Does anybody know anything about this tv...
http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?logon=&langid=EN&sku_id=0770HDS0010068227&catid=
Judging by its specs, it looks like it may be a samsung glass, does anyone know for sure? thanks

Joe

Did you search on Prima, I found about 10 or 12 threads discussing them and asking the same question. Perhaps you could read them and post in existing an existing thread.

Yes it is a Samsung panel just re-branded. For the price it's going for you can't get a better deal. I just picked one up 3 days ago and absolutely love it. I've been watching my collection of movies all over again. Only thing I don't like about it is that when I hook up my Xbox to it and run games at 480p a line shows on the screen. I guess is that the tv isn't syncing properly and it probably has to get the latest firmware or I just have to adjust some setting on the tv which I haven't found yet. If you or anyone has bought this tv and have had the same problem and have fixed it please post a reply and let me know. I have tried to contact Prima Service but no such luck...probably due to the New Year hrs. Anyways...hope you pick up the TV.....just as good as any other 42" Plasma HDTV's out there going for well over $3000. :D

I bought one of these 3 weeks ago and have been very happy with it. Like LordFrogButt :cool: said, I'm watching my DVD collection again and it's like having my own personal movie theater - except with a better image and no annoying people making noise and kicking my seat!

DVDs, HDTV, standard TV, and XBox all look great for the most part. XBox in 720p (Amped 2) is just awesome. By the way, I have no issues with my XBox at all, in 480p or 720p. I'm using a cheapie Mad Katz component hookup.

Like many Samsung panels, on factory settings there is some loss of detail in very dark scenes and colors are a bit artifical looking. I've bumped my brightness up to 70, contrast down to 45, and color down to 42, and I'm pretty happy with the results. My brightness setting seems high, but (after researching over at avsforums) I learned that brightness actually affects minimum dark levels while contrast affects maximum light levels. With the brightness up and contrast down, I get a more natural-looking image with pretty good details even in fairly dark areas and pretty minimial posterization.

There are still times when dark hair, dark clothing, and shadows are just completely black in dimly-lit scenes, but it seems to depend on the source material (mostly TV, DVDs have been fine) and it's not bad enough to make me spend more on another TV :) Most of the time the image is super-sharp and vivid - some PBS documentaries (they have great high-def content) make me feel like I'm standing right there in the scene.

Any more questions, let me know.

Hey Programmer...Have you expierenced any problems with the 480p setting on your dvd player? When I set my DVD player to play 480p I get a horizontal line about 2/3 a way up the screen. If your having the same problem please let me know so i'm not thinking i'm the only one. :( Thanks

Maybe things have changed, but i bought one in April, picture was ok, but i returned it, bought a panny 10 x sharper picture...I do have a 20 inch LCD prima that has a great picture.

Hey Programmer...Have you expierenced any problems with the 480p setting on your dvd player? When I set my DVD player to play 480p I get a horizontal line about 2/3 a way up the screen. If your having the same problem please let me know so i'm not thinking i'm the only one. :( Thanks

Well, I don't know if you're the only one with this problem :( but I've had no issues with mine on any input source. It sounds like 480p from both your XBox and DVD player are having the same problem, so it must be the TV. I wonder if a firmware update could help, although I have no idea if Prima offers updates... but there is a serial port for diagnostics on the back of the TV. What's your manufacture date? Mine is Oct 2005, perhaps yours is an earlier revision. And have you tried various settings to see if it makes a difference (try "auto-adjust" under the video menu (or is the window menu?) and maybe play with the "phase" or some of the other settings (even change window size to "zoom" or "wide" just to see if that makes a difference - though you wouldn't want to use the TV with those settings, it might at least indicate that it's a software and not hardware problem). Oh, and you might want to try another input (the other component input, or HDMI or VGA connectors if you can). Even try setting your DVD player or XBox to non-progressive.

Hope you get this working, otherwise I'd return it if you still can and maybe exchange it for a newer set.

Maybe things have changed, but i bought one in April, picture was ok, but i returned it, bought a panny 10 x sharper picture...I do have a 20 inch LCD prima that has a great picture.

My Prima might be using better electronics or a better panel than the one you bought, but I watched it side-by-side with a Panasonic set and the image quality was pretty close. The Panasonic had slightly more natural looking colors and better dark level detail, but they were both very sharp and detailed and after making some adjustments to mine, I think it's pretty close to the much more expensive Panasonic sets. If money is no object, I agree - go Panasonic or Pioneer.

