HDTV Reviews 2008 : HDTV Reviews and Price Comparison :

Sharp LC-52D65U Review

2010-03-30T20:13:00.001-07:00

Description: Full HD 1080p 60Hz 52" Diagonal LCD TV
Resolution: 1920 X 1080
Power Consumption: 285W
Reviewer: Jack Burden
Date: April 2009

Test and Optimum Viewing Distance: 14 feet

Up conversion from 480i and 480p: The Sharp has stellar processing in some cases. Horizontal and Vertical line information was displayed with no dithering in our HQV Film Resolution Loss Test. The processing was better than even many very high end TVs and one of the only units testing that did not exhibit strobing during this test in at least one of the test boxes.

Up conversion from a 480i signal was solid but the picture went a little soft. With a common 2:35:1 DVD one needs to use the Zoom aspect ratio feature which weakens definition in the picture even more.

The blinds in the background in this scene from Step Mom displayed with no dithering movement and artifacts. This is an impressive result verifying excellent internal processing boards.

720p/1080i/1080p Picture Quality: The HD picture on the LC-52D65U was very defined once we calibrated the unit. There was a certain lack of depth as the picture information appeared somewhat flat to me. I believe this was caused in part by an overactive anti-glare screen, which also decreases the appearance of contrast in a brightly lit room. There was also a evident lack of dark shadow detail. Color information appeared natural and not over saturated.

Though the Sharp LC-52D65U wasnt overly bright after calibration these images from The Manchurian Candidate are impressive with vivid detail.

Black Level: Black levels look good front and center but off to the side at 40 degrees blacks begin fading to a dark purplish hue and this effect remains at further angles.

Note the difference in the top and bottom bars from the front and at a 40 degree angle. In the picture at right from this scene from Perfume it's easy to note the dark purple hue creeping into blacks.

Dark Shadow Detail: The LC-52D65U had relatively weak dark shadow detail which would be expected with the deficient contrast ratio we tested. See Calibration measurements and contrast here.

The LC-52D65U struggled with dark shadow detail as in this scene from The San Fransisco Philarmonic playing in our Dolby Test DVD. Note the lack of detail in darker areas of clothing.

Color Rendition/Color Accuracy: Once calibrated, color information on the LC-52D65U appeared realistic and vibrant.

We felt colors were very realistic overall but that flesh tones were slightly washed out as in these two scenes from the HD version of comedy Benchwarmers.

Viewing Angle/Off Axis Viewing: As noted in black level section above, contrast begins to degrade at around 40 degrees on this LCD. Sharp is known for having high quality LCD panels which they manufacture at their own factories, so I was surprised at this result. We suspect it has to do with the anti-glare screen contained on this LCD.

Motion Lag: With fast motion the Sharp performed relatively well for an LCD. In scenes when the camera panned from side to side there was obvious jerkiness as if there camera was hitting bumps along the way. Though this is common with LCD TVs, it is never pleasant. This was also apparent in our HQV Stadium seating test. No moire' pattern appeared but the jerkiness as the camera tracked from one end of the stadium to the other was apparent.

False Contouring/ Mapping: There was some false contouring and mapping apparent in 480i test content. Lack of detail in dark areas also accentuated blotching.

Exceptions: While the anti-glare screen on this LCD does reduce a lot of glare from ambient lighting, it causes contrast and black levels to degrade at early angles.

Features: And I quote from the manual, "When using the remote control unit, point it at the TV." Despite inclusion of this comment for the vapid, the manual is clear and concise. This is not the high end Sharp with the latest and greatest features such as 120Hz processing (this unit has 60Hz processing) but it does have a fast response time for an LCD reducing motion lag in fast moving objects. It also has some interesting features such as a Monochrome setting for black and white content, and a difficult to use color management system. It also has an unusual picture Freeze feature.

Audio Output: The Sharp had good voluminous sound and relatively crisp compared to most inbuilt speakers. It had good pop in the high and mid ranges as we could even discern fret buzz during replay of our Dave Matthews Dolby Digital test DVD. The bass however was weak even with the bass enhancer feature cranked all the way to 10. Overall though I thought the audio performance for TV speakers was excellent.

Video Aspect Ratio Sizing: With most inputs there are 4 options S. Stretch, Zoom, Side Bar, Stretch. You will want to use the Zoom setting for 2:35:1 DVDs. With HDMI input signals there is the addition of Dot by Dot and Full Screen options. The Sharp manual gives excellent instruction about which setting to use with varying content.

Using the Zoom setting while viewing the 2:35:1 480i DVD Step Mom rendered images a little soft as in this picture of the horse farm. Notice the blurry edges around the horses.

Inputs: As with most all TVs these days the Sharp has plenty of inputs. There are 5 HDMI inputs with one of these housed conveniently on the side of the TV. There is also a USB port placed there which allows the user to quickly load and view pictures or other content. To see the full input options for the LC-52D65U click here.

Aesthetic Considerations: The Sharp LC-52D65U scores very well in this category with nice clean lines and small non-distracting bezel. There is a thin gray metal speaker grill strip accented in the bottom of the unit. We measure the depth at an impressively sleek 3.8" making this TV ideal to wall mount.

Remote Control/Menu Functionality: There is a convenient set of controls placed on the side of the TV, out of view, but easily accessible should you misplace your remote control or need this option for a trade show. The accompanying manual gives clear instruction.

Price/Quality Considerations: At a $1449 average price the Sharp LC-52D65U delivers a big value for a 52" LCD. Picture performance is slightly above average in the crowded LCD TV market while aesthetically the Sharp has a big advantage. Compared with the Samsung LN52A550 the sharp is priced very competitively, about $400 less. The Sony 52XBR6 is priced well out this category and the Sony 52V4100 is of less quality and still about $250 more than this LCD.

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Rating scale from 70 (denoting poorest quality) to 100 (signifying the very best quality). A rating in the 60s for any particular category of a product review indicates a serious defect which causes the product not to operate properly. Picture quality is double-weighted in the Overall Rating Score calculation.

Review Equipment Used: Sony Blu Ray BDP-S1 High Definition DVD player, Sony Playstation 3, Sony DVP-S50 DVD player, Sencore Color Pro 5000, Sencore Auto Cal Pro, Sencore signal generator.

This review format and all of the headings, sub headings and paragraph titles are part of a copyrighted process. Any unauthorized reproduction or use, either in full or in part, of this product review format is expressly prohibited.

Samsung LN52A850 Review

2010-03-30T20:12:00.002-07:00

52" HD LCD 1980 X 1366 Resolution
Reviewer: Robert Wiley with Jack Burden

INTRODUCTION

The LN52A850 is the newest high end TV in Samsungs Winter 2008/2009 lineup. One of the key feature differences is the new DLNA compliance certification of this TV over the LN52A750. Another big feature difference is the slim 1.9" cabinet housing. It certainly looks sleek on the table stand. The Touch of Color red accents remain on this series. The 120Hz refresh rate (Auto Motion Plus) feature is still present as well. Find out below how we rate all these features (one especially needs be careful with the 120Hz refresh rate).

PICTURE QUALITY RATING: 93/100

Test and Optimum Viewing Distance: 13 feet

This scene from 300 shows the excellent definition and rich color of the LN52A850

720p/1080i/1080p Picture Quality: Color information with HD content is vibrant and accurate. Many LCD TVs have the tendency to oversaturate color information but the Samsung LN52A850 displays accurate, realistic colors along with deeply penetrating blacks to produce excellent depth. It's important to note again that the 120Hz (auto motion plus) processing feature needs to be turned off to maximize depth and not introduce a contrived appearance. You will be rewarded by this strategy. Dark Shadow detail in the Blu Ray version of 300 occasionally got oversaturated with blacks losing detail.

Accurate color information is a trademark of this excellent TV as displayed
here in the Blu Ray version of Little Man

Up conversion from 480i and 480p: Processing is excellent on this high end TV. An excellent chip set is one of the upgrades you get when moving up the offering ladder of a brand like Samsung. The processing chip sets did an excellent job with 3:2 pulldown upconversion to native resolution – removing motion artifacts and smoothing images. I was very impressed. Motion lag and some jerkiness does remain as in most LCDs even with the 120Hz processing feature turned on.

HQV Processor Testing: We tested the Samsung TV with the Auto Motion Plus feature (120hz) on. With HD signals there was little to no background noise. During video resolution loss testing the LCDs processor performed superbly. Diagonal Filter tests also yielded excellent processing showing little to no jaggies on the horizontal moving bar test. The LN52A850 has a stellar video processor. The only drawback was during the film resolution loss test, there was slight distortion in the upper right quadrant block of the test screen.

Black Level: Honest black levels characterize this LCD TV. Black levels appear natural and without the haziness which is pervasive of most LCD TVs. This is partly due to the transparent plexiglass outer screen as opposed to a severe anti glare screen. The black levels are nearly plasma like.

Dark Shadow Detail: Blacks can get slightly oversaturated at times blotting out detail – especially with some HD content. Overall, though we liked the tradeoff with dark matter detailing still solid.

Shadow detail was sometimes overpowered by oversaturating blacks
as seen in the hair of Lena Headey in 300

Viewing Angle/Off Axis Viewing: This Samsung TV has excellent viewing angle for an LCD – nearly 120 degrees before degrading contrast.

Motion Lag: As mentioned above there was consistent motion lag and jerkiness with almost any signal and especially when panning side to side. The 120Hz feature does cut down on motion lag but is not recommended for film content.

Exceptions: We recommend turing off the Auto Motion Plus feature when viewing film based content including TV programming. There is a good bit of glare from the gloss screen, but it's a tradeoff we like.

FEATURES RATING: 92/100

Video Aspect Ratio Sizing: Aspect ratio processing and sizing was spot on non-distorted from a variety of input sources. Selection is 16:9, 4:3, Zoom 1, 2, 3.

Inputs: There is plenty of input selection including 3 HDMI inputs, 2 component, one 15 pin D sub (for computer). This TV also adds an Infolink USB port.

Aesthetic Considerations: The LN52A850 is quite attractive at only 1.9" depth its one of the thinnest on the market. The Touch of Color is nice and classy. The bezel frame is a little large for me at 2.75" on top and bottom (of the screen). It can throw off significant glare as our pictures show.

The thumb wheel is slick but not fast enough for us.

Remote Control/Menu Functionality: The menu system on the on the LN52A850 has an excellent little tutorial which helps the user understand what each function does. It's a slick looking- transparent menu but the scrolling navigation wheel is not fast to use. It's a little cumbersome when you want to make a quick adjustment. Another negative here is the gloss black remote which shows fingerprints too readily. The remote is backlit but does not have an aspect ratio button on it. The source button controls input selection.

To get to the Auto Motion Plus (120Hz) setting go to: Picture, then scroll down to Picture Options, then scroll down to Auto Motion Plus where you can turn it On or Off using the side arrow keys.

Audio Output: Audio output was excellent from our Dolby Digital Test disc. Volume level was plentiful and sound rich and full at just 35% of capacity. Virtual Surround sound effects also impressed us from the 10W X 10W speakers.

Features: Adding to the large increases in features and functionality of the 750 series such as Home Viewing Gallery or MPEG3 is the 1.9" depth and DLNA compliance (available only through certain devices using certain software. The aesthetics otherwise are very similar as is the menu system.

VALUE RATING: 85/100

At around $2500 this 52" LCD offers a ton of value. It's got a great feature set and picture and the 1.9" depth is a premium feature. This LCD sells at a nice discount to its Sony competition KDL-52XBR6 and just a slight premium to its own brother the Samsung LN52A750. Other price/quality competitors such as the LG 52LG60 and the Sharp LC-52D85U do sell at several hundred dollars discount to this LCD. It's a richly competitive LCD size range with most brands having several models in this important size category. In a crowded field of entries this LCD's strongest point is not its price.

OVERALL RATING: 90.75/100

Review Equipment Used: Sony Blu Ray BDP-S1 High Definition DVD player, Sony DVP-S50 DVD player, JVC HM-DH40000U HD Video Cassete player, Sencore Color Pro 5000, Sencore Auto Cal Pro, Sencore signal generator.

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Samsung LN46A750 Review

2010-03-30T20:12:00.001-07:00

INTRODUCTION

The Samsung LN46A750 is a current Fall 2008 LCD TV model. This LCD is next to the top of the lineup for Samsung's current model offerings second only to the LN46A850.

PICTURE QUALITY RATING: 93/100

Test and Optimum Viewing Distance: 12 feet

Up conversion from 480i and 480p: Color information from this Samsung TV is natural and realistic and displays extremely well. There is notable motion blur/lag with the LCD regardless whether the 120hz Auto Motion processing is on or off. The jerky effect of the motion lag was evident in Braveheart, Tomorrow Never Dies, and Risky Business. In other words, it was not an anomaly with any one source. This may not be a result of the upconversion though. Overall I thought the upconversion processing was excellent delivering clear sharp images on even the most difficult old DVDs.

Color information from this Samsung LCD is natural, realistic
and displays extremely well

720p/1080i/1080p Picture Quality: Motion Lag continues to be an issue even with HD content. We highly recommend that for any film source (I.e. DVDs, Blu Ray, movie programming) that the user tune the Auto Motion Plus (120hz) processing to OFF position. Otherwise, images may seem to look as if they are cardboard cutouts and all of the techniques the studios use to create realism in movies is removed. Watching movies with the 120hz processing on will reveal cheap movie sets in the background and will give the movie a kitchy non-realistic feel that is quite a turnoff. You will see detail in unintended areas. And picture depth will disappear entirely. Once the 120hz processing is turned off, the picture returns to an excellent experience with superb detail – yet not in unintended areas. The one drawback is that motion lag will be worse once the 120hz processing is turned off. It's a tradeoff you will want. Viewing the recent Blue Ray release of Iron Man was pleasurable in many ways. Blacks were excellent for an LCD and color rendition was spot on even in flesh tones. And there was more crisp definition than one could ask for in the suite of armor. This movie has lots of action and fast motion and panning side to side - all of which produced considerable motion lag jerkiness.

We only recommend the 120hz processing be turned on for sports programming. See directions on how to turn this function on or off below in the remote/menu function section.

This TV is fairly dark for an LCD, but the black levels really shine.

HQV Processor Testing: We tested the Samsung with the Auto Motion Plus feature (120hz) on. With HD signals there was little to no background noise. During video resolution loss testing the LCDs processor performed superbly. Diagonal Filter tests also yielded excellent processing showing little to no jaggies on the horizontal moving bar test. This Samsung TV has a stellar video processor. The only drawback was during the film resolution loss test, there was slight distortion in the upper right quadrant block of the test screen.

Black Level: Honest black levels characterize this LCD TV. Black levels appear pretty natural due to the transparent plexiglass outer screen (as opposed to an antiglare screen). The black levels are not plasma like but are very good for an LCD.

Dark Shadow Detail: Blacks can get slightly oversaturated at times blotting out detail – especially with some HD content. Overall, though we liked the tradeoff with dark matter detailing still solid.

Colors appeared natural and accurate (post calibration)
with several of our review DVDs

Color Rendition/Color Accuracy: Colors appeared natural and accurate (post calibration) with several of our review DVDs, blues in the mountain scenes and flesh tones on Mel Gibson's face in Braveheart.

Viewing Angle/Off Axis Viewing: Off angle viewing was very good on this LCD. Contrast doesn't begin to degrade until around 120 degrees at side angles – an excellent result. This is due in part to the non-antiglare transparent gloss screen used with this LCD TV as well as the quality of the LCD panel.

Motion Lag: There was motion lag and jerkiness evident in our Dolby Digital test Blu Ray DVD.

Exceptions: Turn the 120Hz processing OFF when watching film and show content. The screen does throw off a lot of glare on this TV especially for an LCD.

Note: For this reviews purposes, I have not subtracted points for the LCDs glare issues since lighting conditions can be controlled. If you have a brightly lit room or background lighting you will want to take this into account.

FEATURES RATING: 90/100

Video Aspect Ratio Sizing: Aspect ratio processing and sizing was spot on non-distorted from a variety of input sources. Selection is 16:9, 4:3, Zoom 1, 2, 3.

Inputs: 3 HDMI inputs, 2 component, one 15 pin D sub (for computer) and a USB port round out a generous supply of input compatibility.

Aesthetic Considerations: The LN46A750 is quite attractive if not a bit cheap feeling. It doesnt have the weight that it's previously reviewed brother plasma has. The back panel is made of thin plastic. The plexi overscreen coat is also a little cheap feeling. The Touch of Color accenting is nice yielding that subtle red tone.

The bezel frame of the LCD is too hefty for me at 3" in width on the sides and 2.75" on top and bottom. It's glare can detract from the picture as well.

The gloss black remote shows fingerprints too readily

Remote Control/Menu Functionality: The menu on the LN46A750 is slick looking- transparent but the navigation is not swift. The scrolling wheel on the remote is slow to use and a little awkward. Another negative here is the gloss black remote which shows fingerprints too readily. The remote is backlit but does not have an aspect ratio button on the interface. The source button controls input selection.

To get to the Auto Motion Plus (120Hz) setting go to Picture, then scroll down to Picture Options, then scroll down to Auto Motion Plus where you can turn it On or Off using the side arrow keys.

Audio Output: Audio output was excellent from our Dolby Digital Test disc. Volume level was plentiful and sound rich and full at just 35% of capacity. Virtual Surround sound effects also impressed us from the 10W X 10W speakers.

