I am currently using a 40" Samsung Series 6 LCD TV, model number LA40A650A1R which I bought in December 2008. This was one of the most talked about HDTV in 2008 mainly due to its superb/sharp picture quality and its unconventional glass panel frame design.

Anyway, it was working flawlessly until 6.30pm+ last Friday, when vertical lines suddenly appeared on the TV screen. Initially I thought something was wrong with my Astro. Anyway, I switched off the TV and then switched it back on. It was the time that I realize it is the TV's problem.

I called Samsung hotline the next morning. The guy suggested that it could be a panel problem and if it really is a panel problem, he said that it is not worth to repair it as it is going to be thousand of RM and I am better off buying a new one. Anyhow, he said that I can opt to have their technician to come over to inspect my TV but since it is already out of warranty, it will cost me RM160 just to have their technician coming over. It is quite a lot of money just to have their people coming over, so he suggested that I call the Samsung Service Centre office in my place directly and see if they can offer me another solution that doesn't require me fork out RM160.

I called the Samsung Service Centre in my place, talked to one of their technicians and he asked me to take a picture with the TV switched on and MMS to him. This way I do not have to pay anything Awesome! But the bad news is, he confirmed that it is indeed a panel defect problem and the parts and labour charge will cost me north of RM1,700!!!

Before calling him, I've googled about this and yes. I believe it is a panel problem too even though he did not actually come to my house, disassemble my LCD TV set to check the problem. It seems that all the reported problems so far came from all Samsung and SONY TV from year 2007-2010. There are pictures available on the Internet and many of those in the US who bought the same model as me also complained the same thing. Some not very lucky people noticed the problem just after 1 year plus into using the TV, while the majority only experienced the problem between 3 to 4 years later and in my case, it is about 3 years and 8 months. So I suppose I can consider myself as one of the ones with better luck but then, when you paid RM6,000+ for the TV, you'd expect it to last for at least 10 years. Yes, series 6 was very expensive then

I still think that Samsung LCD/LED HDTV have the sharpest image of all the HDTV manufacturer there (ok, this is A FACT, whether you like it or not!). And their argument that using a glossy screen instead of a matte screen makes the picture even more lively and sharp is definitely true! Samsung undoubtedly is the best when it comes to HDTV image quality but with so many people experiencing their HDTV panel to fail just 2 to 4 years into using it, there is definitely something seriously wrong with their HDTV panel.

You guys can look for this TV model, LN40A650 in Amazon.com. It is the exact same model as LA40A650, just that those models sold in Americas carry the serial LN instead of LA. You guys will notice that it is a highly rated LCD TV and most reviews posted in 2008-2009 are positive ones but all the recent reviews are mostly written by the same people who gave this LCD TV a 4 or 5-star a few years back but now all of them came back to that page and said that their TV are all dead!

This post has been edited by MilesAndMore: Aug 29 2012, 02:26 AM

Yes. It's worth it. Many reported panel defect problems with Samsung and SONY HDTV from year 2007-2010. Since ES and EH are this year's model. It is very hard to tell if their HDTV models from this year and last year have similar issue as well as it is still too early. Most reported cases happen only after 2 years into using the HDTV. Mine failed after 3 years and 8 months. I bought my 40" Series 6 LCD TV for RM6,000+ in 2008.

Anyway, Samsung in my opinion, is still the best LCD/LED HDTV manufacturer. Their picture quality is top notch and the colors are superb! The panel defect issue is quite a problem but as i said earlier, we do not know if models from 2011 and 2012 have this issue as well as it is simply too early to tell. Anyway, i'll pay a bit of extra and get 2 years of extended warranty if i were you so to buy a piece of mind

Please refer to post #908

You need to alter the sound setting. I am not sure if it is the same as the older models but in case you see five bars when you open the audio setting, you need to set the second to fifth bars to the maximum.


It is the same except that UA40EH5300 is a SMART TV.

Last year's Series 6 has ultra clear panel too, as well as all the Series 6 models between from year 2008.

Anyway, why not consider this year's Series 7 ? I personally do not recommend this year's Series 6. The fact that it doesn't have an ultra clear panel is already a good enough reason not to buy it. Besides, it fares pretty badly in terms of the black level it can produce compared to all the previous Series 6 models. In short, if only is no object, go for this year's Series 7. Otherwise, last year's Series 7 is pretty good too. Even last year's Series 6 is a very good TV

They have this model info in their flyer. It is a 3D TV, but not a smart TV.

Smart TV comes with Internet browser and all.

Kindly unlock your Caps Lock

Then unlock it.