Sony KDS-xxA3000 Settings Thread

[Mika]

I know that I'm totally stealing this idea from the guys over at AVSforum, but I've never been overly pleased with their settings. I think it's because they seem really focused on movie playback and that rarely works well for enjoying videogames. So I'd like all of the Sony KDS-xxA3000 owners around here to share their PS3 and TV settings with the class.

I personally think I have a really solid setup, but I'm always willing to try new things. ;)

PS3 Settings
BD/DVD Video Output - Y Pb/Cb Pr/Cr
RGB Range - Full
Super-White - On

General Options
Power Saving - On

Picture Settings
Picture Mode - Standard
Advanced Iris - High
Picture - 95
Brightness - 50
Color - 65
Hue - 0
Color Temperature - Neutral
Sharpness - 50
Noise Reduction - Off
MPEG Noise Reduction - Off
Black Corrector - Medium
Gamma - Off
Clear White - High
Color Space - Wide
Live Color - Low
White Balance - Default
Detail Enhancer - Off
Edge Enhancer - Off

Video Options
Motion Enhancer - Off
Motion Naturalizer - Off
CineMotion - Off
Game/Text Mode - Off
RGB Dynamic Range - Full
Video Color Space - Normal

Sounds Settings
Sound Mode - Dynamic
Treble - +10
Bass - +8
Surround - Off
Voice Zoom - +3

And in case anybody cares, I still have the ghetto "P" firmware because I haven't received the USB thumb drive yet. :(

http://www.supercars.net/pitlane/pics/3289815b.jpg

[smaug]

I'm at work, so I can't check my exact settings, but they seem pretty close to that.

You can download the firmware firmware files from that AVS forums thread, someone posted them on there. Although, someone took measurements and basically determined the update can't be seen by the naked eye, but if you're like me, you always want the most updated firmware on everything you own ;)

[Oner]

Here are the files needed from the AVS forums (http://www.filemojo.com/0222305105447428/Sony_TV_Update_Files.zip). I upgraded mine via a standard USB thumb drive formated FAT (not FAT32, though I doubt it matters) with those files since I never got my update when I called Sony....can't really complain though, since I got a $200 lamp sent to me instead for free!

[smaug]

Here are the files needed. I upgraded mine via a standard USB thumb drive formated FAT (not FAT32 though I doubt it matters) and the files I have linked here since I never got my update when I called Sony....can't really complain though since I got a $200 lamp sent to me instead for free!


I will add the files in one sec when it is done uploading.

Haha, you were one of those lucky ones eh? By the time I got my TV and realized there was a firmware update, they had figured out they were sending people lamps instead of flash drives, so I just downloaded my firmware update.

And on the file system note, someone on AVS said the drive had to be formatted in FAT, but I'm pretty sure mine was formatted FAT32. But I'm not 100%, so I would format your drive in FAT before putting these files on it, if you do download them.

[REFLEX]

Get it ISF Calibrated...... my SXRD is ISF Calibrated and the difference between user personal settings and ISF is huge... you'll flip out!

[smaug]

Get it ISF Calibrated...... my SXRD is ISF Calibrated and the difference between user personal settings and ISF is huge... you'll flip out!

Hehe yeah, tough to fit it in the budget at the moment! I would really like to get an ISF tech out to me, but bills, a trip, school, have to come first unfortunately :(

How much is just a display calibration? $300?

[REFLEX]

Yeah, about 300 dollars, I paid 325 for mine. Its amazing.

Before I had user settings like these ones in this topic, I thought they were decent. I got ISF Calibrated and it was far better, big difference actually.

[legendbyname]

Would love to get my set ISF calibrated, but definitely not something in my budget right now. My fiance would seriously kill me. Does anyone know if the blu-ray version of the AVIA disc has released yet?

[smaug]

Would love to get my set ISF calibrated, but definitely not something in my budget right now. My fiance would seriously kill me. Does anyone know if the blu-ray version of the AVIA disc has released yet?

