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General discussion

LG 50PK750 picture settings

May 4, 2010 1:20AM PDT

Review:
http://reviews.cnet.com/flat-panel-tvs/lg-50pk750/4505-6482_7-33957043.html

Related products:
LG 60PK750

Below you'll find the settings we found best for viewing the LG 50PK750 in a dark room via the HDMI input with a 1080p, film-based source. Your settings may vary depending on source, room conditions, and personal preference. Check out the Picture settings and calibration FAQ for more information.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-9996461-1.html

Picture menu:
Aspect ratio: Just Size
Energy Saving: Off
Picture Mode: Expert 2
Contrast: 79
Brightness: 53
H Sharpness: 50
V Sharpness: 50
Color: 52
Tint: 0

--Expert control menu
Dynamic contrast: Off
Noise reduction: Off
Gamma: Medium
Black level: Low
Film Mode: On
Color Gamut: Standard
xvYCC: Auto [grayed out]
Edge Enhancer: Off [grayed out]
Color Filter: Off

Color Temperature: Warm
Method: 2 Points [see below]
Pattern: Outer
Red Contrast: -18
Green Contrast: 0
Blue Contrast: -10
Red Brightness: -17
Green Brightness: -22
Blue Brightness: 25

Color management system [no adjustment]

The above were used for our picture quality observations in the review. The below settings used the adjustments available under the Expert mode's 20-point system. Despite providing an excellent grayscale, the results of the adjustment below created an unacceptable picture quality tradeoff, namely excessive false contouring--which manifests as obvious, choppy divisions, as opposed to smooth, natural gradations, between colors and shadows--that was not present before our adjustments were made.

Even discounting the contouring, the LG's 20-point IRE system in this plasma didn't work as well as the company's 10-point system in LCD models we've tested previously. Its IRE numbers didn't correspond correctly to the true IRE windows; many adjustments affected more than one IRE window; and darker areas proved especially difficult. Nonetheless, after we accounted for those issues, the settings below gave us excellent results (nearly flat 2.19 gamma, a linear grayscale averaging 0.313/0.330 with only 41K variation from 6500K, etc), so we're including them here for the curious or experimenters who want a starting point. We still recommend strongly against using them, however, unless you're also curious to see what false contouring looks like.

Picture menu:
Aspect ratio: Just Size
Energy Saving: Off
Picture Mode: Expert 1
Contrast: 78
Brightness: 57
H Sharpness: 50
V Sharpness: 25
Color: 53
Tint: 0
PC-Adjust: [grayed out]

--Expert control menu
Dynamic contrast: Off
Noise reduction: Off
Gamma: Medium
Black level: Low
Real Cinema: On
Color Gamut: Standard
Edge Enhancer: Off
xvYCC: Auto [grayed out]
Expert Pattern: Off [grayed out]
Color Filter: Off

Color Temperature: Warm
Method: 20 point IRE
Pattern: Outer
IRE: [see below]

-- 20 point IRE calibration
IRE: [Red, Green, Blue results, respectively, for each IRE point]
100 [-50, 10, 0]
95 [-7, 50, 19]
90 [-2, 50, 19]
85 [-2, 45, 20]
80 [-2, 44, 35]
75 [13, 50, 31]
70 [0, 50, 31]
65 [34, 30, 50]
60 [-3, 50, 50]
55 [-11, 0, -3]
50 [3, 12, 22]
45 [15, 25, 50]
40 [17, 23, 39]
35 [20, 29, 44]
30 [7, 15, 50]
25 [22, 17, 11]
20 [-11, 6, 50]
15 [5, -2, -5]
10 [-10, -2, 17]
5 [-2, -1, 5]

Color management system
[no adjustment]

Discussion is locked

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Plasmas on the horizon
May 4, 2010 4:56AM PDT

Is this the product you're currently reviewing? When are you planning on reviewing a Panasonic or Samsung plasma from 2010?

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I have a G25 in-house...
May 5, 2010 12:58AM PDT

...and Samsung says they're sending a C6500. Slowly but surely...

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panasonic g25 or samsung pn50c6500?
May 26, 2010 5:11AM PDT

When do you think the samsung 6500 review will be posted? And can you say whether the pnc6500 will be more like 2009's 850/860 model (i.e. can properly handle 24p) or more like the 650?

