A Shoutout To All My SXRD Brethern...

[d.white]

Im gonna check out tweek tv

[pentatonic]

Originally Posted by d.white

Im gonna check out tweek tv

I would as this is from an ISF calibration I believe. Not all sets are the same so I would encourage you to get either DVE or Disney or whatever other calibration discs to further improve. As I said, chances are at first you will not like it even more moving from vivid, but do give it some time to get used to it, pop in some BDs you really like, you should notice way better blacks and contrast at first and better color reproduction also. For sports or live feeds you might want to modify another one, but don't do that for as long as you get used to the first calibration.

Hope you enjoy

[Hillside Trece]

Originally Posted by d.white

Do any of you guys use vivid mode for blu ray, i messing around with it, i think I'm gonna stay with. I gotta do a little tweaking with the settings

I played with this (Vivid)for some time too when I first got the set, and have contemplated using it recently just for Blu-rays to really "jump the 'f' off the screen," LOL, but I decided against it and just stick with my calibrated "Standard" mode instead; you mentioned you "think you're gonna stay with"... but never mentioned the mode you're using now...

With further regard to "Vivid," I've come to realize and accept, whenever I do my system diagnostic checks and confirm my "Standard" settings, that the Dynamic, etc. modes on displays are really there for retail stores to utilize when showing the sets off on a showroom floor -- hence the reason when you switch a new display into "Retail" mode when first turning it on it switches to "Vivid/Dynamic"...normally, when picking "Home" for the environment choice, the display will kick on to "Standard."

[Hillside Trece]

Originally Posted by pentatonic

I've never used vivid on mine, way too cartoony for me. It does put out lots of light but the colors are off. I use custom for all my watching except sports. I've used Cnet's settings tweaked for a while but now prefer TweakTv's settings for the set and then tweak with DVE. Sometimes it takes some getting used to as it looks a bit dull at first but once used to that there's no turning back IMO.

Mind you I watch in a light controlled room, may be different in plain day watching.

Penta,

What SXRD are you running again? I've messed with "Custom" countless times when I first got my A2020, but was never able to come to a conclusion about what picture settings I liked after I played Russian Roulette with them in the Advanced Settings menu of that mode; to me, adjusting in "Standard" allows the correct sharpness, color, contrast, etc. to be set with setup calibration discs while at the same time allows the set to add the "default" bits of enhancements that come on in "Standard" per Sony's applications...if that makes any sense...

[Hillside Trece]

Originally Posted by pentatonic

I would as this is from an ISF calibration I believe. Not all sets are the same so I would encourage you to get either DVE or Disney or whatever other calibration discs to further improve. As I said, chances are at first you will not like it even more moving from vivid, but do give it some time to get used to it, pop in some BDs you really like, you should notice way better blacks and contrast at first and better color reproduction also. For sports or live feeds you might want to modify another one, but don't do that for as long as you get used to the first calibration.

Hope you enjoy

This is another reason why I use and normally suggest "Standard" modes to folks just setting up a display -- it's normally a good "between" point to get the more richly saturated colors of a "Vivid" type mode while bringing down many of the "hyped," "aggressive" settings of that mode to more realistic levels, without needing to resort to what many people find is a "dull, thinly veiled" looking mode ("Cinema," etc.).

As for your suggestion to him about the setup discs, I concur 100 percent -- you shouldn't just rely on a website's (or other owner's) settings as these displays come off the line all a bit different and need individual calibrating; I learned this when I first got my SXRD and used all the suggested settings from cnet, AVS, TweakTV, etc...it just didn't look right to MY eye. You have to, at the very least, get your hands on a setup disc or two to individually set the contrast, color, sharpeness, etc. for YOUR particular display.

To set up my SXRD, I used the Spears & Munsil Blu-ray (included with my Oppo BDP-83 player) to set specific things that weren't coming out right with other discs such as sharpness, and used a DiscWasher brand standard DVD calibration disc to set the majority of the other major controls thanks to its voice-assisted setup guide which told me what I should be looking for with each test. COLOR was a tough one; I have found that the THX Optimizer on the THX-approved DVDs was the best way to set this control...you look at the red and magenta colored patches in a darkened room and raise the color control until the patches/boxes begin to glow -- then you back the color down until the glowing just goes away...you want the red box RED, not BLEEDING...

[kurtis21]

I have a Sony 55" XBR55HX950 3D Tv and a Sony VPL-VW95ES projector and I DON'T use the "Vivid" setting on either. I feel like the image is just too unnatural. I have the Joe Kane Calibration Blu-ray and use that to dial-in my systems. It gives you a GREAT natural looking picture!

