Ask S&V

Best Settings for Sony KDL-46Z4100

Scott Wilkinson  |  Feb 6, 2012

Do you have any recommended settings for the Sony KDL-46Z4100 LCD TV? I am presently using the factory default settings in the Cinema picture mode, which I'm told is the best mode to start with.

Fitz Forde

You heard correctly—the Cinema picture mode is generally the best mode to start with. We haven't reviewed any models in the Z4100 series, so I don't have specific settings to share with you, and even if I did, they would not necessarily be the best for your set. Typically, the best settings are not the same from one set to another, even two identical models, because of inevitable variations due to imperfect manufacturing tolerances. Yes, HT publishes the settings we use in our TV reviews, but we caution readers that they might well be slightly different than the best settings for another sample of the same model.

Your best bet is to set the basic picture controls yourself using a good setup disc, such as Spears and Munsil's High-Definition Benchmark, Joe Kane's Digital Video Essentials: HD Basics, or Disney's Wow on Blu-ray. If you don't have a Blu-ray player, I recommend Disney's Wow or Monster's HDTV Calibration Wizard on DVD. All of these discs are available online. If you're new to the TV-setup game, I recommend the Disney or Monster discs, which guide you through the process step by step.

If you have an A/V question, please send it to askhometheater@gmail.com.

X