LG 50PK550R Owner's Discussion Thread

[shaiju_o_thomas]

@Shaiju,

What have you decided regarding the TV? Are you keeping it or taking a refund. I have crossed 150 hours on my TV. Currently watching 24 TV series on my TV. Only thing i can say is WOW. It looks damn good. But whether break in has caused an improvement in the PQ, i really can't say.

Couple of thing worries me

1) Intensity of white - I am really not sure how to increase this. The white looks pale.

2) Green pixel issue - I really didn't notice this until you mentioned it. Now I am looking for this whenever I see the TV. It is not much of a bother but it is a irritation.

My settings are

Contast - 67
Brightness - 45
Colour - 50-53
Sharpness - 50
Colour Temp - W30

Black level - low
Everything dynamic set to off.
Everything else set to off.

I am sorry that i have yet to raise a complaint to LG. I will do it soon.

I am planning to go for the new xtreamer sidewinder because of the community around it. I have nothing against the other players but community around this device is much larger. My list did not include WD TV live(not sure why - personally device did not impress me much).

I am keeping the TV. LG said they will replace once again. It will not solve the green problem or magically bring the calibration options but will definitely get rid of couple of dust specks in the panel.

Intensity of white and greens can be improved only by calibration tools. That's what I am requesting (arm twisting according to LG).

How can you have a brightness of 45. Isn't that too low? Are you in Cinema mode? If you want to slightly improve the whites adjust the color temperature and move it towards C. I keep mine on W26. Colors (according to me) looks good with 49-50. With a higher setting it starts to smudge a bit. Again a personal taste and differs with source.

 

[shaiju_o_thomas]

Still around ~150 hours. Still all settings are kept below 50. Waiting to go pass 250 for experimenting with settings
Occasionally switched to Vivid when watching HD clips.

I am confused between going with a HTPC and a streamer.

I may have passed 100 hours. Keeping my contrat between 70-78 already

Since the LG service guy changed HDMI1 service settings the brightness is between 56-59.

 

[mehuldil]

I have been using my set in Vivid mode.. though not PK series. Its PJ, and I do not see Color temp as C or W.. I can move color bar thogh.

Do you think switchng to Cinema mode will make a diffrnc?

@saiju

if they replace now, what Specs you are talking about will be covered?

 

[shaiju_o_thomas]

Hey Guys,

I was actually very keen on getting this set, based on the impressive specs and some US reviews. I'm an LG employee, and after reading through the gripes that some of you have (especially shiuja) I am having double thought. I asked for my emp discount quote on this, and they stated the model as 50PK550R ATR I have no idea as to what the ATR means. So if I am not mistaken, the calibration features which the US AV sites were raving about, are not present in the Indian edition...correct? despite that does teh set have any other critical faults.

The Indian version is 50PK550R ATR(IN). So none of those features we long for.

Critical faults? Hmm, if you ask me all sets delivered had one problem or the other. Bad glowing pixels (not dead or stuck), physically damaged, dust specks. Other owners were more fortunate. Apart than these perfectly solvable problems the annoying issues are greens and missing calibrations. I have always asked LG for proper calibration tools on a full HD 50" Plasma. They need to understand that people will have different sources and each one will require their own settings. Just giving preset modes does not really help.

Else this is a good display and a casual viewer will not find anything wrong.

 

[shaiju_o_thomas]

I have been using my set in Vivid mode.. though not PK series. Its PJ, and I do not see Color temp as C or W.. I can move color bar thogh.

Do you think switchng to Cinema mode will make a diffrnc?

@saiju

if they replace now, what Specs you are talking about will be covered?

Mehul, avoid the Vivid mode. Use Cinema mode for break-in period. Also use the Color Wash for couple of minutes before switching off.

Yes, you can move the color temp either left or right. Left gives you much wamer (and the yellowish tigne in whites). Right gives you cooler pciture (and the bluish tinge in whites). I keep it at W26.

