Sony Bravia KDL-32EX403 ... service menus

DJGM · 08-06-2010, 02:47

I'm about to acquire a Sony Bravia KDL-32EX403 LCD TV bought last week from John Lewis, due to be
delivered on Wednesday. I'd like to know how to get into the hidden service menus in order to alter the
geometry of the screen to reduce or preferably to totally eliminate overscan, to display the full picture.

I've been searching the web for the relevant service manual, but there aren't any available for this TV.

Nigel Goodwin · 08-06-2010, 09:27

There are normally no geometry adjustments on LCD or Plasma TV's, they aren't needed.

thorvertonian · 08-06-2010, 09:31

In Screen Menu, select "Full Pixel", this will eliminate overscan

skiller · 09-06-2010, 01:45

Sorry, this is slightly off-topic, but still relates to this model...
I've just looked at this model from Argos (both the 40" and the 37") and I wonder if anyone can answer whether it is Bravia Engine 3 or 2?

The Argos brochure and online says Engine 2, but everything else I've read is Engine 3 - including the Sony website.

I've tried emailing Argos but they have failed on their 24 hour reply promise.

DJGM · 09-06-2010, 01:48

The KDL-32EX403 (32 inch) uses Bravia Engine 3, so I'd say the 40 inch and 37 inch versions also have it.

DJGM · 09-06-2010, 06:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nigel Goodwin

There are normally no geometry adjustments
on LCD or Plasma TV's, they aren't needed.

I looked at this model of TV in a number of major retailers, such as Currys, Comet, and John Lewis.
Flicking to the BBC News Channel on all models of this TV in Currys and Comet showed a high
amount of overscan ... as much as is shown in this example, which quite surprised me.

The screengrab image of the BBC News Channel looks like this shown in full with no overscan.

At the Trafford Centre branch of John Lewis (where I ordered the TV last Thursday) there appeared
to be a lot less overscan on the display model of this TV, but still maybe about 3-5 lines cropped.

Quote:

Originally Posted by thorvertonian

In Screen Menu, select "Full Pixel", this will eliminate overscan

Thanks, I'll give that a go. With any luck, that'll be all I need to do to see the full picture . . .

Nigel Goodwin · 09-06-2010, 08:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJGM

I looked at this model of TV in a number of major retailers, such as Currys, Comet, and John Lewis.
Flicking to the BBC News Channel on all models of this TV in Currys and Comet showed a high
amount of overscan ... as much as is shown in this example, which quite surprised me.

TV's are designed to match the programmes, which are transmitted with a certain anoumt of overscan.

If it's excessive, I would suggest that Currys and Comet have them set to the wrong aspect ratio - probably 'Auto', which means it's wrong whatever the original is.

xtaz · 09-06-2010, 10:06

I would never buy a TV where you couldn't switch overscan off. Whilst it does make weird dots appear on things like bbc 1 SD news these are small compared to the huge difference on channels like bbc HD. If you switch between 16:9 and 1:1 pixelmap modes on bbc HD you can see a gigantic amount of the screen is removed which you can tell by looking at the position of the logo in the top left.

Both Sony and Samsung have options to set 1:1. Samsung call it Just Scan, Sony call it Full Pixel. Works a treat.

amjl2000 · 09-06-2010, 10:37

There's a setting that effectively zoom in or out on the picture... this will increase or reduce the amount of overscan you see. It's in the picture menu somewhere on the Bravia (I have the 40" model and was setting it up last week).. theres only 3 positions though, -1,0,+1. How it affects the pixelation... I dunno, I sit far enough away from the telly not to notice a difference.

DJGM · 09-06-2010, 20:00

On a not entirely unrelated subject . . .

Something I was hoping to make good use of on this new TV (delivered earlier today) was the ability to
watch videos from a pendrive plugged into the USB port at the side, specifically videos in HD format.

Only trouble is, no HD formatted videos seem to work on it. MKV format videos failed, XviD avi format
videos failed, and standard MP4 format videos failed to playback. Even encoding videos to MPEG4
based (proprietary) AVCHD format failed. This is a format that is supposedly preferred (in the TV's
documentation) by Sony themselves and should (AFAIK) playback fine on a PlayStation 3.

(I do not currently own a PS3, nor do I have any current plans to buy one anytime soon ... if at all.)

Ironically, it looks as though I'll have to hook up my XBox360, and watch HD formatted videos from
my pendrive that way instead! At least I know for a fact that all standard encoded MP4 and XviD
based HD video files (but not MKV) playback on that particular device with no problems.

amjl2000 · 10-06-2010, 08:25

I have had 50/50 success with xvid and divx videos... though I have still to determine why some work and some don't - they all appear to have the same encoding, similar bit rates etc.

