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General discussion

Panasonic TC-P50V10 picture settings

Jun 8, 2009 2:29AM PDT

Review:
http://reviews.cnet.com/flat-panel-tvs/panasonic-tc-p50v10/4505-6482_7-33490589.html

Related products:
Panasonic TC-P54V10

Below you'll find the settings we found best for viewing the Panasonic TC-P50V10 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
Picture mode: Custom
Contrast: +100
Brightness: +67
Color: +31
Tint: 0
Sharpness: 0
Color temp: Warm 2
Color mgmt: Off
Digital Cinema Color: Off
C.A.T.S.: Off
Video NR: Off
Zoom adjustments: [grayed out]
PC adjustments: [grayed out]

-- Pro setting submenu
W/B high R: +10
W/B high B: +4
W/B low R: +2
W/B low B: +3
Black extension: 0
Gamma adjustment: Mid
Panel brightness: Low
Contour emphasis: Off
AGC: Off

--Advanced picture submenu
3D Y/C filter: Off [grayed out]
Color matrix: HD [grayed out]
Block NR: Off [grayed out]
Mosquito NR: Off [grayed out]
Black level: Light
3:2 pulldown: Off [grayed out]
24p Direct in: 60Hz [or 96Hz with 1080p/24 sources]
HD size: Size 2
H size: Size 1 [grayed out]

Message was edited by: admin

Discussion is locked

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V10 Settings
Jun 8, 2009 8:51AM PDT

I assume you mean warm2.

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assumption correct
Jun 9, 2009 2:14AM PDT

Thx.

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Panasonic TC-P65V10 picture settings
Dec 4, 2009 5:21AM PST

Hey, David

When are you going to be reviewing and posting picture settings for the Panasonic TC-P65V10 picture settings? Also if I use the current settings for the Panasonic TC-P50V10 picture settings will that work fine for the 65 inch?

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Re: Panasonic TC-P50V10 picture settings
Jun 9, 2009 8:37AM PDT

Thank you for the settings David.

Can anyone tell me which particular settings would you change if viewing this set in a bright room?
Would you start with changing to "Vivid" picture mode?

Thx

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contrast levels
Jun 9, 2009 10:52AM PDT

I see in the picture settings the contrast(100) is very high.Isnt that dangerous for a plasma or any LCD for that matter

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Panel Brightness (low) compensates...
Jun 11, 2009 3:04AM PDT

...and in general high contrast/light output is not "dangerous." It does use more power, spend the incredibly long lifespan of the panel somewhat more quickly, cause eyestrain in dark rooms, however. It's not harmful to the panel itself, given the standard burn-in caveats regarding plasma:

http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-6449_7-6844370-1.html

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Panel brightness
Jun 11, 2009 11:21AM PDT

Oh i see now thanks for clearing that up katzmaier.

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Panel Brightness (low) compensates...
Jun 22, 2009 9:51AM PDT

When using these settings, does it significantly cut the life of the TV? My dad is a audio/videophile and he insisted that I break in the TV with this special DVD for 100 hours... is that really necessary? what are the benefits of that? is it too late to start it with about 6-8 hours of watching movies, tv and playing 360 right out of the box?

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

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Bright Room
Jun 25, 2009 2:44AM PDT

I also was curious about bright room settings for day time viewing. So far love this set.

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bright room
Jul 15, 2009 10:33AM PDT

The easy answer is use the custom settings, but turn the CATS function on that adjusts the picture for ambient light

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what about the sound quality?
Jun 9, 2009 3:49PM PDT

are the speakers any good on the V10?

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Sound Quality
Jan 3, 2010 11:33PM PST

Just got my V10 last week. Very impressed with picture quality. However, I have not yet purchased other theater components including speakers. I have noticed high distortion in bass reproduction of the V10 as if it is being overdriven. This seems to occur even at low levels of volume depending on the content being viewed. I have the bass set to "0". Have any others noticed this with the V10 or do I have a lemon?

TIA.

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screen flicker with PC
Jun 10, 2009 2:28AM PDT

Guys,
Just got my shiny new P50V10, upgrading from an LCD panel, and I am so incredibly disappointed by the flickering, especially with light-colored or white backgrounds, with my HDMI PC input (GeForce GTX 295 graphics card). It's like I'm back in 1992 with a 60 Hz CRT!

Is this inherent to plasma TVs in general when used as PC monitors? It seems there's no way to change the refresh to 96 Hz, even though the TV is supposedly technically capable of it via the 24p/96Hz function.

God I hope I didn't just blow $2,000.

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PC and flicker
Jun 28, 2009 11:52PM PDT

One of the reasons most people should avoid using a PC as a Home entertainment source is that they are very difficult to set up.

I suspect the flicker you are seeing is because your video card is not outputting 24p

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pc and flicker
Jun 29, 2009 2:52AM PDT

Well, I've been using my PC as a home theater system for years now, and it's been great with a CRT or an LCD. My GeForce 295 GTX (the fastest and most advanced video card to date) can output 24p, but 24p flickering is even worse, even when I change the V10 to 96 Hz refresh (it's definitely outputting 24p or else the TV option to change to 96 Hz would be greyed out).

I'm selling my V10 and getting a Samsung LN52B750. The picture and video quality on the V10 is amazing, but the flickering with the PC is just too much.

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No HTPC flickering here.
Jul 1, 2009 4:30PM PDT

I have my 54V10 set up with my HTPC and have no flicking at all. 1080p/60 mode via HDMI (from DVI port on card using a converter). Perfect picture.

