Please Help with SXRD "Advanced Settings" Values... - Blu-ray Forum

ClinicaTerra LTD · 06-24-2008, 02:52 AM

Hello, Forum!

If there is anyone with any knowledge or in-depth understanding of Sony's SXRD Grand Wega HDTVs, I would appreciate you taking the time to perhaps lend some insight to these questions I have regarding the operation/modes of my KDS-50A2020 model...

Like I said, my model is the 50" KDS-50A2020 in Sony's Grand Wega rear projection line; the set offers three picture modes: Vivid, Standard and Custom (this is not one of the Sony displays that offers "Pro" or "Cinema" modes...). Now, most enthusiasts, videophiles and even professionals would of course state that "Custom" is the preferred mode for a super-accurate picture, what with its "Warm 2" color default and overall access to massive tweaking...but going back and forth with a calibration disc and making settings in both the "Standard" and "Custom" modes (I didn't bother with the Vivid mode even though the colors are pleasing) it seems that the characteristics of "Standard" looked the best with the most "punch" -- also, the "Custom" mode opens up an entirely different "Advanced Settings" menu that just confused the heck out of me; my train of thought was Standard mode was a good compromise between Vivid and Custom, without the needed extra tweaking that's required in Custom, and so I calibrated with a "DiscWasher" calibration DVD in Standard mode. Believe it or not, the settings I settled on, based on the test results, really weren't that far off Sony's default settings...

In STANDARD mode, values came to this after calibration:

Advanced Iris: Auto 1

Picture: 80 (the voice-promoted calibration system I used claimed that I should "reduce contrast to approximately 80 percent of maximum and stop..." so I left the Contrast/Picture at 80 because Sony's default value for this setting was 100 which seemed too high...)

Brightness: 53 (Sony's default for this was "50," but the calibration system noted that at "53" is where the Pluge Pattern dark bar dissapeared and barely showed -- so I left it at 53...)

Color: 50 (Sony's default of 50 seemed fine)

Hue: 0 (Sony's middle default position for Tint/Hue seemed correct at "0" too)

Color Temperature: Neutral

Sharpness: 50 (this was a massive pain to set -- no matter which test pattern disc I used -- the DiscWasher or the THX Optimizer -- the sharpness didn't seem to change either way. I am connected via HDMI to this display, and I have been told that some HDMI connections don't really change the sharpness on a display at all, so I don't know; what I DO know is that Sharpness did not seem to increase or decrease on the test patterns so I just left this at Sony's default of "50"...)

Noise Reduction: Low (not sure if this should be Off or not, but Sony's default of Medium is what it goes to in Standard mode)

That's all the settings for Standard mode -- now, under CUSTOM, these same adjustments can be made, plus an extra menu called ADVANCED SETTINGS, and this is where I would need help...I just ordered a DVE "HD Essentials" Blu-ray calibration disc, as a Blu-ray player is feeding this screen through an Onkyo receiver, but if I decide to recalibrate under Custom mode once I get this disc, I would need help adjusting these controls that open up under Advanced Settings:

GAMMA (I was told this should be LOW for better shadow detail)
LIVE COLOR (I was told this should be OFF when using Warm 2 color temp)
EDGE ENHANCEMENT (I was told this should be OFF)
DETAIL ENHANCER (I have heard everything from leave this OFF to use the MAXIMUM setting for Blu-ray discs to really pop off the screen...but which is it?)
WHITE BALANCE (this is the most difficult setting to make -- there are Gain/Bias adjustments here for all color parameters, but without tools, these can't be set right; would it be okay to leave these on Sony's default of ZERO (0)?)

...can someone perhaps guide me in the right direction in terms of which mode to use and if I do recalibrate in Custom, how I can set these Advanced Settings?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

UltimateFighter · 06-24-2008, 03:01 AM

cnet posted their calibration settings for the wega 60in xbr 2. I tried out the settings but wasn't crazy about them. Anyway search xbr2 under tips n tricks on cnet.com and you can read their calibration advice.

olds403 · 06-24-2008, 03:09 AM

Go to AVSForums.com, check out the rear projection forums, there is a sony A2020 settings and tweaks thread that is full of information on how to tweak your tv.

