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Vito Loduca

In general, sets of different sizes from the same model line will have the same characteristics, though this is not always the case. For example, all the sets in Sony's XBR9 line of LCD TVs offer 240Hz operation except the smallest one, which is 120Hz. But in the case of the Mits sets, I don't think they are significantly different. On the other hand, a larger screen will more readily reveal any flaws in the picture, be they in the source or TV, but that's true any time you move to a larger screen.

1080p vs. 1080p
I own a Samsung HL-S5687W DLP 1080p TV, and I have a DirecTV HD 21 DVR connected to the TV via HDMI. I was able to set up the DirecTV box to output 1080p, and I played a 1080p video for about 15 seconds, after which the screen went blank and I got a message saying, "Mode not supported." Next, I downloaded a 1080p movie from DirecTV. When I tried to play it, I got the same message.

I went into the DirecTV menu to uncheck the 1080p resolution and recheck the box, hoping it would reset the resolution. But after I unchecked the box, it would not let me check it again.

I called both Samsung and DirecTV tech support and got very little help and a lot of finger pointing between the two. After several calls, I finally learned that the Samsung TV only accepts 1080p at 30fps and the DirecTV box only plays 1080p at 24fps.

Is this a valid explanation or is the Samsung TV defective since it did play in 1080p for about 15 seconds? If all the equipment is working properly, is there any way around this incompatibility? What is the more common format, 24fps or 30fps?

Ronald Bessette

It's a valid explanation, and I'm afraid I see no way around this incompatibility. If the Samsung can accept only 1080p/30 and the DirecTV box can output only 1080p/24, they're not going to work together. I'm not sure why it would work for 15 seconds, but I'm not surprised it doesn't work overall.

1080p/24 is far more common than 1080p/30. Some concert videos are shot in 1080p/30, but they are then stored on Blu-ray at 1080i because Blu-ray does not support 1080p/30. The best you can do with your current system is to output 1080i from the DirecTV box to the TV.

Discoloration Dismay
I bought a Sony KDF-50E2000 about three years ago. Recently, when powering on, I began to get the message, "Lamp life is nearing end. Please replace." I thought that was the cause of the red band at the top of the picture and the blue band at the bottom. I replaced the bulb, but the bands did not go away—in fact, they seem more pronounced. What is causing this? Did I even need to replace the bulb yet or perhaps I waited too long and caused irreparable harm?

Jeff Hunter

I've heard of discoloration problems with Sony SXRD rear-projection TVs, but not LCD models such as yours. Also, the SXRD problem is known as "green blobs," and your problem is a red band at the top and blue band at the bottom. I very much doubt that the bulb caused the problem, though you were right to replace it after getting that onscreen message.

I really don't know what might be causing the problem. It isn't a misalignment of the LCD panels, since the center of the image is not similarly discolored. It might be that the LCD panels themselves are suffering some sort of failure, but the only way to know for sure is to have a Sony tech take a look. I assume the set is no longer under warranty, so that might get expensive, but I see no alternative.

If you have a home-theater question, please send it to scott.wilkinson@sorc.com.