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Planar PD7150 Tweakers and Calibration thread

post #1 of 69
10/13/08 at 10:30am
Thread Starter 
Now that many people have received their projectors, let's get some talk going on tweaks and calibration!

We'll start by the calibration settings from 2 reviews:

http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/p...ojector-review
http://www.e-gear.com/story/productr...tory&sid=54685

E-Gear says:

Out of the box, the PD7150 performs exceptionally well. Using the default settings, which included a “Color Temp” setting of 6500K, grayscale tracking stays extremely tame across the board. Running through some test patterns, I made some minor changes to brightness and contrast, but overall there wasn’t need for much tweaking. While we’re discussing settings, I found it refreshing to see that primary “cuts” and “gains” could be adjusted by the consumer allowing for greater white balance; typically these settings are available to service techs only—if at all.
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post #2 of 69
10/13/08 at 1:06pm
Thread Starter 
Here are some starting points from the Audioholics review:

http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/p...ojector-review

You'll also be able to adjust Sharpness (keep this on 'Normal' and Gamma as well as Color Temp settings. The Picture Setting control is for recalling one of the Memory positions (we could only get 2 working despite the 3 hard buttons on the remote control.)

Since the Planar PD7150 has no "Picture Modes" per se (i.e. Sports, Vivid, Daytime, Cinema, etc) you'll likely want to use the Gamma controls to adjust the unit for day and night viewing - at least until you can set up some stored calibrated Memory settings. Setting a Gamma of 1.0, for example, gives you the brightest image for daytime viewing of television in a room that is not light controlled. For cinema watching we found the default Gamma 2.2 to be a very good starting point.

Deinterlacing mode settings, an important aspect of the PD7150 for proper functionality with DVDs, are also found here. It is very important to ensure you have the right settings here in order for 24 frame-per-second film-sourced DVDs to be accurately converted to 30 frame-per-second video.

Looks like:
Gamma set to 2.2 for nighttime viewing.
Gamma set to 1.0 for daytime viewing. EDIT - I decided to use 1.5. The colors on 1.0 were too off.

The end of the calibration page says "White Enhance mode should actually be 'On' according to our measurements as it yielded better and consistent color response overall."

Any other changes from default?
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post #3 of 69
10/13/08 at 2:03pm
Hi Grayson73,

I have a Planar 7130. Do you think those settings will work with my pj?
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post #4 of 69
10/13/08 at 4:11pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Grayson73 View Post

Deinterlacing mode settings, an important aspect of the PD7150 for proper functionality with DVDs, are also found here. It is very important to ensure you have the right settings here in order for 24 frame-per-second film-sourced DVDs to be accurately converted to 30 frame-per-second video.

Found where?
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post #5 of 69
10/13/08 at 5:11pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Grayson73 View Post

Deinterlacing mode settings, an important aspect of the PD7150 for proper functionality with DVDs, are also found here. It is very important to ensure you have the right settings here in order for 24 frame-per-second film-sourced DVDs to be accurately converted to 30 frame-per-second video.

Here are the instructions from the manual: Do I select Film Mode?

This function allows you to determine the type of incoming video content-film, static interlaced
video and moving interlaced video. Different algorithms are applied for each of the content types.
Press < or > button to set the deinterlace mode.
DCTI: This function is useful to enhance video by replacing the edges of the video with edges
that have steeper rise and fall times. DCTI turns sloped or sinusoidal waveforms into
rectangular or square waveforms with the same duty cycles and peak-to-peak amplitude. It's
useful for 4:1:1 video sources. The range is from 0 to 7.
Video on film (VOF): This function is used to identify video artifacts while in film mode. VOF
attempts to repair the artifacts using the low-angle interpolator while remaining in film mode.
Film Mode: Reproduces the image of the film source clearly. Displays the optimized image of
film transformed with 3:2 pull down (NTSC and PAL60Hz) enhancement to progressive mode
images.
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post #6 of 69
10/13/08 at 5:55pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by E-A-G-L-E-S View Post

Found where?

3rd page of the Audioholics review.

http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/p...nd-menu-system
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post #7 of 69
10/13/08 at 5:56pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by hector369 View Post

Hi Grayson73,

I have a Planar 7130. Do you think those settings will work with my pj?

I'm not sure since they are different projectors.
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post #8 of 69
10/13/08 at 7:03pm
I see the deinterlacing mode on my options menu
but it is grayed out and will not allow me to
select.This is with a dvi connection.How is everyone
else entering this sub menu?
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post #9 of 69
10/14/08 at 8:35am
Thread Starter 
I decided to use 1.5 gamma for daytime viewing. To me, the colors on 1.0 were too off.
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post #10 of 69
10/14/08 at 8:40am
Thread Starter 
I asked Clint DeBoer, the Audioholics reviewer of the projector, about enabling white enhance and he said this:

"White Enhance, if I recall correctly, enabled whiter than white response, regardless of gamma setting."

