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Chad B's TV rankings - Page 12

post #331 of 506
9/11/10 at 11:36pm
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Quote:
Originally Posted by prerunnerv6 View Post

Thanks for the info, Chad B.

BTW, you wouldn't have happen for have seen a Samsung c590 have you? I was wondering if it advertised "black panel technology" was something real and would give lower black levels than the c550 or if it wasn't anything special.

Unfortunately, I have not seen a c590 yet. I bet it's referring to a filter for ambient light, which would be a very welcome thing.
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post #332 of 506
9/11/10 at 11:55pm
The new format is much nicer and easier to read. I would suggest adding a column that tells you if the display is PDP/LCD/LED.
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post #333 of 506
9/12/10 at 4:57am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chad B View Post

Unfortunately, I have not seen a c590 yet. I bet it's referring to a filter for ambient light, which would be a very welcome thing.

CNET said the same thing about the c590 as you said about the c550....too much ambient light washing out the blacks.

Samsung says: " Black Panel technology analyzes each scene then brings the blacks down to absolute black, so light doesn't escape and the contrast ratio is preserved."

So I really don't know what that means.
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post #334 of 506
9/12/10 at 5:32am
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Quote:
Originally Posted by prerunnerv6 View Post

CNET said the same thing about the c590 as you said about the c550....too much ambient light washing out the blacks.

Samsung says: " Black Panel technology analyzes each scene then brings the blacks down to absolute black, so light doesn't escape and the contrast ratio is preserved."

So I really don't know what that means.

To someone who hasn't seen this particular thing but has dealt with all kinds of similar marketing fluff, that sounds something like the dimmer in some plasmas that reduces the MLL when no picture content is present. Some LG plasmas do this. Makes little difference in normal viewing.
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post #335 of 506
9/12/10 at 6:33am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chad B View Post

Thanks buddy! It's a great feeling.
Chad B and Rose
Rose Ganya Billheimer

Congrats Chad. You will have a much more enjoyable time with your new addition than you would have had calibrating my new TV.
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post #336 of 506
9/12/10 at 6:47am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chad B View Post

See above post about the VT25. Should be added soon. Also, when I verify that the bugs are resolved, I'll write a follow up and edit it into my VT25 review.
The PK550 would be the least desirable of those 3 if you have a bright room.
If you will be sitting more than a foot or 2 away from center of the screen, I would eliminate the B8500.

And if you are in a room not overly bright, somewhat centered??
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post #337 of 506
9/12/10 at 9:35am
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sportsrx99 View Post



And if you are in a room not overly bright, somewhat centered??

"Not overly bright" sounds like good VT25 territory. It handles moderate light or dark equally well. Plus it comes in larger sizes than the others, if you want a big 65" image.
I don't know just how centered you mean; with the B8500 it's really a sweet spot only TV, at least in my opinion. At a typical distance, one 3 cushion couch with the center cushion directly in front would be OK... The center cushion will get the best image, and the other 2 cushions will get a slightly paler and pastier image, though not enough to bother the average Joe.
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post #338 of 506
9/12/10 at 11:01am
Quote:
Originally Posted by mr. Sinister View Post

the new format is much nicer and easier to read. I would suggest adding a column that tells you if the display is pdp/lcd/led.

+1
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post #339 of 506
9/12/10 at 11:43am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chad B View Post

"Not overly bright" sounds like good VT25 territory. It handles moderate light or dark equally well. Plus it comes in larger sizes than the others, if you want a big 65" image.
I don't know just how centered you mean; with the B8500 it's really a sweet spot only TV, at least in my opinion. At a typical distance, one 3 cushion couch with the center cushion directly in front would be OK... The center cushion will get the best image, and the other 2 cushions will get a slightly paler and pastier image, though not enough to bother the average Joe.

