The official Toshiba 62MX196/72MX196 OWNER'S THREAD - Page 5

I can't really explain what the low gain screen is, but I guess most sets today have high gain screens that affect the brightness and SSE. This screen reduces the SSE and provides a better picture. Why? You'll have to ask an expert that question. I just know that Eliab really liked what it did for the TV. I think we all realized something was different because this TV has very little SSE. You really have to look for it to see it.

He made changes in the service menu and also used the external controls.

I'm sure the user setting will be different for an uncalibrated set since the factory Gray Scale was pretty far off. Pre calibration the IRE's across the board were between 9631 and 10,323. After calibration all but the 20 IRE were between 6463 and 6593. 20 IRE was at 6653. In any event my settings now are as follows:

HD HD DVD Cable (480p) Cable (480i)


Brightness 50 50 50 50
Contrast 70 69 50 60
Color 45 65 50 38
Tint +17 0 +12 +2
Sharpness 0 0 0 0

Color Management:

Red -5 (sat) -5 (sat) 0 -5 (sat)
Green +13 (bright) +13 (bright) 0 0
Blue 0 0 0 0
Yellow -3 (bright) -14 (bright) 0 -15 (sat)
Magenta -4 (sat) -4 (sat) 0 0
Cyan -10 (sat) -10 (sat) 0 0

Dynamic contrast - off
Vertical edge - off
DNR - off
Mpeg - off (I use this based upon the quality of the source) I also set cableclear to auto on the S-Video (480i) input.


The adjustments were made using the warm temperature setting and low lamp mode. He indicated that the lamps lose up to 50% of their brightness after about a year's worth of viewing (at approximately 4hrs a day) so he suggested to go to high lamp mode when I start to notice it.

As far as your last question, he seemed to be okay with the contrast ratio of the TV out of the box. I had lowered the contrast to about 65 and I guess the way I had my settings contributed to the light output (foot lamps?) which was only at 18 pre-calibration and after calibration it was 36.4, which he said was very good. Again he really liked the way the TV handled contrast and said that the TV had the ability to handle a large range of light yet have a light output at 36.4 which I believe meant that it produced good light output without causing a blooming affect on the picture. To me, I just look at the picture and the set does have an overall brighter picture. Blacks aren't crushed, but they weren't before the calibration either. As I said before, the differences are mostly subtle and I was really happy with the HD and HD DVD picture before the calibration. I am more pleased with it now, of course. And the picture on 480i cable is a very nice improvement. It's maybe the most noticeable improvement along with the color saturation. I was just glad to hear so many positives about the TV. No one likes to hear that their TV isn't up to snuff and I felt that he was being genuine about his comments. He also said that other TV's did some things better as well, for instance the Samsung can't be beat for its colors. So, he wasn't just making me feel good about my purchase. But I sure do. Heck, I felt like I made a good choice even before Eliab calibrated the TV, he just confirmed it for me.

Here it is, what my son refers to as my "big-ass TV". The set and the setup. Let's see if I can get the attachments attached.

Absolutely. I had my fingers crossed it wouldn't be damned with faint praise, let alone reveal some dark and terrible weakness. It certainly seemed to me the MX was an outstanding value, but there's so little activity in the Toshiba forums I felt like I was making my decision in a vacuum and it's great to have some credible reinforcement for it.

Thanks for the report and settings!

And finally, quality pictures of picture quality!

Ok, I obviously have no idea what I'm doing with a camera, but here they are. This is mostly about the resolution, the colors on the Tosh are off but this is basically otb with a contrast tweak. I lust for the strong but gentle touch of Eliab, but can't afford it so I'm planning on renting the Avia disk for guidance. Until then, here's what I'm seeing. I'll put two in this post and two in the next. These are all courtesy of TWC.

Final two.

the setup looks awesome!!!

what stand is that?
I have the 195 and love it,,,,, but where is your HD DVD player?

Hey, it looks great, but why did you take a picture of outside your window?
Actually, I'm surprised those comfy chairs in front of the TV are ever empty.

