Owners Thread - Pioneer Pdp 428xda/508xda 768p, Settings,Calibration,Pics,Comments Options

[Iceman]

I got a 508XDA, I have found the tuner to be quite good. Are you guys getting good signal?

[chrissyoscar]

I got a 508XDA, I have found the tuner to be quite good. Are you guys getting good signal?

Don't get me wrong the TV is great but if an external tuner can give it a slightly better picture then I'll get one.
I'm interested in a good PVR so that'll be my next purchase.

[Iceman]

I don't know if you will see the improvement in picture quality but if you want the PVR function then you don't have many options.

Only thing I don't like about the built in tuner is that you can not change the order or delete unwanted traffic/news/shopping channels on your channel list.

[chrissyoscar]

I got a 508XDA, I have found the tuner to be quite good. Are you guys getting good signal?

Good to see you took the plung and got the Pioneer, I'm sure you haven't regretted doing so.
What settings are you using?
I'm using the settings from the UK AVforum but found that the contrast levels where to low so I have increased it to 50.
I was reading a thread on the UK AVforum about calibration settings for an American LX508 and the guy wanted to know if they were good for the UK LX.
The advise given was that the US LX model was made to suit the US market and the calibration settings look **** on the UK LX model.
This made me think if the Aussie model is also different.
What settings are Pioneer owners using, the UK, US or there own setting?

[Iceman]

I have not played around witht the picture settings at all. I am very happy with the settings out of the box. I have just left at the optimum settings.

I will do a bit of reading on the UK AVForum and threads here to see if these settings make a difference.

Did you buy the 50' LX series?

[chrissyoscar]

I have not played around witht the picture settings at all. I am very happy with the settings out of the box. I have just left at the optimum settings.

I will do a bit of reading on the UK AVForum and threads here to see if these settings make a difference.

Did you buy the 50' LX series?

I got the 508xda but it was interesting reading about the difference between the UK and US LX models and figured it might also apply to the XDA models

[nearly]

Good to see you took the plung and got the Pioneer, I'm sure you haven't regretted doing so.
What settings are you using?
I'm using the settings from the UK AVforum but found that the contrast levels where to low so I have increased it to 50.
I was reading a thread on the UK AVforum about calibration settings for an American LX508 and the guy wanted to know if they were good for the UK LX.
The advise given was that the US LX model was made to suit the US market and the calibration settings look **** on the UK LX model.
This made me think if the Aussie model is also different.
What settings are Pioneer owners using, the UK, US or there own setting?

I'm using the 'D65 HDMI' HD settings from the UK AVforum for the Xbox360 with HD addon, and they work wonders for that input., but haven't settled on anything yet for FTA or Foxtel or standard def DVD. There are many sets of settings on that forum, and I've tried the Freeview and also SKY SD Scart but don't think either of those is ideal.

Which one(s) from that forum are you using for which input sources?

[chrissyoscar]

I'm using the 'D65 HDMI' HD settings from the UK AVforum for the Xbox360 with HD addon, and they work wonders for that input., but haven't settled on anything yet for FTA or Foxtel or standard def DVD. There are many sets of settings on that forum, and I've tried the Freeview and also SKY SD Scart but don't think either of those is ideal.

Which one(s) from that forum are you using for which input sources?

I have the following settings for now.


. . . . . . . . . .Foxtel . . . . . . . . . . . .DVD . . . . . . . . .FTA
. . . . . . .Scart to Component . . . . HDMI
Settings . . . .User . . . . . . . . . . . .Movie . . . . . . .Standard

Contrast . . . .+32 . . . . . . . . . . . . .+50 . . . . . . . . .+50
Brightness . . +6 . . . . . . . . . . . . .+5 . . . . . . . . . .+15
Color . . . . . . .-2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . +2 . . . . . . . . . . .-10
Tint . . . . . . . . .0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1green . . . . . . . .0
Sharpness . . . .-6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . -12 . . . . . . . . . .-14


As you can see they vary greatly and I still think I need to play around with the FTA settings. I tend to see a lot of brown in the picture and have had my father in law comment about it.
I wont bother playing around with Foxtel anymore as it's average quality and I'm happy with the way DVD's look.
I've adjusted all the other settings according to the UK forum.

I purchased a PS3 the other day but haven't changed any settings for that input. I'll try the UKforums settings for Blu-Ray etc soon.