Thanks Chad....seems like the vt25 unless you go bang for the buck then the LG are a worthy consideration, unfortunately I can only fit 55-60".....65" won't fit.....congrats on the new addition....any idea when you might be coming to the NYC/ long island area?
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post #340 of 506
9/12/10 at 11:54am
How come the only Sony's reviewed are from a few years ago? Do you have any reports about the Sony line from the past two years? Most notably, the EX500 line?
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post #341 of 506
9/12/10 at 12:47pm
Looks like the PK550 is the best for the money in the plasma category. Too bad it has so many QC issues, at least that is what I have been reading. I was actually considering that unit at one point but became very discouraged when I read about all of the problems and returns. I was really hoping the 58c550 was one of the top dogs.
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post #342 of 506
9/12/10 at 2:38pm
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Quote:
Originally Posted by r1dude57 View Post

How come the only Sony's reviewed are from a few years ago? Do you have any reports about the Sony line from the past two years? Most notably, the EX500 line?

Just the way things go.
I have a Sony 40VE5 quick glance on the way, and possibly more soon.
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post #343 of 506
9/12/10 at 3:36pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by qwknuf6 View Post

I have both a 101 and 151 , the 101 is about to 2 clicks darker /blacker than the 101 . I have to turn my 101 brightness up to + 2 or +3 to be the same as the 151 ,side by side it very noticable ,both displays have been calibrated with isf modes , but made no diff in the black levels

Mark

So, if you lower your 151's brightness by say -2 or -3 clicks it will also compare to the 101's black level ?
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post #344 of 506
9/12/10 at 8:03pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chad B View Post

Thanks buddy! It's a great feeling.
Chad B and Rose
Rose Ganya Billheimer

Congratulations Chad! I know that hospital as my son was born there last year.
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post #345 of 506
9/13/10 at 1:14am
Chad, where would you put the lg pk 950 in your list?
i might swap my pana 50G20 for it, and want to be sure, it would be a good deal
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post #346 of 506
9/13/10 at 9:57am
Quote:
Originally Posted by pcarel View Post

So, if you lower your 151's brightness by say -2 or -3 clicks it will also compare to the 101's black level ?

That will "crush" blacks. The brightness control maps some input value to MLL, the lower the setting the more shades of gray that will be mapped to "black". Assuming a both displays are properly calibrated the one that has a lower MLL (all other things being equal) will be darker in an absolute sense.
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post #347 of 506
9/13/10 at 12:30pm
I really don't want to buy a PK550 due to the QC issues and the reflective screen but I do like the color rating vs the C550. Is it possible to adust the colors to achive a better picture? There is something wrong with every set I look at in my price range.

PK550=QC problems and reflective screen issues.
C550=buzzing
G25=rising and floating blacks
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post #348 of 506
9/13/10 at 12:58pm
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jtl46 View Post

I really don't want to buy a PK550 due to the QC issues and the reflective screen but I do like the color rating vs the C550. Is it possible to adust the colors to achive a better picture? There is something wrong with every set I look at in my price range.

PK550=QC problems and reflective screen issues.
C550=buzzing
G25=rising and floating blacks

Somewhat. I ended up turning the color way down from the accurate position. Other alternatives would be to turn the skin tone adjustment towards green, or a combination of the above two.
That works pretty well. The biggest problem is that it will become more variable from one channel or source to another. Also, it implies that Samsung is doing some on the fly color processing, which goes against my HDTV religion.
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post #349 of 506
9/13/10 at 1:01pm
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Quote:
Originally Posted by skank View Post

Chad, where would you put the lg pk 950 in your list?
i might swap my pana 50G20 for it, and want to be sure, it would be a good deal

I wish I could give you an answer, but I haven't done a PK950 yet. Any PK950 owners want to get their sets calibrated by me?
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post #350 of 506
9/13/10 at 1:03pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr. Sinister View Post

The new format is much nicer and easier to read. I would suggest adding a column that tells you if the display is PDP/LCD/LED.

I like that idea! I will do that in the next update.
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post #351 of 506
9/13/10 at 1:05pm
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Quote:
Originally Posted by EldoradoSan View Post

Congratulations Chad! I know that hospital as my son was born there last year.

Wow! Another AV enthusiast from Piqua!
I love my RGB.
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post #352 of 506
9/13/10 at 1:10pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chad B View Post

Somewhat. I ended up turning the color way down from the accurate position. Other alternatives would be to turn the skin tone adjustment towards green, or a combination of the above two.
That works pretty well. The biggest problem is that it will become more variable from one channel or source to another. Also, it implies that Samsung is doing some on the fly color processing, which goes against my HDTV religion.

