I was attempting to adjust basic picture controls on a inexpensive Phillips Plasma (Model # 50PF7220A/37B) purchased by my mother-in-law. I used DVE DVD fed from a Oppo 981HD DVD Player over HDMI with the Oppo output 720p. I'm using all the default settings on the Oppo.

The problems are:
1) When setting brightness using the Pluge with Log Gray Scale test pattern (Title 12 Chapter 2): When I pulled this up, I never could get the 3 stripes (blacker than black, 2% above black, and 4% above black) to show up now matter what brightness setting I used. I'm assuming that this means the plasma is crushing blacks at a level greater than 4%.

2) When setting contrast using the reverse gray ramps (Title 12, Chapter 14). When I pull up this pattern, about 1/3 of the gray ramp pattern had the whites crushed as if the contrast was set way to high. I changed the contrast settings from one end to the other and this did not change the white crush.

3) When setting Color/Tint using the Blue Filter with the Color Bar pattern (Title 12, Chapter 6): I could never reach my goal of getting an even shade of blue by adjusting color and tint. There were always some blocks that that were a much darker shade of blue. I had used this test pattern in the past on CRT rear pro and front projector without much difficulty.

After experiencing this, I then attempted to change other picture controls but none of them solved any of the 3 issues. Is this normal for a plasma? Could settings in the service menu correct for this? Could this set be defective? The set is a refurb with 90 warranty and there is 60 days left.

BTW, I have also posted this in the plasma thteads location.

Sincerely,
snooktarpon

I was attempting to adjust basic picture controls on a inexpensive Phillips Plasma (Model # 50PF7220A/37B) purchased by my mother-in-law. I used DVE DVD fed from a Oppo 981HD DVD Player over HDMI with the Oppo output 720p. I'm using all the default settings on the Oppo.

The problems are:
1) When setting brightness using the Pluge with Log Gray Scale test pattern (Title 12 Chapter 2): When I pulled this up, I never could get the 3 stripes (blacker than black, 2% above black, and 4% above black) to show up now matter what brightness setting I used. I'm assuming that this means the plasma is crushing blacks at a level greater than 4%.

2) When setting contrast using the reverse gray ramps (Title 12, Chapter 14). When I pull up this pattern, about 1/3 of the gray ramp pattern had the whites crushed as if the contrast was set way to high. I changed the contrast settings from one end to the other and this did not change the white crush.

3) When setting Color/Tint using the Blue Filter with the Color Bar pattern (Title 12, Chapter 6): I could never reach my goal of getting an even shade of blue by adjusting color and tint. There were always some blocks that that were a much darker shade of blue. I had used this test pattern in the past on CRT rear pro and front projector without much difficulty.

After experiencing this, I then attempted to change other picture controls but none of them solved any of the 3 issues. Is this normal for a plasma? Could settings in the service menu correct for this? Could this set be defective? The set is a refurb with 90 warranty and there is 60 days left.

BTW, I have also posted this in the plasma thteads location.

Sincerely,
snooktarpon

I have an OPPO 971 with a Tosh 65HX93 RP-CRT. As far as the blacker than black bars, I had to change the brightness setting on the OPPO in order to get the BTB passed. It was the OPPO that was clipping at the default settings. You might check the OPPO DVD prlayer thread, probably the first entry, and some might have posted the OPPO setting recommended. I don't know if the 981 is simialr enough to the 971. But I think my setting is brightness 03, contrast -01.

But again, I"d check the threads specific to the 981 for their recommendations.

Rick

I pull up the Oppo 981 thread (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=760726&page=1)
and it looks like the 981 has no problems with blacker than black and whiter than white. So I think the problem is still with the Philips plasma. Just to be sure, when I go back to recalibrate it, I will bring another DVD player that I know can do BTB and WTW check that out with the Philips.

Sincerely,
snooktarpon