I got the stand at Home Depot. It was about $75. *Considerable assembly required*

I'm waiting for the smoke to clear from the HD format wars to buy a player, so I got an Oppo. So far it's been a big disappointment but I'm giving it the benefit of the doubt while I investigate what I'm no doubt doing wrong.

I understand why you feel the way you do about your set. I considered a 195 but by the time I was ready to buy I couldn't find one from a source I trusted. I looked at a 57" right next to a new Mits 732 for a half an hour and the PQ looked identical to me.

I needed some glare from the window to ruin the exposure. Also, I wanted everyone to know I have a radiometer in my window.

One of the chairs is the exclusive province of the picture taker. The other remains available for guests. Specifically, guests with opposite and matching interlocking primary reproductive organs who yearn for a partner with a big-ass HDTV and a radiometer. Currently conducting interviews.

On a related note: I have learned the supermarket will collect an online order and deliver the groceries. As I work at home I see no reason to ever leave my house again.

Great pictures and nice Home Theater room. Thanks for sharing.

He did do something with centering the picture, but it was in the service menu and I couldn't begin to tell you how he got there. There were so many service menu's and code's I couldn't begin to understand it all. I was really just a spectator. Sorry.

It's there. You just have to look hard enough to see into the future . .

Exactly my experience. I spent two months looking at this year's models of the Big 3. Then just by chance I saw a 57HM195 and it looked so good I had to investigate. I discovered great reviews about the electronics and after repeat visits for comparisons I decided there wasn't a better price/performance anywhere. The prices online were so good I decided to shoot for the bump in color processing and black cabinet of the new MX and I couldn't be happier with the result.

But I don't understand why they aren't more popular. As of this moment, there still isn't a single 2006 model Toshiba on a BM floor anywhere in Austin and there's hardly any action in the Tosh forums. They're the best kept secret in HDTV.

Yes indeed. Overall this display produced a rather satisfying and involving image. As dhan mentioned, the color space was a bit off - which is typical of nearly every display - but overall I was quite pleased with the outcome. Of course it didn't hurt that he had HD DVD.

Eliab

When I called A&B TV about 2 weeks ago they said that the 62mx196 was on display!

I agree this must be a factor, plus the lack of 1080p input. But Sony still has green blobs and people flock to buy 'em.

Whatever it is, one thing is clear. Toshiba DLP ownership is unmistakable evidence of superior intelligence and insight.

BTW, I have the Colts game on and for live action sports, the PQ is just amazing. If anything, this TV has exceeded my highest expectations.

Ouch! I stand corrected. I visited BB, CC, Fry's, Sears, and Conns. Then I called every store listed on Toshiba's website store finder. I never heard of these guys until now. (I'm new to Austin) Since they have the good sense to stock Toshiba, I hope they sell truckloads of 'em.

Marc, I have the Oppo 971 hooked up to my 62MX196, and it throws a great picture. What types of issues are you having with your 970?

Very nice set up man! is there a bigger version of your stand? I've been shopping around for my 72 and the I've only found a couple.

Hey guys, any suggestions on TV stands?

What rotten luck. You mentioned earlier that it wasn't too bad. Is it starting to bother you more?

Low resolution image. I rented The Constant Gardener and it looked the same at every output level. Could be that particular DV or something about the settings I'm missing. I haven't had the time to look into it. I don't own any DVs so I need to scare some up to try different sources and read the manual more carefully before I start blaming the Oppo.

Thanks. The stand is available in any size you want. Go to Home Depot and get three sheets of 3/4" MDW and have them cut the largest dimensions for you. Pick up a bottle of wood glue, some filler, several sizes of fine-thread drywall screws and paint. Assemble. Hope everything fits. It won't. Make necessary modifications. Lower your expectations a little. Remember, you have plenty of wood filler and if you run out there's more where that came from. When you're finished, wonder why you went to all that trouble when you could have just bought one in the first place and saved yourself three days of aggravation.