Features: Adding to the large increases in features and functionality of the 650 series is the 750 series. Upgraded features in this LCD television take network and multi media capability to a higher level. The LCD is MPEG and JPEG compatible using USB 2.0. The LN46A750 LCD series also boasts a Home Viewing Gallery or MPEG3, an internal flash memory with premium content as well as enhanced audio technology through an integrated woofer design. Users can now connect and utilize the data stored in a variety of digital devices, turning their HDTV into a media hub.

VALUE RATING: 88/100

For $2000 this 46" HD LCD packs a lot of punch. It is near the top of Samsung's lineup for 2008 (the LN46A850 is highest). Price wise, the unit is compatible with Sharp's LC-46D85U, though it is several hundred dollars more than LG's 47LG70. Given its positive features 120hz processing (use for sports only), Touch of Color styling, excellent black levels and viewing angle vs. its negatives motion lag, glare from the screen (from any lighting behind the viewer), large bezel (frame) I put it priced very fairly in a crowded field of entry's. This LCD's strongest point is not its price.

OVERALL RATING: 91/100

LG 42LH55 Review

2010-03-30T20:11:00.000-07:00

Model: LG 42LH55
Description: 42" LCD TV with 120Hz Processing
Resolution: 1980 X 1080
Includes: Swivel table top stand
Reviewer: Robert Wiley
Date: Summer 2009

Price Considerations: The LG 42LH55 is hitting a very attractive price/quality price point at around $1500 all in. It compares extremely well in price to not only other LCDs in it's quality category but also upper end plasma models. Its a bit more than the Sharp Aquos LC40E77U which sells for around $1000 but with 2 inches less in screen size and less features. The Samsung UN40B7000 is slightly higher at $1650 and has a similar feature set and compares well, but again with 2 inches less.

Quality Comparison: With picture quality, reduced motion artifacts, increased response time, sleek good looks, a swivel stand, good menu system and excellent calibration this LG is comparing well with the best TVs on the market – even top tier plasma (now that Pioneer is out of the game).

Test and Optimum Viewing Distance: 10 feet

See full HQV
test results

HQV Benchmark: Processor testing with the LH55 showed excellent results..

See full
calibration results

Calibrations: The 42LH55 calibrated excellently to D6500 due to expansive and easy to access white balance controls. To dial the TV in perfectly follow the following settings:

Picture Settings:
Picture Mode:	Expert 1
White Balance:	Warm
Brightness:	65
Contrast:	85
Color:	48
Tint:	G1
Sharpness:	H:52 V:52
Backlight:	50
Other Settings:
Dynamic Contrast:	Off
NR:	Off
Gamma:	High
Black Level:	Low
Real Cinema:	On
For complete picture setting including White Balance settings please see the 47LH55 Calibration page

Special Note: One of the foremost adjustments to make with this TV is to turn the 120Hz/240Hz TruMotion processing off when watching film based content. Doing so will yield a much more natural picture as the film director intended. While this feature is great for sports programming and gaming, leaving it on even at the low setting will present you with unwelcome added effects in motion scenes in particular. Strange "canned" background set visual information will appear and disappear depending on whether there is motion.

HD Picture Quality: Dark shadow detail and color information in the new Blu Ray release of The Road Warrior was very accurate. I was extremely happy with motion sequences, black levels, and let it be noted that the anti glare screen can be a big plus with ambient lamp lighting in a room.

Deep Black levels provide for excellent contrast in this scene from The Road Warrior.

Digital Broadcast Signal Picture Quality: The TV did a remarkable job with this process and displayed a beautiful picture with natural colors, good black levels and lots of detail. Color information was vibrant but not over saturated in The Three Amigos and our staple copy of Risky Business which usually presents TVs with more problems that it did the 47LH55. I was very pleased and impressed that LG has not overlooked up conversion processing from a lowly 480i signal source.

This shot of Tom Cruise in Risky Business shows a good contrast presentation from this rough 480i DVD.

See full Contrast
measurements

Contrast Measurement: Though certainly not the richest and deepest we've experienced, black levels on the 42LH55 are adequate and the excellent dark shadow gray scaling helps to make up for any deficiency in this area. LG lists a dynamic (read dubiously tested) contrast ratio of 80,000:1. Our post calibration ANSI contrast measured modest but respectable 167:1. This TV has great balance and during viewing we did not sense a lack of deep blacks or of bright whites during sunlit scenes.

To See more detailed notes on dark shadow detail, color accuracy, viewing angle, and motion lag please click here to see the extended review.

Features: The LH55 is not LED backlit but nevertheless uses less power and is Energy Star 3.0 rates. As mentioned above, the TruMotion (120hz/240hz) feature is a key element of this TV. It works for sure, but should be turned off for film based and TV content. It will provide many unwelcome picture oddities with film based content. Sports programming and gaming are awesomely enhanced by the TruMotion feature. There is a keen new Picture Wizard feature which gives some basic calibration tools to allow users to adjust the 5 basic settings depending upon ambient room light. It's an interesting and somewhat useful feature that we have not encountered before.

To see the extended review on video aspect ratio, inputs, aesthetic considerations, remote and menu functionality, and audio function click here.

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Review Equipment Used: Sony Blu Ray BDP-S1 High Definition DVD player, Sony DVP-S50 DVD player, Sencore Color Pro 5000, Sencore Auto Cal Pro ACP6500, Sencore signal generator.

Samsung Luxia UN46B8000 Review

2010-03-30T20:09:00.000-07:00

This scene of Hally Berry from X-Men The Last Stand shows how high contrast can appear on the 46B8000.

Strengths

Aesthetics – 1.2" depth. Great looking TV.
Good deep black levels – Avg. to good contrast.
Excellent color saturation
Optional 240/120Hz feature for sports programming
Great connectivity options for such a thin TV
Dual Remotes are cool.

Weaknesses

Weak Volume/Audio output
240Hz feature with Film based content (turn off feature)
Price
Difficult calibration
At times over saturation of colors

Test and Optimum Viewing Distance: 15 feet

See full HQV
test results

Processor Testing:This LED TV tested very well in when we ran it through a series of processor video board testing.

See full
calibration results

Calibration: Calibrating white balance was somewhat difficult on this TV. Blue tones were especially difficult to dial in perfectly as they lacked consistency. To dial in close to D6500 follow the following picture settings:

Picture Settings
Picture Mode:	Movie
Color Temp:	Warm 2
Brightness:	44
Contrast:	93
Color:	43
Tint:	G47/R53
Sharpness:	10
Backlight:	7
Picture Settings
For complete picture setting including White Balance settings please see the UN46B8000 Calibration page

480i DVD and Broadcast Viewing: For any film based material start by turning off the 120Hz/240Hz rate feature as follows: Click Menu/picture/Scroll down to Picture Options/Press enter/Scroll down to AutoMotionPlus 240Hz/Press Enter/Scroll or press to Off position. It is important to turn this feature off (see more on this feature under features section below).

The 46B8000 did a good job with this shot from Wedding Crashers. There was no flicker from the horizontal blinds in the background and though the scene is bright there is still good shadow detail in the background.

720p/1080i/1080p Picture Quality: There is nothing subdued about this LED TV, from its super thin good looks to its super saturated colors. Blacks are rich and deep and colors vibrant if not over powering at times. Some dark shadow detail is lost and and subtle color notes forgotten. But it's a colorful picture many will relish. Read our extended picture notes below.

Hugh Jackman's hair is fully detailed in this scene from X-Men The Last Stand.

This is a clean, clear presentation of a detailed and colorful shot from the Blu Ray version of Rocky.

See full Contrast
measurements

Black Level/Contrast: With color information both light and dark appearing so deeply saturated, contrast effect is excellent. Blacks appear inky and sometimes lose dark shadow detail. White light sometimes is distractingly too bright. Contrast appears more intense on the screen than the average of 187:1 post calibration ANSI checkerboard pattern contrast that we measured. See calculations here.

Dark Shadow Detail: As a result of the super saturated blacks, shadow detail can get lost in some scenes. In others, it was fine.

This type of scene from X-Men The Last Stand presented challenges as the 46B8000 couldnt maintain shadow detail in characters cloak.

Color Rendition/Color Accuracy: We found color rendition continually vibrant but over saturated. Blacks can get oversaturated at times as can white.

Viewing Angle/Off Axis Viewing: At 40 degrees off axis contrast is significantly reduced and black levels become hazy. However, the destruction of contrast and black levels stops there, not continuing as viewing angle widens. The screen remains perfectly viewable even at from side angles (with the reduced contrast).

Motion Lag: The UN55B800 did a good job eliminating motion lag and judder. There was some notable jerkiness in a few scenes panning side to side with the AutoMotionPlus feature turned off.

False Contouring/ Mapping: When viewing the rough 1997 Risky Business version of Risky Business much false grain and mapping information was visible. This was somewhat surprising given the excellent results of the 55B8000 in processor testing.

Inputs: Amazingly with this thin screen Samsung has managed to fit 4 HDMI slots, a PC slot, a LAN Cat 5 slot (for Internet connection), 2 USB ports, and a component video input.

Aesthetic Considerations: The 55B8000 comes with a 20 degree swivel table top stand. The stand is heavy, sturdy and a nice matte silver accent to the all gloss black screen. There are accompanying screws to further secure the stand to the TV. The super thin screen itself we measure at 1.2 inches in depth. It is obviously sleek and attractive with the surrounding frame measuring 2" in width. The frame has a subtle invisible edge feature with clear acrylic on a silver backing.

Remote Control/Menu Funtionality: The Samsung UN46B8000 comes with 2 remote controls. One is substantial, backlit, complete and well designed with gloss black finish and every ergonomic enhancement imaginable. The remote wheel is catchy but not necessary. Clicking the edges of the wheel accomplish the same tasks as scrolling the wheel and expedites changes. This standard remote control contains a discrete button called P. Size for changing the video aspect ratio. The second pod-like diminutive remote contains a center arrow keypad for controlling basic functions; power, next channel, and volume. The TV menu is not accessible with this remote.

The overlaid Menu system is very attractively laid out and thorough, but slow and cumbersome to navigate.

Audio Output: Sound volume levels seem weak from the 10W X 10W built in speakers. We can understand the challenges for speaker placement in a 1.2" deep TV. For a majority of programming changing the mode to movie, and utilizing the Clear Voice feature will help a lot to improve voice tone in DVD and broadcast material. SRS TruSurround is a useful feature for HD content but it doesnt help voice tone. Overall, we were not impressed by audio delivery from the UN46B8000.

Features:The Samsung UN558000 is loaded with extra features, some surprising, others more useful. AutoMotionPlus 240Hz Refresh Rate. Samsung has increase the frame rate conversion to 240Hz on the B8000 as the one of the premium markup features. See our complete article about 120Hz/240Hz rates here. This feature is awesome on the Standard setting for sports programming and gaming. Turning it off during film and broadcast viewing will save you from the cardboard cutout soap opera effect and deconstruction of cinematography that this feature creates (in film playback).

Internet Connectivity: Connect to the Internet to see Yahoo news, Flikr, witter, Yahoo Finance, Yahoo Video. The package is canned and weak in our opinion and this is not a feature you will use much if at all, especially when you get frustrated by the slow click and wait response (sometimes up to 5 seconds). The feature is frankly a little gimmicky. You can make this feature wireless with an optional accessory.

Media Play: Use this feature connected through USB to keep picture and video files.

Clear Voice, SRS and Movie sound options are listed above under Audio Output.

Video Aspect Ratio Sizing: 16:9, 4:3, Zoom 1 &2, Wide Fit, Screen Fit round out a complete set of options for viewing modes controlled by P. Size button on the remote.

Price Considerations: At $2100 the UN46B8000 is not a discount TV. It demands a premium for its premium build quality and some of Samsung's newest technology including 1.2" depth, LED backlighting, Internet connectivity, a nice heavy table top stand and remote, and one of the best looking panels we've seen. Competition hails from the Sony KDL-46XBR8 (local dimming LED backlit see review here) which sells for $2500 and measures higher in contrast. Both sets have their own advantages in certain areas so read the reviews to decide. LG has several models that will provide competition in the future in the LG 47LH90 ($2500) has 240Hz processing and the LG 47LH50 ($2000) which has 120Hz processing but Internet capability including Netflix. The Sharp LC52E77 is a non-LED backlit lower end unit from Sharp.

Review Equipment Used: Sony Blu Ray BDP-S1 High Definition DVD player, Sony DVP-S50 DVD player, Sencore Color Pro 5000, Sencore Auto Cal Pro, Sencore signal generator.

Samsung LN52A750

2010-03-30T20:08:00.002-07:00

52" HD LCD TV Resolution 1980 X 1366
Reviewer: Robert Wiley with Jack Burden

INTRODUCTION

The Samsung LN52A750 is a current Fall/Winter 2008 LCD TV model which includes non-detachable hidden speakers, 3 HDMI inputs and a 15 pin computer input. The appearance is a black transparent gloss finish with scarlett Touch of Color around the bezel frame. This LCD is next to the top of the lineup for Samsungs current model offerings second only to the LN52A850. Once calibrated, this LCD has a fantastic picture and is packed with features.

PICTURE QUALITY RATING: 94/100

Test and Optimum Viewing Distance: 13 feet

Up conversion from 480i and 480p: As with most LCDs there is notable motion blur and jerkiness in various scenes, fast moving images, and panning side to side. Color information from this Samsung TV is natural and realistic and displays extremely well. Flesh tones were very good in Braveheart and Risky Business. Overall I thought the upconversion processing was excellent delivering clear sharp images on even the most difficult old DVDs. The LN52A750 chip sets took out grain and background noise leaving a smooth, clear image.

Flesh tones, greens and blues looked exceptional in Braveheart

Upconversion processing in Risky Business was superb

720p/1080i/1080p Picture Quality: Motion Lag continues to be an issue even with HD content. We highly recommend that for any film source (I.e. DVDs, Blu Ray, movie programming) that the user turn the Auto Motion Plus (120hz) processing OFF. Otherwise, the picture picks up studio set material which is not intended for viewing. In other words, this feature cuts down on the realism of the picture. Picture depth will also suffer. (See directions on how to turn this function on or off below in the remote/menu function section.) Once the 120hz processing is turned off, the picture returns to an excellent experience with superb detail – yet not in unintended areas. The one drawback is that motion lag will be worse once the 120hz processing is turned off. It's a tradeoff you will want. One important exception to this rule is high definition sports programming in which you will want to utilize the 120hz processing. Wow, football games look incredible! Black levels are some of the best we've seen, helping create depth.

Color information in HD was rich and black levels very good
from this scene from Blu Ray Ironman

HQV Processor Testing: We tested the Samsung with the Auto Motion Plus feature (120hz) on. With HD signals there was little to no background noise. During video resolution loss testing the LCDs processor performed superbly. Diagonal Filter tests also yielded excellent processing showing little to no jaggies on the horizontal moving bar test. The Samsung LN52A750 has a stellar video processor. The only drawback was during the film resolution loss test, there was slight distortion in the upper right quadrant block of the test screen.

The colors are accurate and dark shadow detail impressive as in
the hair in this scene from The Fifth Element

Viewing Angle/Off Axis Viewing: Off angle viewing was very good on this LCD. Contrast doesnt begin to degrade until around 120 degrees at side angles – an excellent result. This is due in part to the non-antiglare transparent gloss screen used with this LCD TV as well as the quality of the LCD panel.

Motion Lag: There was motion lag and jerkiness evident in our reviews of Ironman and The Fifth Element. It's a drawback for this and almost any other LCD.

Exceptions: Turn the 120Hz processing OFF when watching film and show content. The screen does throw off a lot of glare on this TV especially for an LCD.

Note: There is some glare noted from the screen which is glossy. While this type of overlay helps with depth and contrast it should be taken into consideration in dark rooms.

FEATURES RATING: 90/100

Inputs: 3 HDMI inputs, 2 component, one 15 pin D sub (for computer) and a USB port round out a generous supply of input compatibility.

Aesthetic Considerations: The LN52A750 is quite attractive if not a bit cheap feeling. It doesnt have the weight that it's previously reviewed brother plasma has. The back panel is made of thin plastic. The plexi overscreen coat is also a little cheap feeling. The Touch of Color accenting is nice yielding that subtle red tone.

The bezel frame of the LCD is too hefty for me at 3" in width on the sides and 2.75" on top and bottom. It's glare can detract from the picture as well.

Remote Control/Menu Functionality: The menu on the LN52A750 is slick looking- transparent but the navigation is not swift. The scrolling wheel on the remote is slow to use and a little awkward. Another negative here is the gloss black remote which shows fingerprints too readily. The remote is backlit but does not have an aspect ratio button on the interface. The source button controls input selection.

To get to the Auto Motion Plus (120Hz) setting go to: Picture, then scroll down to Picture Options, then scroll down to Auto Motion Plus where you can turn it On or Off using the side arrow keys.

Features: Adding to the large increases in features and functionality of the 650 series is the 750 series. Upgraded features in this Samsung TV take network and multi media capability to a higher level. The LCD is MPEG and JPEG compatible using USB 2.0. The LN46A750 LCD series also boasts a Home Viewing Gallery or MPEG3, an internal flash memory with premium content as well as enhanced audio technology through an integrated woofer design. Users can now connect and utilize the data stored in a variety of digital devices, turning their HDTV into a media hub.

Video Aspect Ratio Sizing: Aspect ratio processing and sizing was spot on non-distorted from a variety of input sources. Selection is 16:9, 4:3, Zoom 1, 2, 3.

