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Panel Switching in Samsung TVs: What We Know So Far

Pierre-Jean Alzieu / Vincent Alzieu
Translator: Sam McGeever
August 30, 2010 3:10 PM
After our discovery that Samsung ships different panels in different versions of the same TV, we asked everybody we knew—resellers, consumers, friends—to take a look at just what panel was included in the TVs they had. 

Here are our initial findings about the variety of panels found in different Samsung models, and how you can find out what's in your own TV.

The first way to find out which type of panel you have is easy.  There is a label at the side of each TV.  The version number should, in theory, tell you where the panel comes from:

  • Version "A" panels: AC01, AC02, AC03, AC04, AA01, AA02, AA03, AA04 and BA01 all come from AU Optronics
  • Version "S" panels: SQ01, SQ02, SQ03, SQ04, SS01, SS02, SS03, SS04 and SX03 are made by Samsung
  • Version "C" panels: CN01, CN02, BN01 and BN02 stand for CMO, according to one reader who found yet another MVA panel on his 32''.

But even then, different panels from the same series can also show variation.  For instance, panels SQ01 and SQ02 are both PVA panels with an extended gamut (92% of the NTSC colour space) and 10 bit colour, while panels SS03 and SS04 have a standard gamut (72% of NTSC) and 8 bits.

That's why it's better to find out more by using the 'Service Menu', which the manufacturer advises against for safety reasons.  For the time being, we've only found a few rare cases where the information onscreen contradicts the label on the outside (but it did happen on the B7020 for instance).  Whatever you do, don't touch anything: just read what it says on screen.  One forum member, Kimou, explains how to get there:

Press Info, Menu, Mute and then restart the TV
Select the Advanced menu and press 0 four times in a row

Then TT1270 takes up the baton and explains what the various information means

For example, if you find the following model: 40A1UF0C:

40 — inches, the screen size
A — panel manufacturer (A = Samsung; D = CMO; L = AUO; I = CPT)
1 — frequency (6 = 50/60 Hz; 1 = 100/120 Hz; 2 = 200/240 Hz)
U — panel (A = AntiGlare; T = TN; U = Ultra Clear)
F — resolution (F = Full HD; H = HD; U = UD)
0 — 1st, 2nd panel and so on (1st = 0; 2nd = 1 ...)
C — backlight unit (C = CCFL; L = LED; E = Edge LED)

One last method works on older Samsung models: a single letter on the label at the back of the screen, next to the model number.  This code follows the same basic pattern as used on monitors for a few years now, with a few extra details.  It's been updated by AVForums:

  • A = AU Optronics (AUO) A-MVA
  • B = Chi Lin Technology (CLT)
  • C = Chi Mei Optoelectronics (CMO)
  • I = LG Display IPS (LGD)
  • P = Chunghwa Picture Tubes (CPT)
  • S = Samsung S-PVA (S-LCD)
  • H = Samsung S-PVA (3D)
  • Q = IPS Alpha Technology LTD (Hitachi & Panasonic) IPS Alpha/IPS Pro

Here's what we've found so far:

C350

C450

C530

C550

C570
C580

C630
C650

C670

C750
C4000
  • 32" (32C4000) : panel type unknown (Chilin, panel T320HAE1-DB)

C5000

C5100

C6000
C6300

C6500

C6700

C6710
C6740

C7000
C7700

C8000
  • 40" (40C8000): PVA (Samsung, panel LTF400HQ03)
  • 55" (55C8000) : PVA (SQ01 - Samsung)

C8700
C9000


OLDER TVs (2008 and 2009)

A577
  • 40" (40A577): MVA (AA01 - AUO)

A626
  • 40" (40A626): PVA (SS02 - Samsung)

A652
  • 40" (40A652): PVA (SQ02 - Samsung)

A656
  • 40" (40A656): PVA (SX03, SQ01 - Samsung)

A671
  • 32" (32A671): PVA (SQ02 - Samsung)

A676
  • 40" (40A676): PVA (SX03 - Samsung)
  • 46" (46A676): PVA (SS02 - Samsung)

B530
  • 32" (32B530) : PVA (ref. 32A6AF0C - Samsung)
  • 40" (40B530) : MVA (CN01 - CMO)

B541
  • 40" (40B541) : PVA (SQ01 - Samsung)

B550
  • 40" (40B550) : MVA (AA01 - AUO - bought in Thailand)
  • 46" (46B550) : MVA (AA01 - AUO)

B551
  • 37" (37B551) : ? (AQ01 - AUO ?)
  • 40" (40B551) : PVA (SQ02 - Samsung)

B620
  • 40" (40B620) : MVA (CN01 - CMO)
  • 52" (52B620): PVA (SQ01 - Samsung)

B650
  • 32" (32B650) : MVA (AA01 - AUO)
  • 37" (37B650) : MVA (AA01 - AUO)
  • 46" (46B650) : PVA (SS02 -AUO) + MVA (CN02, ref. 46D1UF0C - CN02, ref. 46D1UF0C - CMO)
  • 55" (55B650) : MVA (CN01 - CMO)

B651
B652
  • 40" (40B652): PVA (SQ02, ref. 40A2UFOC - Samsung)

B750
  • 40" (40B750) : PVA (SQ01 - Samsung)
  • 46" (46B750) : PVA (SQ01, ref. 46A2UF0C - Samsung)

B5000
  • 55" (55B6000) : PVA (SQ01 - Samsung)

B6000
  • 32" (32B6000) : MVA (CN01, ref. 32P1UF0E ? - CMO)
  • 40" (40B6000) : PVA (SQ01 - Samsung) + MVA (BN02 - CMO)
  • 46" (46B6000) : PVA (SS03 - Samsung, mars 2010) + MVA (BN01 + BN02 - CMO, novembre 2009)
  • 55" (55B6000) : PVA (SQ01 - Samsung)

B7000
  • 40" (40B7000) : PVA (ref. 40A1UF0E - Samsung)
  • 46" (46B7000) : MVA (BN02 - CMO)

B7020

> TV Panel Switching: Findings from 2010, Hopes for 2011 : See all news

> Buyer's Guides: Our Pick of The Best Products
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