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LG PA75U -Anybody else own one of LG's Abandoned Children?

78K views 479 replies 84 participants last post by  strindl 
#1 ·
I bought this at, and will soon be trying to return it to BestBuy. Touted as having LG's "Smart TV Features" one would assume it would have Hulu, Netflix, even HBO Go perhaps. Some descriptions online mention Hulu and Netflix, but fire up the projector and they are nowhere to be found.


In fact, the apps that are available are all pure crap.


I went to check the LG site, to see if they have any documentation on upcoming features or anything at all, only to notice that the PA75U is NOT LISTED under current models. Mine was manufactured in March of 2013. Are the Web guys on strike or has LG given up/discontinued/who-knows-what on this projector?


Anyway, there are some positives - the picture is good, and the "PLEX media server" software is nice to have (constantly improving, but poorly implemented on the PA75U)

I am not quite sure why, but once you have that media server running on your PC, you can then access the content in two ways - one is through the "Media Link" option on the PA75U - this pulls in all sorts of other information about your files from the web (movie ratings/synopses/etc)


The other method is via "SmartShare" which is more of a browse-folders-and-filenames experience.


Somehow these two methods utilize different looking media players. I have found that the SmartShare media player looks better, gives you more information on screen about the video resolution & audio type, and is generally smoother. But the MediaLink player pulls in all of that web info so your library looks organized instead of the potential cluster-F that it actually is.


Plex also includes "channels" including Amazon Video, Hulu, and Netflix - but these are poorly implemented and well hidden deep in the menus. (By poorly implemented I mean they don't look/function well. I should mention that Amazon just doesn't work. And none of these channels are supported by the respective companies...)


Lucky for me, the wifi keeps dropping out - has been happening with three different access points - so maybe that'll ease the return process.


Until then, I've been experimenting with the USB port - so far, successfully attached a USB hub and a wireless logitech keyboard. Unfortunately, only the escape button, the arrow keys and 0-9 seem to work - but it does show another device in "input selection"





Anybody out there own this model, or have any insight or tips/
 
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#437 ·
The pa77 is the updated version of this pa75, that might be more available. It's a small update at about the same price (added some features to the remote, got Netflix working, and added a digital audio output for surround).
 
#440 ·
Just wanted to say thanks so much for the Plex heads up. My PJ was stuck in a boot loop every time I powered it on. Turned off the plex server and it was fine. I was actually in the process of calling LG to get it warrantied, but there PJ specialists weren't answering. As I was waiting on hold I found this thread! In any case, my method for fixing:

1) turn off plex server temporarily.
2) log into router, create a guest wifi that can't communicate to my local network.
3) turn PJ on and change network settings to use guest wifi SSID.
4) turn plex server back on.

You lose out on being able stream from plex using the built in media discovery, but I got around it by using a chromecast and pushing shows to that from my phone.
 
#444 ·
It looks like the pa75u got an update!
...anyone have a clue what it does?
 
#446 ·
I called LG and was told that it likely is just adding wider support for different 3D formats and things like that (formats, codecs, app updates, etc..), nothing terribly big or new. BUT, because it's the weekend (of course), I was told to call back during the week and get ahold of someone in the computer department for actual in-depth information on what the update changed/did.

I have to say, this is the second time I've had to call LG about something with this projector and both times they were really quick and helpful..seemed to actually have an idea of what they were doing! In this particular case it was nice to get both a decent answer along with the necessary next step AND an honest declaration that the phone-tech didn't know for sure..Much nicer than being told something completely wrong just to save face.
It's a welcome change from my usual calls for support and even better compared to LG's own website answer support where their people somehow forgot that this was a 3D projector and told someone (and the rest of the world) that it wasn't.
So good on them, their PHONE support is pretty decent.
 
#447 · (Edited)
My PF85U also got an update. I checked all the menus and apps but I didn't find anything added except for the built in browser new version#. I tested it but it's still slow as hell.

