Official KDL..EX500/501 Thread - Page 154

you're connecting direct to the TV or through an AVR?

if direct to TV, have you tried unplugging and resetting you cable box?

I am connected from the cable to the box(DVR) and from the box to the TV via HDMI.

I will try to reset the box.

Thanks

You might try a different HDMI cable.

Thanks stitch,

But I have been using that cable for 3 years, and there was never a problem when it was connected to the XBR/2.

It is of course a possibility, but this morning I rest the box, and watch Showtime HD TV, and for 90 minutes, until I turned off the display, the issue did not occur.

I hope it is something a simple as the signal or the box, but I was hoping that someone out there could tell me for sure that It is NOT the EX500.

Appreciate your help!

Lenore

It's a little bit better - but far from perfect.

It's the signal, NOT the TV. Easy way to prove this is to try another source, Blueray, dvd, game system, etc and see if same issue occurs...it won't. What you describe is a common signal dropout problem for digital/HD cable subscribers. Reset the box, if problem still persists call the cable company to check the line for interference. Good luck.

I find the power saving 'low' mode useful. While the 'high' mode is much too dim and can't really be adjusted for a good picture, the low mode can be adjusted to essentially the same picture as no power saving, while still using about 15% less power (108 vs 128 watts). That seems like a winner to me.

Game settings:
Below settings are for a dark room. (The TV is in my bedroom so I can always control the light)
I bought the EX500 55 last April and love the TV. I have both Xbox 360 and PS3, both are connected via HDMI. Set Xbox 360 to RGB, standard (NOT expanded), 1080p.
Set PS3 to 1080/24p (however most games will automatically select 720p), in the display select HDMI range set to limited and YCBCR, super white select to ON or your whites will clip.
Set the EX500 to game mode, select original and reset to default. Set eco mode to off but ambient sensor to ON. Picture is never dark and excellent quality.


OK, let's examine my horrible settings one by one:
1 Xbox 360: thru HDMI set to 1080p- now you can set the Xbox 360 to 720p and let the TV do the up conversion or the Xbox 360 will do it for you, either way, the TV will end up at 1080p.
2 Xbox 360 RGB- I do not use the Xbox for movies so I leave it on RGB, yes you can use 709, but I couldn't tell any difference.
3 Xbox 360 set to standard- given this is a TV and not a PC you should use the standard settings, however if you can copy and paste any educated article suggesting the expanded setting gives better picture and shadow detail, I will be more than happy to change my opinion.
4 PS3 settings: I watch a lot of blue-ray movies on my PS3; the TV will use 1080/24p so I set it to ON. The TV will automatically switch to 720p anyway for most games and I don't have to go back to XMB and change it back to 1080/24p for my blue-rays.
5 HDMI set to YCBCR well same reason as above, I use it for my blue-rays. You could set it to RGB if you use the PS3 for gaming only.
6 HDMI range set to limited- same as for Xbox 360 standard. This is a TV and not a PC
7 Super white in XMB- you should select to ON or your whites will be clipped. You can easily test it with any test pattern disk.
8 EX500 settings: Yes you can use any settings you want however according to Sony you should use the game mode for gaming. I use the original setting, it gives you more softer picture than the standard settings, but both are OK.
9 Ambient sensor: Some people call it evil, homo etc. and that's OK each to his own. I use it all the time, never had a problem and love the picture quality. I do have Spears & Munsil disk, HD basic and AVS forum tests and setting the TV ambient sensor on passes all the test just fine so I really don't know what the issue is and people hate it so much, but again you can tweak it yourself as much as you like.
10 Eco settings: power savings off.

Lenore,

I am also on DirectTv and agree with BDUB, it's got to be the signal and NOT the tv. Also, while you're at it, go to DirectTv Menu and click on on the last item System Setup> HDTV> TV Resolutions> and select 1080i and 1080p (for certain movies offered).

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/906663

Scroll down to "To improve color quality". As for the ambient sensor I think it comes down to each individuals' viewing conditions. For me, I was playing in a dark room and the screen sensed that and for some strange reason made the picture even darker.

