Official Panasonic 2011 TC-PxxVT30 Series Thread Discussion Thread [No Price Talk] - Page 76

I use OTA as well.

Thanks a lot LoD80k, appreciate very much the details. Yes, it seems it is the luck of the draw when getting someone that knows a lot. It's good to know Monica knew her stuff. I feel confident with the s/n she provided you that my display is okay. As I posted above the long post from another forum that had page after page of the FB issue with many details, it is confirmed that August or later is part of the fix. I noticed absolutely zero fluctuation during the brief audition I did last night.

I did play around with my display last night. My wife, daughter and I were pretty amazed at the PQ. I did watch for a couple hours or so and played around with the settings in Custome mode as suggested for normal TV viewing, not following any by D-Nice or others, just going by eye and do believe I see what they mean by the color not being perfect at least when I was watching the movie "The Tourist or is it Tourist" with Johnnie Depp via Stars HD from Dish that I'm getting free for a while. I couldn't really tell on normal shows but makes sense the a movie like this in HD would reveal more. Also used another HD movie that I was switching back and forth. Overall the PQ is hard to complain about but I do hope as well that Panasonic comes out with a fix. Good it seems you were told by Monica that they are working on it and close. I absolutely believe this display should be considered "reference" quality once this fix is in place. I don't believe it should be called this now as reviewers have said even if an ISF calibration corrects it without the fix since it should take spending more money to fix an issue but only to make an already spot on display even better.

The strange thing is I decided to set my picture settings the same on the Custom mode as with THX. While watching Tourist, I toggled back and fourth. Even though both modes were set identical, the Custom mode had a slightly red push that could be seen in faces while the THX mode looked pretty darn spot on. With this, I'm not really understanding why folks are saying to use Custom for TV viewing and THX for blu-ray. Why not use THX for TV viewing as well??? My room can keep all, well I have blinds on all windows so most light is kept, so THX I'm thinking may be fine for normal TV viewing unless there is some reason folks feel differently. Maybe the contrast and brightness gets bumped up in Custom mode for normal TV viewing for most folks that have more light to contend with, not sure.

I didn't start the slides but now that I watched it a couple hours, I tend to agree with the couple posts saying it is fine not to do the slides as long as not watching any bars or symbols that stay on the display especially games. Still I plan to do the slides but could probably just be fine if making sure during the first 100 or so hours to not use bars etc. I've already gave my wife the riot act about how to stretch the picture to get rid of the bars. She's a good sport and didn't even turn the TV on all day until I got home.

Anyhow I see no FB issue, no green blobs, blacks look really good even during the first couple hours, no excessive noise or anything else initially that would raise alarm. I feel the one person that just doesn't like his plasma may just prefer LCD. I put my display in Gaming mode just for a brief time and wow, the colors and brightness of the picture is way high so makes me think he just doesn't like the film like look of a plasma which is fine, some probably prefer LCD better just because it has more of that pop with colors and brightness. This wears off quickly to me with a plasma looking so much better. Guess everyone is different and probably why so many different displays are made.

Keep us posted on the color fix. It will be awesome support if Panasonic comes through on this. I think I'll post on another forum where the main guy leading it has direct contacts with Panasonic and seems to find out about FW and other fixes before a lot of folks do. I'll post if I find out more.

Robert

I cut and pasted this out of the long post I added from another forum detailing the FB issue.

___________________________________
Note that August 2011 builds should already have the patch installed. If your set was built prior to August 2011, it is likely you have a set with fluctuating brightness. It has been reported that some sets manufactured as early as July (65VT30s) appear to have the patch already applied.
___________________________________

You should check your s/n and see if it fall after the LL one posted recently for this issue then you'll know. Still if you don't see it then probably you're fine.

Robert

I agree and with your display being only 3 weeks old why not exchange it unless you bought online then it gets much more difficult. I went with a 2 year warranty knowing this and that BB covers image retention that Panasonic clearly doesn't as stated in their warranty coverage. Do you have 30 days to exchange it, if so, then you should.

Robert

Thanks for the response!

No, I meant as I said, built-in TV Guide. I had a Sony 55HX820, now a 55HX929 and they both have Rovi's TV guide. It looks identical to that you would see from satellite or cable providers.

Anyone know where to easily find D-nice's or anyone else's PQ settings. I'm sure it is on one of the many pages of this thread but thought someone may know how to easily find it.