Also, I have plex server running on an htpc and I can access, watch just fine using pj smartshare\linked device.
 

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#448 ·
Hi all!

I've recently bought a Lg Pa75 projector and I'm a little disappoited. I thing that the black level is too low, in a dark room in darlk scenes you can clearly see this effect, the blacks anren't "black" enought. I thought that this projector, rated ad 15000:1 contrast ratio would have better blacks.

I don't have a lot experience with projectors and maybe I'm a litle picky and the black level is already nice, but I'm considering to sell the Pa75 and get a projector with better "blacks"

The new LG led projectors claim a contrast ratio of 100.000:1.... I wonder if they have better black level than the pa75/pa70/pg62g and if any of you did a direct comparison. Is there any "real" improvement?

I think than the new lg models are using the Darkchip 3 while the pa75 not (maybe darkchip2?)

I'm also considering to get a "cheap" bulb projector that uses the darkchip 3, like the benq w750

Thanks all! and sorry for my englih
 
#449 · (Edited)
The contrast specs claimed by manufacturers are almost always total lies because they are allowed to simply make the numbers up.
In real-life these are some measurements to keep in mind:
Pa75u about 800:1-900:1
The best LG DLPs about 1500:1
RGBRGB lamp-bases DLP, 1200:1-2000:1
Business DLPs, about 700:1
Cheap LCDs, 400:1
Hometheater LCoS and LCD projectors over $2000, 4000:1-7000:1
JVC LCoS (starts around $3000), 10,000:1-50,000:1

A professional cinema has around 2000:1
A standard flat-screen TV is around 1500:1
Plasma TVs can reach 5000:1 and beyond.

Unless your budget allows a $2000 model like the Sony HW40 and you can darken your room well, your best bet is to improve the PA75u image in a couple easy ways.

1. Set your BRIGHTNESS control around 52-55 and then make sure BLACK-LEVEL is set either high or low (try both, one will look good and the other will turn blacks grey or the whole picture really dark).
2. Go into advanced video settings and try turning GAMMA to 1.9 or LOW..this will increase shadow-detail and help dark scenes look more contrast-y.
3. Get some form of black border or home-made "masking" tight around your image or screen so you don't see any blank black bars on-screen next to your image.
4. Go ahead and turn CONTRAST up to 98-100.

Last resort..
5. If you are willing to give up some accuracy and fine-detail, go into advance picture/video settings and turn DYNAMIC CONTRAST to medium..then turn COLOR to 59.
This is more for powering through a room with too much light or a screen that's too big, but it helps perceived contrast/blacks too.
 
#450 ·
Wow ftoast thanks for the detailed reply

900:1 real contrast ratio vs 150000... this makes much more sense.
A friend of mine had an used old sharp XV10000 vision which has a contrast ratio of 2600:1 and as far as I can remember the black level is much better.

Your instructions improved the contrast ration perception. This is my config:

Contrast: 100
Brightness: 50 (from 50 and above, it seems to decrease the black level)
Black level : high
Gamma: 1,9 (I had to increase the screen size to compensate the "extra brightness" )
Lamp: minimum
Dynamic contrast: off . Works great, but crushes the white, usable as last resort :cool:

Shadow detail is better, a bigger screen gives better black level while the, 1.9 gamma keeps the picture bright enought.
Thx!
 
#452 ·
I haven't updated yet and have the magicmirror..and yes it requires a separate $10 program for the source device. Well, mirror OP does. I can't remember if magic mirror was that or the built-in windows screenshare (that only worked with windows 7 and vista). Either way, magic-mirror was already there.

Can anyone who's updated try the built-in web browser and see if it still supports FLASH video like a standard computer? I'm worried the projector will lose flash support like android 4.2+ did where it's actually pried out of your hands. :(
 
#453 ·
Hello!


Hey float, I'm still working around your tips to get a better contrast perception and black levels.
I've been playing with the dynamic contrast option, and I find that the low setting actually stretches the contrast ratio more than the medium setting (or in a different way than the low and hi setting).