BDUB619 and hughh,

Thanks...that is what I was hoping for...that someone knew what the problem is and could diagnose it....I reset the box and watched normal HD TV for 2 hours and no problem. I watched a DVD via another HDMI input and an Oppo upconverter, and no problem.....but the funny thing is, when I reran the movie that cause me so many problems last night, the situation happened in the same spots....I am going to jump to a conclusion that since I recorded the movie 2 night ago with a possible "bad" signal, that same copy is saved on my DVR and when I replay the movie, I am replaying the bad signal.

Anyway, thanks for telling me what the trouble is....I will sleep better tonight.

Lenore

OK, Microsoft article “means well” and you will get more “vivid” picture however as I said before, if you want softer picture and not loose the shadow detail you should use the Xbox 360 standard settings. Just take the HD basic test patterns and run it thru Xbox 360 on standard and expanded and see for yourself.
Enough said, it’s your eyes and your TV and we all like different settings.

Tomorrow my Sony Bravia KDL40EX503U will arrive and I'm wondering if there's detailed calibration settings anywhere for it? My current TV has a wonderful thread for all types of media. I mostly need settings for Sky+ HD and PS3, both via HDMI.

Lenore,

<<I am going to jump to a conclusion that since I recorded the movie 2 night ago with a possible "bad" signal, that same copy is saved on my DVR and when I replay the movie, I am replaying the bad signal.>>>

Yes, you have correctly diagnosed the problem...the proverbial garbage in, garbage out.

Glad you are about to enjoy your tv shows in all their HD splendor and don't hesitate to ask questions. Lots of knowledgeable folks here, willing to help!

Obviously, you are located in the UK. Here is a review of your new tv by one of your most prestigious publications. Pay strict attention to the photos of their settings under Cinema and don't be shy to try them as a starting point:

Sony KDL40EX503/KDL40EX503U Review

http://www.hdtvtest.co.uk/news/sony-...0100603700.htm

Good luck and let us know how it turnes out.

Hugh

Hey everyone

I'm new to the whole forum/posting stuff, please forgive any faux pas.

Just bought a 60EX500 two days ago, and I was wondering if someone could tell me where I can see the panel type ?
I was wondering if it is indeed the UV2A Panel from Sharp. . .

I started off wanting to buy a nice LED, but was aloof to the whole input lag issue. Sifting through models, bringing some home, testing them (visually, no proper means, just playing games), everything was utterly appalling. By everything, I mean the LG 55LE5400, Samsung UN55C6300, which I hauled home and back to the store. Finally, thought that I should look into LCDs as LEDs were too expensive, to get a good one for gaming.

I chose this (EX500) over the Sharp LC-60E78UN (both same price), would you think it was a wise decision ?

The TV will be primarily used for gaming (Halo / Call of Duty / God of War / etc . . . ), some occasional dvd/blu-ray watching, rarely on HD cable.

All in all, do you think 1399 + tax is a fair deal for this tv ? (Im in Toronto, tax is 13%)

The offer I am getting from Best Buy is $2000/- all in which includes a 4 year warranty, taxes, and environmental fees.

Thanks for your input

Hello,
I really think that the EX500 is a special Model. Decent Feature Set combined with CCFL Backlighting.

Going forward, it seems all TV's in this pricerange will be using Edge Lit LED's which in my estimation is not a good thing,

As LCD Panels have improved in respect to Black Levels, the EX500 produces Black Levels comparable and sometimes bettering Edge Lit LED LCD HDTV's.

I truly am grateful that Sony refused to budge from this Model when I was offered a Replacement for my KDS-55A3000. The awesome thing is they replaced my A3000's Optical Block and I got an additional Lamp from Best Buy 12-30-10 so I now have 2 55 inch TV's for the price of a Floor Model from Best Buy.
Cheers,
AD

I briefly owned a 60EX500 and a sharp LC-60E88UN at the same time and compared them together using the same source in the same room. The 88UN has the UV2A panel and I couldn't tell them apart as far as black level. Other than that, colors on the Sony were much better than the Sharp. The speakers were better than the Sharp. I'm sure the EX500 will be much better than the 78UN as well.

Kevin

Sorry for being stupid, but I don't understand those graphs at all. I don't see any settings anywhere.

I'm also having a problem with my speaker system, the problem is the sockets are so tight, I can't actually push them in even half way, they're actually kinda stuck now as we speak. I'm using a creative inspire set, at the TV end there's a black, orange and green audio cables, I put the black in audio out no problem, that fits properly, but the orange and green cables don't fit even half way in the red and white sockets on the TV, strangely I get sound with them barely in. It's like they're not meant for the socket, but I get sound so I don't know.