[Hillside Trece]

Originally Posted by kurtis21

I have a Sony 55" XBR55HX950 3D Tv and a Sony VPL-VW95ES projector and I DON'T use the "Vivid" setting on either. I feel like the image is just too unnatural. I have the Joe Kane Calibration Blu-ray and use that to dial-in my systems. It gives you a GREAT natural looking picture!

What modes do you use on your Sony TV and projector -- Custom/Cinema I'm guessing?

[kurtis21]

Originally Posted by Hillside Trece

What modes do you use on your Sony TV and projector -- Custom/Cinema I'm guessing?

I set it to "Standard" and then start from there. The disc is awesome! It helps with Black levels, contrast, brightness, sharpness, etc.

[Hillside Trece]

Originally Posted by kurtis21

I set it to "Standard" and then start from there. The disc is awesome! It helps with Black levels, contrast, brightness, sharpness, etc.

Oh, wow -- I didn't expect that reply; most people I speak to that own Sonys (or any other display brand, for that matter) seem to say they always begin in a much dimmer, user-adjustable mode like "Custom" or "Cinema"...

I, too, use Sony's "Standard" mode exclusively for both Blu-ray/DVD playback on the HDMI input as well as the Cable Box input (component from my high def box feeding 1080i video) but on MY particular SXRD, the "Advanced Settings" menu is NOT available in "Standard" (or in "Vivid") -- I'm assuming on your Sony TV and projector, "Standard" allows adjustment of the Advanced Settings?

[d.white]

None of you guys use the custom mode

[Hillside Trece]

Originally Posted by d.white

None of you guys use the custom mode

I'm sure most do...

Still droolin' over your 70" SXRD...wish I had me one...

[d.white]

lol

[Hillside Trece]

It's not funny...

[d.white]

I've already replaced a couple of bulbs on my sxrd, but i think its time for another replacement. The problem is that this time it might not be a Sony bulb. They still have a some out there but they want way too much. When i replaced the the bulbs with the sony brand the picture was as good as the day i brought the tv. They have companies out there that make bulbs for my tv, but im scared the picture quality is not going to be the same. Is ther anybody out there that has brought a replacement bulb from one of these companies, and if so did you see any difference from using those instead of the one thats made by Sony. Are they ok, or should i stay away from them.

[hoytereden]

Have a 50" XBR1 that I bought from Sears in February 2006. I had the OB replaced about 6 months after purchase and I'm on my second bulb. Got the PA when I first bought it and keep renewing it since I love the set. Only other issue I had was getting the fan(s) replaced about 6 months ago.

[Hillside Trece]

Originally Posted by hoytereden

Have a 50" XBR1 that I bought from Sears in February 2006. I had the OB replaced about 6 months after purchase and I'm on my second bulb. Got the PA when I first bought it and keep renewing it since I love the set. Only other issue I had was getting the fan(s) replaced about 6 months ago.

Hello, 'tereden!

I, too, purchased my 50" A2020 at Sears around the same time as you; do you have any pics of your setup?

[hoytereden]

Sorry, I don't. I need to do that at some point. As soon as I can grab the paperwork I'll get model #s but it's an Onkyo 805 running NHT (main & center) and Cambridge Soundworks (surround and rear surround) speakers with a 12" Velodyne sub. I had to replace my beloved PS3 60GB with the Slim 320 GB and also have a Sony S580 as my main Blu-ray player. A modest system but with two kids in college.........

[kurtis21]

Originally Posted by d.white

None of you guys use the custom mode

Sorry...yes. My 55" Tv is in standard mode with some tweaking. My projector is in "Custom" mode with tweakinf from the disc...

[Hillside Trece]

Originally Posted by hoytereden

Sorry, I don't. I need to do that at some point. As soon as I can grab the paperwork I'll get model #s but it's an Onkyo 805 running NHT (main & center) and Cambridge Soundworks (surround and rear surround) speakers with a 12" Velodyne sub. I had to replace my beloved PS3 60GB with the Slim 320 GB and also have a Sony S580 as my main Blu-ray player. A modest system but with two kids in college.........

I totally understand.

What part of Hawaii are you in? I honeymooned at Turtle Bay...it was AWESOME...

[Hillside Trece]

Originally Posted by kurtis21

Sorry...yes. My 55" Tv is in standard mode with some tweaking. My projector is in "Custom" mode with tweakinf from the disc...

Do you ever watch films on your 55 while in Standard mode?