Help needed to configure LG 47LE5500

[prit]

Dear Gurus,

Been following this forum for long, but this is my first post (better late than never!)

Background -
# was planning to buy a TV for long, was not sure which one (LED/LCD/PLASMA) or which make (Panasonic/LG/Samsung)
# Criteria was - 42" +; must play SD content well; must be Full HD; must play HD video files thru USB (I don't have BR player); low power consumption
# Scouted around, read posts in net (including hifivision of course!)
# Panasonic LCD - not impressed with PQ (especially SD), Plasma - high power consumption/no HD support on USB
# Samsung Plasma - SD was "horrible" (C550), LCD/LED were good but heard too many bad reports re after sales service

At last went to Croma (Jayanagar 9th block) Bangalore, purchased LG 47LE5500 at 80k + 2.5K for 2 yrs extended warranty. No point in discussing win/lose now, it's done! BTW, got the Tatasky HD at Rs. 2599 for ICC (they are broadcasting HD - opening ceremony was a blast!)

Observation -

HD Content is outstanding even close up (I sit around 12 feet away) - played via USB
HD channels are excellent (via HDMI)
SD channels are quite good (via HDMI); bit washed out if you are up close (3-4 feet) - but don't expect better with 480i.
Black tones could be better - have heard it can do great blacks, but not sure of custom settings
Doesn't play m2ts video files or DTS audio
Quite a few HD movie files are "video only" as the set does not recognize the audio format; per manual, should play AAC LC, but sometimes it doesn't

Question for Gurus -
I have a Compaq CQ42-139tu laptop with HDMI out. If I play the TV "unplayable" videos (which play well with audio/video) in my PC via VLC and connect the TV via HDMi, will it play both audio & video on the set?
Is there any way to improve SD content viewing experience vis some "expert mode" config? (Picture settings are exhaustive, but not sure what most of those mean)
Is there anyway to improve the whites/blacks ? Current settings are not outstanding to see

(I tried this - LG 47LE5500 picture settings - CNET HDTV picture settings Forums but am not quite impressed)

 

[prit]

No comments?? :sad:

 

[jbnpaul]

Yes. It will play.
It will show whatever is shown on your laptop screen. and you can hear whatever your laptop can play.

 

[prit]

Yes... bought another HDMI cable today and tried with my CQ42 laptop, and it works. But looks like the audio gets faded out after sometime, then comes back again. This happens in every 2-3 mnts interval. Video Player & VLC over Windows 7. Any ideas?

Also have made another discovery!! Though this TV does not support .m2ts extension video files, I tried renaming one such movie to .mts and it worked!! Looks like the encoding in the container is what matters.... give me hope as I have lots of HD videos in .m2ts format....

Thanks a lot; let me know if anybody needs any test/feedback...

 

[balabala]

Congrats,I've just bought LE5300,anything to keep in mind while installing the TV???

 

[gobble]

Congrats,I've just bought LE5300,anything to keep in mind while installing the TV???

Thank you. Yes, you can install it at my house. :licklips: Make sure its installed upright. I dont want to hang upside down from the ceiling. Like a bat.

PM me for the address.

 

[prit]

@bala - not much, just make sure that the LG guy doesn't drill thru some concealed power cable for the wall mount (in my case it happened, and I had to replace my inverter fuse!)
All default settings are shit, try your own settings and save in "Expert 1/2". LED local dimming works great, yet to see benefit of "trumotion though".

Let me know if you would like to know my settings, it works fine for SD (Tatasky HD) + HD.

 

[balabala]

LOL@gobblehyeah:,why not,my TV is your TV as well!
Prit,yes,please,let me know the configuration of your settings,mine is 5300 and does not have local dimming I beleive

 

[prit]

Prit,yes,please,let me know the configuration of your settings,mine is 5300 and does not have local dimming I beleive

Here goes -

Backlight 50
Contrast 90
Brightness 51
H sharpness 50
V sharpness 50
Color 40
Tint 0
Trumotion Low
Led local dimming On (u might or might not have)
Expert Control -
Dynamic contrast Medium
Noise reduction Low
DNR Low
Black level Low
real Cinema On
Color Gamut BT709
Edge enhancer Low
Color filter Off
color temperature Cool
Gamma 1.9
Method 10 Point IRE
Pattern Outer
IRE / Luminance - default (100/130)
Everything else 0 (default)

BTW, one funny observation, while playing HD video via USB, the "Expert" mode menu cannot be chosen for Video!!

 

[balabala]

Thanks PRIT,it would be very usefull.
Your settings are more are less the same as mine except that I've kept the black levels as high.Yes,there is local dimming but no edge enhanser.
Till,tint Iam able to caliberate,but after that I do not know as to how to change the settings(when it is displayed in a sort of painting)
My Tv is simply mindblowing,my only grouse is that it's too small(42 only),I should have spent 15 k more and gone for a 47 inch TV to completely relish the beauty of the PQ

 

[Kittu]

Thanks PRIT,it would be very usefull.
Your settings are more are less the same as mine except that I've kept the black levels as high.Yes,there is local dimming but no edge enhanser.
Till,tint Iam able to caliberate,but after that I do not know as to how to change the settings(when it is displayed in a sort of painting)
My Tv is simply mindblowing,my only grouse is that it's too small(42 only),I should have spent 15 k more and gone for a 47 inch TV to completely relish the beauty of the PQ

Howmuch were u quoted for 47?

 

[prit]

I did try with Black level at High, but it cut off some of the greyscale shades, so reverted back to low. Will tweak around a bit more with contrast/brightness to see if higher black gives better clarity.

BTW, how much did you pay for your 42 inch?

 

[prit]

I was quoted 89k, but they settled for 80 K at croma

 

[balabala]

I paid almost half as much as you paid for the 47 inch

 

[Kittu]

I paid almost half as much as you paid for the 47 inch

you mean you paid less than 50k

 

[prit]

Well... at twice the price I got 5 inches more of TV and some additional features.....
not sure those were worth the cost, but that's what it is for me...
check out the comparison at -
LG Compare (choose DIFFERENCES on left menu)

 

[Kittu]

Prit n Bala ,

I lost track here. Can you post again what models you purchased @ what price from which stores ? please

Thanks guys,
Kittu

 

[balabala]

No,Prit,what ever money spent,it's well spent with LG LED,even i regret not going for 47,42 inch TV is too small

 

[prit]

@kittu1977 - my details are in my first post. Bala got a 42LE5300 I think...

 

[Kittu]

@kittu1977 - my details are in my first post. Bala got a 42LE5300 I think...

FLAT 80k for 47LE5500 awesome , let me check with croma guys .. Did u get 5% cash back