Sony KDF-55/60XS955 owners thread - Page 2

Yea I like the idea of an XS only thread. I get too confused in that huge other thread being new to this. I've had my 55XS955 since early November and have made zero adjustments so I'm looking to see what I can modify to make this great picture even better. I have an avia disc, should I go through it for every input (like adjust settings for the hr10-250, again for the dvd input, again for the xbox input, etc?).

Can someone take the time to post in here some snippets from the long GWIV thread that apply only to the XS, like getting into the service menu and best settings for those options that are only on the XS?

I have an XS and I do feel like I'm better than you losers with a WF.

XS rules!

I have owned a 60XS955 for a couple weeks now. I'm using the factory default settings for "standard" picture quality. I tried using the Video Essentials disc to calibrate this set, but that DVD seems to be targeted at CRT screens.

What are you guys using for your picture settings?

The live color circuit is great for reducing the red push. Using Avia and the color decoder check you can lower the red push but raise the blue and green to match by raising the live color setting. I have mine set to high which levels all three colors. Its what you dont notice (like overblown reds) but retain overall color. Its great.

Ben, can you list your current picture settings? I don't have Avia and wasn't happy with using Video Essentials on this new XS set (although VE did work great on my old CRT).

On, Off, Off, Medium (but that's just my preference - no calibration).

I asked about GC on (uh hum, that other thread) and received some good feedback.

Wow...that's helpful. Thanks for your "input."

Ass...

Jason

Its all in the eye of the beholder I started out looking at a 55in and switched for the simple reason I wanted a bigger TV and the Sony manual which is posted on their web site recommend the minimium viewing distance at 7.8ft
Yes that what I said that surprised me given the old adage so many feet per size of the screen.
I view the tv at a distance 7ft and 9ft and I do not have a problem.
It is a great set I am more and pleased with it to date.
I was a Toshiba customer for 40 years and this is my first Sony and to date it is great and I have many positive comments about the set,but the most important thing is I enjoy it.
Side issue even my wife noticed the difference from my Toshiba 57 in HDTV to the Sony.

It was time that somebody started a thread for the XS because it is different that the other Sony Products

Contrast 46
Brightness 30
Color 26
Hue 0
Sharpness 5

Using Avia the correct color was actually around 30 but due to red push I lowered it to 26 and used live color to compensate.

I have the 60XS955 and have a quick question, I want to be running 720P through HDMI correct (Panasonic DVD-S97S)? This is the TV's native resolution?

Edit: I have done some testing and it appears there is quite a drastic difference between 720P and 1080I, 1080I looks better.

Fiz, the native resolution is actually 788 lines, IIRC. I don't know why they didn't just make it 720. Some have reported that it's better to let the TV scale the picture instead of the DVD player. Sending native 480i to the TV may provide the best picture (it does with my older DVD player).

Ok, I have calibrated both the Pro and Standard user settings (brightness, picture, color, livecolor) as best I could using THX optimizer. Hue seemed to be perfect already (using blue filter from VE disc).

Why is Pro so much more blurry than Standard? I can't seem to compensate for it by adjusting the sharpness. I really dislike Pro because of the softness of the picture, but I would like to use it because of it's black corrector and gamma corrector options. If only I could make it as "clear" as Standard.

It's because Sony chose to pick a midpoint between the NTSC and PAL formats. As to the 720 line resolution, check out the first post in the thread below and read about how most TVs that are suppose to be "720 native" are still scaling when they receive a 720p signal.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...hreadid=477740

Next is my post on that thread asking specifically about the Sony's "non-standard" resolution, which is immediately followed by Bob Pariseau's response:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...15#post4820815

Michael

I just got my 55XS955 delivered on Thursday. I did not have any HD material other than DVDs. First off, this TV is AWESOME. Retail stores do no justice for how good this TV really is. Below are my few findings thus far.

1. I calibrated the set witht he Avia disc. This was simple, but still needed a little tweaking watching on different signals.

2. DVDs look great. I have an older Toshiba progressive scan DVD player. Alien, Van Helsing look great. I only use my copied DVDs, so there is a compression on them (I like keeing the originals pristine). Still, no issues viewing them on the set.

3. XBox (TW 2005) looked great until the wife yelled at me saying that the XBox was going to the bonus room. I have to work on that issue.

4. Black Levels. I see no issue with black crush, blacks looking grey. The blacks on Alien were very detailed and sharp. I watched some movie on HBO with Chris Rock and Bernie Mack. The black detail was incredible. It even separated the pin-striping on the suits.

5. SD material is very acceptable. I don't see too many issues on newer programming. On older shows with older technology cameras, there are artifacts. I noticed this when I turned the TV on this morning and saw (don't laugh) Little House on the Prairie (it was on the channel the tv was turned off to). You could see some fuzzies all around the people. All of the current SD pictures have no problem.

