Official 2010 Sony ...HX701 Owners Calibration thread - Page 12

Delivery tommorow, updating when i receive the TV.

Can anyone comment about gaming on this TV? I would like to use my 360. I love the glossy screen.

Thank you.

Well, received the TV this morning at 10h25. 55HX701 replacing a 4 year old KF50WE620.

First impressions:
-----------------

Look - I love the design of this set. I heard some people say it was ugly but for me, i really can't see what's ugly !

Performance - Well, it's early but i like the default settings but i will try to tweak the settings a little bit. HD picture is really good but again, will comment again when the settings are updated. But for factory settings, i'm pleased....

Gaming - I game a lot. I tried my ps3 with it and quite frankly....i don't see any lag. I tried with the Rock Band 2 calibration and here are the results i got :

Scene Normal : Audio 24 ms, Video 56 ms
Scene Game : Audio 5 ms, Video 11 ms

Don't know if it's a good indication but i tried NHL10, Uncharted 2 , Singstar, Final Fantasy and Fifa World Cup and did not notice any problems. So, to conclude, i guess it differs from person to person but i game a lot and my games genres go from music games to shooters and so far so good. I don't have a problem with the TV. Will update when i have played more with other games.

Internet - I really like the features.....i guess it does the job well.....it's fun to watch clips on the TV even if the resolution is not the best. It's a plus...i like it.

Blu-Ray - Did not try one but i guess the picture is amazing, in fact, i don't even own one but maybe i will be tempted to go buy some to see what the TV can do !


Anyway, if you have questions or want to see pics or anything else, just ask. I'll do my best to answer.


Thank you !

Agreed. No ugly about it, IMO.


I found the defaults to be OK, but content varies so widely, I found myself constantly adjusting. The settings here

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...3#post18792223

work well for me for most content, with occasional tweaking here and there. I found that turning the Ambient Sensor off and a few other tweaks really made a difference:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...3#post18800033



I can recommend the Panasonic DMP-BD65. Here is a link to the thread:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1229362

and a link to the DMP at amazon at a great price:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...ef=oss_product

I got it for cheaper than that, due to some promotion. Don't know if it still applies.

BluRays look great (as expected), and it does an excellent job at upscaling. The Avatar DVD looks BluRay, as do many other titles I've tried.

I love this set.

Bob

OutGod

Thanks for the gaming review. Im not to sure what the numbers mean on your post.

"Scene Normal : Audio 24 ms, Video 56 ms"
"Scene Game : Audio 5 ms, Video 11 ms"

Are these good or bad? What should they be compared to.


You have a PS3 so viewing a bluray must be on your to do list.


Can you post some photos?

Thanks.

No problem.

I played more games tonight and in Uncharted 2, it makes a difference if you put it in game mode.....seems to be quicker to aim but the difference, to me, is not that big. For the majority of the games the lag won't be a problem. If you consider yourself a hardcore gamer and you notice the slightest lag, well, i guess you'll never be happy.....I played a lot of Uncharted 2 tonight and had no problem aiming....was not playing online. I did not play in Game mode. Motionflow and all was turned on.


For the Rock Band 2 Stats....i don't know...somebody told me to post the results using the RB2 disc....so here they are.....i gues it's not that bad even if it's not in game mode. Maybe some ''expert'' analysis would be helpful.

I'll take some pictures tommorow because i do not have my camera with me.


Yeah i know !! i will rent a blu-ray in the next few days to try that out !

Picked up one of these yesterday. Looks very nice and I want to say it's everything I was looking for. But, I can't seem to get around either too much input lag or too much motion blur. The Game Mode is just a little too blurry for me (plus the colors are dulled and... other things that get turned off make it almost not look HD) and the other scene modes have a touch too much input delay for responsive gaming.

I've tried turning some settings off in the non Game Mode's to mimic the performance but I can't really seem to get it quick enough. Anyone have any advice for this?

edit: I've been gaming on a Panasonic G10 Plasma so the difference in input delay is kinda shocking.

