IMPORTANT : For all SONY OWNERS : Sony Home mode cuts off the performance of the tv by limiting...

Beware Using HOME mode on Sony televisions ( at least those made after 2010 year ) will have what is called peak luminance ratio , meaning that home mode will limit the POWE consumption ( TURN ON AN ENERGY SAVINGS ) and cut off the power from 100 % ( shop mode ) to 70 % . If you want proper and full performance of your tv you should do Auto Set up Wizzard/Factory reset and then choose SHOP MODE and on the next steps make sure u DISABLE THE DEMO and E-pop futures ( cos they will display demos and reset ur settings ) . Using Home mode will not just limit the maximum amount of backlight it makes the whole image way off than what is supposed to be . Even if u Set up Home mode backlight to 10/10 maximum , switching to shop mode would give u better image even if u have backlight set to way lower option 4/10 and so . Basicly Home mode is like turning on the POWER savings option .

I am an owner of European KDL-55HX750 and i can confirm that there is a huge difference between Shop and Home mode . As i said its not just different settings for the Picture presets and so , Same picture settings give different results . I have set the tv as a computer monitor via HDMI , have FULL PIXEL 1:1 mapping , Full Color space/range 0-255 , and Scene selection set to Graphics ( all of you who want best performance and 1:1 mapping should make sure these option are set , for example all other scene selections make like " smears " around the text even with full pixel mapping " ) . Can anyone with US model confirm it ? Firmware should be the same for both versions only difference is that US model has MotionFlow on 240/480Hz instead of 200/400 for the EU model .


Turns out there is a Europe Union directive 642/2009 which regulates energy efficiency . Which basicly says all Tvs that have no DVI ( because tv with dvi , like samsung for example have HDMI1 set as DVI ( no audio ) is intended to work as a PC monitor ) do not fall in that category . Since ALL HDMI inputs on the Sony have audio output they r not DVI so this tv falls in the tv category and according to the Europe Union 642/2009

http://www.energystar.gov/ia/partners/prod_development/revisions/downloads/tv_vcr/Forced_Menu_Proposal_111607.pdf

http://ec.europa.eu/energy/efficiency/ecodesign/doc/regulations/guidelines_ecodesign_televisions_may_2011.pdf

"With this in mind, stakeholders suggested that use of a forced menu option may meet manufacturers’ need for a retail setting while meeting EPA’s need for products to be used by consumers in a lower power setting.Thus, EPA calls for the use of IEC 62087 and clarifies that products with a forced menu at start up (i.e., a menu where a user must select a mode in which the product will operate prior to being able to view anything on the TV) may test and qualify their products in a standard mode. To further consistent messaging to consumers about how to set their TVs for home use, EPA is calling on manufacturers to provide two choices: “home” or “retail” in the interface that appears when a consumer or retail customer first starts a TV that makes use of a forced menu option."

And

"Question: Are products with SDI and/or DVI and additional standardised video signal paths
included in the scope of the regulation considered to be a "television monitor"?
Answer: No, products which provide SDI and/or DVI connectors are not considered to be
"television monitors" and therefore not in the scope of the regulation, irrespective of any other
signal connectors which are also fitted to the product."

"Answer: Article 2, definitions, point 10 states that ‘forced menu’ means a set of television
settings pre-defined by the manufacturer, of which the user of the television must select a
particular setting upon initial start-up of the television.
If a television offers a choice of non-picture related settings, e.g. language or country, on
initial activation, then such settings are not regarded as ‘forced menu’, as these settings have
no influence on the energy consumption of the TV.
If the television does not provide a forced menu (for example containing “home” and “shop”
modes), then the picture settings of the television as delivered by the manufacturer shall be
used for power consumption measurements."

