LG 50PK550R Owner's Discussion Thread

[Wolfheart]

Hello everyone,

This is my first post on the forum! I have been lurking on this thread for a while after deciding to purchase a 50Pk550. However, I have been a bit hesitant after reading about the issues that some of you have been facing.

My dealer apparently is out of stck at the moment. However, he says he's ordered from LG and will be able to sell it to me by the 17th. He also said that it's going to be a fresh piece manufactured in August. I'm hoping that this would come with the updated firmware. I'm also hoping that it has picture wizard and advanced calibration option.

I have been quoted 57.5k after trading in an old CRT. Inspite of a few problems that you guys have been facing, I feel that many of you are satisfied with the TV. Also it's much better value and the PQ is better than the LEDtvs that I checked out in the store.

I initially wanted to buy a LED but realised that it suffers from the soap opera effect. Eventually decided to go for plasma. Any advice from any/all of you experienced members is welcome.

 

[siddh]

Lg guy came yesterday from the factory and installed the firmware. The PQ and green pixel was not an issue to me. I was extremely happy with my earlier PQ. I sit at around 10 to 12 feet from the TV. I did the updation coz it was a firmware update. When the guy came we had a small talk abt PQ of my TV set and we decided that we shall first install the new software and i will test the same. If any problems we shall revert back to the old one. He had bought both the versions. After installation i could not recognise any difference. The place from where i watch the tv has no green pixel issue (my opinion) and i dont intend to sit 4 or 5 ft away from the TV. After an hour or so we decided that i will test the new software for few more days. The engineer also said that the TV's from now on shall be installed with the new firmware so i should go for the new software.

As i said earlier i installed the software coz it was a firmware update. If i encounter any problems i shall post them.

Regards
Sid.

 

[shaiju_o_thomas]

Wolfheart,

It will not have picture wizard and advanced calibration options. Yeah, I know it's sad.

LG did some tweaks to their picture settings through a firmware update. That's all I am aware of.

siddh,

Thanks. Think you are the first on this thread to get a firmware update. Do keep us posted on any improvements you notice (even though your were already satisfied).

 

[Wolfheart]

@Shaiju

Thanks! Would you recommend that I still buy the TV? I plan to use it mostly for movies, TV and a bit of gaming with my PS3. Or should I be looking at the more expensive PK950?

 

[viveknath]

Firmware gets installed on Monday for my set.

And yes Sid my distance is around 12-13 feet and this issue is not that prominent.

Wolfheart,

It will not have picture wizard and advanced calibration options and the USB doesn't play any HD movies.

Rest I feel the TV is great on all aspects.

 

[Wolfheart]

Thanks Vivek!

I'll route the HD rips through a CD perhaps. The LG Shoppe just called. They have received the 50PK550R and they confirmed that it's from the August batch. I think I'm going to make the payment today and have it delivered.

I'm also getting tempted to go for the 60PK550. I have a max viewing distance of 13 feet. Will a 50" be sufficient or should I go for the 60? Will SD appear grainy at my viewing distance with a 60 incher?

Guys, how is gaming on the 550?

 

[shaiju_o_thomas]

@Shaiju

Thanks! Would you recommend that I still buy the TV? I plan to use it mostly for movies, TV and a bit of gaming with my PS3. Or should I be looking at the more expensive PK950?

Recommend PK550 - absolutely. What price have you been quoted? 60-62K is the price range. Southwards (say, B'lore) it seems a bit more dearer.

At 13 feet the 50" will look fantastic. My viewing distance is 9 feet. I move back a bit and the pictures look even great. Reason is that at greater distance you will notice less problems with SD pictures (DTH). HD looks glorious anyways.

Presume you have read through this thread in entirety and aware of the strengths and shortcomings (it mostly good things about this display )

 

[shaiju_o_thomas]

Ok, got some BRs and enjoying thoroughly.

Ratatouille
Chronicles of Narnia - TL,TW & TW
Up
Alice in Wonderland

I got these for their reference or near-reference status in picture quality. Will post some pics and settings (reference scenes). Ordered a few more from forum.blu-ray.com. Click on their new deals. It's a great site. Wish Amazon did not charge so much for standard shipping.

Hmm, we have discussed very little about the picture settings. Share your settings (day/night) with different sources.

 

[dotMac]

I'm also getting tempted to go for the 60PK550. I have a max viewing distance of 13 feet. Will a 50" be sufficient or should I go for the 60? Will SD appear grainy at my viewing distance with a 60 incher?

My viewing distance is about 12 ~ 15 ft. I am already finding my 50PK550 small So if you can afford it, I would say go for it.
As times goes by HD content will dominate and thats what would matter. If you are planning to use this TV for only another 2 ~ 3 years, you may now settle for 50" and then grab 60" later by when its will be better priced.

Another thing is 50" looks huge in showroom when its surrounded by 42" TVs. Once its on your wall, you get used to it and wish it was bigger. My wife was totally against 50" stating its too big and now she agree 60" is not a bad idea

Appreciation for size is very subjective. So you yourself decide whats best for you. Generally bigger is the better. But I feel its slightly overpriced at this time. But 60PK550 is definitely temptingly priced.

 

[dhn22]

hi guys.....after a lot of dilly-dallying i finally ordered this set last week......
But i am told that it is still not available in Pune anywhere:sad:......
Cant wait to lay my hands on my very own plasma.......

