19 replies to this topic

[BigBad64]

Has anybody else experienced noticeable plasma buzz that varies with the picture the screen displays on the 2011 models?

I had the volume muted and heard this noise coming from the rear top right of my TH-P55GT30A (looking at it from the front).

Now that I've heard it my ears can pick it up at normal volume as I'm listening for it.

My 2009 TH-P50V10A is as quiet as a mouse so I've rung Panasonic, who redirected me to AWA, and a tech rang and said they were ordering a new circuit board or similar.

I also went back to Good Guys they tried to tell me it was the fan and was normal. It's definitely not the fan, and their store display TH-P55GT30A was also making a bit of buzz whilst the TH-P50VT30A seemed quieter. Hard to tell in the noisy store environment though.

At that stage I wished I'd got the 50" VT instead of the 55"GT as they were the same price. Surely you don't have to get the VT though to have a quiet unit?

Is this audible buzz a common issue on the new models, or did I just get one that has a fault?

Edited by BigBad64, 22 August 2011 - 07:42 PM.

[tigers68]

Had this issue with a Pioneer a couple of years ago. It seemed to be a common issue and one that Pioneer didnt like to admit to.

Maybe Panasonic has inherited this from Pioneer although ive read that some of the latest Samsungs are buzzing too.

From memory i had to go into the menu and change the Energy Save mode from OFF to 1. Changing it to 2 made it a little quieter again i think.

maybe have a look in your settings for something similar

Good luck

Edited by tigers68, 22 August 2011 - 08:59 PM.

[diesel]

Seems all plasmas buzz to some extent, but some more than others.

Is it more noticeable with an all white screen than a black screen?

[BigBad64]

diesel, on Aug 22 2011, 11:41 PM, said:

Seems all plasmas buzz to some extent, but some more than others.

Is it more noticeable with an all white screen than a black screen?

I think so, the buzz definitely alters when the screen picture changes. The brighter the picture the more buzz.

It seems to come from all over the rear of the screen. I can hear it at each of the holes in the back.

A tech is coming tomorrow afternoon to change a circuit board. Hopefully that quietens it down.

I'd be disappointed to think that a 2011 model made more noise than a 2009, even if it is 5" larger screen size.

[diesel]

Buzzing is present in all plasma TVs IMO. The cause maybe due to manufacturing tolerances between actual TV components being slightly dissimilar and hence enough of a variance for some sets to buzz more than others. In any event, manufacturers are always looking for ways to cut costs and will always push the limits in terms of longevity, quality and performance with what they can get away with.

Good to see that they have responded to send out a tech and change a board. Hopefully this solves your issues, and you'll enjoy the set for what it was purchased for...not any extra "features"  

[BigBad64]

Tech came, listened at Volume level 20 at 2 metres which he said was the Panasonic recommended test, and said the level of buzz was normal. Said changing circuit boards would make no difference.

I can still hear it, especially in gaps of sound. Strange I've never noticed it on previous models. Lessens my enjoyment of a $2500 TV which I expect to be pretty spot-on.

Anyway, it looks like this is the "norm" for this model, even though I think it's relatively poor quality and a backwards step to what I'm used to on 2008/2009 models.

If you have sensitive hearing and are picky like me, I'd recommend getting the VT.

[wilsact]

BigBad64, on Aug 25 2011, 10:03 AM, said:

Tech came, listened at Volume level 20 at 2 metres which he said was the Panasonic recommended test, and said the level of buzz was normal. Said changing circuit boards would make no difference.

I can still hear it, especially in gaps of sound. Strange I've never noticed it on previous models. Lessens my enjoyment of a $2500 TV which I expect to be pretty spot-on.

Anyway, it looks like this is the "norm" for this model, even though I think it's relatively poor quality and a backwards step to what I'm used to on 2008/2009 models.

If you have sensitive hearing and are picky like me, I'd recommend getting the VT.

Hey,

My parents bought both a 55" gt and a 42" gt.

Same issue with the 55".  42" is very quiet with virtually no noise, but the 55" can buzz quiet loudly and is noticeable from seating 4 metres away.

Picture quality on both is awesome, but disappointing the 55" has a buzz like it does.

(especially after I talked them in to going plasma over lcd-

Will be interesting to see if the 55" vt suffers the same issue.

I did notice that activating eco mode and using cinema rather than THX did quiet the buzz on the 55" a fair bit.

[diesel]

BigBad64, on Aug 25 2011, 10:03 AM, said:

Tech came, listened at Volume level 20 at 2 metres which he said was the Panasonic recommended test, and said the level of buzz was normal. Said changing circuit boards would make no difference.

Anyway, it looks like this is the "norm" for this model, even though I think it's relatively poor quality and a backwards step to what I'm used to on 2008/2009 models.

I would maybe live with it for a few weeks and then get them out again claiming the buzz has got louder. You never know, you may get a different tech with more sympathetic ear.

[BigBad64]

wilsact, on Aug 25 2011, 10:23 AM, said:

Hey,

My parents bought both a 55" gt and a 42" gt.

Same issue with the 55".  42" is very quiet with virtually no noise, but the 55" can buzz quiet loudly and is noticeable from seating 4 metres away.

Picture quality on both is awesome, but disappointing the 55" has a buzz like it does.

(especially after I talked them in to going plasma over lcd-

Will be interesting to see if the 55" vt suffers the same issue.

I did notice that activating eco mode and using cinema rather than THX did quiet the buzz on the 55" a fair bit.