4. Brightest on-mode condition
Question: What is meant by "brightest on-mode condition provided by the television"?
Answer: The "brightest on-mode condition" is the product’s maximum luminance that can be
provided by the television when "manually" adjusting the relevant picture settings while
maintaining optimum picture contrast as tested using relevant grey-scale test patterns.
In case that a preset mode (for example, “shop” mode) is identified as the brightest on-mode
condition provided by the television, manufacturers shall ensure that no further upward
modification of the luminance through manual adjustment is possible by the user.
Further to the third indent of point 5(b) of Annex I, the sequence of steps for achieving a
stable condition providing the brightest on-mode condition applied for conformity assessment
has to be included in the technical documentation.
5. Peak luminance ratio
Question: What are examples of appropriate test patterns for establishing the peak luminance
ratio?
Answer: Annex II, 3(a) requires that “Measurements shall be made using a reliable, accurate
and reproducible measurement procedure”, where Annex II, 3(b) demands "a full (100 %)
white image, which is part of a ‘full screen test’ test pattern that does not exceed the average
picture level (APL) point where any power limiting occurs in the display luminance drive
system".
In order to deliver reliable, accurate, and reproducible measurements of peak luminance ratio,
manufacturers have to choose an appropriate test pattern that meets the applicable
requirements. The test pattern chosen should not introduce power limiting and should not
introduce any other display power drive irregularity that distorts a linear power to luminance
characteristic at the home mode.




ANYWAY BASICLY THE POINT OF USING THE HOME MODE IS ONLY IF YOU WANT TO SAVE ENERGY , BECAUSE IT DRASTICLY CUTS OFF THE REAL PERFORMANCE OF YOUR TV .
All samsungs work on 100 % because they escape this category of EU because as i said they have DVI ( samsung give u pixel mapping only on HDMI1/DVI and no audio on that HDMI because it is indeed a DVI connection ) . While SONY give u a global settings for FULL PIXEL 1:1 mapping which can give u FULL PIXEL on all 4 HDMI ports and also have HDMI Audio .
I Will provide couple of pics attachments soon so u can see the difference
Also i would like to ask the moderators to consider if this thread should be made sticky/imporant as it turns out that very little amount of people are aware of the information above in details .
Edited by tcruise7771 - 2/18/13 at 1:25am

Both pictures are shot with Sony NEX 5R digital camera 18/55 lens . Manual Exposure , Shutter Spead , Aperture - meaning both have the same settings on . Picture settings on the TV HX750 are the same only difference is First has the SHOP mode ON ( demo off ) and the other is Home Mode . Difference is clearly seen , even if i use lower backlight for the shop mode i can still see more detail , better contrast with the shop mode . If i use Shop mode and i turn on the Eco - >Power Saving settings -> High , it makes the image look like its in home mode

Shop Mode


Home Mode

I am not talking about the Eco settings , Ambient light settings or the Power/Energy savings in the Home-> Settings -> Eco settings . I am talking for choosing SHOP mode over HOME mode in the Forced Auto Start up/set up menu when u first turn on the tv , do factory resets or engage Auto Start up .

Again 642/2009 is an EUROPEAN Union Directive and it might not appear to have difference for SHOP and HOME mode for USA TV sets . Also TVs that have DVI ( HDMI with NO AUDIO ) do not fall in that directive ( for example Samsung ) . Sony and Sharp seem to fall in that directive and setting home mode affects the tv picture qualty severely !

Also "quote by Sony " " Sony also does not support measuring power consumption at prescribed luminance levels or picture settings. Sony believes that picture settings are performance settings and are not directly tied to luminance. (Sony, No. 8 at p. 2) "
U can find it here http://govpulse.us/entries/2012/01/19/2012-687/energy-conservation-program-test-procedure-for-television-sets#id701559

Under Method for testing Luminance . Clearly Sony doesnt like that silly european directive -basicly cuts off energy from 100 % to 70 % and they have to try to keep up as much of the qualty of the picture . Obviously its like running a 570 horse power ferrari , limited to 300 horse power , ofcourse it will not feel like a ferrari

p.s Panasonic , Sharp , Mitsubishi and others are also against this directive and their opinion is that measuring consumated power isnt a way to measure screen luminance or brightness .
Edited by tcruise7771 - 2/18/13 at 2:32pm