This post has been edited by chrissyoscar: Nov 4 2007, 06:46 PM

[Iceman]

Here some settings which you guys might like to try.

8G D65 LX Settings.

********************************************************************************
***************
You can adjust sharpness and saturation to suit but don't alter colour temp or colour management away from the settings below.
********************************************************************************
***************

For SKY HD, PS3, Blue Ray or HD/DVD (BLUE RAY, PS3 OR HD/DVD YOU NEED TO ADJUST PURE CINEMA)
(SKY HD SET PURE CINEMA TO OFF)

AV SELECTION ***MOVIE***

CONTRAST 34
BRIGHTNESS 0
COLOUR -2
TINT +2 Towards Green
SHARPNESS -15

PRO ADJUST > PURE CINEMA
FILM MODE OFF (BLUE RAY/HD DVD Smooth or Advanced)
TEXT OPTIMISATION OFF

INTELIGENT MODE OFF

PICTURE DETAIL
DRE OFF (Med if you prefer)
BLACK LEVEL OFF
ACL OFF
ENHANCER MODE 1
GAMMA 3

COLOUR DETAIL MANUAL (HOLD ENTER FOR 3 SECS)
COLOUR TEMP
R High -2
G High 0
B High +2
R Low 0
G Low 0
B Low 0



CTI OFF
COLOUR MANAGEMENT
R 0
Y 0
G 0
c 0
B 0
M -8

COLOUR SPACE 1

If you're using a PS3 via HDMI with this TV, there is a bug that will destroy shadow and highlight details if you have "RGB Full Range" enabled in the PS3's display settings. I won't go into the technical details as to why, but to set up your PS3 properly with this TV, you should go to:

1: Settings > Display Settings > RGB Full Range (HDMI) set it to "Full"

2: Settings > BD/DVD Settings > BD/DVD Video Output Format (HDMI) and change it to "RGB"

3: TV Menu > Option > HDMI Input > Video and change it from "Auto" to "Colour-4"

After a second or two, you should see the image change to a lower contrast, and far more accurate image.

NOISE REDUCTION
Field NR OFF
All others OFF

OTHERS
IP MODE 2

8G D65 HDMI Settings.
********************************************************************************
***************
These settings should be applied to the letter, you can adjust sharpness and saturation to suit but don't alter colour temp or colour mangement away from the settings below.
********************************************************************************
***************

For SKY HD, PS3, Blue Ray or HD/DVD (BLUE RAY, PS3 OR HD/DVD YOU NEED TO ADJUST PURE CINEMA)
(SKY HD SET PURE CINEMA TO OFF)

AV SELECTION ***MOVIE***

CONTRAST 30
BRIGHTNESS 0
COLOUR -2
TINT +2 Towards Green
SHARPNESS -15

PRO ADJUST > PURE CINEMA
FILM MODE OFF (BLUE RAY/HD DVD Smooth or Advanced)
TEXT OPTIMISATION OFF

INTELIGENT MODE OFF

PICTURE DETAIL
DRE OFF (Low if you prefer)
BLACK LEVEL OFF
ACL OFF
ENHANCER MODE 2 (1 if you prefer)
GAMMA 2

COLOUR DETAIL MANUAL (HOLD ENTER FOR 3 SECS)
COLOUR TEMP
R High -2
G High 0
B High +2
R Low -1
G Low 0
B Low -1



CTI OFF
COLOUR MANAGEMENT
R 0
Y 0
G 0
c 0
B 0
M -7

COLOUR SPACE 1

If you're using a PS3 via HDMI with this TV, there is a bug that will destroy shadow and highlight details if you have "RGB Full Range" enabled in the PS3's display settings. I won't go into the technical details as to why, but to set up your PS3 properly with this TV, you should go to:

1: Settings > Display Settings > RGB Full Range (HDMI) set it to "Full"

2: Settings > BD/DVD Settings > BD/DVD Video Output Format (HDMI) and change it to "RGB"

3: TV Menu > Option > HDMI Input > Video and change it from "Auto" to "Colour-4"

After a second or two, you should see the image change to a lower contrast, and far more accurate image.