VALUE RATING: 88/100

For $2400 to $2500 this 52" HD LCD packs a lot of punch. It is near the top of Samsung's lineup for 2008 (the LN52A850 is highest). Price wise, the unit is compatible with Sharp's LC-52D85U, though it is several hundred dollars more than LG's 52LG70. Given its positive features 120hz processing (use for sports only), Touch of Color styling, excellent black levels and viewing angle vs. its negatives motion lag, glare from the screen (from any lighting behind the viewer), large bezel (frame) I put it priced very fairly in a crowded field of entry's. This LCD's strongest point is not price though it is competitive.

OVERALL RATING: 91.50/100

Samsung LN52B750 Review

2010-03-30T20:08:00.001-07:00

A scene from Walk Hard in 480i. Flesh Tones appear natural despite the rich color saturation of the B750.

The B750 series is a mid to high end Samsung LCD that includes some of the newest features from this years models such as 240Hz and Touch of Color (gray) while not going all the way with the LED backlight. Many of the positive traits of last years A850 series are continued here. There is the addition of Internet connection widgets which give limited value. Picture quality is consistently good, color information is more vibrant with the new wide color enhancement technology and contrast ratio - with all inputs and content through what Samsung calls the Ultra Clear Panel. See our review of picture quality, features and value below. The included 240Hz technology will give the viewer an unreal football watching experience (especially from HD of course).

Test and Optimum Viewing Distance: 12

See full
calibration results

Calibration: The Samsung 52B750 was fairly calibration friendly without going into the service menu. Just as with the B650 series, there was a hitch at around 40 ire but the TV performed well at 30 and 50 ire so this should not be an issue when viewing. The standard setting has a major blue push. The Movie setting allows adjustment of all picture setting options.

Picture Settings
Picture Mode:	Movie
Color Temp:	Warm 2
Brightness:	47
Contrast:	95
Color:	49
Tint:	G49/R51
Sharpness:	0
Backlight:	7
For advanced picture settings including white balance see our calibration page

Calibration of White Balance through advanced picture options.

See full HQV
test results

Up conversion from 480i and 480p: Deep black levels, vibrant colors, and clear upconversion from low end signals characterize the picture from 480i. One important note to always remember with this TV is to turn the 240Hz feature off when viewing anything but live sports programming. Doing so will save you the unpleasant kitchy cardboard cutout effect that this feature creates by taking the natural motion blur out of film based content. Finding the control to turn the feature off is not easy. See instructions below under the Features section. Up conversion clarity is crisp and defined on the LN52B750. The picture is amazingly well defined without the excessive motion artifacts that can exist with many TVs when up converting from lower signals. There is a lot of range in the TVs ability to display lower end signals. This leads one to the conclusion that the B750 contains very high quality processing chip sets and indeed our HQV processing tests prove this to be the case. Black levels can get a little over saturated at times and there is a blue push with the panel in general which will cause the same effect when viewing programming occasionally. One drawback was continued judder effect (stuttering image) on side to side panning scenes. This is otherwise called motion lag and occurs more prominently but necessarily when turning off the 240Hz.

480i DVD shot of Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story. Notice the rich vibrant red in the sweater.

720p/1080i/1080p Picture Quality: After turning off the 120Hz feature, high definition content appears vibrant, realistic and extremely crisp. Blacks are rich for an LCD and contrast is a strength. One of the highlight features of the LN52B750 is its picture depth perception. Samsung has been unparalled in this area lately. I believe this is due to the companies Ultra Clear Panel technology which does allow for some glare on the screen but the tradeoff with great depth and rich colors is a winner.

A very defined shot the Blu Ray of The Big Hit showing excellent contrast between the white shirt and black seat in the background. Notice the variation in color in the characters hair.

See full Contrast
measurements

Black Level/Contrast/Contrast Ratio: Contrast ratio measures a respectable 197:1. We believe contrast is enhanced by the Ultra Clear Panel that Samsung uses for this LCD. Blacks appear rich and there is no lack of brightness.

Dark Shadow Detail: Blacks can over power dark material at times causing a little deficiency in shadow detail. It certainly is not what we could classify as a problem though.

Color Rendition/Color Accuracy: Colors are bright, rich and vibrant but not oversaturated. The color rendition of this TV is exceptional.

Viewing Angle/Off Axis Viewing: Off angle viewing is very good and the TV continues to display a deep image even at 45 degrees. Contrast and black levels do not degrade substantially at angles.

Motion Lag: There is prominent motion lag and judder effect especially after turning off the 240Hz Auto Motion Plus feature. Nevertheless, it's better to have the jerky motion panning effect than the strange background information appearing with the 240Hz feature turned on. Thus, turn the feature off for all but sports programming.

False Contouring / Mapping: There was some false contouring and mapping present in a few scenes from Friday Night Lights. This did not appear to be a frequent problem and it did not occur during HQV testing.

Features: As mentioned above, turning off the 240Hz Auto Motion Plus feature for all but sports programming is essential. To do so follow these instructions:

Press the Menu button
Select the Picture Setting option
Scroll down to Picture Options and select
Scroll down to Auto Motion Plus and select
Press the right arrow key and scroll select the off option

Next up the B750 LCD series has an Internet widget feature with Yahoo!, Flicker, You Tube, and others. It's one of those features that you will scroll through and glance at once and never use again. The options are currently unappealing, but it's nice to have the LAN connection for possible future proofing if Samsung can upgrade the firmware. The B750 series is DLNA compliant which allows various devices in the DLNA network to communicate with one another.

Navigation to the widget weather feature was relatively simple.

Video Aspect Ratio Sizing: Aspect ratio processing and sizing was spot on non-distorted from a variety of input sources. Selection is 16:9, 4:3, Zoom 1, 2, 3.

Inputs: 4 HDMI, USB, LAN, Component

Aesthetic Considerations: The LN-52B750 has a rectangular design with sharp lines, and the Samsung signature Touch of Color in subtle gray at the bottom of the panel. It's a more utilitarian design than many of the more sleek sexy models from this year. The heavy, sturdy included table top stand has a clear neck and swivels side to side.

Remote Control/Menu Funtionality: The menu system on the on the LN52B750 has an excellent little tutorial which helps the user understand what each function does. It's a slick looking- transparent menu controlled by a new and better tilt wheel control. Another nit picky negative here is the gloss black remote which shows fingerprints too readily. The source button controls input selection. The p. size button controls aspect ratio.

The menu system tutorial is a nice feature.

At $1929 this LCD is attractively priced especially for its picture quality. Competition comes from the Sony KDL-52XBR9 which sells for a 12% premium around $2220. I give the picture quality soundly to Samsung in this competition. LG's LG55LH85 is a sound competitor but in 55" size. Sharp is also not to be left out of this discussion with it's price competitive LC-52E77U which has a slightly lesser feature set.

Sony Bravia KDL-55XBR8 Review

2010-03-30T20:07:00.002-07:00

Description: Sony Bravia 1920 X 1080 (1080p) 55" Diagonal LCD TV with LED Backlight
Resolution: 1980 X 1366
Dimensions with Stand: See Specifications Here
Power Consumption: 480W
Reviewer: Robert Wiley
Date: April 2009

Test and Optimum Viewing Distance: 15

Up conversion from 480i and 480p: 2:35:1 aspect DVDs should be viewed in the Zoom aspect picture mode controlled by the Wide button on the remote control. While this mode properly displays the aspect of the content, it does soften the picture giving a slightly blurred appearance from the enlarged image. This was one of the only drawbacks from the XBR8's picture. Aside from that the Bravia Engine 2 processed signals extremely well.

A scene from 480i input from Braveheart shows off the contrast of this LED backlit TV as daylight penetrates illuminating the veil of the princess. But notice that the image is overly soft due to using the Zoom aspect ratio to gain the correct sizing alternative.

720p/1080i/1080p Picture Quality: One feature that we found very necessary was the Noise reduction feature. See explanation here.

Once turning on this setting option, the picture was crisp and clear with very little about which to complain. There is bright color, great contrast and black levels and most surprising to us – plasma-like viewing angles. There was some false contouring in dark on bright areas of the picture. This "mapping" of dark matter will not be noticed if one is 15 feet or more from the television. However, it is noticeable from a closer distance. Other than that, another defining plasma-like characteristic is depth perception with HD signals which is excellent.

In this scene from The Fifth Element notice the false contouring in dark blotchy areas of the tunnel.

In this scene from The Fifth Element see the beautiful color definition and contrast provided by the XBR8's Triluminous LED Backlight.

Black Level: Our post calibration contrast measurement was a fairly impressive 228 to 1. While this still is well short of many top tier plasma TVs which we've measured at 700 to 1, it is a very good result for an LCD television. See our full calibration report here. I was surprised by how deep and penetrating the blacks were on this LED TV – perhaps the best black levels we've seen on an LCD though a couple of new Samsung LCDs may rival them.

Dark Shadow Detail: No complaints in this department aside from the occasional mapping issue. Dark areas of images were detailed and easily discernible.

See the excellent dark shadow detail in this HD Dolby Digital test disk image of 9 Inch Nails in concert.

Color Rendition/Color Accuracy: The Sony Bravia XBR8 dialed in nicely to D6500 and color information appeared natural and not over baked like so many expensive LCDs. At times we found ourselves pleasantly glued to a scene just enjoying the realistic, colorful images.

Notice the variation and realism of the flesh tones in this HD image from our Dolby test disk.

Viewing Angle/Off Axis Viewing: The XBR8 has the best viewing angle capability we've seen on an LCD. We estimated that contrast does not start to degrade until about 75 degrees – a superb plasma-like result – especially for an LCD TV.

Motion Lag: There was some notable jerkiness when the camera panned from side to side. Sony does not give a clear option for accessing the 120Hz processing. Instead, they give a few advanced picture settings such as Motion Enhancer and Game Modes. So, it was impossible to know whether we were viewing images in 60Hz or 120Hz. We thought the XBR8 did a good job with reduction of motion lag during fast moving scenes. It would be nice to clearly be able to turn the 120hz processing off if wanted – to see the difference.

Video Features: We do not normal recommend using many of the "enhancing" features present on todays TVs which typically add video noise. However, the Noise Reduction option on the XBR8 is a favorable feature. We recommend placing it on the medium setting which greatly helps to reduce background motion artifacts without softening the picture too much.

Video Aspect Ratio Sizing: The Wide button on the remote controls aspect ratio options. There are more aspect ratio options for HDMI input content including Wide, Wide Zoom, Normal, Full, H Stretch, Zoom.

Inputs: 4 HDMI inputs round out a complete enough set of input options. Has Firewire and USB port as well as a CAT 5 input jack.

Aesthetic Considerations: While an attractive TV, there are no real design style improvements over past models. One drawback we immediately noticed in the XBR8 is the 6" depth cabinet which is no doubt caused by the new LED lighting system. Still, that is a bulky depth especially if wall mounting. The speakers now are housed on the sides of the "floating" glass. The wide bezel and glass create a little glare from ambient lighting though the screen itself does a good job reducing glare.

Remote Control/Menu Funtionality: The Xross Media Bar menu system is a cool looking if not a little quirky to use at first. Once accustomed to it, it is a fun little feature scrolling through the numerous advanced settings which for the most part you will want to avoid. One that you do want to turn on is the Noise Reduction function. It's annoying to have to scroll through inputs each time one needs to change input sources (for instance from HDMI to composite). We would like to see discrete input buttons on the remote control.

Audio Output: We felt the sound was flat without enough definition when listening to the Ramsey Lewis Jazz Ensemble in our HD test disc. There was no crispness in the high hat. Sound output was dull and the speakers did not put out sufficient volume for the size.

Features: There is a new Video Game mode as well as Bravia Sync option for communicating with other Sony equipment.

Note: At 480watts the Bravia 55BXR8 uses close to the same power as a plasma TV of the same size. It's an energy guzzler, but it does not get hot to the touch.

Price Considerations: At $5500 this LCD is a pricey option. The Samsung LN55A950 is a similar LED backlit LCD and costs about $1000 less. The Sharp Aquos LC52XS1U-S is a premium priced $10K plus model also with LED backlighting and other premium features. The playing field will narrow somewhat soon with LG entering this size LED backlit LCD market, but for now that's the whole competitive landscape if you take plasma out of the picture.

LCDs which are not LED backlit, may not have the viewing angle or deep blacks that this unit does but will sell for half the price. A 58" top of the line Plasma TVs with similar picture quality will sell for around half the price as well.

The picture is certainly excellent especially the black levels, and viewing angles which are so important to viewing pleasure. Color information while not the best we've seen was also good. Drawbacks include the cabinet depth at 6 inches, the surprising poor audio quality from the built in speakers, and the occasional scaling mistake from lower resolutions.

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Review Equipment Used: Sony Blu Ray BDP-S1 High Definition DVD player, Sony DVP-S50 DVD player, Sencore Color Pro 5000, Sencore Auto Cal Pro, Sencore signal generator.

Samsung Luxia UN55B8000 Review

2010-03-30T20:07:00.001-07:00

Model: Samsung UN55B8000
Description: 1080p LED backlit LCD Television (ultra thin)
Reviewer: Robert Wiley, Jack Burden
Date: Summer 2009

This super thin 1.2" deep TV has non-localized LED backlighting in the sides of the panel. It is loaded with features – some pretty good and some not very useful. It's attractive and has some surprising picture attributes regarding light reception and contrast. Read the following review in depth to get a sense about whether this TV is right for you as you'll be paying a lot for extra features if not.

Test and Optimum Viewing Distance: 15 feet

See full HQV
test results

HQV Benchmark:The TV tested very well in when we ran it through a series of processor video board testing.

See full
calibration results

Calibration: Calibrating white balance was somewhat difficult on this LED TV. Blue tones were especially difficult to dial in perfectly as they lacked consistency. To dial in close to D6500 start out by changing the Picture Mode to Movie and Color temperature to Warm 2 and follow the following picture settings:

Picture Settings
Picture Mode:	Movie
Color Temp:	Warm 2
Brightness:	44
Contrast:	93
Color:	43
Tint:	G47/R53
Sharpness:	10
Backlight:	7
Picture Settings
Black Tone:	Off
Dynamic Contrast:	Off
Gamma:	0
Flesh Tone:	Off
Edge Enhancement:	Off
Digital NR:	Auto
HDMI Black Level:	Low
Film Mode:	Auto 1
Color Filter:	Off
For complete picture setting including White Balance settings please see the UN55B8000 Calibration page

Rebecca Dimornay in the 1997 version of Risky Business. The 55B8000 struggled to present a smooth clear presentation.

Rebecca Dimornay more recently in Wedding Crashers. A clearer presentation but notice the over saturated white suit coat.

A great shot of Sly Stallone showing vivid contrast and detail from the Blu Ray release of Rocky.

This scene from the Blu Ray version of Rocky shows detailed contrast and color information.

See full Contrast
measurements

From The New World; this scene shows how saturated black and white can appear.

Dark Shadow Detail: As a result of the super saturated blacks, shadow detail can get lost in some scenes. In others, it was fine.

Color Rendition/Color Accuracy: We found color rendition continually vibrant but over saturated. Blacks can get oversaturated at times as can white.

Red tones in the Lucky Seven Bar in this scene from the Blu Ray release of Rocky appear somewhat oversaturated..

Motion Lag: The UN55B8000 did a good job eliminating motion lag and judder. There was some notable jerkiness in a few scenes panning side to side with the AutoMotionPlus feature turned off.

False Contouring/ Mapping: When viewing the rough 1997 version of Risky Business much false grain and mapping information was visible. This was somewhat surprising given the excellent results of the 55B8000 in processor testing (See Test Results).

Inputs: Amazingly with this thin screen Samsung has managed to fit 4 HDMI slots, a PC slot, a LAN Cat 5 slot (for Internet connection), 2 USB ports, and a component video input.

Aesthetic Considerations: The 55B8000 comes with a 20 degree swivel table top stand. The stand is heavy, sturdy and a nice matte silver accent to the all gloss black screen. There are accompanying screws to further secure the stand to the TV. The super thin screen itself we measure at 1.2 inches in depth. It is obviously sleek and attractive with the surrounding frame measuring 2" in width. The frame has a subtle invisible edge feature with clear acrylic on a silver backing.

Remote Control/Menu Functionality: The Samsung UN55B8000 comes with 2 remote controls. One is substantial, backlit, complete and well designed with gloss black finish and every ergonomic enhancement imaginable. The remote wheel is catchy but not necessary. Clicking the edges of the wheel accomplish the same tasks as scrolling the wheel and expedites changes. This standard remote control contains a discrete button called P. Size for changing the video aspect ratio. The second pod-like diminutive remote contains a center arrow keypad for controlling basic functions; power, next channel, and volume. The TV menu is not accessible with this remote.

The Menu is very attractively laid out and thorough, but slow and cumbersome to navigate.

Audio Output: Sound is initially hollow as in a deep vault from the dual 15W speakers. For a majority of programming changing the mode to movie, and utilizing the Clear Voice feature will help a lot to improve voice tone in DVD and broadcast material. SRS TruSurround is a useful feature for HD content but it doesnt help voice tone. Overall, we were not impressed by audio delivery from the UN55B8000.

Features: The Samsung UN558000 is loaded with extra features, some surprising, others more useful. AutoMotionPlus 240Hz Refresh Rate. Samsung has increase the frame rate conversion to 240Hz on the B8000 as the one of the premium markup features. See our complete article about 120Hz/240Hz rates here. This feature is awesome on the Standard setting for sports programming and gaming. Turning it off during film and broadcast viewing will save you from the cardboard cutout soap opera effect and deconstruction of cinematography that this feature creates (in film playback).