I have just used a electricity power metter to test my 55HX750 . Under shop mode it showed 112.2 Watts per hour use . It is the current use with having a static image displaid and the tv is connected to the pc with HDMI . I changed to shop mode without touching the pc or the image itself the power use changed instantly to 60.1 Watts . I have the backlight at 8/10 . After that i set the backlight to 10/10 and in shop mode it made the energy consumption at ~ 124 W/hour . I am using a high qualty power metter and the tv cable is directly connected to the powermetter itself (Voltcraft - Energy Check 3000 ) . Switching to Fully White / Green / Blue etc images doesnt affects the Wats use much there is like 10 W difference tops . I have set to have the Eco modes and ambient light sensors to OFF and set the advanced contrast enhancer and black corrector to off , also motion flow is off . I can post the settings i use in detail if anyone wants them .
Also when the tv is in standby in shop mode is 12Wats.
If you use the internal digital broadcaster u might use a bit more energy i guess but with all the tests i made even if i turn on Brightness to 100 i wasnt able to go above 135 W in shop mode , while home mode goes as much as 74 Wats per hour .

So if standby of the tv is 12 Wats and Home mode uses Total of 60 Wats when its powered . Lets consider that 60-12 = 48 W goes all for the Picture itself ( even thought i have funtions like wifi on ) . That would mean 48 Wats for the picture itself .
Shop mode has ~112 Wats use so - 12 W standby = 100 W for the picture itself .
48W vs 100 W ?

I have also just tested my mothers Samsung 46B7000 obviously it is 46" it has LED it was the first LED models of Samsung and i was very pleased with the picture qualty and contrast . It is set for a bright room backlight is at maximum but otherwise brightness , contrast are corresponding to the Sony . What i am getting in the Watt metter is 150W in use . If i turn on the eco settings for power savings on maximum the tv uses 87 Wats and the picture becomes dull and sux just like the Home mode on the Sony .

The logic is that one should choose home mode ONLY IF he intends to save energy , but still if u lower the backlight it will result in lower consumation , thought i dont think anyone who has $ for those tvs care if he will pay 2 or 5 $ in his montly electricity bill .
If anyone wants i could do more power consumption tests on both the Sony and Samsung , note that the Samsung is 2009 LED Model and i think its full array LED and it has DVI so even if it was a later model it would have not fallen in the 642/2009 Directive which i think is in power after 2011th year . And Sony is 2012 and is Edge lit , but still...
I can understand 150W for 46" go down to 130W for 55 " tv but anyone telling me a 60W for a tv that uses 12Wats per standby would give me an adequate image is a joke .

Just found .

http://www.digitaleurope.org/Portals/0/Documents/ENV/EcoDesign/DE%20Response%20Pre-CF%20Lot%205%20IM_20121005.pdf

The Minimum Requirements which call for an 80% improvement in energy efficiency compared to today are impossible to achieve. The rate of energy efficiency improvement has slowed in recent years and proposed improvement potential for LCD TVs are not feasible in the short to mid-term. The proposed Tier 1-3 introduction dates do not allow enough time for industry to make significant design changes. The proposals would prohibit the possibility to introduce new technologies onto the market.

Additionally it should be noted that this improvement has largely come about due to two reasons – (1) 2009/2010 the introduction of “Home” mode, typically an artificial improvement
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of 30% of the apparent efficiency (that is, a change of the test method rather than an improvement in real efficiency) for LCD and Plasma technologies and (2) 2010/2011 the introduction of LED backlights systems for LCD resulting in a further 20% improvement. Such step changes cannot be repeated in the future.


Seriously that 642/2009 is a joke . Clearly its an artificial ( no real energy savings improvement ) and just capping the power and limiting the overal picture qualty . No USA sites comment on that , seems this is really only for EUROPE , The Europe Union wants things that are not achievable with the current LED technologies . How u can cut off 80 % more power after capping the power output with 30 % , what cap it even more ? BTW In Europe if a TV doesnt meats certain criteria they BAN it from the market . So Sony , Sharp and all have to play ball and advertise to use home mode otherwise their tvs will be banned .