[The News Bot]

Reviewed by David Mackenzie
The KDL-32W5500 is a serviceable 32” display which will please people looking for just that.
Read the full review...

[mlaun]

thanx,

well done and very informative!

[discover]

sorry, is this 32" screen full 1080p or is it 720p?
i know the 40" version is definitely 1080p, isnt the 32" 720p?

[David Mackenzie]

Nope, even the 32" version is 1920x1080p.

[etaf]

thanks for this, i started to look at some TV on thursday and intend to look again this weekend and this was on the list ....so i will look at the panasonics more closely -

[Stuart Wright]

Originally Posted by discover

sorry, is this 32" screen full 1080p or is it 720p?
i know the 40" version is definitely 1080p, isnt the 32" 720p?

Click the specifications tab of the review

[kgor]

I have to agree that the extras, particularly Applicast be best avoided - would you say then that the cheaper 32V5500 (not 100 Hz) or indeed the 32S5500 would be a better choice ?

[David Mackenzie]

You will have to wait until tomorrow for the KDL-32V5500 review for the answer to that - but I would say so.

[sasker]

I have the 32W5500 and I am desperate for some accurate calibration settings.

If someone can go down the list of standard and advanced settings to get the best PQ for Sky SD and HD

[David Mackenzie]

Sasker, a calibration is when your own individual TV is adjusted to perfectly match your room lighting, and to "adjust out" any quirks introduced by your DVD player, satellite/cable decoder, AV receiver, etc.

So, you'll never get accurate settings, or a full calibration, just by keying other people's settings in (if it was possible, we'd be giving the numbers out).

As I said in the review, using the Theatre button on the remote and clicking the contrast down a few notches will get you close - but this isn't calibration.

[sasker]

Originally Posted by David Mackenzie

Sasker, a calibration is when your own individual TV is adjusted to perfectly match your room lighting, and to "adjust out" any quirks introduced by your DVD player, satellite/cable decoder, AV receiver, etc.

So, you'll never get accurate settings, or a full calibration, just by keying other people's settings in (if it was possible, we'd be giving the numbers out).

As I said in the review, using the Theatre button on the remote and clicking the contrast down a few notches will get you close - but this isn't calibration.

The Theatre mode is to dull and greyish for normal viewing, well to me anyway?

Well I would be happy with a few peoples full picture settings to play about with and get away from the default settings.

It is going to be pretty close to what everyone else has give or take a few clicks to compensate for room lighting etc.

I don't know that much in regard to all the extra advanced settings so if you or others who are more knowledgeable can help us then we would appreciate it :-)

Maybe if you can publish the numbers then that would please most people who have been asking if it is possible you can do that.

Thanks

Me just changing the settings with no DVD or calibration disk is pointless hence why I want to test other poeples settings who have calibrated etc

[David Mackenzie]

The Theatre mode will look dull if your reference is the other modes, which are blue-tinted and quite bright. I'd suggest you use the Theatre mode but raise the Backlight setting if you find that it's too dark.

[sasker]

Originally Posted by David Mackenzie

The Theatre mode will look dull if your reference is the other modes, which are blue-tinted and quite bright. I'd suggest you use the Theatre mode but raise the Backlight setting if you find that it's too dark.

I will give it a try.

I wanted a general nice clear and bright picture for mixture of SD and HD to get the best out of the TV

In the meantime if you or others can post detailed settings then will make a lot of people who have bought this TV very happy

[Phil Hinton]

Originally Posted by sasker

The Theatre mode is to dull and greyish for normal viewing, well to me anyway?

Well I would be happy with a few peoples full picture settings to play about with and get away from the default settings.

It is going to be pretty close to what everyone else has give or take a few clicks to compensate for room lighting etc.

I don't know that much in regard to all the extra advanced settings so if you or others who are more knowledgeable can help us then we would appreciate it :-)

Maybe if you can publish the numbers then that would please most people who have been asking if it is possible you can do that.

