what does backlighting do?

leftwinger57
leftwinger57 Posts: 2,917
edited January 2014 in Electronics
After living w/ my 40'' Toshiba for a few months I just recently noticed when turning on the tv in the dark that there are back lights that surround the back and well light up and when the picture comes on they are either obscured or removed totally. So me not noticing something I get but exactly what purpose are these for? There is no real real dramatic effect so I hope that not it and could have gone for another 2 inches w/o 1 bell and whitle that does nothing for me.
2chl- Adcom GFA- 555-Onkyo P-3150v pre/amp- JVC-QL-A200 tt- Denon 1940 ci cdp- Adcom GFS-6 -Modded '87 SDA 2Bs - Dynamat Ext.- BH-5- X-Overs VR-3, RDO-194 tweeters, Larry's Rings, Speakon/Neutrik I/C- Cherry stain tops Advent Maestros,Ohm model E

H/T- Toshiba au40" flat- Yamaha RX- V665 avr- YSD-11 Dock- I-Pod- Klipsch #400HD Speaker set-

Bdrm- Nikko 6065 receiver- JBL -G-200s--Pioneer 305 headphones--Sony CE375-5 disc
Post edited by leftwinger57 on
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Comments

  • mytime
    mytime Posts: 87
    edited January 2014
    Some TVs came with it and some people buy aftermarket ones. The purpose is to reduce eyestrain in a totally darkened room while watching.
    What is throwing me off is that you say the lights go off when the pic comes on? If that's the case I have no clue as to what their purpose is.
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  • mytime
    mytime Posts: 87
    edited January 2014
    Leftwinger, do you have a model number for your set? That way I can do some digging.
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  • leftwinger57
    leftwinger57 Posts: 2,917
    edited January 2014
    Alright that was quick.I now do notice after shuting all the lights that the back lights do in fact stay on but fade away hence me not noticing them.The model is Toshiba #40l2200u for $400 even at Costco about 5/6 months ago. Funny thing I had a 32'' Toshiba that was twice as heavy as this is and they gave an instruction manual of some 90 pages in 2 languages.Here they give a 2 flap phamflet and that's it.
    2chl- Adcom GFA- 555-Onkyo P-3150v pre/amp- JVC-QL-A200 tt- Denon 1940 ci cdp- Adcom GFS-6 -Modded '87 SDA 2Bs - Dynamat Ext.- BH-5- X-Overs VR-3, RDO-194 tweeters, Larry's Rings, Speakon/Neutrik I/C- Cherry stain tops Advent Maestros,Ohm model E

    H/T- Toshiba au40" flat- Yamaha RX- V665 avr- YSD-11 Dock- I-Pod- Klipsch #400HD Speaker set-

    Bdrm- Nikko 6065 receiver- JBL -G-200s--Pioneer 305 headphones--Sony CE375-5 disc
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  • mytime
    mytime Posts: 87
    edited January 2014
    Yeah. Some people swear by those lights and others...well not so much. If they fade to the point that they are hard to see and they don't bother your viewing then all is well. You rarely see them come with TVs anymore. Phillips had "ambilight" crap some years back.

    I'll look but I doubt there is an option to shut them off.
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  • mytime
    mytime Posts: 87
    edited January 2014
    Ok. Did a quick search of the user manual. Doesn't list an exterior backlight as a feature. So it's one of 2 things, either it's just something that the TV does when powered on ( much like the old Vizios logo used to light up a room for a few seconds) or you have some internal backlight bleed. My guess is the 1st option. Here is a link to the manual since they didn't provide one with the set.

    http://www.manualowl.com/m/Toshiba/40L2200U/Manual/319430
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