Thanks, I really don't want to get into adjusting for each source let alone each channel. Seems like LG problems are very obvious from day one so maybe I can play the return game with Amazon if I have a pixel or glue behind the glass problem. Are the color differences as significant as your ratings suggest?
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post #353 of 506
9/13/10 at 1:22pm
Thread Starter 
Well, it is my subjective opinion... I can say that each time I calibrate one for a customer, they are very happy with the color. One mentioned he liked the hot color look any way, so I left it closer to where the measurements suggested and he was in videophile heaven.
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post #354 of 506
9/13/10 at 1:36pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by jtl46 View Post

Thanks, I really don't want to get into adjusting for each source let alone each channel. Seems like LG problems are very obvious from day one so maybe I can play the return game with Amazon if I have a pixel or glue behind the glass problem. Are the color differences as significant as your ratings suggest?

I have the 63c550. Chad B is right about the strong colors. But the adjustment is per source, not per channel. The colors aren't shifting from station to station. If it was, I would have returned the tv.

I have 3 sources: OTA, satellite, blu-ray/dvd. If you don't like the hot colors, lower the "Color" setting per source. It's not difficult to correct and doesn't change until you change it again. As Chad mentioned, some will actually like the hot colors. I preferred mine dialed back.
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post #355 of 506
9/13/10 at 6:21pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chad B View Post

Wow! Another AV enthusiast from Piqua!
I love my RGB.

Technically from Cincinnati. But I do live here now. enjoy her while you can. Mines a hellion now.
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post #356 of 506
9/14/10 at 7:05am
Quote:
Originally Posted by prerunnerv6 View Post

I have the 63c550. Chad B is right about the strong colors. But the adjustment is per source, not per channel. The colors aren't shifting from station to station. If it was, I would have returned the tv.

I have 3 sources: OTA, satellite, blu-ray/dvd. If you don't like the hot colors, lower the "Color" setting per source. It's not difficult to correct and doesn't change until you change it again. As Chad mentioned, some will actually like the hot colors. I preferred mine dialed back.

Thanks, good to know it is by source. When I looked at the 54G20 and the 58C550 at Sears I thought the Panny looked "brighter" but they were at opposite ends of the room so it was not easy to compare them. Could you share your settings with me, maybe I can adjust them at the store and see how it looks.
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post #357 of 506
9/14/10 at 8:21am
Quote:
Originally Posted by jtl46 View Post

Thanks, good to know it is by source. When I looked at the 54G20 and the 58C550 at Sears I thought the Panny looked "brighter" but they were at opposite ends of the room so it was not easy to compare them. Could you share your settings with me, maybe I can adjust them at the store and see how it looks.

Unfortunately, home setting will be useless in the store. The picture will look too dark. If you are testing brightness in the store, the only thing you can do is set it to Dyanamic mode and hit reset (just in case someone has been messing around with it). This will give you the brightest picture I believe you can get. Cell light, contrast, etc will be maxed. This is basically "torch mode".
Keep in this is FAR brighter than you will probably need in your home.

Now if you have alot of ambient light in your room, I will say that the c550 anti-glare is OK, not great. But it's not an issue in my environment.
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post #358 of 506
9/18/10 at 12:53pm
Chad do you have any thoughts on the shotout they had on 9-11
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post #359 of 506
9/18/10 at 2:57pm
Thread Starter 
I've only watched about 20 or 30 min of it so far... Some of what I was watching was pretty boring, but that's because they were explaining basic calibration techniques. I did find it interesting about their dilemma with the LG LED LCD looking yellowish when the meters said it was D65. I've had similar experiences occasionally with other LCD sets.
I got to talk to Joe Kane in person a while back, and he said there was a focal point where the meter should be moved away from the screen of an LCD panel before it took accurate white balance measurements. In other words, the meter might be lying to you when it's positioned physically close to the screen, but if you move it several feet back things can come together. I have experimented with that, and can't say I really saw a significant change. But maybe it is more apparent with some LCDs than others.
Since I didn't see all of the shootout, I don't know how close they positioned the meter. Anyone know if they positioned the meter close or far away to the LG?
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post #360 of 506
9/25/10 at 2:30am
Hey Chad B, have you got a chance to look at the Samsung UN40C5000 40-Inch? http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-UN40C5.../dp/B0036WT48S
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