Just started this thread to those Sony XBR1 and XBR2 customers that don't have issues with the Green Blob etc, or have found ways to tweak there sets for the better and or have had issues but have actually resolved them. Anyone have good settings that work, or ISF techs in a giving area that do a good job etc.. So post away.... looking for ways to better tweak my picture etc..

***Owner's Threads***


50/60" XBR1 KDS50XBR1 & KDS60XBR1
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=584936
60/70" XBR2 KDS60XBR2 & KDS70XBR2
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=730418
50/55/60" A2000 KDS50A2000, KDS55A2000, & KDS60A2000
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=701578
Qualia 006 (70" SXRD)
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=498008


***Owner's Tweaks Threads:***


XBR1
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=589332&page=46&pp=30&highlight=sxrd
XBR2:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=739074
A2000:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=702606


***SXRD Rumors Threads***


2006 SXRD speculation Thread:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=653327
70" non-qualia Rumors Thread:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=583673
Post XBR1 SXRD Rumors Thread:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=632350
Original (post Qualia) SXRD Rumor thread:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=545987




***Stands ***

XBR2
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=710738




***Gaming with the SXRD***

PlayStation3 and the 50/60 XBR1 thread:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=754256

Best 2006 1080p ~60" TV for Console Video Games (SXRD Game Mode)
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=684899




***UNIFORMITY ISSUES***


Green Blob at startup poll:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=750642
50" Green Blob common?
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=683422



umr on the "green blob":
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=7222944&&#post7222944

What I am saying is that the green blob issue is blown WAY out of proportion. I have not seen a green blob "issue" as generally described in this thread with these sets. Color uniformity problems exist with all technologies except DLP. If you want a perfectly uniform display buy DLP. However, SXRD is a perfectly viable display technology. It is just not perfect like every other product on the market.
<snip>
SXRD has color uniformity issues because it uses polarizers. All polarizer based displays will have some uniformity issues because polarizer alignment is not perfect. Some shift in colors may also occur because of small movements in the polarizer as the display warms up.

Plasma, LCD and CRT displays also have color uniformity problems that appear very similar to SXRD in practice.

and just a bit further down:

A green blob in the middle can be calibrated out of the set.
<snip>

Via the service menu and still end up with ~6500K?


Certainly. If it is truly green it is not D65. That is the point. The color error can be shifted around the display or to another color.

Dr Raymond Soneira on the "Green Blob Effect"
http://archive2.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=7157186&&#post7157186


Also a cute name… The term was coined to describe a temperature and time-dependent color and intensity non-uniformity noticed in some Sony SXRD (LCoS) HDTVs. This effect appears to some degree in every monitor and projector of every make and model, and in every type of display technology. It does appear to be more of an issue with these Sonys. I’ll also explain why it’s more likely to be seen as a green or purple effect.

All monitors and projectors take at least half an hour to reach an equilibrium temperature from a “cold start.” I never adjust, test, or evaluate displays unless they have warmed up for at least an hour. The best manufacturers will wait to align and calibrate their units at the factory until after the units have gone through an initial “break-in” period and also reached an equilibrium temperature with the cabinet fully assembled and closed. Some manufacturers may calibrate at 50% warm-up in order to minimize the peak deviation, which minimizes the likelihood that people will notice the effect, but you’ll get the best long-term picture quality if it’s done at 100% warm-up. This appears to be what Sony is doing (to their credit).


One member's solution:

Sony Corporate phone number is not listed. Its 1-858-942-2400. You'll need
to ask to speak to someone in the National Customer Relations department.
This is apparently the same place you end up at after being escalated from
tech support level 2.

P.S. Here is what I got from Sony about the OBs...