Internet Connectivity: Connect to the Internet to see Yahoo news, Flikr, twitter, Yahoo Finance, Yahoo Video and more. There is a nice picture option to compress the entire TV picture over to the side so you can see your full program while using the internet features. There was a lot of content to view on the different channels but we can't say we were impressed by the response time of the menu and though the feature itself has potentional, it feels as though it is still in it's infancy. You can make this feature wireless with an optional accessory.

Internet connectivity

Media Play: Use this feature connected through USB to keep picture and video files.

Clear Voice, SRS and Movie sound options are listed above under Audio Output.

Video Aspect Ratio Sizing: 16:9, 4:3, Zoom 1 &2, Wide Fit, Screen Fit round out a complete set of options for viewing modes controlled by P. Size button on the remote.

Price Considerations: At $3700 the UN55B8000 is not a discount TV. It demands a premium for some of Samsungs newest technology including 1.2" depth, LED backlighting, Internet connectivity, a nice heavy table top stand and remote, and one of the best looking panels we've seen. Competition hails from the Sony KDL-55XBR8 (local dimming LED backlit see review here) which sells for in excess of $4200 and measures higher in contrast. Both sets have their own advantages in certain areas so read the reviews to decide. LG has several models that will provide competition in the future in the LG 55LH55, and the LG 55LH90. The Sharp LC52E77 is a non-LED backlit lower end unit from Sharp.

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LG 47LH55 Review

2010-03-30T20:06:00.000-07:00

Model: LG 47LH55
Description: 42" LCD TV with 120Hz Processing
Resolution: 1980 X 1080
Includes: Swivel table top stand
Reviewer: Robert Wiley
Date: Summer 2009

Test and Optimum Viewing Distance: 12 feet

See full
calibration results

Calibration: The 47LH55 calibrated excellently to D6500 due to expansive and easy to access white balance controls. To dial the TV in perfectly follow the following settings:

Picture Settings:
Picture Mode:	Expert 1
White Balance:	Warm
Brightness:	65
Contrast:	85
Color:	48
Tint:	G1
Sharpness:	H:52 V:52
Backlight:	50
Other Settings:
Dynamic Contrast:	Off
NR:	Off
Gamma:	High
Black Level:	Low
Real Cinema:	On
For complete picture setting including White Balance settings please see the 47LH55 Calibration page

See full HQV
test results

HQV Benchmark: Processor testing with the LH55 showed excellent results.

Up conversion from 480i and 480p: One of the foremost lessons to learn with this TV is to turn the 120Hz/240Hz TruMotion processing off when watching any film based content. Leaving it on even on low will present you with unwelcome added effects in motion scenes in particular. Strange "canned" background set visual information will appear and disappear depending on whether there is motion. With that out of the way, to the picture quality with up conversion from 480i. The TV did a remarkable job with this process and displayed a beautiful picture with natural colors, good black levels and lots of detail. I was especially impressed by one scene in Risky Business showing plenty of dark shadow detail and definition throughout the dark scene. Some of the tougher color information in this movie also looked spot on on the new LG.

This picture shows an example of why I loved this TV. The shot of Chevy Chase in The Three Amigos looks like it was taken from an HD signal, but it is actually from a 480i signal source through composite video input.

720p/1080i/1080p Picture Quality: A couple of differences we noticed right away with the 47LH55 was the improved anti glare screen which doesn't have such a detrimental effect on the black levels or viewing angle of the screen. Black levels remained acceptable and even somewhat saturated with HD material and the viewing angle problem is gone. There was excellent dark shadow detail when viewing the new Blu Ray release of Rocky.

Check out the excellent color and and black levels in this scene from the new Blu Ray release of Rocky.

See full Contrast
measurements

Black Level: Black Level/Contrast: Though certainly not the richest and deepest we've experienced, black levels on the 47LH55 are adequate and the excellent dark shadow gray scaling helps to make up for any deficiency in this area. LG lists a dynamic (read dubiously tested) contrast ratio of 80,000:1. Our post calibration ANSI contrast measured modest but respectable 167:1. This TV has great balance and during viewing we did not sense a lack of deep blacks or of bright whites during sunlit scenes.

Check out the excellent contrast created by the LG with this 480i signal source image from The Three Amigoes.

Dark Shadow Detail: With the new LH55 series, LG has managed to provide a TV with an anti glare matte finish and still provide plenty of dark shadow detail. I was happy with shadow detail in scenes from all our input sources. The hazy appearance of some past screens was not present.

The 47LH55 did an excellent job with dark shadow detail in this scene from Rocky.

Color Rendition/Color Accuracy: Rocky looks amazing on the LCD. Not too over saturated but just right. Where there is gray in a scene the TV is satisfied with letting the scene be gray. Colors that are meant to be subdued are displayed that way.

A scene from Rocky displays excellent color reproduction.

Viewing Angle/Off Axis Viewing: Much, much improved in this area, we measured viewing angle to about 110 degrees without significant contrast degradation.

Motion Lag: There is still some jerkiness present but it's slight compared to past models. With the TruMotion feature turned on there is very little motion lag so this is ideal to use for sports programming and games.

False Contouring/ Mapping: With film based content there is lots of false contouring present when the TruMotion feature is on. So turn it off and there is little to complain of then.

Video Aspect Ratio Sizing: There are several aspect ratio adjustments in the menu system. There is no discrete button for these on the remote control, which is a shame. It's such a convenient feature to include. 16:9, Just Scan, 4:3, Zoom, Cinema Zoom 1 through 16. The Cinema Zoom feature did a nice job of scaling and includes algorithmic sizing. The viewer can "zoom out" the top and bottom black bars on 16:9 content if desired (while losing some of the sides). There was some stretching evident with 2:35 DVD programming.

Find the correct video aspect sizing or you will end up with a stretched image such as this one from The Three Amigos.

Inputs: 4 HDMI inputs and USB 2.0 access, 2 component, and a 15 pin D-sub computer input rounds out an ample offering.

Aesthetic Considerations: LG has improved the looks of their TV offerings considerably with the LH55 series. The bezel is gloss black with a clear glass edge around the perimeter to give the impression of depth. The frame is not too wide and the screen has a matte finish. The TV comes with a lightweight semi circle gloss black stand that conveniently swivels side to side. When the TV is turned on there is a small red light that flashes then turns blue in the bottom right section of the frame, which can help locate the power switch in a dark room. The bezel is 3.4" deep providing a good depth for wall mount applications.

Remote Control/Menu Functionality: The remote is simple and well designed, easy to use. The menu has graphics that make it enjoyable and easy to navigate. I do wish the the remote control had a discrete button option for tuning the TruMotion feature. This would make turning this feature off and on much easier. As well I like to see a discrete aspect ratio button on the remote for changing aspect ratios during DVD programming. The menu provides extremely friendly calibration white balance settings, so as a result we (and now you) can dial the set in perfectly for optimum viewing.

Audio Output: 10W X 10W speakers drive the sound from the invisible speaker system. This new audio system eliminates traditional speaker drivers and contains speaker actuators around the perimeter of the entire bezel. We found the sound a little tinny and hollow. Special effects were more dynamic and voluminous than voice. Overall there was some improvement in sound from prior models but still more room for improvement here.

Features: The LH55 is not LED backlit and thus uses less power and is Energy Star 3.0 rates. As mentioned above, the TruMotion (120hz/240hz) feature is a key element of this TV. The feature performs well for sure, but should be turned off for film based and TV content. It will provide many unwelcome picture oddities with film based content. Sports programming and gaming are awesomely enhanced by the TruMotion feature. There is a keen Picture Wizard feature which gives some basic calibration tools to allow users to adjust the 5 basic settings depending upon ambient room light. It's an interesting and somewhat useful feature that we have not encountered before.

It looks like this TV may be purchased from an assortment of online retailers for around $1700. This TV is hitting a major sweet spot in price/value offering with its many excellent features and picture quality. It's my favorite TV at the moment for an LCD in this price range. The Samsung UN46B7000 sells for $2300 by comparison.

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Review Equipment Used: Sony Blu Ray BDP-S1 High Definition DVD player, Sony DVP-S50 DVD player, Sencore Color Pro 5000, Sencore AutoCal Pro ACP6500, Sencore signal generator.

Sharp Aquos LC-46BD80U Review

2010-03-30T20:05:00.002-07:00

Test and Optimum Viewing Distance: 13

See full
calibration results

Calibration Notes: The LC-46BD80U contains fairly easy to use calibration tools including white balance settings controls without having to access the service menu. The BD80U contained a BLUE push that we found difficult to reduce. See extended Calibration Notes here. Below are are final picture settings to bring the user close to D6500 without accessing the service menu:

Picture Settings
Picture Mode	User
Color Temp	Low
Brightness	-12
Contrast	+36
Color	+1
Tint	+1
Sharpness	-1
Backlight	+6
OPC	Off
For complete picture settings including white balance see our LC-46BD80U Calibration Page

Up conversion from 480i: As difficult and unpredictable as the BD80U is with calibration, the same applies to the picture experience. At times the LC-46BD80U had ultra saturated looking blacks and great contrast. At others the picture appeared washed out during dark scenes. There is a lot of processing going on with this TV at many different levels. The internal picture doctor is hard at work. Therefore we viewed a lot of source material on it to try to get a clear understanding of the strengths and weaknesses. There are motion artifacts of varieties – swimmy effects with side to side jerky motion. At times there is flicker and background noise. In other scenes the presentation looked fantastic, clear, vivid and colorful. The 3D-Y/C feature is available for analog signals and is intended to minimize dot crawl and cross color noise.

John Cusak converses with another juror in this scene from the 480i DVD of Runaway Jury. The shot shows the BD80Us good contrast.

See full HQV
test results

720p/1080i/1080p Picture Quality: Since there is a lot of processing going on with the internal video chip sets we recommend turning the Sharpness control all the way down to nil. As well, tune the Digital Noise Reduction feature to the Low setting. Except for fast motion sports programming turn the Fine Motion Enhanced (120 Hz feature) to the Off position. We did not note any of the kitchy, card board cutout effects from this feature as with many 120hz TVs. The feature does however introduce some depth reduction. Then lastly, the OPC (optimum picture control) feature effectively increases and decreases contrast and brightness (through backlight manipulation) presentation based on the content and your room viewing conditions. In a brightly lit room I would leave this feature turned On. Otherwise, turn it off to eliminate as much processing noise as possible.

The HD picture from the BD80U was clean and sharp with saturated color. Motion artifacts and side to side jerkiness were still visible with an HD signal.

This shot from 300 shows good brightness, contrast and detail from the Blu Ray HD signal. Blacks can get oversaturated.

See full Contrast
measurements

Black Level/Contrast/Contrast Ratio: Overall ANSI post calibration contrast measured a respectable 163:1. The black levels from front and center appeared deep and saturated and the TV seemed plenty bright.

Dark Shadow Detail: Though black levels are saturated we feel shadow detail is weak as the BD80U seems to opt for the inky blacks in areas where more detail is needed. Call it over saturation. The OPC feature substantially helps this issue but may cause other video noise to be introduced.

Color Rendition/Color Accuracy: With most content colors appear pleasantly rich. With some content they fall into the washed out, or over saturated category. Again so much depends on the control features and processing.

Another shot from Runaway Jury shows a nice skin tone presentation.

However, the presentation varies by scene. In this scene skin tone seems washed out.

Viewing Angle/Off Axis Viewing: Black appearance begins to take on a purplish hue at around 45% on the BD80U. The viewing angle is actually quite good all the way to 80 degrees (from the side) but with the noted contrast and black distortion.

Motion Lag: There was notable jerkiness in scenes with side to side movement. The effects were reduced with the 120hz Fine Motion Enhanced feature turned on.

False Contouring/ Mapping: Our HQV testing did expose some moire' pattern in the stadium seating test, though we did not see much false contouring in our video test material.

The BD80U's inbuilt
Blu Ray player

Features: Obviously the key innovative feature of the Sharp LC-46BD80U is the built in Blu Ray DVD player. We found the inbuilt Blu Ray player to perform solidly and though we're not fond of the remote layout, there is sufficient control over the Blu Ray player. Functionally, the Blu Ray worked as well or better than a couple of outboard Blu Ray players we've used with the fast forward and reverse, skip chapter features, pause, and menu features all working quickly and with ease. The only drawback was torpid disc loading, which is common for Blu Ray's. All this was a very nice surprise since it is the reason to purchase this TV rather than the E77U series which has the same features without the Blu Ray. As mentioned above this TV has 120hz frame rate conversion called Fine Motion Enhanced which did not add a lot of unnecessary background information as many we've tested.. It has Sharp's anti glare screen. There is an OPC setting in the picture menu if the user wants automatic adjustment of the backlighting for varying room light conditions and content. This feature may be useful for brightly lit rooms. The 46BD80U's features are well thought out and effective.

Aesthetic Considerations: The thin gloss bezel frame is shapely and attractive with thin 1.5" beveled edges on the sides and top. There is a dark blue accented bottom (nearly unnoticeable – it looks black in the room). The included table top stand is also attractive and conveniently swivels side to side. Depth is somewhat inhibiting at 5.4" which is of no small concern if wall mounting this TV – and we imagine that to be one of the primary reasons to purchase it. A wall right fitted wall mount could conceivably add no depth to the TV mounting due to the rear right mounted blu ray player taking up the last 1.5" inches of the total depth. The Sharp optional wall mount is the AN-52AG4. Check this option or a Peerless mount to see how much depth the mount will add. If the normal 1.5" to 2" is added from the wall mount, the screen could protrude 7" off the wall which is awkward in our opinion.

Audio Output: There is great volume and upper range output on this TV. Sharp has one of the best audio presentations in the business. The 10W X 10W speakers will surprise you. We could hear clearly at 30% output and the voice clarity is top notch.

Video Aspect Ratio Sizing: 4:3 Zoom, Stretch, and Dot by Dot round out the effective options.

Inputs: Very sufficient with PC 15 pin D-sub, 4 HDMI, USB port, 2 Component.

Remote Control/Menu Functionality: The remote control has a small Blu Ray function box for the DVD Pop up and title list. Overall, the remote buttons are much too small. The menu button is a little dot. Despite using the remote control frequently, I could not become comfortable with locating important keys. The menu system is small, cryptic and difficult to see from a distance, though it is easy to navigate and with plenty of features. The user will need to access the Advanced Control Tab at the bottom of the Picture Menu to access many of the features noted above in the HD Picture Quality Section.

The Menu System appears in the top left quadrant of the screen and is difficult to see from a distance. This shot calibrating color on the TV with our Sencore color pro system.

Power consumption: Maximum 270W (less when calibrated)

Since the LC46BD80U has a built in Blu Ray player it is difficult to compare with other models. At $1400 it seems reasonably priced. It will, after all, save a couple hundred dollars on a Blu Ray player. The Samsung LN46B750 has Internet access (but not movie access) and 120Hz and sells for a good bit more at $1700. The LG 47LH50 has 120Hz processing and Internet connectivity which includes Netflix Instant Streaming making it a tough competitor to the BD80U. It sells for a more modest $1250. Lastly, the Sony KDL-46V5100 has 120Hz and Amazon Movies on Demand Internet connectivity. It sells for $1300.

LG 47LH50 LCD TV Review

2010-03-30T20:05:00.001-07:00

Netcast Entertainment Access is the big feature differential seperating the LH50 series from other 120Hz LCD models.

Test and Optimum Viewing Distance: 12 feet

See full
calibration results

Calibration: The 47LH50 calibrated excellently to D6500 due to expansive and easy to access white balance controls. To dial the TV in perfectly follow the following settings:

Picture Settings:
Picture Mode:	Expert 1
White Balance:	Warm
Brightness:	65
Contrast:	85
Color:	48
Tint:	G1
Sharpness:	H:52 V:52
Backlight:	50
Other Settings:
Dynamic Contrast:	Off
NR:	Off
Gamma:	High
Black Level:	Low
Real Cinema:	On
For complete picture setting including White Balance settings please see the 47LH50 Calibration page

See full HQV
test results

HQV Benchmark: Processor testing with the LH50 showed excellent results.

720p/1080i/1080p Picture Quality: A couple of differences we noticed right away with the 47LH50 was the improved anti glare screen which doesn't have such a detrimental effect on the black levels or viewing angle of the screen. Black levels remained acceptable and even somewhat saturated with HD material and the viewing angle problem is gone. There was excellent dark shadow detail when viewing the new Blu Ray release of Rocky.

A stunningly clear HD shot from Netflix fed TV series Lost.

See full Contrast
measurements

Black Level: Black Level/Contrast: Though certainly not the richest and deepest we've experienced, black levels on the 47LH50 are adequate and the excellent dark shadow gray scaling helps to make up for any deficiency in this area. LG lists a dynamic (read dubiously tested) contrast ratio of 80,000:1. Our post calibration ANSI contrast measured modest but respectable 167:1. This TV has great balance and during viewing we did not sense a lack of deep blacks or of bright whites during sunlit scenes.

This shot from Netflix HD fed Serenity shows off high brightness and great blacks in the same scene.

Up conversion from 480i: One of the foremost lessons to learn with this TV is to turn the 120Hz/240Hz TruMotion processing off when watching any film based content. Even on the low setting will present you with unwelcome added effects in motion scenes in particular. Strange "canned" background set visual information will appear and disappear depending on whether there is motion. With that out of the way, on to picture quality considerations with up conversion from 480i. The TV did a remarkable job with this process and displayed a beautiful picture with natural colors, good black levels and lots of detail.

Flesh tones are realistic in this shot from The Big Hit.