I'm going to get sample files from the internet, see if they work, then reencode some of my videos to see if I can recreate something that works.

xtaz · 10-06-2010, 09:57

Sony TV's file support is pretty poor. I used to have a Samsung TV and it played everything I threw at it without a problem. The Sony I've only managed to get it to play .ts files so far and even then it only plays some of them and not all. Although I'm trying it over the network, not USB. I just bought a Samsung bd-c5500 bluray player for £109 as I had £50 off john lewis vouchers which has the same network capabilities as my old samsung tv so I use that to play media and forget about the TV doing it. Works a treat for me.

snuffle_-_uk · 10-06-2010, 14:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by xtaz

The Sony I've only managed to get it to play .ts files so far

The only files i have tried streaming (and the only things that i particuarly want to stream) are MPEG2 files created by Adobe Premier Elements from my camcorder movies and they work fine. I'm using a 32W5810 btw.

BrettS19 · 10-06-2010, 16:31

One thing driving me mad with this Tv is trying to get the Sky + Controller to program volume etc. I have tried the code 0000 (the usual sony code) to program the controller to work on the TV but wont do it for some reason. Anyone have any ideas?

xtaz · 10-06-2010, 17:18

Bit strange. Sure you're doing it right? I have a Sony HX703 and the 0000 code works fine for me. Wouldn't have thought it would be that different between models.

Nigel Goodwin · 10-06-2010, 20:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by xtaz

Bit strange. Sure you're doing it right? I have a Sony HX703 and the 0000 code works fine for me. Wouldn't have thought it would be that different between models.

0000 is the base Sony code, you're supposed to step up from that until you find the best one.

However, 0533 is the correct code for any remotely modern Sony. But as you say, using the base code of 0000 should work, but not as well as 0533 - most likely he's doing it wrong in some way?.

BrettS19 · 11-06-2010, 10:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nigel Goodwin

0000 is the base Sony code, you're supposed to step up from that until you find the best one.

However, 0533 is the correct code for any remotely modern Sony. But as you say, using the base code of 0000 should work, but not as well as 0533 - most likely he's doing it wrong in some way?.

Thanks for the replies guys. I will try that code when i get home later and let you know how i get on.

From memory, i am pressing TV on the Sky Controller, then holding Select and the Red Button until it blinks twice. Then enter the code 0000, after this it should blink twice i read but it doesnt? Then press select to store. But with it not blinking twice when entering the code, i thought i must be doing something wrong.

Nigel Goodwin · 11-06-2010, 10:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrettS19

Thanks for the replies guys. I will try that code when i get home later and let you know how i get on.

From memory, i am pressing TV on the Sky Controller, then holding Select and the Red Button until it blinks twice. Then enter the code 0000, after this it should blink twice i read but it doesnt? Then press select to store. But with it not blinking twice when entering the code, i thought i must be doing something wrong.

If it's not blinking after entering the code then there's something wrong - it blinks twice as the fourth number is pressed, no need for select on later remotes (but it does no harm either).

webbie · 11-06-2010, 13:48

You have to press TV on the remote again after pressing selct and the red button before the 4 digit code.

BrettS19 · 11-06-2010, 13:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nigel Goodwin

If it's not blinking after entering the code then there's something wrong - it blinks twice as the fourth number is pressed, no need for select on later remotes (but it does no harm either).

Thanks so much for your help. The 0533 code worked 1st time!

Orbitalzone · 11-06-2010, 19:18

For more Sony LCD control check this out:

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/s...d.php?t=944054

It makes the SkyHD remote force the Sony TV to go to your HDMI port of choice so can make life easier for some people.

So if viewing Freeview or such like, pressing 'sky' button on HD remote not only turns on SkyHD box but sends out a second remote command to the Sony TV to make it go to the HDMI input used for SkyHD.

DJGM · 18-06-2010, 17:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by thorvertonian

In Screen Menu, select "Full Pixel", this will eliminate overscan

Not entirely ... the picture is still slightly cropped, using the methods outlined earlier in the thread.
With those settings, there is about 5-6 lines of overscan at the top and bottom and either side of
the picture. I noticed this after watching the TVCatchup stream of the BBC News Channel, with
my laptop plugged into the VGA port on the back of the TV and comparing it to the broadcast
version on Freeview channel 80, received via the standard DTT signal.

The BBC NC stream from TVC displayed the absolute full picture on my TV with no overscan.

