LG 50PK550R Owner's Discussion Thread

[shaiju_o_thomas]

Namaste and hello to all the proud owners of the LG 50PK550R plasma.

I have opened up this thread to discuss
- strengths and flaws (hopefully very few)
- calibration / picture settings
- firmware updates
- maintenance including break-in procedures
- general issues that we could take up with dealers or LG

Pros:
1) 50" full HD at a very tempting price
2) Excellent picture quality
3) Very good blacks and shadow detail
4) Color reproduction
5) USB 2.0 port
6) 600 Hz refresh rate. Smooth camera pans with very little or no judder.
7) 24p real cinema
8) Slim frame
9) Good remote
10 Sufficient connectivty options

Cons:
1) Temproray image retention that is unacceptable from a 2010 Plasma
2) Screen reflection
3) Green dancing pixels (aka Plasma dithering by many)
4) Average sound quality
5) No THX, Picture Wizard II, Expert Control on the Indian version (it's a murder)
6) Soft SD pictures

There are about 12 owners on HFV. I will try and list current owners (Vivek need your help here).

It would really help if owners can post to this thread. Also, suggest keeping price talks to other active threads.

The pros and cons are general views gathered from owners and my experience so far for a display at this price point. You are welcome to differ but in a healthy, friendly way.

Lastly, no competion bashing or LG bias.

Cheers!
Shaiju

 

[Srinivas29]

Guys,

I have started the break in process, rather than using break in slides. I am taking the advice of Mauri whose comments are provided in Avsforum. I am using whatever available options are present in the Indian Model.

"medium". To do the break-in, instead of using DVD patterns you can use the White wash option, which is like using a 100 IRE pattern. 1 or 2 hours for session, then turn OFF the TV and wait for a couple of hours until it is cold. I have explained some days ago more in detail that way or doing the break-in.

About your break-in settings: start to set the energy saving option to "medium" (it looks like you can't set it in Cinema mode, so use the Expert mode), then set the Contrast between 55 to 60 (and don't worry), then set the Brightness to the correct value depending of your input/source (50 is always a good start with the LGs plasma), then set Color to the right value (with those settings, start to set it to about 40 and adjust it a bit). Now, with those settings, you are ready to start your break-in sessions, and to watch your TV normally. During normal watching and gaming you can use the Orbiter option, it helps to reduce IR caused by the TV channels logos and other static images.

 

[shaiju_o_thomas]

Sirnivas,

The white wash is a good option but do not overdo it. It ages the panel faster. The idea with break-in slides is to age slowly but evenly without affecting the panel lifespan.

I used white wash for an hour sometime during first 5 hours.

 

[viveknath]

All,

The few owner names that come to my mind are - Vivek, Shaiju, Srinivas, Navneetha, Blackpearl,Mannu,scarlet,vchounal, Harty,deepakrao..for now

As for the setting, I too set it in cinema mode and most controls <=50 for color, contrast, brightness and ISM as orbitter...used the colorwash once or twice in the last 10 hrs of viewing since last evening.

 

[Srinivas29]

I would like to know which stabilizer would be compatible with this TV. Also do you really require one for this?

 

[dotMac]

Guys,

Guess I will be soon joining your club if everything goes smoothly. I have booked the TV. I have been told that the TV will arrive next weekend.

Thanks to Vivek, I managed to get the TV for a good price.

I am a total noob when it comes to break-in and managing a Plasma in general. I would appreciate if someone could list down the exact settings I am supposed to set for the first ~100hrs of viewing. Basically a list of TODOs and Not-TODOs. Even a link to such a list is ok.

Some questions:
1. What is a color/white wash? When do you use it?
I am assuming Color wash displays a 100% image forcing all pixels to glow at full intensity. Why would u do that often? Is it to clear any IRs?

2. What break-in method is good?
a. Use the 120 color break-in images to be displayed in cycle
or b. As said my Mauri which is to display the 100% white image for 2 hours continuously.
2nd method seems difficult to do for 100 hrs also sounds bit scary
If 1st method is used, can it be kept overnight?

3. Until the break-in, how often I need to switch channels to prevent IR of channel logo?

4. After ~200 hrs of usage, can I use my TV without any worry about IRs?

5. Hope you wont mind if I ask stupid questions like above. Can I post such questions here?

 

[Mannu]

Guys,

Guess I will be soon joining your club if everything goes smoothly. I have booked the TV. I have been told that the TV will arrive next weekend.

Thanks to Vivek, I managed to get the TV for a good price.

I am a total noob when it comes to break-in and managing a Plasma in general. I would appreciate if someone could list down the exact settings I am supposed to set for the first ~100hrs of viewing. Basically a list of TODOs and Not-TODOs. Even a link to such a list is ok.

Some questions:
1. What is a color/white wash? When do you use it?
I am assuming Color wash displays a 100% image forcing all pixels to glow at full intensity. Why would u do that often? Is it to clear any IRs?

