Official KDL..EX500/501 Thread - Page 2

how do i test for input lag and what am i looking for and ill see what i can do

To the various owners of the Sony 60XBR1 SXRD tv's: Regarding the Sony offer for replacement:

May i ask if there are deadlines?

For example, one person wrote that he thinks there are new offers coming out on March 1st. Well, as I've never contacted them before about this issue, and March 1st is around the corner about one week from now, wouldn't it make sense for me to not contact them till March 1st in order to see what the newest deals are? Or, alternatively, as the offers are good for at least 2 weeks, at that point (roughly 2 weeks from now, I'd be able to speak to them about the then current offers from March 1st onwards, right?)

Just thinking ahead. sometimes with these things, there are rigid rules. If i contact them tomorrow, February 22nd, and I'd fall in one "group" (i.e. the February guys' group), versus contacting them on March 1st, that may (or may not) put me in another "group" (i.e. the March 2010 guys' group), right?

Or am I incorrect in my thinking?

I've had my 55EX500 for close to a week now. So far, I'm very happy with the set. The blacks are great and the lighting is as far as I can tell, very uniform - no flashlighting that I can see. I'm also pretty happy with the color.

As far as issues go, I've noticed some delay/lip synch issues that I didn't have with my previous set (KDS XBR1). I've been able to compensate for this by adjusting the delay setting on my receiver so not that big of a deal. I'm not sure if this is the same as input lag. As I mentioned in another thread, I also see rainbow like patterns when light directly reflects off the screen that can be a little distracting (see attached pic). I haven't noticed this on either of the other 2 LCDs I have (Vizio & Toshiba) so it must be due to Sony's anti-glare screen (polarized??). I'm curious if the V series had this same type of screen or if this is a new panel being used in the EX line. The picture seems to be a little grainier than I was used to on the XBR1 and the sound quality, while not bad, isn't nearly as good as the old XBR1.

Overall, it seems to be an excellent TV and a good value especially for the 55EX501 at the price I've seen at Costco with 3 year warranty. I know the 500 is a ways from the top of Sony's lineup but based on other sets I've seen, I really don't feel like I'm missing out on too much.

Just bought a 46" EX500 series to replace my 32" Sony Bravia S3000 (720p) from 2007... really disappointed with the picture quality of the new EX series as I believe they are worse than my 3 year old panel. The flesh tones are entirely off, and no matter how much tweaking I do (even the white balance), I can't get it to look like my S3000. The blacks do look blacker than the S3000, but the screen is overall less bright and vivid than the S3000. I have my S3000 on backlight of 4, while on the EX500 I need at least 8 to get similar brightness, but that leads to more washed out colors. Lost is the "oily" feel I got from my S3000, which is bizarre since my S3000's screen is more matte than the EX500. On the EX500 there seems to be more noise and artifacts (grainier), maybe because it's 1080p and my old TV is 720p?

But most frustrating is the poor flesh tone reproduction on the EX500. Argh!

Anyone have some settings they would like to share?

Eieio - Check out the XBR1 thread over in the rear projection forum if you haven't already. There's quite a bit of information regarding the settlement process over there.

Hey Guinea - sorry you're not liking the flesh tones. I think they are spot on on my set, at least to my untrained eye. Better than my other 2 LCDs. I used the DVE HD Basics bluray to adjust my settings. This is what I ended up with:

Backlight 2
Picture 80
Brightness 54
Color 52
Hue G4
Color Temp Warm 1
Sharpness 5
NR off
MPEG NR off
Motion Flow Standard
Cinemotion Auto 1
Adv. Settings:
Adv. Contrast Enh. Off
Black Corrector Low
Gamma +2
Clear White Low
Live Color High
White Balance
Everything 0 except:
R Gain -5
R Bias -4
Ambient Sensor Off

Everyone's room and set are a little different, but hopefully these may help. I'm curious to see how other have adjusted their settings.

As far as I know they are not offering the 60EX500 as a replacement for the 60" XBR1 in the U.S. I wouldnt be jealous of us Canadians though as we have to pay $550 for the EX500 and $750 for the 60EX500. I wish I could have paid $225 for the 55EX500 but I also only worked 3 months last year so I might feel differently if I had more money.

It's much simpler than it sounds, see the thread here.
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1131464
Much appreciated.

Hello, My KDF-E50A10 is dispalying the first signs of the blue blob of death so I have started the exchange program and should have my KDL 55EX500 by the 29th of february. I had to pay $725 for my replacement set and am completely happy with sonys response to my issues. Wish I only had to pay $225. I just recieved HDTV calibration wizard not very happy with it but it will do for the moment. I will be ordering DVE: HD Basics as soon as possible.

