Rear Projection TV Burn In

geekmedic

I've heard horror stories about burn in with rear projection TV's.

I just recently purchased one of these puppies and I'm really in love with the quality of the image. I don't want to get burn in.

I'm concerned about some of the news channels I watch that have the tickers at the bottom of the screen. I'm also concerned about the NBC, ABC, etc. logos at the bottom right of the screen.

Any chance that these could burn in my monitor? Any tips on how to prevent (or at least delay) it?

I have my contrast and brightness set at 50%.

Any tips would be highly appreciated! Oh, I have a Hitachi 43FWX20B I think is the model number. 43" widescreen HDTV if that helps.

Cheers!

scottvamp

Never heard of anyone with projection tv ever have a burn in problem. I hear all kinds of talk about it. But unless you have a bright icon on your screen for 48hous at a time - i really don't think it is a consern. It happens and that is why screens that are on 24/7 like a computer have screen savers. I would not lose any sleep over it.

geekmedic

Thank you for visiting the Hitachi Web site.

It is not recommended to connect high-resolution video games or pause high-resolution images on any projection television because of the danger of so-called "pattern burn" developing on your Hitachi projection television. Pattern burn is a scarring of the image on the lenses of the CRT tubes.

As stated in our Owner's Manual,

"Continuous on-screen displays such as video games, stock market quotations, computer generated graphics, and other fixed (non-moving) patterns can cause permanent damage to projection television receivers."

"Such 'PATTERN BURNS' constitute misuse and are NOT COVERED by your Hitachi Factory Warranty.

"When using the Picture-in-Picture function, the sub-picture should not be left permanently in one corner of the screen or a 'PATTERN BURN' may develop over a long period of time."

No guidelines have been developed that specifically address (1) how much screen movement is necessary to avoid this problem and (2) the length of time after which this problem would probably occur. You may wish to contact an authorized Hitachi service center in your area in order to inquire further into the frequency and likelihood of this problem.

If there is anything else that we can help you with or answer, please feel free to call our support number at 1-800-HITACHI. We do thank you for your interest in Hitachi products.

Heather
Hitachi Home Electronics

scottvamp

Originally posted by geekmedic
Thank you for visiting the Hitachi Web site.
It is not recommended to connect high-resolution video games or pause high-resolution images on any projection television because of the danger of so-called "pattern burn" developing on your Hitachi projection television. Pattern burn is a scarring of the image on the lenses of the CRT tubes.
As stated in our Owner's Manual,
"Continuous on-screen displays such as video games, stock market quotations, computer generated graphics, and other fixed (non-moving) patterns can cause permanent damage to projection television receivers."
"Such 'PATTERN BURNS' constitute misuse and are NOT COVERED by your Hitachi Factory Warranty.
"When using the Picture-in-Picture function, the sub-picture should not be left permanently in one corner of the screen or a 'PATTERN BURN' may develop over a long period of time."
No guidelines have been developed that specifically address (1) how much screen movement is necessary to avoid this problem and (2) the length of time after which this problem would probably occur. You may wish to contact an authorized Hitachi service center in your area in order to inquire further into the frequency and likelihood of this problem.
If there is anything else that we can help you with or answer, please feel free to call our support number at 1-800-HITACHI. We do thank you for your interest in Hitachi products.
Heather
Hitachi Home Electronics

Pauseing a video game for "a couple days" - ya, not good. Like I said - guess you answered you own question. The internet is a great tool - good research is priceless.

Emlyn

I was initially a little concerned about the station logos with my Pioneer projection TV, but am not concerned any more. The logos go off when commercials come on. Anyway, I tend to switch channels frequently by nature. Probably the worst thing to do is leave a static image like a DVD menu frozen on the screen if one falls asleep and the DVD's screen protector isn't turned on. From what I've read, it's very important to adjust your brightness and contrast levels with a DVD set-up disc like the Sound and Vision one or using the THX set-up menus that come on some DVDs. Setting the TV at the mid-way point could do a couple of things counterproductive--spoil the picture quality and make you unhappy with the TV and still cause unnecessary wear on the TV. Out of the box settings are way too high because of the manufacturer's desire to have the picture look bright if the model is put on display. This is why I would never buy an open-box rear projection tv. I have a Playstation 2, but don't use it on the big TV. Pioneer recommends something like using it for video games for an hour or two, then putting a TV image on the screen for 4 to 5 times longer than the set was used to display the video game. The TV is widescreen and I use an HDTV tuner sometimes but always avoid using the 4:3 setting without stretching the image--thereby avoiding the bars on the sides of the picture. There appears to be no guidance on letterboxing DVDs, and I haven't noticed any problem in that regard.

By the way, all rear projection and plasma TVs have this potential problem, but it's easily avoided.

scottvamp

By the way, all rear projection and plasma TVs have this potential problem, but it's easily avoided.