NOISE REDUCTION
Field NR OFF
All others OFF

OTHERS
IP MODE 1

8G Freeview Settings
**********Freeview**************


MENU > PICTURE MENU

AV SELECTION USER

CONTRAST 27
BRIGHTNESS 0
COLOUR -8
TINT 0
SHARPNESS -15

PRO ADJUST > PURE CINEMA
FILM MODE OFF
TEXT OPTIMISATION OFF

INTELIGENT MODE OFF

PICTURE DETAIL
DRE OFF (Low if you prefer)
BLACK LEVEL OFF
ACL OFF
ENHANCER MODE 2
GAMMA 1

COLOUR DETAIL MANUAL (HOLD ENTER FOR 3 SECS)
COLOUR TEMP
R High +2
G High -2
B High -14
R Low +1
G Low 0
B Low -1



CTI OFF
COLOUR MANAGEMENT
R 0
Y +1
G 0
c 0
B 0
M -2

COLOUR SPACE 1

NOISE REDUCTION
Field NR OFF
All others OFF

OTHERS
IP MODE 1

8G X Box VGA Settings
**********X BOX VGA***********


MENU > PICTURE MENU

AV SELECTION USER

contrast 34
brightness 0
red +3
green 0
blue -16

8G Shop Demo Settings
If you are daunted by the number of adjustments just use the first ones to start with.
They are simple and just slightly ammend the out of box settings but MUST be made or things will look overcooked and juddery.

Once the set beds in and you get used to it use the advanced settings.
If you are going to see one in a shop take this with you and ensure that the at least the first settings are used and insist on having the remote unless the sets have been properly set up.

Once you get your set home the pixels will appear lively and the picture may look a bit redy blue, this is normal and will settle within a week.


********************************************************************************
***


*******SHOP DEMO/BASIC HOME SETTINGS*********

Leave everything alone except:

PRESS MENU AND SELECT PICTURE MENU

AV SELECTION STANDARD (Have this set for all inputs, it uses the same settings)

CONTRAST 36
BRIGHTNESS 0
COLOUR +4
TINT 0
SHARPNESS -4

********To make sure there is no judder*********

MAIN MENU > PRO ADJUST > PURE CINEMA
FILM MODE OFF
TEXT OPTIMISATION OFF

Menu > Picture > Pro Adjust > Colour Management > Colour Space 2
Menu > Picture > Pro Adjust > Colour Management > Colour Detail Mid-Low

PRESS MENU > OPTIONS >
SCROLL DOWN TO SECOND SCREEN
DRIVE MODE 2




********WHEN YOU GET YOUR SET HOME ONLY*********
BLUE LED DIMMER SET TO WHATEVER YOU FANCY--LOOK AT THE INCORRECT AMUSING DESCRIPTIONS

ORBITER UP TO YOU (MINE IS OFF)

PUSH MENU & SCROLL TO OPTIONS MENU

AUTO SIZE WIDE ZOOM

SIDE MASK
DETECTION ON
BRIGHTNESS SYNC FIXED

IF THE INPUT IS AN HDMI SET TO ENABLE
SIGNAL TYPE VIDEO
VIDEO AUTO
AUDIO AUTO

[Cambrian]

I don't know if you will see the improvement in picture quality but if you want the PVR function then you don't have many options.

Only thing I don't like about the built in tuner is that you can not change the order or delete unwanted traffic/news/shopping channels on your channel list.

Hi Iceman

Care to expand on the problems with the channel listings? Surely you do not mean that you are stuck with all the channels that the tuner picks up!!

[mjs]

Hi Iceman

Care to expand on the problems with the channel listings? Surely you do not mean that you are stuck with all the channels that the tuner picks up!!

You can allocate as many or few of the channels to your favourites which are then scrolled through by the Prog+/-

[Iceman]

Cambrian, yes that is what I meant. Once you auto scan, you can not delete unwanted channels or change the order. I have read the manual there is no reference to changing/deleting channels.

You can make a favorite list but you can not view it on the screen. You can + - on the remote. If the channel is on the bottom of the list then you might end up pressing + - ten times!

Only other option is to scan every channel manually, that is pain.

[mwd]

Only other option is to scan every channel manually, that is pain.

Should not take very long we don't have very many channels to choose from and if it makes the tv more pleasurable to use Just Do It. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)

[Iceman]

You are not wrong that we don't have many channels. The pain is to find the frequencies you need to scan.

