The Official LG xxPK950 Owner's Discussion Thread - Page 5

We've been waiting for a firmware on our 50pk950 for Skype. I guess I'll wait until the next firmware update before buying the LG AN-VC100 Video Call Camera. This will probably be our most used app if it's fast and compatible with the magic remote. Typing characters with the regular remote is just too slow.

LG can you also update your firmware for USB/Bluetooth keyboard/mouse compatibility. Yahoo TV Widgets, and the other apps should have been compatible with the magic remote just like YouTube is and future proof it with USB/Bluetooth keyboard/mouse compatibility. Think about it LG ...the ability to chat with Skype and make video conference calls with any wireless keyboard/mouse. Yahoo, how about a TV widget for your IM. That'd be sweet. Oh, the things I want to do with this TV.

Hey guys, I am currently using an LG LE5300 55" LED, I have decided I want to go slightly bigger for my room and I have narrowed it down to either the

LG PK750 60"

OR

Samsung C6400 58" (same set as the C6500)

Can anyone lend comment on either of these sets, I have found the 55" LED to be pretty nice, but I can exchange for either of the above at same cost and get extra features plus the few extra "'s I think would be better for the room I view in.

I am just concerned as I see many comments saying the PK550 series puts out better PQ than the PK750 and 950 due to current firmware issues.

I need to make the swap quick and do not want to be bothered returning the second set, just too much of a hassle.

I hav a pk950 and must say that the picture looked better to me than the pk550.

Which firmware issues are you referring to? Is it the post-processing issue?

Ordered my 60PK950 last night. Should get here midweek next week.

Surprised no one has mentioned that the CNET review is up:

LG 50PK950
http://reviews.cnet.com/flat-panel-t...?tag=mncol;lst

IMO, CNET's bright lighting reviews have been highly suspect the last couple of reviews.

First David says the G20 and VT25 are equal under bright lighting, and both inferior to the Pioneer, when it is obvious to anyone that the VT preserves contrast much better and is equal to the Pioneer.

Now he says the PK950 is the equal of the Pioneer in this department and better than the VT25. When I saw the PK950 yesterday in Magnolia (set up right next to a Samsung C8000), it was obvious which display had the better ambient light filter. The LG was washed out like an old Panny and reflected light like a mirror. The Samsung's filter was jet black and dark areas remained dark under the lights. Even the B860 right above it (which is basically equal to the Pioneers and Panny VT series) looked a little bit washed out compared to the C8000.

PK950 washed out!?? I'm sorry but are you 100% sure it was PK950? At least BB have been mislabelling PK550 and PK750 showing as PK950.

To me samsung PNC8000, PNB860, Pioneers and PK950 are preserving contrast very much identical under bright lighting. All are very good for plasmas and all are better than G20. But G20 is better reducing reflections which is completely different thing.

btw, mr. Katzmaier has PK950, G25, VT25, PNC7000 and Pioneer PRO-111FD for direct comparison.

I second L7R. I compared a G25 and a PK950 side-by-side displaying the same video feed simultaneously. When you're at the store, you have to remember that they have different contrast and brightness settings and need to set the different AV modes to get a better comparison. For example set both the G25 to PK950 to Cinema and THX Cinema respectively then you'll get a better idea on black levels and picture quality.

If for example the G25 seems to have better shadow detail in Cinema mode, you also have to consider whether G25 may just have higher brightness settings (more shadow details). So I switched the PK950 to THX Bright Room and I finally got very similar settings on both TVs with black levels and shadow details now on par with each other. If you wanted to check relative brightness, G25 may seem brighter but if you set the PK950 to expert AV mode and set the Dynamic Contrast to high then again you'll be able to compare relative brightness again because a higher contrast setting gets you a brighter screen. Even with a low Dynamic Contrast ratio setting, I got better blacks on the PK950 versus the black levels from the PK950 THX Cinema AV mode. And everytime I toggle between different settings, I always adjust the contrast and brightness settings to get both TVs as close to each other.

I was wondering if you can do the same and see if you reproduce the same results I had. I chose the PK950 over the G25 because of the G25 flickering but other than that I think both are great TVs with amazing picture quality and black levels - had a very hard time choosing one over the other .

Anyone know how to get to the PK950 service menu? I tried holding down both menu buttons on tv and remote but only got a box HDMI3 on the top left so I assume I can enter a code like "0000" but that didn't work as well.

That means nothing. Demo mode in a store, and did you even try to fix the settings on the 3 TV's, AT ALL?

I'm curious to see if I can enable Bluetooth on the NA PK950 version. PK990 has bluetooth while the PK950 doesn't. Anyone know if it can be enabled on the PK950?

I flip flop everyday trying to decide whether to get a LG 60PK950 or Samsung PN58C8000 so maybe someone can answer some questions for me:

1. I will probably order online how well is the 950 packed so shipping damage is less of a concern?

2. Is the box easy to remove like the Samsungs I believe you pull pins or something and the box lifts off?

3. Is the stand already attached?

4. Do you find the Picture Wizard works well enough that after using it you are pretty much be satisfied with the picture without further tweeking?

5. What stands are you using with this tv?

6. Don't do gaming but is the temporary IR watching tv just a fact with this Plasma?

7. Does Netflex work smoothly and with a quality picture? Thanks!

Does anyone know the settings of the THX Cinema and THX Bright Room modes. I would very much like to know them becausen I like them both very much but I would like to be in the middle of them if you know what I mean

Picked one up Friday from BB. Thought it looked good in the store, looks great in my basement. So glad I purchased this set.

