An Interview with Steve Panosian on Samsung DLP HDTV's

An Interview with Steve Panosian on Samsung HLN-W1 Upgrade

March 12, 2004

An Interview with Steve G. Panosian, Director of Marketing - Digital Projection TV, Samsung Electronics America

We invited Steve Panosian to give us first-hand information on Samsung HLN DLP sets upgrade to HLN-W1 sets.

Steve, why did Samsung decide to release these upgraded HLN-W1 sets? And what’s new in these sets?

The W1 models represent a change in the remote control and menu system and shouldn’t be confused with a product upgrade in the context of picture performance or that the W1 model is part of the new 2004 product line that will begin to transition in the June/July timeframe. Samsung recently announced a $500 retail price move making the DLP TV sets more affordable and more in line with the growing demand for these sets. The change in our remote controllers and menu system began last year with our direct view TV sets and moved to several flat panel products prior to the change of remote we see today in the DLP TV sets. We feel that a wider base of consumers will find the remotes easier to use. We will monitor consumer feedback.

Let us start with remote control and menu system changes. Can you tell what the changes are and why they are being introduced?

A consumer report criticized Samsung’s TV remote control design and operation early last year. In response to this criticism, Samsung implemented the remote control and menu system as a running change across the entire TV product line including direct view, LCD & plasma flat screen sets that began last year. The DLP TV 43, 50 and 61-inch models are the recent products undergoing this change; at this time the 46 and 56 inch DLP TV models are unaffected by this change. Because the 46 and 56-inch models are featured with Discrete IR codes, advanced system remotes and IR control solutions more effectively address total system operation and reducing the need for using the TV remote.

The new remote control was intended and is designed to navigate through the TV’s menu system and perform menu and video input selections much more easily when compared to the previous design. Samsung’s new remote controller features a button that can both select and execute menu options as opposed to a thumb controller. We found the remote easy to use once becoming acclimated to the button layout and locations. However, consumers initially found the remote hard to use, product reviewers found the remote cumbersome to use and reported this as their opinion.

Further addressing easier operation using the remote, the entire system architecture for this remote control also permits a selectable video input label capability. Intended for easier identification of the components connected to the Samsung DLP TV sets, it needs to be noted that the selection choices are fixed. Custom user labeling is not part of the labeling feature.

What motivated the 480i/1080i change?

The system architecture change also includes component video inputs that accept 480i-1080i. This change was made to address the connection between the TV and lower cost solution satellite receivers and digital cable boxes that up until now - only output 480i or 1080i. It is important to know that the cable industry’s primary digital cable box makers are currently introducing both updates and new models that have selectable format outputs that will address the480P and 720P formats. Samsung has always maintained that the best picture quality can be realized only when the format selection and scaling is performed prior to conversion to analog component video. This is why Samsung’s HD Receivers have always been designed to select a display format that matches the HDTV monitor’s format. Separately, the Samsung line of HD receivers can be set up to render SD channels in either wide, panorama or native 4:3 picture formats prior to the being sent to the TV. This is the ideal solution because the conversion is performed prior to analog conversion when using Component Video and functionally, it addresses the DVI connection too.

How can I tell if I am buying an upgraded W1 set?

Identification of the Samsung DLP TV sets that are equipped with the new design remote controllers can be identified through the suffix number “1” at the end of the model number. An example is HLN507W1 vs. HLN507W.

Can you tell us what hasn’t changed in these upgrades?

Picture quality performance between the W and W1 models is the same. Those who saw a need or desire to custom calibrate a W model, would also enjoy the benefits of custom calibrating a W1 model. Samsung recognizes that consumers with a more discerning eye either custom calibrate their DLP sets or seek the services of a qualified ISF calibrator. We encourage consumers to share their opinions with regard to our factory settings, which they’ve had in the past. This helps us determine what we may need to make during production.
Internal reflections – The W1 model does nothing different to address the reduction of internal reflection than previous productions of the DLP product line. Note that production late last year did include lenses with coatings aimed at reducing the level of internal reflections. This is predominantly seen when a video signal isn’t present or when the set is used as a computer monitor and the video background is either a dark shade or black. Most people do not see the reflection. Samsung has brought down the level of the reflection over the last year; it is a complicated adjustment as it involves both the screen and projector lens specification.
Lip Sync problem. The W1 does not address this problem regardless of the source of this misunderstanding. The lip sync problem varies by video source and the cause is based on several factors. Depending on the video broadcast source across the spectrum of TV and cable networks, digital satellite channels and separately, the compression techniques used for DVD titles, the lip sync level issue varies in being noticeable. As a reference, Samsung suggests tuning to any of the CBS’ digital transmissions – off air, satellite or digital cable to verify that a tightly spec’d video source will not display a lip sync problem. According to CBS, their tolerance spec is within 2 milliseconds. Most people will begin seeing a sync delay when it exceeds over 60 milliseconds. It is Samsung’s understanding the major networks have all worked on addressing their digital channel sync issues that are caused through the various encoding and decoding processes. The Samsung DLP TV video path is spec’d at 60 milliseconds. If there are sync issues present on the source side, and the source is 480i, the sync problem aggregates and becomes noticeable because of the video processing stages the signal passes through. Samsung is working on a solution based on determining which exact broadcast channels, cable channels or DVD titles reveal the worse case.
New board and firmware. The W1 board supports the remote control and menu system change and the firmware change applies to the settings made during the production of the TV.

Thank you Steve, for taking your valuable time to provide this information.

You are welcome.

If you have any comments on this interview, please forward them to info@digiupdate.com, with a subject line “Interview with Steve Panosian”.