Any pune guys with info regarding this...would help me a lot.....
Also i would like to know the price u people are getting this piece.....

 

[shaiju_o_thomas]

I have completed a bit over 100 hours and bumped up my contrast to 77-79 for SD and 79-84 for HD. Have started watching letterbox movies as well. There is some temp IR but I use color wash in between to rid of it.

SD:
Cinema
Just Scan
Contrast: 79 (increase by not much effect on SD).
Brightness: 52-54
Sharpness: 40
Color : 49/51
Tint: 0
Color Temp: W17/22 (as this way SD channels look cooler, not many will like the warmth)
Gamma: Medium
Black level: Low
All dynamic and NR off

While the setting is acceptable to DTH, for DVDs they really work. Will post some better setting later on.

HD:
Similar to above with exception:
Contrast: 82-84
Sharpness: 45-47
Color: 52-53
Color Temp: W26/W30 -depending on how warm you like the movies

 

[heynownow]

Dude! does this mean for the first 100 hours, it's not recommended to watch letterbox movies? most of the collection I have probably comes in letterbox, how do u grey the bands then

I have completed a bit over 100 hours and bumped up my contrast to 77-79 for SD and 79-84 for HD. Have started watching letterbox movies as well. There is some temp IR but I use color wash in between to rid of it.

SD:
Cinema
Just Scan
Contrast: 79 (increase by not much effect on SD).
Brightness: 52-54
Sharpness: 40
Color : 49/51
Tint: 0
Color Temp: W17/22 (as this way SD channels look cooler, not many will like the warmth)
Gamma: Medium
Black level: Low
All dynamic and NR off

While the setting is acceptable to DTH, for DVDs they really work. Will post some better setting later on.

HD:
Similar to above with exception:
Contrast: 82-84
Sharpness: 45-47
Color: 52-53
Color Temp: W26/W30 -depending on how warm you like the movies

 

[shaiju_o_thomas]

You can still watch letterboxed movies but either
1) Keep the contrast down at about 50 and use color wash in between. Not a recommended approach OR
2) Use the Zoom or CinemaZoom function to get rid of the letterbox.

I stuck to 2). Some may not like the zoomed in picture but I was perfectly fine with it.

 

[siddh]

Hi,

3 to 4 days after updating the firmware to 3.28 i have noticed one thing. The color density has risen by almost 50%. I have kept the default settings to less then 49 and adv settings to low in all the fields. I see the rise in these settings. I am waiting for 250 hrs to get completed. The rise was not in visible on day one but now when i see the picture i can make out these details. I cannot make out the same in other settings like vivid,aps,cinema etc as i was still to complete 100-250 hrs and was not using these settings.

Has anybody tried playing 1280x720 video file in the default player of the tv. If yes what was the file extension/file format?

Spyral how is the 550 responding to PS3 games? Any other users using PS3 on 550? How is the motion seen on the 550 when u attach PS3?


Regards
Sid.

 

[Wolfheart]

I got my new LG 50PK550 delivered yesterday. My initial impression is that this set kicks some serious butt and is amazing value for money. The picture quality is much better than the so called LED's being marketed so aggressively and sold at 3 times the price for a similar size.

I haven't found any flaws except for a bit of banding which is common to plasmas. The picture quality is fantastic with rich colors and extremely smooth and judder free motion. I have been watching this set froma distcnce of 6 ft. I have been watcing SD movies by connecting my 500gb external hard disk. This model is compatible EHD's with upto 1TB capacity. What's even better is that the Tv has a great interface for browsing through your EHD. The LG remote has play, pause, stop etc video buttons that virtually converts your USB/ EHD into a dvd player.

The SD (DVD) pictutre quality is fantastic. I still haven't tried any HD content but I'm sure that it'll be mind blowing. I know some of you guys are considering getting a big plasma. I would strongly recommend the PK550R!

NOTE: I got a set which is manufactured on 10th Aug 2010. I'm assuming that it has the updated firmware. So far I haven't noticed the green picture issue that Shaiju has been facing.

 

[shaiju_o_thomas]

Congrats!

Great to see you are happy with your purchase. I thought your viewing distance will be 13 ft (max).

Do read posts to avoid IR. Keep contrast low for some time, turn on Orbiter and run Color Wash if you notice visible IR. See Option -> ISM Method in menu.

Enjoy!

 

[viveknath]

Congrats Wolfheart, Great buddy you took the leap. I am sure you will enjoy it every bit. As Shaiju mentioned, doo look out for IR and those issues. The TV itself has the features to manage it.

Also download the breakin slides and run it for the first 100 hrs or so. I surely felt the pic quality improved...with usage.

Plasma TV Break-In Images

Have Fun !!

 

[heynownow]

Yeah! Finally!!

Our co-ordinator at LGE asked me to get the draft along with PO and submit in their office @Koramangla. The new PKs are currently in transit, and should arrive in Bangalore in 3 days time. What an excruciating wait that was. Hopefully with an updated firmware.

 

[Wolfheart]

@shaiju & vivek

Thanks guys. I still haven't had the TV mounted on the wall and it's kept about 6 ft from my couch. After mounting, the distance will be 13ft. I'll keep the IR prevention in mind. I'm currently running the TV on the APS mode. How do I get the break in slides?

 

[shaiju_o_thomas]

This should help:

Plasma TV Break-In Images

Note that break-in is recommended but not a necessary procedure. It helps phosphors age faster and evenly.