The earlier production were using the following part numbers:
A-1148-155-A (50? set)
A-1127-174-A (60? set)

The later production uses the following optical block part numbers.
A-1168-495-A (50? set)
A-1168-494-A (60? set)




***VARIOUS***

XBR1 Deinterlacing: Does the XBR1 "bob & weave?"
http://archive2.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=6602874&&#post6602874

SXRD Versus Plasma:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=715384

XBR1 Model/Chassis code and Date:

Chassis model number, place, and date of manufacture are on a sticker on the back of the set.
<insert pic>

XBR1 Base Dimensions:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=719508

I measured 37" across, left to right, from the front, 27" across on the
back, with 18" in between the front and rear center points. The current
stand I have is maybe 40 in the front, 30 in the back and 20 deep, so the
XBR1 fits perfect - and in fact enhances the "floating effect" that the
chassis/speakers give the screen itself.


Service Menu:
Be VERY CAREFUL in the Service Menu. Enter at your own Risk!

[DISPLAY] + [5] + [VOL+] + [POWER]

check hours on lamp:

Starting with TV turned on - press Power, Display, 5, Vol+, Power.
That will get you into the SM.
Press Jump three times to get you to the 3rd menu area ("PANEL NVM OK").
Press 2 or 5 a bunch of times to get to category 20 TIMER. You should see
something like 0 LMP 100, which I think means you have used 100 hours on the
lamp.
1 and 4 change sub-categories in the menu. Moves up and down options.
2 and 5 change sections
jump key switches between different menu systems

Mute then Enter commits any changed values. Be careful with this.
Press Power to exit the SM and turn the TV off.

0 then enter reverts to previous settings (couple seconds, screen may go
black)




LAMP

Part# 11680720

UHP100W/120W-R70
also known as:
UHP 100W 120W Lamp

Specifications:

Manufacturer: Philips Lighting
Max Lamp Power: 120 Watts
Max Lamp Current: 2.0 Amps
Max Lamp Operating Voltage: 65 Volts
Ignition Voltage: 5 KV
Bulb Finish: Hard Dichroic Cold Mirror
Bulb Type: PAR-22 Borosilicate with front glass
Reflector Size: Square 65x70mm
Arc Gap: 1.0 mm
Electrodes: Solid tungsten
Luminous Flux: 6000 lm at 100W
7000 lm at 120W
Luminous Efficacy: 58 lm/W
Colour Temperature & CRI: CCT : 7600K CRI : Ra 57
Chromaticity Co-ordinates: CCx : 0.298 CCy : 0.311
Rated Life: 8000 hours at 100 W
6000 hours at 120 W
Factory: Turnhout, Belgium

UHP:

Most projectors of today use Ultra High Pressure (UHP) lamps invented by
Philips. These use an arc in a pure mercury vapor under high pressure.

UHP lamps operate at pressures above 200 atmospheres or 3,000 pounds per
square inch.

A 100 watt UHP lamp in a projector can deliver more light to the screen than
a 250 watt metal halide lamp.



http://www.ercservice.com/lamps/philips/UHP-100W_120W-R70.html



***REVIEWS***


XBR1:

Ultimate AV: 60XBR1 review (http://ultimateavmag.com/rearprojectiontvs/1105sony/)

The Skinny: The XBR designation means you're getting everything in the Sony arsenal in a given TV- all the performance and bells and whistles they've got. In many significant respects this SXRD-based Sony XBR is a standard setter. The blacks are so deep and rich that subjectively they reminded us the CRTs of yesteryear; this is far beyond what we typically see from microdisplays. Although greens have just a twist of lime, the color palette was saturated but mostly natural, and since there's no color wheel there are no rainbows. While some grain on the screen materials are apparent and you'll occasionally see a smidge of noise, HD images on this TV were loaded with the kind of hypnotizing detail that only 1080p can produce. We're talking major wow factor here, folks!