Maybe that's why i dont notice the lag. I always owned lcd's and never had any trouble.

Picked up the set (46") today and had it set up in 10 minutes. I watched some NY Mets baseball via Directv HD and it looked great. I tried the xbox 360 and played a round of MW2 in regular mode (not game mode) and I did NOT have any problems with input lag. So far so good. I am using the vivid mode and the sports look great.

The Glossy screen is great. Makes the colors look alot better than a matte screen.

I only had the set 4 hrs and will post an update.

Congrats on the purchase. Very pretty TV. Could you do me a favor just for my own personal inquisitiveness? Could you arrow around a menu inside a game for about 30 seconds or so on GAME mode and then switch back to General and tell me if you notice the delay at all? It's quite obvious on my set.

I tried some more gaming. The best settings I found were:

HDMI
Auto
Vivid
Color Temp: Neutral
Motionflow off

Turning motion flow off increased the speed that I could point my weapon. So I guess I did have a little lag but not to where I noticed.

I tried game mode and it looked ugly. I recommend my above settings. It looks good and it is responsive enough for me and I play first person shooters. I also used to game on a 42 Vizio 60 hz lcd and it seems the same.

I bought the KDL-46HX701 yesterday at Costco. To my surprise when I took the base out of the box it was already assembled. Should be I concerned about this. Could this be a return being passed off as new?? The reason I ask is because this was an exchange. I bought back the KDL-40EX401 to get the (bigger screen) KDL-46HX701. Previously when I had unpacked the 40EX401 not only did I have to assemble the base from scratch but it also had clear plastic around the frame of the TV which the 46HX701 didn't have when I took it out of the box.

I had a choice of theses 2 models at Costco:

KDL-46EX501 @ $1,049.99

or

KDL-46HX701 @ $1,099.99

I'm a noob concerning TV's so did I make the right choice or should I return the 701 in exchange for the 501 and does anyone think that the one I bought was a return?

Thanks for any help.

My 60EX700 had the base already assembled. It also had the protective film over it.

What about the rest of the package, did it look new? I trust COSTCO. My experience with them throughout the years has always been outstanding.

Yes the rest of things inside the box looked brand new and sealed in bags. But there was no protective film around the front of the frame of the TV itself. Which is strange because the on 40 inch which I exchanged had it.

I should also mention that the base itself had protective film and the last 4 screws to attach the TV were in a small sealed bag taped to the base.

I got mine last week. Mine was the same as yours. I only had to place a small plastic covering on the base of the stand. Than attach the 4 screws to the Base/TV. The TV itself was wrapped in white/padded type material. I think yours was not a return.

When I buy I always check the tape along the box to see if it was retaped or reclosed. When the initial tape is removed it usually leaves some trace where the tape had been.

How do you like the Tv? I love the PQ especially the gloss screen.

Mine had the small plastic covering already attached.
Did your TV have a protective film around the frame in front?


I'm the same way, I picked the newest box (without scrapes or dents) and I made sure that it wasn't retaped. If they they did retape they did a great job because I didn't notice any residue from previous tape. My GF even said I was nuts for going through this buying routine.

When I called Costco they were great. The supervisor I spoke with said that I could come in and they will open another box to see if they all came with the base already assembled.



I love the size and the extra features but the picture seriously needs to be adjusted. I haven't tried connecting to netflix because it if I return the set my account also goes with it and the next person that buys it will have access to it.

When I first turned the set on I did notice a lot of pixelation around the eyes of the people on TV (looked like they were wearing waffles on their eyes).

I tried these (55EX501) settings form another thread:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...7#post18254157

But it stills looks a little dark and not as sharp. I am waiting for someone to post their settings to compare and hopefully improve the picture.