ClinicaTerra LTD · 06-24-2008, 03:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UltimateFighter

cnet posted their calibration settings for the wega 60in xbr 2. I tried out the settings but wasn't crazy about them. Anyway search xbr2 under tips n tricks on cnet.com and you can read their calibration advice.

Thanks, Fighter; I tried out CNET's settings and they were way off for my set, too, and thus why I decided to calibrate myself with a DVD in Standard mode...still, I would like to know how to set those "Advanced Settings" and if things like Detail Enhancer actually make Blu-rays stand out more...

I have found that it's pointless to copy values from someone else's set into your own because the optical blocks are different -- I would rather just get some advice for the Advanced Settings menu or if I should be using Custom rather than Standard...

ClinicaTerra LTD · 06-24-2008, 03:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by olds403

Go to AVSForums.com, check out the rear projection forums, there is a sony A2020 settings and tweaks thread that is full of information on how to tweak your tv.

I've done that...still looking for more input on those Advanced Settings from SXRD users/owners...the AVS forums just have you going around in circles most of the time.

fdm · 06-24-2008, 03:34 AM

GAMMA (I was told this should be LOW for better shadow detail)
LIVE COLOR (I was told this should be OFF when using Warm 2 color temp)
EDGE ENHANCEMENT (I was told this should be OFF)
DETAIL ENHANCER (I have heard everything from leave this OFF to use the MAXIMUM setting for Blu-ray discs to really pop off the screen...but which is it?)
WHITE BALANCE (this is the most difficult setting to make -- there are Gain/Bias adjustments here for all color parameters, but without tools, these can't be set right; would it be okay to leave these on Sony's default of ZERO (0)?)

-----

These are probably good way to go. Of all the stuff you mentioned, I would pretty much recommend to set your sharpness setting to zero (turn it off). Should be fine without it, or set maybe to 10 at most, 50 sounds way too high. Suggest going with Custom mode. White balance you probably don't need to touch for the time being - depends on your set (I think I changed one of the settings on one of my input types based on seeing a bit too much green on black & white films on TV, but it would be easy to mess things up really bad without tools (I just guessed and seemed to help the picture be more black & white)).)

Try to adjust the set more or less to what the adjustment DVD or BRD suggest and live with it for a few days.

(I also have set the iris to min, but only because I was noticing just the slightest amount of flickering with auto 1; bugged me so I nixed it.)

When in doubt best thing to do is turn something off... especially with hi-def.

ClinicaTerra LTD · 06-24-2008, 03:48 AM

Thank you for the reply and assistance...

These are probably good way to go.

I'm lost here...

Of all the stuff you mentioned, I would pretty much recommend to set your sharpness setting to zero (turn it off). Should be fine without it, or set maybe to 10 at most, 50 sounds way too high.

Here is the thing: I am connected to the Video 6 input on this set through HDMI and for some reason, no matter what video pattern test I run, the sharpness does not go up or down when I move the control -- and that happens in Custom AND Standard modes...now, I was told on another site that some HDMI connections to TVs for some reason render sharpness settings not usable, but I don't know if that's true. Being that I couldn't see a difference either way, I just left it at Sony's default of 50...

Suggest going with Custom mode.

Can you tell me why vs. Standard? Thank you...

White balance you probably don't need to touch for the time being - depends on your set (I think I changed one of the settings on one of my input types based on seeing a bit too much green on black & white films on TV, but it would be easy to mess things up really bad without tools (I just guessed and seemed to help the picture be more black & white)).)

So it would be okay to just leave them all at ZERO, their defaults?

Try to adjust the set more or less to what the adjustment DVD or BRD suggest and live with it for a few days.

I just ordered the DVE HD Essentials Blu-ray...should be coming in the mail...do you suggest recalibrating in Custom once I get this?

(I also have set the iris to min, but only because I was noticing just the slightest amount of flickering with auto 1; bugged me so I nixed it.)

That's interesting -- I definitely settled on AUTO 1 for added punch but I think I see that flickering you do...

When in doubt best thing to do is turn something off... especially with hi-def.

Are you referring to the Noise Reduction on the Sony? Does this actually do anything? I left it on LOW just to be safe; now, I also have Noise Reduction on the Blu-ray player, which I can switch off for Blu-ray playback (it seems to help DVD playback)...do you recommend leaving the NR off for BD playback?