I would've used the official BBC NC stream from the BBC News website, but even that has
overscan, much like the program streams on the BBC iPlayer website have always had.
Adding overscan on web streamed TV is rather gratuitous and totally pointless!

losh · 03-07-2010, 03:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJGM

On a not entirely unrelated subject . . .

Something I was hoping to make good use of on this new TV (delivered earlier today) was the ability to
watch videos from a pendrive plugged into the USB port at the side, specifically videos in HD format.

Only trouble is, no HD formatted videos seem to work on it. MKV format videos failed, XviD avi format
videos failed, and standard MP4 format videos failed to playback. Even encoding videos to MPEG4
based (proprietary) AVCHD format failed. This is a format that is supposedly preferred (in the TV's
documentation) by Sony themselves and should (AFAIK) playback fine on a PlayStation 3.

(I do not currently own a PS3, nor do I have any current plans to buy one anytime soon ... if at all.)

Ironically, it looks as though I'll have to hook up my XBox360, and watch HD formatted videos from
my pendrive that way instead! At least I know for a fact that all standard encoded MP4 and XviD
based HD video files (but not MKV) playback on that particular device with no problems.

Iv'e tried playing xvid from a pen drive on a bravia with no joy bought the bdp s370 and it plays anything from a usb

DJGM · 03-07-2010, 06:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by losh

Iv'e tried playing xvid from a pen drive on a bravia with no joy
bought the bdp s370 and it plays anything from a usb

That's another Sony product, so if that plays anything from a USB pen drive, you'd think my new Sony TV
would also do the same. According to a customer service rep at Sony, from a recent phonecall, as it's a
very new model, support for more video formats is likely to come in future firmware updates

Eitherway, that other Sony product is a Blu-Ray player ... one type of gadget I've no intention of buying.
No point in buying into another optical disc format that'll be rendered obsolete in a few years time.

08-06-2010, 02:47	#1
DJGM Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Whitefield, Manchester Posts: 3,726	Sony Bravia KDL-32EX403 ... service menus I'm about to acquire a Sony Bravia KDL-32EX403 LCD TV bought last week from John Lewis, due to be delivered on Wednesday. I'd like to know how to get into the hidden service menus in order to alter the geometry of the screen to reduce or preferably to totally eliminate overscan, to display the full picture. I've been searching the web for the relevant service manual, but there aren't any available for this TV.

08-06-2010, 09:27	#2
Nigel Goodwin Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: North Derbyshire Posts: 41,789	There are normally no geometry adjustments on LCD or Plasma TV's, they aren't needed.

08-06-2010, 09:31	#3
thorvertonian Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Devon Posts: 1,289	In Screen Menu, select "Full Pixel", this will eliminate overscan

09-06-2010, 01:45	#4
skiller Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 945	Sorry, this is slightly off-topic, but still relates to this model... I've just looked at this model from Argos (both the 40" and the 37") and I wonder if anyone can answer whether it is Bravia Engine 3 or 2? The Argos brochure and online says Engine 2, but everything else I've read is Engine 3 - including the Sony website. I've tried emailing Argos but they have failed on their 24 hour reply promise.

09-06-2010, 01:48	#5
DJGM Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Whitefield, Manchester Posts: 3,726	The KDL-32EX403 (32 inch) uses Bravia Engine 3, so I'd say the 40 inch and 37 inch versions also have it.

09-06-2010, 06:16	#6
DJGM Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Whitefield, Manchester Posts: 3,726	Quote: Originally Posted by Nigel Goodwin There are normally no geometry adjustments on LCD or Plasma TV's, they aren't needed. I looked at this model of TV in a number of major retailers, such as Currys, Comet, and John Lewis. Flicking to the BBC News Channel on all models of this TV in Currys and Comet showed a high amount of overscan ... as much as is shown in this example, which quite surprised me. The screengrab image of the BBC News Channel looks like this shown in full with no overscan. At the Trafford Centre branch of John Lewis (where I ordered the TV last Thursday) there appeared to be a lot less overscan on the display model of this TV, but still maybe about 3-5 lines cropped. Quote: Originally Posted by thorvertonian In Screen Menu, select "Full Pixel", this will eliminate overscan Thanks, I'll give that a go. With any luck, that'll be all I need to do to see the full picture . . .

09-06-2010, 08:54	#7
Nigel Goodwin Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: North Derbyshire Posts: 41,789	Quote: Originally Posted by DJGM I looked at this model of TV in a number of major retailers, such as Currys, Comet, and John Lewis. Flicking to the BBC News Channel on all models of this TV in Currys and Comet showed a high amount of overscan ... as much as is shown in this example, which quite surprised me. TV's are designed to match the programmes, which are transmitted with a certain anoumt of overscan. If it's excessive, I would suggest that Currys and Comet have them set to the wrong aspect ratio - probably 'Auto', which means it's wrong whatever the original is.

09-06-2010, 10:06	#8
xtaz Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Bristol Posts: 269	I would never buy a TV where you couldn't switch overscan off. Whilst it does make weird dots appear on things like bbc 1 SD news these are small compared to the huge difference on channels like bbc HD. If you switch between 16:9 and 1:1 pixelmap modes on bbc HD you can see a gigantic amount of the screen is removed which you can tell by looking at the position of the logo in the top left. Both Sony and Samsung have options to set 1:1. Samsung call it Just Scan, Sony call it Full Pixel. Works a treat.

09-06-2010, 10:37	#9
amjl2000 Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 32	There's a setting that effectively zoom in or out on the picture... this will increase or reduce the amount of overscan you see. It's in the picture menu somewhere on the Bravia (I have the 40" model and was setting it up last week).. theres only 3 positions though, -1,0,+1. How it affects the pixelation... I dunno, I sit far enough away from the telly not to notice a difference.

09-06-2010, 20:00	#10
DJGM Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Whitefield, Manchester Posts: 3,726	On a not entirely unrelated subject . . . Something I was hoping to make good use of on this new TV (delivered earlier today) was the ability to watch videos from a pendrive plugged into the USB port at the side, specifically videos in HD format. Only trouble is, no HD formatted videos seem to work on it. MKV format videos failed, XviD avi format videos failed, and standard MP4 format videos failed to playback. Even encoding videos to MPEG4 based (proprietary) AVCHD format failed. This is a format that is supposedly preferred (in the TV's documentation) by Sony themselves and should (AFAIK) playback fine on a PlayStation 3. (I do not currently own a PS3, nor do I have any current plans to buy one anytime soon ... if at all.) Ironically, it looks as though I'll have to hook up my XBox360, and watch HD formatted videos from my pendrive that way instead! At least I know for a fact that all standard encoded MP4 and XviD based HD video files (but not MKV) playback on that particular device with no problems.

10-06-2010, 08:25	#11
amjl2000 Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 32	I have had 50/50 success with xvid and divx videos... though I have still to determine why some work and some don't - they all appear to have the same encoding, similar bit rates etc. I'm going to get sample files from the internet, see if they work, then reencode some of my videos to see if I can recreate something that works.

10-06-2010, 09:57	#12
xtaz Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Bristol Posts: 269	Sony TV's file support is pretty poor. I used to have a Samsung TV and it played everything I threw at it without a problem. The Sony I've only managed to get it to play .ts files so far and even then it only plays some of them and not all. Although I'm trying it over the network, not USB. I just bought a Samsung bd-c5500 bluray player for £109 as I had £50 off john lewis vouchers which has the same network capabilities as my old samsung tv so I use that to play media and forget about the TV doing it. Works a treat for me.

10-06-2010, 14:07	#13
snuffle_-_uk Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 551	Quote: Originally Posted by xtaz The Sony I've only managed to get it to play .ts files so far The only files i have tried streaming (and the only things that i particuarly want to stream) are MPEG2 files created by Adobe Premier Elements from my camcorder movies and they work fine. I'm using a 32W5810 btw.

10-06-2010, 16:31	#14
BrettS19 Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mansfield, Notts Posts: 475	One thing driving me mad with this Tv is trying to get the Sky + Controller to program volume etc. I have tried the code 0000 (the usual sony code) to program the controller to work on the TV but wont do it for some reason. Anyone have any ideas?

10-06-2010, 17:18	#15
xtaz Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Bristol Posts: 269	Bit strange. Sure you're doing it right? I have a Sony HX703 and the 0000 code works fine for me. Wouldn't have thought it would be that different between models.

10-06-2010, 20:38	#16
Nigel Goodwin Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: North Derbyshire Posts: 41,789	Quote: Originally Posted by xtaz Bit strange. Sure you're doing it right? I have a Sony HX703 and the 0000 code works fine for me. Wouldn't have thought it would be that different between models. 0000 is the base Sony code, you're supposed to step up from that until you find the best one. However, 0533 is the correct code for any remotely modern Sony. But as you say, using the base code of 0000 should work, but not as well as 0533 - most likely he's doing it wrong in some way?.

