Panasonic "S2" series plasma settings

steveinaz

Realizing that every display should be calibrated due to variances, these settings were derived from DVE, and will give you a good baseline for your S2 series Panasonic, if you don't have a disk yet:

Mode: Cinema
Contrast: 72
Bright: 60
Color: 46
Tint: G10
Sharp: 10
Temp: Warm
Black level: Light
All "processing" OFF (Blur reduction/auto contr/Dig NR/ etc)
HD Size: 2 (1:1 pixel mapping)
Sources: DTV HD Rec Samsung H21-200 (1080i fixed/Native off); Panasonic BluRay DMP-BD30 (1080p)
Connection: HDMI direct from sources

steveinaz

Unraveling the "mystery" of what your DirecTV HD receiver is actually ouputting:

If:
NATIVE: ON

Whichever resolutions are checked in the "Resolution" screen will be sent in their native format, for upscaling/de-interlacing by your TV.

If:
NATIVE: OFF

The resolutions checked in the "Resolution" screen must be toggled thru using the "Format" button on your DTV remote (or on the receiver itself) to select the desired output. This output is being processed by the DTV receiver.

Some hitches:

Whatever the last resolution you selected using the format key was, that is what the receiver will output if multiple resolutions were selected--you'll need to manually select your desired resolution.

To lock-in a specific output, ie., 1080i; Turn NATIVE: OFF, and select only 1080i in supported resolutions screen.

To sum it all up:

"NATIVE: ON" Your TV will be doing the processing for each resolution selected on the DTV Receiver. The DTV Rec is outputting the programs native format.

"NATIVE: OFF" Your DTV Receiver is doing the processing (except de-interlacing if 1080i is selected).

Hoosierbronco

http://www.avsforum.com/

This web site has just about every sets settings covered , like the one above.

Actually , they will give you enough information to brick your tv if you are not careful , IE instructions how to get deep into the sets programming and adjust the set to the same settings the pros derived when they calibrated the set.

steveinaz

Yep, I'm member there as well.

I originally had Tint at G18, but after re-checking with DVE and averaging the three primary's--G10 was the best compromise. G18 (though perfect w/blue filter) left a bit of a greenish tinge, especially on darker skinned folks, and white folk faces didn't have enough "pink' in them.

tonyb

Don't remember where I got my calibrations from, but I remember just googleing professional calibration settings for my model, they were pretty spot on too.
So you diggin' the new TV Steve ?

steveinaz

Yes, it's a lot better than I expected it to be. Especially BluRay movies.

I'll use CNET settings, or some from the more respected members at AVS forum; but just as a baseline. I then do my own cal with DVE to verify, and customize for my set. I mostly research settings such as color temp, mode, etc to see which default settings are the most accurate.

"Tweak my TV" tend to be the most flawed, albeit not too bad IME. At least when compared with my final calibration numbers/settings. They also sometimes don't recommend the most accurate mode to start in.

I would never pay the $300 per input ISF cal price, as TV's have come a long way; and the calibration disks (provided you've got a decent TV) will get you 95% of the way there.

thsmith

Steve, TVPREDICTIONs view of Plasma.

Prediction #9 -- Plasma HDTV Sales Will Keep Rising, Threaten LCD
The LCD has been tops in overall set sales for a few years now, easily defeating rival Plasma. However, in 2010, we started to see the gap narrow as more people came to realize that Plasma's picture is (generally) better than the LCD picture. Additionally, Plasma makers lowered their prices, making the set even more attractive to recession-weary shoppers. Look for Plasma's momentum to continue in 2011 -- and the model may even start to threaten LCD as the number one TV category.

steveinaz

It was hard to pass up a plasma, at $1099 for a 58" screen. I was really liking the LG 55" LED/LCD they had at Walmart, but its off-angle viewing was typical of the design---though better than early LCD's. We have some seating in the family room that is off-angle, so good performance in that respect was a necessity. The motion blur drives me nuts too--still haven't seen an LCD (at any price) that handles fast motion well enough for me.

tonyb

Cool, I know for myself, once I made the switch from lcd to plasma, don't think I could ever go back. Enjoy.