Hey Programmer...Have you expierenced any problems with the 480p setting on your dvd player? When I set my DVD player to play 480p I get a horizontal line about 2/3 a way up the screen. If your having the same problem please let me know so i'm not thinking i'm the only one. :( Thanks

No, you're not the only one. I guess I have a same problem.:(
I bought one on boxing day and I also got Samsung HD upconverting DVD player, because both have the 'HDMI' port and a free cable from samsung. I thought this would be the perfect combination to enjoy HDTV w/HDMI port.

But when I played at 480p mode, I got a horizontal line at the bottom of the screen when the movie scene is moving fast.
And at 720p mode, also a line in the middle of the screen.
But no lines at 1080i mode. And with other connections besides HDMI, no problem, but the PQ is lower.

I wasn't sure if it's because of HDMI connection, or upconverting DVD player, or TV. So first, I exchanged Samsung DVD player with Toshiba upconverting DVD player a couple of days ago.
This time, no line at 480p, but still at 720p.

So I guess the upconverting DVD players are okay, but Prima HDTV may not be fully compatible with HDMI, or upconverting DVD player yet.

And another thing is that when I played Matrix2 DVD, it had a strong 'green' color through out the whole movie. And even on some local SD channels, but not able to adjust it from the menu.

I emailed to Prima website, but still no reply. Since Futureshop gave me a free Rogers HD channel for one year, I'd like to hook up with HD terminal and see any difference. I have 30 days to return.

If anything new, please let me know too.
Thanks.

It sucks that people are having problems with this TV - I was so excited to get a big plasma TV and I'd be pretty disappointed if it didn't work perfectly.

I'm doing 480p through component inputs on my DVD player and 1080i also through component inputs on my HD receiver, and have had no problems at all. My DVD player and receiver don't have HDMI outputs so I haven't tested those. I hope it doesn't become an issue in the future...

It might be worth contacting Prima about firmware updates for the TV - I know some manufacturers will provide updates that fix certain issues.

I'm still enjoying the TV a lot. I've played a bunch more XBox (480p/720p widescreen) and am still blown away by how good a last-generation console game can look! HDTV is a bit of a mixed bag, with most shows looking great, but some of the grittier, darker crime drama series with moody lighting (Sopranos for example) can look a bit washed out and grainy. I'm not sure how much of that is the source and how much is the TV. But sports, PBS documentaries, news, sitcoms, and most movies look fantastic. Even the worst stuff is still watchable - I'm just picky, and my girlfriend never notices the little image quality issues that I see sometimes. Overall, I still think the Prima HDTV is a good deal for the money if you can get it for under $2000.

looks like i'm gonna be returning my Prima Plasma for another of the exact set...hopefully that works out and i'm not experiencing the same problems with the new set. The manager at Futureshop told me he's out of stock of the tv until next week so first thing next week i'm gonna be heading in and exchanging it. I've contacted Prima themselves and have talked to 3 ppl about this problem and they don't even know what i'm talking about. they thought i was talking about the black bars on a widescreen movie....:eek: The only thing they can come up with is to not play anything on progressive scan...but really who wants to do that? You buy a HD tv to get benefit from all the features of your toys so if you turn off those features its' kinda defeatign the purpose don't you think? :confused: Well when I get the new set I'll keep you all informed on how it works and if I'm still experiencing the problem....I'm just afraid I might have to opt for a much more expensive set :(

I guess if you don't want / need 1080i for now and want to save money the Prima's are decent enough.

looks like i'm gonna be returning my Prima Plasma for another of the exact set...hopefully that works out and i'm not experiencing the same problems with the new set. ....


Hey, I'm going to exchange mine too, because I've just found a small dot on the screen. It looks like one of the pixel changed the color into green. It is a tiny dot, but when the screen is showing white color, I can notice it.

Actually this is going to be my 3rd PrimaTV then, because the set I have now is already exchanged one. The first one I picked up on boxing day was a returned item from somebody. It had two black horizontal lines(dead pixels) across the screen & no manuals, wires,... FS re-sold it to me.:mad:

Well...even though this PrimaTV gives me some headache, I think it's still a good deal at that price. I think every other brands must have their own problems since the technology is developing/changing so fast these days. It's almost impossible to keep up with perfectly.
And I just cannot think of paying another $1500-2000 for a slightly better picture. With that money, I'm pretty sure that I can buy another bigger/better TV after 4-5 years.

BTW, when I first shopped around at FS(Yonge/16th), they offered me $150 off from the special price, which was a really good deal, but I didn't take it because they had no stock. And next store(#7/Warden) also gave me $50 discount. And when I exchanged first time, they also had no stock, but they were holding my leg not to go to other store and also offered me $150 off.:) Maybe some kind of sales competition for the bonus between stores at that time?? I don't know.

Just FYI.

