Sony KDL-46HX903 Picture Settings

[admin_exported]

I've not seen the settings for the Sony KDL46HX903 shared by the What HiFi Reviewers. When I bought my Philips 42PFL9664, I thought I'd made a big mistake before I applied the settings given on this forum!

I haven't got my TV yet (on order), but if the reviewer could share the settings they used I (we) would really appreciate it. [Y]

Thanks, Jason

 

[jcshutts]

Hi Jason.

We came fairly close to coming up with some preferred settings but we were all a little new at the calibration thing -

http://community.whathifi.com/forums/t/532623.aspx

 

[Anonymous]

ooohhh you have one on order, i got mine on friday after having it on order for. . . . . . . . . . .3 Months!!! yours shouldnt be as long as that but by golly it is a phenominal picture! check out my post titled:
I Finally Have My 46HX903 (And my opinions of the hx903)

 

[Anonymous]

jcshutts & jst23,

Thanks for your comments and I've checked out both of your posts. I will definitely check out the settings and have a go myself with the THX optimiser.

As I was saying earlier, when I bought my Philips 42pfl9664 they were in short supply so I bought it off the back of the What Hifi review without seeing it in the flesh. When I started watching TV on it, I thought to myself "Oh my god, what have I done the picture is terrible - motion blurring etc. I quickly grabbed my laptop and found the recommended settings, entered them in and then I was like "Oh my god, what a fantastic TV!"

I've bought this TV blind as well - actually I've bought all my TV's blind - Samsung LE26C450 (after What Hifi Review) and my Panasonic TX32LZD85.

Can't wait for the Sony to turn up! As I said earlier, I will keep a close eye on your posts and see what settings turn up.

Thanks, Jason

 

[jcshutts]

I am always amazed to hear of other people buying TV's off the back of reviews when they haven't seen the actual TV in the flesh. Such is the strange market of televisions - flagship models more so than perhaps other ends of the budget range. Such also is the influence of review magazines - although I will add I personally have found the findings of WHF to be very accurate on the products I have had personal experience of.

I too bought my TV without seeing the actual Television in a store. Given the difficulty of sampling high end models and comparing them side by side, then there is natural reliance on 'expert' reviews, albeit this feels uncomfortable when spending lots of money on someone else's advice!

I did something even more questionable -Not only did I neglect to 'sample' the TV in a store (no one locally had one in stock), I bought the TV without having the reviews to inform my judgement either. Although the Philips 46 Pfl 9705 had won some European award the TV had not been reviewed by WHF. I bought the Philips based on a reputation of previous models in their range.

I regretted this decision. When the reviews arrived I had confirmation that although the TV did well in some areas, it fell short in others. This was not an acceptable compromise to me. As you identified the Philips have many different tweaks and idiosyncrasies which left me continually trying to get the best out of it.

I returned the TV, due to its faulty handling of 3d, specific to my particular model, and decided to buy the Sony 52 hx903. Again I did this before the WHF review - had I not learnt from previous experiences? But I knew its 46" sibling was highly rated by some (not all) expert panels.

Anyway I was extremely relieved to find the TV lived up to my expectations: the picture was stunning, I didn't need to keep playing with the settings to get a really good image and best of all, within three weeks WHF published their review and they agreed with my findings! Spot on.

My point is (at least one of my points) - I am not sure you will need to spend the same efforts you did with the Philips trying to get the best out of it. The standard factory setting on the Sony was a good starting place for me. I made a couple of minor adjustments that I am not even sure I could discern once done! Now I enjoy my TV (but secretly plan how to convince my wife that a projector is next!)

Enjoy.

 

[jcshutts]

question was asked as follows in an associated posting.

£

Quote:
Re: Sony 46hx903 (again)
Could you tell me what settings are on by default for the advanced settings? Or if anybody has turned them off???

Keen to hear from anyone that has mastered the best possible picture!

Advancedsettings (default) on Standard picture mode

BlackCorrector: Low

AdvancedContract enhancer - Medium

Gamma- 0

LedDynamic Control - Standard

AutoLight Limiter - Medium

ClearWhite - Off

LiveColour - Low

DetailEnhanced - Medium

EdgeEnhancer - Medium

SkinNeutraliser - off

I am still keen to hear from anyone who has mastered the settings!

 

[Anonymous]

As like jschutts,

Would like to know if anybody has turned off any particular settings in the 'Advanced Settings' in achieving the result of a striking good message?

