Managed to get the FW updated last and had a look at the calibration on the Blu-Ray and Xbox 360 input.
I thought I'd run through a suite of measurements before I touched anything and straight away, it was clear some fairly major changes had been made. My contrast ratio went up from around 1600:1 to around 1900:1 just from the update. Measured black (0% stimulus) went down from 0.06 cd/m to 0.05cd/m too.
It seems that the changes have been made at the lower end of the stimulus range and probably at 0% as the rest of the stimulus range doesn't seem to have changed.
Overall, as far as picture settings are concerned (not enhancements), that's about all that seems to have changed for my panel.
I did tweak my greyscale and CMS though and had a play with Black Adjust (set to Low) to see if I could get rid off my green primary spike in the low stimulus area of the greyscale. That worked wonders and has dropped green to 100% at 0% stimulus (black) and has also dropped my measure black level to 0.04 cd/m (and who says LCD's can do black...) and increased my measured contrast ratio to around 2400:1.
Because Black Adjust only affects 0% stimulus (black) shadow detail isn't impacted and gamma response at the low end seems to track slightly better. This makes it a win/win situation.
The tweaks to the greyscale helped as did the tweaks to the CMS. Both are about as accurate as they've ever been now. 20% stimulus had the highest errors of 2.9 dRE but, 30% to 100% are all under 2 dRE.
The red primary is still a small issue in the CMS. It is around 9.4 dRE off perfect as far as hue and saturation are concerned but, luminance level is pretty much bang on. The green primary is the next 'worst' at around 4 dRE but, blue primary, cyan and magenta secondary are under 1 dRE (including luminance) and the yellow secondary is under 2dRE.
Pretty happy really, just the Sky input to calibrate tonight then I'm done until the next FW update.
There does seem to be some difference as far as motion handling goes too. I was too tired to really study (and see) the change but, it's definitely there.
Paul
Mumid:
Also, I agree with you motion handling has definately changed with this firmware. There is a way to change the motion handling parameters in the SM, (B series now has user controls for this) but I have never been that bothered to have a play with it.
Yeah totally mate. B series only really adds better upscaling, 100hz user controls and media playback capabilities. Problem with B series is the input lag, 60ms is the best case you can get on it. I can get 0-8ms on my A series using PC mode. Thats as good as it gets for TV's!
Regarding black level, 0.04 cd/m2 for an lcd without auto dimming is amazing really. I am sure B series does have auto dimming. I have added backlighting to my TV and it just adds so much to the 3d effect!
I was just reading the review for one of the new Panasonic plasmas and that 'only' managed a 0.03 cd/m reading for black. And that's a 10th generation panel. As you mention before, the new B series LCD has a calibrated 0.04cd/m black level too. Seems that there's life in the ole A656 yet.