Well said....

geekmedic

Thanks for the replies guys!

I feel much more at ease about the TV now. The image is so great... just didn't want to lose it!

I need to see if my DVD player has a screen protect mode. I don't recall seeing that option on there. Maybe it's automatically built in. (I have a Panasonic DVD-CP67.)

Plasma TV's have the burn in problem too? I was under the impression that plasma and LCD screens didn't have problems with burn in?

swillis55

Plasma screens have the same vulnerability to burn in as RPTVs. LCD screens do not. Unfortunately, neither of these two types of televisions have the ability to produce black levels like a RPTV. That is their downfall at the moment.

Avoiding static images will help to decrease the likelihood of uneven phosphor burn of your CRTs, which is burn in. Most people suggest setting your contrast (or picture) level of your RPTV to between 20-35% of max. Brightness doesn't play as large a role as contrast. As mentioned above, use some type of calibration/setting discs (ie. AVIA or Video Essentials) to adjust your settings.

Varying your television viewing is the best way to avoid burn in problems.

Cheers,

Sean

fireshoes

We had the super speedway dvd running in a loop in our store for about a month and got burn-in on a few tv's. After a month heh. We also got it on a plasma that had this stupid Bose demo disc running all day every day. It takes a really long time to get burn-in basically. I was a little concerned when I got my Hitachi 51" because I watch a lot of ESPN, but it doesn't seem to be a problem at all. Even with 8 player Halo

GaryJ73167

This is a very sad tale indeed. At least, it is one sad tale for me. Any help on this would be greatly appreciated:

8 Months ago, I purchased my 52” Wide-Screen High-Def Rear Projection television set. It was one happy day. My wife and I were watching TV constantly and admiring the wide screen crystal clear picture.

In the back of my mind, I was always wondering if the 4:3 Black bars on the side of the screen would cause any burn-in. Then I started thinking that , if that were an issue, I would have been told at Best Buy, or, the TV channel would have to issue a warning about such a thing. Basically, I thought if it was an issue that there would have been some talk about it. This was total ignorance on my part.

Now, 8 months later, I was watching TV last night (A widescreen Movie), and noticed that my picture is a little brighter on both sides of my screen. Right in the exact spot that the 4:3 black bars usually are. I almost DIED !

This TV is still under warranty (Purchased the extended Warranty at Best buy), but, they WILL NOT cover burn in. I can’t say that I blame them.

Believe me when I say this – the burn in is so slight that I can probably invite people over every night to watch a movie on the TV and they will most likely never even notice. But, this thing that is killing me, is, I am the one that knows this burn in is there. It is driving me nuts.

If my wife and I sit down and watch TV, she is watching the Television, I am watching the burn-in lines. It is just one of those things that I know it is there and I cant stop thinking about it.

My Question – Is there something that can be done about this ?? Is there a way to reverse this being it is only in the 4:3 area that is a different shade? How much would this cost to get fixed??

Any help on this issue would be appreciated.

Very depressed in Pennsylvania.
Gary

Emails Welcome – garyj73167@adelphia.net

TrappedUnder Ice

Actually- black bars are probably the only real - burn in threat to most folks. Should run in stretch mode to avoid this. One thing I looked for in a widescreen was one that didnt have an "efected" edge in stretch mode. Sorry too hear about the black bars though.

bknauss

Emlyn wrote:

By the way, all rear projection and plasma TVs have this potential problem, but it's easily avoided.

Should limit that to "all CRT rear projection".

PolkThug

My oldest big screen Hitachi is 6 years old with no burn-in. It has seen countless hours of Halo and letterboxed movies. Just vary what you watch and you'll be fine.

Emlyn

bknauss wrote:

Should limit that to "all CRT rear projection".

The statement was true when it was written 2.5 years ago.

I'm glad times have changed for the better with technology to avoid burn in on some display types, but I haven't had a burn in problem with my Pioneer RP CRTV in the four years I've owned it.

What's the deal with resurrecting old threads here lately? I guess the search function is working.

PolkThug

Gary,

One thing you can try is to find a channel that just plays static snow, and let that run all night long over the whole screen surface, possibly for a couple nights.

Good luck

bknauss

Very true on CRTs not burning in anymore... I was trying to get rid of other RPTV types such as LCD, DLP, and DILA/LCoS. I don't think any of these types have ever sniffed at having a problem with burn in.

TheReaper

GaryJ73167 wrote:

...My Question – Is there something that can be done about this ?? Is there a way to reverse this being it is only in the 4:3 area that is a different shade? How much would this cost to get fixed??...

A solid white or light grey full screen display for long periods, can help erase some burn in. The easiest, would be to just always use stretch modes from now on, and in around 6 months to a year, you may no longer be able to see the bars.