 

[aliEnRIK]

jcshutts:

Advancedsettings (default) on Standard picture mode

BlackCorrector: Low

AdvancedContract enhancer - Medium

Gamma- 0

LedDynamic Control - Standard

AutoLight Limiter - Medium

ClearWhite - Off

LiveColour - Low

DetailEnhanced - Medium

EdgeEnhancer - Medium

SkinNeutraliser - off

A lot of your settings are wrong. A tv shouldnt change anything, it should simply display whatever its fed

Contrast enhance off

Black corrector off

Auto light - off

Live colour - off

Detail and edge enhance - off

 

[jcshutts]

will give it a go thanks

 

[aliEnRIK]

Id pretty sure the LED DYNAMIC CONTROL should be off too

 

[jcshutts]

Roger.

basically everything!

I am interested to see if it makes a difference/improvement. I am watching Shutter Island Blu-ray which should be a good test!

thanks

 

[jcshutts]

umm. I know I am not supposed to think this but.... I actually prefer the picture with some of the default settings in place. I now need to work out which ones. The processing technology makes the image clearer and more rich - which might not be for everyone but I thought it improved what otherwise looked a bit insipid and plain.

 

[Anonymous]

aliEnRIK:Id pretty sure the LED DYNAMIC CONTROL should be off too

How are you so sure all the adjustments in your resent posts about this TV are correct. Have you tried all the settings yourself on a HX903? I have tried most setting now and can comment from experience that some of your suggestions and that of other non HX903 owners, could be wide of the mark. Don't take this the wrong way. I only say so poeple don't get confused or lost in their settings. For instance, the THX brightness settings achieved using a THX disk are so dark as to be unwatchable in some (standard definition) cases. Yet a brightness setting of 47 is looked down upon. Following the THX setup, gives a brightness level of 36. Contrast settings also come under fire without actual experience of the TV. The contrast seems to alter in steps of about 15. The overall brightness drops quite quickly below 80. Advice is welcome but several post on the subject of the HX903 seem to be condescending. Also stripping dynamic LED control from this set would be a waste of money. If you do, the overall brightness is constantly high, removing the main benefit of this TV. Leaving it on standard doesn't interfere at all. Black corrector also as its benefits, (if set to low) the depth of picture is improved on normal TV programming. As for some of the sets min/maximum settings, they are still of use as these are obviously set to work within a range, limited by what the manufacturer decided. Max anything is more than likely not the max the set is capable of. I hope I don't come across as rude, but different TVs have widely varying specs and settings and I welcome comments. But I've only commented from what I have actual experienced.

 

[Anonymous]

So how did you find these settings anybody!!

I've got most of 'Advanced Settings' to 'Off' ...but LED Dynamic still left on Standard?

How was Stutter Island jschutts?

 

[Anonymous]

the right settings are the ones that look right to the person who owns the tv, otherwise there wouldnt be different settings on tv's..

 

[Anonymous]

darkdealx:
So how did you find these settings anybody!!

I've got most of 'Advanced Settings' to 'Off' ...but LED Dynamic still left on Standard?

How was Stutter Island jschutts?

Hi darkdealx, I have left the dynamic LED control on standard and tried the black corrector on low and off. Each setting adjustment I make is followed by running the THX optimiser on the Terminator 2 disc. I've found that if you follow the THX settings instructions, the brightness is so low, the normal def stuff looks terrible in dark scenes. So its trial and error from there. I've gone for the settings below and I'm very happy so far.

Backlight 8

Contrast 80

Brightness 80

Colour 50

Motionflow Standard

Film Mode Auto2

Every other setting off in Basic Menu.

In Advanced Menu:-

Dynamic LED Control Standard

Every other setting is off.

As far as getting the settings I like I also review a section from a Blu Ray and sometimes pause the picture and adjust some of the settings. Like Black Corrector and Edge Enhancer. This will give you at least an idea what the settings do. You may like them, you may not. Personal choice?

This TV acts completely different to any other I've own as far as THX is concerned. It's just able to do things that no other TV I've seen could and that's why I think there's so much confusion as to what the settings should be if your not using it yourself.

Hope this might be of use to you. Jase

 

[aliEnRIK]

maxflinn:the right settings are the ones that look right to the person who owns the tv, otherwise there wouldnt be different settings on tv's..