[quote=Jay163;18857812]Mine had the small plastic covering already attached.
-->I just got mine from Costco 2days ago and my HX701's stand came same way as yours, the small covering already attached to the stand. (I just needed to attach 4 screws to put stand and panel together)

Did your TV have a protective film around the frame in front?
-->No. Just on the stand. I guess Sony didn't need to put a protective film around HX701 because it has a hard glass front panel instead of EX501's softer panel??

I'm the same way, I picked the newest box (without scrapes or dents) and I made sure that it wasn't retaped. If they they did retape they did a great job because I didn't notice any residue from previous tape. My GF even said I was nuts for going through this buying routine.
-->I did exactly what you did too, I made sure it wasn't an open box.

If you feel like you must try out EX501, don't return the HX701 yet and just buy EX501 to see which one you like. That way if you like HX better than EX you don't have to buy HX back after price goes back up to 1300 (after July 3).

-->So far I'm loving this TV, but If you find a good picture setting please post it.

My KDL-55HX701 came just as yours did. Stand assembled, no plastic around the bezel. Seems standard to me. Incidentally, my understanding is that the 701 is a Canadian model, but also one that Sony offered to those eligible for their 'Warranty Program'. I bought mine for a very good price from a local guy who got it under the warranty program, but it was obvious that it had not been used, in spite of the assembled stand and no protective plastic.

During setup, I had the option to choose a Canada location or USA. I am in the latter, which, of course, dictated my choice.

I have zero problems with this set and love it. After tweaking the calibration, the PQ is incredible.

I wouldn't worry about the set being previously used.

Bob

Thanks that's a relief. Glad to see that it's just not me that received it in this condition . But there's another problem that I just noticed today. In the sealed bag that all the paperwork, remote and batteries are in did not have a user's manual. I had mistaken the setup guide for the user's manual. That's strange that Sony would not include them.


I like the glass panel it sorta adds a layer of protection to the screen it kinda reminda me of my old Toshiba plasma. The only drawbacks are that it adds more weight to it (almost had a hernia) getting it out of the box by myself

The other drawback is it reflects light like crazy in a bright room. I have it in a dark room with just a small lamp and those special curtains that keep sunlight out.



Yup the sale ends today but I fell in love with this TV after using all the internet features (was enjoying music videos form the sony website). I just wanna make sure it's new and has no dead pixels (God forbid).

But there's another problem that I just noticed today. In the sealed bag that all the paperwork, remote and batteries are in did not have a user's manual. I had mistaken the setup guide for the user's manual. That's strange that Sony would not include them.>>>

Welcome to 2010...at least they give us a complete ON LINE manual. Useless, if you cannot get the TV to power ON.

Relax and enjoy your NEW TV!

Thanks Bob it looks like from everyone's input that they all come with the base assembled. Maybe that's the reason why the box was sooo much longer than the TV due to the base being all the way to the end of the box where it wouldn't touch the TV.

Now the question of the user's manual, did you receive one?

The PQ looks like it can be beautiful with the proper calibration. Can I ask if you can post your settings or pm me if you don't want to post them here.

Strange that they will include instructions on how to assemble the already assembled base but not the manual


I can't just yet. NOW I HAVE TO CHECK FOR DEAD PIXELS!!!

So far the TV is perfect. No dead pixels. Sports look great. I played Modern Warfare 2 on the 360 and I have no lag issues.

There was no protective film over my screen by the way.

Enjoy your set.

You can get a pdf version here, along with firmware and such:

http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/mod...L55HX701&LOC=3

Note that this is the U.S. site. There is another site for Canada, but the manuals should be the same.