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HTPC flickering
Jul 1, 2009 9:23PM PDT

It's only on a white background (otherwise, perfect picture), and even so, maybe you're not sensitive to it. I've seen people using old CRTs at 60 Hz where you could see it flashing from across the room -- when I say, "doesn't that give you a headache??", their response was "what are you talking about?" Anyway, glad it's not an issue for you. Mine doesn't give me headaches -- it's just distracting enough to be a chronic annoyance while surfing the web with its large percentage of bright white backgrounds (like this one!).

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You're Confused and so was I
Jul 6, 2009 1:34AM PDT

A bit more help. At first, you said you could not access the 96HZ mode. I then recommended that you set your card for 24p output since that is the only way you can access that mode. Evidently you tried that and now you find matters even worse.

Here is the confusion. I didn't realize you wanted to surf the web in that mode! This mode is for FILM!!!! This is Not - repeat NOT --- a mode for surfing the web or viewing static images. All film is shot at 24 frames (full pictures) per second. That is right --- only 24 full images per second are recorded when a film is made. In a movie theater those frames are flashed at you two times each, by a shutter (which sort of equals 48HZ but remember there is a period where no light is present due to the shutter). In the Panasonic they doubled that to 96HZ with this shutter effect. There is a natural judder to film which purists like because it replicates the movie threatre and that is why this whole 24p mode came into existence. In short the 24p/96HZ mode is FOR FILM and can not be compared directly to that of a PC monitor operating at 96HZ refresh rate!!!!!!

If you want to use this television as a computer monitor for web surfing than hook it up to the PC input. There is a chart in the owner's manual which shows the resolutions supported. Most are at 60hz (which you don't like) but there are a few at 75hz.

This is a television with somewhat limited monitor modes.

To categorize the 96HZ as causing flicker completely misunderstands that mode. As I said it is designed solely for watching film recorded in 24p.

When using this television as a computer monitor than use it in one of it's monitor modes. You could then rightly claim as a computer monitor it did not offer all the modes you prefer for surfing the web.

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re: flickering
Jul 6, 2009 2:04AM PDT

Hi,
Thanks for the reply. Yes, I understand about the 96 Hz film mode with 24p input; however, I can do 60 Hz native input over HDMI (which still has flickering) and there's no reason to expect that 60 Hz via PC input (VGA) would be any better. My conclusion is that this particular plasma (and maybe all plasmas?) don't make great computer monitors due to flickering in white backgrounds at 60 Hz. LCDs just don't suffer from this particular handicap, so despite the top-notch video quality and deep blacks with the V10, since I use it in addition for web surfing, I'm better off with one of the newer LCDs.

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One more time
Jul 7, 2009 2:08AM PDT

I'm not sure your complaint is just with plasmas when used as a computer monitor. You also didn't like CRTs, when used as a computer monitor, at 60HZ.

I'm not sure you are correct when you say there's no reason to expect that 60 Hz via PC input would be any better than HDMI. The HDMI is an input for film or video based MOTION pictures. You have not even tried the 75HZ modes listed in the V10 manual available via the PC input

Try using your PC input! I'm also willing to bet you didn't test an LCD using a HDMI input.

One final thought - since an LCD is inherently poor (slow) at displaying motion it may be better suited for surfing the web since as it will not be very sensitive to rapid changes when you scroll a page or move your mouse. Of course that same LCD will blur motion on a video but that may not be as important to you as surfing the web.

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Re: one more time
Jul 7, 2009 2:54AM PDT

I've used HDMI for over a year on my previous LCD, and on my new current LCD (Sammy LN52B750), with no problems and beautiful results. The Sammy gives me no flickering, no motion blurring, has a 2 ms refresh, and does 240 Hz with 24p input. The blacks aren't quite as deep as the V10, but it's more suitable for my PC needs (granted it was also $500 more expensive).

VGA would not be superior to HDMI, regardless of media being played. It's a matter of digital vs analog connection and has nothing to do with one being better/worse for video vs PC input (if anything, HDMI would always be better since it is digital). In any event, the cheapos at Panasonic put in a VGA input that doesn't accept 1080p (limited to 1366x768 or something like that), so it's not even a consideration even if there were a difference.

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Break in settings
Jul 7, 2009 5:29AM PDT

Does anyone know the break in settings for this set???

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Other Settings
Jul 9, 2009 4:29AM PDT

Has anyone had any luck with any other picture settings? Or is everyone using the CNET settings?

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Pro Calibration
Jul 23, 2009 1:00AM PDT

Have a pro calibration scheduled for 7:30 tonight. I will let everyone know the benefits. They are said to be quite noticeable.

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Highly recommended
Jul 28, 2009 2:35AM PDT

I feel after 5-6 days that the professional calibration was well worth it. I paid $375, would gladly do it again. Major performance improvement.

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Pro Cal.
Jul 28, 2009 1:37PM PDT

Sounds good. Was it an ISF Tech.? How about sharing his finial settings with us? Did they vary much from the C-Net suggestions?

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When I get a chance
Jul 30, 2009 5:43AM PDT

As soon as I get a chance I will post the custom settings. Yes, it was ISF. People actually pay for the non ISF calibrations?

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Settings
Aug 23, 2009 2:07AM PDT

Could you post the settings? Thanks.

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TC-P50V10 Settings and 58 Quick Review
Jan 18, 2010 10:06AM PST
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Re: When I get a chance..
Jan 2, 2010 7:31AM PST

Hey there.. I noticed you never got around to posting the calibrated settings for you Panny V10. Any chance you can do that??

Thanks