As soon as I recieve my set I will answer any and all questions that I can. I am a big gamer and movie enthusiast. Fingers crossed that the set doesnt suck.

Thanks! Lowering the sharpness to 5 definitely reduced some of the artifacts and graininess, although I'm a little surprised I had to go that low. I adjusted the rest to your settings, but doesn't that look a little washed out on your panel? The brightness seemed too high, and the flesh tone too pale. The way I compensated for that was a higher backlight and lower brightness, but then that distorts the flesh tone even more. Really appreciated your taking the time to post your settings.

Thought I would post that using an Xbox 360 in Game Mode worked fine on my 55EX501. No noticeable lag while playing. I did not do a test as it seems to work fine and did not want to go to the trouble. Is there any lag, I do not know but playing an Xbox it works fine.

I work at Costco and I can say that with the Amex it adds a 4th year of warranty. The 3 year thing is a trial program Costco is running with Sony. It will be on select Sony models this year. Heads up Costco is getting the NX700 LED's and NX800 LED's.

Holy crap...can't wait to see the prices on those...My understanding is that Costco works on a 14% profit margin over cost. When will this happen?

Thanks for the info. I asked at the Costco in our area and they were not sure since it had a 3 year warranty. But they assumed it would have a 4th year but were not sure.

To all US SXRD xbr1 customers who are currenlty given the offer of a 46 inch free, or 55ex500. I just got off the phone with Sony, and was told a new offer of a 60 inch TV will be official between March 1- March 15th. The model or price wont be disclosed till after March 1st, and shipements after the 15th. I would advise anyone to wait till then and see what the offer is so you can be made whole regarding a 60 for a 60. I was able to cancel one of my replacement TV's, while the other was delivered last night. I havent got a chance to tinker with the settings of the ex500, but my initial thoughts are it doesnt compare to the xbr1 in motion blur and initial pop. The SD image qulaity is far worste as well. I know this probably belongs in the xbr1 thread, but considering my short blurb comparing the two sets it might be acceptable.

regards, Kevin

Saw the 55EX501 at Costco today and it looks pretty good. Hard to really get a feel for a TV in a wharehouse with whatever feed they are using but it wasn't bad. It has to look even better once its set up properly in a home.

I have a EX500 on order from Sony (the XBR1 deal) so I'm pretty happy that it is not a bad TV. LCD's have really come a long way from 5 years ago (back when I bought my SXRD).

Retails for $1699 at Costco. And yes, they offer a 3 year warranty.

I am very happy with mine. Picture is very sharp and blacks are great. It does make a big difference setting it up at home compared to the setup in the store. My picture is much better than the picture at Costco.

Good luck on yours.

thanks.....looking forward to recieving it.

Does costco offer financing like 3 years no interested like best buy? or something similar?

No, just the added warranty (3 years, 4 years with AMEX). Price is also very good through Costco. That's the trade-off.

14% If that! The 700's are already arriving at stores. The 800 in the next few weeks. They will all have the new 3 year warranty program. My store has the 60" 700 coming in in a few days at 28 Ben's.

Costco doesn't do financing at all--they don't offer credit nor do they accept any credit card other than American Express. They do accept cash, checks, and debit cards.

Getting the 2010 Sony Bravia KDL-55EX500 as an exchange for my WEGA 50 inch that had opticle issues for $775, I hope I'm not making a big mistake.

What mode was this in ?

Im doing the same thing but i had a Grand Wega kf-50we610 and i got quoted $925. I took the offer. But knowing the TV retails for $1899 i think i make a good deal. I know some of you got the TV cheaper but when i asked sony about this they said its due to the previous TV you had. So basically they put people in different categories.

I just hope it lasts!

My brother just picked up a 46" EX500 tonight they price matched hhgregg's price @ Best Buy...Pretty good deal.Anybody tried the settings above ? I was gonna email him some settings to try out.

Getting the 55EX500 as an exchange for mt 60XBR1 whose OB is starting to crap out for the second time...for a grand total of $225 + taxes. Not a bad deal, but I fear the EX500 is not the same PQ as the top-of-the-line XBR1 was when I got it in early '06. I may sell it on EBay and use the proceeds for an NX800....still deciding.

I recommend turning off the ambient sensor.

Anybody know if the EX500 outputs full 5.1 through its optical out? I know some Sony models from last year only output 2.0 through there.