Panasonic TC-P55VT30 3D Plasma HDTV Settings

Settings

Unit-to-unit sample variations, the viewing environment, and the source might render these recommendations less than optimum. They are provided only as a potentially useful starting place.

The settings here that are most likely to translate reliably from one sample to another are those involving specific features with only a few setting options, such as Gamma and Noise Reduction. The ones most likely to be subject to sample variations are video controls offering a wide range of settings. This will be particularly true here for the white balance (color temperature) and color management adjustments (where available). While inserting our user-menu calibration settings into another sample of the same set will do no harm, there is no guarantee that this will produce an accurate result. For that you need an on-site calibration of your own sample under your own viewing conditions. Even seemingly innocuous differences in the common control settings, such as Contrast, Brightness, and Gamma, can affect the white balance, and production line tolerances can do the same.

While experimenting with the user menus' controls can do no damage and can easily be reset, we do not provide settings for service menu adjustments. Random alterations of such controls without detailed knowledge of what they do may corrupt a set's firmware. This will likely require extensive in-shop repairs that are not covered under the warrantee.

We strongly recommend that you find the optimum basic video settings for your sample by using one of the many display setup DVDs that are available, such as Digital Video Essentials (DVD) or DVE HD Basics (Blu-ray). A full calibration, particularly of the gray scale and color gamut, is best left to a trained and properly equipped technician such as those certified by the Imaging Science Foundation (ISF) or THX. In particular, service menu calibrations should be attempted only by a calibrator who is familiar with the specific brand of set and a clear understanding of which controls to use and which to avoid.

2D Settings
Picture mode Cinema
Contrast 80
Brightness 55
Color 40
Tint 0
Sharpness 0
Color temp. Warm2
Color mgmt. Off
C.A.T.S.: Off Off
Video NR Off
Aspect adjustments

  • Screen format As required
  • HD Size Size 2
HDMI settings Default Auto/Off
Advanced picture
  • Block NR Off
  • Mosquito NR: Off
  • Motion
  • smoother: Off
  • Black level: Light
  • 3:2 pulldown: Auto
  • 24p Direct in: 96Hz/60Hz
  • Pixel Orbiter Enable
3D Settings
Picture mode Custom
Contrast 100
Brightness 57
Color 40
Tint 0
Sharpness 0
Color temp Warm2
Color mgmt. Off
C.A.T.S. Off
Video NR: Off
Aspect adjustments
  • Screen format As required
  • HD Size Size 2
Pro Settings
  • Color space Normal
W/B high/R,G.B -25,0,+11
W/B low/R,G,B +11,-3,-46
W/B detail adjustment N/A
Red gain, Green gain, Blue gain
  • 10IRE 0,0,0
  • 20IRE +7,0,-10
  • 30IRE -1,-2,+1
  • 40IRE +2,-1,+9
  • 50IRE -1,-3,+4
  • 60IRE 0,0,-9
  • 70IRE 0,0,+2
  • 80IRE 0,0,+3
  • 90IRE -2,0,-2
  • 100IRE -5,0,-8
Black extension: 5
Gamma adjustment: 2.0 or 2.2
Panel brightness: High
Contour emphasis: Off
A.G.C.: 0
Gamma detail
adjustment All 0
C.M.S. (red, green blue,
hue and saturation; Color
detail adjustments All 0
Aspect adjustments
  • Screen format As required
  • HD Size Size 2
HDMI settings Default Auto/Off Advanced picture
  • Block NR: Off
  • Mosquito NR: Off
  • Motion
  • smoother: Off
  • Black level: Light
  • 3:2 pulldown: Auto
  • 24p Direct in: 60Hz
  • Pixel Orbiter Enable
3D menu
  • 3D input format Auto
  • Left/Right swap Normal
  • Diagonal line filter Off
COMPANY INFO
Panasonic
(800) 221-PANA
ARTICLE CONTENTS

COMMENTS
_thx1138_'s picture

nice!

SunriseGatefield's picture

Great review Thomas, thanks.

I can't help but question the 4.5 star value score though... This review is substantially the same as for the ST30--save for a difference of .004 Ft-L (if I recall the values correctly) in the black levels (favoring the VT30, of course). I grant that the ST30 is a 5 star value. But is there enough evidence of the VT30's superiority here to make it nearly as good a value?

One other question: shouldn't the VT30's 96Hz refresh rate allow it to handle 24fps material better than the ST30? I didn't see mention of that in the review. Edit: My bad. Tom does mention the 96Hz refresh rate, and says he uses it for 24fps material. There's no mention here that the ST30 an GT30 lack this, but that's clear from the reviews of those models.

kent harrison's picture

Get it calibrate you never change picture mode again its five star television,i should have gotten 65 inch.

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