Any info on this set?

[Dan]

I am considering buying this set for my first HDTV. It has gotten generally favourable reviews on other web-sites but I was wondering if anyone here had any experience with it?

Please let me know. In fact, any feedback on Sampo in general will be appreciated.

[AUMMitsu]

hi, i dont have any personal experience with this set, but here is a neg review i read on it:

"Summary:
First units problems and corespondance with Sampo...
I had talked on the phone trying to describe these problems and trouble shoot. Finally Sampo asked me to right down all the issues and email it to them.

*******
Sampo SME-34WHD5
chassis no. C-36-D5
M SME-34WHD5 manufacture date 2000 May
Serial number 022600019

This is attempt number three now. (I Generally get paid or get gifted things that I have to beta test.)

Associated equipment
DiSH Network DiSH 6000: High Definition Integrated Receiver Decoder (Outputs RGB or Component as 720P or 1080I)
Silicon Image DVDO iScan Pro: External Line doubler outputs 480P as Component or VGA EAD TheaterVision P: Progressive Scan DVD player (Based on same line doubler as iScan but directly attached to the MPEG decoder board)
Standard VHS VCR 240
Sony S-360: Interlaced component DVD player

Local rep has looked at this set and seen most of the problems listed below. Contact them for confirmation.

Tube:
Tube is misconverged in over 90% of the screen. White lines next to any other color ar out lined by either red green or blue. This is always apparent on Geometry test patterns. Misconvergance begins in the dead center of the set and gets worse as you move out to the edges of the tube.

When displaying a plain single color field there is a noticeable color shift 1 inch in from both sides of the set that runs the height of the set. It is visible with any solid color field. (Later IDed as tube shadding wich is a part of manufacturing of the Toshiba tube.)

Bad DC restoration. White lines not only leave a tracer but the image is displayed for a fairly long time. Watching movies with lots of blacks gets difficult, when the lit scenes are still displayed on the screen as the person is supposed to be walking into the dark.

Tube displays a bowing from the top of the set towards the center. Test patterns that display a straight line across the screen are correct at the bottom of the tube and in the middle then get bent down as you approach the top of the tube. Things change shape as they pass across the screen, caving in as they approach the middle then expanding as they cross.

Component Inputs:
Unit has fine diagonal lines that pulse in the image when using component inputs to YPBPR. Lines move over the picture then vanishs for a moment, then appears again. This is in all scan modes: 480P, 720P, and 1080I

Unit displays horizontal banding from light objects on the screen across the screen onto darker objects. This produces what looks like smearing on anything white that is near a color. Coupled with the Misconvergance, text in 720P is unreadable near the bottom of the screen. This almost
looks like a double image in component mode. (Not present in RGB mode.)

Unit has a line that runs vertically from top to bottom right at the edge of the screen that is not of uniform brightness. This line is about 15-20 IRE brighter than the rest of the picture. Shifting the image using the controls shows that this problem is not in the signal but at the edge of the tube, (you can't move it off the screen.)

Incompatibility:
Using the DVDO iScan Pro, the set loses sync whenever:
1. Most of the screen is displaying an image that has 50 percent or more of the screen as bright white or a white field is displayed for a brief amount of time.

Examples
Shanghai Noon: Chapter 6 Multiple drop outs during fight scene as white water splashes up onto the screen.
Armageddon: Chapter 2 Drop out right after, 'We're moving the Hubbell!" Shot goes from a close up of the telescope to a white field (demonstrating a picture flash) then to the Hubbell. The Abyss Various underwater scenes the set flashes that it is losing and resyncing.

2. When a commercially produced VHS tape is played the set loses sync as soon as you hit play. (Standard Def. Sat programming is routed through the VCR for recording.) When the VCR is passing the sat signal to the iScan the image is displayed with no drop outs. As soon as the VCR tape
starts the Sampo flashes No Signal and then goes black in RGB mode. In component mode instead of going black the set tries to hold the image. You get a image that fills the 16:9 screen at the bottom of the tube but forms a trapezoid that flashes back and forth to the edges of the tube. It alternates between this and just blacking out.

The iScan Pro has a switch on the front of the unit to select between 3 picture modes. Full, Gray Bars, and Black Bars. The iScan has this switch for compatibility with sets that lock into 16:9 mode with 480P signals.
Full: passes the signal as 480P direct from source. This can cause images to be stretched across the full screen that were meant to be displayed on a 4:3 ratio screen.
Gray Bars: Produces a 480P signal with the image flanked left and right by Gray Bars. This is useful for watching NTSC converted to progressive in proper aspect Ratio.
Black Bars: As above but with black bars. Not suitable for displays that are subject to burn in.

When switching between modes on the iScan the set loses sync, displays black, then the picture reappears.

