Sharp LC-45 OFFICIAL OWNERS THREAD Part 2: FAQ/ Clayface issue... - Page 2

I received a call from Sharp technical support stating they have a fix for the clayface problem. They were going to have a field service provider contact me to install the firmware upgrade. I had already arranged to swap out my GD for a GX so declined. Hope my new GX will be problem free.

Clayface resolved for me. Swapped out the GD for the GX and clayface is a thing of the past. This makes it clear to me the issue is firmware and not the display. Since the GX uses the AVC box this also confirms Mr. Geekman's statement that the issue is not caused by AVC ciruitry.

I am very pleased with the picture quality now.

Well it is clear to me the issue can be resolved in firmware because otherwise Sharp would not send techs out to implement the solution, but I don't see how swapping a GD for GX, by itself, tells you anything about where the problem is.

Both GD and GX have virtually the same AVC circuitry. The GD packages this circuitry in about 1/2 inch thick section on the back of the display. The GX packages this circuitry in an external box. It is not true the GD does not have an AVC just because it doesn't come with a separate box. This is kind of tom-ae-to tom-ah-to type distinction, but it seems to be leading to some confusion when people different viewpoint discuss the clayface problem.

Personally I'd suspect it is the AVC, but there is probably some firmware on the AVC submodule and the display submodule, so technically it could be either at fault, but I do think it is something in the AVC as it relates to grayscale processing, something that would be a more natural fit for the AVC.

I wonder if anyone here has had experience with ~50pixel offset (to the right), on the LC-45GX6U. The position control doesn't seem to compensate for it as that seems to span ~10 pixels. The Whole screen is addressable when a source is zoomed, but any 1080i source is offset to the right. I don't have a source test pattern to tell if the image is squeezed or just shifted. Any similar experience, or knowledge of how to correct it? Thanks

I view lots of 1080i sources over HDMI and DVI and have never seen what you are describing. Are you sure it isn't "overscan" which is about 5% on all sides?

Try changing the "View Mode" to Dot by Dot.

Also I think there are picture position adjustments on both the remote and through the setup menus. The adjustments by remote are not persistent whereas the menu adjustment should be persistent.

If you are using DVI device, sometimes there is a ModeA/ModeB adjustment which changes the sync to be leading or falling edge. That might account for the 50 pixels you are seeing. I think I've seen this adjustment on Samsung upscaling DVD players.

I should have mentioned the 1080i source is the Dish 6000 which only has analog (component) out. I am currently using the dot by dot mode. The offset is not symmetrical. The picture goes all the way to the mullion on the right side, but has ~1 in column of black on the left.

Posterization of Faces Issue

Hi from a new member from Aus. A mostly happy LC-45G1X Owner

A while back (page 62 of last thread) CKelly33 wrote about posterization of faces.
"I asked earlier but didn't get a reply: the grainy quality I am seeing to all but the best HD feeds-is anybody else seeing this? I see it on most HD, SD and most DVD's especially about the face and in darker scenes. Does the mosquito noise, 3D noise reduction or any other setting have anything to do with this? Mine are both set to off but I'm not perceiving much difference at any setting with these... "

I have the same on my unit. I've performed all of the recommended tests and I don't think it doesn't appear to be Clayface. i.e grey gradion is good and images of peaple at 1280x1024 look great. However, quite often faces seem grainy and either too yellow or too red. Both on DVD and to a lesser extent on HD-TV. Also my unit is way over saturated in Red. I have to turn red saturation way down (-14). Does any one else have this issue? Is it related to the posteriation of faces? I'm interested in other owners' settings to get perfect skin tones.

Cheers

" I don't think it doesn't appear to be Clayface."
Sorry about the double negative. I'm pretty sure its not 'classic' Clayface.

Yeah, it's certainly not clayface by the definition given on this forum. Using AVIA, my greyscale is fairly well defined. I was starting to think it might be my DVD player (Sony DVP-NS575V via HDMI) since it's not exactly "High-end" but I have seen it with HD via D*TiVo using HDMI->DVI on occasion.

I've been asked to post a picture and I might try that soon but the graininess is much more apparent with motion. If you want to try to see for yourself the only DVD's I can come up with which had this issue off the top of my head were Ocean's Eleven (particularly bad) and either Darkness or White Noise (I can't remember for sure which it was). I did rent Boogeyman this weekend and didn't see any so it certainly doesn't appear with every viewing.

While its definitely related to the source, its not the only factor. Mine is worst on broadcast TV (or standard def re-broadcast on High-def channels), can be bad on some DVDs and just noticable on some High Def programs. Note that its easiest to catch on DVD as you can pause.

I can best describe it as a flaring of the bright parts of the face, generally like a solarization of the higher areas of the cheeks. They become highlighted, generally reddish or yellowish instead of skin colored, and more grainy. Its only on the faces. I've tried all sorts of adjustements using DVE and LOTR (1) as my guides. I wonder if its related to contrast or basically a poor color map vs intensity for red/yellow.

Thus I'd love to see some settings that others are using to get thier screens looking good. Here's my best shot using DVE:

User mode, DVD (LOTR)
Input 3 Component
OPC On
Backlight -10
Contrast 29
Brightness 0
Colour -2
Tint 0
Sharpness -5

Red Yellow Green Cyan Blue Magenta
Hue 1 3 0 2 1 0
Saturation -12 -5 2 0 -3 0
Value 7 1 3 -1 7 5
Colur Temp Middle
Sharpness Enhancement 0
Automatic Contrast On

All of the shipped Picture modes (Dynamic, Standard, Movie etc) look overly saturated to me.