Dark Shadow Detail: With the new LH50 series, LG has managed to provide a TV with an anti glare matte finish and still provide plenty of dark shadow detail. I was happy with shadow detail in scenes from all our input sources. The hazy appearance of some past screens was not present.

Color Rendition/Color Accuracy: Rocky looks amazing on the LCD. Not too over saturated but just right. Where there is gray in a scene the TV is satisfied with letting the scene be gray. Colors that are meant to be subdued are displayed that way.

Viewing Angle/Off Axis Viewing: Much, much improved in this area, we measured viewing angle to about 110 degrees without significant contrast degradation.

Motion Lag: There is still some jerkiness present but it's slight compared to past models. With the TruMotion feature turned on there is very little motion lag so this feature is ideal to use for sports programming and games. When turning the feature off for film based content, there was slight side to side jerkiness but much improvement over past 2008 models.

False Contouring/ Mapping: With film based content there is lots of false contouring present when the TruMotion feature is on. So turn it off and there is little to complain of then.

Features: As mentioned above, the TruMotion (120hz/240hz) feature is a dominant feature of this TV. The feature performs well for sure, but should be turned off for film based and TV content. Sports programming and gaming are awesomely enhanced by the TruMotion feature. It will provide many unwelcome picture oddities with film based content. Unfortunately there is no discrete remote control button for turning this feature off. Follow these instructions:

Press the Menu Key
Then scroll to Picture and press Enter
Scroll down to Advanced Control and press Enter button
Another window will pop up
Scroll down to TruMotion 120Hz option and press Enter
Press the right arrow key to turn this feature off

The big key feature difference of the LH50 series LG with the LH50 is the LAN connection accessing the "Netcast Entertainment Access". This feature enables Netflix Instant Streaming video, Yahoo, and YouTube content without having to feed through a computer to receive it. The Ethernet ability is right there in the TV! While we enjoyed watching Netflix HD content on the 47LH50, we were miffed by one very important oversight – the lack of picture menu controls for the LAN connection. Without the picture menu option, we were forced to view the incoming Netflix content with the 120Hz feature ON! Since this feature takes out the natural motion blur in film based content, we were able to see all of that annoying unintended background information which is present with the 120Hz feature. This presents film based images with a canned, kitschy appearance that varies greatly with the content. Some movies just cannot be viewed pleasurably this way. That stated, it is a very cool feature especially if your a Netflix fan – allowing for easy connectivity. The feature set up was painless.

Connection to the Netflix streaming instant que provides lots of viewing options with the LG 47LH50.

On to other features.

There is a keen Picture Wizard feature which gives some basic calibration tools to allow users to adjust the 5 basic settings depending upon ambient room light. It's an interesting and somewhat useful feature that we have not encountered. Given the attached calibrations settings from us, you will not need it except for fine tuning.

The LH50 is Energy Star 3.0 rated.

Inputs: 4 HDMI inputs and USB 2.0 access, 2 component, and a 15 pin D-sub computer input rounds out an ample offering.

Aesthetic Considerations: LG has improved the looks of their TV offerings considerably with the LH50 series. The bezel is gloss black with a clear glass edge around the perimeter to give the impression of depth. The frame is not too wide and the screen has a matte finish. The TV comes with a lightweight semi circle gloss black stand that conveniently swivels side to side. When the TV is turned on there is a small red light that flashes then turns blue in the bottom right section of the frame, which can help locate the power switch in a dark room. It's also just a cool little effect. The bezel is 3.4" deep providing a good depth for wall mount applications.

Remote Control/Menu Functionality: The remote is simple and well designed, easy to use. The menu has graphics that make it enjoyable and easy to navigate. I do wish the the remote control had a discrete button option for tuning the TruMotion feature. This would make turning this feature off much easier. As well we like to see a discrete aspect ratio button on the remote for changing aspect ratios during DVD programming. The menu provides extremely friendly calibration white balance settings, so as a result we (and now you) can dial the set in perfectly for optimum viewing.

Audio Output: 10W X 10W speakers drive the sound from the invisible speaker system. This new audio system eliminates traditional speaker drivers and contains speaker actuators around the perimeter of the entire bezel. We found the sound a little tinny and hollow. Special effects were more dynamic and voluminous than voice. Overall there was some improvement in sound from prior models but still more room for improvement here. Volume levels seem inadequate and the sound experience can be muddy.

The Sony KDL-46Z5100 has an Ethernet connection port containing access to Amazon Video on Demand and other similar features such as 120Hz processing to the LG 47LH50. The Z5100 price tag is usually $100 to $200 more expensive than the LG. Samsung's LN46B650 sells for around the same price as the LG 47LH50 but does not contain an Ethernet connection. LG's 47LH50 series is basically the same TV but without the Ethernet connectivity and options that offers. This TV sells for around $100 less without that option. Add a point or two to the value rating if you plan on using the Netflix features.

Compare all our TV Reviews

Review Equipment Used: Sony Blu Ray BDP-S1 High Definition DVD player, Sony DVP-S50 DVD player, Sencore Color Pro 5000, Sencore AutoCal Pro ACP6500, Sencore signal generator.

Toshiba Regza 46XV645U Review

2010-03-30T20:04:00.000-07:00

Test and Optimum Viewing Distance: 12

See full
calibration results

Calibration: The Toshiba 46XV645U is a perfect example of how calibration can be essential to picture performance.

**Important Note: This TV comes out of the box tuned to Store calibration settings (100% Backlight and 100% Contrast). Tune to Home and follow the follow the following Picture Settings to Calibrate to D6500. For lighter room settings use these settings but increase brightness and contrast by 5 to 10%.

Picture Settings
Picture Mode	Movie
Color Temp	0
Brightness	24
Contrast	90
Color	16
Tint	-2
Sharpness	0
Backlight	30
For complete picture settings including White Balance see the 46XV645U Calibration Page

See full HQV
test results

720p/1080i/1080p HD Picture Quality: HD picture quality on the Toshiba XV645 is appealing, but not close to the best we've seen. Colors were much more subdued than many LCDs we've tested recently – adding realism. The HD presentation with this TV doesn't create that incredible contrast pop that we have enjoyed lately with some of our favorite TVs. As mentioned below in the Viewing Angle section, contrast is impaired at angles so viewing the picture from straight on is important.

This and the above shots from the Blu Ray of The Fifth Element shows saturated color but a light flesh tone presentation.

Up conversion from 480i: This picture quality test is importantly included due to its similarity with a cable or satellite non-HD digital signal. It's also a good test of this TVs 14 bit digital video processor. Black levels back off some compared to HD signals. There is more side to side jerky motion artifact apparent. With the right calibration softening up the picture some, it's not unbearable.

This natural outside shot from the 480i DVD Tristan and Isolde shows good brightness levels on the XV645U.

See full Contrast
measurements

Black Level/Contrast/Contrast Ratio: With HD content through HDMI input black levels appeared saturated from front and center. However at angles this was not the case, especially with 480i input (see viewing angles section below). As well, post calibration contrast measured an average 115 at varying backlight levels – a poor result. Black levels with 480i input was considerably lighter, especially at side angles.

Dark Shadow Detail: Blacks were over saturated occasionally causing a deficiency in shadow detail.

This shot from the Blu Ray Imax Blue Planet shows deep black saturation but weak shadow detail.

Color Rendition/Color Accuracy: Flesh tones were less flush on this TV than many we've tested recently. Color information was not very saturated and lacked the pop we've seen on many recent LCDs – probably due to lack of contrast.

Viewing Angle/Off Axis Viewing: The XV645 contains an effective anti glare screen which may contribute to side angle viewing issues. Black levels and contrast do begin to degrade early on this TV at around 30 degrees. The noticeable impairement gets worse as the viewing angle widens. Blacks get hazier as contrast is compromised, taking the punch out of colors.

Motion Lag: There are jerky side to side motion artifacts visible especially with 480i signals.

False Contouring/ Mapping: We did not note mapping and contouring issues with the Toshiba's picture.

Features: This TV has 120Hz enabled frame rate conversion called Clear Frame which is best suited for sports programming. When using the TV in the Game picture mode, this feature is automatically turned off, so obviously Toshiba does not think it well suited to gaming. We usually recommend turning this feature off for film based programming though we did not notice the incredibly distracting background effects seen on some other 120Hz rate TVs.

Other new features include FocaLight LED backlight technology which automatically adjusts the backlight on the LCD depending on room light conditions. This will extend the life of the TV if you choose to use the feature, but using our suggested calibration settings will do the same. With a 60,000 hour avg. life usage, as long as your not maxing out the contrast and backlight settings, it probably isn't a concern. A nifty new feature I enjoyed is the ½ mute feature, enabled by pressing the normal mute button on the remote. The feature cuts the volume output in half allowing you to somewhat continue to watch the program while attending to the incoming phone call, or hear the kids in the other room.

Video Aspect Ratio Sizing: The picture size button on the XV645 remote controls video aspect options: Full, Theater Wide 1, 2, 3, Native, and 4:3. The Theater Wide 2 option did a nice job of algorithmically scaling The Fifth Element from 16:9 showing letterboxes to full screen without visible stretching. This is a nice set of options.

Inputs: 3 HDMI, 2 Component, 2 Composite, PC

Aesthetic Considerations: The XV645U is nice looking with less than one and half inch bezel frame width on top and just over that on the sides. The thin black frame is appealing. There is a unique silver/gray design element on the bottom of the TV that gives a slight 3 dimensional effect. The Toshiba logo is lit front and center bottom when the TV is on (may be turned off). The TV has a nice wall mounting depth of 3.6" with the input connections in a cavity to avoid adding more. The included table top stand comes attached to the TV, but does not swivel.

Remote Control/Menu Funtionality: The 4 device universal remote is light and inexpensive feeling but has glow in the dark buttons and an ample set of option keys. The menu system is easy to use, however some of the more important options such as Advanced Picture Settings are well hidden and found by scrolling down to unseen areas in the Picture menu section. Once in Advanced Picture settings the user must continue scrolling down to unseen areas to access the important Clear Scan setting.

Locating the Clear Scan feature in the menu to turn it off can be challenging.

Audio Output: Sound output had a hollow, tinny note to it. Volume levels were not sufficient for a TV this size. The volume enhancement feature (found in Advanced Audio Settings) which we normally recommend, was in the On position out the box. This feature enhances voice based sound material. Not only did we not note an improvement with this feature turned on, voice output was very weak. This is one of those TV sound systems for which you will constantly tuning the volume up an down to hear voice, and turn down for surround volume.

The 46XV645U is well priced for its size and feature set - currently around $1200. With picture quality, and quality of those features thrown in to the mix, that becomes a wash. This price doesnt blow away some of the competition. The Samsung LN46B550 is priced the same also has fluorescent back lighting but no 120Hz rate option. The LN46B650 has the 120Hz rate but is priced a good bit more at $1500. LG's 47LH55 LCD has the 240Hz processing and is priced about $100 more. So Toshiba wins the contest for best price for features comparison (no use even include Sony in the contest).

Sharp LC-52E77U Reviews

2010-03-30T20:03:00.001-07:00

The Sharp LC-52E77U displayed this dark city scene from Blu Ray documentary Blue Planet with good definition though black levels degrade from side angle viewing.

Test and Optimum Viewing Distance: 15 feet

See full
calibration results

Calibration Notes: The LC-52E77U contains fairly easy to use calibration tools including white balance settings controls without having to access the service menu. The E77U contains a BLUE push that we found difficult to reduce. See extended Calibration Notes here. Below are are final picture settings to bring the user close to D6500 without accessing the service menu:

Picture Settings
Picture Mode	User
Color Temp	Low
Brightness	-12
Contrast	+36
Color	+1
Tint	+1
Sharpness	-1
Backlight	+6
OPC	Off
For complete picture settings including white balance see our LC-52E77U Calibration Page

480i DVD and Broadcast Viewing: As difficult and unpredictable as the E77U series is with calibration, the same applies to the picture experience. At times the LC-52E77U had ultra saturated looking blacks and great contrast. At others the picture appeared washed out during dark scenes. There is a lot of processing going on with this TV at many different levels. The internal picture doctor is hard at work. Therefore we viewed a lot of source material on it to try to get a clear understanding of the strengths and weaknesses. There are motion artifacts of varieties – swimmy effects with side to side jerky motion. At times there is flicker and background noise. In other scenes the presentation looked fantastic, clear, vivid and colorful. The 3D-Y/C feature is available for analog signals and is intended to minimize dot crawl and cross color noise.

This shot from the 480i DVD of Sea Biscuit shows a vivid realistic picture, with goog black levels and color.

See full HQV
test results

720p/1080i/1080p Picture Quality: HD picture presentation from the E77U series was clean and sharp and the colors are very saturated. There is still a jerky side to side motion artifact effect present. Since there is a lot of processing going on with the internal video chip sets we recommend turning the Sharpness control all the way down to nil. As well, tune the Digital Noise Reduction feature to the Low setting. Except for fast motion sports programming turn the Fine Motion Enhanced (120 Hz feature) to the Off position. We did not note any of the kitchy, card board cutout effects from this feature as with many 120hz TVs. The feature does however introduce some depth reduction. Then lastly, the OPC (optimum picture control) feature effectively increases and decreases contrast and brightness (through backlight manipulation) presentation based on the content and your room viewing conditions. In a brightly lit room I would leave this feature turned On. Otherwise, turn it off to eliminate as much processing noise as possible.

This shot from Blu Ray documentary Blue Planet displays great definition, color, and contrast.

See full Contrast
measurements

Black Level/Contrast: Overall ANSI post calibration contrast measured a respectable 166:1. The black levels from front and center appeared deep and saturated and the TV seemed plenty bright.

This shot from Sea Biscuit shows good brightness in the background and yet saturated black levels in the foregroung - a recipe for good contrast.

Dark Shadow Detail: Though black levels are saturated we feel shadow detail is weak. The 52E77U seems to opt for the inky blacks in areas where more detail is needed. Call it over saturation. The OPC feature substantially helps this issue but may cause other video noise to be introduced.

Viewing Angle/Off Axis Viewing: Black appearance begins to take on a purplish hue at around 45% on the E77U. The viewing angle is actually quite good all the way to 80 degrees (from the side) but with the noted contrast and black distortion.

Motion Lag: There was notable jerkiness in scenes with side to side movement. The effects were reduced with the 120hz Fine Motion Enhanced feature turned on, but were still present.

False Contouring/ Mapping: Our HQV testing did expose some moire' pattern in the stadium seating test, though we did not see much false contouring in our video test material.

Features: There are many effective advanced picture control features in the 52E77U. Knowing when to use them will be tricky. As mentioned above this TV has 120hz frame rate conversion called Fine Motion Enhanced which was effective in not adding a lot of unnecessary background information as many we've tested.. The included anti glare screen is effective but may hurt black levels at angles. There is an OPC (optimum picture control) setting in the picture menu if the user wants automatic adjustment of the backlighting for varying room light conditions and content. This feature is controversial as picture purists may want to keep it off. However I found it to work surpringly well and it may be quite useful for brightly lit rooms or rooms in which room light is changing regularly. The LC-52E77U's features are well thought out and effective.

Inputs: Very sufficient with PC 15 pin D-sub, 4 HDMI, USB port, 2 Component.

Aesthetic Considerations: The thin gloss bezel frame is shapely and attractive with thin 1.5” beveled edges on the sides and top. There is a dark brown accented bottom (nearly unnoticeable – it looks black in the room). The included table top stand is also attractive and conveniently swivels side to side. Depth is somewhat inhibiting at 4.4.”

Remote Control/Menu Functionality: The remote control has a small Blu Ray function box for the DVD Pop up and title list. Overall, the remote buttons are much too small. The menu button is a little dot. Despite using the remote control frequently, it was difficult to become comfortable with locating important keys. The menu system is small, cryptic and difficult to see from a distance, though it is easy to navigate and with plenty of features. The user will need to scroll down the Picture Menu to the Advanced Picture Menu for most of the optional picture features.

Audio Output: There is great volume and upper range output on this TV. Sharp has one of the best audio presentations in the business. The 15W X 15W speakers will surprise you. We could hear clearly at 30% output and the voice clarity is top notch.

Video Aspect Ratio Sizing: 4:3, Zoom, Stretch, and Dot by Dot round out the effective options.

The LC-52E77U is priced very aggresively by Sharp at around $1500. Sharp has lowered prices of their LCD TV lineups to become a price/value leader from what was a premium price manufacturer. Therefore, I believe they are offering a lot of value compared to the competition. The Samsung LN55B650 is a good competitor comparison at $1900. LG's 55LH40 is priced around $1700 and has some similar specs while the LG 55LH55 series has a few better specs and picture quality and is $1800. The Sony KDL-52V5100 has ample specs and is priced around $1700 as well. We will not get into a 50" plasma comparison as plasma still has the much better value in quality to price. These comparisons are one of the reason we have recently begun pointing to some of Sharp's capable lineup in our editors choice value recommendations.

Samsung LN46B650 Review

2010-03-30T20:02:00.002-07:00

Test and Optimum Viewing Distance: 12

See full
calibration results

Calibration: The Samsung B650 was fairly calibration friendly without going into the service menu. There was a hitch at 40 ire but the TV performed well at 30 and 50 ire so this should not be an issue when viewing. The standard setting has a major blue push. The Movie setting allows adjustment of all picture setting options.

