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Finally, my first flat screen, have questions

post #1 of 13
3/6/12 at 5:14pm
Thread Starter 
After 11 years my Toshiba with a picture tube is going out, and my wife and i decided to replace before it goes out. We got lucky and found a 2011 Panasonic TCP50ST30 for dirt cheap still in the box. I have read these forums for a few years but never posted.

Since i'm new to plasmas what should i do and not do when setting up the Panny. Is it really necessary to run slides for 100 hrs? Any advice would be appreciated.


Update: The picture is fantastic straight out the box, settings from the factory were midway. Lack of brightness is not an issue, we have two sliding glass doors that let a lot of natural light into the room. The picture was sharp and not washed out. Looking for the right BlueRay to really give the system an evaluation. I have noticed some brightness flucuation, but not an issue at this time. Looking forward to fine tuning. Thanks everyone!!
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post #2 of 13
3/6/12 at 6:04pm
No, it's not necessary. Just use common sense and avoid static images such as logos and black bars on the sides for hours on end for the 1st 100 hours.
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post #3 of 13
3/7/12 at 6:33am
Yes run the slides.
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post #4 of 13
3/7/12 at 6:55am
There is no need to run the slides unless you're in a hurry to prep the panel for an upcoming ISF Calibration, but just watching full screen content will accomplish the same thing.

The slides do nothing to prevent IR or Burn In if that's what you're concerned about.
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post #5 of 13
3/7/12 at 7:00am
It isn't necessary to run the slides or otherwise "break-in" a plasma. I would probably use either standard or Cinema mode at the default settings for about a week or so, but that is about all the precaution I would take and even that isn't strictly necessary.
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post #6 of 13
3/7/12 at 7:24am
Quote:
Originally Posted by jass5150 View Post

It isn't necessary to run the slides or otherwise "break-in" a plasma. I would probably use either standard or Cinema mode at the default settings for about a week or so, but that is about all the precaution I would take and even that isn't strictly necessary.

Well if you're going to "break in" the TV you should use brighter screen settings as this will exercise the phosphors better. Running it at lower settings will just prolong the process. It's kinda like searing a rib eye steak - it's better to cook it hot and fast instead of low and slow
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post #7 of 13
3/7/12 at 7:26am
Thread Starter 
thanks everyone, you helped eased my concerns. Looks like movie night this Saturday, I should probably avoid watching a movie in letterbox at first? Though I probably wont have the panel professionally calibrated, I do plan on using the Spears and Munsil setup DVD.
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post #8 of 13
3/7/12 at 7:38am
Quote:
Originally Posted by madduck99 View Post

thanks everyone, you helped eased my concerns. Looks like movie night this Saturday, I should probably avoid watching a movie in letterbox at first?

Nah, it won't hurt to watch a letterbox movie the first day. My one friend started watching letterboxed movies the 2nd day he owned his 60ST30 and in my subsequent visits there is no evidence of IR or burn-in from the letterbox bars.

Quote:


Though I probably wont have the panel professionally calibrated, I do plan on using the Spears and Munsil setup DVD.

Then i'd age the panel for up to a a few hundred hours (through normal full screen use) before doing your self-calibration. The panel does settle in for the first 100+ hours of use and the picture quality does improve during this initial period, but after that it's pretty baseline and is then ready for calibration.
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post #9 of 13
3/7/12 at 8:17am
Thread Starter 
Thanks Randy, would there be any problems using my PS3 for gaming, or should i put some hours on the panel first
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post #10 of 13
3/7/12 at 10:30am
I played games for several hours and then watched movies right after I put my ST30 on the wall and after 8 months I still have no IR so just enjoy your TV
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post #11 of 13
3/7/12 at 10:45am
Quote:
Originally Posted by RandyWalters View Post

Well if you're going to "break in" the TV you should use brighter screen settings as this will exercise the phosphors better. Running it at lower settings will just prolong the process. It's kinda like searing a rib eye steak - it's better to cook it hot and fast instead of low and slow

This is true, but considering the paranoia of some new plasma owners, I figured suggesting the lower settings would give them some comfort.

In my own experience, I just gave my wife her set and let her use it as she pleased from day one. At first she prefered torch mode and wouldn't let me calibrate it. Suffice it to say she did everything you aren't supposed to do to a new plasma. The result was that nothing happened and after 18 months the set is fine.

I did run the slides on my new set for reasons having nothing to do with breaking it in or calibration. A colleague swore that a 60" plasma panel go hot enough to fry an egg when new. Not quite, but it got much hotter than I thought it would. But it cooled down after the first 200 hours or so, which is quite normal.

Maybe I should have taped a steak to the panel...that would have been interesting.
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post #12 of 13
3/7/12 at 11:32am
Quote:
Originally Posted by RandyWalters View Post

It's kinda like searing a rib eye steak - it's better to cook it hot and fast instead of low and slow

Love this.

I just received a new panel and am watching TV/movies normally, but also throwing in the "break-in" slides during off hours. Figured might as well do both!

-JR
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post #13 of 13
3/7/12 at 6:20pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks for the information
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