Panny VT30 calibration?

nguyendot
nguyendot Posts: 3,594
edited December 2011 in Electronics
So I went into Best Buy the day after Christmas and the manager came up to me (I used to work for him) telling me that the home theater manager was slashing open box prices. I perused their TV selection (been wanting a 70" Sharp LED for some time now) and nothing on the floor was awesome. He took me in back and they had two rows of about 50 tvs sitting there. I priced out some 8000 series Samsungs and they came in at 2000 still. There was a Panasonic plasma still in the box which intrigued me. I had always heard this fable that Panasonic plasmas have the best picture, especially for movies when properly calibrated. This would be replacing my 3 year old 46B550 1080p Samsung (in my sig). Anyways he got me a price on that, and when I heard what it was I bought it immediately. I ran out the door with that price basically. Got it home and unpacked it. It was brand new basically, but missing the wifi dongle. Panasonic TC-P55VT30.

Set it up and the picture quality left something to be desired. I played with some settings (there are.....100 give or take). It got better, but didn't have the "wow" factor I'm looking for. I wonder if anyone has some advice in calibrating it? I don't have the meter or serial hookup (or knowledge for that matter) to do it myself. I feel the Disney or DVE might not do this TV justice. Don't get me wrong, it looks great, but I know it could look better. Help? :)
Main Surround -
Epson 8350 Projector/ Elite Screens 120" / Pioneer Elite SC-35 / Sunfire Signature / Focal Chorus 716s / Focal Chorus CC / Polk MC80 / Polk PSW150 sub

Bedroom - Sharp Aquos 70" 650 / Pioneer SC-1222k / Polk RT-55 / Polk CS-250

Den - Rotel RSP-1068 / Threshold CAS-2 / Boston VR-M60 / BDP-05FD
Post edited by nguyendot on
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Comments

  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,967
    edited December 2011
    Some discussion of it here.

    http://www.highdefjunkies.com/showthread.php?10242-Official-Panasonic-TC-PXXVT30-Calibration-Discussion/page36&
    HT SYSTEM-
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  • nguyendot
    nguyendot Posts: 3,594
    edited December 2011
    sweet thanks
    Main Surround -
    Epson 8350 Projector/ Elite Screens 120" / Pioneer Elite SC-35 / Sunfire Signature / Focal Chorus 716s / Focal Chorus CC / Polk MC80 / Polk PSW150 sub

    Bedroom - Sharp Aquos 70" 650 / Pioneer SC-1222k / Polk RT-55 / Polk CS-250

    Den - Rotel RSP-1068 / Threshold CAS-2 / Boston VR-M60 / BDP-05FD
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  • MADGSF
    MADGSF Posts: 603
    edited December 2011
    I will add that my Panasonic took some time to break in before it looked it's best. I mostly use the default video modes now and feel no need to have it calibrated. I have a co-worker who noticed the same thing with his Panasonic.
    AVR: Elite VSX-21TXH
    Amplifier: B&K 7250 Series ii
    Misc: Velodyne SMS-1
    Mains: RTi-10
    Center: CSi-5
    Rear: Boston DSi460
    Sub: SVS PC-Ultra
    TV: Panasonic TC-P58V10
    DVD: Panasonic DMP-BD60K
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  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 25,453
    edited December 2011
    MADGSF wrote: »
    I will add that my Panasonic took some time to break in before it looked it's best. I mostly use the default video modes now and feel no need to have it calibrated. I have a co-worker who noticed the same thing with his Panasonic.

    true any calibrater worth his equiptment won't touch them untill 200hrs have passed. In the beginning try and have the whole screen used that way all pixels get even amount of use and for gods sakes pay for the calibrating just getting the numbers from someone else's won't mean it works for your set. To have someone calibrate your TV IMHO will be the best money you'll ever spend.
    Not to mention sounds like you got a steal of a deal so the funds for the calibration won't put you in the hole so to speak.

    I have never been sorry for buying my Panny plasma.
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  • nguyendot
    nguyendot Posts: 3,594
    edited December 2011
    Not sure if i trust the geeksquad to do it.. I wonder if they do a real calibration or just pop some numbers in honestly.

    Got the tv for $1399 btw. Even went back for the dongle and they gave it to me free.
    Main Surround -
    Epson 8350 Projector/ Elite Screens 120" / Pioneer Elite SC-35 / Sunfire Signature / Focal Chorus 716s / Focal Chorus CC / Polk MC80 / Polk PSW150 sub

    Bedroom - Sharp Aquos 70" 650 / Pioneer SC-1222k / Polk RT-55 / Polk CS-250

    Den - Rotel RSP-1068 / Threshold CAS-2 / Boston VR-M60 / BDP-05FD
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  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 25,453
    edited December 2011
    nguyendot wrote: »
    Not sure if i trust the geeksquad to do it.. I wonder if they do a real calibration or just pop some numbers in honestly. .