Thanks

Me just changing the settings with no DVD or calibration disk is pointless hence why I want to test other poeples settings who have calibrated etc

As David has said, there is no point in sharing settings as each display and source chain is different, as well as the Room it is used in. We just can't stress enough why settings threads and shared settings are a complete waste of time. To give you a simple example, we had two identical Pioneers next to each other recently, yet each set had vastly different settings to achieve the standards. If you want the best settings you need to invest in a disc or find the free ones out there, and set the main controls yourself, for your TV and with your sources.
The reason you dimiss the theatre mode, is that the 'other' presets are overly bright, have too much blue energy present and mask much of the detail within the image. Because that is how they are shown in a showroom to grab your attention, its a human trait that the eye will go to the brightest image, but look closely and you are just seeing bright and overcooked images against what they should look like and were indeed intended to be seen. These settings also highlight artefacts. If you use the Theatre setting as David advises and set the contrast (white level) and Brightness (black level) with simple test patterns you will get close to what it should look like for TV and film. Watch this mode of a week and then try going back to the other settings and you will clearly see why they are not advised or welcome. Setting you controls should be about getting the most detail and depth from the image and getting close to how it is intended to be seen, not overly bright or overly vivid.

Have a look at the two instructional videos for help;
http://www.avforums.com/tv/index.php?videoid=53 What each control on your TV does.
http://www.avforums.com/tv/index.php?videoid=54 Basic control set up.

[sasker]

Originally Posted by Phil Hinton

As David has said, there is no point in sharing settings as each display and source chain is different, as well as the Room it is used in. We just can't stress enough why settings threads and shared settings are a complete waste of time. To give you a simple example, we had two identical Pioneers next to each other recently, yet each set had vastly different settings to achieve the standards. If you want the best settings you need to invest in a disc or find the free ones out there, and set the main controls yourself, for your TV and with your sources.
The reason you dimiss the theatre mode, is that the 'other' presets are overly bright, have too much blue energy present and mask much of the detail within the image. Because that is how they are shown in a showroom to grab your attention, its a human trait that the eye will go to the brightest image, but look closely and you are just seeing bright and overcooked images against what they should look like and were indeed intended to be seen. These settings also highlight artefacts. If you use the Theatre setting as David advises and set the contrast (white level) and Brightness (black level) with simple test patterns you will get close to what it should look like for TV and film. Watch this mode of a week and then try going back to the other settings and you will clearly see why they are not advised or welcome. Setting you controls should be about getting the most detail and depth from the image and getting close to how it is intended to be seen, not overly bright or overly vivid.

Have a look at the two instructional videos for help;
AVForums.tv video What each control on your TV does.
AVForums.tv video Basic control set up.

Thanks I know what you mean as I assumed it should be nice and bright etc but actually changing to Theatre mode is much nicer on the eyes and the pic seems better. I have nothing to calibrate the Contrast or Brightness as I have no test patterns yet.

I did have the Sky Hd one with Myleene Klass but that has gone now as I have a new HD box.

Is the BBC HD test pattern any good to use?

[philip1111]

Yeah !!
I have seen that model and I liked it!1
The 32" display is really great!!
The resolution is awesome that is 15000:1
Great TV model!!
-----------------
philip
Parking Sensor

[davelblue]

As usual I've bought something before reading up on it. Having taken delivery of this tv yesterday and connected to my Sky HD box only to be disappointed to discover that this tv hates to display the HD content.

With standard sky broadcast channels the image is fantastic but switch to HD and it's like watching a still picture slide show. Fixed scenes are stunning but with movement shots the motion judder is to the extent that it's not watchable.

I'm hoping that in the 7 day cooling off period for online purchase that I can find some setting changes within the millions of options that overcome some of the issues but if not I'm going to have to send it back.

[BARSI1]

would it be possible to know what the white balance numbers were for your calibration for the review?