Was walking through Bestbuy yesterday, thought I would walk over and take a peek at the new TV's just for sh#ts. Didn't see anything that said WOW to me. Too many newer sets make everything look like a soap opera. I asked the guy to play standard definition TV on one model. He didn't understand why I would ask such a stupid question but he did anyway. After viewing for 60 seconds, I said thats why. Terrible PQ. Thats another reason why I love plasma, even in standard def., it's pretty good. I guess it wouldn't matter if every channel was HD, but they aren't...yet anyway.

carvcom

Thanks Steve, I'll try those settings out tonight. I haven't gotten a disc yet, I'm waiting for the "Spears & Munsil" to become available.
My wife gave me a 65" Panny for Christmas & I love it (her as well).

nhhiep

S2 is a great set for the buck. I got the 65" version for just $1650 shipped to my door. PQ is average, but it doesn't make everything look cartoonish like LCD/LED TVs

steveinaz

carvcom wrote: »

Thanks Steve, I'll try those settings out tonight. I haven't gotten a disc yet, I'm waiting for the "Spears & Munsil" to become available.
My wife gave me a 65" Panny for Christmas & I love it (her as well).

Those settings should get you very close. They work equally well for DirecTV. On your satellite input, you can toggle between HD Size 2 and HD Size 1, if you get some screen edge interference with 1:1 pixel mapping (broadcast error, not the TV)--provided you are getting an 1080i input to the TV; otherwise the setting is greyed out at HD Size 1. 99% of the time, you won't see the edge nasties, they mostly appear with broadcasts that don't have an accurate aspect ratio, or an HD channel is showing a standard def commercial. Definitely use HD Size 2 for your BluRay or DVD input.

HD Size 1 is zoomed 5%
HD Size 2 is 1:1 pixel mapping

Z3$BER78

An excellent bang for buck! I got my 42" on Black Friday for $549 & I'm very satisfied with the PQ. My settings are pretty much the same as yours steveinaz, but I also adjusted my SM settings per D-Nice's offsets. Enjoy!

steveinaz

Most of the talk on the "S2" series seems to make it out to be rather mediocre. What I do know, is that it far exceeds my previous 50" DLP (Samsung HL-S5086), which was said to have an "excellent picture" by many professional reviewers.

Glowrdr

steveinaz wrote: »

which was said to have an "excellent picture" by many professional reviewers.

What do we know. We're just fat, dumb consumers that have nothing better to do than keep fingerprints off the screen. :rolleyes:

Z3$BER78

Hahaha, nice glowrdr. After researching all the different plasma set's available, your going to come to the same conclusion I did. There are pro's and con's to each. There's no perfect TV. Even if someone did find their perfect set, someone else would/will find something wrong with it. All I know is the wifey's happy & I got a great deal.

steveinaz

Well, video snobbery is about as prevalent as audio snobbery--but suffice to say I'm pleased with my purchase, and don't have any false hopes for a $1000 TV. Ferrari owners would likely find it hilarious to hear a guy gush about his new Corvette.

outlander

Hi Steve,

I have the same 58" S2 Pani TV and find I need to set the brightness to ~70 or else I don't see much detail in dark scenes. Have you noticed this?

O

Z3$BER78

I can't speak for Steve but I've never had to put my brightness to 70. Looks to washed out for my taste. What is your black level set at? Like Steve mine is also on "light". What picture mode are you using, I'm assuming "cinema"? Although mine is the 42" model, but I don't know if that plays into anything.

outlander

I have the black level set to light and mode is cinema. I wonder if there is a problem with my set. Or perhaps it has to do with my cable broadcast.

O

steveinaz

outlander wrote: »

Hi Steve,

I have the same 58" S2 Pani TV and find I need to set the brightness to ~70 or else I don't see much detail in dark scenes. Have you noticed this?

