Sony KDL40Z4500 - Calibration Settings

[admin_exported]

This will be my first LCD TV (stepping up from the world of CRT at long last)together with the BDPS550 blu-ray player (I can't wait but my wife thinks that I'm nuts!). I understand that in order to get the best out of these TV's they have to be calibrated properly (and not leave it with the out of the box settings). I am completely new to all of this, but wondered if anybody had any settings as a starting point (I also have one of those THX Optimiser DVDs which I have heard can be useful. I watch movies and sport (as well as the regular stuff on standard TV)so if there is a list of calibration settings that would be really help me. Thanks

 

[Anonymous]

Maybe I was expecting too much!!! but just want some advice on how a technophobe like me can set up the tv properly without paying a fortune for a specialist to do it. Is there any cheap DVD product or something similar (I've heard some people mention a THX optimiser which I think I have seen on one of my DVDs). I think I can manage the odd tweak here and there but not so sure how to start a custom set up. Thanks

 

[Anonymous]

At the risk of talking to myself today, there are some suggested settings on other forum - http://www.another site/forums/lcd-televisions/816190-sony-bravia-z4500-lcd-200hz-motionflow-31.html. Maybe this will help for starters:

Picture Mode: Cinema
Backlight: Min
Contrast: 80
Brightness: 50
Colour: 55
Colour Temp: Neutral
Sharpness: 0-2
Noise Reduction: Off
MPEG NR: off

Advanced Settings

Contrast Enhancer: Off
Colour Space: Standard

Features Submenu

Quick Start: Off
Light Sensor: Off
Power Saving: Standard
Film Mode: Auto 1
Motionflow: Depends on what im watching or playing.

 

[pioneer7]

Hi Steve123

The THX Disc is a good starter, or you can use the THX set up on some DVDS Monsters inc, Star wars have them, also Digital Video Essentails is a good set up Disc, i think you buy them for around £12.00 here you go take your pick.

http://www.play.com/Search.aspx?searchtype=r2alldvd&searchstring=digital+video+essentails&page=search&pa=search&go.x=26&go.y=11

 

[cram]

Probably one of the reasons you haven't had much in the way of replies is that different settings (as in rooms / ambient light etc.) can produce different results. Also different individuals have different preferences so there are no one size fits all settings. Whatever looks good to you in your house is good and that's all that matters.

THX Optimizer is available on a number of DVDs (Revenge of the Sith springs to mind). But that won't really help you with your Satellite/Freeview/Analog TV picture.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks Cram. There was a really good website that used to review the TVs and give the professional calibration settings that they had used- which was helpful (if only as a starting point). Unfortunately that site seems to have stopped producing reviews. What I'm looking for as a novice is really a rule of thumb so that I can try to avoid these "clouding issues" that are mentioned with the Sony TVs - presumably to bring contrast and brightness right down (as well as turning backlight to the minimum settings).

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks Pioneer7, that's helpful. Much appreciated.

 

[cram]

Re: the clouding issue. Not heard anything about this model having it (there again not looked/paid attention either). If you do have issues you will know about it particularly when watching the screen in low light conditions. I can't stress enough that you should tinker with the settings until you find something that you like. Whilst someone in a forum somewhere may advise you that such and such settings are best they are not viewing your TV in your house with your input sources. And at the end of the day it is about what you like.

 

[Anonymous]

Hi,

Buy an Eye One Display LT for about £100 (the cheapest way to get the Eye One sensor) and download ColorHCFR and some SD or HD test patterns for free (links are available on the ColorHCFR site). There's a bit of a learning curve but this is the cheapest way to get a proper (objective) calibration. There's a step-by-step guide available on www.another site. ÿ