I'm wondering how many other controls are available on the service menu? Does professional calibration require access to the service menu? Or are they working with these adjustments above?

Note that in Aus, our units are like the UK version, no HDMI or firewire, 1xDVI and 1xComponent, 3xUseless Scart! A bit of a rip...

I'm new to this thread, but have been following the Sharp LCD TV's for a while. I still don't understand what the difference is between the GD and the GX in the part numbers is, as well as the 4U and 6U. I assume the 4 and 6U have to do with speaker placement?

Secondly, had anyone heard of Sharp working on a 37" version of the 1080i resolution TV? The 45" is just too large for the space we have, let alone, the price.

"X" uses external AVC. So you plug all your devices into an external box, then run one 3-headed cable from external box to display (and also separate power cord). This design has the positive side-effect of allowing you to bypass the AVC box for the video portion and connect directly to the display to achieve 1920x1080p, otherwise through AVC maximum is 1920x1080i.

"D" unit, just take the external AVC box of "X" unit, squash it down to 1" and mold it into the back of the display.

4U is side speaker. 6U is bottom speaker.

Does anyone know the basic changes that will be in the new model coming out in a couple months? I'm getting ready to buy the 45-GX6U but am trying to decide if it's worth waiting for the new ones (especially now that clayface issue seems to be cleared up). I think I heard the new one won't be 1080p so I'm not sure if I'm really getting anything by waiting.

What type of connection can be used when directly connecting to the TV, without the AVC?

Aside from eliminating the AVC box so that you'll no longer be able to input 1080p directly into the panel of the LC-45GX6U, new 45" models will feature the TV Guide on Screen electronic program guide (EPG). Of course, if you use a cable or satellite set-top box for your service you'll get an EPG through that device, so the changes are not necessarily for the better, in my opinion.

DVI-D

Most nVidia, some ATI, Mac mini, Lumagen, iScan, have been confirmed to work direct to the panel, but not all equipment will generate the right timings.

Anyone have the firmware upgrade for the clay face yet? Did it solve the problem?

I am on the list with Sharp on the clay face issue as well I have not yet been contacted.

Can I use a DVDO HD+ DVI output to directly drive the DVI port on the Sharp GX6 at 1080P bypassing the AVC box? Will HDCP still work?

Thanks, BC

Question If I have absolutely no intention of using this device as a computer monitor is it a wise purchcase? The size is great, its upgradable, and outputs in 1080p, and my wife loves the picture. The price is steep but with the resolution it has it should handle anything well into the future. What do ya think?

All - I've got this puppy in my Austin, Texas Office/Apartment, and am not there often enough to justify HD cable - has anyone had any luck hooking up the AVC box to an indoor HD antenna? Which brand? Any general recommendations on an indoor HDTV antenna?
Best,
StephenE

Try the Zenith Silver Sensor ZHDTV1. It's $20 to $30 online.

i have had the sharp for about 8 months now. very nice. i have been able to hook up a pc for 1080p which is also nice. i have a old hdleeza that outputs 1080p that i have tried to use to bypass avc for better scaling with no luck it seems that on low def (480i/p) i get a line down the middle and bad color reproduction. i was looking at the dvdo iscan hd plus with sdi mod. i have a couple of questions on this. have people had trouble with dvdo, does it make much of an improvement over avc scaling, and does dvdo have any new scalers coming out soon that i should wait for? thanks

-rob

I bypass my AVC unit with the IScan HD+ and love it. Before I bought the unit, SD channels looked aweful on the GX unit. Before I had the Sharp unit, I had a Zenith EDTV. On the EDTV, SD resolution looked awesome. Upgrading to the Sharp, HDTV looked awesome but SD looked like crap compared to my EDTV unit. But, using the DVDO's IScan HD+ to bypass the AVC, SD looks very good. I would say that even if you used the DVDO feed into the AVC at either 1080i or 720p, you will still get a much better picture than having the AVC unit scale SD.

Now, using the DVDO with my DVD player and being fed into the panel at 1080p looks very close to HD quality.

As for new scaler from DVDO, I am sure there will a be a new one. As for when, I dont know but why wait, there will always be a better model.

I dont use the panel with a computer at all. I feed it 1080p with the DVDO unit and I love the picture quality. So, to answer your question, YES - it is a wise purchase.

- abbas

In the GD4U there is a RCA jack input for center speaker - the manual says it is for the display's speakers as center channel. However, it does not say whether it is a line level input that uses the display's built-in amplifier or is it a speaker level input from the receiver.

Can someone please clarify? Thanks.

Will I lose all of the calibration work done through the AVC by doing this?

I finally got my GX a few weeks ago and am looking to buy an HTPC to connect to it. I've read through all 70 or so pages of the thread and I think I have it figured out, but to recap:


1. The panel will take 1920x1080p at 60Hz (or is it 59.9?) if you plug the PC's DVI straight into the panel, but the AVC box needs to remain connected (which components need to remain connected? The audio or that other cable or both?).

2. It sounds like the Gefen DVI switchers have fewer issues than the HDMI switchers at this time. Which DVI switcher is the best to get?

3. There is some component required to tell the panel that the HTPC DVI signal is on even when it's off or something like that, what is this thing?

4. The nVidia 6xxx cards seem to be better for HTPC use than ATI cards, especially the 6600 series.


Have I missed anything or am I misinformed about anything? Any advice would be helpful, as the HTPC is a big reason I went with the GX in the first place!

3) I believe it is called Gefen DVI Detective.