My screen size is 70". I don't need a bigger screen since my viewing distance is abou 3 meter and I'm using the economic bulb mode. What size of screen are you using, and which bulb mode?

Also I've build a DIY 70" light gray screen and the black level has improved while maintaining an acceptable brightness, but then I think I have screwed the color balance (didnt' get a neutral grey, I supose). Anyone is using a grey or silver screen with goog results?

All in all, I'm starting to enjoy this mini sized projector
 
#455 ·
Hello:

I was wondering if someone has done a color calibration on the pa75. In standard mode, I think that the color balanced is biased toward red, at least when compared with my IPS monitor, and the other modes (cinema etc..) are way off for my taste. I have done a calibration on the Pa75 by comparison, and now the color balance is very colse to the LG monitor.

Otherwise, I have found a review of the Pa72/Pa70 (it's the same projector without smartTv, right? but I don't have the knowledge to understand all the measurements that they have done, but it seems that red color is off.



The test of the projector can be found here:
I can't post the link but simply google cine4home PA72G test and it's the first result


And this is my calibration in expert mode if anyone wants to try it:

contrast 100
Brightness 50
color 47
Dynamic contrast medium
tint 0
Black lvl high
gamut wide
color temo. medium
gamma 2.2

red contrast 0
green contrast -6
blue contrast 3

red bright -3
green bright 0
blue bright 4

color management:
All colors 0, except yellow = -4
 
#456 · (Edited)
I was wondering if someone has done a color calibration on the pa75.
Contrast 98
Brightness 54
Sharpness 15
Color 49
Tint R10
Gamma 2.2

Black-level high/low depends on your source
DynamicContrast OFF
Sharpness enhancements OFF
Other "enhancements" OFF including the motion and noise ones in the other extra-options section

Gamut SMPTE

WB warm
WB:R/G/B
2
5
10/0/5
15/0/10
15/0/10
20
20
20
20
25
25
25
30
30
25
20
15
10
5
50

CMS
Green: tint -15
Yellow: tint -15

CMS settings beyond +/-15 for tint and +/-10 for sat/lum can create banding or posterizing for certain types of content.
None-the-less I apparently have cinema CMS set as;

Saturation/Tint/Luminance
R: 5/20/5
G: -15/-25/-25
B: 5/-15/5
C: 0/15/20
M: -25/20/-15
Y: 5/-20/-15

And tint as R15 instead of R10
The biggest bothers for me are the blue-ish and overly bright greens and the green-ish and fairly strong yellows. Also, most white-balance presets are pretty cold except Native which is quite yellow/green.
The settings above mostly solved these issues for me and give colors that look a lot less neon.

If you are a fan of colder white-balance, I prefer Purity over Cool/Medium..it seems brighter and better with sky hues.
 
#460 ·
Judging from what I've heard/read, the pa70g IS a pretty different animal at least when it comes to settings, so those might end up looking a little odd.
I wonder if the CMS "color" control next to tint in the PDF is luminance or saturation?
The overall color of 71 can make people look pretty sunburned on the pa75u.
 
#461 ·
Long time lurker, first time posting. blacks and grays appear extremely grainy...almost like tv static. Anyone have any ideas? Is this normal on this projector? Seems to only kick in when I'm watching video from a USB or hdmi, switched out hdmi cables and everything. This is my first projector btw so I'm sort of newbie.
 
#462 ·
While absolute black will look smoothly dark at any distance, slightly lighter shades are made by the panel flashing sporadic bits of grey that can look like grainy static if you walk up close to the screen.

If you're seeing it noticeably from regular seating-distance, especially only with certain videos/sources, it might be a problem at the source that's getting brought out a little extra from the projector.
Projector screen-sizes alone can make some previously unnoticed flaws in movies become visible, especially with certain settings cranked too high.
That's why it's best to use the best source-video you're able to and sometimes more subtle settings can help either way.
It shouldn't be a problem with your projector itself since it doesn't happen through all inputs.

