
Sorry I meant 32c530 obviously not 32c580.
@Jay
I have the same problem with movies longer than two hours…Anyone HELP PLEASE,i have le40c550…
hi. this is a first class review. glad i found it.
after owning an LE40RBDX For just under 5 years i had to contact samsung about some minor banding. Thankfully, after pestering a high up samsung employee they agreed to service it for free even though it was out of warranty.
unfortunately they said my screen was needing replaced so they would like to offer me a LE40C530. after reading the below Quote on this review i decided to push for the 580. so glad i did. it looks amazing and is as good if not better than my le40rbdx which i really liked.
QUOTE ” I ‘ve returned the 40C530 due to severer horizontal banding and re-obtained the 40C580, which seem to feature higher grade panel. It also features superior video processor and its advantages are highly obvious”
my panel says made in Korea and has an A07 sticker as well as 1052 P7AL and LTF400 HM01 AND BN07-00800A
What type of panel do i have?
thank you.
I realise this is a pretty old topic now – but on the 24p issue, I like so many above am trying to get an idea of how significant this would be visually. I take points above that the severity is pretty subjective to the person. BUT, as a means of comparison – I have a 2007 Panasonic 32LXD70. Does this screen support full 24p? I have a bluray connected to that and I don’t notice any juddering or anything. If someone could say “no TV’s before 2008 properly supported this feature” or something, then that could answer a lot of peoples question. If it would look on the C580 as it does on my old 2007 32″ screen then I would be more than happy to purchase. Thanks in advance.
@Lee
I would seriously doubt that your existing TV supports 24p. I think TVs did support 24p back in 2007 but they would probably have been the larger high-end models.
I can happily watch blurays on my C580 without any issues whatdoever.
Took delivery of my C580 a definite improvement on my old B550 in every regard just one problem – after switching between inputs sometimes an annoying BUZZING starts that can only be stopped by switching inputs again or turning the TV off.
Surely this is a fault but if there’s a way around it that’d be great as I really don’t want to send this beauty back.
On trying to work out what panel I have i’m running into problems, for example the VERSION on the side of the panel is just ’01’ there’s no AA or SQ.
The back of the TV says made in Slovakia. Through the vent I can see BN76-13171C and UJ110103C1A01. If someone could point me in the right direction I’d appreciate it.
A little frustrating Samsung haven’t included their PC share manager in the box for the DLNA but I bought it for the picture so I’ll overlook that!
Quality review Nielo and a very worthy website.
New upgrade avaliable on Sammy Site
http://www.samsung.com/uk/support/detail/supportPrdDetail.do?menu=SP01&prd_ia_cd=101&prd_mdl_cd=LE40C580J1KXXU&prd_mdl_name=LE40C580J1K&srchword=LE40C580J1K
Regarding the v1002 upgrade… my LE40C580 refuses to recognise it, either via the online update option or using a USB drive!
Regarding the v1002 upgrade – It’s a mistake by Samsung the upgrade is for the MStar processor and will be rejected by the update program.
@Bryan I don’t have an amp with an optical in
Hi,
First off, excellent review. I had spent ages researching which TV to get and this helped swing it towards the LE40C580.
Bought one just the other day and have to say I’m properly impressed with the picture, particularly playing the Xbox through the HDMI. Big improvement from my HD-less Technika number!
I do however, have a question…..when the Xbox is on (via the HDMI in), the built-in TV tuner doesnt seem to work, claiming it has no signal. Its not a major issue but it means I have to turn the Xbox off if I wanted to flick over and check the football scores or something! I could be being stupid or my TV might be ever-so-slightly faulty…..thoughts?
Cheers for the help!
Hi,
Amazing review! I can’t believe the effort you put into this…
After reading this review I considered buying the Samsung LE40C580, but then also found the LE40D580 on Amazon for just a little more money.
Is this a better TV? I don’t really understand what the difference is between both TVs.
Can anyone help?
Cheers
Hi, Brilliant review, I want a bigger screen more HDMI’s but also 24p to optimise blu-ray which is most important to me, and I also use a seperate oldish amp, analogue connected from the bluray player, for surround sound and the input lag concerns me, won’t I just get lip sync issues that I don’t have with my 32inch Panasonic – my older amp can do delays but not to the level some of these newer LCDs cause? So 5 series with no 24p or 6 series with serious input lag causing lip sync issues?
Any comments?
Cheers.
Really confused now. Just bought the Samsung LE40C580 on Amazon after reading this review, but I can only find one sticker behind the lower vents.
Sticker says:
Panel:
BN96-1317C
101218A1
I can now see ‘BN’ which would lead me to think this is a CMO panel, which I would rather avoid (even though 96 sounds high to be the manufacturer code)
But I can also see ‘1012’, which then sounds like 1012 Slovakian panel…
Argh, can somebody please shed some light on this?
Many thanks in advance,
Cheers
Greg
@Nielo
Can you please help me out?
I bought the Samsung LE40C580 after reading your review.
I couldn’t help myself but start to look at the reference codes on the LCD panel.
After finally spotting the sticker via the top vent, I can see the following:
> stylised mirrored R with a U stuck to it, on the same line an icon/logo that seems to show LF and further on the same line the Samsung logo.
> LTF400HM01
> 1052 P7AL
> BN07-00800A7BAL36404A-A07
> E-PASS SSDZMSA 79GTJ7TJ711101QW ZB
> Made in Korea
I am worried about the ‘BN07’ part which might indicate an MVA panel by CMO.
Which panel do you think I ended up with?