I have been using my crt based hdrptv, for a computer display and tv. For a year and a half now, without a burn in problem. The key, as stated above. Is to vary what covers the screen, and avoid real long periods of the exact same image. I also use a grey color scheme in windows, for consistancy of using the 3 color tubes.

Penny

I feel your pain Gary.

I have a 65” Wide-Screen High-Def Rear Projection television set and the same thing happened a few weeks ago. I am glad I found your posting, and this didn't just happen to me.

This drives me sooooooo crazy that I am in the market for a new television. Should I be looking for something specific that will display full screen without having to use the "zoom or stretch" feature.

Thanks,

Penny

PolkThug

My solution was to use a 53" 4:3 for regular TV and a 57" widescreen for HDTV and DVD's.

TheReaper

Penny wrote:

This drives me sooooooo crazy that I am in the market for a new television. Should I be looking for something specific that will display full screen without having to use the "zoom or stretch" feature.

I like PolkThug's solution

The general advise, is to use non-phosphore technologies like LCD/DLP/LCOS. If you watch a lot of un-stretched 4:3 content.

tommyboy

The only time I have ever seen burn in is when I worked at Circuit city and we had espn playing on all plasma tvs. They are usually on 12 hours a day, 7 days a week. On every plama, after a while you could see the ESPN logo on the bottom right. Most other TV stations move their logo around though so it doesn't burn it. As long as you don't leave espn on for 12 hours a day, you should be fine.

jrlouie

Emlyn wrote:

The statement was true when it was written 2.5 years ago.

Damn it. I totally need to pay attention to the dates on posts. I hate it when I do that

bknauss wrote:

Should limit that to "all CRT rear projection".

Amen.

I'm in the market for a LCoS set so I've been paying more attention to stuff about TV's :cool:

venomclan

I have been keeping an eye on tv's for a while. I currently use a 36" regular, non HD crt Sony Vega. So far, the good old crt's have an advantage over everything out there besides size.

I am more of an audio guy than video, this is how I see it.

Plasma- best viewing angle and black levels, close to crt. Downsize is burn in, lamp life, heat release.

LCD - the newer Sony ones look good with much better viewing angles. Size is still small though.

Projection - whether DLP, DLPLCD, regular projection etc.. size is best bang for the buck. But I cannot get past the viewing angle, be it verticle or horizontal. It drives me nuts. I go to Best Buy and walk right past the DLP's and other RP's. Head on they look great, go to one side and the picture is worse than my old Magnavox from 1979.

I would like to see what the new SED's can do. The Sony SXRD's are nice but angle is also an issue. I heard Sony has ceased production of Plasmas.
Is there anything else out there that is better than good ole crt's?
Venom

polkatese

venomclan wrote:

I would like to see what the new SED's can do. The Sony SXRD's are nice but angle is also an issue. I heard Sony has ceased production of Plasmas.
Is there anything else out there that is better than good ole crt's?
Venom

I was at CC yesterday, checking the new SXRD 1080p. I have to say that it is the only one that makes a good upgrade sense, for me. The other option is Fujitsu plasma, but for my living room, the setup is not optimal to have it (no wall to hang on too, and it won't fit with the custom cabinet that is already in place). Compared to Direct view CRT? it's close, but would never be. Your rational/justification, would be size, since there is no option to have anything bigger than 40" on CRT.

venomclan

polkatese wrote:

I was at CC yesterday, checking the new SXRD 1080p. I have to say that it is the only one that makes a good upgrade sense, for me. The other option is Fujitsu plasma, but for my living room, the setup is not optimal to have it (no wall to hang on too, and it won't fit with the custom cabinet that is already in place). Compared to Direct view CRT? it's close, but would never be. Your rational/justification, would be size, since there is no option to have anything bigger than 40" on CRT.

Hi Polk, Thanks for the info. So far I like the SXRD the best. I would someday like to get a 60" set. I went to the Sony Style stores in Las Vegas and Boca Raton, both have the 60" SXRD set up exactly the same in a hectogram shaped room. Room dimensions were the same in both stores. In this room, you cannot view the set from more than around a 70 degree angle. I would like to be able to see this set at different angles to really judge. It was $4k at the Sony store, not sure if that is the best price.

The Sony rep also told me that next month there is a new model coming out with even better viewing angles and a few other things. Thier flagship tv there was $13K. He said the new one with more features will be $7k. The good thing is that tv prices are dropping like a rock. As long as my CRT is alive, I can afford to wait.
Venom

PhantomOG

venomclan wrote:

Plasma- best viewing angle and black levels, close to crt. Downsize is burn in, lamp life, heat release.

plasma tv's do not have a lamp, projection tv's do.

venomclan

PhantomOG wrote:

plasma tv's do not have a lamp, projection tv's do.

Sorry, I meant the brightness thing. I keep hearing of brightness levels dropping on plasmas over time.