42inch 2ms, 1080P FULL HDTV Settings Question

[BenjaWiz]

These are the settings I need answears to and also if you could please tell me what you think are the best settings for this TV.

Picture settings:
Contrast = ? What number should this be at.
Brightness = ? What number should this be at.
Color = ? What number should this be at.
Dynamic Contrast = ? should this be on or off and what does it do.
Active Control = ? should this be on or off and what effect does this have.

I am trying to fine tune the TV for the best experiance but am finding it very diffacult.

Thanks

[budz]

The best is to go to the AVS FORUM to find out the best settings for your 42 inch 1080P. You didn't mention if it's a LCD or PLASMA but join that forum site and you'd likely get some info.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?f=166

[BenjaWiz]

it's an LCD thanks

[MOVIEGEEK]

You need to get a calibration disc, AVSForum has a free one you can download:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=948496

[jagabo]

Those settings vary with every model, often even with different batches of the same model, and even to some extent with every TV. As budz pointed out, the easiest option is to go to AvsForum and look for your exact model and see what others have posted. Then eyeball the picture with some test charts to verify they are about right.

Dynamic contrast automatically adjust the contrast depending on the video that's being displayed. For a proper display this should be off. Many people aren't interested in a proper display and want more pop (more contrast).

Active Control appears to be Philips' name for some video processing features. Again, this should probably be disabled to display the picture properly, but many people will like the extra pop (more contrast, more saturation, sharper edges, less noise, etc).

[JustOneOfMany]

You might get some help from that site. They post the setup for each TV they test.


http://www.lcdtvbuyingguide.com/

[misterbill]

These are the settings I need answears to and also if you could please tell me what you think are the best settings for this TV.

Picture settings:
Contrast = ? What number should this be at.
Brightness = ? What number should this be at.
Color = ? What number should this be at.
Dynamic Contrast = ? should this be on or off and what does it do.
Active Control = ? should this be on or off and what effect does this have.

I am trying to fine tune the TV for the best experiance but am finding it very diffacult.

Thanks

Sounds like you have a Phillips. If so just go to Menu, TV Settings, Settings Assistant.

It will do a series of those "which is better, Right Side - Left Side" tests" for each of the settings you asked about.
These settings will be saved under Auto Mode as "Personal". You can scroll down choices in Auto Mode and compare and use the setting you like the best.

As for Active Control, I prefer mine "On without Light Sensor"

BTW, if you don't have a Phillips....... Kindly disreguard.

[jagabo]

You need to get a calibration disc, AVSForum has a free one you can download:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=948496

Do they have a standard definition DVD version too?

[BenjaWiz]

I do indeed have the new philips 7000 series LCD HDTV thanks.

[jagabo]

Note that what looks good to you isn't necessarily right. Most people given a choice of a correctly calibrated picture and one that is over saturated, over sharpened, and has too much contrast will think the latter looks better.

[fritzi93]

As for Active Control, I prefer mine "On without Light Sensor".

Same here.

You can get the settings fairly close using the THX optimizer found on many DVDs, any Star Wars DVD for instance.

http://www.thx.com/home/dvd/optimizer/index.html

[manono]

Yeah, I also use the THX Optimizer from one of my Star Wars discs. And to emphasize what jagabo said; we've been so conditioned by years of improperly calibrated TV sets that most people don't know what a good picture is supposed to look like. I wouldn't calibrate to what looks good to me, but how it's supposed to be. A little time spent watching on a decently calibrated set and you'll wonder why you ever liked the overly sharpened and overly contrasted picture you were used to watching before.