Rubbish

There are settings on tvs to calibrate

The rest are for people to 'think' the pictures better when it isnt (Or if their sources are incredibly poor and the tv needs to compensate)

 

[Anonymous]

aliEnRIK:
maxflinn:the right settings are the ones that look right to the person who owns the tv, otherwise there wouldnt be different settings on tv's..

Rubbish

There are settings on tvs to calibrate

The rest are for people to 'think' the pictures better when it isnt (Or if their sources are incredibly poor and the tv needs to compensate)

er, i think not rik

..

you are familiar with the concept of choice i presume? if so then how can whatever settings a given owner of a tv chooses to use be wrong? they are right for them if they like them, sorry to burst your bubble old boy but.......

 

[Anonymous]

maxflinn:aliEnRIK:
maxflinn:the right settings are the ones that look right to the person who owns the tv, otherwise there wouldnt be different settings on tv's..

Rubbish

There are settings on tvs to calibrate

The rest are for people to 'think' the pictures better when it isnt (Or if their sources are incredibly poor and the tv needs to compensate)

er, i think not rik

..

you are familiar with the concept of choice i presume? if so then how can whatever settings a given owner of a tv chooses to use be wrong? they are right for them if they like them, sorry to burst your bubble old boy but.......

I find it hard rik to listen to your argument. You make out users just stick it on vibrant and say wow. Anyone who's taken the time to find out about this TV and find the money, as it's a lot more than most 46" TVs, (it's unlikely to be an impulse buy) will have some idea of what to do. As Max say, it's up to the user to judge. They are looking at the TV. From your sig, you haven't got a HX903 to look at. As I said in my earlier post, I only comment from experience and the HX903 reacts very differently from any TV I've owned before. It's very arrogant to ignor others opinion who can actually see the TV. If we take your word for it, the WHFT don't need to wait for new equipment to come in for test. They'd just ask you.

 

[aliEnRIK]

maxflinn:er, i think not rik

..

you are familiar with the concept of choice i presume? if so then how can whatever settings a given owner of a tv chooses to use be wrong? they are right for them if they like them, sorry to burst your bubble old boy but.......

No worries to me as theres no way youve burst my bubble

I stand by what I said, people 'think' its a better picture. In some cases (Whilst watching a CGI movie for example) it probably does. But changing any of those I posted will invariably change the actual picture from what its 'supposed' to be to whatever the processing does

Any 'sharpening' of the image will reduce actual detail. Any change in contrast will lose white detail. If blacks incorrect youll lose black detail or itll be grey. Live colour changes the whole pallete, meaning nothing is shown at the colour it should (Also lessening detail). I could go on but I really dont think I need to..........

 

[aliEnRIK]

Jase Brown: If we take your word for it, the WHFT don't need to wait for new equipment to come in for test. They'd just ask you.

A very silly statement. Do you really want me to reply to that?

 

[aliEnRIK]

Jase Brown: For instance, the THX brightness settings achieved using a THX disk are so dark as to be unwatchable in some (standard definition) cases. Yet a brightness setting of 47 is looked down upon. Following the THX setup, gives a brightness level of 36. Contrast settings also come under fire without actual experience of the TV. The contrast seems to alter in steps of about 15. The overall brightness drops quite quickly below 80. Advice is welcome but several post on the subject of the HX903 seem to be condescending. Also stripping dynamic LED control from this set would be a waste of money. If you do, the overall brightness is constantly high, removing the main benefit of this TV. Leaving it on standard doesn't interfere at all.

If you use the THX disc properly then I can only assume that your stating theres a difference between sources, or possibly HD and SD? If you calibrate black levels with the THX disc then it should be right 'using the same source'

 

[Clare Newsome]

Please can we calm this thread down a little, please.

Everyone should tweak their TV to the settings that best suit them and their surroundings (and source material).

One person's 'perfect' settings could look horrible to another, due to difference in lighting, viewing distance, source and even personal preference - that's why we don't publish settings from our reviews, as they could be misleading.

We find starting with the THX Optimizer a decent jump-off point into the world of TV tweaks.

 

[aliEnRIK]

With regards to the 'dynamic led' function, it dims the overall display in relation the the brightness of the video signal being used (bad), on top of that it completely changes the greyscale 'variably'. Meaning the whole picture changes randomly

If people are happy with that then switch it on

 

[Anonymous]

I found the contrast far to high on 80, to much white on screen. Put it back to 47, left Black Corrector on Low, As also 'Live Colour' on 'Low'.

Try that and tell me what you think?