Pioneer PDP428 - Settings

[admin_exported]

I will be taking delivery of my first plasma tv this week. The Pioneer PDP4280XD.

I recently read a thread in the forum containing a link to a site containing ideal settings.
But now I can't find it, doh.

Does anyone have such a bookmark, or can suggest some good settings to help me get up and running.

I have also read about running a "Plasma Break in DVD", is there any point in running such a dvd on todays TV's, or am i better off just lowering the settings for the "Run in Period"?

Sorry if these are old and tired questions but as I said, this is my first flat panel tv.

 

[Anonymous]

plug it in and enjoy 🙂 dont believe any rubbish about run in periods or special precautions when watching for the first so and so hours...

although tweaking the settings slightly to suit your eyes never hurt anyone 🙂

 

[Clare Newsome]

This and this should help.... Enjoy, it's a superb set.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks Matthew s and Clare for the prompt response.

Wednesday can't come quick enough

 

[FuzzyinLondon]

[quote user="willi333"]
I will be taking delivery of my first plasma tv this week. The Pioneer PDP4280XD.

I recently read a thread in the forum containing a link to a site containing ideal settings.
But now I can't find it, doh.

Does anyone have such a bookmark, or can suggest some good settings to help me get up and running.

I have also read about running a "Plasma Break in DVD", is there any point in running such a dvd on todays TV's, or am i better off just lowering the settings for the "Run in Period"?

Sorry if these are old and tired questions but as I said, this is my first flat panel tv.
[/quote]

I'm not sure how to post the link but if you do a Google search for 'Pioneer 8G Owners Thread' it it lead you to the desired place. It's on another forum. You'll find the settings in text files which you can download from the very first post in the thread. They might not look great at first depending on what you're used to but after a couple of weeks (it takes about a 100hrs for the pixels to calm down a bit) you'll find that they give you a beautifully natural picture. There's no real need to run these sets in as their pretty much bulletproof as far as screenburn and retention go as long as you're sensible with the brightness and contrast and stay away from the Dynamic mode (Which gives a horrible picture on any set). Just enjoy it. It's a great tv. You'll find that the picture does improve even further after a few weeks once it's clocked up a couple of hundreds hours.

 

[Minigill]

Mine is now three weeks old, so still clocking up the hours. As 'Fuzzy' quoted, it will improve in time. When I first turned mine on and made several adjustments (as per the link from Clare), I was not very pleased with the picture. Bit like a fog or ghosting over the picture (Sky input), but the advice given was, don't panic (!), give it time to get the hours on it. So far, things are improving ! Also, one big thing, the Master on/off switch is bottom left hand corner behind the speaker. Just in case you wonder why hitting the on/off switch on the side doesn't actually turn it on ! I have had no problems with burn in, and have not compensated turning down the controls.... plus it looks great on the wall Enjoy your TV !

 

[Anonymous]

I've had my 428XD since December, and I'm delighted with the picture, but I've increasingly noticed a buzzing that can be heard during a quiet scene, or when listening at relatively low volumes (usually late at night).

I've realised that the buzzing can only really be heard when you're
viewing the screen head on. We sit about 3m from the screen, and if
you move away from the direct centre line of the TV, the buzzing fades
away. I now find myself picking a seat that puts me viewing the TV at
an angle, rather than head on!

(Sorry - here's where the relevance to this post comes in!) I've changed the power save settings, which changes the frequency/tone of the buzz, but does not really reduce it. The tone of the buzz also changes depending on the image on screen (seems to be loudest when there is black and white on screen together).

I'm trying to learn to live with it, as I'm unaware of any way to resolve the issue. Anyone else in the same boat?

 

[Minigill]

[quote user="jphealy"]
I've had my 428XD since December, and I'm delighted with the picture, but I've increasingly noticed a buzzing that can be heard during a quiet scene, or when listening at relatively low volumes (usually late at night).

I've realised that the buzzing can only really be heard when you're
viewing the screen head on. We sit about 3m from the screen, and if
you move away from the direct centre line of the TV, the buzzing fades
away. I now find myself picking a seat that puts me viewing the TV at
an angle, rather than head on!

(Sorry - here's where the relevance to this post comes in!) I've changed the power save settings, which changes the frequency/tone of the buzz, but does not really reduce it. The tone of the buzz also changes depending on the image on screen (seems to be loudest when there is black and white on screen together).

I'm trying to learn to live with it, as I'm unaware of any way to resolve the issue. Anyone else in the same boat?
[/quote]

I have a very very slight buzzing, seems to be with different images like you say, I find if I use Drive mode 2, it goes away, and comes back very slightly with Drive mode 1. I think the instruction book says there will be some buzz..