Sound & Vision: 50XBR1 review (http://www.soundandvisionmag.com/hdtvs/898/sony-kds-r50xbr1-50-inch-sxrd-hdtv.html)
CNET: 60XBR1 review (http://reviews.cnet.com/Sony_KDS_R60XBR1/4505-6484_7-31481141.html?tag=pdtl-list)
A CRT Zealot's Review (http://archive2.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=6800579#post6800579)


XBR2:

Ultimate AV: 60XBR2 review (http://ultimateavmag.com/rearprojectiontvs/1206sonykdsr60xbr2/)

If you don't mind spending the cash (and this is certainly no bargain basement set), in my opinion money can't buy you a better RPTV than the Sony KDS-R60XBR2. While this review is of the 60" version, my personal experiences with larger 70" model have been at least as positive. Other sets can match it in some aspects of picture quality, and even better it in color accuracy. And most of them are much cheaper. But no other set I've seen this year can match this picture overall, once it's calibrated and adjusted properly.

CNET's 60XBR2 (http://reviews.cnet.com/Sony_KDS_R60XBR2/4505-6484_7-31901228.html?tag=pdtl-list&ar=o)

umr on the XBR2:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=8792988&&#post8792988

I just finished working on a 70" XBR2. This is one awesome display. The processing is exceptional and the colors were wonderful. This display has the lowest video noise level of any RPTV I have seen.

UxiSXRD: There we go, I got the title right this time. Well the orginal Owners thread was becoming a tad too negative as I am sure some of it is deserved. That thread has more or less been hijacked and there is no going back ;) LOL.... Looking for some good settings in Pro mode, and does anyone have some good ISF Tech Calibrations they are using? Thanks.....

Question, do the tweaks which work for one set work for all? There may be grayscale differences, etc between sets which may not be optimal for some.

Jolly good effort, Garman!

XBR1 Tweaks Thread:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=589332

XBR2 Tweaks Thread:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=739074

UxiSXRD: I combined the 2, in hopes it won't become I am pissed because I have the GB issue ;) LOL, I am sure the Trolls will invade this thread soon enough. On a lighter note, what are your settings in Pro Mode?

G

Edit the original post if you could to ask them to please stay away. I'm gonna PM you and/or post my links /index I'd been compiling for the original thread.

I'm being very careful to include a link to the official Green Blob poll thread and direct problem users there. Otherwise we can Report trolling posts to the mods for anyone trolling our thread.

moved to 2nd post

Many people ask where they can find the build date of their TV. It is on a sticker on the back of the TV alomg with the serial number.

Also, this may be a good place to remind people that the A2000 and XBR2 can receive 1080p via HDMI whereas the XBR1 cannot.

Cool thanks Garman and UxiSXRD.

I added the Qualia & A2000 Tweaks Thread. I think I unsubbed from the XBR2 owners thread, and can't seem to find it in Rear Projection.

I'm also going to PM Bombthroat with this for the 1st Page of the original Owner's Thread.

Maybe you want to edit and place in the original post a big bold disclaimer on where to go for uniformity issues, Garman?

Now we are talking, I will post my Pro settings tonight. I am having a ISF tech coming over in a few weeks to do my FP and XBR1... So I will have more to post as far as settings go then.

As far as looking at your own calibrations, use the AVIA Disc or VE and there are others by ISF that do a great job. Trying to use the black screen with the logo up in the left corner isn't a good idea, and the memory stick check isn't good either. Best bet to see if the set has any issues, or to tweak your set to start out with is one of these DVD's...

Edited with XBR2 owners thread and Waldorf's suggestion for the date/build/chassis of set under "Various." I think it'd be great if we had a pic there uploaded. I'll see about that.

Also added some reviews: ultimate av mag's for now.

I'm thinking it might be worthwhile to change the title to general SXRD owners and let's expand the scope of the thread to include the A2000 folks, as well as the XBR1 and XBR2. I doubt the crazy Qualian's are going to come over, but they'd be welcome. :D

maybe include the stand search thread in the 2nd post. it is here http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=710738

Good idea. I also added the Ultimate AV review for the 60 XBR2

I doubt the crazy Qualian's are going to come over, but they'd be welcome. :D
Somebody call ? :D

________________________________________
Studio Insider

Heh, I knew the bait would be too hard to resist. :D Welcome. Any tidbits You'd like me to add?