Also I'm wondering why are folks using Custom mode for normal TV viewing insteal of THX that is known to be very close to an ISF calibration. I put Custom and THX at the same exact setting and THX was easily better, spot on for a HD movies I was swithcing around and viewing via Dish HD. I'm thinking folks want the contrast and brightness higher on Custom mode while leaving THX alone for blu-ray and other movies.

Even thought the VT has a ton of adjustments, I think one thing that would have been great to add would be having the THX, Custom and other modes inidividually saved for "each" input. Oh well, there is alwasy something us demanding videophiles want.

Robert

Hey guys, I tried that too.. tv picture still ain't that great. I ended up going with Standard, cats off, and contrast up to 78, brightness 48, and color 45. all the rest of the settings the same. I think this looks best, but still picture lacks that oomph. Do you think I'm too close to the TV? I measured the distance, its about 12 feet. I just got Batman arkham city for Xbox, and was expecting an awesome picture and gaming experience, but it still lacks that luster. Whats going on? Panasonic is coming one day, I hope to replace a-board do you think that'll make a difference? I know having a 55" versus 42" is a big difference and pq may go down, but my 42" panasnoic which again is almost 8 years old is so much better! I bought this tv from pauls tv. I know probably not the best place, hopefully they can do something as I did get the extended warranty.
Mo

Hello Mo,

Very hard for us to say at this point without actually seeing your display with you to see. Here are my thoughts, sorry if I'm off base but just giving it a go on what might be going on:

1) Not sure if your other older display that you keep saying is a much better picture is a plasma or LCD or some other type of display. If a plasma, I would say more likely you have a problem display so best to have it swapped out if possible or have a Panasonic tech look at it.

2) If your other older display is another type such as LCD, it may indicate that you just prefer LCD since plasma will not have that bright, vivid pop to colors and PQ but most folks on this thread obviously prefer a plasma for being more lifelike. Everyone's tastes are different so one is not right over another on what they like.

3) You are not sitting to close at all 12' feet away. In fact, many would recommend a 65" at that distance. I'm about 10.5-11' right now but plan to have it wall mounted tomorrow with arms that will extend out 18" so that will bring my viewing pleasure even closer, probably doing for blu-ray critical watching or who knows, may leave closer all the time.

4) Go to your local BB with a Magnolia. Have them put the VT30 in THX mode and have them play a blu-ray movie. If you see similar PQ that you're describing as highly not liking then you don't like plasmas. If it provides that wow factor then you probably know for certain that you have a display issue that needs fixed or resolved.

I guess you can keep asking but you really need to do some leg work here. Making a trip to your local Magnolia and watching some movies like the ones you've seen on your display while in THX mode is very easy to do. Don't switch to Custom or Gaming or Vivid but stay on THX. The reason is that is where it looks best for movies without having it ISF calibrated. If you don't like the PQ at your Magnolia in THX while having them play some good blu-rays then you know that swapping your display out or having a service call may likely not make you happy while if you do like it a lot with the PQ providing that oomph or wow factor that you're seeking then you know you likely have a bad/problem display.

Hope this helps.

Robert

Robert,
Thanks for your help. Definately helpful information, I have an old 42" plasma by panasonic, and the PQ is amazing. I'll go to BB and try messing around with their settings, and blue ray and stuff and see what is up with mine. Maybe it is defective, I mean sometimes, rarely the PQ does look very good, but most of the time I'm disappointed
Thanks again
Mo

Okay, good to know your 8 year old display is a Panasonic plasma. I have a Panasonic 32" LCD. I really believe that any display needs a significant amount of hours to really start looking better but your situation may indicate a problem. The 55" will show much more than your 42" but still should look awesome and to me even better especially all the rave reviews on the VT30 and it is new compared to 8 years ago. With this said, I absolutely hated my Panasonic 32" LCD. It had whatever you call the blacks that look more grayish and hazy looking that it drove me nuts. It seemed no matter where I adjusted it the PQ didn't look much better even though I did settle on settings that looked best. I noticed the black issue especially when increasing contrast or brightness. Anyway I was just thinking to myself while watching a move how amazing the PQ looks for a LCD. The blacks didn't show what I was describing. It really looked good. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't want it as my reference display for black / gray level performance to watch blu-ray movies but it was tons better than when I first bought it. Anyway I really feel it has gotten a lot better just by burning in over many months / hours of use. I'm actually surprised lately how good it looks as a 3 year old LCD even with blu-ray movies I've played recently.

