LCD screen problems in dark room

[admin_exported]

I recently bought a Sony 37w5500. My problem is that I like to watch films at night with the lights off but with this TV the screen is very bright and the black bars of the film appear grey rather than black and the picture seems a bit washed out, especially with dark scenes.

I've tried changing various setting - brightness/contrast, putting power saving to high but it doesnt make much difference.

Is this a problem with LCDs in general or am I missing something?

Thanks.

 

[VoodooDoctor]

Can you turn down the backlight? It's usually set too high.

 

[Anonymous]

I turned the backlight down to minimum but it doesnt effect the black bars much.

 

[VoodooDoctor]

You can get the DVE HD Basics setup disc online or use the THX Optimiser found on some DVD's/Blu-rays (Star Wars discs for example). They may help sort out your problem.

 

[Anonymous]

I currently have the 40w4000 ( part of bedroom system ) and had a similar problem with backlight bleed. Swithed to cinema setting and tweeked from there to get the picture how I wanted - blacks solid and still plenty of detail in darker sceens. I also use a light source behind the screen " a-la ambilight " ( sourced from Ikea ) to improve perceived contrast and I really believe this works........... perhaps you could try this

 

[Anonymous]

I used the optimiser that came with the WALL-E disc - It improved the picture but not when the lights are off. I will look into getting a light source behind the screen though.

Thank you

 

[The_Lhc]

Ollie Barclay:I used the optimiser that came with the WALL-E disc - It improved the picture but not when the lights are off.

You're supposed to run optimisers in the conditions that you're going to be viewing in. So if you usually watch in the dark, set the TV up in the dark, don't set it up in daylight and then wonder why it doesn't look right in the dark.

 

[Anonymous]

I used it in both lighting conditions.

 

[Oldboy]

Hi there,

From what i have been reading this is a common complaint with the new Sony TV's and does really sound like screen bleading / clouding on the set as you have used the optimiser etc....there are plenty of threads on here that detail the problems other owners have had and i even recently brought up the subject as i was looking to buy a 40 v or w 5500 but after seeing the problems people have had i've been put off. The problem seems quite common and What Hi-Fi are also aware of it due to the mixed results with review samples, it just seems a gamble you take at the moment and you either get lucky or get one with issues.

Sony by the way say it's not a fault with the TV....personally i'm not convinced.

 

[fido87456]

Are you sitting directly in front of the screen? If you're off to one side that could explain it, I have a 40" W4000 and when I'm watching it in a dark-ish room I have to be sitting directly in front of the tv, if I sit more than a few degrees to either side the colours wash out and the blacks become grey. This is only particularly noticeable in a dark room though.