Vizio 50" Plasma model P50HDM with distorted picture

[aaronwt6]

OK. I haven't really messed with any Plasmas yet but I have someone I sold an LCD to that would like me to take a look at one. I wanted to see what everyone's opinion was before I proceed on picking it up due to its size and weight. If the guess is an expensive repair I probably won't bother. I've attached a couple pics of the screen.

The other strange thing is he says the picture is perfect playing a PS3 on the same input.

Thanks in advance for any advice or tips

[capkid]

Re: Vizio 50" Plasma model P50HDM with distorted picture

Which input is being used? Is the same cable used to test and compare the PS3-to-TV connection and the AV device-to-TV connection?

[aaronwt6]

Re: Vizio 50" Plasma model P50HDM with distorted picture

Same cable, same port. Seems real weird to me.

HDMI and he says both HDMI ports act the same way.

Certainly not a panel fault given the game senario though.

[aaronwt6]

Re: Vizio 50" Plasma model P50HDM with distorted picture

I told him to check the resolution output on his blu-ray that he's using for Netflix but doesn't seem like that could cause the issue either.

[capkid]

Re: Vizio 50" Plasma model P50HDM with distorted picture

It sounds like a main board or control board issue. Does he use a broadcast device (satellite, digital cable, etc), and do they show a proper image?

[aaronwt6]

Re: Vizio 50" Plasma model P50HDM with distorted picture

He says anything but the game looks distorted. May not even be worth the trouble. I'll let you know what he decides. I was kinda thinking main board as well. If he brings it over I'll check out the other inputs and report back.

[Jim1590]

Re: Vizio 50" Plasma model P50HDM with distorted picture

Sounds more like a problem with the signal coming in. What else does he have going in that he can test off of. If just this one av and PS3, hook up something else. Maybe the hdmi out on the av is bad. If you do take to your house, make sure you bring his av device and HDMI cable to verify you can reproduce.

You may want to take the back off at his house and write down the board numbers. That way you can give him prices for replacement boards without lugging the thing back and forth.

As someone who loves my Hitachi 50" plasma to watch, I really hate fixing the things. You got your standard couple boards and then you also have X, Y main and buffers, Z boards. Oh and if you replace the Y, you better replace the buffers as well! A plasma is the only one to beat me so far where I just parted it out from frustration.

[capkid]

Re: Vizio 50" Plasma model P50HDM with distorted picture

Sounds more like a problem with the signal coming in. What else does he have going in that he can test off of. If just this one av and PS3, hook up something else. Maybe the hdmi out on the av is bad. If you do take to your house, make sure you bring his av device and HDMI cable to verify you can reproduce.

You may want to take the back off at his house and write down the board numbers. That way you can give him prices for replacement boards without lugging the thing back and forth.

As someone who loves my Hitachi 50" plasma to watch, I really hate fixing the things. You got your standard couple boards and then you also have X, Y main and buffers, Z boards. Oh and if you replace the Y, you better replace the buffers as well! A plasma is the only one to beat me so far where I just parted it out from frustration.

He already mentioned that any HDMI device connection on both HDMI ports is producing the distorted image, except for the PS3. The one question I have is whether any non-HDMI connections result in a distorted image.

I'm not sure if you're referring to Hitachis specifically with regard to replacing buffers when the Y-Sus fails, but that's not always the case with LG-based models. I personally prefer to work on plasmas over LCDs.

[ben7]

Re: Vizio 50" Plasma model P50HDM with distorted picture

My opinion, it could either be a software problem, or a problem with the HDMI chip. Supposedly the chip can run hot, not sure if that is so for this particular model though.

Seems like it could be noise, but then what is different about the way the PS3 outputs hdmi? I don't know

[tom66]

Re: Vizio 50" Plasma model P50HDM with distorted picture

I'd say loose LVDS if anything.

[aaronwt6]

Re: Vizio 50" Plasma model P50HDM with distorted picture

Thanks again guys. I'm going to see if he wants to drop it off. Sure would be nice if it was just a bad connection.