UniSXRD: Hmm, having a hard time finding reviews on the XBR1 and I know there was a ton of them..

http://tech.yahoo.com/pr/sony-sxrd-grand-wega-kds-r50xbr1-television/1993245241

Heh, I knew the bait would be too hard to resist. :D Welcome. Any tidbits You'd like me to add?
Recommendations -
After everyone is bored with tweaking and would like to see what the pros can do............................

Video calibration
Umr- technically competent along with alot of experience with Sony displays. He also demonstrates an important intangible that few people are aware of……..an excellent relationship with the Sony factory, which can be esp. helpful in attaining the best possible PQ for his clients.

Audio calibration
Umr - e-mail him for details
or
Tony Grimani – makes regular trips down to SoCal from up north. (NOT cheap!) If people don't recognize the name, I can hunt up a link upon request.

________________________________________
Studio Insider

for those of us who, thank god, dont live in california how about some good calibrators in other regions such as new england. preferrably NOT boston based.

Umr calibrated my 50XBR1 and did a superb job! He also calibrated my audio to a whole new degree! :) He travels up to the Northeast about twice a year.

anybody know if, when an XBR1 gets a 720p input, does it then scale & interlace that to 1080i & then deinterlace that to 1080p, or does it simply scale the 720p directly to 1080p? just interested.

dupe

anybody know if, when an XBR1 gets a 720p input, does it then scale & interlace that to 1080i & then deinterlace that to 1080p, or does it simply scale the 720p directly to 1080p? just interested.

Upscales to 1080 and deinterlaces to progressive.

Did a few adjustments:

1) Added Blue bold color to differentiate the title sections with subsections in normal color bold

2)Expanded the uniformity issues section with comments from umr and Dr. Raymond Soneira (of the infamous Extremetech LCoS shootout fame) on the Green Blob, with citations.

3) Added the Sound & Vision review.

Added:

1) The archived thread regarding XBR1 deinterlacing "bob & weave"
2) Added a "CRT zealot's" review of the XBR1
3) CNET reviews of the 60XBR1 and 60XBR2
4) umr's evaluation of the XBR2 after calibrating a 70"

Upscales to 1080 and deinterlaces to progressive.

thanks Uxi, but just to be clear, it takes a 720p input (which is not interlaced), interlaces AND scales that to 1080i, & then deinterlaces that to 1080p? if so, that's as screwy as that new Sammy HD-DVD player which takes a 1080p disc, converts to 1080i, & back to 1080p output. guess as long as it looks good...

IIRC deinterlacing only happens once. We do know that the XBR1 deinterlaces properly and passes on the various test patterns, so if it's doing it multiple times, it's not "hurting" anything. I added a link to a good discussion on the XBR1's deinterlacing before above under "Various" but here it is again:

XBR1 Deinterlacing: Does the XBR1 "bob & weave?"
http://archive2.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=6602874&&#post6602874

IIRC deinterlacing only happens once. We do know that the XBR1 deinterlaces properly and passes on the various test patterns, so if it's doing it multiple times, it's not "hurting" anything. I added a link to a good discussion on the XBR1's deinterlacing before above under "Various" but here it is again:

XBR1 Deinterlacing: Does the XBR1 "bob & weave?"
http://archive2.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=6602874&&#post6602874

what I'm trying to get at is that a 720p input shouldn't have to be deinterlaced at all to arrive at 1080p - just simply scaled. I know the XBR1 won't take a 1080p input, but that should only be about the HDMI version & copyright stuff where the input is 1080p; not scaling, interlacing & deinterlacing a progressive input such as 720p or 480p. then again, this all could involve the pulldown & frame rates, which I'm still trying to grasp.

thanks much for the link. I'll check it out.

