Backlight Setting

[joshie]

How should the backlight setting be set? I have a sharp 46d64u and I cant figure out the correct setting for it. Should I set it to it's lowest setting?

[Rob J in WNY]

You can almost certainly lower it from maximum. Doing so can extend the life of the lamp and pay some dividends in picture quality, especially if viewing at night or in a darkened room.

Not sure how your Sharp's adjustment works, but if its any reference, I currently have my Sony XBR4 at "5" on a "10" step scale. There is not a lot of difference between steps, but you may find something in the middle which pleases you. There's no real "wrong" way to set it.

[joshie]

Originally Posted by Rob J in WNY

You can almost certainly lower it from maximum. Doing so can extend the life of the lamp and pay some dividends in picture quality, especially if viewing at night or in a darkened room.

Not sure how your Sharp's adjustment works, but if its any reference, I currently have my Sony XBR4 at "5" on a "10" step scale. There is not a lot of difference between steps, but you may find something in the middle which pleases you. There's no real "wrong" way to set it.

I have a 32 step backlight. Are you saying that whether I use a -10 setting or -16. It really doesnt matter it is just my preference.

[Rob J in WNY]

That's pretty much true - there's no real right or wrong. If you have your TV professionally calibrated, a specific backlight level may be set up for you, though.

But in essenece, what you will find is that during the brightness of day, an extremely lowered backlight level may yield too dark of a picture. At night, the opposite may occur. I have found that my personal setting choice is good enough, to me, for both lighting conditions. My TV also has a "light sensor" which adjusts brightness levels by way of an ambient light sensor. I do have it turned on.