[hermes_2k5]

fyi,


http://www.australianit.news.com.au/story/...5-15308,00.html

Black is beautiful in high-def too
November 06, 2007

IT'S not too long ago that just having a large, flatpanel television was enough to satisfy or impress most of us.

Nowadays, however, sheer size and being able to hang a screen on a wall is not enough in itself. The more familiar we become with flatpanels, the more features we have come to recognise as important.

Built-in HD tuners, for example, are a must for anyone who wants to get the most out of their screen. Many of us have now become educated that 1090p resolution is the Holy Grail if you want true HD-quality pictures.

Now that more and more add-on equipment for HD systems such as players and consoles are on the market, the need for suitable connections becomes crucial.

A basic composite video input just doesn't cut it these days, when such gear needs HDMI and component inputs to produce the intended results.

Pioneer Kuro PDP-508 XDA

OTHER manufacturers of flat panel TVs have built up strong recognition of their products under brand names such as Bravia or Viera, but it has taken eight generations of plasmas for Pioneer to find an identity beyond the serial number. The chosen monicker, Kuro, is an indication of where Pioneer sees its strengths.

Kuro is the Japanese word for black, and if plasma has been able to boast an advantage over LCD other than price, it has been that it can display true blacks, compared with LCDs.

For many people, it's not something they notice until they compare the two systems side-by-side, and it also must be admitted that LCD has been lifting its game in black reproduction.

Kuro is also appropriate because Pioneer's sets have always been decked out in shiny black cases. The risk, therefore, when the company boasts about its black reproduction is that any such reproduction can be easily contrasted with this shiny frame.

It's a tribute, therefore, to the designers that the dark spaces on the screen don't appear washed out.

It's also hard to deny how crystal clear the picture becomes when you see the colour reproductions Pioneer has achieved in its latest sets. Hooked up via HDMI (three of the set's five inputs are capable of HDMI) to a Blu-ray player (well, a PS3 playing Blu-ray disks), the resulting images are testimony to how beautiful a full HD picture can be.

It was only when switching back to free-to-air SD broadcasts from 1080p HD that I felt a bit disappointed. What were good colour settings in HD became too vivid in SD, and required some adjustment.

As well as the HDMI connections, the set offers two component, three S-Video and standard composite inputs. This should be enough to have all your gear connected at their optimum. This set is pricey for a plasma, but undoubtedly at the top of its class, and it's going to be hard for this reviewer to part with it when it comes time to return it.

SPECIFICATIONS
Features: 50in plasma, 1080p, HDTV tuner, 3 HDMI and S-Video slots, two component connections
Price: $5699
More at: www.pioneer.com.au
Ratting: 8/10

- Roland Tellzen

Samsung LA40M81BDX

FINALLY, a Samsung LCD that doesn't look like it's wearing a bumbag. This M8 series screen is blissfully rectangular and deserves a place on the living room wall, unlike some of the triangular abominations Samsung has given birth to previously.

It's just as well Samsung came up with a clean, simple design for this TV. The company's usual excess baggage under the screen would have distracted from the beautiful picture it puts out.

The main claim to fame of the LA40M8 and its 46in and 52in siblings is the way they handle black.

Samsung's marketers and many LCD owners would attest that the format often struggles to create uniform blacks because of issues with the way backlights shine through the screen.

Samsung has ironed out that kink with the M8 and what you get for its trouble is a TV that displays rich and marvellously consistent black.

Coupled with a 15,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, this means the M8 reveals dark or shadowed images in exquisite detail.

These features, along with 1080p output, make the M8 perfect for watching Blu-ray discs or blasting baddies on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 consoles, as crisp images are rendered in vibrant colour. The news isn't all so good.

While Samsung has done a brilliant job with picture quality, this LCD is a little lacking in some areas. One of the M8's selling points is the competitive price, which is several hundred dollars cheaper than similar products from Sharp and Sony. But it seems Samsung has cut a few corners to get there.

For starters, the TV's body seems flimsy compared with other screens, and some of the finishes, such as the cheap-feeling tie that bundles the power cord and audiovisual cables, detract from the package. Sound also leaves something to be desired, with Samsung mounting the speakers pointing down rather than into the room.

