Official Sony HX929 Owner's thread (46HX929, 55HX929, 65HX929) No Price Talk - Page 447

Originally Posted by iatacs19

THE XBR HX929 will be sold until July 2012, that's when the new models for the XBR will be announced:

http://hdguru.com/ces-2012-post-show...-shrinks/7106/

"Promising change and announcing a string of goals, Sony's chief executive, Kazuo Hirai, detailed on Thursday a revival plan that included a shift away from the company's unprofitable television business and a plan to cut 10,000 jobs."

Mr. Hirai said he would concentrate on three businesses: mobile devices, including smartphones and tablets; cameras and camcorders; and games.

Originally Posted by bordo32

Of course the Ambient Sensor is "taken care". I also spent some time trying to adopt IMRIZZO settings. Actualy thanks to him, sveral setting areas still remains from IMRIZZO.
And it is not only pure brightness, it is more the actual (not dinamic) contrast ratio making picture sparkiling, poping. HX929 looks like liveless.
My XBR5 was selected from several units, side by side comparing to HX929 it is really looking better. Again, it is some manufaacturing deviation exist between same model one unit LCD performance vs. other unit. It also could explain all those bloomings and whites round spots people see on the screen. The native LCD contrast ratio too low, and bright LED shines through. Just an assumption.

Originally Posted by zoetmb

Either your settings are bad or your set is bad. My HX929 looks spectacular and I was so nervous about buying this set and having problems and/or disliking it for other reasons that I made the salesperson write on the receipt that if I wanted to return it, I could return it for cash. I usually have buyer's remorse. Not with this set. I really find it hard to believe that this set pops less than the XBR-5. An XBR-8? Maybe.

I've had the set for many months now and I'm not one who ever believed in "burning the set in", but something really strange happened this week. The set looks better than ever. I haven't changed any settings and there hasn't been a software update for a few weeks. I don't know if my cable company improved the signal or if the cable networks are improving theirs. All I know is that while everything looked great before, everything seems even sharper and with more accurate color now. I've been watching Knicks games and the skin tones on the players are simply unbelievable. And cable movies are looking great too. It's almost to the point where the set takes my breath away the way that visits to a showroom to see a calibrated Kuro used to.

In fact, considering that I got a great deal on this set when I bought it, much lower than the current price, I consider this set one of the best electronics purchases I've ever made.

Originally Posted by sd13

There has to be something physically wrong with his set. I owned an xbr4 which is the same panel as the xbr5 minus some network features and let me tell you: It doesnt even come close to the picture quality of the hx929. Although it has a stunning picture for its time, the xbr4 next to the 929 looks completely washed out and dull. The black level looks like navy blue on the xbr. Contrast level doesnt even come close. The smooth motion on the 929 is light years ahead of the stuttering motion artifacts and smearing that you notice on the old xbr4.

Originally Posted by IMRIZZO

When I did mt settings I used the Disney WOW disc, and did not access the internal service menu, because I wanted to acheive the best possible setting without going into those setting I had assistance from 2 calibrators (who keep insisting we do the internal settings also). But I wanted to create a PQ that can be done by the average owner to achieve the best PQ without Pro-calibrating. And because of that both calibrators requested I don't disclose their identity because they felt it didn't express "true PQ" but both agreed it was an excellent picture. KM of ISF did my XBR8 and in my opinion the picture is practially the same. A pro-cali would have produced a more subdued picture with less 'pop'.

Originally Posted by SteveWK

Could you expand on what can be changed from the service menu please? I have a D3 Pro, Chromapure, and an iScan Duo. I have spent a lot of time calibrating and learning with this setup; however, there is only so much the Duo can do interms of color gamut. In particular blue can not be adjusted to correct hue and saturation at 100% saturation. At 75% saturation blue is dead on. I would like to be able to adjust the color gamut to fit Rec 709 standards perfectly. I don't know if the service menu will allow this or not.

My 55HX929 looks great to me. The Duo does allow me to fine tune some of the color gamut but stock it is pretty good imho. I used the gain and offset controls to adjust the white point and didn't have to touch that with the Duo. The Duo did allow me to adjust the gamma to a nice flat line. The unmodified gamma would start to increase at about 30 IRE down to 10 IRE which lead to some perceived black crush. The Duo also lets me adjust luminance for each of primary and secondary colors.

I should also note that the HX929 has a linear response to saturation. For example if green is dialed in to meet Rec 709 at 75% saturation it is also very close at 50% and 25% saturation. I have seen other televisions that are all over the place.

Thanks,
Steve

Originally Posted by SteveWK


A gamma of 0 gives me a gamma of 2.24 which maybe too high for your tastes. And as I mentioned in my previous post the gamma tends to increase with lower IREs. I'll do some more measurements tonight and post the results. I think a gamma of 1 gives about a 2.18 but I'll have to check.

Steve

Originally Posted by SKYMTL

I have been over this thread quite a bit and I have a bit of a dilemma.

A local retailer is selling the 55" HX729 for $1399 while the 55" HX929 is going for $2499.

Is the HX929 really worth the $1100 more than the HX729?

Both are local dimming and from what I can tell, they both use the same chipset.

Thoughts?

Originally Posted by SteveWK

Too much weather activity tonight for me to make measurements. Earlier I drove out of town to avoid a tornadic cell and more storms are headed this way. I'll put together a report tomorrow after it gets dark.

Steve

Originally Posted by IMRIZZO

When I did mt settings I used the Disney WOW disc, and did not access the internal service menu, because I wanted to acheive the best possible setting without going into those setting I had assistance from 2 calibrators (who keep insisting we do the internal settings also). But I wanted to create a PQ that can be done by the average owner to achieve the best PQ without Pro-calibrating. And because of that both calibrators requested I don't disclose their identity because they felt it didn't express "true PQ" but both agreed it was an excellent picture. KM of ISF did my XBR8 and in my opinion the picture is practially the same. A pro-cali would have produced a more subdued picture with less 'pop'.

Originally Posted by thegladiator75

I don't mean to modify internal service menu settings! I'm speaking about, as already said by Metallica, using RGB full (PC level 0-255) or limited (Video level 16-235).

However, I double checked it is quite impossible you are using PC level because (even with your settings) you would have too washed out blacks. And it's not your case...

So, I can not really understand from what it can depends the fact I find your settings too dark and with a very perceived black crush!

Can I ask you a very simple thing? With a calibration disc, pattern used to set the brightness (pluge low): are you able to barely distinguish the black level 17? I think not.... and with a proper calibration it should be.
With your settings (on my set) levels 17, 18 and 19 are completely crushed into black and you can start to distinguish from level 20...

Honestly, could you tell me what you see with your set?

Originally Posted by Datacide

729 isn't full array. I really love full array, but that's a big chunk of change for the difference. The 729 is a mighty nice TV too, but for me it would be worth the $1100 for the full array...but I suppose it depends somewhat on your usage.

Originally Posted by IMRIZZO

I don't find any noticeable blk crush (only on extremely poor source material)

Originally Posted by SteveWK

Picture Mode Cinema 1
Picture Temperature Warm 2
Contrast (Picture) 85
Brightness (Blacks) 49
Color (Saturation) 50
Hue (Tint, Phase) 0
Sharpness (Detail) 45
Backlight 4 (to your preference)

Noise Reduction off
Dot Noise Recuction off
Reality Creation off
Smooth Graduation off
Motion Flow your liking
Cinemotion your liking

Black Corrector off
Adv. Contrast Enhancer off
Gamma 0
LED Dynamic Control Standard
Auto Light Limiter off
Clear White off

White Balance
Red Drive (Gain, High) -4
Green Drive (Gain, High) 0
Blue Drive (Gain, High) -7
Red Cutoff (Bias, Offset) 0
Green Cutoff (Bias, Offset) 0
Blue Cutoff (Bias, Offset) 0

Live Color off
Detail Enhancer off
Edge Enhancer off

The white balance is the most important part of this setup. These settings are for my TV and most likely will be slightly different on yours, but it should get you moving in the right direction.

The color setting is what I am using with the Duo. I can adjust each color independently so the color setting is mostly arbitrary for me. After the tornados pass Wichita (http://www.steveinwichita.com/Radar%...53.59%20PM.jpg), I'll take some measurements without the Duo in the loop and post them. I think the color should be a notch or two lower for your setup though.

A gamma of 0 gives me a gamma of 2.24 which maybe too high for your tastes. And as I mentioned in my previous post the gamma tends to increase with lower IREs. I'll do some more measurements tonight and post the results. I think a gamma of 1 gives about a 2.18 but I'll have to check.

Steve

Originally Posted by SKYMTL

I guess that makes sense. But is there anything else that really justifies the premium?

Basically, I am going from a dead LN55C650 to something else. I figured I'd get one of the Sonys since the new Panasonic plasmas aren't available in my neck of the woods yet.

Originally Posted by SKYMTL


I guess that makes sense. But is there anything else that really justifies the premium?

Basically, I am going from a dead LN55C650 to something else. I figured I'd get one of the Sonys since the new Panasonic plasmas aren't available in my neck of the woods yet.

Originally Posted by IMRIZZO

Personally I feel the 929 is a better display and the PQ is just a notch above the XBR8. I just wish they would've used the Tri-luminous LED'sthen the 929 would be unbeatable for PQ above any & all other displays.

Originally Posted by thegladiator75

I believe you but was just curious whether you was able to distinguish levels right after the 16 (reference black) to understand if it depends by the fact the european versions are different or, presumibly, your tastes are different from mine...

However, a calibrated tv is not "an opinion" and, regardless you prefer your set with your settings, it does not mean it offers a calibrated PQ...

In my personal opinion, being strange european and american version can not differ so much, your set is crushing the first black levels (17-19).
If not, please confirm, but after having checked it with a calibration disc that shows a pattern with all black levels (like AVS HD you can download here in this forum), not by your eyes with standard material...

Obvious, if you have time and want to...

Originally Posted by Brian-HD

I had the same result with setting, unable to see 17.

Originally Posted by thegladiator75

Do you have 929 (american set) or 920 (european set)?

Are you unable to see only 17 or also 18 and 19?

Originally Posted by zoetmb

Not so fast. I read a ton of reports from the January CES and there was no mention at all of any XBR sets being released in 2012. And although it wouldn't happen this fast, Sony's new CEO said that they won't be concentrating on the TV business at all. While he didn't say this directly, pundits are saying Sony might abandon the TV business completely. The New York Times reported,



Also, even if Sony did announce a new XBR in July, they wouldn't necessarily be in inventory until August or September. And the current XBR models will be sold until they run out of inventory, not when the new sets are announced. The one good thing about a 2012 version, if it's real, is that the cost will come down on the HX-929.

Mr. Hirai, the new C.E.O., has said that the company will focus on three businesses: mobile devices, including smartphones and tablets; cameras and camcorders; and games. But he says Sony will not retreat in TVs. “It’s at the center of every home,” he said last week. “It is part of Sony’s DNA”

Originally Posted by Brian-HD

US 929. I had it professional calibrated.

Originally Posted by thegladiator75

WOW!

Professional calibrated and you don't see the 17?!? But is it meant to be right to crush the first level right after reference black (16)?

In any case with Rizzo's settings, my set crush till 19 included!!

Originally Posted by iatacs19

SONY will not abandon TV at all:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/15/te...pagewanted=all

Originally Posted by smooth tha boss

the new xbr will be out around the end of summer just as the hx929 came out around that time last year

Originally Posted by IMRIZZO

the 929 came out in April/May 2011, I got mine in May. Not the end of the summer. The end of the summer was the projected release of the 65" models.