The thread is here:

http://forums.audioholics.com/forums...d.php?p=468632
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post #11 of 69
10/14/08 at 6:18pm
Thread Starter 
These are my settings after calibrating with DVE

Toshiba HD-A3 at 720p output.
HDMI to DVI
White Enhance on
Eco mode off
Da-Lite High Power screen

Colors looking were spot on.


Memory 1 (dark room):

Gamma 2.2
Brightness -2
Contrast 9

Memory 2 (ambient light):

Gamma 1.5 (I found 1.0 to be too washed out colorwise)
Brightness -4
Contrast 9
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post #12 of 69
10/14/08 at 9:52pm
Thanks for the continuing info.

RGB - Gains and Offsets?
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post #13 of 69
10/15/08 at 11:57am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by E-A-G-L-E-S View Post

Thanks for the continuing info.

RGB - Gains and Offsets?

I didn't change those. The blue filter looked perfect. I only glanced at the green and red filters.
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post #14 of 69
10/23/08 at 7:03am
Hi...I am not sure if I have it wrong but on my A30 with FM 1.1, I cannot get my player to show resolution beyond 720p. I was wondering if there is a disconnect between those at Planar saying yes we can use 1080p/24 versus those of us still struggling with it. My impression was that the jury was still on on this issue.

Other than that, this is one awesome, though heavier than anticipated, projector.
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post #15 of 69
10/23/08 at 7:15am
Quote:
Originally Posted by natchie View Post

Hi...I am not sure if I have it wrong but on my A30 with FM 1.1, I cannot get my player to show resolution beyond 720p. I was wondering if there is a disconnect between those at Planar saying yes we can use 1080p/24 versus those of us still struggling with it. My impression was that the jury was still on on this issue.

Other than that, this is one awesome, though heavier than anticipated, projector.

It could be the firmware on the player. I have an HD-A20 and I display up to 1080p and it works perfectly. The Samsung 1500 Blu-ray player is another story, it won't display 1080p at all.
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post #16 of 69
10/23/08 at 7:24am
dysfunction26, I too have an hd-a20. Do you get 1080p/60 and 1080p/24? I only get 720 output. If so what length cable you're using or what setup do you use.
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post #17 of 69
10/24/08 at 6:39am
Dysfunctions and Silvereyes...
For comparison purpose, what model, FW versio, type & length of cable used to the projector. I go first: Toshiba A30, still at 1.1/1; bought a new monoprice HDMI to DVI cable at 10 feet. Clicking on Resolution button, I get 720 p

My de-interlacer button is greyed out on the projector PD7130. The Planar firmware is up to date according to the list.
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post #18 of 69
10/24/08 at 7:00am
Quote:
Originally Posted by natchie View Post

Dysfunctions and Silvereyes...
For comparison purpose, what model, FW versio, type & length of cable used to the projector. I go first: Toshiba A30, still at 1.1/1; bought a new monoprice HDMI to DVI cable at 10 feet. Clicking on Resolution button, I get 720 p

My de-interlacer button is greyed out on the projector PD7130. The Planar firmware is up to date according to the list.

Toshiba hd-a20 firmware 4.0 cable 24awg monoprice 35" (hdmi-hdmi) I added a hdmi/dvi convertor to it. Exactly same issues as you have. Its a toshiba problem, they need to have a forced output resolution.
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post #19 of 69
10/24/08 at 7:12am
Thread Starter 
Planar Rep said this:

I would leave white enhance off for normal viewing. It should be used for 'daytime' modes only. I leave the color temp at 6500 all the time and use the gamma to boost brightness also.

You can try lamp power also if you want more pop.
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post #20 of 69
10/24/08 at 1:12pm
Using white enhance allowed me to reduce the contrast setting. I'm in a black hole (dark gray actually), so daytime is not an issue, but I prefer the white enhance.
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post #21 of 69
10/24/08 at 8:37pm
Calibrated my 7150 tonight.
~N8.6 grey screen.(Cream $ Sugar)
No ambient light, but all my walls are off-white.

Brightness -2
Contrast +12
R Gain & Offset -1
B Gain & Offset +1
G Gain & Offset -2
Gamma 2.2
Sharpness - Normal
Low lamp
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post #22 of 69
10/24/08 at 8:52pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by silvereyes View Post

Toshiba hd-a20 firmware 4.0 cable 24awg monoprice 35" (hdmi-hdmi) I added a hdmi/dvi convertor to it. Exactly same issues as you have. Its a toshiba problem, they need to have a forced output resolution.

I pretty much have the same setup as Silver, but I have the firmware previous to 4.0, they are sending me a disc, I'm in no rush to update. I also have a 35' HDMI to HDMI cable with a DVI adapter from Monoprice. HD DVD looks amazing (compared to the IN72 I previously owned), I am sending back my Samsung BDP1500 in the morning. I will wait a couple months and get a PS3.
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post #23 of 69
10/26/08 at 1:27am
Quote:
Originally Posted by silvereyes View Post

dysfunction26, I too have an hd-a20. Do you get 1080p/60 and 1080p/24? I only get 720 output. If so what length cable you're using or what setup do you use.