2. What break-in method is good?
a. Use the 120 color break-in images to be displayed in cycle
or b. As said my Mauri which is to display the 100% white image for 2 hours continuously.
2nd method seems difficult to do for 100 hrs also sounds bit scary
If 1st method is used, can it be kept overnight?

3. Until the break-in, how often I need to switch channels to prevent IR of channel logo?

4. After ~200 hrs of usage, can I use my TV without any worry about IRs?

5. Hope you wont mind if I ask stupid questions like above. Can I post such questions here?

For the break In period i am using the 120 slides, i have kept my settings below 50% for everything ( someone else maybe doing it differently but this is how i am doing it) and have turned off everything in the advanced controls, and i am using the cinema mode for it.

Answers
1. color and whitewash are features to remove TIR, this works the phosphors in such a way that image retention is cleared in a matter of minutes, it can be used before switching off the display to get rid of any TIR that might have crept in, it can also be used in between but that is your choice.

2. Well if you do want to break it in like that then i am sorry to tell you that you won't be able to apply Mauri's method on indian version, since in indian version of this model, there are no expert mode, and no picture wizard as well, and his method requires the set to be set under expert mode, so the 2nd option is out of the way

3. keep the orbiter option on, and ususally burn in doesn't happen in a matter of minutes, it takes continous use for long hours to suffer a burn in, so unless you are watching a channel continuosly for long hours there is no need to worry, because on this display IR is there even if a static image is displayed for more than 30 seconds, so in any case you will have to use the color wash or whitewash option after you have finfished watching. But to be on the safer side you can change channels at an interval of 30 mins and keep the orbiter option on always, i mean that's what i do, so it can change from person to person since someone else might have another method of use.

4. IR will still be there, but yes they will be lesser in amount and intesity, after about 1000 hrs of usage chance of a burn in reduces to a greater extent.

5. I think that's what a forum is about, for the common man to share knowledge so that we don't get scammed by these money monger, low life company's dogs (sorry for the hate but i really hate these people), i can't say about others but i will try to contribute with all the very little knowledge i have gathered about this stuff.

 

[shaiju_o_thomas]

TGIS hyeah:

Anyone noticed the green dancing pixels issue? It kicked in about after 20 hours of usage on my display. Faintly visible from normal viewing distance and spoils the blacks in a way. I can correct it by turning down the brightness < 50.

AVS forum member:
"Green dots just a calibration issue, turn down green brightness on the 2pt calibration or turn green down on 5 IRE in the 20pt calibration."

Hmm, right. Problem is our Indian version does not have the Expert Control.

My settings are <= 50 on Cinema mode.

Will contact LG on this matter.

 

[Srinivas29]

I am still only running the break in slides which i downloaded yesterday. All my settings are below 50. I watched Valkyrie and Taking of pelham 123 and haven't noticed any green dancing pixels.

Keep us updated in regards to the call to LG. Please ask them about the Expert mode and anyway we can activate the same.

 

[dotMac]

Do you see the dancing pixels at the normal viewing distance or only when you get very close to the screen? Also is the source HD; if not could it be an issue with up-scaler? Not an expert on this so these are just my wild guess.

Some more questions :
1. How do you check the usage hours of this TV?
2. Where you able to get into the service menu?
3. If the hardware of PK550R matches with the PK550 US model, can we update the TV with US firmware and thus get more features? Though I am not sure whether we get the TV firmware in first place.

 

[shaiju_o_thomas]

It is visible when I sit close although am not putting my face on the screen.

Not an issue with upscaler as there are other who have reported this issue on AVS forums.

Have been trying to find out on the service menu. The procedure requires a harmony remote. More on this later.

For now the priority is to get rid of those noisy, irritating green pixels. To notice you need a screen with black bars and brightness set to >= 54.

 

[Mannu]

Do you see the dancing pixels at the normal viewing distance or only when you get very close to the screen? Also is the source HD; if not could it be an issue with up-scaler? Not an expert on this so these are just my wild guess.

Some more questions :
1. How do you check the usage hours of this TV?
2. Where you able to get into the service menu?
3. If the hardware of PK550R matches with the PK550 US model, can we update the TV with US firmware and thus get more features? Though I am not sure whether we get the TV firmware in first place.

1. Till now no one has been able to check the usage hours of the TV either on US or EU models, nothing in the service menu screen has been found that tells about the usage hours.

2. This is what was posted on avsforum about getting into the service menu

I have the Harmony 880 but I think this procedure will work with any
harmony remote.

Log in to your account on members, then go to THIS link. You don't have to learn a button first. You create it on the fly. On that page, first click "Select an Active Device" and pick your device. For this you want to pick your LG TV. Then click "Manual".