SPECIFICATIONS
Features: 40in LCD, 1080p, HDTV tuner, stand, backlit remote, 3 HDMI slots, S-Video, composite and optical and analog audio out.
Price: $3099
More at: www.samsung.com/au
Rating: 8/10

- Ben Woodhead

Sony KDL-52X3100

THIS is one big LCD telly. The 52in XBR Bravia tops Sony's LCD range - for us mortals at least. There is a 70in XBR, but that lists at a breathtaking $69,999, 10 times the asking price of the 52in model. It's also one heavy telly. For those who equate LCD technology with a lack of weight, the 49kg heft of this Bravia will have you yelling for help to get it up on the entertainment unit.

Once landed, the big Bravia is lounge lizard heaven, especially for those with plenty of high-definition sources such as Blu-ray disc players and high-def-capable games consoles.

It includes a tuner for HD TV and three HDMI ports for top-rate connections.

Blu-ray movie reproduction on the Sony, at 1080p resolution, was exquisite, helped along by a 10-bit LCD panel that bumps up the colour gradation between pixels compared with lowlier eight-bit panels and Motionflow 100Hz technology that combats LCD judder by inserting frames when needed.

The smarts all add up to a new world of detail, which had me clocking the Richard Branson cameo in the Bond movie Casino Royale for the first time despite having watched the flick twice before.

Be warned. While a large 1080p-capable telly is in its element showing off high-def media, lesser sources such as ordinary DVD and standard-def TV look murky and flat in comparison, and games on low-def consoles such as the PS2 and Nintendo Wii appear quite pixellated.

While playing high-def PS3 and Xbox 360 games was wonderfully immersive, Sony's big panel does show up faults such as texture ripping and rough edges that are not so evident on smaller LCD screens.

SPECIFICATIONS
Features: 52in LCD, 1080p, integrated HD tuner, 100Hz motionfl ow, 3 HDMI inputs
Price: $6499
More at: www.sony.com.au
Rating: 8/10

- Stuart Kennedy
CONCLUSION

WE hate to be fence-sitters, but all our review units scored identically this week, impressing each of our reviewers with how good HD can look on a big, quality screen. Take your pick.

[Iceman]

The review is not a much of help for someone who is confused.

[hermes_2k5]

The review is not a much of help for someone who is confused.

True, but if you buy at least one of the 3 above - you know you can't go wrong (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

But the Pio still wins (IMO) with free delivery, installation and factory backed 5 yr warranty.

[madhacker]

Hi guys - first post here.

What's the story with the grey sidebars on the 508xda when 4:3 TV programs are being shown? Surely black is better.
Is the only solution to turn them to black by getting into the hidden 'service menu' as suggested in the avforums (UK) or is there an easier way?
I would have thought this to be a standard option in the regular menu.


Only one other thing worries me about this set - the reported judder issues.
Have all owners on here managed to sort out smooth motion for their various sources?
There are so many conflicting reports of proposed solutions working/not working out there atm.
If it weren't for these 2 issues I'd have snapped one up already.

Any owners out there care to help out?
Cheers.

[mjs]

Hi guys - first post here.

What's the story with the grey sidebars on the 508xda when 4:3 TV programs are being shown? Surely black is better.
Is the only solution to turn them to black by getting into the hidden 'service menu' as suggested in the avforums (UK) or is there an easier way?
I would have thought this to be a standard option in the regular menu.
Only one other thing worries me about this set - the reported judder issues.
Have all owners on here managed to sort out smooth motion for their various sources?
There are so many conflicting reports of proposed solutions working/not working out there atm.
If it weren't for these 2 issues I'd have snapped one up already.

Any owners out there care to help out?
Cheers.

Welcome madhacker

The side bars are grey to provide an average level of picture in these side bar areas so that any chance of apparent burn in (from having the side bars turned off, ie black) is absolutely minimised.

I do not appear to have any judder problems.

This is an excellent panel IMO.

[madhacker]

Welcome madhacker

The side bars are grey to provide an average level of picture in these side bar areas so that any chance of apparent burn in (from having the side bars turned off, ie black) is absolutely minimised.

I do not appear to have any judder problems.

This is an excellent panel IMO.

Thanks - truly smooth motion is a minimum requirement imho.

But can you change the grey bars to black if so desired? I don't think I could live with that, to be honest, and more importantly my wife hates it.
No black bars = no approval to splash the cash from my other half (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)