Many thanks,
Cheers,
Greg
@Nielo
I ended up doing some more research into what panel I might have but the following info seems to be contradictory:
“Rob Smith on 22 November 2010 4:53 pm
There is a sticker on the side of the screen, otherwise you can get a torch and shine a light down inside the screen at the back. You’ll be able to make out the panel manufacturer from the sticker.
The codes are as follows
SS01 /02,03,04/ or SQ01 (02,03,04) S-PVA from Samsung
CN01, CN02 – S-MVA from CMO
BN01 ,BN02 (05,06,07) – S-MVA from CMO
AA01 (02,03,04),C02(04)- A-MVA from AUO
AC02 – new panel A-MVA3 from AUO
BA01 – panel from AUO with backlit from HILIN
I102 I203 – panel IPS-Pro from IPS-Alph”
At the other hand, from my understanding AUO only has production plants in Taiwan, China, Czech Repunlic and Slovakia.
CMO (Chimei Innolux) would have production facilities in Taiwan, China, Netherlands and Czech Republic.
So, can I assume that my panel was produced in an S-LCD factory and is an S-PVA panel?
Your help would be very much appreciated.
Thanks!
Sorry, for my many posts.
I am trying to summarise them all in one now:
I recently bought a Samsung LE40C580 for my mum after reading the review on HDTVTest.
I got really confused with the different panels used by Samsung and to be honest I will probably avoid manufacturers that use this lottery in the future… I’m too OCD for this ;-)
Codes and references found on the TV:
Sticker on side of TV:
model code: LE40C580 J1KXXU
Serial No: Z7C53SOB300427N
Sticker bottom vent:
Panel
BN96-13171C
101218A1
Sticker top vent:
> Icon/logo showing a stylised mirrored R with a U stuck to it, on the same line an icon/logo that seems to show LF and further on the same line the Samsung logo.
> LTF400HM01
> 1052 P7AL
> BN07-00800A7BAL36404A-A07
> E-PASS SSDZMSA 79GTJ7TJ711101QW ZB
> Made in Korea
I am worried about the ‘BN07? part which might indicate an MVA panel by CMO. According to ‘Rob Smith’ on HDTVTest:
“There is a sticker on the side of the screen, otherwise you can get a torch and shine a light down inside the screen at the back. You’ll be able to make out the panel manufacturer from the sticker.
The codes are as follows
SS01 /02,03,04/ or SQ01 (02,03,04) S-PVA from Samsung
CN01, CN02 – S-MVA from CMO
BN01 ,BN02 (05,06,07) – S-MVA from CMO
AA01 (02,03,04),C02(04)- A-MVA from AUO
AC02 – new panel A-MVA3 from AUO
BA01 – panel from AUO with backlit from HILIN
I102 I203 – panel IPS-Pro from IPS-Alph”
At the other hand, from my understanding AUO only has production plants in Taiwan, China, Czech Repunlic and Slovakia.
CMO (Chimei Innolux) would have production facilities in Taiwan, China, Netherlands and Czech Republic.
So, if my panel shows the Samsung logo and ‘Made in Korea’, can I assume that my panel was produced in an S-LCD factory and is an S-PVA panel?
Your help would be much appreciated!
Many thanks in advance…
For the life of me I cant seem to get audio through from the line out on my laptop to the pc/dvi audio in setting!?!
Nielo, what about new D550 and D630 models? What kind of panel they use? Are there technology improvements in these panels from C series in picture quality, processor and other things? By tech specs they declare better dynamic contrast and same features. Many thanks in advance.
CAN ANY1 HELP WITH MY PROBLEM IM STILL HAVING.
CRAIG on 10 February 2011 6:48 am
bought this tv a couple days back and im happy with it apart from 1 thing,
when i have my ‘ COMMON INTERFACE CARD ‘ inserted and turn tv on the HD channels dont display. i get an message on screen saying ‘ UNABLE TO DISPLAY COMMON INTERFACE SERVICES. CHECK MODULE IS WORKING PROPERLY. ‘
when i unplug the ci card the HD channels come on, so i then have to re-insert card and HD channels stop on.
i know card works fine as ESPN channel works fine!
I have to repeat this everytime i switch tv on to standby and is doing my head in!
CAN ANYONE PLEASE HELP?????
Found a list of panels and respective references on avforums.com…
So I do have an S-PVA panel… phew!
Can u help me plz, I have a LE40C580 and im trying to set it on WARM 2 but the color is really redish on white, on the white balance I have to turn both red offset and red gain down, green and blue are ok. thanks in advance.
•Red Offset: 19
•Green Offset: 21
•Blue Offset: 25
•Red Gain: 15
•Green Gain: 25
•Blue Gain: 30
Would u say the red gain was too low? The light grey colors seem pinky when using any higher.
Also wondering, In the service menu, if u go into options, there is “Type” what type is yours?
Jason : setting i used.
http://www.avforums.com/forums/13692648-post697.html
I prefer the tint at G56/R44 and HDMI blck level set to low on bush HD freesat box if you can set it iwht digital noise filter on auto.
After reading this review, I’ve bought LE40C580 AND LE40C550 a few months ago. I’m from the UK and the calibration settings you’ve provided for the 580 are superb! Never seen such beauty from a TV before! ..Since buying these, I’ve become abit of a picture perfectionist and have moved on and bought the Galaxy S2 (Samsung are really doing it for me! Phone of the year!)
Ive just one question, the LE40C550 is obviously built with different components compared to the C580, hence different calibration settings. But what exactly did you set your C550 to? This is to any one that has this model aswell. Consider also I’m from the UK.
does anyone have a direct link to the latest firmware for the le40c580 as i cant see it on the samsung website, only the 46″ model.