Optimising picture settings: Samsung UE40B8000

admin_exported

New member
Aug 10, 2019
2,556
4
0
Visit site
I at last have my new Samsung LCD(LED) TV and the standard factory (picture) settings are every bit as bad as every review I read had warned...

I have already spent copious amounts of time trying to get the picture quality just to match the first generation (non-HD) Philips Ambilight it will replace. I have now achieved an acceptable picture by taking the settings back to black & white, balancing brightness and contrast, then bringing in the colour . But this is my problem - it's an acceptable picture - it's not blowing me away as I expected the transition from non-HD to 1080p full HD to do, so I have no doubt I need to do some further tweaking.

I have read about a test card that used to be available on Sky Anytime or channel 268, but now no longer seems to be available. Short of calling out an ISF calibration expert at £325, does anyone have any recommendations for optimising this TV's picture settings, that can list the settings they achieve a great picture from, or indeed the settings used by What Hi Fi in testing the TV? I appreciate room light levels will come into play, but at least this will give me a start (my viewing is mainly with dimmed back-lighting, behind me not the TV). My viewing is of the following content (on which I am currently achieving the below picture quality):

1. Viewing Sky + HD (via HDMI). HD and non-HD content. Non-HD content through the Samsung is just about on a par with the Philips with my current settings. HD content is noticeably sharper on the Samsung and more natural.

2. Viewing upscaled standard DVDs (via HDMI). Just about on par Philips versus Samsung. Test DVD: Star Wars: Attack of the Clones.

3. Viewing Blu-ray DVDs (via HDMI). This does look noticeably sharper/more natural on the Samsung on my current settings, but there is some noise on some scenes that is not noticeable on the old Philip Ambilight but is on the Samsung. Test Blu-ray DVD: House of Flying Daggers.

Am I best having separate settings for each of the above contents or can I strike a happy medium for TV viewing and a separate happy medium for DVD? (I currently have different settings for each of the 2 HDMI inputs: Sky+ HD box and Panasonic Blu-ray home cinema system)

Thanks in advance for any advice.
 

Oldboy

Well-known member
Sep 13, 2007
421
0
18,890
Visit site
Hi there,

I have always used the modest picture tool on the THX discs (dvd or bluray) to set up my tv, they are not perfect as it's still left to you what to adjust and when but as a guide i would start there and it's on things like Star Wars. A pair of glasses for colour calibration can be bought from the THX website and last time i looked they were about £5 plus shipping, there are other calibration tools out there but they are pretty expensive so if you don't get a satisfactory outcome from this route it may end up costing you unfortunately!

As for separate settings that's more of a personal thing as some may well like the settings on all sources but i'm of the opinion that you have a setting for each source as there is a vast diference in the quality of source between all your components....if you were just watching dvd's for example you would probably get away with it. That in itself is a problem as that means for some sources it's just trial and error as there isn't a calibration tool for all sources but you may be lucky and the THX setting is good across all your sources!

Hope thats of some help to you.
 

D.J.KRIME

New member
Jun 28, 2007
160
0
0
Visit site
The THX test paterns are a good very basic starting point but offer very basic tools to adjust contrast,brightness and colour (tint is redundant with a PAL source.) Then more complex test paterns are on the DVE HD basics disc, either of these methods help you adjust settings as IMHO it is impossible to correctly calibrate your TV by eye for the normal home user (some experts may have a chance after years of experiance to some degree)

There is allways the option of getting a ISF trained technician to calibrate your TV, but a more cost effective route, and more fun as you get to learn about how your TV works is to get a probe such as a Spyder3 and use the DVE disc with free software to calibrate your TV yourself.

Follow THIS LINK for a fantastic guide into propperly adjusting your TVs greyscale, it also has all links you will need regarding calibration software.
emotion-15.gif
 

D.J.KRIME

New member
Jun 28, 2007
160
0
0
Visit site
Oldboy:Brilliant link and info D.J.KRIME but boy is that expensive to get all the kit needed....if only i could afford it
emotion-9.gif


Well the extra expense is not really that much as the Spyder3 or a Eyeone is about £100, colorHCFR software is free and seeing as we are all on these forums we all have a PC (laptop does make it slightly easier) so total outlay is only £100ish and seeing as you most probably spent thousands on your other equipment in your system money well spent in my books. Added to that once you have the probe you can calibrate all your TVs and even friends and family for a nominal few beers on their part
emotion-22.gif
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
Its still not cheap but you may find a calibration expert will perform it for less that £325. Cheapest quote I got was £220.