I would suggest trying Sharpness down below 25-30.
Try Cinema preset and go into the Advanced Menu to turn OFF DynamicContrast and anything else that can be set to OFF (sometimes DynamicContrast might actually help erase source grain because it loses small details like that...might be best to try it both on and off).
Having gamma at 2.2 or 2.4 can help lower some dark-scene noise as well.

If you ever wonder if something might be a problem with the source, try playing the same thing through your regular TV while sitting about 4ft away from the screen.
You'll notice flaws you might've missed before.
 
#466 ·
Anyone using this to project more than 100"? Because of where I'll have to mount in a finished basement it'll be about 12' from the projected wall so I'm guessing it'll be closer to 120". It's in a basement with low ambient lighting and will mostly be used for movies/ppv events. Still looking at screen options versus paint the wall with screen paint.
 
#467 ·
I use it at 110" in the familyroom and have used it a lot larger outside.

A problem that may or may not bother you ... this particular projector actually runs out of focus-wheel adjustment around 100" which is very odd. This means that any size bigger than 100-105" will have a slightly softer focus. It's more noticeable with text than video, but it's worth some mention.
 
#470 · (Edited)
The lamp-based(not LED) w1070 or w1075 will give you a really accurate 1080p image with more than enough brightness to fight a bit of light from that distance where it can make an image anywhere from ~110-135" with its 1.3:1zoom and it is selling for $699-799.
Lamps last a really long time in it which is also nice.

The pa77u is a similar model to this pa75u which is about $650 and may have lengthened the focus range.

The full 1080p LG pf1500 LED projector is brighter and quieter and focuses just fine but is above budget at $900-1000.

Most of the cheaper LED projectors are a lot louder (fan noise) than the LG's, and aren't much cheaper..so I really do tend to like the LG LEDs.

If you're going for simple, something like the AAXA p450 might do alright. Similar to the pa75u in some ways but a lot less special features and about $400-450, but it's louder too. It's one of the few LED projectors besides LG which has good color:white balance.
 
#473 ·
The brightness difference isn't all that huge either, though the pf1500 runs quieter.
Also the cheaper pa77u has full 3D support along with creative 2D-3D for fun, I think the 77 has some legacy input/s the 1080 models lack, there's a decent chance the 77 has less input-lag (though I remember hearing it still isn't ideal), and it has both IR and bluetooth remotes and an IR reader where the pf1500 is said to lack IR making it impossible to use a universal remote.

Kind of silly/little things, but the pa77u is no slouch for anyone fine with 720p.
The price being below $550-600 is a little weird.
 
#478 ·
Strangely enough, after sending this into LG for repairs (twice) and still experiencing the same problems, they had me take it to a local shop. After two trips there, the problem persists.

The real issue seems to be the power supplied by my house. I haven't had trouble with any other devices, but the projector reboots after two minutes (or sooner) ONLY in my house. (That explains why it was "worked on" and sent back to me four times.

I've tried it at work and at a neighbors house and it works just fine. Anybody have any ideas? This sounds like the kind of rare issue that likely won't be solved, save running an extension cord to the neighbors house.
 
#479 ·
Maybe the Plex Server error? I used to see that when running Plex Server somewhere else on my home network, following a software upgrade by LG. Took a heck of a long time to figure out, since it wasn't apparent that another piece of software elsewhere would contribute to triggering an error in the projector itself.
 
#480 ·
I've had my LG75U since 2013...it was ceiling mounted in my home theater until 2015 when it was replced there by the PF1500. I've used the 75U as a portable projector since then in offices, etc. A month or two ago, it encountered a problem. I'd turn it on and it would power up with the nice image for about 35 seconds, and then shut itself down. That's all it does now, no matter where I am with it...my home, different offices. Has anyone else encountered something like that?
 
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