Glad it's not just me. The rest of the family thinks I'm mad!

diesel, on Aug 25 2011, 10:59 AM, said:

I would maybe live with it for a few weeks and then get them out again claiming the buzz has got louder. You never know, you may get a different tech with more sympathetic ear.

I've sent Panasonic an email telling them I'm not impressed with the unit.

I've posed them the question as to whether they'd be prepared to swap it for a TH-P50VT30A which is the same RRP.

I'm not holding my breath for a positive response.

No doubt if this did actually occur I'd probably lose my $199 2 year Horizon extended warranty on the TH-P55GT30A bought in store at Good Guys.

Might just leave the 55 for the kids who don't care less and retreat to my lovely and quiet TH-P50V10A.

[whitey660]

My 2010 50" V20A has a noticeable buzz when the screen is mostly white. I usually only notice it when the speakers (and street outside my window) are quiet e.g. watching the news late at night.

Fitting the ferrite cores to the power cable and ethernet cable seemed to reduce it - I still notice it sometimes though.

Not sure I'd go for plasma again due to this issue.

[BigBad64]

I went for Panasonic Plasma again due to my good experiences with first a TH-42PZ700A and then a TH-P50V10A. Both fantastic and virtually silent. If someone had said plasmas buzz I would have wondered what they were talking about.

The tech told me that because this screen was 5" bigger I should expect more noise.

If I had bought a cheap brand I'd maybe expect that and say well I got what I paid for and serves me right. However I resent paying decent money and getting something not spot-on.

On some shows and screens it is undetectable, but when it kicks in I can hear it behind the conversation and very noticeably during the silent bits.

No response from Panasonic yet re my email, but amazingly they did print my negative review;  http://www.panasonic...ustomer reviews

Maybe I'll go deaf soon and all will be well!

[BigBad64]

diesel, on Aug 25 2011, 11:59 AM, said:

I would maybe live with it for a few weeks and then get them out again claiming the buzz has got louder. You never know, you may get a different tech with more sympathetic ear.

Took your advice diesel and at my urging an AWA tech just came and replaced the main power board, unfortunately it made no difference to my intermittent annoying background screen buzz.    

Seems like it's a fact of life with this TV.

One thing I did notice while he had the back of the TV off , the 2 outside fans only had 2 screws holding them down. The 3rd spot obviously designed for a screw (hole in the panel and straight above it in the fan housing) didn't have one in it, or a spacer like the other 2 screws around the edge had. So the fan wasn't square-on to the back panel as a result,  the plastic of the fan housing was resting on the panel at the point where the 3rd spacer and screw should have been.

They aren't making any noise but it just looked wrong.  I asked the tech if he had just removed the missing screws and he said, "No, if they aren't there then they mustn't be meant to be there."

Either that or Panasonic Quality Control has really slipped.  Would have been nice to get a definitive "This model has them like that because......."

Anybody else seen this?

Edited by BigBad64, 03 November 2011 - 04:06 PM.

[diesel]

BigBad64, on Nov 3 2011, 12:32 PM, said:

an AWA tech just came and replaced the main power board, unfortunately it made no difference to my intermittent annoying background screen buzz.  

Yeah, my new 65VT20 has a bit of buzz, but I only notice it if I'm standing infront at about 1m from the screen and I look down at the floor. Otherwise, in normal viewing position it's not noticeable.

[ugoagogo]

yeh buzzing has been around for years , there is obviously no fix for it or surely they would have done it by now

I do remember years ago someone put sound tiles behind there tv and it pretty much eliminated the problem

the post is probably long archived by now but here is a site to start some ideas flowing

http://soundacoustics.com.au/

[BigBad64]

What do you think about the missing screws on the fans?

Deliberate or oversight?

[Seak]

BigBad64, on Nov 4 2011, 07:59 AM, said:

What do you think about the missing screws on the fans?

Deliberate or oversight?

Deliberate... less screws = less mechanical noise transfer to the TV chassis.

[jsmith]

ugoagogo, on Nov 4 2011, 02:00 AM, said:

yeh buzzing has been around for years , there is obviously no fix for it or surely they would have done it by now

I do remember years ago someone put sound tiles behind there tv and it pretty much eliminated the problem

the post is probably long archived by now but here is a site to start some ideas flowing

http://soundacoustics.com.au/

Nah it's still a pinned thread...


Another buzzer hey, bugger...

JSmith  

[diesel]

BigBad64, on Nov 4 2011, 07:59 AM, said:

What do you think about the missing screws on the fans?

Deliberate or oversight?

Cost cutting!!!  

[BigBad64]

ugoagogo, on Nov 4 2011, 02:00 AM, said:

I do remember years ago someone put sound tiles behind there tv and it pretty much eliminated the problem

http://soundacoustics.com.au/

I will have to get some of these and convince my wife they are "art" so she lets me hang them on the wall.

[brake]

ugoagogo, on Nov 4 2011, 01:00 AM, said:

yeh buzzing has been around for years , there is obviously no fix for it or surely they would have done it by now

I do remember years ago someone put sound tiles behind there tv and it pretty much eliminated the problem

the post is probably long archived by now but here is a site to start some ideas flowing

http://soundacoustics.com.au/

I was thinking that same thread

BigBad64, on Nov 4 2011, 08:50 PM, said:

I will have to get some of these and convince my wife they are "art" so she lets me hang them on the wall.

Let us know how you go...