    Our BB gave me the number of a local ISF tech that they use and they came out with all the tools needed and it took them about 1.5hrs.
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  • nguyendot
    nguyendot Posts: 3,594
    edited December 2011
    What was the approximate cost? And I'll wait for 200hrs give or take - does the plasma have a hour meter like old pioneers do?
    Main Surround -
    Epson 8350 Projector/ Elite Screens 120" / Pioneer Elite SC-35 / Sunfire Signature / Focal Chorus 716s / Focal Chorus CC / Polk MC80 / Polk PSW150 sub

    Bedroom - Sharp Aquos 70" 650 / Pioneer SC-1222k / Polk RT-55 / Polk CS-250

    Den - Rotel RSP-1068 / Threshold CAS-2 / Boston VR-M60 / BDP-05FD
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  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 25,453
    edited December 2011
    mine didn't have a hour meter. cost for mine was 150.00
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  • leroyjr1
    leroyjr1 Posts: 8,785
    edited December 2011
    pitdogg2 wrote: »
    mine didn't have a hour meter. cost for mine was 150.00

    Got to go into the service menu to get panel hours.
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  • leroyjr1
    leroyjr1 Posts: 8,785
    edited December 2011
    nguyendot wrote: »
    So I went into Best Buy the day after Christmas and the manager came up to me (I used to work for him) telling me that the home theater manager was slashing open box prices. I perused their TV selection (been wanting a 70" Sharp LED for some time now) and nothing on the floor was awesome. He took me in back and they had two rows of about 50 tvs sitting there. I priced out some 8000 series Samsungs and they came in at 2000 still. There was a Panasonic plasma still in the box which intrigued me. I had always heard this fable that Panasonic plasmas have the best picture, especially for movies when properly calibrated. This would be replacing my 3 year old 46B550 1080p Samsung (in my sig). Anyways he got me a price on that, and when I heard what it was I bought it immediately. I ran out the door with that price basically. Got it home and unpacked it. It was brand new basically, but missing the wifi dongle. Panasonic TC-P55VT30.

    Set it up and the picture quality left something to be desired. I played with some settings (there are.....100 give or take). It got better, but didn't have the "wow" factor I'm looking for. I wonder if anyone has some advice in calibrating it? I don't have the meter or serial hookup (or knowledge for that matter) to do it myself. I feel the Disney or DVE might not do this TV justice. Don't get me wrong, it looks great, but I know it could look better. Help? :)

    If you're not happy with it out the box I would return it. Find a set you like and then calibrating it will take it to the next level. I'm very happy with my VT out the box and I'm a Kuro 151 owner also. It's not going to give you the bright pop you'll get from LCD but it'll give you more of a life like natural picture and that's not for everyone.
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  • factorz
    factorz Posts: 353
    edited December 2011
    With the mony you saved on the unit I suggest looking into getting a professional calibration. I had one done on my Samsung DLP and still today it looks great. $300-400 depending on the services offered, but well worth it.
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  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 25,453
    edited December 2011
    leroyjr1 wrote: »
    Got to go into the service menu to get panel hours.

    mine is the TC50ps2 model I may not have that. So how do you get to the service menu?
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  • leroyjr1
    leroyjr1 Posts: 8,785
    edited December 2011
    pitdogg2 wrote: »
    mine is the TC50ps2 model I may not have that. So how do you get to the service menu?

    I'm not sure for your model, thought u had a VT. Look over on AVSforum, there's a ton of info there.
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  • pearsall001
    pearsall001 Posts: 5,068
    edited December 2011
    leroyjr1 wrote: »
    I'm not sure for your model, thought u had a VT. Look over on AVSforum, there's a ton of info there.

    I just picked up the 65"ST30 & out of the box it looked pretty good but I knew I had some tweaking to do. Over on the AVS forum is a ton of info on calibrating the Panny Plasma's. I followed one of their set up menu's for the "Custom" setting & as I plugged in the #'s the picture was transformed right before my eyes!!! I made a few adjustments for my room & my likeing but the picture now is simply amazing. I'm sure there is a thread specifically for calibrating the VT series over there.
    "2 Channel & 11.2 HT "Two Channel:Magnepan LRSSchiit Audio Freya S - SS preConsonance Ref 50 - Tube preParasound HALO A21+ 2 channel ampBluesound NODE 2i streameriFi NEO iDSD DAC Oppo BDP-93KEF KC62 sub Home Theater:Full blown 11.2 set up.
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited December 2011
    HDTV's of good brand are getting better and better. I personally would not pay for a pro calibration. DVE renders a beautiful picture. Take 25% of that pro cal money and buy you a bias light for the rear. (Cinema Quest) I have the TCP-58S2, and picture is gorgeous--I have no desire to have it calibrated professionally.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • leroyjr1
    leroyjr1 Posts: 8,785
    edited December 2011
    pearsall001 wrote: »
    I just picked up the 65"ST30 & out of the box it looked pretty good but I knew I had some tweaking to do. Over on the AVS forum is a ton of info on calibrating the Panny Plasma's. I followed one of their set up menu's for the "Custom" setting & as I plugged in the #'s the picture was transformed right before my eyes!!! I made a few adjustments for my room & my likeing but the picture now is simply amazing. I'm sure there is a thread specifically for calibrating the VT series over there.

    Yep, there's a VT section: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1331665&page=157

    I've done D-Nice custom setting and while it looked good it's all personal preference. Didn't think it was a huge improvement.
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  • leroyjr1
    leroyjr1 Posts: 8,785
    edited December 2011
    Any updates on how you like the PQ. Still not to your liking?
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  • Sherardp
    Sherardp Posts: 8,038
    edited December 2011
    Make sure you update to the latest firmware, it supposedly fixes color issues.
    Shoot the jumper.....................BALLIN.............!!!!!

    Home Theater Pics in the Showcase :cool:

    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showcase/view.php?userid=73580
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