Thanks so much for your help...

olds403 · 06-24-2008, 02:36 PM

SXRD actually softens the picture when sharpness is set to 0, I have mine set to 35 on my a3000.

Also at least on my a3000 the standard setting adds some edge enhancement that can not be removed. Custom does not have any such enhancements to the picture.

I have my motion enhancer off, black corrector off, noise reduction off, detail enhancer off, gamma low, and unless you have the equipement to accurately measure grayscale you should leave the white balance adjustments at 0.

Why don't you just try the different settings yourself and see what you like. The recommendations I have made are for an accurate picture, I used DVE blu-ray to set my tv up. If you don't like the settings you can change them, there is no rule you have to have your settings set a certain way. It will not hurt the TV to try them, that is why they are there. You are the only one that can decide which settings you like.

I would leave the noise reduction off for blu-ray(both on the tv and player), they don't need it.

Entertainment72 · 06-24-2008, 03:40 PM

GAMMA = off

Live color = on

warm 1

EDGE ENHANCEMENT - high

DETAIL ENHANCER = high

WHITE BALANCE = off

MotionFlowness 120 = high - no judder jidder kritter either!

I have yet to see anyone's plasma or tv rival my picture.. Sony SXRD A3000 60" 1080P

It is all on what YOU like, what looks good to your eyes.. don't ever let anyone tell you what you are suppose to like.

Mr_Bester · 06-24-2008, 04:08 PM

I have an older A2000 series. I actually used an eyeone and software to set my white balance, gamma and colors. It is tricky. I have ALL fake enhancements turned off(EE,DNR, live color) I don't remember my gamma, but it is either off or low. The iris is at auto 1 and power save is off(because the lamp is getting a little dimmer now). My gamma and white balance are near perfect with Warm 2 and the other adjustments I made. Obviously, if I got it professionally calibrated, it would be better, but I'm not sure if it is $300-400 better.

Your manual should say what settings are disabled when connecting HDMI.
Dug

ClinicaTerra LTD · 06-25-2008, 01:55 AM

Hey Olds,

Thanks for getting back to me bro...

SXRD actually softens the picture when sharpness is set to 0, I have mine set to 35 on my a3000.

Yes, but as I said, what's weird is that when I run different sharpness pattern tests on calibration discs, AND on the THX Optimizer, NOTHING seems to matter with regard to sharpness -- in other words, I turn my control up and down and it does not change the sharpness settings on those test patterns...is this because I am in STANDARD mode and I can't defeat that artificial sharpness everyone talks about (as you do below this) or is it possibly because I'm connected via HDMI?

Also at least on my a3000 the standard setting adds some edge enhancement that can not be removed. Custom does not have any such enhancements to the picture.

I'm not really seeing "edge enhancement" with BD playback -- but my DVDs are RIDDLED with artifacts -- I think this has more to do with the upscaling performance of the Panasonic DMP-BD10A Blu ray player I'm using, but that should be resolved soon as I just ordered an Oppo '983 for DVD playback use...

Anyway, I seem to like using Standard because it lets me "fool" with less controls that I don't really know what to do with like in Custom -- I don't know where Gamma, Live Color, etc. should be set, so I thought Standard was a good comprimise...

Let me ask this, at least: is using Standard at least better than using VIVID?

I have my motion enhancer off, black corrector off, noise reduction off, detail enhancer off, gamma low, and unless you have the equipement to accurately measure grayscale you should leave the white balance adjustments at 0.

Okay -- this is helping me a bit more here...it IS okay then to leave the white balance controls to ZERO default if I don't have the equipment to measure the controls?

These settings I get that you suggest:

Black Corrector OFF (my set has no Motion Enhancer)
Gamma LOW

...but do you disagree that DETAIL ENHANCER should be left on a higher setting for getting high definition discs to really pop off the screen? That's what I was told -- use DETAIL ENHANCER to make Blu-rays really come to life...you disagree?

I'm not sure about Noise Reduction; what does this actually do on the Sony TVs? Is it not okay to leave this on LOW if I'm comfortable and worried about what higher settings would do?