I did get it done and its really great but not by the cheapest quote in the end.

If thats too much (and it is a lot) then I would use the THX optimiser on disks like star wars and pirates of the carribean. You prob already own a disk with it on and a pair of glasses is about a fiver I think.
 

King Goal

New member
Aug 25, 2009
11
0
0
Visit site
Disappointing but interesting to hear somone else having similar problems as myself with the picture quality on this TV. It's supposed to have some of the latest technology but it seems its all a con. Would be interested to know if you feel as ripped off as I do. I was told my problems were down to viewing SD on my TV at present while I await the delivery of my Cable V+ HD Box. To hear this fills me with dread that I may be stuck with this TV and not benefit from paying a bit more than I intended !!
 

D.J.KRIME

New member
Jun 28, 2007
160
0
0
Visit site
King goal, as I said in your other post you have to take into account the SD was never intended to be displayed on TVs of the size we use today, so when you take into account the fact so many "new" pixels are needed to generate a picture that fills a Full HD panel and that the screen is 40"+ you will end up with picture issues.

These issues differ dependant upon numerious factors but just because a TV has features like 200htz etc it does not mean that a TV will have a fantastic picture with all sources. IMHO I find once you start adding things like 200htz image processing on to of already scaling and de-interlacing a 576i image to 1080p it is just one image process too far, as not only does the TV have to "guess" what the adjacent pixel should apper like but also in which direction it intends to move in. So not only are 3/4 of the pixeles on your screen interpolerated but also 3/4 of the frames as well and for me this process makes movement look far more mechanical over a standard 50htz image.

From personal experiance I have found a good Plasma set to offer a much better image over any LCD I have seen when SD is concerned.
 

Oldboy

Well-known member
Sep 13, 2007
421
0
18,890
Visit site
Thanks again D.J. Krime, i've just been looking at the spyder and eyeone but which would you recommend? And yes you are right, in the harsh light of day it's stupid not to get the best from my kit (new tv arrived today, yes!) and i like the idea of earning myself a few beers lol. This is definately the next peice of kit i will buy so thankyou for the excellent advice.
emotion-21.gif
 

D.J.KRIME

New member
Jun 28, 2007
160
0
0
Visit site
Oldboy, I opted for the Spyder3 as it was about £40 cheaper than the best price I could find for the eyeone at the time but I suppose I would have gone with the eyeone if it was only say a tenner more expensive. Either way you will obtain substansially better results over trusting your eyes and test paterns alone as it is impossible to correct your TVs greyscale by eye.
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
Many thanks to you all for the advice and particularly the article link (D.J.KRIME). I think Spyder3 or Eyeone will be the route I take.

King Goal - I'll let you know how I get on with calibrating this set. Whilst I can't say I feel ripped off in buying this TV, it is disappointing to see how poor the factory picture settings are. However, I was warned and took this into account...just didn't expect it to be so challenging to tweak it to get the best out of it. I am for now remaining optimistic that I can get much more performance out of this TV than I am at present!
 

D.J.KRIME

New member
Jun 28, 2007
160
0
0
Visit site
You mat be quite supprised just how far off the D65 greyscale your TVs are running at their default factory settings (all Samsungs I have played with always had far to much blue in both the gain and offset) but don't get too hung up on getting a perfect set of readings accross the 0-100 IRE scale, just try and get as close as possible and the benifits to the picture will be clear to see even improveing contrast and brightness just by correcting the greyscale.
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
Hi all been a while since my last post

I have just order the UE40b8000 thought it was time for an upgrade.
I have also bought HD basics on blu ray

I am a bit of a novice. I have a ps3 and will link to it direct as my DA1200ES does not support HD audio

How do I set up my PS3 and tv to get the optimum pic

Any recommended settings on both platforms???

Please help as i know they arent great out of the box :)
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
I have just organised my Samsung UE55B7000WW to be sent back because of very uneven backlighting on dark scenes( clouding). Does the 8000 series suffer from this problem too?
 

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts