ST50 Owners' Thread - First impressions, Reviews, Tweaks, etc.

[miniwarmth]

Perhaps a dumb question...but when people are using a 'Custom' settings to adjust calibrate their ST50, are you just modifying the default 'Normal' or 'True Cinema' modes? Or is there a specific 'Custom' mode that is being modified?

Can it be renamed to 'Daytime Setting' or '3D Model'?

 

[just4kix]

I have changed the default 'Normal', 'Cinema', 'True Cinema' settings.

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[miniwarmth]

I have changed the default 'Normal', 'Cinema', 'True Cinema' settings.

Same here. I think in other regions they have another setting called 'Custom'.

Have any of y'all been able to get an external USB drive to record TV? For clarity, I'm not talking about playing from a USB thumb drive. Rather connect a powered USB drive to slot 1 and recording and playing back TV with some basic time shifting features. Something is not clicking for me in the setup -- anybody have a link or quick directions on setup?


Btw I saw a few posts on DLNA. I have actually been quite impressed. I use Plex as my media manager and the DLNA function traverses my library impeccably well. If I didn't have another device that provides a better UI, I'd probably be content with this setup.

 

[just4kix]

Custom setting is not available for Picture modes. It is available for Sound.

USB recording: I am not even aware that this facility/feature exists.

DLNA is a good feature. In fact this is the only smart feature that I liked and use on a regular basis. I have not bothered about anything else. My laptop and my Samsung SGS2 are good enough.

 

[akhugsal]

I dont think recording is available, if you are talking about the buttons on ur remote then i am curious too.
I have an st30 and i am struggling with dlna feature, the lower resolutions play fine but 720p or 1080p content if played via dlna(viera remote from phone or media server from pc) produces too much stutter.

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[just4kix]

I dont think recording is available, if you are talking about the buttons on ur remote then i am curious too.
I have an st30 and i am struggling with dlna feature, the lower resolutions play fine but 720p or 1080p content if played via dlna(viera remote from phone or media server from pc) produces too much stutter.

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Please see my previous post on DLNA in this thread itself. HD streaming requires high bandwidth and this is a problem over wireless. I have tried wired mode and then problem is greatly reduced to almost zero (but not completely eliminated).

 

[miniwarmth]

I dont think recording is available, if you are talking about the buttons on ur remote then i am curious too.

What I have found is that US models don't offer this feature. But the European models do offer it. India -- who knows. We are always getting stuck between them and are confused My owners manual has a few mentions and the port (USB1) is specified for this type of device -- for powered HDD. I vaguely recall the salesman mentioning it too. The basic specs are that you need a powered HDD between 160GB and 2TB and that it gets reformatted and can only play on that device. Just watched a YouTube video illustrating it.

Anyway, I'll keep hunting.

I have an st30 and i am struggling with dlna feature, the lower resolutions play fine but 720p or 1080p content if played via dlna(viera remote from phone or media server from pc) produces too much stutter.

I suspect that the problem is on the PC that is storing your files and/or the speed of your home network. I watched the BD of Raiders of the Lost Ark last night (~3GB) file with no issues. My files are stored on a file server on a lower floor (I live in a duplex) and connected to an older 'Draft N' wireless router with so-so connectivity (signal -66 dBm/ noise -90dBm). I have had issues with Titanic (file was in excess of 20GB) stuttering and moved the file locally.

As a test, try to connect a USB drive or your PC directly and see if that changes the playback. Or move your Wifi closer to improve the signal or try to connect your TV directly via ethernet and see if the b/w problems go away.

 

[akhugsal]

Thanks guys, i tested with direct wired connection between tv and laptop and the 1080p movies play butter smooth. Also with 4Mbps internet connection i see videos on inbuilt youtube app play videos without any lag.
The problem seems to be centered around the wifi transfer and no buffering by the dlna player in the tv.
Hmm since my airtel router is b/g and switching to a faster n might resolve the issue but i am not ready to spend more money into this...
I guess best bet would be to stream to a ps3 or xbox and then play from there..
How does samsung fare in this domain... why dont these companies provide more details about such features.... bollocks!#$!@#$

 

[miniwarmth]

Thanks guys, i tested with direct wired connection between tv and laptop and the 1080p movies play butter smooth.
Hmm since my airtel router is b/g and switching to a faster n might resolve the issue but i am not ready to spend more money into this...

So it's pretty clear that your network bandwidth is the limiting factor. 802.11g has a theoretical speed maximum of 54 Mbits/sec, with a typical transfer rate of around 23 Mbits/sec (2.5 MB/sec) with an ideal signal. When watching Titanic BD in 3D I was hitting 11MB/sec and the movie was stuttering and unwatchable (Real world for N is ~9 MB/sec). Most 720p content that I get or 1080p content is < 10MB and streams at 1.5-2MB/sec which is no problem for N but might be a problem for G network if you don't have an ideal signal.

While moving to an 'N' wifi access point/router will probably solve your problems, you should try to see if you can get better bandwidth with your existing setup first. That said Wifi/routers from internet service providers tend not to be the most capable. Anyway, check the signal strength of your WiFi (You can see a basic strength chart on your TV). If it's not full strength, then try to adjust the antenna on your router or use a longer ethernet cable to get it closer to your TV.

The one thing I did notice is that when connecting to a server for the first time, the TV indexes all the files and things move slow. After that it should be much snappier.

 

[miniwarmth]

....................

 

[srinathr]

I am in search for a tv and have following offers. I am inclined towards ST50, but is 97k a good deal ?

50ST50 - 97k + HT
50UT50 - 92k + HT
Samsung E550 - 75K + BD
Sony hx850 - 85k

I have been checking the price of 50ST50, I got a least quote of 98k and a multifunction printer. I went ahead and booked it.
I will be getting the delivery tomorrow provided there is no bundh.
The dealer is getting it from chennai.

But 97k with ht looks like a better offer. Where did you get this offer ?

 

[just4kix]

I have been checking the price of 50ST50, I got a least quote of 98k and a multifunction printer. I went ahead and booked it.
I will be getting the delivery tomorrow provided there is no bundh.
The dealer is getting it from chennai.

But 97k with ht looks like a better offer. Where did you get this offer ?

1K difference is not that significant but nice to have it anyway (on the lower side of course). But ST50 with HT is a better offer than ST50 with a printer.

Please post your impressions when you receive delivery and get it installed. Do not forget to check usage hours.

 

[just4kix]

Upscaled DVD on ST50
I have been (re)watching the DVDs on ST50. The DVD picture is upscaled by the Panasonic BDP DMP-BDT220. The picture is superb and honestly I cannot find any difference between upscaled DVD and TataSky HD. Original BDs are better of course.

 

[miniwarmth]

Didn't realise this till now, but the TV remembers the picture mode based on 'Input' and 3D has its own complete set. Am very pleased to have "discovered" this feature.

 

[just4kix]

Didn't realise this till now, but the TV remembers the picture mode based on 'Input' and 3D has its own complete set. Am very pleased to have "discovered" this feature.

Oh! I realized this on the first day iteself when I set the contrast settings to low to prevent IR. I was worried that everytime I would have to repeat the settings after the TV was turned off. I switch off the mains also when TV is not going to be in use for long periods.

I found that all settings are saved in the flash memory and retained.

 

[just4kix]

Here is a comparison sheet of 2012 Pana plasma models. The X50 is missing but is more or less equivalent to XT50 with the exception of:

- not 3D
- one less USB port

Easy reference and comparison of Panasonic 2012 Plasma models

 

[kawaii]

I have been checking the price of 50ST50, I got a least quote of 98k and a multifunction printer.

But 97k with ht looks like a better offer. Where did you get this offer ?

Panasonic was earlier offering HT. Starting Ganesh Puja, the printer offer has come. During the one month wait for stock for ST50 in my city, the prices have increased on flipkart. I hope this does not set any trend.

On the contrary, XT50 are in aplenty, it seems.

 

[miniwarmth]

Oh! I realized this on the first day iteself when I set the contrast settings to low to prevent IR.
I found that all settings are saved in the flash memory and retained.

Also cool that it remembers the settings as soon as you toggle to a 3D movie plus that 3D gets its own 4 settings.

 

[miniwarmth]

Just crossed 300 Hours of viewing time. In the process of checking the hours, I reset the entire set and put into self check mode. Oops. Not sure exactly what I did, but the self-diagnostics said that all was okay. The downside is that I had to re-download the f/w update, reconfigure all the settings, etc. That was a pain.

Am quite pleased with the image quality of the set for movies, etc. I blows away anything else I've seen in terms of colour representation and black levels. And that's with my crazy/sporadic calibration. When re-calling the reviews I read before buying the set, I have not been disappointed at all with performance or usability.

On the topic calibration, I have come to realise that the sets are quite different across geographic markets. So for example, if you try to follow settings from the renowned 'DNice' from HiDefJunkies or David Mackenzie from 'HDTV Test' or from CNET, you will find that some of the setting names don't exist or are named differently. For example, Asian sets do not get 'Custom' mode and the 'True 'Cinema Mode' doesn't let you change 'Colour Temp'. In addition we only get the one 'Warm' whereas the US sets get two different settings. Pretty much everything can be done, you just can't plug in settings like they can.

Unavailable Settings, compared with US & European sets
1. Colour Space
2. Black Extension
3. Panel Brightness
4. Colour Temp Warm 2.
5. Black Level
(credit: Pandj @ HDJ for list)

 

[just4kix]

^^^ I once tried the settings mentioned in the cnet reviews and the settings became so grotesque (for me) that I am forced to believe that sets manufactured for the US market are totally different.

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