(Note: I have hooked the iScan up to a 32" Computer Monitor made by Toshiba for Gateway and none of the above problems occur.)

Operation:
Set takes a long time to accept a second command. The inclusion of discrete codes on the second remote you sent improves things greatly. Switching between sources no longer requires... INPUT wait wait wait INPUT... around to the input you wanted. Power Up the set and the screen must be displayed before any other command will be accepted.

Selecting the input you are already on causes the set to lose sync and go to black. the time it takes to resync is noticeable to end users. If the input displayed is selected via remote, the set should just display the name of the input and not have to resync.

The Unit has refused to turn on 3 times in the past 3 weeks that it has been here. Pressing power on the set or on the remote has zero effect. Using the discrete on code does not work either. Unit must be unplugged and have the blades of the receptical crossed with a metal object to reset the set. Plug the set back in and the unit operates as normal.

SUGGESTION:
With the introduction of the Toshiba and Sony HD set atop boxes you may want to take this into consideration.
Both of these IRDs have 1 set of component outputs. These outputs are user configurable to output 480I or 1080I. To connect to the Sampo sets they would need a spliter to connect to YPRPB and YCRCB. There is also a VGA output but if the IRDs function like my DiSH unit it is a either or
on the RGB vs COMPONENT.
**********

Sampo sent me anotherset and took away the old one. Here is the email that was written about the second set.

*********
Round 2

A new unit was delivered from Delta last week.

When the unit was first unpacked Mr. Long noticed a gap in the TV. The screw at the top left of the front panel had not been tightened down. I grabbed a screwdriver and tightened up the offending gap. The Gap closed.

Necessary info
SME-34WHD5
Manufacture Date of September 2000
Serial number 040600620
Chasis no. C-36D5

This unit has much better convergence. The line that outlined every object in either red, green, or blue is considerably lessened.

Unit still has drop outs with iScan Pro and commercially recorded VHS. Picture will sync sometimes if you let the tape run for more than 10 seconds. When you hit play the picture disappears. If the picture comes back, (It doesn't always) it will flash and pulse in and out.

Unit has the same problem with Horizontal banding on YPBPR input. Diagonal lines appear and disappear as they pulse through the screen image.

The Tube has the same sort of color shift 1 inch from the sides of the screen. Now as an added bonus there is a color shift as you cross the screen. The screen is tinted blue on the left side of the screen and green near the right side. This is apparent when displaying a uniform white field.

I have yet to do a grey scale calibration.
*********

$3250 for all this...

Strengths:
Direct View 16:9 multi sync HDTV.

Weaknesses:
See article"

This is just one out of 9 though and it got several good reviews. you can find the rest here
http://www.audioreview.com/PRD_125549_2727crx.aspx

just curious, what are your reasons for buyign this set over something else?

[Dan]

I had read that review before and didn't know what to make of it. First of all, the person makes it sound like they are doing a professional review - in which case what are they doing posting it on a Web bulletin board. Also, I read the other reviews on that sight and they were very positive about the set. It seems to me that a certain percentage of all HDTVs that get shipped are duds that just don't work right and you have to accept that and know that you might have to have it replaced.

My interest in the Sampo is that I definitely want a tube HDTV and it seems like one of the better ones out there. The RCA 38 inch also seems good but I will be getting my signal from cable so that eliminiates that one. Also, the Sampo is a true HDTV in that it has 1080i by 1920 which is the highest standard HDTV and a lot of other TVs don't have that. Also, it recieves 1080i, 710p, and 480p naturally - that is whithout any up or down conversion - so that is another big advantage. It sucks with analog but I don't care because the set will only be used for watching HDTV.

My only real concern, given that it isn't a major brand name, is reliability and service. Again, most things I have read on the internet are positive but the more reassurance I can get the better :)

Dan

[dansut]

I own this HDTV:mad:

I am on my 2nd unit and it still is not functioning properly.

Dealing with Sampo has been frustrating at best:(

This appears to be a great HDTV let down by poor quality
control and technical support availibility.

If Sampo manage to get me a unit that works to my
satisfaction then I shall post a review of all the +ve points
of this model ...

Until then, if you have any specific questions ask away I
shall try to check back here every once in a while and will
answer what I can.

/dan

[Dan]

When you say not working properly do you mean not working at all? Have you ever seen a HDTV signal on it?

Also, how did you buy it - at a store or buy internet. If by internet who has paid all the costs of having non-working sets replaced?

This is really bad news for me because in theory this sounds like a very good set at a good price - but if it is unreliable and the service sucks......... :(

Dan

[dansut]

"Not Working" =
Set #1 flickering with intermittent color dropout on all inputs
Set #2 discoloration in top left corner, and now flickering

Normally watch in 480p through DVDO iScan v2 line doubler.
Only experience with higher resolutions is using as a PC
monitor at the various capable resolutions.