Why don't you just try the different settings yourself and see what you like. The recommendations I have made are for an accurate picture, I used DVE blu-ray to set my tv up. If you don't like the settings you can change them, there is no rule you have to have your settings set a certain way. It will not hurt the TV to try them, that is why they are there. You are the only one that can decide which settings you like.

Okay; fair enough...I have ordered the DVE BD calibration too, but it hasn't arrived yet...did you find it easy to use?

I would leave the noise reduction off for blu-ray(both on the tv and player), they don't need it.

Last night, I spent hours playing the Resident Evil: Extinction Blu-ray and fiddling with the Panasonic Blu ray player's "DNR" circuit -- I paused many scenes that looked "grainy, gritty and dirty" and switched the noise reduction on and off -- there seemed to be NO difference on Blu-ray playback with the player taking out any "noise" or "artifacts" on the disc...this DOES seem to work with DVDs, but not Blu-rays...

ClinicaTerra LTD · 06-25-2008, 01:59 AM

Hey Again Entertainment,

Thanks for sharing your settings!

GAMMA = off

Live color = on

warm 1

EDGE ENHANCEMENT - high

DETAIL ENHANCER = high

WHITE BALANCE = off

MotionFlowness 120 = high - no judder jidder kritter either!

I have yet to see anyone's plasma or tv rival my picture.. Sony SXRD A3000 60" 1080P

It is all on what YOU like, what looks good to your eyes.. don't ever let anyone tell you what you are suppose to like.

Thanks so much for this info and the tips; your settings though seem so in contradiction of what most people set their Sonys at -- for example, most keep Gamma at least on Low; you keep it off...does this not crush shadow detail? Plus, your Live Color is ON, which I always heard should be off for Warm 1/Warm 2 temp; when you say "White Balance Off" what do you mean? These need value settings...do you keep them at zero? Plus, your edge enhancement and detail enhancement are very high...does this give your picture good "pop"?

ClinicaTerra LTD · 06-25-2008, 02:03 AM

Hey Bester,

Thanks for your thoughts...

I have an older A2000 series. I actually used an eyeone and software to set my white balance, gamma and colors. It is tricky. I have ALL fake enhancements turned off(EE,DNR, live color) I don't remember my gamma, but it is either off or low. The iris is at auto 1 and power save is off(because the lamp is getting a little dimmer now). My gamma and white balance are near perfect with Warm 2 and the other adjustments I made. Obviously, if I got it professionally calibrated, it would be better, but I'm not sure if it is $300-400 better.

I calibrated in my A2020's Standard picture mode, using a "DiscWasher" calibration disc; I just didn't know how to set all the Custom mode Advanced Settings so I settled on Standard's basic Color, Contrast, Sharpness, etc...

All your Advanced Settings seem to be turned off, as you indicated, but do you think DETAIL ENHANCER should be turned to MEDIUM or MAX? I have heard this makes Blu-rays really pop off the screen...also, I keep my Iris at Auto 1 also for the added punch it gives...

Your manual should say what settings are disabled when connecting HDMI.
Dug

I lost my A2020's manual somewhere; I tried to look it up online but didn't see any mention of disabled picture controls via HDMI...would you have any further information on this? It seems like my sharpness does NOT increase or decrease in Standard mode and it's "fixed" so I leave it on the default of "50"...

olds403 · 06-25-2008, 03:17 AM

Oops, my mistake, I meant gamma off. I am not in front of the TV right now to see. I thought low was the lowest setting without looking at it. Off will give you more shadow detail of varying dark grays and black. Raising it may look darker, but it actually crushes very dark gray to black and you lose details.

The other settings like live color, detail enhancer and, edge enhancement will give you an inaccurate picture. If you like it fine but it is not what the director intended you to see.

When I watch a blu-ray, or OTA hd show on my a3000 with all the "extra enhancements off" the picture is amazing. I was watching a HD nature show on pbs and I swear it looked like the birds could fly right into my living room.

ClinicaTerra LTD · 06-25-2008, 03:23 AM

But what are your thoughts on DETAIL ENHANCER...do you think this Sony trick works on making Blu-rays pop?

olds403 · 06-25-2008, 03:25 AM

I don't use the detail enhancer. I have been quite happy with my blu-ray/hd picture without even trying it out. If you want to try it, see if you like it. It is your tv, nothing wrong with setting it the way you like. Good luck.

