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.
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.