I also didn't like at all my 2000 Pioneer Elite CRT RPTV 53" when I purhcased it. Imagine the anxiety since it was $5k. I thought what the heck did I buy and what were the reviews raving about. The stock ticker symbols were all jagged no matter what I adjusted in the convergence along with faces having a slight green tint. This tint was driving me insane. Finally I have an ISF calibration done that made the colors spot on, no more color tint, and the symbols and lettering all looked great. I guess you can underestimate how much an ISF calibration can do to PQ.

I'll be interested in seeing how much my 55" VT30 will improve over months and hours of breaking-in. This is by far the best PQ I've seen for looking at it only a few hours. I'll know more this weekend. I'm not planning on being greatly disappointed all of a sudden. I plan on doing an ISF calibration but not rushing things. I will wait to see what Panasonic does with a so called color fix. I don't want an expensive ISF calibration to be wiped clear with a fix that is implemented.

I'm not saying your display is an aging problem. Your trip to Magnolia should shed some light. You'll know more than what I described above on my past displays with the wow / oomph you're wanting by a visit to Magnolia. This should show you a lot more what may be going on with your display. You shouldn't wait any longer to find this out so you can hopefully get the store to swap out or do something to make you happy.

Good luck!

Robert

How about starting with Vivid --- then toning that down .. might give you the contrast you are looking for.

I was looking too and it's not on this forum...

google: "d-nice 2011 panasonic settings" and follow the first link... it's on another website.

Thanks, I'll do that for sure.

So why are the D-nice's settings for the 55" VT30 have one set listed for EPROM not being updated and another set of settings if EPROM is updated? I checked my display yesterday after selecting the "wrench" symbol and then hitting "about". Not sure why it doesn't say FW xxxx. Anyway the first line did list something like 0207 or 8 - xxxx (can't remember if it was a 7 or 8 but remember it was the same as the last FW version available. I'm thinking the 0207/8 means this is the actual FW on my display. Is it? Kind of strange Panasonic doesn't make it a little clearer. I wonder if this means my EPROM has been updated for me to use these settings over the non-updated settings?

Here's is the link to the settings:

http://www.**************.com/showth...-Issues-Thread


Robert

Ok guys... I tweaked my HDTV settings again... The picture looks incredible!!

*I have a 55VT30 with a MJ panel.

Please give them a try.. These are tweaked for a Comcast Motorola cablebox using the Discovery Channel HD.. Please try them and let me know what you think.. These are not for use on a professionally calibrated set!

* HDTV Setting-1 Great for Discovery HD.

Use Custom picture mode and adjust the following;

Contrast: 87
Brightness: 56
Color: 55
Tint: +6
Sharpness: 25 or 75
Color temp: Normal
3:2 pulldown: Auto

*Under Pro:
Color space: Wide
W/B high G: -25
W/B low G: -11
Next page down;
Red hue: +24
Blue saturation: +10

Gamma: 2.0
Hdmi black level: Dark
Contour emphases: on

*Under Pro, Click on "Color detail" and adjust:
Yellow hue -50
Yellow saturation +30

BNR: On
MNR: On
Motion smoother: Off or Standard
Video NR: Strong
Panel brightness: Mid

---------------------------------------------------------

*HDTV Setting-2 Great for Football Games.

Use Standard picture mode and adjust the following;

Contrast: 87
Brightness: 30
Color: 50
Tint: +11
Sharpness: 25 or 75
Color temp: Cool 1
3:2 pulldown: Auto
Hdmi black level: Dark
BNR: On
MNR: On
Motion smoother: Weak
Video NR: Strong


*Everything must be adjusted exactly as posted.

*Updated on 11/04/2011

Awesome! Thanks, I'll do this tonight.

Appreciate the settings.

Robert

I just noticed the contrast set to 100. Is this really best? I've never heard of maxing out a setting especially contrast.

Give it a try first.

*Just make sure you atleast 100 hours on your set.

Thanks a bunch! Will give it a try, everyone says no contrast about 80! But whatever, if it blows up the tv, good riddens in my book.. but will try it.
Mo

Well I guess I just learned something new... Thanks!
I don't use OTA but that sounds like a good feature to have for those that do.

Uh yeah that didn't work my gosh almost melted my eyeballs

There's no way that 100 contrast and a cool color temperature is anywhere close to correct. The gamma is so far off it's not even funny, and white and black is being clipped and crushed to a massive degree.

Really? Try 87 Contrast and Black level to Dark instead of Light. That's what I'm using now.

Or just try out my color settings with your own contrast, brightness and color, etc.

Color space: Wide
W/B high G: -25
W/B low G: -11
Blue saturation: +10
Red hue: +24
Color detail adjustment:
Yellow hue -50
Yellow saturation +30

Just a post about my experience last night with my 55VT30 (delivered two weeks ago, August build date, serial # beginning w/MJ.)

I watched the movie RANGO last night on blu-ray and I just have to say it looked spectacular! I mean truly spectacular, some scenes were almost impossibly gorgeous with supreme detail, color and depth of field (not the 3D version).

I watched the first twenty or so minutes in THX mode and the picture looked great. Detailed, accurate and rich (in THX).

However, I then switched to and watched the rest of the movie in standard mode (C.A.T.S. Off) and it was then that the colors really popped and the brightness and contrast of that setting really helped this movie jump out of the VT30.

I was astonished by the quality of the image produced by VT30 helped by the quality of the source material as RANGO is easily one of the greatest looking blu-rays out there today. My girlfriend and I were transfixed and absolutely awed by the images in this movie and the highly intricate greatness of the VT30s picture quality.

While I wouldn't want watch every movie in standard mode, that mode did help this particular movie come alive on my VT30. I actually think movies like this one, CGI cartoon types and even some live action films can benefit from watching them in standard or even vivid mode. These particular types of movies aren't really like dramas or thrillers that need the mood, tension and accuracy of the THX mode to draw further into the moment/action. Movies like RANGO are made to impress with their colors, detailing and exsquisite lighting which is all done with computers to brilliant effect here.

In my opinion and its only my opinion, its sort of like buying a Ferrari in silver, hunter green or brown. While some may prefer either of those colors over the usual eye burning brighter hues, neither of them are that exciting so you'd probably order Rosso red or a bright, punchy yellow. It's a super car and as such it should knock your socks off as much visually as it does physically, emotionally and audibly.

Anyway, forgive my rambling. I just wanted to share a very positive experience with the VT30.

Some have commented on this set's lack of outright brightness when compared to LED/LCDs but watching in standard mode or vivid mode provided very bright images indeed. Any brighter and the set may have exploded although I was watching in my near completely dark living room. I just couldn't imagine wanting it any brighter than those settings provide but then again, thats just me.

It really is too bad that some of you have had such a poor experiences with this TV because it is capable of truly eye popping images and I haven't even had mine professionally calibrated (yet).

To all those out there having problems/issues with this TV, I don't know you but I can empathise with your disappointment, frustration and anger over the whole mess. So, as a fellow VT30 owner, I hope that one way or another you're all able to correct the problems and finally enjoy this wonderful HDTV.

Excellent review and I'm probably going to order a 65VT30 today! BTW Ferrari calls it Fly Yellow.

Great choice (65VT30) in my opinion, if I had the extra cash to spend I'd have gotten the 65". Either way, minus the issues many others seemed to have, these are awesome televisions. Best of luck with yours.

I may go with a 65VT30 after the new year, i want to see if prices drop another 3 or $400 on the 65".

Mo,

I am starting to think that you just prefer something other than a plasma. Reason, I've been watching last night and today movies HD off of Dish. Everything via THX looks awesome too me but I could definitely see how some may find the PQ boring. To me it is film like and always what I've liked but it won't compete with a LCD that is brighter and more vivid. You probably would rather see this with little care about the black / gray levels. Anyway your trip to Magnolia via THX and blu-ray movies should show you if this is true or not. Someone else on his is trying to decide between the VT30 and Sony 929 LED TV. The reviews on Amazon seem to rave about it with a brighter more vivid picture. I remember them even liking it better than top of the line plasmas and even said they picked over the VT30, the Samsung 8000 might be mentioned as well, just can't remember. To be fair, the reviews on the VT30 said they picked it over the Sony 929 so just goes to show you it is whatever you prefer best. Your store may be inclined to let you exchange knowing the Sony is more money so you could pay the price difference and be happy.

Just a thought -

Good luck!

Robert

mvision7m once it's calibrated you'll be blown away. After a visit from DNice, I've looked at mine convinced that the color nor the picture could be better.