LCD 1080p flat panel TV-Blu ray

[Icarus]

The issue I'm concerned about is having to go into the coded adjustments that are not discussed in the user manual.

I would never suggest somebody go into the service menu. (At least not on TUG.) Any user adjustments to turn down contrast/sharpness and turn off dynamic viewing controls. properly setting the color temp. controls and eliminate red push can and should be done through the normal user accessible settings.

I guess Glynda doesn't want to try it herself, but DVDs like Avia walk you through all the user settable controls and tell you what to do and should even come with a small plastic color filter strip to use when making the adjustments.

Read the description here (but search elsewhere for reviews):

http://www.amazon.com/Avia-II-Guide-Home-Theater/dp/B000X4NJNS

I can say all this until I'm blue in the face but it's not my tv.

One issue may be that on some TVs, each input has to be calibrated separately. I think that may be true on some Sonys. Probably you calibrate the one input with the dvd where the PS3 is, and you can copy the settings to the other inputs, I guess, if you don't want to switch the inputs and input types around.

Avia 2 isn't the only calibration disk out there. There are others.

-David

 

[Kal]

So we need to tall Glynda to let us know when she gets tired of seeing people on screen who look angry. It should be just a few adjustments starting with a "custom setting". But actually when you take into account all the different controls and the range available for each control the combinations and permutations could be quite a few.

 

[Icarus]

The real question, Kal, is if she would have noticed had we not mentioned red push?

Any decent calibration disk geared toward consumers will walk you through each possible setting.

-David

 

[Kal]

We should have said "watch out for BLUE faces on people in blue tights".

 

[jlwquilter]

There are lots of comments on the banding issue with some of the early Sharp models. As you will notice, those comments are very dated. When Sharp opened the new very high tech Kamayama Plant, the problem went away. The current models you would be interested in should not be a problem with banding.

I am shopping for a TV now so have been reading this thread with interest. I was price shopping and found that BJs and Costco have the older Sharp Aquos 62U models which seem to be the ones with banding issues. If I want to avoid these models I need to go to other stores - and pay the higher price.

I was chatting with another customer in Costco and he said the sales guy at Circut City said that in a month or so the new models for the year will be out, so waiting a few weeks could result in savings on "older" models.

Does anyone know if that is true - that new models will be introduced next month or so?

 

[Icarus]

OMG, now I have a banding issue on my 62U!

In this space, there's always a new model with a new feature about to be released. When the new models first come out, the street price will be higher than after they've been around for 4 - 6 months, if the model even lasts that long. If you wait for a new model or new feature, there will always be something around the corner that you want.

Costco has a very good return policy.

-David

 

[Glynda]

This and that...

The red is not THAT bad and yes, I wonder if I would have noticed it if I hadn't been told about calibration, read their literature and "talked" to you guys and The Geek Squad...all mentioned the "showroom red." I may attempt to adjust it...though I don't feel confident using the disc and doing quite that much on my own.

I'm just not as technical as you guys. I understand that you would have shopped around online and installed it yourself and would attempt these more complicated adjustments. I have been walked through purchasing the right thing and fixing several problems, mainly computer, by some of you in the past and was successful! Thanks!

But in this situation, buying locally and The Geek Squad were well worth the extra money. And as for their adjusting the colors and walking through the TV settings, remember, unfortunately, I had no cable TV when they were here!

But to have them walk in the door and unpack, move the cabinet out from the wall, set up, label (thanks Kal), program remotes, do the settings, update PS3 software, put new longer wire on my center speaker so we could move it (I already had the wire so no charge there), check everything out, answer my questions, explain things to me, put the rug and cabinet back, clean up after themselves and place the things I won't need anymore in one place and the remotes, instruction books and the things I will need right before me, leave and even come back when I got the right box and it wouldn't work was just what I needed. Hubby would have attempted it and would have gotten frustrated. This way, when he arrived for the long weekend, a four and a half hour drive after working all day that he has to repeat on Sunday, he just got to sit down and enjoy it and was blown away by the difference between this and our old TV and thankful he didn't have to deal with it!

I've really enjoyed the thread and I am thankful for you all for your willingness to help on TUG!

 

[tlwmkw]

Which TV did you actually get?