My novice calibration. YMMV, but playing around with these settings will give you a feel for 'what does what':

Options\\Picture Adjustments

Picture Mode: Custom
Backlight: 4
Picture: 96
Brightness: 52
Color 54
Hue: 0
Color Temp: Warm2
Sharpness: 4
Noise Reduction: Off
MPEG Noise Reduction: Off
MotionFlow: Standard
Cinemotion: Off

Advanced Settings:
Black Correction: Off
Adv. Contrast Enhancer: Off
Gamma: +1
Auto Light Limiter: Off
Clear White: Off
Live Color: Off

Advanced Settings\\White Balance

R Gain: -17
G Gain: -3
B Gain: -15
R Bias: =6
G Bias: -1
B Bias: -18

In Menu\\Settings\\Preferences, Scene Select is set to: Auto

Edit: Forgot to mention an important setting: The Ambient Sensor is turned off and can be found at:

Menu/Settings/Picture and display

You may also be interested in turning off the illuminated Sony logo on the front bezel. You can do so in:

Menu\\Settings\\Preferences\\Front Panel Illumination


I find that the above settings work great for documentaries, news, nature shows, etc. When I have a movie or series on, I press Theater Mode and the Sharpness, Picture Mode, etc. are auto adjusted, keeping White balance and Advanced settings, resulting in (IMO) a more pleasing PQ for that venue.

I believe that the White Balance settings will change if you change the Color Temp (from Warm2 to Warm1 or off), so if you find a white balance combination you like, be sure to write them down before changing the Color Temp.

And now you know what I know (for what that's worth...).

Bob

Edit: I should mention that any settings not mentioned are at their default settings.

Same here no lag while playing RE5. And have not seen any dead pixels like the previous plasmas (Samsung and Pany) I retuned awhile back.


Great to hear that mine was not the only one. I like the glass on the screen to protect it from dust and is easier to clean that way. For people that have younger children this is a lifesaver because they don't have to worry about poking holes through the screen.


Thanks

Thanks I will check it out, they should be the same.


Yes I was looking for a way to do this. It is very distracting while watching a program. I was afraid I had to train my eyes to block it out.



Thanks Bob your settings have improved the PQ significantly. Like you suggested I will try the different CT settings to see which one I like. You've been a big help thanks again.

Thanks also to everyone for all their input and help.

Although I initially wasn't very happy with this TV because of the input lag I was experiencing in Final Fantasy 13, I am very happy I decided to keep it. I picked up a Samsung C650 to compare the two side by side. The Sony wins hands down. The Samsung has a lot of motion ghosting and I've yet to really see any on the Sony. Very crisp TV and very vibrant colors.

The only thing I initially liked about the Samsung was, by default, its a brighter display than the Sony, but I fixed that simply by selecting the Vivid mode display.

Very happy with this TV now. It seems the input lag can vary by game. Final Fantasy 13 is very noticeable, but I've yet to see it on Devil May Cry 4, Dead Space, Bayonetta, and only slightly in Folklore.

edit: I've considered placing some black electrical tape over the S and Y of the illuminated SONY logo because that seems very amusing to me.

Are most owners happy with this set? Costco will have $200 off starting July 15. Thinking seriously about getting it. I'm just not sure whether to go for led or if ccfl is good enough. I saw it today and it really looks nice.

Judy,

We love this set. Of course, I have the 60EX700, the one at COSTCO ends with "701".
They give you two extra years of warranty and if you purchase it with your COSTCO Amex card, it will extend the warranty an additional year. Nothing like COSTCO!

I'm just not sure whether to go for led or if ccfl is good enough>>>

I don't have any experience with the ccfl, however most people around here seem to prefer it over the LED. Whichever set you chose, I think you will really be delighted!

EDIT: Sorry, I didn't realize we were in the "HX" section. I saw it at COSTCO yesterday and for my application all I can say is I could not use it due to the amount of glare, night and day, in my living room. Other than the reflections from ambient light due to the glass screen, it should prove to be a very good TV.

Thanks for your reply. I do worry about the reflections some myself but it is so beautiful and I wonder if it might be a little more protection for the screen with the glass front. I really like the NX801 60" that they also have but it is a bit too expensive for me. I have been trying to do some research in order to get a TV I think I can be happy with for a long time. I am still using a large CRT so I guess most anything would be an upgrade. Thanks again for your input.