 

[Anonymous]

Yeah, the manual does say that some buzzing is normal. I just didn't think that it should be audible while actually watching tv (admittedly at relatively low volumes). Mine does not go away with energy save mode 2.

 

[Minigill]

[quote user="jphealy"]
Yeah, the manual does say that some buzzing is normal. I just didn't think that it should be audible while actually watching tv (admittedly at relatively low volumes). Mine does not go away with energy save mode 2.
[/quote]

Hi - energy mode 2 and drive mode 2 are two different settings, drive mode I think is under options, scroll down the page (going from memory as I am at work !). Most people seem to have power save off as it increases the overall brightness and picture. I have mine to off, but drive mode 2.

 

[FuzzyinLondon]

[quote user="Minigill"][quote user="jphealy"]
Yeah, the manual does say that some buzzing is normal. I just didn't think that it should be audible while actually watching tv (admittedly at relatively low volumes). Mine does not go away with energy save mode 2.
[/quote]

Hi - energy mode 2 and drive mode 2 are two different settings, drive mode I think is under options, scroll down the page (going from memory as I am at work !). Most people seem to have power save off as it increases the overall brightness and picture. I have mine to off, but drive mode 2.[/quote]

Same here - power save off and Drive Mode 2 and I have no problems with buzzing. I don't see the point of the energy saving modes. Why compromise picture quality while you're actually watching the set? I try and save energy by not leaving it in standby when I'm not watching it.

 

[Anonymous]

I'm at work now too - but I'm dying to go home to find the drive mode option, and see if it makes a difference. I don't think I've come across it yet.

The power save modes do seem rather pointless. What exactly is the purpose of the drive mode option? What does it actually change, and is there any downside to using drive mode 2?

Thanks a mil by the way - and I'll let you know if I get anywhere with that later!

 

[FuzzyinLondon]

According to the manual it specifies the way that the tv processes an interlaced signal. Having done a bit of research on the web, various people suggest that it takes a 50hz PAL signal and converts it to 100hz. I guess that makes a certain amount of sense as moving to Drive Mode 2 has helped people eliminate flicker from their picture when watching Freeview or Sky.

 

[Minigill]

You will see a pitcure difference between Drive 1 and drive 2, so if your buzzing goes away, stick with 2, if not, what picture looks best to you ! If all else fails, turn the volume up a tad ! Once you know its not an actual fault with the TV, which everyone thinks it could be, you tend to forget it.

If you have not checked out the forum 'Pioneer 8G Owners' (google), its definitely worth a go. Loads of good hints of how to set up your TV and explanation of what things do, like Drive mode ! You will be able to change anything with the remote in a flash !
Good luck !

 

[Anonymous]

Well I tried various combinations of drive modes and power save modes last night, and while some combinations do change the buzz, and maybe reduce it slightly, none of them eliminate it. The only combination that reduces the buzz to any significant effect is drive mode 2 and power save mode 2, but this has too big an impact on the picture. I think, therefore, that I'm just going to stick with the settings that maximise picture quality, and turn up the volume a bit! Now that I know I don't have a faulty set, I think I can just get over it / used to it.

Thanks for the help!

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for all the good advice
It's the 'Pioneer 8G Owners' link that I was looking for.

Just a quick question regarding hdmi/upscaling
I have sky hd and a denon 1940 connected via the onkyo 875. If I set the amp up to do the upscaling, what should I set sky and the denon to? so I can get the best picture.

Or should I ask the question in the Home Cinema forum.

 

[FuzzyinLondon]

Well, what's interesting about your set-up is that you've got three devices with absolutely brilliant scalers - the 428, the Denon and the Onkyo. That leaves a number of possibilities and I think it's worth having a play to see which gives you the best results. With the Sky HD you can go either via the amp or straight into the back of the TV. It shouldn't make much difference in picture quality. Either way, you'll need an optical connection going into the amp to enjoy surround sound as you only get Stereo through the HDMI (sort it out Sky). Some people also say that SD Sky can be a bit soft through the Sky HD box via HDMI and prefer to have an RGB Scart connection on a separate input purely for the SD channels.

With the Denon, there are a few options. You can go through the amp and let either the Denon or the Onkyo do the scaling to 1080p or i - whichever works best. Or you can let the Pio do all the scaling. A lot of people say that letting the Pio do the scaling gives the best results, especially when you feed it with a 576i signal (in which case you'll need to let the Onyo pass the signal through untouched). At least going through the Onkyo will save you the cost of an extra optical lead as the Denon should pass all the sound through HDMI. I think you should play around and see what looks best to your eyes.

 

[Anonymous]

Cheers FuzzyinLondon, I'll try upscaling via the amp first, then try the Pio.