06-24-2008, 02:52 AM	#1
ClinicaTerra LTD Banned Member since:Jun 2008	Please Help with SXRD "Advanced Settings" Values... Hello, Forum! If there is anyone with any knowledge or in-depth understanding of Sony's SXRD Grand Wega HDTVs, I would appreciate you taking the time to perhaps lend some insight to these questions I have regarding the operation/modes of my KDS-50A2020 model... Like I said, my model is the 50" KDS-50A2020 in Sony's Grand Wega rear projection line; the set offers three picture modes: Vivid, Standard and Custom (this is not one of the Sony displays that offers "Pro" or "Cinema" modes...). Now, most enthusiasts, videophiles and even professionals would of course state that "Custom" is the preferred mode for a super-accurate picture, what with its "Warm 2" color default and overall access to massive tweaking...but going back and forth with a calibration disc and making settings in both the "Standard" and "Custom" modes (I didn't bother with the Vivid mode even though the colors are pleasing) it seems that the characteristics of "Standard" looked the best with the most "punch" -- also, the "Custom" mode opens up an entirely different "Advanced Settings" menu that just confused the heck out of me; my train of thought was Standard mode was a good compromise between Vivid and Custom, without the needed extra tweaking that's required in Custom, and so I calibrated with a "DiscWasher" calibration DVD in Standard mode. Believe it or not, the settings I settled on, based on the test results, really weren't that far off Sony's default settings... In STANDARD mode, values came to this after calibration: Advanced Iris: Auto 1 Picture: 80 (the voice-promoted calibration system I used claimed that I should "reduce contrast to approximately 80 percent of maximum and stop..." so I left the Contrast/Picture at 80 because Sony's default value for this setting was 100 which seemed too high...) Brightness: 53 (Sony's default for this was "50," but the calibration system noted that at "53" is where the Pluge Pattern dark bar dissapeared and barely showed -- so I left it at 53...) Color: 50 (Sony's default of 50 seemed fine) Hue: 0 (Sony's middle default position for Tint/Hue seemed correct at "0" too) Color Temperature: Neutral Sharpness: 50 (this was a massive pain to set -- no matter which test pattern disc I used -- the DiscWasher or the THX Optimizer -- the sharpness didn't seem to change either way. I am connected via HDMI to this display, and I have been told that some HDMI connections don't really change the sharpness on a display at all, so I don't know; what I DO know is that Sharpness did not seem to increase or decrease on the test patterns so I just left this at Sony's default of "50"...) Noise Reduction: Low (not sure if this should be Off or not, but Sony's default of Medium is what it goes to in Standard mode) That's all the settings for Standard mode -- now, under CUSTOM, these same adjustments can be made, plus an extra menu called ADVANCED SETTINGS, and this is where I would need help...I just ordered a DVE "HD Essentials" Blu-ray calibration disc, as a Blu-ray player is feeding this screen through an Onkyo receiver, but if I decide to recalibrate under Custom mode once I get this disc, I would need help adjusting these controls that open up under Advanced Settings: GAMMA (I was told this should be LOW for better shadow detail) LIVE COLOR (I was told this should be OFF when using Warm 2 color temp) EDGE ENHANCEMENT (I was told this should be OFF) DETAIL ENHANCER (I have heard everything from leave this OFF to use the MAXIMUM setting for Blu-ray discs to really pop off the screen...but which is it?) WHITE BALANCE (this is the most difficult setting to make -- there are Gain/Bias adjustments here for all color parameters, but without tools, these can't be set right; would it be okay to leave these on Sony's default of ZERO (0)?) ...can someone perhaps guide me in the right direction in terms of which mode to use and if I do recalibrate in Custom, how I can set these Advanced Settings? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

06-24-2008, 02:36 PM	#8
olds403 Active Member Member since:Feb 2008 Location:Michigan	SXRD actually softens the picture when sharpness is set to 0, I have mine set to 35 on my a3000. Also at least on my a3000 the standard setting adds some edge enhancement that can not be removed. Custom does not have any such enhancements to the picture. I have my motion enhancer off, black corrector off, noise reduction off, detail enhancer off, gamma low, and unless you have the equipement to accurately measure grayscale you should leave the white balance adjustments at 0. Why don't you just try the different settings yourself and see what you like. The recommendations I have made are for an accurate picture, I used DVE blu-ray to set my tv up. If you don't like the settings you can change them, there is no rule you have to have your settings set a certain way. It will not hurt the TV to try them, that is why they are there. You are the only one that can decide which settings you like. I would leave the noise reduction off for blu-ray(both on the tv and player), they don't need it. Last edited by olds403; 06-24-2008 at 02:42 PM.

06-25-2008, 03:17 AM	#14
olds403 Active Member Member since:Feb 2008 Location:Michigan	Oops, my mistake, I meant gamma off. I am not in front of the TV right now to see. I thought low was the lowest setting without looking at it. Off will give you more shadow detail of varying dark grays and black. Raising it may look darker, but it actually crushes very dark gray to black and you lose details. The other settings like live color, detail enhancer and, edge enhancement will give you an inaccurate picture. If you like it fine but it is not what the director intended you to see. When I watch a blu-ray, or OTA hd show on my a3000 with all the "extra enhancements off" the picture is amazing. I was watching a HD nature show on pbs and I swear it looked like the birds could fly right into my living room. Last edited by olds403; 06-25-2008 at 03:21 AM.

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06-24-2008, 03:01 AM	#2
UltimateFighter Active Member Member since:Mar 2007 Location:Snohomish, WA Blu-ray collection:1 Blu-ray reviews:11	cnet posted their calibration settings for the wega 60in xbr 2. I tried out the settings but wasn't crazy about them. Anyway search xbr2 under tips n tricks on cnet.com and you can read their calibration advice.

06-24-2008, 03:09 AM	#3
olds403 Active Member Member since:Feb 2008 Location:Michigan	Go to AVSForums.com, check out the rear projection forums, there is a sony A2020 settings and tweaks thread that is full of information on how to tweak your tv.

06-24-2008, 03:34 AM	#6
fdm Blu-ray Ninja Top contributor Member since:Nov 2007 Location:Way Out West 4K collection:- Blu-ray collection:- DVD collection:- Digital collection:- iTunes collection:- Prime collection:- Blu-ray reviews:2 Trading Score:3	GAMMA (I was told this should be LOW for better shadow detail) LIVE COLOR (I was told this should be OFF when using Warm 2 color temp) EDGE ENHANCEMENT (I was told this should be OFF) DETAIL ENHANCER (I have heard everything from leave this OFF to use the MAXIMUM setting for Blu-ray discs to really pop off the screen...but which is it?) WHITE BALANCE (this is the most difficult setting to make -- there are Gain/Bias adjustments here for all color parameters, but without tools, these can't be set right; would it be okay to leave these on Sony's default of ZERO (0)?) ----- These are probably good way to go. Of all the stuff you mentioned, I would pretty much recommend to set your sharpness setting to zero (turn it off). Should be fine without it, or set maybe to 10 at most, 50 sounds way too high. Suggest going with Custom mode. White balance you probably don't need to touch for the time being - depends on your set (I think I changed one of the settings on one of my input types based on seeing a bit too much green on black & white films on TV, but it would be easy to mess things up really bad without tools (I just guessed and seemed to help the picture be more black & white)).) Try to adjust the set more or less to what the adjustment DVD or BRD suggest and live with it for a few days. (I also have set the iris to min, but only because I was noticing just the slightest amount of flickering with auto 1; bugged me so I nixed it.) When in doubt best thing to do is turn something off... especially with hi-def.

06-24-2008, 03:48 AM	#7
ClinicaTerra LTD Banned Member since:Jun 2008	Thank you for the reply and assistance... These are probably good way to go. I'm lost here... Of all the stuff you mentioned, I would pretty much recommend to set your sharpness setting to zero (turn it off). Should be fine without it, or set maybe to 10 at most, 50 sounds way too high. Here is the thing: I am connected to the Video 6 input on this set through HDMI and for some reason, no matter what video pattern test I run, the sharpness does not go up or down when I move the control -- and that happens in Custom AND Standard modes...now, I was told on another site that some HDMI connections to TVs for some reason render sharpness settings not usable, but I don't know if that's true. Being that I couldn't see a difference either way, I just left it at Sony's default of 50... Suggest going with Custom mode. Can you tell me why vs. Standard? Thank you... White balance you probably don't need to touch for the time being - depends on your set (I think I changed one of the settings on one of my input types based on seeing a bit too much green on black & white films on TV, but it would be easy to mess things up really bad without tools (I just guessed and seemed to help the picture be more black & white)).) So it would be okay to just leave them all at ZERO, their defaults? Try to adjust the set more or less to what the adjustment DVD or BRD suggest and live with it for a few days. I just ordered the DVE HD Essentials Blu-ray...should be coming in the mail...do you suggest recalibrating in Custom once I get this? (I also have set the iris to min, but only because I was noticing just the slightest amount of flickering with auto 1; bugged me so I nixed it.) That's interesting -- I definitely settled on AUTO 1 for added punch but I think I see that flickering you do... When in doubt best thing to do is turn something off... especially with hi-def. Are you referring to the Noise Reduction on the Sony? Does this actually do anything? I left it on LOW just to be safe; now, I also have Noise Reduction on the Blu-ray player, which I can switch off for Blu-ray playback (it seems to help DVD playback)...do you recommend leaving the NR off for BD playback? Thanks so much for your help...

06-24-2008, 03:40 PM	#9
Entertainment72 Special Member Member since:Jan 2008 Location:Fort Myers, FL Blu-ray collection:44 Blu-ray reviews:1	GAMMA = off Live color = on warm 1 EDGE ENHANCEMENT - high DETAIL ENHANCER = high WHITE BALANCE = off MotionFlowness 120 = high - no judder jidder kritter either! I have yet to see anyone's plasma or tv rival my picture.. Sony SXRD A3000 60" 1080P It is all on what YOU like, what looks good to your eyes.. don't ever let anyone tell you what you are suppose to like.

06-24-2008, 04:08 PM	#10
Mr_Bester Active Member Member since:Oct 2007 Blu-ray collection:83	I have an older A2000 series. I actually used an eyeone and software to set my white balance, gamma and colors. It is tricky. I have ALL fake enhancements turned off(EE,DNR, live color) I don't remember my gamma, but it is either off or low. The iris is at auto 1 and power save is off(because the lamp is getting a little dimmer now). My gamma and white balance are near perfect with Warm 2 and the other adjustments I made. Obviously, if I got it professionally calibrated, it would be better, but I'm not sure if it is $300-400 better. Your manual should say what settings are disabled when connecting HDMI. Dug

06-25-2008, 01:55 AM	#11
ClinicaTerra LTD Banned Member since:Jun 2008	Hey Olds, Thanks for getting back to me bro... SXRD actually softens the picture when sharpness is set to 0, I have mine set to 35 on my a3000. Yes, but as I said, what's weird is that when I run different sharpness pattern tests on calibration discs, AND on the THX Optimizer, NOTHING seems to matter with regard to sharpness -- in other words, I turn my control up and down and it does not change the sharpness settings on those test patterns...is this because I am in STANDARD mode and I can't defeat that artificial sharpness everyone talks about (as you do below this) or is it possibly because I'm connected via HDMI? Also at least on my a3000 the standard setting adds some edge enhancement that can not be removed. Custom does not have any such enhancements to the picture. I'm not really seeing "edge enhancement" with BD playback -- but my DVDs are RIDDLED with artifacts -- I think this has more to do with the upscaling performance of the Panasonic DMP-BD10A Blu ray player I'm using, but that should be resolved soon as I just ordered an Oppo '983 for DVD playback use... Anyway, I seem to like using Standard because it lets me "fool" with less controls that I don't really know what to do with like in Custom -- I don't know where Gamma, Live Color, etc. should be set, so I thought Standard was a good comprimise... Let me ask this, at least: is using Standard at least better than using VIVID? I have my motion enhancer off, black corrector off, noise reduction off, detail enhancer off, gamma low, and unless you have the equipement to accurately measure grayscale you should leave the white balance adjustments at 0. Okay -- this is helping me a bit more here...it IS okay then to leave the white balance controls to ZERO default if I don't have the equipment to measure the controls? These settings I get that you suggest: Black Corrector OFF (my set has no Motion Enhancer) Gamma LOW ...but do you disagree that DETAIL ENHANCER should be left on a higher setting for getting high definition discs to really pop off the screen? That's what I was told -- use DETAIL ENHANCER to make Blu-rays really come to life...you disagree? I'm not sure about Noise Reduction; what does this actually do on the Sony TVs? Is it not okay to leave this on LOW if I'm comfortable and worried about what higher settings would do? Why don't you just try the different settings yourself and see what you like. The recommendations I have made are for an accurate picture, I used DVE blu-ray to set my tv up. If you don't like the settings you can change them, there is no rule you have to have your settings set a certain way. It will not hurt the TV to try them, that is why they are there. You are the only one that can decide which settings you like. Okay; fair enough...I have ordered the DVE BD calibration too, but it hasn't arrived yet...did you find it easy to use? I would leave the noise reduction off for blu-ray(both on the tv and player), they don't need it. Last night, I spent hours playing the Resident Evil: Extinction Blu-ray and fiddling with the Panasonic Blu ray player's "DNR" circuit -- I paused many scenes that looked "grainy, gritty and dirty" and switched the noise reduction on and off -- there seemed to be NO difference on Blu-ray playback with the player taking out any "noise" or "artifacts" on the disc...this DOES seem to work with DVDs, but not Blu-rays...

