Optimal Settings for LCD

[Clever_Iggy]

I'm the new owner of a 46' Samsung 1080p 120hz LCD TV. I've been watching it on the factory default settings because I'm not savvy enough to play with the settings to personalize them.

I've read on forums and the internet that you can get an expert to come in and spend 4 hours configuring your TV for optimal performance. I'm just not willing to spend $400 on that because I dont think I would notice the difference between -2 Gamma or +2 Gamma, 51 Green/49 Red or 49 Green/51 Red, etc...

Are the configuration DVDs you can purchase worth it? Is there some other (cheaper) way to configure my TV for optimal performance in Standard, Dymanic and Movie settings?

[PsYcNeT]

Buy any Pixar animation DVD. They have surprisingly good home theatre optimizers inside, and bonus! you get a good movie.

[Clever_Iggy]

Originally Posted by PsYcNeT

Buy any Pixar animation DVD. They have surprisingly good home theatre optimizers inside, and bonus! you get a good movie.

Really? That's awesome. Wall-E and The Incredibles were great.

This might be just what I'm looking for - I'm not so intune with my TV that I'll know the difference between a set up like this and a professional job.

Thanks.

[Hack&Lube]

There's no real thing as a tune up or optimal settings. As long as the refresh rate and resolution are the native settings for that LCD, any tinkering is 100% just viewer preference and up to you for how bright, how colorful, how sharp you want things. Anybody who charges for this is doing pure rip-off.

[ken0042]

The one thing to do is switch from the standard out of the box setting. Most will be "Vivid" or something like that- just so if your TV was destined to be a floor model it would show better in a store environment.

I usually just go to standard, and then tinker from there if I want to.

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

There's no real thing as a tune up or optimal settings. As long as the refresh rate and resolution are the native settings for that LCD, any tinkering is 100% just viewer preference and up to you for how bright, how colorful, how sharp you want things. Anybody who charges for this is doing pure rip-off.

That's not true.

There are a number of different palettes, and screens can be set to all over the map. But in general you want things to look the same colour that they were when they were filmed, and that is what these calibration discs are designed to do - adjust your colour, contrast, tint, sharpness and geometry to as closely replay a scene as it was filmed.

If you want to screw with it and make it look like all the onscreen personalities have a sunburn or came from Mars, go for it; but don't try to conclude that there are no tune ups or optimal settings. There most assuredly are.

Now whether or not a person can tell the difference or if panel is capable of reproducing the optimal are other questions.

[PsYcNeT]

If you're really diehard you can purchase a Spyder ($150-$300) but the only people who really care are photo, video, and texture designers.

On-disc optimizers work fantastic for the Average Joe, not everyone needs blackest blacks, whitist whites, and natural contrast.

I for one, have my PC monitor (Samsung T220 for those who care) calibrated for perfect color using a Spyder, then have nVidias digital vibrancy turned up to 12% because I like it to look a little vivid, mainly because I'm a gamer.

[Clever_Iggy]

Thanks for the responses. I'm pretty satisfied with the default settings, although I did increase the sharpness and lower the brightness slightly. I'm going to try the optimizing bonus through a Pixar DVD and see what I find.

Perhaps it's just because my eyes are so used to SD that the jump to HD doesnt allow me to see any necessary setting adjustments.

[Vulcan]

Most TVs when you first get them are set at a vivid configuration so they will grab your eyes but they aren't very realistic and very good for long time viewing.

Here are a couple of reviews with their settings which should get you into the ballpark. I'd read the reviews and get an understanding of why they set what they do and why they turn off some functions.

http://ultimateavmag.com/flatpaneldi...52/index7.html

http://reviews.cnet.com/flat-panel-t...&tag=mncol;lst

http://reviews.cnet.com/9602-12576_7...sageID=2510694

The 650 and 750 are pretty much the same TVs and the size shouldn't matter.

and here's a thread on the settings and calibration.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...msung+settings

[Clever_Iggy]

So last night I was watching my 3 day old TV, when a 3 inch x 3 inch square of grey/white pixels pops up on the top of the screen, right near the edge, in the upper left quadrant of the screen. It flickers constantly and grows and shrinks vertically...

I turn off my TV, unplug it, reset the settings, consider the old-school method of banging the side of it while yelling "Come on!" but to no avail. This annoying white/grey square is still there this morning. I read on the internet that it could be "stuck" pixels and there a ton of home remedies to try and fix it.

I'm going to call and get a new TV. What a let down. 3 years of waiting through law school to buy one and when it finally arrives, I get 3 days of good picture before this white square crap.

So, any picture adjustments are on hold until I get my replacement.

[MaDMaN_26]

I bought my new LCD about 2 months ago (Sony KDL-46Z4100/B), and first one was completely screwed... after about 2 hours of watching it everything went green and then scrambled pixels every where... next one it took me a few days but realized it must have been out of the box before as it had 2 huge scratches that I could only see when I shone a flashlight on it (take a flash light to the store)... but once I saw them I could look for them and see them slightly when it was off or a night/dark scene... so I took it back and went to the storee flashlight in hand... my current one is beutiful looking and unmarred... so don't be to upset... I was pretty put off by my first few weeks of ownership as well, but once you have been watching it for a few weeks and not having troubles you'll forgive all the pains in the but you had to go through.

you may want to search here for your TV. lots of tips on tuning and things to try for my model...
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...php?p=15162848

[ricosuave]

just google your model number and look for any fan sites for that model

chances are, someone else has had to go through it already and can post the settings.

avforums.com is great for that.

[@theCBE]

CNET.com published the optimal settings for my tv along with their review. They were pretty good except I had to change the back light because they had it setup for a completly dark room whereas mine usually has some lights on or it's day time when we watch TV.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by @theCBE

CNET.com published the optimal settings for my tv along with their review. They were pretty good except I had to change the back light because they had it setup for a completly dark room whereas mine usually has some lights on or it's day time when we watch TV.

Not trying to jump on you but I went to the trouble of posting exact links to CNET, AVSforum, and another forum giving reviews and settings for his TV model but everyone has seemed to ignore it. Amazing.

[Clever_Iggy]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

Not trying to jump on you but I went to the trouble of posting exact links to CNET, AVSforum, and another forum giving reviews and settings for his TV model but everyone has seemed to ignore it. Amazing.

Thanks for posting those Vulcan. I was going to write a thank you and the results once I set up my TV, but I didnt because I was frustrated with the problems I'm experiencing with this thing. I totally forgot. Tomorrow I get my new one (exchanging the defective one for a new one) and I'll let you know how things go.

Seriously, thank you. My internet searches werent successful at all... so it's awesome that I have one place to go to get a ton of links.

[Vulcan]

^^^
Hey no problem and good luck.