@ McCoady:
1. When BB delivered the TV to my house, I noticed that the box is not one piece, but rather two pieces-a bottom "pan" and a top piece that slides on, sorta like a gift box. It is surrounded by lots of styrofoam and appeared to be secure. I mean, they ship the thing packaged like that, so it should be ok via shipping, but I feel your pain.

2. Is the box easy to remove? I cut the three plastic shipping straps holding the top in place and the entire top slid right off. The pic I attached shows this. The top of the box is upside down because my brother in law and I just slide it right off and set it down. Some of the packaging is still surrounding the tv as you can see.

3. Yes.

4. Yes again. I'm not a videophile by any means, but I use the THX Cinema setting almost exclusively.

5. No stand, I have a Samus low profile wall mount.

6. Haven't watched tv, but do watch lots of content from my server (dlna = cool) which is tv format and I have not had a problem yet.

7. Netflix is awesome. Two button presses and you are looking at your instant cue. I used to stream via my PS3, and this sets netflix widget works just as well.

Thanks for the reply exhumis! I went to look at the 950 today but neither Best Buy or independent carries this model in my area so I would have to buy sight unseen. I was able to see a 50" Samsung 7000 and was somewhat impressed with the 3D so still don't know LG or Samsung.

How high a stand (with the 950) would you need in order to watch it sitting in a recliner and your line of sight would be approximately the center of the screen?

It was the second 950 I had seen in a Magnolia store and I did check to make sure it was a 950 and not a lower end model.

It doesn't matter what settings the store uses, since it has no effect on the properties of the ambient light filter. This TV was set up right next to a Samsung C8000 plasma, which was just underneath a B860 plasma from last year, all playing the same content.

In terms of preserving contrast and black levels under the store lighting, the C8000 was the best, followed by the B860 (which is about equal to the Kuros and Panasonic VT25), and then the PK950 trailed behind noticeably. I even turned the LG off and the screen was noticeably gray, not close to black like the other high end plasmas.

I agree the G25 has an inferior filter, and is about the same as what Samsung puts on the rest of their plasmas this year.

Playing around with the 50PK950, I found that the "Game" AV mode had deeper blacks. Since I couldn't see what settings was used for "Game" AV mode, I experimented with PK950's Dynamic Contrast under expert1/expert2 expert menu. If you set the Dynamic Contrast to "low" or "high", you'll find the blacks to be deeper.

My current settings for expert1 is:

Dynamic Contrast: low
Contrast: 80
Brightness: 55 (to get better shadow details)
Black level: low

A "high" Dynamic Contrast has even deeper blacks and star fields are even brighter better but it was just too bright for me for regular viewing.

This is exactly what the salesperson told me when I was comparing the VT20 to the pk950 and Sammy c8000.

Hope that helps .

Thanks for the input gotta decide now!

Well, my phosphor trailing have pretty much gone now...after the so called "break in" period.

I also hooked up my PC, and experienced NO input delay. My mouse pointer reacted just like it does on my monitor.

Image Retention has been reduced considerably. And when it does happen (which is not often), it does not take long for it to disappear.


PS
The CNET review had me baffled. I sure didn't get that "wand" remote. But I did get the wi-fi dongle with it.


PSS
About that "Well its not better than the Panasonic." comment above.
I disagree. Especially when looking at the price. LG is considerably lower in price. You get the exact same picture (LG is better IMO). And Panasonics no Image Retention does not validate the cost, which is the only thing the Pana has as an advantage against the LG.

Did you know, you just increased PK950 North American & European sales by few thousand percent?
That and Cnet review, this topic will grow fast.

...I just ordered mine!

@mccoady:
In the pic I attached, my "shelves" are floating. From the floor to the top of the shelf is 2' 1". It's another 1' 10" from the top of the shelf to the center of the TV. Roughly. So altogether around 3' 10" (yes I know, the two together = 3' 11", but it depends on how deep into the carpet one presses. If a person had their tv on the stand on a piece of furniture on the floor, it might sink in further)
While hooking up my TV it was sitting on the shelf with the stand attached and it was just about eye level for watching from a recliner. It might be an inch or two lower than eye level.

I bought a 50 pk950 a few months ago. I was settling a warranty claim and the store was out of G20s. I'm very happy with my decision. Picture is the best I've ever seen though I don't have a lot of experience with high end sets in proper lighting. The 24p motion is awesome and image retention is only noticeable when there is a fade to black.

There is a reviewer on the Crutchfield site that claims his 50pk950 will output a 3D signal. Can anybody test this?

I know the sales person at hhgreg said my 750 was 3d ready.

I've been having trouble finding a tv to buy and I had resigned myself to waiting until next year's models until I read the cnet review. I went to best buy and watched it for a bit, then a few days later I decided to buy it. I was a little worried about the edge enhancement bug but I figured that should be fixed at some point. I was also worried about the image retention and the line bleed that people were talking about but I thought it might still be ok. Then I went back to best buy and looked at it some more and saw the line bleed and decided I'm not going to be able to live with it. I guess I'll still be waiting until next year.

I read the same review and hopeful it was true but the pk950 doesn't have an "emitter" for the 3D glasses just like in the LG LX9500 so this means the LG shutter glasses will not work even if you buy a 3D blue-ray player. Hopefully they'll release a 3D blue-ray player with an external "emitter" that you can attach to the TV like the Wii remote sensor thingy. The only LG 3D Ready TVs are marked with "3D" on this page:

http://www.lg.com/us/tv-audio-video/...ions/index.jsp