Gotcha. IIRC There's an explicit disclaimer in the manual that DRC does not function on 480p or 720p, which would tell me that the XBR1 is upscaling without deinterlacing (since that, as you point out, would require processing that would be silly).

excellent point on the DRC. that's good to know. thanks!

sorry if this invades the new thread intent, but this is more of an inquiry that I wanted to ask more satisfied XBR1 owners.

does anybody out there have a completely uniform picture on a completely black screen, or are there always hotspots, lighter areas, clouds, dandruff, blotches, or what have you?

what I'm trying to get at, as a 1st time RPTV owner, is do all rptv have the above at least to some degree? I realize at this point none of the lcd-types can do CRT "BTB" (blacker than black), but I mean uniformity on deep black.

Read my quote from umr and Dr. Ramond Soneira. ALL forms of display other than DLP have uniformity issues to some degree. Then you only get rainbows. :)

Does anyone have some good out of the box settings in the white balance till I can get UMR to set up ? I got the XBR 2 ...

Does anyone have some good out of the box settings in the white balance till I can get UMR to set up ? I got the XBR 2 ...

i like the settings by AikenGhoti found here:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=8705477&&#post8705477

Thanks, here would be another sugestion to... http://ultimateavmag.com/rearprojectiontvs/1206sonykdsr60xbr2/index6.html

60XBR1...when viewing an HD scene with little or no motion, facial details and items in the foreground appear vivid and clear, however background colors appear to have noise artifacts (mosquito artifacts). I noticed it on DiscoveryHD - Bugs! with a closeup of an insect. The insect was clear, but the background was noisy. On American Idol last night, the performers seemed sharp but the background prop featuring pictures of prior idols had the same noise. I increased the noise reduction, but this seemed to make the noise blur, rather than eliminate it.

Using D*- could this be an issue with MPEG-2 compression?

Try sharpness down to 21 . Edge enhancement & detail to low or off. DRC to off. Or under DRC adjust set it to 0 all the way to the right & up to 11. The noise filter below Sharpness at Low or Mid. at 1080P You will see a lot of detail that show up more noise in the Picture. Try each one & respond to what worked the best...

just so its not so hard for newbies to find.

BUMP :D

Good call. I also have it linked from the FAQ in my sig. :D

could you instruct me how to put links in sigs.

I just put a significant 3" shratch in the screen of my 50" SXRD. Anyone know the best way to have it replaced? Sony service? Aftermarket vendor? Do you think the Circuit City extended warranty would cover it? Any advice helpful. Thanks.

sorry if this invades the new thread intent, but this is more of an inquiry that I wanted to ask more satisfied XBR1 owners.

does anybody out there have a completely uniform picture on a completely black screen, or are there always hotspots, lighter areas, clouds, dandruff, blotches, or what have you?

what I'm trying to get at, as a 1st time RPTV owner, is do all rptv have the above at least to some degree? I realize at this point none of the lcd-types can do CRT "BTB" (blacker than black), but I mean uniformity on deep black.

Black is very uniform, my previous O.B. had a lower left hotspot.

My black is also very uniform. Deep inky blacks as good my as direct view 34" CRT but much sharper.

Anyone using ViP622 with their XBR2 via HDMI? Would you mind sharing your tweaked setting with me? You can either PM me or post it here.

Thanks.

I've got a fancy new OB now that has turned me back into the kid in the candy store with my set :D.

I've endlessly tweaked this set, and more so before my good repair. Does anyone have any tried and true, great quality settings for their set right now. I'd like to start at a good zero point (which would be someone else's nirvana) and then calibrate from there.

Any guidance would be appreciated.

FWIW, it's nice to get back on an SXRD thread that's only 2 pages!

Indeed it is. I'll check out my setup later. I've mostly done some mode changes though a little tweaking of DRC Palette as well as brightness/contrast from the THX optimizer. I got about half way through DVE, too, before I decided to wait for an HD version... That was when I still had everything going direct to inputs on the TV, though.

I have to recheck everything now that I got it all going through the Denon, though. I'll likely be relying on the Faroudja to upscale / deinterlace and set it to Direct Mode, I'm thinking...

what chip set does the XBR2 have for scaleing and deinterlaceing?