- In "Data Value" zone, copy/paste this Philips Pronto code :
0000 006d 0022 0002 0157 00ac 0015 0016 0015 0016 0015 0041 0015 0016 0015 0016 0015 0016 0015 0016 0015 0016 0015 0041 0015 0041 0015 0016 0015 0041 0015 0041 0015 0041 0015 0041 0015 0041 0015 0041 0015 0041 0015 0041 0015 0041 0015 0041 0015 0041 0015 0041 0015 0041 0015 0016 0015 0016 0015 0016 0015 0016 0015 0016 0015 0016 0015 0016 0015 0016 0015 0689 0157 0056 0015 0e94

- Click on "Process >" : message "Converted from Pronto format successfully!"
- Click on "Next >"
- Click on "Select an active device"
- Choose device that you picked earlier, the LG "TV"
- Enter command name. I used "LG Service Menu" for my command name.
- Click on "Add >"

Now you should have the new Command show up on your remote when you pick the TV as the active device that you want to control. On my Harmony 880 the new Command "LG Service Menu" shows up on the LCD screen.

Choose the new Command and you can now get into the service menu. The TV screen will prompt you for the password. The password for the Service Menu is 0000. (four zeros)

DO NOT PRESS OK and DO NOT CLICK THE RIGHT ARROW BUTTON ON YOUR REMOTE WHEN THE FIRST LINE, "ADC Calibration" is HIGHLIGHTED!!!!!

Just hit the down arrow only to get to the next setting which is "ADC Adjust".

Hit the Right Arrow Button or hit OK when you have the "ADC Adjust" option highlighted.

Note :- The service menu is different on US and EU models, and it is possible that it will be different on Indian models as wel, also going into the service menu is a very dangerous thing, one wrong click of the button can render the display totally useless.

 

[shaiju_o_thomas]

LG demo/service person just left.

Spent a good 40 minutes explaining to him about the dancing pixel issue. At first he said it's the problem with pixels :indifferent14: which I took with a pinch of salt (even lesser). Later he showed me that Vivid settings does not have the overtly green pixel problem but I did not budge as Vivid setting crushes the picture and will not be used by me.

In the end, drove the point that it is indeed a problem. Worst it cannot be corrected by user from the menu. I asked him to calibrate the display to which he accepted that Indian version did not have advanced calibration options.

I put in a written complaint on his service sheet. His senior tech will visit this Tuesday with service remote.

He said the set can be swapped with the dealer with a LG or other manufacturer (is it true?) and there is a 30 day return period.

Hope the issue is fixed on Tuesday.

PS: These guys usually say that it is "like this only" with Plasma. You can't "notice it from far", blah and more blah. Ignore!

 

[viveknath]

Mannu had commented this earlier on the other thread. Perhaps he can explain further :-

"P.S --> I didn't know this before but got to know it today while talking to the dealer, he told me that LG has a 3 month return policy, and when you buy a product from LG they issue you a card which is valid for 3 months, and in case of any kind of damage inclding breaking, accidentally dropping, even if the diplay is in 2 pieces, or even if it has been stolen from your place within that 3 months from the date of purchase and a proper police report has been ensued LG will provide you with a brand new display piece, so if any of you guys run into trouble so keep this in the back of your mind and always ask for a new display, never go for the repair option."

 

[Srinivas29]

Wow,I never knew that there was return policy in India.

 

[Mannu]

I also didn't know it, but the dealer told me this, but i don't have faith in these people and nor do i recommend any of you in having one in them cos after what has happened between LG and me, i don't trust any of their words, what the dealer said was that there is an insurance policy from LG of 3 months and after you purchase any goods from LG a kit is issued by LG which reaches you by post and that has a card in it, which is of the same make as your regular Debit card and he then added what i had already written before, but yes if there is a problem with your set from the beginning only don't loose any time becuase it is only going to cost you in the end, i would recommend moving to the consumer court, rather than wait for LG, give them an ultimatum of max 1 to 2 days and if they do something concrete about it then well and good otherwise issue a notice to the dealer as well as LG for 7 or 15 days and move to consumer court against them.

 

[shaiju_o_thomas]

LG customer care confirmed that there is a return / exchange policy though he could not confirm the period (as the server was slow).

Registered a fresh complaint regarding the green dancing pixels. Soon after the call received 5 text messages with different request IDs - maybe their server was indeed slow

 

[Mannu]

:sad: Well i don't know about others but i see a lot of line bleed with my display, it is noticeable even at my viewing distance that is 8 feet away, i know it is inherent to the plasma technology, but it does take that edge away from your viewing experience, especially while playing on PS3, so should this be added in the cons section ?

 

[shaiju_o_thomas]

Surely a con. There is visible line bleed on mine but not too distracting. It is inherent of the Plasma tech. Read that it decreases after the break-in period and once the contrast is bumped up.

Mannu, do you notice any green sparkles while watching dark content?

 

[Mannu]

Nope thankfully not yet, i haven't seen the dancing green pixels but then i haven't played dark content that much, i have only used Full HD images which have a black background to it and i haven't seen any naked green pixels dancing in front of my eyes shamelessly.

I am still running the break in images along side, also on avsforum shaddix posted a video on youtube regarding the dancing green pizel thing, the only issues i have been able to see with my display is the horrible line bleed and a negligible uniformity issue with the display.