HDTV picture settings forum: Sony XBR-55HX950 picture settings

Review:
http://reviews.cnet.com/flat-panel-tvs/sony-xbr-55hx950/4505-6482_7-35431205.html

Related products:
Sony XBR-65HX929

Calibration report using these settings: http://bit.ly/WtUDJw

Below you'll find the settings I found best for viewing the Sony XBR-55HX950 in a dark room via the HDMI input. Your settings may vary depending on source, room conditions, and personal preference. Check out the Picture settings and calibration FAQ for more information.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-9996461-1.html

Calibration notes: I measured four different picture modes, Standard, Cinema 1, Cinema 2 and Custom to determine which was the best prior to any adjustment. Aside from Custom, three engaged local dimming (LED Dynamic Control: Standard) but offered different light output levels, color temperatures and/or MotionFlow settings. I threw out Custom since it didn't employ local dimming by default, and eliminated Standard because it engaged MotionFlow by default. Between the two Cinema modes Cinema 1 ended up "winning" since it disabled dejudder (smoothing) and showed improved gamma over Cinema 2.

In an earlier version of these notes I reported that many of the modes were too dim. In fact that was because I had mistakenly left the TV's ambient light sensor engaged in my dark room, which limited the TVs light output. I turned off the sensor (which is turned on by default, even in the Cinema modes where it shouldn't be) for my follow-up re-calibration, so the settings below reflect the correct position "Off" of the ambient light sensor. I also updated the calibration report linked above.

The XBR-HX950's calibration was more a matter of minor tweaking due to Sony's relatively sparse controls. Its main problem was a slightly minus-green grayscale, which was almost laughably easy to fix. After calibration the grayscale was nearly perfect and other performance characteristics were as good as I expect from a high-end TV, with the exception of blue luminance (hardly a deal-breaker).

--Picture Adjustments menu--
Setting Memory: [any]
Picture Mode: Custom
Backlight: Min
Picture: 95
Brightness: 50
Color: 51
Hue: 0
Color Temperature: Warm 2
Sharpness: 50
Noise Reduction: Off
MPEG Noise Reduction: Off
Dot noise reduction: Off
Reality Creation: Off
Smooth Gradation: Low
Motionflow: Off
CineMotion: Auto 2

-Advanced Settings submenu-
Black Corrector: Off
Adv. Contrast Enhancer: Off
Gamma: 0
LED Dynamic Control: Standard
Auto Light Limiter: Off
Clear White: Off
Live Color: Off
White Balance: [see below]
Detail Enhancer: Off
Edge Enhancer: Off
Skin Naturalizer: Off [grayed out]
i/p Conversion Preference: Quality [grayed out]

-White Balance submenu-
R-Gain: -2
G-Gain: 0
B-Gain: -2
R-Bias: 0
G-Bias: 0
B-Bias: 0

Ambient Sensor: Off

--Screen menu--
Setting Memory: [any]
Wide Mode: Full
Auto Wide: Off
4:3 Default: Off [grayed out]
Auto Display Area: Off
Display Area: Full Pixel
Screen Position: [grayed out]
Vertical Size: 0 [grayed out]

--Pro Picture Setup menu--
[all settings default/Auto]

--Home Menu>Settings>Preferences--

--Scene Select menu--
General

--Eco menu--
Power Saving: Off
Light Sensor: Off

Note: This post was edited by its original author Revised settings and calibration notes to correct mistake of ambient light sensor being engaged. on 11/20/2012 at 9:54 AM PT