Well, I used a version of the settings listed here (with a few changes - see underlined comments) on a 42/520 and it seems great. I watched it for a few hours on various HD programs (no Blu-ray) before I gave it to my mom. She loves it. I realize using someone else's settings aren't optimal but it got the TV into the ballpark for my eyes.
BTW, the TV in my theater room is a 65 inch CRT Mits that was professionally calibrated so I know the difference between a Calibration and an APA (see otto's post).
Here is what I ended up with:
HDMI Input Set for Cable Input
ISF Expert Baseline 1
Energy Saving Off for Day Time ( Minimum or Medium at night)
Range of Values based on user reports.
Backlight 41 (27-65) Higher setting causes wash out.
Contrast 86 (83-96) Higher setting causes white clip.
Brightness 56 (50-65) Higher setting causes wash out. – Using 60
H. Sharpness 54 (62-71) 50 is neutral, higher may cause halos
V, Sharpness 52 (55-64) 50 is neutral, higher may cause halos
Color 54 (42-59) 50 is neutral, higher may cause color bleed
Tint 0 (R3 - 0 )
Expert Control
Dynamic Contrast Off (Try Medium for more pop. Low or High causes black crush)
Noise Reduction Off
Dig Noise Reduction off
Black Level Low - Using Auto
Real Cinema Off
Color Gamut BT709 - Using SMPTE
Edge Enhancer Low
xvYCC Auto
Expert Pattern Off (normally)
Color Filter Off
Color Temperature Warm
Gamma 2.2
Method 10Point
Pattern Outer (Inner if you have no calibration DVD)
IRE 100 Luminance = 105
IRE Adj. Points
Revised 3-1-11
When you are in the second page of the Expert Menu, you step down to where "Method" is and change it from "2 Point" to "10 Point". Then enter in your IRE starting at 100, enter the R,G, B values, step back up to IRE 100 , Left arrow changing it to IRE 90, and enter it's values, etc.
R, G, B
100 -1, 0, 1
90 -2, 2, 5
80 0, 2, 4
70 1, 2, 2
60 2, 2, -5
50 2 -1, -2
40 2, 0, -2
30 2,-1, 2
20 1, 0, -2
10 -1, 0, 3
0 1,-2, 1
Color Management System
Red Color -13
Red Tint 7
Green Color -12
Green Tint -6
Blue Color -7
Blue Tint -6
Yellow Color -7
Yellow Tint -13
Cyan Color 2
Cyan Tint 4
Magenta Color -11
Magenta Tint 9