Picture Settings
Picture Mode:	Movie
Color Temp:	Warm 2
Brightness:	47
Contrast:	95
Color:	49
Tint:	G49/R51
Sharpness:	0
Backlight:	7
For advanced picture settings including white balance see our calibration page

Up conversion from 480i and 480p: One important note to always remember with this TV is to turn the 120Hz feature off when viewing anything but live sports programming. Doing so will save you the unpleasant kitchy cardboard cutout effect that this feature creates by taking the natural motion blur out of film based content. Finding the control to turn the feature off is not easy. See instructions below under Features section. Up conversion clarity is crisp and defined on the LN46B650. The picture is amazingly well defined without the excessive motion artifacts that can exist with many TVs when up converting from lower signals. There is a lot of range in the TVs ability to display lower end signals. This leads one to the conclusion that the B650 contains very high quality processing chip sets and indeed our HQV processing tests prove this to be the case. Black levels can get a little over saturated at times and there is a blue push with the panel in general which will cause the same effect when viewing programming occasionally. One drawback was continued judder effect (stuttering image) on side to side panning scenes. This is otherwise called motion lag and occurs more prominently but necessarily when turning off the 120Hz.

This shot from Friday Night Lights shows crisp detail from a 480i signal source.

See full HQV
test results

720p/1080i/1080p Picture Quality: After turning off the 120Hz feature, high definition content appears vibrant, realistic and extremely crisp. Blacks are rich for an LCD and contrast is a strength. One of the highlight features of the LN46B650 is its picture depth perception. Samsung has been unparalled in this area lately. I believe this is due to the companies Ultra Clear Panel technology which does allow for some glare on the screen but the tradeoff with great depth and rich colors is a winner.

From the Blu Ray of 300 a sharp defined image.

See full Contrast
measurements

Black Level/Contrast/Contrast Ratio: Contrast ratio measures a respectable 187:1. We believe contrast is enhanced by the Ultra Clear Panel that Samsung uses for this LCD. Blacks appear rich and there is no lack of brightness.

This image from Friday Night Lights shows excellent contrast, and shadow detail from the 480i DVD.

Dark Shadow Detail: Blacks can over power dark material at times causing a little deficiency in shadow detail. It certainly is not what we could classify as a problem though.

Color Rendition/Color Accuracy: Colors are bright, rich and vibrant but not oversaturated. The color rendition of this TV is exceptional.

Viewing Angle/Off Axis Viewing: Off angle viewing is very good and the TV continues to display a deep image even at 45 degrees. Contrast and black levels do not degrade substantially at angles.

Motion Lag: There is continued and prominent motion lag and judder effect especially after turning off the 120Hz Auto Motion Plus feature. Regardless of this, leave the feature on for sports programming but nothing else.

A shot from Friday Night Lights. Motion lag and jerkiness is increased when turning off the 120Hz feature but this is still the best option with film. Live football would be another matter.

False Contouring/ Mapping: There was some false contouring and mapping present in a few scenes from Friday Night Lights. This did not appear to be a frequent problem and it did not occur during HQV testing.

Features: As mentioned above, turning off the 120Hz Auto Motion Plus feature for all but sports programming is essential. To do so follow these instructions:

Press the Menu button
Select the Picture Setting option
Scroll down to Picture Options and select
Scroll down to Auto Motion Plus and select
Press the right arrow key and scroll select the off option

Next up the B650 LCD series has an Internet widget feature with Yahoo!, Flicker, You Tube, and others. It's one of those features that you will scroll through and glance at once and never use again. The options are currently unappealing, but it's nice to have the LAN connection for future proofing. The B650 series is DLNA compliant which allows various devices in the DLNA network to communicate with one another.

Video Aspect Ratio Sizing: Aspect ratio processing and sizing was spot on non-distorted from a variety of input sources. Selection is 16:9, 4:3, Zoom 1, 2, 3.

Inputs: 4 HDMI, USB, LAN, Component

Aesthetic Considerations: The B650 has a unique design with a wide V shape and subtle ruby red Touch of Color graduating more pronounce near the bottom of the screen. The heavy, sturdy included table top stand has a clear neck and swivels side to side. Even the stand has the subtle graduated Touch of Color. Overall it's an interesting, pleasing design that gives an expensive air to the TV.

Remote Control/Menu Functionality: The menu system on the on the LN52A850 has an excellent little tutorial which helps the user understand what each function does. It's a slick looking- transparent menu but the scrolling navigation wheel is not fast to use. It's a little cumbersome when you want to make a quick adjustment. Another negative here is the gloss black remote which shows fingerprints too readily. The source button controls input selection. The p. size button controls aspect ratio.

At $1450 this LCD is attractively priced especially for its picture quality. Competition comes from the LG 47LH50 which has Internet Netflix on Demand and 240Hz and sells for less at $1200. Another tough competitor is the Panasonic TC-P46G10 with a similar picture quality rating and priced at $1250. Other than that and Samsung's own plasma offerings, this Samsung will have about the best price in the market for price/quality consideration.

Sony Bravia KDL-52XBR9 Review

2010-03-30T20:02:00.001-07:00

A shot of an SI Swimsuit edition clip of Marissa Miller on the set - available from the Sony XBR's Bravia Internet connection.

Test and Optimum Viewing Distance: 15 feet

See full
calibration results

Calibration Notes: The XBR9 was more difficult to calibrate than many recent TVs. There is error occuring in varying ire points creating a condundrum in where to tighten up color and where to just allow it to fall where it will. Gain controls may only be reduced on the XBR9, when we needed to drive blue up. We ended up with error in the 40, 50, 60 range opting to let the middle float and keep the ends of the scale on scale. Off axis viewing dramatically affects blacks and grays when calibrating - making calibration difficult when color shifts at varying angles. See Viewing Angle section for more.

Sony KDL-52XBR9 Picture Settings
Backlight	7
Picture	85
Brightness	55
Color	49
Hue	R1
Color Temp	Warm 1
Sharpness	Minimum
Noise Reduction	Off
Motion Flow	On
For complete picture settings including white balance settings, see the calibration page.

See full HQV
test results

720p/1080i/1080p Picture Quality: HD picture quality was much crisper and colors are more saturated. Blacks become slightly hazy at side angles but straight appear plenty saturated. I beleive the anti glare technology introduced into the LCD panel creates most of the weakness issues with color calibrations and off angle viewing. Dont misunderstand, the HD picture from Blu Ray and Broadcast HD was clear, vivid and colorful as always, but alas the image does not appear as deep as some of the better pictures we've viewing lately.

Arnold in a scene from the Blu Ray version of Predator. There was a lack of depth in the picture presentation from the XBR9 LCD - even from HD sources.

480i DVD and Broadcast Viewing: Generally, we were not all that impressed with the picture quality with 480i signals. Since the majority of programming we watch is not HD, this is an important consideration. While the 240Hz feature did a nice job at times with smoothing out side to side panning, there was still jerkiness present at times. We were pleased that the 240Hz feature did not introduce the cardboard cutout effect that occurs with some TVs with high Hz rate processing. Colors did not pop enough, and the picture was generally too subdued and dark when viewing a lot of 480i programming. And lastly, there was a good bit of grain/motion artifacts visible. During 480 HQV processor testing we noted average noise reduction which coincided with our content viewing.

See full Contrast
measurements

Black Level/Contrast: Post calibration ANSI contrast measured an unexceptional 148:1. That's a lazy figure for today's better TV set. Black levels can appear oversaturated and hazy at the same time with some 480i images - hampering shadow detail. Rich, deep blacks may be found with the best HD content out there - but they are not a common feature of this TV.

This scene from Kill Bill presents difficult issues between brightness, black levels and dark shadow detail options.

Dark Shadow Detail: Oversaturation of blacks in dark scenes causes loss of shadow detail at times especially with normal broadcast or 480i programming. With HD content this issue pretty much goes away the the TV does a good job.

Color Rendition/Color Accuracy: Flesh tones appeared quite realistic after calibration, but all colors seem too subdued. Despite not being able to dial into D6500 perfectly during calibration, we didnt find many problems with color presentation.

Viewing Angle/Off Axis Viewing: There is a big problem with color and contrast loss when viewing this set from just 25 degrees above the center axis. Grayscale colors change, and contrast decreases. When viewing from direct eye level, this occurs from side angle viewing starting between 35 and 40 degrees. The TV can be viewed from severe side angles, but contrast is reduced and colors will be less rich and less accurate.

Notice the color introduction and variation at angles compared to center axis of this split grayscale ramp used during our calibration excercizes.

Motion Lag: There was some shutter effect (picture shaking) with 480i signals, but overall the 240Hz Motionflow feature did a nice job of reducing, but not eliminating, side to side jerkiness found with so many LCD TVs.

False Contouring/ Mapping: We noted only slight banding and false contouring during HQV stadium seating testing.

Obviously one of the major features of this TV is the 240Hz option. The fact that we could actually use this feature with film and broadcast programming without unwelcomed background information is a major plus. This prevents having to flip the feature off and on depending on viewing content, which is the case with some other branded TVs with the high Hz rate. However, the 240Hz rate Motionflow feature was not as powerful as on some branded TVs with the same feature, therefore the XBR9 did not do as effective a job of cutting out motion lag and side to side judder effect. There is the now standard inclusion of a USB port for digital pics and videos from Sony cameras or flash memory drives. TV guide on screen is another present feature which gives the option of a guide with over-the-air antenna or with cable service but without the cable box. Internet features are discussed below.

Internet Connectivity: Use the inbuilt LAN connection to connect to the Bravia Internet Video, which serves as a gateway to select Internet conent including some on-demand options. These include CBS, Sports Illustrated, Netflix (coming soon), and Amazon on Demand. Why anyone would want to watch a 45 second clip from varying CBS shows we're not sure. These appear more like advertising for CBS to get people interested in their network television series. Some of these options may actually be useful in the future and not just good for a quick run through. Bravia Internet widgets allow the user to access proprietary weather, stock, and news information through the Internet.

A nice shot of Marissa Miller being shot for Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition - one of the more interesting options available on the XBR9's Bravia Internet Access.

The SI option in full.

Inputs: 4 HDMI, 2 component, a LAN connection for Internet, and a 15 pin VGA connection, USB port.

Aesthetic Considerations: The XBR9 has simplisticly beautiful aesthetics with the thin gloss black bezel framing measuring only 1.25 inches in width. This type of design does not take away from the on screen picture and allows for considerably flexible when planning a space for the TV.

Remote Control/Menu Functionality: There are ample keys on the backlit remote control. Buttons are a good size and easy to use once you get used to placement. The Xcross Bar menu system is getting a little dated. While the it looks nice, I find it slow and cumbersome to use. There are tons of options to play with in the varying menus on this TV.

Audio Output: We found the speakers very powerful for a thin TV with a small frame. Volume at the 30% level was plenty ample to fill our review room. Seperation between background noise and voice seemed much better on this TV than most we review.

Video Aspect Ratio Sizing: The wide button in the remote controls video aspect ratio with options zoom, wide zoom, normal, 4:3 and full.

At $2200 this is a fairly pricey LCD for its quality and feature set. The Samsung LN-52B750 doesnt beat it by much in price at around $2100 with an almost identical feature set. The LG 55LH55 is also very comperable and at $1700 competes very well on price. The SharpLC-52E77U LCD is a good competitor at $1600. Even though it has a 120Hz rate you really cant see a difference between 120Hz and 240Hz. And let's include a good ole plasma in the equation. How about a SamsungPN50B650. Since plasma TVs have a naturally high Hz rate they normally easily beat LCDs in the motion lag category. At $1200 this is a tough competitor even considering the 2" difference.

Samsung UN55C7000 Review - 3D Capable LED TV

2010-03-30T20:01:00.000-07:00

Ray Romano on the Hank Haney Project by the Golf Channel in HD.

HIGHLIGHTS

Strengths

Aesthetics – 1.2" depth with 1" bezel. Great looking TV.
New Swivel quadrapod stand
Good deep black levels – Avg. to good contrast.
Excellent color saturation
Optional 240/120Hz feature for sports programming
Great connectivity options for such a thin TV
3-D Enabled for future programming

Weaknesses

Proprietary Wifi Internet TV Network
240Hz feature with Film based content (turn off feature)
Price
Difficult ISF calibration
At times over saturation of colors
Slightly Weak Volume/Audio output
Blue tone inconsistency across gray scales

Test and Optimum Viewing Distance: 15 feet

See full
calibration results

Calibration Settings: Calibrating white balance was somewhat difficult on this TV. Blue tones continue to lack consistency in these edge lit Samsung LEDs, To dial in close to D6500 follow the following picture settings: Click here for extended notes and technical information regarding calibration.

Picture Settings
Picture Mode:	Movie
Color Temp:	Warm 2
Brightness:	44
Contrast:	93
Color:	43
Tint:	G47/R53
Sharpness:	10
Backlight:	7
Picture Settings
Black Tone:	Off
Dynamic Contrast:	Off
Gamma:	0
Flesh Tone:	Off
Edge Enhancement:	Off
Digital NR:	Auto
HDMI Black Level:	Low
Film Mode:	Auto 1
Color Filter:	Off
For complete picture setting including White Balance settings please see the UN55C7000 Calibration page

480i DVD and Broadcast Viewing: For any film or broadcast TV non-sports based material start by turning off the 120Hz/240Hz rate feature as follows: Click Menu/picture/Scroll down to Picture Options/Press enter/Scroll down to AutoMotionPlus 240Hz/Press Enter/Scroll or press to Off position. It is important to turn this feature off (see more on this feature under features section below).

Though we enjoyed this picture presentation from the 55C7000 for the most part, this scene from the HD Golf Channels Hank Haney Project shows some oversaturated whites (overbright) in the golfer's shirts and pants.

3-D Content Viewing Note: At CES 2010 we had our first chance to see this TV in action with 3-D content from DirecTV. There was notable eye strain as scenes changed. I found myself blinking a lot and started to get a headache fairly rapidly as my eyes tried to focus and refocus. It was not a smooth viewing experience. The upside to this is that I believe the tired eye experience was primarily due to the content from DirecTV and not the fault of the TV. I believe the content was rapidly patched together for the show and not likely typical of future 3-D content.

HD 1080p Picture Quality: There is nothing subdued about this LED TV, from its super thin good looks to its super saturated colors. Blacks are rich and deep and colors vibrant if not over powering at times. Some dark shadow detail is lost and and subtle color notes forgotten. But it's a colorful picture many will relish. Read our extended picture notes below.

Colors are showing vibrant and with well defined contrast in the zebras in this HD Discovery scene.

See full Contrast
measurements

Black Level/Contrast: With color information both light and dark appearing so deeply saturated, contrast effect is excellent. Blacks appear inky and sometimes lose dark shadow detail. White light sometimes is distractingly too bright. Contrast appears more intense on the screen than the average of 191:1 post calibration ANSI checkerboard pattern contrast that we measured – probably due to the effects of the LED backlighting and saturated colors. See calculations here.

Dark Shadow Detail: As a result of the super saturated blacks, shadow detail can get lost in some scenes. In others, it was fine.

Saturated blacks dominate the golfers outfits leaving little dark shadow detail.

Color Rendition/Color Accuracy: Color saturation is a strength of these new LED backlit Samsung LCDs. Colors are super vibrant even if on the unrealistic side at times. It's what our society (maybe not so much purists) likes these days. On rare occasions there is some over saturation within blacks.

Rich saturated colors dominate greens even on a cloudy day when displayed on the 55C7000.

Viewing Angle/Off Axis Viewing: Contrast degrades at around 45 degrees off axis which is a slight improvement over last years model and average for an LED backlit LCD. An eyeball estimate of the decrease in contrast is around 20% (this is impossible to measure.) One positive is that contrast does not degrade more as the viewing angle widens past this initial 45 degrees. The screen remains perfectly viewable even at from side angles (with the reduced contrast).

Motion Lag: The UN55C7000 did a good job eliminating motion lag and judder with the 240Hz feature turned on. However, turning the Automotion Plus feature off does introduce some side to side judder (jerkiness). Neverthless, we recommend this action for especially film based DVDs and movies on broadcast TV.

False Contouring/ Mapping: Processor testing proved very positive for the C7000 series. However, we noted false grain and "mapping" in some older 480i DVD content.

See full HQV
test results

Processor Testing: See extended Samsung UN55C7000 processor tests here. The TV tested very well when we ran it through a series of processor video board testing.

3-D Compatibility: Obviously, this is a strong new feature as many early adaptors will want this feature. As well, the manufacturers are charging a premium price in anticipation of its popularity. We tested this feature at CES 2010 as noted above in the PQ section. Some questions remain: What will be the effective resolution from HD content from this 240Hz LED TV? We anticipate something around 800 lines of resolution and not full 1080p HD.

Inputs: Amazingly with this thin screen Samsung has managed to fit 4 HDMI slots, a PC slot, a LAN Cat 5 slot (for Internet connection), 2 USB ports, and a component video input.

Aesthetic Considerations: The 55C7000 comes with a 15 to 20 degree swivel quadrapod (our word) table top stand. The stand is heavy, sturdy and gives and expensive quality with its gloss chrome metallic finish. The new 4 legged stand is a gutsy move and I like it. There are accompanying screws to further secure the stand to the TV. The super thin 1.2" screen depth is accompanied by an improved 1" bezel frame surrounding the screen. This is an improvement of an inch over last years model. The bezel frame itself comes in a new Touch of Color called Mystic Earth but which is a charcoal gray color. The frame really appears gloss black/charcoal gray.

Remote Control/Menu Funtionality: The backlit push button remote control for the 55C7000 is simple, basic and straightforward without the flash of the highest end Samsung models. This standard remote control contains a discrete button called P. Size for changing the video aspect ratio. The overlaid Menu system is very attractively laid out and thorough, but slow and cumbersome to navigate.