11-06-2010, 10:12	#17
BrettS19 Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mansfield, Notts Posts: 475	Quote: Originally Posted by Nigel Goodwin 0000 is the base Sony code, you're supposed to step up from that until you find the best one. However, 0533 is the correct code for any remotely modern Sony. But as you say, using the base code of 0000 should work, but not as well as 0533 - most likely he's doing it wrong in some way?. Thanks for the replies guys. I will try that code when i get home later and let you know how i get on. From memory, i am pressing TV on the Sky Controller, then holding Select and the Red Button until it blinks twice. Then enter the code 0000, after this it should blink twice i read but it doesnt? Then press select to store. But with it not blinking twice when entering the code, i thought i must be doing something wrong.

11-06-2010, 10:41	#18
Nigel Goodwin Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: North Derbyshire Posts: 41,789	Quote: Originally Posted by BrettS19 Thanks for the replies guys. I will try that code when i get home later and let you know how i get on. From memory, i am pressing TV on the Sky Controller, then holding Select and the Red Button until it blinks twice. Then enter the code 0000, after this it should blink twice i read but it doesnt? Then press select to store. But with it not blinking twice when entering the code, i thought i must be doing something wrong. If it's not blinking after entering the code then there's something wrong - it blinks twice as the fourth number is pressed, no need for select on later remotes (but it does no harm either).

11-06-2010, 13:48	#19
webbie Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: North Devon Posts: 1,568	You have to press TV on the remote again after pressing selct and the red button before the 4 digit code.

11-06-2010, 19:18	#21
Orbitalzone Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Sussex Posts: 12,173	For more Sony LCD control check this out: http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/s...d.php?t=944054 It makes the SkyHD remote force the Sony TV to go to your HDMI port of choice so can make life easier for some people. So if viewing Freeview or such like, pressing 'sky' button on HD remote not only turns on SkyHD box but sends out a second remote command to the Sony TV to make it go to the HDMI input used for SkyHD.

18-06-2010, 17:32	#22
DJGM Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Whitefield, Manchester Posts: 3,726	Quote: Originally Posted by thorvertonian In Screen Menu, select "Full Pixel", this will eliminate overscan Not entirely ... the picture is still slightly cropped, using the methods outlined earlier in the thread. With those settings, there is about 5-6 lines of overscan at the top and bottom and either side of the picture. I noticed this after watching the TVCatchup stream of the BBC News Channel, with my laptop plugged into the VGA port on the back of the TV and comparing it to the broadcast version on Freeview channel 80, received via the standard DTT signal. The BBC NC stream from TVC displayed the absolute full picture on my TV with no overscan. I would've used the official BBC NC stream from the BBC News website, but even that has overscan, much like the program streams on the BBC iPlayer website have always had. Adding overscan on web streamed TV is rather gratuitous and totally pointless!

DS Forums

Sony Bravia KDL-32EX403 ... service menus

03-07-2010, 03:47	#23
losh Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 11	Quote: Originally Posted by DJGM On a not entirely unrelated subject . . . Something I was hoping to make good use of on this new TV (delivered earlier today) was the ability to watch videos from a pendrive plugged into the USB port at the side, specifically videos in HD format. Only trouble is, no HD formatted videos seem to work on it. MKV format videos failed, XviD avi format videos failed, and standard MP4 format videos failed to playback. Even encoding videos to MPEG4 based (proprietary) AVCHD format failed. This is a format that is supposedly preferred (in the TV's documentation) by Sony themselves and should (AFAIK) playback fine on a PlayStation 3. (I do not currently own a PS3, nor do I have any current plans to buy one anytime soon ... if at all.) Ironically, it looks as though I'll have to hook up my XBox360, and watch HD formatted videos from my pendrive that way instead! At least I know for a fact that all standard encoded MP4 and XviD based HD video files (but not MKV) playback on that particular device with no problems. Iv'e tried playing xvid from a pen drive on a bravia with no joy bought the bdp s370 and it plays anything from a usb

03-07-2010, 06:14	#24
DJGM Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Whitefield, Manchester Posts: 3,726	Quote: Originally Posted by losh Iv'e tried playing xvid from a pen drive on a bravia with no joy bought the bdp s370 and it plays anything from a usb That's another Sony product, so if that plays anything from a USB pen drive, you'd think my new Sony TV would also do the same. According to a customer service rep at Sony, from a recent phonecall, as it's a very new model, support for more video formats is likely to come in future firmware updates Eitherway, that other Sony product is a Blu-Ray player ... one type of gadget I've no intention of buying. No point in buying into another optical disc format that'll be rendered obsolete in a few years time.