No, the new set will not have the missing features but I will call service guys to change the settings as and when required. I am very finicky about settings and adjust for every DVD I watch.

 

[mehuldil]

I have asked Service Guy to come tomrw.. for wall mounting n Demo..

My set has Infinite Sound greyed off.. not sure if all of you have the same thing..

have not seen any IR as of now..

 

[shaiju_o_thomas]

Some of LG 2010 LCD/LED reviews:

LG LE7900 (42LE7900) Review | TVs | CNET UK
LG Infinia 42LE7900 42in LED LCD TV review - page 3 - TV reviews - TrustedReviews
LG 42LE5900 TV review - from the experts at whathifi.com
LG 37LE5900 TV review - from the experts at whathifi.com
LG 42LE7900 TV review - from the experts at whathifi.com
LG 32LE7900 TV review - from the experts at whathifi.com
LG 37LH7000 TV review - from the experts at whathifi.com
LG 47LE7500 Review - LCD TVs

The common thread is not so good blacks, motion struggle and refelction (for some models).

Again, please make your judgement to buy. Reviews provide great initial help.

 

[mehuldil]

Check this out:

YouTube - Lag + Edge flickering LG 50PK550

hay can someone tell me whats difrnc in VIVID n CINEMA mode?

I have alter the Vivid mode settings..

 

[ooaadd]

hello all of you guys my name is oad i'm Thai. and i live in thailand
my english is weak but i will try to explain

first. i also bought this TV 50pk550 plasma full hd and got the same problem with you. that is (i cannot increase brightness at +53)

after i bought it two week ago i think my TV is broken. i called LG thailand to change a new TV for me and they come today. after changed it i just found that the problem is about increase brightness. and i try to search information by google but in thailand on one know about this problem. till i found this website and see all the same problem. and i will find out how to fix this problem from this forum.please let me know if you find the way out and i will show this forum to LG Thailand because they never know this problem.
thank u all of you for knowledge.

 

[heynownow]

Gurus! while I'm waiting for My 50PK550R I need to know something. I have an Airtel TV stb, and these idiots have the airtel logo on the bottom right side of the screen for all channels, in addition to the channel logo of course. I am assuming the same will be applicable for the HD box too. Can this constant static logo cause a screen burn-in?

Thanks in advance

 

[shaiju_o_thomas]

Gurus! while I'm waiting for My 50PK550R I need to know something. I have an Airtel TV stb, and these idiots have the airtel logo on the bottom right side of the screen for all channels, in addition to the channel logo of course. I am assuming the same will be applicable for the HD box too. Can this constant static logo cause a screen burn-in?

Thanks in advance

I have TataSky HD and the logo causes zero retention. I realized that TataSky logo is transaparent. So even if Zee Studio or HBO logo is retained on screen (temporarily) the TataSky is never seen.

Not sure how other DTH operator logos hold up; possibly the same. Good job TataSky

 

[heynownow]

Well I think the WD tv live is probably one of the better media players u can hook to your 550. If you're on a budget u could consider getting an Amlogic based player. I'm getting a Micca MPlay HD

 

[heynownow]

Hi friends, anyone crossed the 200 hours mark or nearing the break-in period?

Can we start discussing media players? I am a dud with regards to media players.

Well I think the WD tv live is probably one of the better media players u can hook to your 550. If you're on a budget u could consider getting an Amlogic based player. I'm getting a Micca MPlay HD

 

[shaiju_o_thomas]

hello all of you guys my name is oad i'm Thai. and i live in thailand
my english is weak but i will try to explain

first. i also bought this TV 50pk550 plasma full hd and got the same problem with you. that is (i cannot increase brightness at +53)

after i bought it two week ago i think my TV is broken. i called LG thailand to change a new TV for me and they come today. after changed it i just found that the problem is about increase brightness. and i try to search information by google but in thailand on one know about this problem. till i found this website and see all the same problem. and i will find out how to fix this problem from this forum.please let me know if you find the way out and i will show this forum to LG Thailand because they never know this problem.
thank u all of you for knowledge.

ooaadd, welcome!

