FPD Benchmark Software for the Professional Information

A lot of people have seen tests (specifically motion resolution tests) done with the FPD Benchmark software for the professional Blu-Ray disc (1080i format only). HDGuru (Gary Merson) and other review sites have used the disc (along with other benchmark discs such as the HQV Benchmark disc) in evaluating LCD/Plasma and other high definition displays.



Many people have asked for more information about this disc and google searching usually does not yield any good results. There is some controversy about this disc and it's origins as well.

Availability:
It would appear the FPD Benchmark disc is primarily Japanese. It seems it was included in the Jan 2008 issue of the Japanese magazine AV Review.

http://www.phileweb.com/editor/av-review/157/index.html

Much like American magazine will include a demo disc in some issues on news stands and to subscribers.

It is also available to the trade and to magazines/review websites/press that evaluate and review High Definition displays. It seems very hard to get outside japan and outside of the trade.

Origins:

The FPD Benchmark Software for the professional originated at the Adavnced PDP Development Corporation, a group made up of various Plasma display manufacturers (Hitachi, Panasonic, Pioneer). The website of this group is located at http://www.advanced-pdp.jp/english/index.html

On this site you will find plasma oriented performance marketing materials.

The disc itself (and test patterns it would seem) were created by Q-Tech a japanese company that specializes in HDTV and video production. http://www.qtec.ne.jp/

The product number of the FPD Benchmark software blu-ray disc is QVD-1001. Q-Tech also makes another (alightly different but uses the same test patterns and some different demonstration material) called the Definition Reference Disc. Part number QVDB-1003. These discs are similar using most if not all of the same video test patterns. The High Definition Reference Disc has an audio testing component where the FPD Benchmark disc does not. Both are in 1080i format. The FPD Benchmark disc was first produced in 2006 while the High Definition Reference Disc was produced in 2007/2008.

More information about the High Definition Reference disc is found here:
http://www.hd.club.tw/redirect.php?t...6&goto=newpost
http://www.play-asia.com/paOS-13-71-...h-70-2jlk.html
http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=QVDB-1003

Use in reviews and controversy:

A few websites on the internet advertise the use of the FPD benchmark for the professional in their reviews of HD Displays. The most notable being HDGuru (Gary Merson), HDTVtest.co.uk and AVrev.com. It would also seem that home theater magazine also uses the disc.

The disc is used to evaluate all kinds of display technologies, not just plasma. The disc is described to be created by "a consumer electronics group"[1]. The fact that it is created by a consortium of plasma companies and used to evaluate LCD and other technologies is a point of contention and controversy. Especially when reviewers who use it fail to mention the discs origin. Heavy emphasis is put on motion resolution, which the Advanced PDP development corporation developed a process for benchmarking using this disc as a comparison to other display technologies. It seems to be the only "standardized" way to evaluate motion resolution however some technicians would argue it is a very arbitrary way of testing this aspect of display technologies.

[1] http://www.hometheatermag.com/hookmeup/1107hook2/

I just received my copy of the FPD Benchmark blu-ray disc. If you ask for it, you can get one. It's not exactly "only for the trade" as some reviewers say.

I'm going to check it out tonight. You can tell this is targeted toward plasma screens. It seems to be even engineered that way as it does come from a trade group comprised soley of plasma panel manufacturers.

I'm going to try the motion monoscope on my plasma and lcd as well as some of the other test material.

Kind of a neat rare blu-ray test disc to acquire.

Actually I just wrote to the contact addresses of the companies involved asking for it (with a detailed description of what it was, giving the fact that at these companies not everyone will know what you are talking about) I eventually just received one in the mail from Panasonic.. go figure..someone must have passed my email up the chain.

so I've had a lot of time to fool around with this disc. It's really neat. Keeping in mind it is created by a plasma company and is actively used to promote plasmas. I tried the motion resolution monoscope pattern and there is some sample scenes and other tests. Some tests are similar to the HQV benchmark test.

An interesting disc but nothing special except for the motion resolution monoscope test.