Indeed it is. I'll check out my setup later. I've mostly done some mode changes though a little tweaking of DRC Palette as well as brightness/contrast from the THX optimizer. I got about half way through DVE, too, before I decided to wait for an HD version... That was when I still had everything going direct to inputs on the TV, though.

I have to recheck everything now that I got it all going through the Denon, though. I'll likely be relying on the Faroudja to upscale / deinterlace and set it to Direct Mode, I'm thinking...Uxi, have you had a chance to take a look at your settings? I'm planning on devoting some good QT with my home theater tonight, and was hoping that I might try out your tweaks.

Thanks.

I did, but I forgot there were so many. I'm going to need to post from my laptop in front of it, I think. :) I should be able to do that tonight.

In case people didn't see this - Sony is extending the warranty on all XBR1 Optics Blocks through October 31, 2008.

"As part of the Sony commitment to quality, Sony is announcing that it is extending the limited warranty (parts and labor), in the United States, on the optical block of KDS-R50XBR1 and KDS-R60XBR1 model SXRD Televisions until October 31, 2008, regardless of purchase date. This extended warranty does not apply to replaceable projection lamp and other parts that may be used in the televisions. All other terms of the Sony limited warranty continue to apply."

Owners with prior out-of-pocket expenses related to OB replacements can file a claim with Sony for reimbursement.

See the Sony bulletin here:

http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/ne...BR1&news_id=185

a link to the 60XBR2 service manual PDF.

http://www.docs.sony.com/release/KDSR60XBR2_sm.pdf

uxisxrd. please add this to your links post.

thanks.

60XBR1- purchase 10/05, ob replaced on or about 10/06, now recently picture has become darker and color just not right... took my spare lamp and put it and "WOW," back to new. Seems the lamp will loose alot of watts before it blows out. So if your set is as old as mine and the picture looses it brightness and color- go for the lamp.

a link to the 60XBR2 service manual PDF.
http://www.docs.sony.com/release/KDSR60XBR2_sm.pdf
uxisxrd. please add this to your links post.
thanks.
This link is broken. Any replacement?

i noticed it was broken too. have not found another one yet. i saved the PDF to my computer somewhere. so i have no need for the link. but if i find another one i will post it.

it seems as though sony has removed a lot, if not all of their service manuals. i tried links to a few other sets and they are broken also.

i found the service manual for 60"xbr2 PDF that i saved on my PC. if you PM me your e-mail address i will try sending it to you. it's kinda large though 20,611KB.

hdcp

any of you had any problems with the HDCP using the KDS-R60XBR1, I used the hdmi from my laptop HPpavillion dv9260nr that has a HD-DVD and it saya that i can not send the picture because the copty protection in the disc prevent to connect to my KDS-R60XBR1... any help please... or may be my KDS-R60XBR1 is not HDCP compatible...?

Hi, I was checking around, but I can't find a specification/service manual to find out what board part number my HDMI cables are on.

The metal feelers in my HDMI ports in the tv were basically destroyed and I want to know the part number for the board. Anyone have the info?

Hi, I was checking around, but I can't find a specification/service manual to find out what board part number my HDMI cables are on.

The metal feelers in my HDMI ports in the tv were basically destroyed and I want to know the part number for the board. Anyone have the info?

Not sure what you are looking for, but the service manual I have lists the info below for the board that holds the HDMI connectors. It's the same for both the 50" and the 60" XBR1 models.

Ref #: 163
Part #: A-1152-716-A
Description: PD BOARD, COMPLETE

I think a service manual costs $15 here:

http://www.getmanual.com/index.php?nav=cat_brands

I don't know if it will help you.

Good luck!

happyfunboater has graciously been hosting the XBR2 service manual on his server for awhile now. The link and username can be found in this post http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showpost.php?p=14620594&postcount=8094 in the xbr2 owner thread.