6. HD programming is incredible PERIOD. I have each of the HD channels on the favorites button. The details of those jungle scenes on DiscoveryHD is nuts. Ultimate Fighting Championship on INHD looked great. Arena footballl had no motion delays or skips in the scene. This was a concern from other posts that I have scene.

7. The speaker system is more than adequate. If you do not have a surround sound system, they are good enough until you can get one. I do not have mine yet because it is going to take some working and design decisions. The system has to go through the Wife Test. So, I am stuck between in-wall speakers or finding something that is eye-candy to her. Not an easy task.

The only bad thing I can say about this set is there is no marketing that says to stop looking at other sets and just get the damn thing. All of the time I wasted going back and forth between other sets was a complete waste of my time. Anyone getting this set will have no regrets. I am sure this is the same on many sets, but for those people looking at getting feedback, I listed it here.

Have had my 55XS for 3 weeks now. I still am totally blown away by the crisp, bright picture with HD material. I upgraded from the Sony 40xbr HD tube TV. I was always a tube snob thinking nothing could beat the picture quality, but guess what, I was wrong! The extra picture adjustments are great. In particular the gamma corrector is a wonderful feature to further define contrast without increasing brightness.

And I like this separate XS thread. Drills down to a point where most all posts are relevant to my equipment. Excuse me, time to turn on this beast to watch some college BB in wondrous HD. Ain't life great!!

Cheers

I know I was searching around for a place to put my heavy Polk center speaker on my 60XS, and another thread pointed to this Omnimount stand that does the trick nicely, so maybe this will help someone else out with the same question.

I picked it up at Circuit City... price is a tad much for what you get, but construction is good and the speaker feels pretty secure up there. Here's a link:

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/OmniM...oductDetail.do

Here's a pic from the front....

Here's the Center Speaker mount from the back...

(eee... I need to dust! )

So nobody knows how to get into the service menu on these TV's to check to see how many hours on the Lamp? I found a thread how to get into the service menu but from there I'm lost and I don't want to fiddle with it when I'm not sure what I'm doing. So if anyone knows how to do this I would appreciate it.

Thank's

Mac attack
You are correct in your assessment. I do not believe that you mentioned there is a built in sub woofer and two hdmi connections.

However I looked at Toshiba and Panasonic DLP and there were good.I did not find the SD very good on either set and there was picture breakdown on the Toshiba with quick movement so there was something not quite right with the refresh rate.

When you make a large purchase such as a television that requires the consumer to make an informed decision based on all the facts especially when the set is $1500 to $2000 more in Canada



I chose the 60 in xs and have been pleased as punch. I have received many favourable coments about the set.

Pro mode by default has no enhancements whereas Standard mode does. Set the "detail enhancer" setting for Pro mode in the advanced menu to medium to closely match the sharpness in the Standard setting. The low setting doesnt do much and the high setting is only noticeable on a resolution chart.

I'm having a problem with the dark scenes on my 55XS. In the very dark scenes it is very hard to differentiate things with in the scene. For example in Cat Women during some of the dark scenes I could not tell where her outfit started and stoped, it was just all dark. I don't know what this is called or what is causing it. Does anyone have these issues?

Thanks

Good to see that "XS" has gone on it's own. This site is no different than the "XBR" site and i didn't read complaints about that. I have had my 60XS since Oct. and love it!!, i also have the 50WE and will be getting the 42WE next month. But i still want to know more about my XS, and not have to scan through the WE''s and WF's banter and hope that an XS owner speaks up.
i still will check out the GWIV site, but this site will be my first stop i hope for a long time.

my 60XS

It needs service menu adjustments to make pro look good.. It might be worth having a pro do the adjustments.. Ive heard umrs tweaks help the pro mode on the gw3s....Can these tweaks be made on these tvs?

Have to disagree there. I have no such issue and no need or purpose to go into SM. Lots of good advice here at AVS and tweaking has allowed for outstanding results on my 55xs. Pro mode especially provides adequate flexibility.

Icon, where did you get that stand?

I have to disagree also. Its not necessary with the XS series. With all the adjustable advanced settings in Pro mode theres no need to go into the service mode for excellent output except maybe setting grayscale.

Well i feel better hearing this.....I just ordered my 55xs today I do remember pro mode was washed out on my gw3.. Id rather not have anyone touch my tv either....But if im not happy with this xs its getting pro tweaks for sure.

Welcome to the the club When you get the set, be patient! Its taken awhile to read through the settings and then tweak/experiment based on inputs.

Meanwhile, the User Guide is on-line, and BB or CC have it (so you can go mess with their remote for practice). Also, if you haven't already done so, brush up on the device that will feed your baby (OTA, STB, specific cable provider or satellite company -aka your partner) elsewhere on AVS.