Audio Output: Sound volume levels seem weak from the 15W X 15W built in speakers. We can understand the challenges for speaker placement in a 1.2" deep TV. For a majority of programming changing the mode to movie, and utilizing the Clear Voice feature will help a lot to improve voice tone in DVD and broadcast material. SRS TruSurround is a useful feature for HD content but it doesnt help voice tone. Overall, audio delivery from the UN55C7000 was slightly better than last years model, which was not impressive.

Features: The Samsung UN55C7000 is loaded with extra features, some surprising, others more useful. AutoMotionPlus "240Hz" Refresh Rate: This is a true 240Hz with greatly reduces motion lag and judder in sports programming. But that's the only format for which we recommend it. Media Play: Use this feature connected through USB to keep picture and video files. Clear Voice, SRS and Movie sound options are listed above under Audio Output. We mention the new 3-D ready feature under the PQ section above. Click here for an overview of all the new features on this TV.

Internet Connectivity: The 55C7000 series expands the list of potential Internet partners with Blockbuster, USA Today, Netflix, VUDU on Demand, as well as the previously offered Yahoo news, Flikr, witter, Yahoo Finance, Yahoo Video. These options are nice improvements from last years package and make it more viable.. Response time is still a little slow when clicking on the various options. This feature is wireless with an optional accesssory.

Power Consumption: The 55C7000 meets new energy conservation requirements for green design concepts to meet Energy Star 4.0 requirements.

Media Play: Use this feature connected through USB to keep picture and video files.

Clear Voice, SRS and Movie sound options are listed above under Audio Output.

Video Aspect Ratio Sizing: 16:9, 4:3, Zoom 1 &2, Wide Fit, Screen Fit round out a complete set of options for viewing modes controlled by P. Size button on the remote.

Price Considerations: At around $3000 at local retailers, this is no inexpensive proposition. It is one of the first TVs out with 3-D compatibility and a premium is currently being asked for that feature, but dont rush home expecting to watch 3-D content on it yet. It demands a premium for some of Samsungs newest technology including 1.2" depth, LED backlighting, Internet connectivity with expanded options, a gorgeous heavy table top stand, and it's one of the best looking panels we've seen. Competition hails from the picture quality focused Sony XBR-52HX900, the local dimming 240Hz/480Hz LG 55LE8500, and the super thin Sharp 52LE920UN. And let's not forget many other Samsung offerings such as the UN55C8000 and UN55C9000.

Panasonic Viera TC-P46G15 1080p Plasma TV

2010-03-30T20:00:00.000-07:00

Panasonic TC-P46G15 Features Review

The G15 series contains many of the top end features that will make this line one of the higher priced plasmas on the market. The G15 series is an update of the G10 series plasmas. They offer the same features and panel as the G10 in a slimer, more attractive case.

Of course there is 1080p resolution along with SD Memory card slots which allow playback from video recorders and digital camera's that are compatible with Viera Cast , Panasonic's proprietary menu system. While we give no credence to manufacturer contrast ratios, Panasonic boasts an improved native contrast on this series to 40,000:1. All this really means is that the contrast will be better than previous contrasts but we'll have to wait to review the product to report how much. After calibration to D6500 contrast figures will likely be around 400 to 500:1.

This high end G15 series is also THX certified which is an expensive and time consuming ad on which has relatively small payback according to Consumer Electronics Advisory Group's editor Robert Wiley. "This is an unproven specification enhancement which we feel ads a lot of cost and headache to the product without much return on investment. It's basically a certification to make sure the product calibrates to THX's specifications."

See our review of the TC-P46G10 for coverage of the G15's panel and feature set.

Panasonic Viera TC-P50S2 1080p Plasma TV

2010-03-30T19:59:00.000-07:00

Panasonic TC-P50S2 Features Review

The Viera S2 series from Panasonic appears to share in the affordable 1080p plasma category with the U2 series. Available in larger sizes than the U2 series these plasmas feature a 1080p panel with Panasonic's 600Hz Sub-Field Drive and an anti reflective filter for using the TV in bright rooms. Viera Link allows a single remote to use with any connected Viera Link products.

3 HDMI Inputs, 2 USB Ports, PC Input and Viera Image Viewer round out the feature set of the TC-P50S2.

We've noticed Panasonic plasma TVs improving the brightness of its TVs over the past couple of years. Apparently, 2010 will continue this trend as Panasonic is still gaining on LCD technology in the brightness area. Panasonic representatives explained that 2010 model will be still brighter than 2009 models with the new NEO PDP while still going for a deeper black dimension.

Panasonic did not appear to concentrate on the super thin TV presentation at CES 2010 as did many of the LCD manufacturers. Though we did not measure depth in the new Panasonic lineup it looked to be about the same as 2009 on the series at around a 3.5" depth. Panasonic stated that it was not a big focus this year. This will likely translate to very attractive price points on the 2010 Panasonic plasma models.

LG 50PG25 Review

2010-03-30T19:58:00.004-07:00

INTRODUCTION: LG 50PG25

This is a second tier model in LG's 50" plasma 2008/2009 lineup. So the TV has some budget conscious constraints as our review below will point out. All 2008 LG plasma TVs claim a dynamic contrast ratio of 1,000,000:1 and this series plasma has a native contrast of 20,000:1. Some of the features are effective and some not so much. The Fluid Motion and Video Noise Reduction features do not seem to have much effect on performance while the Clear Voice technology and Gamma picture function do work very well. It also contains some of the other common enhancements found in all of LG's new plasma lineup such as Clear Voice technology which enhances and amplifies the human voice element in programming with lots of background noise or music. There are 3 AV modes for preset picture viewing – sports, games, and cinema and the housing for the plasma contains the new invisible 10W X 10W speaker design with SRS Tru Surround technology. Resolution is 1024 X 768 (720p). The depth of these newer models has been reduced to 3.4". There are 3 HDMI input options on this plasma television.

PICTURE QUALITY RATING: 89/100

Test and Optimum Viewing Distance: 10 feet

Up conversion from 480i and 480p: Viewing the recent 480i release of 3:10 to Yuma starring Russel Crow was a pleasere on this plasma as it displays very natural earth tones and good dark shadow detail. This is a "refined" 480i DVD so not as difficult to produce a good picture from as some older DVDs but the LG 50PG25 did a fine job of producing great images. At times and with some 480i sources we noted the 50PG25 budget oriented chip sets struggling to up convert without grain and background noise. This is typical for a budget plasma or LCD and one reason the higher end units demand a higher price tag. Flesh tones were natural though not the best we've seen.

The LG 50PG25's up conversion processing did a nice job displaying smooth lines,
and excellent light transition in 3:10 to Yuma.

720p/1080i/1080p Picture Quality: The 50PG25 is a 1024 X 768 plasma TV and therefore shows best in 1080i resolution. The HD picture during Safari scenes from our Blu Ray Dolby test disc had no problem displaying smooth fast motion scenes in vibrant colors. I have see better definition and color rendition and there is a subtle lack of pop to color information. However, this is a budget plasma TV and therefore is not expected to contain premium processing. I do like the fact that the plasma does not compromise color information by overcompensating in bright areas as many TVs these days make the mistake of doing. I would rather the picture be accurate and understated than have sections of oversaturated images.

The 50PG25 displayed slightly muted but realistic colors as
viewed in this HD shot from Safari.

HQV Processor Testing: The LG 50PG25 performed very well during our Video Resolution Loss Testing showing no dithering in vertical or horizontal bars. There were just slight jaggies noted near the horizontal axis in the Jaggies test. Testing showed that 1080i is certainly the best resolution for this television as it is with most. Surprisingly there was some jerkiness (similar to motion lag) in our Film Resolution Loss Stadium seating test when the scene pans slowly side to side. This is unusual for a plasma TV. There was little to no moire' pattern noted in the seating.

Black Level: The LG 50PG25 has average black levels but allow good dark shadow detail.

Dark Shadow Detail: Black information did not oversaturate darker scenes yielding good shadow detail in clothing and night scenes. The Gamma setting is useful in this regard and can be adjusted depending on room light conditions.

The plasma displayed good shadow detail in this HD shot of Elephants
in Safari. Notice the wrinkles defined.

Color Rendition/Color Accuracy: Color information was somewhat more subtle and muted in HD content than expected. With 480i signals I thought this plasma performed admirably enough with regard to color. It was pretty good especially in a darker room environment.

The LG 50PG25 displayed warm, realistic but not overwhelming
color in 3:10 to Yuma

Viewing Angle/Off Axis Viewing: As with most plasma TVs the viewing angle for the 42PG25 was exceptional – about 160 degrees.

Exceptions: The Video Noise Reduction and Fluid Motion features seem to have little to no effect in testing.

Motion Lag: Surprisingly there was some jerkiness in our side to side panning Film Resolution Loss Test (stadium). However, we did not notice or detect it during fast moving film content.

FEATURES RATING: 91/100

Video Aspect Ratio Sizing: Aspect ratio processing and sizing was spot on non-distorted from a variety of input sources. Selection is auto, 16:9, 4:3, Zoom 1, 2. Zoom 1 and 2 are actually justified sizing options for a variety of widescreen signals as opposed to just zoom options. We found them useful and effective.

Inputs: 3 HDMI inputs, 2 component, one 15 pin D sub (for computer) and a USB port round out a generous supply of input compatibility.

Aesthetic Considerations: This is a very nice looking plasma TV with a relatively thin frame and a single layer glass design that gives a uniform appearance. Speakers are hidden and we measure the plasma at just over 3.4" which makes this an ideal wall mount TV. The subtly attractive ON/Off button is lit in blue in the bottom right section of the frame. A good looking accompanying swivel table stand completes a well done job on design.

Remote Control/Menu Functionality: The LG 42PG25 menu functionality has the same options as much higher end LG LCD and plasma and for that reason is a good value. It's one of the easiest menu systems to navigate and use on the market. The non-backlit remote control is fairly complete with the exception of a lacking aspect ratio button on the interface. Otherwise, it too is easy to use. As mentioned above there is a 10 point multi adjustment for White Balance.

Audio Output: The LG 50PG25 contains dual 10W speakers which are housed in the bottom section of the plasma with sound emanating from the bottom of the plasma. At first we thought the sound was pretty poor overall during film DVD content. However, turning on the SRS Tru Surround function enriched the sound somewhat. But the most important feature regarding sound is LG's Clear Voice Technology which allows voice frequency material to increase in volume over surround noise. It's an effective feature that works and the user will want to activate it through the easy to use menu.

Features: I like the effect of the non-reflective structure of the plasma pixels. It does help with non-glare considerations. This plasma contains all of the features found in the PG20 series plasma. However, there is an additional USB 2.0 input port. As on all of the new LG plasma TVs lifespan to average half life has been increased to 100,000 hrs. The PG25 plasma series also begins design upgrades to a single layer front glass panel with no bezel creases for a crisper appeal. The number of HDMI inputs is also increased to 4 on this plasma (three in the back and one on the side.) Highlight features are Gamma setting adjustment, and Clear Voice technology.

VALUE RATING: 98.5/100

Televisions in the higher end range are getting so good that budget conscious models sometimes fail to dazzle even though they do a fine job as a journeyman. The LG 50PG25 has very nice aesthetics with the streamlined no bezel edge single layer glass design. The frame is thin and attractive and at just over 3.4" in depth this is good budget model for any room. At $1200 it is the best deal out there in a 50" plasma for the budget wary. There are a few noted drawbacks such as non stellar upconversion yielding some background noise and colors that dont blow you away. But heck, for a couple hundred less than Panasonic and Samsung equal level competitors take this unit rather than an inferior 3rd tier Vizio product.

Compare all our TV Reviews

OVERALL RATING: 91.88/100

See our Detailed Calibration
for the LG 50PG25

Review Equipment Used: Sony Blu Ray BDP-S1 High Definition DVD player, Sony DVP-S50 DVD player, Sencore Color Pro 5000, Sencore Auto Cal Pro, Sencore signal generator, Sencore VP403.

Panasonic Viera TC-P50X1 Plasma Review

2010-03-30T19:58:00.003-07:00

Model: Panasonic TC-P50X1
Description: 720p resolution HD plasma TV
Resolution: 1366 X 768
Reviewer: Jack Burden and Robert Wiley
Date: Summer 2009

Test and Optimum Viewing Distance: 13 feet

See full
calibration results

Calibration: Follow the following picture settings to dial in the TC-P50X1 very close to D6500.

Picture Settings: Starting from the Warm picture setting option:

Picture:	+80
Brightness:	+68
Color:	+47
Tint:	-4
Sharpness:	+15

See full HQV
test results

HQV Processor Testing: The TC-P50X1 didn't fare well with the HQV benchmarking, click the picture to the right to see the full results.

Up conversion from 480i and 480p: As reflected in our HQV processing testing results the Panasonic had a difficult time adequately up converting from 480i source material. Scenes from Risky Business appeared grainy and the dark scenes just did not have enough brightness to come through well. Blacks were washed out.

The 50X1 struggles here to provide ample contrast in the background and hair. Flesh tones were subdued.

Top and bottom bars show lack of depth in blacks while the overall picture was grainy in this scene from Risky Business.

720p/1080i/1080p Picture Quality: Blacks continued to struggle even with HD material. There was a "milky" appearance to them as one reviewer commented. Color information was adequate and realistic with HD material, but we were disappointed overall with even HD picture presentation from the 50X1. It's as if Panasonic took all their old stocks of phosphor and used it up on the X1 series. Colors do not have any pop, contrast is weak, and there is nothing rich about the picture.

The scene from the new Blu Ray release of The Road Warrior shows a vibrant background blue and good definition in the faces of Mel Gibson and accomplice.

See full Contrast
measurements

Black Level/Contrast Ratio: This was a shocker. We were underwhelmed by the black levels and brightness on the TC-P50X1 from the start. Black bars top and bottom on DVDs were the first tell tale signs that there might be something unpleasant occurring here. Indeed, the black levels were milky and hazy with much of the material. What happened to those great Panasonic black levels on this model? Post Calibration contrast ratio measured a total of 169:1 resulting from 23.60 X-axis brightness and .14 Y-axis darkness – a very weak result for a plasma TV (would be an average result for an LCD TV).

Blacks appear washed out in this shot of Shawn Young in a scene from Blade Runner

Dark Shadow Detail: There was insufficient dark shadow detail in many scenes from Risky Business and Rocky. Scenes appeared darker than they should have, blacks were washed out and detail was lacking.

Notice the lack of detail in Mel Gibson's hair from the new Blu Ray version of The Road Warrior

Color Rendition/Color Accuracy: The X1 calibrated well enough to D6500. See full calibration information here. The TV does a good job with HD material but color is too soft with lower content.

This scene shows a realistic but not overwhelming color rendition from The Road Warrior

Viewing Angle/Off Axis Viewing: Plasma TVs rarely have any problem with side angle viewing and the X1 plasma TV is no exception.

Motion Lag: There is no motion lag to note.

False Contouring/ Mapping: There was lots of grain with 480i content and as our HQV processing tests showed there was mapping and moire patterns evident in stadium seating and other content until the internal processors caught up. The X1 was very average in this area.

Video Aspect Ratio Sizing: Panasonic has renamed the button on the remote control "format" but left it as a discrete functioning control. The TV did a nice job of scaling and sizing from varying DVD sources.

Inputs: 3 HDMI inputs (one of the side), no computer input, SD card slot, component slot on side.

Aesthetic Considerations: The black gloss framed TV is attractive but not stunning. I like the tapered corners of the TV. There is one thin line of silver across the bottom of the panel. The TV is a nice depth at 3.7". However, the non-swivel table top stand is 15" deep, lightweight, flimsy, and of a blockish design.

Remote Control/Menu Funtionality: The menu system in the 50X1 is slightly improved from last years models and allows the user to know where the previous picture setting was by way of a small pointer. It's a nice little improvement. The menu options for calibration are barely adequate to dial the unit in to D6500. The non-backlit remote does contain an aspect ratio control labeled format. It's generally a simple and easy TV to use.

Audio Output: Max volume was not overwhelming even from 12 feet. Sound was a bit tinny and hollow even with Dolby Digital content.

Features: The 50X1 does contains discretely independent picture settings per input which is a high end feature for a budget TV.

We accurately predicted back in March 2009 that the price on the X1 720p models would be extremely compelling. We were right on that count for sure. The TC-P50X1 can be purchased for around $899 at Best Buy or Amazon as of June 2009. That is a stunner of a price when comparing with LCD TV models. The Samsung PN50B550 is $400 to $500 more but contains a 1080p screen and better processing. An LG 50PS80 sells for a couple hundred more than the 50X1 but also has 1080p and better processing. Therefore, Panasonic is on an island with this 720p model. There are no direct comparisons in the market place. And while we totally endorse the 720p concept if it saves us money on the purchase price, we cant endorse the cuts in quality that we find in this plasma model. We expect much more from a plasma than this. We expected this model to roll in with incredible value offering with a top rating. Instead the quality consideration just takes too much away.

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Overview Review Specifications Calibration Shop

Review Equipment Used: Sony Blu Ray BDP-S1 High Definition DVD player, Sony DVP-S50 DVD player (480i), Digital Broadcast Television, Sencore Color Pro 5000, Sencore Auto Cal Pro TWC6500, Sencore signal generator.

Panasonic Viera TC-P50X1 Plasma Review

2010-03-30T19:58:00.001-07:00

Model: Panasonic TC-P50X1
Description: 720p resolution HD plasma TV
Resolution: 1366 X 768
Reviewer: Jack Burden and Robert Wiley
Date: Summer 2009

Test and Optimum Viewing Distance: 13 feet

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calibration results

Calibration: Follow the following picture settings to dial in the TC-P50X1 very close to D6500.

