How much clouding is "acceptable"?

[simon567]

I've just picked up an edge lit LED TV to replace a 5 year old LCD screen.

Whilst most of the time the picture is a massive improvement over my old TV, there are noticeable lighter patches that are visible on dark scenes or game loading screens.

I've dropped in an image below, this has been taken in a completely darkened room and my camera exaggerates the issue a bit, but it shows there are definitely some lighter areas. I particularly notice those two blobs at the top and the two right corners.

I know the manufacturers claim it's to be expected due to the technology, but I have a laptop and a monitor which both use edge lit LEDs and whilst they both have a slight (less noticeble that this) lightening at the corners, they don't have differences in the centre of the screen. They are, to be fair, much smaller screens, though my old LCD screen didn't have these issues either.

So anyway, my question is, how normal is this? 95% of the time (maybe more) I don't notice it, but then when I do, it gets on my nerves a bit. It doesn't strongly jump out, but it is there. Should the screen be more consistent than this?

My other small concern is that I bought it from Currys whose customer service I lack some faith in (I presume I can mention competitors when it's negatively?!). I wouldn't normally choose them, but there was a Quidco offer on over the weekend. I have a feeling that if I do try to take it back on this, I could have a fight on my hands, especially as it will be barely visible in their brightly lit store.

 

[chameleon]

It does seem to be the luck if the draw how well or badly one of these screens is lit. I have a 60" Sharp which is edge lit. It is really too large a screen to be lit this way. Saying that, though mine dies have some clouding I'd say it is nowhere near as bad as yours. Mine sorta has a few hazy areas at either side. It's only really noticeable on a completely dark screen. I can certainly live with it as everything else about the picture/motion etc I'm really happy with.
I'd say take it back n complain as it looks pretty bad. Unfortunately you'll never be able to check a different set in a brightly lit store.

 

[mmj_uk]

The trouble is it'll take loads of effort to return it and a replacement will probably be just as bad, edge lit LED's are shocking for backlight consistency. If you decide to return it ask for a refund and buy online so the DSR applies.

If you're going to play/watch things in a darkened room then you should either turn the backlight right down or stick with plasma's.

 

[simon567]

Thanks for your advice.

The photograph does make it look worse than it is (I didn't want everyone to have to turn their lights down to see it!), but I was just playing a game after work and I constantly get a hint of those lighter patches at the top. When I first bought te TV, it almost looked like there was something reflecting on the screen. I kept looking behind me all the time, trying to figure out what it was, until I realised it was the screen itself. And it's not only visible in a completely dark room, I had 3 lamps on around me just then. It's only obvious when the screen area is entirely black, but I do keep getting a hint of it at other times.

I tried lowering the backlight, but the contrast between the dark and light sections remains the same, so the lighter spots don't become much less visible.

If I take it back, I will be going for a refund, as I realise if I get another with the same problem it's going to be a serious battle to get a further return. I would never usually buy something like this from a shop (especially Currys!) for the very reason that online returns are so much easier. It'll be a couple of days before I get chance to take it back, but I'm leaning towards that option at the minute.

I know I may have a fight, but I'm hoping I can use some of the quotes on their website against them..."exceptional picture", "displays your content in gorgeous 1080p", "incredible picture definition". I may speak with trading standards beforehand for advice, but I would think for something that claims to be "exceptional" to be fit for purpose, it should be exceptional in all reasonable situations and that I shouldn't be seeing light patches just because my house isn't very brightly lit.

This is all making me consider a plasma as an alternative.

 

[Kanpai]

That's awful, not acceptable at all! You'll definitely be within your rights as by no means is that fit for purpose. Just ask them to imagine watching a movie with dark scenes at night with the lights out.

I've been through a fair load of LCD's/Plasma's in the past year or so, but I can honestly say now that I'd always choose a Plasma over LCD if possible. Far superior picture quality, brilliant viewing angles, incredible black levels. All in all a great viewing experience. All I can recommend though is if you are going down the Plasma line be sure you can control the lighting in your room to get the best out of it. I have a 50GT50 and even with sunlight coming in it stacks up pretty well, but it's at it's best at night.

 

[NirK]

Samsung seem to be the worst for clouding. If you decide to keep it then try setting up some ambient backlighting for the TV and not using in the dark... You will prob not notice it then... But don't return it expecting to get one with no clouding because you will 99% be dissapointed.... I speak from experience.

 

[simon567]

Thanks for all the comments on this. I gave it a few more days, but it niggled me too much, so I returned the TV and had it refunded this afternoon. To be fair on Currys, they took it back without any problems at all. I'd already spoken to their helpline and had been given a return code, so it wasn't even checked in the shop. I think I'll start looking at plasmas!