Yet another HDTV question

Bakes · Post by **Bakes** » Wed Oct 14, 2009 3:43 pm

Recently purchased the Samsung 52a630. Great set - anyone have some basic recommended calibration settings? I tried wading through the pages at avsforum and my head is spinning.

I assume movie mode is the best place to start?

Brando70 · Post by **Brando70** » Wed Oct 14, 2009 4:15 pm

Bakes wrote:Recently purchased the Samsung 52a630. Great set - anyone have some basic recommended calibration settings? I tried wading through the pages at avsforum and my head is spinning.

I assume movie mode is the best place to start?

The Digital Video Essentials calibration disc is a helpful and cheap way to calibrate your set. I bought it for $16 on Amazon. It comes with color filters that help you calibrate the color. Plus it has advanced test patterns in it if you ever want to do something like buy an EyeOne for greyscale calibration.

Not nearly the same as having a professional calibration, but I had pretty good results with it.

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Thu Oct 15, 2009 12:23 pm

California appears poised to be first to ban power-guzzling big-screen TVs

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-b ... 8205.story

I betcha the Govenator will still have his just like his wife who was caught using her cellphone while driving even though it's against the law to use one while driving in Cali

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Thu Oct 15, 2009 1:00 pm

F*cking ridiculous. I would love to see Guvnor Ahnold's electric bill every month at the state mansion.

Sort of like Al Gore buying "carbon credits" to offset the $3,200 monthly utility bill at his Tennessee mansion.

Can you say hypocrisy?

Take care,
PK

Zeppo · Post by **Zeppo** » Thu Oct 15, 2009 2:03 pm

The thing about calibrating with the DVE is that you are only calibratng for that source/input. That is, if you use the DVE DVD, those settngs will only be accurate for your DVD player; if you calibrate with the DVE BluRay, those settings will only be accurate for BluRays played on your BluRay player.

To properly calibrate for you sattelite or cable box's outpu, you'd need calibration patterns sent from that box. Back in the days when Time Warner carried HDNet, I was able to snag a few really good calibration patterns that they would run regularly at some crazy time, like 3:50AM or something. Using these, alng with the color filters from the DVE disc, I was able to calibrate for an HD signal from my cable box. Of course, getting correct calibration for Standard Def from my cable box was a different story.

Seeing as I look at video monitors all day for work, I do a pretty good job of adjustng by eye to get close to proper capibration, but you'd be surprised how far off any 'by eye' adjustments really are.

But, nce you get your DVD source or your BluRay source properly adjusted, you can use that 'look' to guide your 'by eye' adjustments for other sources, specifically your cable or sattelite box. Especially if you hapen to have a DVD or BluRay of a movie that you happen to catch on HBO or something.

And forget about universally calibratng for games. There is no standard for game calibration, nothing like the SMPTE standards for DVDs and BluRays, so every game, even games published by the same company, will have very different calibrations. Some games have decent patterns to get the contrast right for your display, but even those nice looking patterns EA Sports puts in for sme of their games are actually very innaccurate.

And of course, the same box outputting to HDMI will have different calibration settngs if outputting via component.

Anyway, using the DVE for your DVD or BluRay player will get you a long way towards the right settings if you then use the 'look' of material from
that source to use as a mental guide to adjust your settings for your cable or sattelite box signal.

Brando70 · Post by **Brando70** » Thu Oct 15, 2009 2:32 pm

Definitely true about different sources, Zep. I bought the DVE Blu Ray and used the PS3 to calibrate the set. I had the old Avia disc, but wasn't happy with the results on my new TV.

I didn't think to try the broadcast/movie comparison, that's a good suggestion. My initial feeling was my DirecTV box was pushing red a little so I adjusted accordingly, but just went by sight. I suppose I could do the same for games -- download the same demo on the PS3 and 360 and do a pause comparison.

After using DVE, I am very pleased with the Blu Ray/DVD results. BR in particular just looks incredible now (not that it didn't before, but it's much more accurate).

Zeppo · Post by **Zeppo** » Thu Oct 15, 2009 4:32 pm

Brando70 wrote: I suppose I could do the same for games -- download the same demo on the PS3 and 360 and do a pause comparison.

Well, the thing is, just because you've calibrated your PS3 for BluRay doesn't mean that those settings would hold for a game on the PS3. In fact, even from game to game, the calibration settings are likely to be quite different, even from the same publisher.

DVDs and BluRays are supposed to be calibrated according to standard SMPTE test patterns, but there are no industry standards at all for games. Also, as I've found with EA Sports games, sometimes even the calibration patterns included with the games aren't very accurate when it comes to the game itself. It's just a hodge-podge out there when it comes to games, so the best bet is to use whatever each game gives you, usually a brightness/contrast calibration pattern (and hopefully in-game adjustments as well), or if not available use your eye to get it the way you like it.

But as to Bakes's original question: yes, for most sets the 'cinema' or 'movie' mode is usually best for TV and movies, and most sets come from the factory with contrast way, way too high, and chroma way too high as well.

Brando70 · Post by **Brando70** » Thu Oct 15, 2009 4:49 pm

That's true, Zeppo, but at least I could have consistent inconsistency between the two systems.

Funny thing about contrast -- on the new Panasonic models, a lot of the preset modes have the contrast at 100. Even the dark Studio Reference and THX modes have it that high, but other controls for panel brightness are reduced. And when I calibrated with DVE, I had contrast at 80, although I cut that in half for my 360 input to reduce an image retention on the set.

Gangrel · Post by **Gangrel** » Thu Oct 15, 2009 5:52 pm

I just got a new Sammy this summer, and borrowed DVE from a guy at work. It was the old version, for component stuff, but it had the filters, etc.