Quote:
Originally Posted by dysfunction26 View Post

I pretty much have the same setup as Silver, but I have the firmware previous to 4.0, they are sending me a disc, I'm in no rush to update. I also have a 35' HDMI to HDMI cable with a DVI adapter from Monoprice.

I also have the HD-A20, firmware 4.0 with a 6' DVI to HDMI cable from monoprice. I can't get the player to output anything higher than 720p.
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post #24 of 69
10/26/08 at 6:57am
Quote:
Originally Posted by SauceXX View Post

I also have the HD-A20, firmware 4.0 with a 6' DVI to HDMI cable from monoprice. I can't get the player to output anything higher than 720p.

Discussed earlier...in the other thread...the new firmware and HDMI cable will only allow output to the native res. of the display.

I use component with 1080i and it appears to have a much better image (HD-A2) using the scaler in the PJ.
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post #25 of 69
10/28/08 at 8:38pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by E-A-G-L-E-S View Post

Calibrated my 7150 tonight.
~N8.6 grey screen.(Cream $ Sugar)
No ambient light, but all my walls are off-white.

Brightness -2
Contrast +12
R Gain & Offset -1
B Gain & Offset +1
G Gain & Offset -2
Gamma 2.2
Sharpness - Normal
Low lamp

What is the difference between Gain and Offset? You're setting them to the same value?

In the Audioholics review, it appears that Green was too high and Red and Blue were too low, right?

http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/p...nd-calibration
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post #26 of 69
10/29/08 at 3:58am
My understanding is that the gain and offset work like RGBLowEnd and RGBHighEnd controls.
Borrowed from the Greyscale for Dummies calibration guide:
RGBLowEnd: The control used to adjust the amount of individual Red, Green, or Blue colour in the darker end of the black to white scale. Think of it as an individual brightness control for each colour. We adjust this while displaying a dark pattern.
RGBHighEnd: The control used to adjust the amount of individual Red, Green, or Blue colour in the lighter end of the black to white scale. Think of it as an individual contrast control for each colour. We adjust this while displaying a light pattern

That's how I took them and they worked as such when I calibrated my PD7060. I don't remember which one worked with the dark pattern and which one worked with the light pattern, I learned that by making changes and seeing what I affected.
My bet is they affect these Planar PJ's in the same way.
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post #27 of 69
11/7/08 at 11:22am
Thread Starter 
Not much activity here. I guess the PJ is so good out of the box that little calibration is necessary!

For dark setting, I turn white enhance off and for bright setting, I turn it on.

I'm also trying sharpness on 'Sharp'. I think I like it.
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post #28 of 69
11/7/08 at 4:50pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by dysfunction26 View Post

It could be the firmware on the player. I have an HD-A20 and I display up to 1080p and it works perfectly. The Samsung 1500 Blu-ray player is another story, it won't display 1080p at all.

The HD DVD players out "up to 1080p" that does not mean that it is outputting 1080p. If the device (projector) does not accept the 1080p then the projector will automatically down resolution to 1080i or 720p. With that said did the planar show that it was receiving 1080p?
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post #29 of 69
11/9/08 at 2:09pm
I learned a trick from Darinp2 on setting Brightness on any DLP projector.

Basically you show any true black (black bars, black screen, whatever, just needs to be a reasonable area of the screen that's supposed to be full black), and go up close to the screen and see if there is dithering (moving white speckling).

Then knock Brightness down until the dithering stops and you have full black. This will be clear - one notch too high and it's dithering, knock it down one more and it completely stops.

For almost all modes and inputs on my 7130, this is at -14 Brightness. I haven't messed with other settings (yet), but this very clearly improves black levels.

Have done this with both HDMI (from DirecTV HR20) and Component (from XBox 360), in 720p, 480p, and 1080i.
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post #30 of 69
11/10/08 at 9:01am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Skypalace View Post

I learned a trick from Darinp2 on setting Brightness on any DLP projector.

Basically you show any true black (black bars, black screen, whatever, just needs to be a reasonable area of the screen that's supposed to be full black), and go up close to the screen and see if there is dithering (moving white speckling).

Then knock Brightness down until the dithering stops and you have full black. This will be clear - one notch too high and it's dithering, knock it down one more and it completely stops.

For almost all modes and inputs on my 7130, this is at -14 Brightness. I haven't messed with other settings (yet), but this very clearly improves black levels.

Have done this with both HDMI (from DirecTV HR20) and Component (from XBox 360), in 720p, 480p, and 1080i.

I used DVE and ended up with these settings on full power, HP screen:

Gamma 2.2
Brightness -2
Contrast 9
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