[Ericthemidget]

I have a nasty floating black issue with my Panasonic 58" Plasma. I have minimized the issue as much as I can by setting brightness first and then matching my picture setting to my brightness. Is this at all normal?

 

[hwjohn]



Quote:
Originally Posted by Ericthemidget /forum/post/12841078


I have a nasty floating black issue with my Panasonic 58" Plasma. I have minimized the issue as much as I can by setting brightness first and then matching my picture setting to my brightness. Is this at all normal?

I have noticed that you have asked a similar question several times...


I for one don't exactly understand the problem you are having. I know you had some discrepancy between GetGray and another test disc.


Do you have any type of HD player (HD DVD or Blu-ray)? What source are you using?


I think you are going to have to give some more information in order to get some help.

 

[Ericthemidget]

When something bright comes on the screen the whole scene lightens including the black area. When the bright object goes off the screen or the camera angel changes, the dark areas darken. This can happen several times in a minute.


I am using a PS3 for my source for the test discs

 

[hwjohn]



Quote:
Originally Posted by Ericthemidget /forum/post/12843030


When something bright comes on the screen the whole scene lightens including the black area. When the bright object goes off the screen or the camera angel changes, the dark areas darken. This can happen several times in a minute.


I am using a PS3 for my source for the test discs

Hard to say for sure, but that sounds like some type of "dynamic contrast" setting. With those types of settings, the TV will assess the "APL" or "Average Picture Level" and adjust accordingly. I have never owned a plasma, so I'm not sure on this. That setting could also be causing the discrepancy between the two test discs you are using as the APL between their patterns is likely different.


Can you give the model number for your TV? Does the manual say anything about a setting like I'm describing?

 

[Ericthemidget]

It's a Panasonic TH-58PE75U. There is no Dynamic Contrast Setting to turn off unfortunatly.


I would return the set, but Costco does not have it in stock anymore. Plus it is such a pain in the neck to return it. I would have to borrow my friends truck and get two other guys to help me move it.


Anyway, I have contrast and picture both at 8 right now in the Cinema setting and it still does it, but not too bad.

 

[hwjohn]



Quote:
Originally Posted by Ericthemidget /forum/post/12843182


It's a Panasonic TH-58PE75U. There is no Dynamic Contrast Setting to turn off unfortunatly.


I would return the set, but Costco does not have it in stock anymore. Plus it is such a pain in the neck to return it. I would have to borrow my friends truck and get two other guys to help me move it.


Anyway, I have contrast and picture both at 8 right now in the Cinema setting and it still does it, but not too bad.

I just looked at a manual of a similar model. Is there a setting labeled "C.A.T.S" in the Picture menu? Try turning that off.

 

[jvincent]

I'm pretty sure if you check out the plasma forum you will find a bunch of threads on the "floating black" issue with Panasonics.

 

[Ericthemidget]

No CATS in the menue. I did a search and have spoken with a lot of other guys who have the issue. My 50" Panasonic 6U doesn't have the issue, so it's pissing me off.

 

[hwjohn]



Quote:
Originally Posted by Ericthemidget /forum/post/12843254


No CATS in the menue. I did a search and have spoken with a lot of other guys who have the issue. My 50" Panasonic 6U doesn't have the issue, so it's pissing me off.

Why not return it? Then you can look through the forums for potential problems before buying a replacement. Lots of good advice here.

 

[Ericthemidget]

I think I am going to return it. Such a hassle, but otherwise it will drive me nuts!

 

[hwjohn]



Quote:
Originally Posted by Ericthemidget /forum/post/12843485


I think I am going to return it. Such a hassle, but otherwise it will drive me nuts!

Just make sure you check out the forums here before making your next purchase. The guys in the flat panel forums can usually steer you clear of the problems. Good luck.

 

[Ericthemidget]

One last ditch effort before I return this set. I am wondering if a power conditioner could fix the problem! I emailed an ISF Calibrator who blogged about floating blacks. Here is what he said:




When I calibrated that 700U, the reduction in floating blacks was a bonus I was not expecting. Normally, there is no way to address this problem. It lies in the engineering of the TV. With plasmas and CRTs, blacks float because of the quality (or lack thereof) of the power supply. In the case of the 700U, I use the service menu to adjust the grayscale and sub-brightness. Sub-brightness is a finer way to tune black levels than the user menu Brightness control. It also raises and lowers the threshold of the user Brightness control. My theory is that the blacks float less because I was able to lower the user Brightness substantially after grayscale and sub-brightness adjustments. I also lowered the Contrast quite a bit. Contrast and Brightness interact quite a bit on this TV. To get a good gamma curve, Contrast has to be lowered a fair amount. You’ll notice that as you raise Brightness, there is a threshold where the adjustment leaps up substantially. Try to stay below this point. Lowering Contrast will bring this threshold down. You might be able to reduce the black float some by watching the interaction between Brightness and Contrast.




Good luck!




Sincerely,


Chris Eberle


Precision Video