OUt of the box, the first thing the TV asked during the set up is if it was for home use or store..... so they have defaults for us normal folks.

I did most of the tests, and aside from a tick here, or a tick there, the Samsung seemed pretty spot on out of the box. Perhaps I sucked at calibrating (which is quite possible). I see DVE has a new version out on Blu Ray, assuming for LCDs now. I wonder if it's worth it......

TheGamer2 · Post by **TheGamer2** » Thu Oct 15, 2009 6:06 pm

when I got my Samsung in January, my salesman threw in a Monster ISF series HDTV Calibration Wizrd dvd. The picture is excellent but I wish I could have a professional calibrator get a hold of it.

Bakes · Post by **Bakes** » Fri Oct 16, 2009 12:25 pm

thanks for all the info guys, very helpful.

WillHunting · Post by **WillHunting** » Sat Oct 17, 2009 2:17 am

After more research, I ended up buying the Samsung Plasma B650 (50 inch). It is night and day compared to my last HDTV (2004 Rear Projection). It was very hard to find the B650 in stores though (seems like they are phasing it out in favor of the B850, which is $400+ more with some minor improvements). Glad I was able to pick it up and have the store price match online price. Whew!

Zeppo · Post by **Zeppo** » Mon Nov 23, 2009 2:57 pm

Gang, I'm trying to help select a small LCD panel for my parents' bedroom. From those with experience, what's better: LG, Samsung, or Toshiba? I'm wary or Apex or Dynex etc, and not sure about Sony LCDs but they don't seem to be all that much more than the other major brands. Or what about Sharp? Worth the premium?

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Mon Nov 23, 2009 3:19 pm

I have two Samsung LCD's that I havent found any faults with. My next buy will be a Samsung...

sportdan30 · Post by **sportdan30** » Mon Nov 23, 2009 3:44 pm

Target I believe is having a deal (Black Friday) on a 32" Westinghouse for around $246 I believe. I have a 32" that I've owned for three years that has been great.

wco81 · Post by **wco81** » Mon Nov 23, 2009 4:03 pm

May want to consider bigger than what you want. People always have a little remorse for not going bigger than their original target.

And look at plasma, even from a name brand like Panasonic is priced better than LCD.

Heard this morning that there may be a Sony Bravia for $800 on BF.

Also the threshold for better processing electronics seem to be 40 or 42 inches. Smaller screens don't have as nice processing to enhance the picture.

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Mon Nov 23, 2009 4:24 pm

wco81 wrote:Smaller screens don't have as nice processing to enhance the picture.

Because they don't need it. But I do agree that always get the next size up (32 to 37, 37 to 42, 42 to 47 etc.) because you will never say "wow this tv is too big." And if you do, it'll be for the first week or two and then it'll just be normal.

Zeppo · Post by **Zeppo** » Mon Nov 23, 2009 4:41 pm

What about Panasonic's LCDs? Do they make good LCDs?

Just so you know, this is for my parents, who rarely listen to reason on things like this, and it is going into a relatively small space alon the wall, so 32" is probably the biggest that will fit. I you can find me a 32" plasma, i'd be all for it, but, you know....

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Mon Nov 23, 2009 4:43 pm

Target has a nice Vizio on sale for under $500. I forget whether it was the 32 or 37" LCD.

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Mon Nov 23, 2009 4:53 pm

Rodster wrote:Target has a nice Vizio on sale for under $500. I forget whether it was the 32 or 37" LCD.

Must be 37 since all of the Vizio 32"s can usually be had for under 500. A good sale on a 32" Vizio is around 350-400. Just get em a Vizio Zeppo...I've got three Vizio's and they've all been outstanding, especially for the price.

Zeppo · Post by **Zeppo** » Mon Nov 23, 2009 6:13 pm

I'd love to, but one issue I'm having is I want to do a store pick up so we can be speedy about it, and Best Buy isn't selling Vizios for some reason. I will try to find a Target near their house, so maybe that would be best. I've heard only good thngs about Vizio especially considering the price.

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Mon Nov 23, 2009 6:51 pm

Zeppo wrote:I'd love to, but one issue I'm having is I want to do a store pick up so we can be speedy about it, and Best Buy isn't selling Vizios for some reason. I will try to find a Target near their house, so maybe that would be best. I've heard only good thngs about Vizio especially considering the price.

If you're a Costco member, that's the way to go since they have all of the Vizio models and they come with a 2 year warranty if you buy through them (3 years if you use an American Express card).

Wal-Mart carries them too.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Thu Dec 10, 2009 2:45 pm

Heard a lot of good things about the Toshiba Regza. There's a sale ending today in my neck of the woods for $899 CAD for the 40" model. I was thinking of upgrading it over my current Sony Xbr Bravia 60HZ and move the Sony one to our bedroom.

Do any of you guys have a Toshiba? Your impressions are welcomed, thanks.

Feanor · Post by **Feanor** » Thu Dec 10, 2009 4:43 pm

I had a Samsung technician come out today to fix the LN40B610 I bought two months ago. Last week I discovered that three of the four HDMI ports didn't work when I turned on my Comcast cable box and got no signal on HDMI 1. I plugged the cable box in by component cables, then tried plugging my PS3 into every HDMI port. And I only got a signal on HDMI 2 - the other three ports were busted.

The technician replaced the motherboard and now all four HDMI ports work. He was only here for about 25 minutes.

snaz16 · Post by **snaz16** » Thu Dec 10, 2009 7:44 pm

Seems like the latest buzz is 240hz. Haven't delved too much into this,and a recent article on Cnet says its pretty hard to discern between 120hz as opposed to 240hz. Any opinions on this ?