Any help would be good, I'm bloody useless with TVs and audio.

Speaker manual: files2.europe.creative.com/manualdn/Manuals/TSD/8277/0x18A6A9B1/Inspire%20T7900%20Connectivity%20Multilingual.pdf

EDIT: One is in there so tight I can't get it out, I pulled so hard I actually took some skin off my fingers but it won't budge, why the hell are the sockets so tight?

EDIT: I got it out with pliers, but I really want this sorted as the default speakers are awful.

EDIT: Is there anyway to turn off that God awful beep every time you press a button?

I personally have never heard of a set of audio cables that were colored black, orange and green. Black can sometimes be used in "surround" audio but orange is always used for digital coaxial and green is one of three in a component video cable array with the other two being red and blue. Try using a traditional set of cables that are the standard red and white for audio.

Then again, if these cables were some sort of dedicated speaker setup that came with your creative package then I'm at a loss as to why they're not fitting into the "sockets". They should NOT require force to install them.

The third illustration in the article will give you the settings utilized by the author.

Look at the photos identified as Picture Menu and White Balance Menu.

Using your remote, press Options and select Picture Adjustments. Change values according to what the photos in the article show.

Good luck!

EDIT: Is there anyway to turn off that God awful beep every time you press a button?>>

With the remote control, press Home, select Settings, Keytone, OFF

This information and much more is covered in the iManual.

Be aware that the headphone jacks on all the LG models are terrible: barely usable. The sound is contaminated by static: run a search on any popular LG model and you will see people complaining about it. You need to understand that trends change, and headphones connected directly to the television are now considered as lame as a landline telephone. I personally disagree, like you I find headphone listening very convenient and useful, but we're a minority these days. In any case you'll find very few sets over 26" that include a headphone jack.

The Sony EX500 series is an astounding value and the last of a breed: if you want accurate clean color without the issues of edge-lit LED, its the best television you can buy right now. They'll be gone in a few months with no similar alternative, get one while you have the chance. The headphone thing is not worth compromising on another set with a worse picture: there are workarounds. You can get a plug adapter with volume control, you can buy a small remote headphone amplifier, or you can add a soundbar with its own remote-controlled headphone jack. The built-in speakers are weak on all these flat panels anyway, odds are you're going to add an accessory that can provide a headphone jack. If it connects via HDMI, you may be able to control it with the TV remote.

One problem, I don't have a cinema mode?

Does this tv - 55ex500 - offer an option to view signal strength like my 46e2000 for OTA HDTV?

I don't see anything available.....

Several ways of selecting Cinema Mode. Easiest way is by pressing the orange button labeled Theatre on the upper portion of your remote control.

For the other ways, I advice you play with the items in the menus and/or read your manual.

Thanks for the input

Made me feel good about buying the TV (I was having a serious case of anxiety, wondering if I got a good TV for the money)

Now time to enjoy my 60 inch LCD

Cheers

Edit: Don't ask why I did this to myself, but was surfing the Futureshop and Best Buy websites, and came across the 60EX703, for roughly the same price as my 60EX500 (about 100 more). Is it a better TV for gaming ? (Reminder 90% usage is through XBox 360 and PS3, high FPS games)

Thanks

Scene: General
Picture Mode: custom
Backlight: 4
Picture: 93
Brightness: 51
Color: 50
Hue: 0
Color Temp: neutral
Sharpness: 1
Noise Reduction: off
MPEG Noise Reduction: off
MotionFlow: standard
CineMotion: off
Ambient Sensor: off

Advanced Settings - all off, white balance defaults of 0.

I would like to point out that these are the best settings I've come across for gaming so far, I'm not even sure if they were meant for gaming. It may be a bit too bright for some people, but the image is clean.

Hello,
I have not read any Input Lag Results from the EX703, but know the EX500's IL is better than average and have had zero issues with COD Modern Warfare 2 Online. I would check out the Input Lag Thread and disregard the first Post as first off the European EX503 uses Bravia Engine 3 and Serial Mike and others have preformed tests showing excellent results. I would use the "Search This Thread" option and just input EX500.
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