06-25-2008, 01:59 AM	#12
ClinicaTerra LTD Banned Member since:Jun 2008	Hey Again Entertainment, Thanks for sharing your settings! GAMMA = off Live color = on warm 1 EDGE ENHANCEMENT - high DETAIL ENHANCER = high WHITE BALANCE = off MotionFlowness 120 = high - no judder jidder kritter either! I have yet to see anyone's plasma or tv rival my picture.. Sony SXRD A3000 60" 1080P It is all on what YOU like, what looks good to your eyes.. don't ever let anyone tell you what you are suppose to like. Thanks so much for this info and the tips; your settings though seem so in contradiction of what most people set their Sonys at -- for example, most keep Gamma at least on Low; you keep it off...does this not crush shadow detail? Plus, your Live Color is ON, which I always heard should be off for Warm 1/Warm 2 temp; when you say "White Balance Off" what do you mean? These need value settings...do you keep them at zero? Plus, your edge enhancement and detail enhancement are very high...does this give your picture good "pop"?

06-25-2008, 02:03 AM	#13
ClinicaTerra LTD Banned Member since:Jun 2008	Hey Bester, Thanks for your thoughts... I have an older A2000 series. I actually used an eyeone and software to set my white balance, gamma and colors. It is tricky. I have ALL fake enhancements turned off(EE,DNR, live color) I don't remember my gamma, but it is either off or low. The iris is at auto 1 and power save is off(because the lamp is getting a little dimmer now). My gamma and white balance are near perfect with Warm 2 and the other adjustments I made. Obviously, if I got it professionally calibrated, it would be better, but I'm not sure if it is $300-400 better. I calibrated in my A2020's Standard picture mode, using a "DiscWasher" calibration disc; I just didn't know how to set all the Custom mode Advanced Settings so I settled on Standard's basic Color, Contrast, Sharpness, etc... All your Advanced Settings seem to be turned off, as you indicated, but do you think DETAIL ENHANCER should be turned to MEDIUM or MAX? I have heard this makes Blu-rays really pop off the screen...also, I keep my Iris at Auto 1 also for the added punch it gives... Your manual should say what settings are disabled when connecting HDMI. Dug I lost my A2020's manual somewhere; I tried to look it up online but didn't see any mention of disabled picture controls via HDMI...would you have any further information on this? It seems like my sharpness does NOT increase or decrease in Standard mode and it's "fixed" so I leave it on the default of "50"...

06-25-2008, 03:23 AM	#15
ClinicaTerra LTD Banned Member since:Jun 2008	But what are your thoughts on DETAIL ENHANCER...do you think this Sony trick works on making Blu-rays pop?

06-25-2008, 03:25 AM	#16
olds403 Active Member Member since:Feb 2008 Location:Michigan	I don't use the detail enhancer. I have been quite happy with my blu-ray/hd picture without even trying it out. If you want to try it, see if you like it. It is your tv, nothing wrong with setting it the way you like. Good luck.

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