O

DVE cal disk showed me a brightness value of 60/61 for below black to disappear on the Pluge pattern. I've got excellent low level detail at 60. What do you have contrast set at? They work together...

steveinaz

outlander wrote: »

I have the black level set to light and mode is cinema. I wonder if there is a problem with my set. Or perhaps it has to do with my cable broadcast.

O

Probably your cable broadcast--try my settings with a BluRay, it should look fantastic. You might want to use "custom" to set-up your TV picture. Transfer your Cinema settings to custom, and tweak by eye from there. It's gonna be a compromise, because broadcast stations are all over the map in terms of color/contrast/brightness. Cable tends to be harder than DirecTV to get any consistency.

You really need a calibration disk, as every set, source device, and lighting scenario can be different. As an example, I can push color to 52 on BluRay (panasonic DMP-BD30), but 52 is way over saturated on most DTV viewing.

outlander

Steve,
Contrast is set to 72. I have Comcast and you’re right the picture quality is all over the map going from one station to another. Comcast’s picture quality is almost as bad as their service. I tried custom with some tweaks as you suggested and there is some improvement. The blue-ray picture looks great in cinema with settings close to yours.
Thanks,
O

steveinaz

Try using "custom" or "standard" mode for your comcast settings.

Hoosierbronco

I was looking hard at the 58 or 65 S2 series before christmas. Then , totally unexpectedly , my parents bought me a 50G25 knowing I wanted a 54/55" plasma minimum , but they didn't want to spend what was required for the 54 or just give a gift card , they wanted the WOW effect when they pushed it out of their room.
They achieved that , big time !
After TONS of research , I exchanged it and kicked in some cash for the TCP54G25.
I ran the burn-in slides , but have not played with any of the settings beyond that , just using the stock THX setting.
I absolutely LOVE the picture quality !

Coming from a 27" CRT by the way .....

B&W802d

Unless it is completely dark outside I feel the cinema setting just to "dull" on my bedroom Panny plasma. I have had the bejesus tweaked out of this tv and found that over 99.9% of the time the ISF calibrations under my 'custom' settings look better. I must admit though that the cinema mode is best for really dark movies/scenes by a slim margin. The greys and blacks are a little easier to make out in some scenes. I have the S1, not the S2 as you do. Now the VT25 I have is another story. Just in a different class all together. I still have not watched a 3d anything on this tv yet and probably never will. Just wanted the best picture avalable since Pioneer decided to call it quits.

On a side note though, some of you might find funny. My wife wanted to get me something for a gift and she said she was trying to get the VT25 ISF calibrated. I told her it wasn't possible to do that with a 3d tv and she just laughed. One of a select few rare moments where my wife had a brain ****. She knew this but persisted anyways.

grif32

I am tired been up all night so I am probably reading your statement incorrectly, but you can have the VT25 3D TV ISF Calibrated.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=18876763

B&W802d

grif32 wrote: »

I am tired been up all night so I am probably reading your statement incorrectly, but you can have the VT25 3D TV ISF Calibrated.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=18876763

I was advised by my local calibration guy not to even bother. It can be calibrated for 2d viewing but when using it for 3d the colors will be off because of the 3d and the glasses. Really no point in spending money to get it calibrated either really cause when you do the settings will be for the time of day and lighting conditions present. So if you got it calibrated during the day the colors will be off at night and so on. I did have my S1 calibrated but at different times. Once during the morning,once in the afternoon and once during the evening after the sun went down. Each has its own setting (normal,custom,cinema). I was afforded that luxury due to the calibrator being a friend. He calibrated his tv the same way. He also did settings based on my PS3 and Panasonic BDP as well. Each has its own settings independent of the other. IMO, the best way to set up your tv is to get a disc and do it yourself unless you have the hookup.

sterling bug

Steve,
I have the 65S2 and my settings are pretty close to yours. I used the Sound and Vision Home Theater Tune Up DVD. I also have the DVE blu-ray but find it a little confusing.
Mode: Cinema
Contrast: 75
Brightness: 60
Color: 53
Tint: G10
Sharpness: 15
Color Temp: Warm
All processing off
Black Level: Light
Its a fantastic tv. Great value too, paid $2,000 for it at Best Buy.