Read through this thread from the start. Presume you are talking about the green pixels. If your problem is similar to ours launch a complaint with local LG branch. Am sure they will revert. If they cannot replicate the problem then use settings / videos from this thread to demonstrate.

The TV itself is not broken but relates to some picture settings that LG can resolve. So exchanging the TV will not help much unless there are other defects.

I can post some useful links later on.

Meanwhile, can you post settings at which you start seeing problems or maybe a video.

PS: mention the full model number. The Indian version is PK550R. Do you see Expert Mode in picture menu?

 

[heynownow]

@Shaiju

And this seems to be a good site for comparing media players. Though it's doubtful whether you'll get all the models in India. Atleast u can find out what chipsets these players us

iboum.com : Future Entertainment Technology : Home

 

[shaiju_o_thomas]

Thank you!

I have not scanned the media player forum yet. Maybe it IS time to catch up.

Let's keep the media player discussion to the dedicated forum as this is a display thread.

 

[ooaadd]

now no one know this problem in thailand even seller, dealer i will call to LG again on workday because today in Thailand is long weekend (4Days)
it might be a big problem if i tell the dealer or shop about the problem. they may return all of this 50pk550r to LG. I want LG to return and change a new TVmodel(not pk550r) for me.i can pay more for them if the new model is more expensive.is it possible for you to do this in India. i think this is not fair for customers cause we buy this full HD quite expensive and we must expect good and high quality.

my friend tell me to ignore it, watch it and don't change brightness.........ToT

 

[ooaadd]

in thailand also 50pk550R too

 

[shaiju_o_thomas]

Hi everyone,

Some great news. I had a new PK550R delivered an hour back. Technicians from Pune had come to deliver the set. Good news is that they have addressed the overly green pixel problem to a great extent (almost gone) with a new firmware. It will be available to everyone in 2 weeks time and installed by LG service person.

Next on list is advanced calibration. They spent a good amount of time understanding / listening to the advantages of white balance and color space options. They are technical guys so got all problems very quickly. I wish I had interacted with them a month back. What genuine friendly guys!

I see marked improvement in picture. Only the slightest green/red is visible when brightness is adjusted but that's forgivable if they enable calibration options. Not sure they played around with the RGB for the panel but colors look much vivid.

I also requested to look into the treble and bass options. Changing the settings across 0-100 has no impact whatsoever on the sound / clarity.

Vivek, some bad news for DivX HD. It cannot be enabled as the existing hardware will not accept it.

I will keep following on the advanced calibrations. One achievement, now on to the next. Phew! Thanks guy for your support and to HFV.

PS: 60" PK950 will not have advanced calibration features. For 60" flagship Plasma it is a MUST. I would say no otherwise. One area where I hope specifications change without prior notice

 

[mehuldil]

Hi..

I had service guy visit today at my place. Trust me he did not know naything at all.. It seems I was service persn n visited his place.. He was not agreeing that Star plus logo is bleeding and Grey and blacks are not showing properly when GAMMA is LOW, and Brigtness is above 50.

Whn I turn GAMMA Medium, its fine but then picture is kinda more hurting to eyes.

At end I asked him to go to EZ adjust mode with the Service remote, and we did Increase the Contras level from 128 to around 192. Its more dark it seem now, and blacks are shown properly.


I asked checked wth Divx options in tools, n other menu but could not find any setting related that.

I agree to the Bass issue, as its same for me.

Do you think the Firmware would be applicable to PJ series too?

DO you have that PUNE guys number?

At end Service tech told me if I come to know the settings that needs to be done, I can call him or email him n he will come n do that for me.

So let me know...

I am plng to change basic brightness settings from 128 to 192.. It may help show me correct white too....