Picture Settings: Starting from the Warm picture setting option:

Picture:	+80
Brightness:	+68
Color:	+47
Tint:	-4
Sharpness:	+15

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test results

HQV Processor Testing: The TC-P50X1 didn't fare well with the HQV benchmarking, click the picture to the right to see the full results.

The 50X1 struggles here to provide ample contrast in the background and hair. Flesh tones were subdued.

Top and bottom bars show lack of depth in blacks while the overall picture was grainy in this scene from Risky Business.

The scene from the new Blu Ray release of The Road Warrior shows a vibrant background blue and good definition in the faces of Mel Gibson and accomplice.

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measurements

Blacks appear washed out in this shot of Shawn Young in a scene from Blade Runner

Notice the lack of detail in Mel Gibson's hair from the new Blu Ray version of The Road Warrior

Color Rendition/Color Accuracy: The X1 calibrated well enough to D6500. See full calibration information here. The TV does a good job with HD material but color is too soft with lower content.

This scene shows a realistic but not overwhelming color rendition from The Road Warrior

Viewing Angle/Off Axis Viewing: Plasma TVs rarely have any problem with side angle viewing and the X1 plasma TV is no exception.

Motion Lag: There is no motion lag to note.

Inputs: 3 HDMI inputs (one of the side), no computer input, SD card slot, component slot on side.

Audio Output: Max volume was not overwhelming even from 12 feet. Sound was a bit tinny and hollow even with Dolby Digital content.

Features: The 50X1 does contains discretely independent picture settings per input which is a high end feature for a budget TV.

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Overview Review Specifications Calibration Shop

Panasonic Viera TC-P54S1 Plasma Review

2010-03-30T19:57:00.000-07:00

Test and Optimum Viewing Distance: 15 feet

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calibration results

Calibration Notes: Overall, calibration to D6500K was very easy with this TV. Though there are no white balance adjustments available on the menu without entering the service menu, the 54S1 calibrated so close to D65 from the start that it would have improved the TV inappreciably. We started our calibration from the custom setting in the Warm 2 color temperature position. The S1 series TV does not contain the THX picture setting option. Follow the following settings to calibrate to a nearly perfect D65. These picture settings are best viewed in a controlled light environment fairly dark room:

Picture Mode	Custom	Color Mgmt:	OFF
Color Temp	Warm2	x.v.Color:	OFF
Brightness	+74	C.A.T.S.:	OFF
Contrast	+75	Video NR:	Weak
Color	+45	Block NR:	Off
Tint	-2	Misquito NR:	Off
Sharpness	+15	Black Level:	Light
		3:2 Pulldown:	Off
		HD Size:	2

Picture Presentation from 480i signals: 480i resolution is a great test of a TVs upconversion and processing chip sets. The signal may be likened to what you would see with your normal digital cable or satellite signal.The 54S1 series plasma contains the new NEO PDP (I.e. plasma screen) from Panasonic. The S1 series uses the same screen used in the G10 series. The internal processing components also appear to be the same as the G10. The picture quality from 480i is very average, it's slightly soft and shows some graininess. The problem is not with processing but rather with color rendition and fading black levels. Dark shadow detail is excellent to to the TVs high brightness levels, while black levels are lacking depth and punch. Blacks can appear dark gray and hazy with 480i signals input. The processing chip sets in Panasonic TVs have been quite good for a long time but I feel like the company has stagnated here for some time and are not progressing any further in this area.

A great shot from the DVD of Perfume shows great dark shadow detail and impressive brightness.

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test results

1080p HD Picture Quality: The picture presentation of the 54S1 is exceptionally bright for a plasma TV. Black levels are deep and strong with an HD signal input through HDMI. While not the best we've seen lately, they lose the dark gray haziness that the S1 displays with a 480i signal. Color is plenty saturated and dark shadow detail remains excellent.

This scene from the Blu Ray release of Rocky shows how bright the Panasonic 50S1 picture can be even in a dark room setting.

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measurements

Black Level/Contrast: As mentioned above, black levels appear sufficient though not excellent with and HD signal while appearing weak with a 480i input source. This result concurs with our post calibration ANSI checkerboard contrast test which held blacks at .11 average luminance. Final contrast measurement was 277:1 which would be an excellent result for an LCD but is a rather weak result for a plasma TV. The TVs strength lies in its white brightness which measured an average luminance of 30.50. This result nears LCD TVs in brightness and points to Panasonic's desire to compete with LCD TVs in this area.

Dark Shadow Detail: Due to the high brightness of this plasma dark shadow detail is excellent.

Notice the detail in the fabric, armsleeve and sleeve cuff in this shot from the 480i DVD of Perfume.

Color Rendition/Color Accuracy: Color rendition is more subdued and realistic than the large majority of TVs on the market – both LCD and plasma. At times color information appears to lack pop, but this is more with 480i signal source content. Colors are much more saturated with HD content.

Viewing Angle/Off Axis Viewing: Perfect off angle viewing.

Motion Lag: There was no motion lag apparent in any content viewed.

False Contouring/ Mapping: Through testing of various dark scenes we noted no false contouring and mapping – an excellent result.

Features: One of the key feature differences of the S1 series with the G10 series of plasma by Panasonic is the absence of The Viera Cast feature set, which enables online content via a web interface. As a result, there is also no Ethernet port. The Viera Link feature allows the user to control other Viera link capable outboard equipment. The S1 has discrete picture settings for each input as well as Panasonic's new "600 Hz" specification for blur reduction.

This TV is Energy Star compliant due to an energy saver feature option. Power consumption for this TV is 599 Watts.

Aesthetic Considerations: The thin framing bezel on the 54S1 is very appealing at just over 1.5". The graduated silver bar in the bottom of the frame adds a nice 3-dimensional touch. The rectangular stand does not swivel side to side and is plainly unappealing (Panasonic needs to get to work on that option). Total depth of the 54S1 has increased from previous models to about 4 inches.

Video Aspect Ratio Sizing: The Format button on the remote controls this function with options: Just, 4:3, Zoom, Full, H-Full. Panasonic's Just aspect ratio setting does a great job of displaying an algorithmically balanced picture image.

Inputs: 3 HDMI, 2 Component, 1 15pin PC, digital SD card slot.

Remote Control/Menu Funtionality: The menu is very simple and straightforward but with ample options except white balance controls. Picture settings are discrete per input which is always a plus. The remote is functional, easy to use and rather plain.

Audio Output: There is no voice enhanced feature option for sound though I found the volume to be sufficient. Sound is a little muddy and I would recommend every TV include a voice enhanced option as so much broadcast material these days needs it. Speakers are 15W X 15W with a 15W subwoofer. The A-I sound option equalizes volume as a compressor and is useful for watching TV by toning down volume increases in those annoying ads.

The 54S1 is priced at around $1500 and $100 less than its Panasonic TC-P54G10 counterpart. The main two features of the G10 over the S1 is inbuilt Internet compatibility and the THX picture setting, The NEO PDP screen and other features are basically the same and so is the picture quality. These are the only two 54 inch plasma TVs in the market today, so Panasonic pretty much has it sown up. The closest competitor we can find size and feature wise is the Samsung LN55B650 55" LCD TV, which sell for around $500 more and is difficult to compare. Samsung LCD TVs of late have displayed excellent black levels while this Panasonic S1 series displays brightness levels close to that of the best LCD TVs. This reversal from the past is due, no doubt to the two companies (and technologies) efforts to make up for weaknesses from the past and somewhat overcompensating in doing so. This Panasonic offers an unusually bright picture for a plasma television. Black levels are somewhat compromised with normal television signals and contrast is competitive though not great for a plasma TV.

Samsung PN50B550 Plasma TV Review

2010-03-30T19:56:00.000-07:00

A rare shot from The Fifth Element showing off excellent contrast from the incoming light and yet with great color and flesh tones in the foreground.

Test and Optimum Viewing Distance: 13 feet

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calibration results

Calibration Notes: The Samsung PN50B550 has very complete calibration options for this price range with white balance controls. The TV calibrated well with a low error rate after adjusting white balance. Tint required unusual adjustments to dial the set in perfectly to D6500. Follow the following picture settings to calibrate:

White Balance Settings
Red-Offset	22	Red-Gain	33
Green-Offset	25	Green-Gain	25
Blue-Offset	12	Blue-Gain	33
Picture Settings
Picture Mode	Movie	Black Tone:	Off
Color Temp	Warm 2	Dynamic Contrast:	Off
Brightness	56	Gamma:	0
Contrast	90	Color Space:	Auto
Color	53	Flesh Tone:	Off
Tint	G35/R65	Edge Enhancement:	Off
Sharpness	10	Digital NR:	Auto
Cell Light	8	HDMI Black Level:	Low
		Film Mode:	Auto

Up conversion from 480i: This signal test will let you know how the TV will perform with your digital cable or satellite signal as well as regular ole non blue ray DVDs. Up conversion processing was slightly fuzzy with a slight grain apparent from a 480i source signal. The Samsung PN50B550 has a tendency to make up for any deficiency in definition with accentuated color information. That said, color rendition is still pleasing and realistic. One slight drawback would be watching dark content in a brightly lit room. The Samsung B550 presents a very true, well calibrated but darker image and this combination darker content and brighter room light may cause some eyestrain. Solve the problem temporarily by turning the contrast up to 100%.

Above a nice detailed 480i resolution shot from Wedding Crashers showing good contrast from a 480i signal.

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test results

1080p Picture Quality: In a darker, controlled light room environment this TV will absolutely stun you with its quality image. It calibrates incredibly well, colors are healthily saturated and black levels/contrast make it shine with HD content. It was awesome with all HD content tested. And of course there is no motion lag and perfect viewing angles with plasma TVs so no issues there to even mention.

Through the excellent blacks and dark shadow detail in this scene from The Road Warrior, note the detailed texture in the leather of the car seat and Mel Gibson's jacket while continuing to bring forth an accurate flesh tone.

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measurements

Black Level/Contrast: Black registered a very impressive .06 average luminance in our contrast ratio test. It's impressive and inky and you notice it with almost all content. The Pioneer KURO blacks were world renowned, but this is close. Post calibration ANSI checkerboard contrast measured one of the best recent results at a heroic 425:1.

Even with a 480i input signal black levels were very intense as in this shot from Wedding Crashers.

Dark Shadow Detail: Though blacks are intense, dark shadow detail was not impaired by oversaturation – an excellent result with all content.

Color Rendition/Color Accuracy: Flesh tones are natural and err on the saturated side as does all color information. Colors are vibrant and lively.

How's this for intense blacks accentuating rich color? – a scene from Blu Ray version of The Fifth Element.

Viewing Angle/Off Axis Viewing: Perfect result here.

Motion Lag: No motion lag in plasma.

False Contouring/ Mapping: Through viewing many dark gray scenes there was no mapping or false contouring present – an impressive result for an occasional plasma problem.

Video Aspect Ratio Sizing: The P. Size button on the remote controls aspect ratio options. The B550 did a fine job of algorithmically managing the picture size through options, 16:9, Wide Fit, 4:3, Screen fit.

Inputs: 4 HDMI, 2 Component, 1 PC input.

Aesthetic Considerations: A slight drawback to the B550 might be its somewhat 2008 looks. The bezel is too wide for my taste at 2.5 inches on the sides and bottom and oddly out of balance 2.25" on the top. Other drawbacks are a good bit of glare from both the wide frame and the overlay screen. This screen though is part of the reason for those excellent blacks so give it a pass. A couple of positives are the slight 3" depth of the TV which makes it great for wall mounting. And if you choose to place it on a table instead, you'll be pleased with the side to side swivel table top stand.

Remote Control/Menu Funtionality: The remote is very nice, back lit with easy to use large buttons. The B550 series remote thankfully does not have the cumbersome scroll wheel as some other Samsung models.

The menu system presents itself as an overlay with a convenient tutorial feature appearing in the bottom of the screen. The menu is thorough enough if not a bit tedious to maneuver around.

Audio Output: Audio output was impressive from the 10W X 10W speakers. There was plenty of volume to fill a large room at the 50% level. Use the Clear Voice feature as much as possible for added voice definition. We're big fans of this while the SRS TruSurround doesnt seem to accomplish much.

Features: P. Mode button controls preset picture modes movie, standard, vivid. We calibrated the TV from the movie setting. Clear Voice is a favorite feature of the B550 series as is the swivel table top stand. Each input has discrete picture settings which is always a plus, but remember to use our calibration settings for each input you intend to use.

Energy: The TV received the energy star rating. The power consumption rating is 440 watts.

Price Considerations: At around $1200 this is a hot TV for the price. Compare it with almost anything and the picture quality vs. price is almost unbeatable. The LG 50PS60 might play in the same quality camp at a similar price but I don't think there is a Panasonic that can get close. While not a fan of the aesthetics, the picture and features are fantastic. White balance controls are also an attractive feature for a TV of this price category.

Panasonic Viera TC-P50G10 Plasma Review

2010-03-30T19:54:00.000-07:00

Test and Optimum Viewing Distance: 13 feet

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calibration results

Calibration Notes: The Panasonic TC-P50G10 is more limited than a TV of this price point should be in calibration controls. There are no white balance adjustments available on the menu without entering the ervice menu. The stock THX setting that this plasma contains is not far off the D65 target, but measured too low in brightness. Since the THX settings are not adjustable we started with the Custom Picture Setting. It was relatively easy given the limited options to dial the G10 in to D6500. Follow these picture settings to get there. These settings are best to view the TV in a controlled light environment fairly dark room:

Picture Mode	Custom	Color Mgmt:	OFF
Color Temp	Warm2	x.v.Color:	OFF
Brightness	+74	C.A.T.S.:	OFF
Contrast	+75	Video NR:	Weak
Color	+45	Block NR:	Off
Tint	-2	Misquito NR:	Off
Sharpness	+15	Black Level:	Light
		3:2 Pulldown:	Off
		HD Size:	2

Up conversion from 480i: 480i resolution is a great test of a TVs upconversion and processing chip sets. The signal may be likened to what you would see with your normal digital cable or satellite signal. The picture quality from 480i isnt bad, it's slightly soft and shows some graininess. Color rendition is realistic and certainly on the subdued side. Dark shadow detail is excellent, while black levels are lacking depth and punch. Blacks can appear dark gray and hazy with 480i signals input. The processing chip sets in Panasonic TVs have been quite good for a long time but I feel like the company has stagnated here for some time and are not progressing any further in this area.

Good shots from the 480i DVD of Risky Business. Black levels were not strong with this input signal.

See full HQV
test results

1080p HD Picture Quality: Black levels are deep and strong with an HD signal input through HDMI. While not the best we've seen lately, they lose the dark gray haziness that the G10 displays with a 480i signal. Color is plenty saturated and dark shadow detail remains excellent.

This shot from the Blu Ray version of Black Hawk Down displays the heightened contrast and black levels with HD content.

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measurements

Dark Shadow Detail: Due to the high brightness of this plasma dark shadow detail is excellent.

This scene from the HD version of Rocky displays good shadow detail while somewhat hazy blacks.

This scene from the 480i version of Stepmom displays hazy blacks with this signal source.

Colors are plenty saturated with an HD signal source as this one from the Blu Ray Version of The Fifth Element.

Viewing Angle/Off Axis Viewing: Perfect off angle viewing.

Motion Lag: No motion lag.

False Contouring/ Mapping: Through testing of various dark scenes we noted no false contouring and mapping – an excellent result.

There was no mapping or banding effects in dark scenes as evidence in this shot from Tomorrow Never Dies.

Aesthetic Considerations: I really like the thin gloss frame with bevel rounded edges. The framing bezel is just a touch over 1.5" - Great! The graduated silver bar in the bottom of the frame adds a nice 3-dimensional touch. The stand does not swivel side to side (Panasonic needs to get to work on that option). Total depth of the 50G10 has increased from previous models to about 4 inches.

Inputs: 3 HDMI, 2 Component, 1 15pin PC, digital SD card slot. Pretty much everything you need.

Remote Control/Menu Functionality: The menu is very simple and straightforward but with ample options except white balance controls. Picture settings are discrete per input which is always a plus. The remote is functional, easy to use and rather ugly.

Audio Output: There is no voice enhanced feature option for sound though I found the volume to be sufficient. Sound is a little muddy and I would recommend every TV include a voice enhanced option as so much broadcast material these days needs it. Speakers are 10W X 10W with a 15W subwoofer. The A-I sound option equalizes sound as a compressor and is useful for watching TV by toning down volume increases in those annoying ads.

Features: The Viera Cast feature may be useful in the future as it connects to Panasonic's version of web TV like YouTube, Picassa, Bloomberg News, The Weather Channel, Amazon Video On-Demand and Panasonic's Concierge Service. While not very useful now, these connection features are nascent and may be important later. The Viera Link feature allows the user to control other viera link capable outboard equipment. The TV comes with a stock THX setting that puts the TV very close to D6500 right out of the box. The G10 has some decent anti glare qualities.

Power consumption for this TV is 589 Watts.

Prices for TC-P50G10 have recently dropped to very competitive levels at around $1450. Comparing the value to high end LCD TVs and the entire TV spectrum puts it in an excellent value category. The LG 50PS80 trumps it in feature set while similarly priced. The Samsung PN50B550 is priced just less while having a superior picture quality (though for darker room environments). This Panasonic offers an unusually bright picture for a plasma television. Black levels are somewhat compromised with normal television signals and contrast is competitive though not great for a plasma TV. Aesthetics are a highlight.