Right now, I'm stuck debating the risk of rising black levels (panasonic) vs. buzzing, lower PQ (samsung).

Also, what is your recommendation for a sub-$1500 50-inch TV right now? (I like the pros of plasma, but I'd love to know your favorite TV for the aforementioned criteria). Thanks!

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PK550 does not have the PK750 problems.
May 4, 2010 4:14PM PDT

Hi, I sent you an email. It seems the PK750 has some software bug that do not allow the 20 point calibration option to function properly. It is working correctly on the PK550 model. Also there is undefeatable image enhancement that cannot be disabled except in the situation where you label an hdmi input as PC, and the source is 1920x1080 @60hz. Then the image enhancement will be disabled.
The PK550 does not have this undefeatable image enhancement issue.
Overall the PK550 is just a better television than the 750 and 950 models due to this firmware "bug".

here is a video of the problem on my 750(which I returned for a 550):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWFpcyamnlQ

I suggest you review the PK550 as well, it will get better than 3/5 stars Happy

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another note
May 4, 2010 4:20PM PDT

I also neglected to mention the black level on the PK550 is superior to the PK750, also happens to be superior to the panasonic's after they triple. It is also better than the 2010 samsungs as far as has been measured so far. Also handles 24p motion correctly, unlike the PK750 and 950. The G20 can only do 48hz, and the samsung cinemasmooth still breaks the black level when enabled.

This positions the LG PK550 as having the best black levels of the 2010 models, and the only proper 24p handling besides the panny V series.

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Thanks for the tip...
May 5, 2010 12:57AM PDT

I'll hit LG up for the PK550 next.

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Agreed
May 19, 2010 6:58AM PDT

I would love to get the best picture settings for the LG 50PK550! I just bought one last week and can't find anyone's picture settings for this model. I love this set, it's absolutely amazing and I just want to make sure I'm getting the most out of it that I can. Even with me not knowing anything about calibration or picture settings, it has phenomenal picture quality...

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PK550 review status
Jun 13, 2010 11:10PM PDT

Any ETA on the PK550 review, David?

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2 LG
May 5, 2010 1:14AM PDT

LG

if you are reading this :

PLEASE FIX THE PK750 !!! (i have ordered one, and it costs me more than the PK550)

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pk550 vs pk750
May 13, 2010 3:57PM PDT

Really appreciate your research, with all the negative press on the panasonic I have been eying the LG and Samsung. 24p has been my concern, and your comments may have just swung me in the direction of LG!

Question, however, The specs on the pk750 and the pk550 seem identical, at least the video specs. What do you think makes the pk550 have superior blacks and why does it handle 24p better than the pk750? Is it a firmware issue, or at least something that can be fixed on the pk750 by LG?

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PK750 and 550
May 13, 2010 4:18PM PDT

the 24p problem is a firmware issue and could be fixed by LG, however there's no way of knowing if they actually will.

I received an email from LG's "email administrator" that they currently have no knowledge of any firmware update to address the PK750 issues.

The black level, I do not know if that can be fixed with a firmware update. You would think the PK550 and the PK750 would use the same panel. I know the PK950 has been measured at .011 fL which is lower than the 550. Very strange that the 750 has so much higher black level than both the 550 and the 950. So that would be evidence that it could possibly be fixed with a firmware update. But normally, the black level is a characteristic of the panel and could not be changed with firmware. So we are left with not knowing at all and LG won't talk to me.

So I just went with the PK550, which is an excellent set assuming you can control the lighting in your viewing area.

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pk750
May 14, 2010 9:54AM PDT

so did you at least get LG to acknowledge there is an issue with the firmware?

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yeah
May 15, 2010 11:28AM PDT

They didn't deny or confirm there was a problem. Just accepted at face value what I was saying, but declined to give me any information about a firmware update to fix it.

However, a reviewer at AVForums.com said that LG told him that their HQ is aware of the issue so perhaps a firmware fix will be made available. I'm not holding my breath though.

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50PK750 Firmware Update
Jun 28, 2010 3:24PM PDT

Hi CNET,

Based on AVS Forum xxPK750 users, there is already an available firmware update. Can you please check if the update fixes current issues?

thanks!