Glynda, I've reread your posts but couldn't figure out which TV you ended up buying. You said Sony XBR4 720P but with 120 hz refresh- I thought the XBR4 was 1080P. We're considering this very same TV so I'm curious how you like it. We too will prob use the intallers but I hadn't heard about all the calibration info- thanks for letting us all know about that. Did you get the cable box before the installation? And did you get the box that records shows like a tivo? Also did you get a universal remote? The labeling idea is great- we did this for our current TV- just used blue tape and a sharpie. Sorry for all the questions but this is a very timely thread for us since we are on the verge of buying but find it all very confusing.

 

[Kal]

OMG, now I have a banding issue on my 62U!...

Serial numbers beginning with 610 have had banding, but also have sets that are perfect. Serial numbers beginning with 611 have been claimed to have no reports of banding. However even if true, that is no guarantee that a 611 set will not have banding.

 

[Icarus]

I was kidding. I don't have a banding issue with mine, and I have no idea what the serial number is.

-David

 

[Kal]

I am shopping for a TV now so have been reading this thread with interest. I was price shopping and found that BJs and Costco have the older Sharp Aquos 62U models which seem to be the ones with banding issues. If I want to avoid these models I need to go to other stores - and pay the higher price.

I was chatting with another customer in Costco and he said the sales guy at Circut City said that in a month or so the new models for the year will be out, so waiting a few weeks could result in savings on "older" models.

Does anyone know if that is true - that new models will be introduced next month or so?

I looked very carefully at Costco's line and walked away from it. First off, they seem to have their own unique model numbers which are obviously a "Costco special". When I looked at the specs it seemed they cut some corners to keep the price down. They also do not have anywhere near the most current product line. It's almost as if their suppy is "close-out". More importantly their prices were considerably higher than what I easily found on-line. Their return policy is great, but you pay a high premium for that service.

I would search the net for pricing on newer (not new) models. Unfortunately, the prices on new models will remain high for up to 6 months. Look carefully at the specs for "older" models and you'll get an incredible deal. Remember, if you bought a current model one year ago, it would have been top of the line and you would likely never look back. There's always something better around the corner.....at a HIGH PRICE!

 

[Kal]

...You said Sony XBR4 720P but with 120 hz refresh-...

If you would bear with me for a moment I'd like to offer some geeky clarification. There is a difference between "refresh rate" and the "120 Hz" number.

Refresh rate is usually expressed in time, e.g. 6 milliseconds (ms). This is really an artificial number as there is no standard of measurement. Manufacturers dream up how they will determine the number then add it onto the specs. I would view those numbers with caution.

The 120 Hz value is the "frame rate conversion". Theres a link in an earlier post on this thread which provides a detailed description.

 

[Glynda]

Response

Glynda, I've reread your posts but couldn't figure out which TV you ended up buying. You said Sony XBR4 720P but with 120 hz refresh- I thought the XBR4 was 1080P. We're considering this very same TV so I'm curious how you like it. We too will prob use the intallers but I hadn't heard about all the calibration info- thanks for letting us all know about that. Did you get the cable box before the installation? And did you get the box that records shows like a tivo? Also did you get a universal remote? The labeling idea is great- we did this for our current TV- just used blue tape and a sharpie. Sorry for all the questions but this is a very timely thread for us since we are on the verge of buying but find it all very confusing.

I bought the 32 inch Sony XBR4 720p as Sony doesn't make a 1080p smaller than a 40 inch model. So far the HD channels are awesome but it's been less than 24 hours!.

My problem is that I'm using an older receiver for which I don't have a remote and they were unable to set it up so that the Comcast remote operates the volume. I have to get up to turn the volume up and down. I'm thinking of getting a new receiver but no salesperson has been able to tell me if even a new one will be operable through Comcast's remote.
Wish I had just bought ar receiver and two more speakers when I bought the rest. For them to come back now would almost be like starting over!

I did get the cable box before installation...but the wrong one (there are HD boxes with and without HDMI ports...I was told to get a HD box but no one told me to ask for one with HDMI). So when the Geek Squad came the first time they told me it was the wrong box but that they would set everything up so that I only had to plug in the box (three plugs and they showed me how). After they left, I went to get the right one....brought it home and couldn't get it to work....Geek Squad guy came back and he couldn't get it to work so back to Comcast I had to go. Brought that one home, hooked it up myself and it works.

No to the TIVO like box. I have that in my NC home with Time Warner and love it....just can't afford all these extras times two homes! I did not get a universal remote. I have an old Harmony that I was never able to set up properly. Keep in mind that Best Buy charges an extra $150. for the Geek Squad to set up a universal remote!