Bought unit over the Internet unseen physically. No dealers
here in NH. Have been dealing directly with Sampo for all
warranty issues and they have so far covered all costs ...
Repairs should be provided by their rep onsite, or if needed
by their rep taking set away. There is no capable rep
anywhere near here and hence most of my problems :(

Want to know more?
/dan

[azloesch]

I have owned the Sampo SME-34WHD5 for about a week.
It is a later ALL black version (produced in May 2001) with the added second s-video input on the back (early silver units only had the single s-video input on the front).
I bought it at a very reasonable price of $1289 (but with a hefty added $265 shipping/handling charge) from uBid.
Thus far, I have only watched it on the following two inputs: TV (cable as source) and YPbPr (JVC XV-723D Progressive scan DVD Player as source).

On TV, the performance is no better than that of our cheap 31" Sanyo bedroom TV we bought 5 years ago at Walmart! This is for obvious reasons: no line doubler and poor NTSC receiver.

On the YPbPr input, overall picture is well defined and resolved, but problems exist with tint, color brightness and contrast. No matter how hard I try to adjust the various settings using the Video Essentials set-up DVD, I cannot get these to my satisfaction. For example, the faces always have a very "tanned" appearance, clear blue skies have a "diry/polluted" look to them, distinction/contrast between sunlit and shadow areas is muted and there is always a slightly warm "orangey" tint to everything.
In addition to performing ALL the Video Essentials adjustments (which rely on contrast , brightness, color and tint controls) I have also played with the R, G and B controls on the set that are on the consumer remote. Reducing from the factory settings both the Red and Green with respect to the Blue has helped some but not all that much. For example faces are a little less "tanned", skies are a bit more blue, but contrast and brightness (even if set to the MAX!) remain somwhat muted. I have just ordered the AVIA home theater set up DVD with the hope that it will do more/be more usefull than Video Essentials.
We shall see?

Possibly the set can be better adjusted with the Service remote,
But Sampo will only sell me one (at $30 +$10s&h) if I sign a disclaimer! According to the Perfect Vision review, this HDTV has a high potential to produce a great picture, but, out of the box, it is in dire need of serious calibration to the Imaging Science Foundation standards, which the reviewer accomplished only with the help of the service manual, sevice remote and expensive calibration gear!!
Anyone have any other suggestions?
Thanks for your help.

[wmaco]

I have just recently purchased this set (2 weeks). I have the Dish 6000 receiver, Panasonic RFP-56 prog. DVD, and std. TV input. Thus far, I have been very happy with the set. The new Discovery HD channel produces excellent pictures, especially when exterior landscape video is shown. DVD pictures are almost as good, and better than some of the HDTV signals I have seen. NTSC TV looks as good as NTSC can look, given that there is no line doubler in the chain. The pictures certainly outshine any RPTV I have seen (most RPTVs in stores hardly qualify as HDTV). I am trying to get a two year warranty extension, as the reliability of this set is yet to be proved.

Any other recent experiences?

[dansut]

Originally posted by azloesch
It is a later ALL black version (produced in May 2001) with the added second s-video input on the back (early silver units only had the single s-video input on the front).

I have been reliably informed that the black units were specials produced for Costco. I now have a silver unit with both front and rear s-video inputs. The other change appears to be that the newer remote has buttons for each individual source instead of one input button which needs to be pressed repeatedly to scroll through input sources.

My latest unit has the best picture yet and I'm very happy with it. I still have an issue with discoloration but this has been traced to EMI and I am attempting to make up some sheilding.

[schimers]

I bought my Sampo through Costco via internet. I have two major problems. 1) Every time there is a white scene - such as a flashbulb going off - the unit resets (it goes blue for 2 seconds and the screen resolution comes on and then it returns to the program) I suspect a weak power supply. Any thoughts on this?

I e-mailed Sampo and they are willing to retreive it and send a new one - but I have to give them another credit card authorization. Seems like a fair deal - if the replacement unit is better. This forum has me wondering about that.

2) Although DVD's and Comcasts HD programs are breathtaking and display very accurately - any other signal has color that is off. Another poster above hit it on the head when he said all faces appear suntanned and the sky appears very polluted. I tried using my AVIA DVD to adjust the color - but the color reported as OK. I know this can't be right as everything has a yellowish tinge - even hocky rink ice!

[wmaco]

I also notice color differences for some program sources. I haven't tried to adjust the color as yet because I am waiting for the new Avia disk to come out. I believe the color adjustments have to be made separately for the various input modes. Have you asked Sampo support about this?