I thought the hi-def versions of these calibration disks weren't really necessary.

EDIT: Also, to the OP, I think having Full RGB on may be causing you to lose some detail.

[REFLEX]

High Definition versions of calibration discs are not really any more useful than regular DVD Versions.

[Oner]

I too would LOVE to get mine calibrated! But after buying an Obutto Race Sim Chassis, a Logitech G25 & GT5P I need to put that off for a little bit...

[Blu_Ray_Fan]

Cool thread! I had mine calibrated by Best Buy. It looks AMAZING after they were done. I will post the exact specs in a day or 2.

[REFLEX]

If it was calibrated like a ISF tech does it then posting specs doesn't really help considering the best parts are within the TV's code.... not on the menus.

[Beodude123]

Just so you know, your colors are probably waaaaay over-saturated. It is a matter of personal opinion, but after having my TV on Warm 2, with none of the color enhancers, things seem to look good. If I turn on the color things, or change the temp, it looks off.

[Blu_Ray_Fan]

If it was calibrated like a ISF tech does it then posting specs doesn't really help considering the best parts are within the TV's code.... not on the menus.

I am aware. It still helps some, otherwise whats the point of the thread?

And BTW REFLEX, you don't have a A3000 do you? I thought you had last years model, the A2020?

[Mika]

You can download the firmware firmware files from that AVS forums thread, someone posted them on there. Although, someone took measurements and basically determined the update can't be seen by the naked eye, but if you're like me, you always want the most updated firmware on everything you own. ;)
I can definitely tell the difference in clarity between Standard and Custom/Cinem, which is what the firmware update is supposed to fix. And I'm really leery about using that AVS file because I don't want to brick my TV--I'd rather just wait for the official Sony thumb drive.

[Mika]

Also, to the OP, I think having Full RGB on may be causing you to lose some detail.
I've heard that there are two simple tests for Full RGB compatibility...

The (Potentially) Easy Method
Simply hover over the Warhawk game icon in the XMB. If you can easily see the fine details on the engine that's off to the left (or even the grate that's in the lower-right corner), you're fine.

The Pseudo-Scientific Method
View this image (http://sr-388.net/images/patterns/Brightness.jpg) using your PS3's photo browser. If you can clearly see all four numbers you should be fine because they correlate to 1-4 on the 0-255 scale.

Long story short: my TV aces both of these tests with flying colors. :cool:

[smaug]

I can definitely tell the difference in clarity between Standard and Custom/Cinem, which is what the firmware update is supposed to fix. And I'm really leery about using that AVS file because I don't want to brick my TV--I'd rather just wait for the official Sony thumb drive.

I highly doubt it. You could tell the difference between standard and custom/cinema before the update, that's why they are there, because they are different. It's been a while since I've been over to the AVS thread for the a3000, but I'm pretty sure that firmware update just addressed a 1080i deinterlacing issue. One of the ISF techs that owns this set tested it out with some of his equipment, and there was definitely a difference, but not one that could be seen with the naked eye.

[REFLEX]

I've heard that there are two simple tests for Full RGB compatibility...

The Pseudo-Scientific Method
View this image (http://sr-388.net/images/patterns/Brightness.jpg) using your PS3's photo browser. If you can clearly see all four numbers you should be fine because they correlate to 1-4 on the 0-255 scale.

Long story short: my TV aces both of these tests with flying colors. :cool:


Yes, but you are forgetting something. Which most people forget. This is only for Blu-ray movies, video games are already calibrated for the RGB Color Space. So what you are effectively doing is either two things:

01. Crushing out all other sources, except movies.

02. You had to bump up the brightness to compensate, leaving everything else way too bright, technically speaking.


If you were to bring in an ISF Tech he would totally change this setting, I am sure of it.

So, some people think this is good, and others know it has very little real world application.