I guess if you don't want / need 1080i for now and want to save money the Prima's are decent enough.

The Prima does 1080i really well. Like nearly all 42" plasmas, the native resolution is 1024x768 so 1080i images must be downscaled, but the PixelWorks DNX chip does a very nice job of this and 1080i is noticeably sharper than 720p.

I don't like hearing these stories of discolored lines and pixels though... hopefully these are just isolated manufacturing glitches and not a design problem. Mine's been running 4-5 hours every day since I bought it 3 weeks ago (I just can't stop watching HDTV and playing XBox!) and it's been rock solid, so I hope I got a good one :)

Here's Prima's Canadian Website....hope this helps!!

http://www.primaamerica.com/caproducts.asp

Actually this is going to be my 3rd PrimaTV then, because the set I have now is already exchanged one. The first one I picked up on boxing day was a returned item from somebody. It had two black horizontal lines(dead pixels) across the screen & no manuals, wires,... FS re-sold it to me.:mad:

Well...even though this PrimaTV gives me some headache, I think it's still a good deal at that price. I think every other brands must have their own problems since the technology is developing/changing so fast these days. It's almost impossible to keep up with perfectly.
And I just cannot think of paying another $1500-2000 for a slightly better picture. With that money, I'm pretty sure that I can buy another bigger/better TV after 4-5 years.

BTW, when I first shopped around at FS(Yonge/16th), they offered me $150 off from the special price, which was a really good deal, but I didn't take it because they had no stock. And next store(#7/Warden) also gave me $50 discount. And when I exchanged first time, they also had no stock, but they were holding my leg not to go to other store and also offered me $150 off.:) Maybe some kind of sales competition for the bonus between stores at that time?? I don't know.

Just FYI.

I was looking at this display, and was surprised how well the PQ looked, but the instore model showed 2 horizontal dead pixel. could it be the same one you had? (this one was at #7/warden) if not, then it appears Prima is having a lot of problems with having horizontal line issues.

I think this plasma is very good for its price, having hdmi is a bonus too! however, after hearing the problems you guys are experience i am kind of reluctant to get it.

I have had the Prima for about a month. The picture on HD is absolutely amazing. The sports are incredible.:p

I only have a couple of things I have noticed. I (and my neighbour with same setup) notice the horizontal lines when using progressive scan on 480p/720p with both the Bell 9200 and DVD players. Does not bug me now because I watch in 1080i anyways so.....

But if there is some sort of firmware update available any information would be great.

In addition, I have tried both the HDMI input and component for expressvu HD. For some reason the HDMI does not give as good a picture as the component...quite noticably...anyone else with this??:confused: FS told me that a lot of different plasma's have had problems with HDMI...anyone else heard this or is it BS??

I was told the panels for the plasma was LG in many places...and if anyone else has noticed, the box it comes in says 8000:1 ratio, not the 10000:1 advertised....


my $0.02

I was looking at this display, and was surprised how well the PQ looked, but the instore model showed 2 horizontal dead pixel. could it be the same one you had? (this one was at #7/warden) if not, then it appears Prima is having a lot of problems with having horizontal line issues.
....

Yes, that sounds like they're displaying the set I returned. I bought & returned at #7/warden store. But why they display the defected model?? :confused:

I have had the Prima for about a month. The picture on HD is absolutely amazing. The sports are incredible.:p

I only have a couple of things I have noticed. I (and my neighbour with same setup) notice the horizontal lines when using progressive scan on 480p/720p with both the Bell 9200 and DVD players. Does not bug me now because I watch in 1080i anyways so.....

But if there is some sort of firmware update available any information would be great.

In addition, I have tried both the HDMI input and component for expressvu HD. For some reason the HDMI does not give as good a picture as the component...quite noticably...anyone else with this??:confused: FS told me that a lot of different plasma's have had problems with HDMI...anyone else heard this or is it BS??

I was told the panels for the plasma was LG in many places...and if anyone else has noticed, the box it comes in says 8000:1 ratio, not the 10000:1 advertised....


my $0.02

Okay, you're having same problems as mine. I also noticed the different contrast number on the box.:confused:

Regarding the lines at 480&720p, I emailed to prima america, and finally today they replied to me, saying that, there may be an issue with the output format of my source (DVD machine, or cable box) being compatible with the TV, or there may be several other factors involved that may be causing the symptoms. And if I want, he'll send a technician to find out.
He was very kind & interested in this matter. Anyway, I don't know what to do at this moment. Maybe change my DVD player again.
I'll update if anything new.

I dunno about you guys, but this horizontal thing is a very big concern to me. Maybe i'll have a look at the Insignia 4227 instead. looks like the same tv.