HDTV Options

[Jim]

So, I thought there was a topic about TV's, but I can't find it. Fiance and I are looking to get an HDTV here pretty soon and I want some recommendations. We don't really want (or need) bigger than 36", so please don't recommend anything bigger than that.

Mainly, we're looking for something to make our games look better and to make our movie watching experience awesome. So, any recommendations/suggestions?

[impala454]

yep. they're widely regarded as the best bang for the buck as far as flat panels are concerned. if/when you get one let me know and I'll find you all the calibration settings for it.

[woody]

yep. they're widely regarded as the best bang for the buck as far as flat panels are concerned. if/when you get one let me know and I'll find you all the calibration settings for it.

Where do iyou find the calibration settings?

i have a 32 Vizio model#:VX32LHDTV10A

[impala454]

Where do iyou find the calibration settings?

i have a 32 Vizio model#:VX32LHDTV10A

The best way to go about finding them for any TV, go to avsforum.com, search on your model number to find the specific thread for your model. remove letters at the end one at a time if you don't find any thread, many of the threads are shared for multiple versions of the same model. or if some numbers for your model correspond to the size, replace them with xx. i.e. mine is a Samsung HLS6187w, but the thread is HLSxx87 (as the 61 is the size, and it's available in 50, 57, 61, 67"). The threads will usually be titled "official <manufacturer> <model> thread", i.e the one for yours is "Official Vizio VX32L Thread".

Once you find the thread, search within it for "calibration settings" and you'll usually find at least a few posts where either the professional calibrators or some "power users" have posted theirs. They're not the end all be all, but a good place to start. Once you change the settings, give it some time to see how you like it, and try different lighting scenarios (regular TV watching, low light for movies, etc). You will most likely find it a little dimmer, but with a much nicer picture. Most TVs come with the brightness & contrast set way too high and it ends up blurring the image a little. Manufacturers set these values higher from the factory because it helps sell their TVs (i.e. trying to look brighter than the others, in an already bright retail store). There is also usually some type of proprietary processing the manufacturer puts in there to further "enhance" the image, which usually sucks (most calibrated settings have these turned off if possible). Anyhow, most who try out the calibrated settings see a night and day difference in picture quality over the factory settings. I know it was that way with my three and several friend's HDTVs.

here's one I found for yours:

backlight: 55
brightness: 57
contrast: 45
color:40
tint: 3
sharpness:3
color temp:
red: 130
green: 120
blue: 105
DNR: medium
Black level Extender: ON
White Peak limiter: ON
CTI: ON
Flesh tone: OFF
Adeptive luma: ON
DCR: OFF