Sony Picture Quality / Black Quality

webmuppet · 04-06-2006, 10:07

I bought an S32A12U and am really unhappy with it. The picture quality from digi cable / internal freeview is pretty grainy but more annoyingly its a really dark picture. When I set it up next to a crappy CRT there was stuff in the background that I couldnt even see on the LCD but that was clearly present on the CRT. Like shades of dark grey had merged together into pure black. I know that LCDs have issues with black but I assumed that a Sony would be fine.

The shop I bought it from will allow me to swap it but all they have in my budget is a JVC 32A61 or a Samsung 32R74.

I don't know very much about LCD technology so any help would be appreciated.

late8 · 04-06-2006, 11:13

Unfortunately that is common with some LCD displays, Its all to do with the contrast ratio. LCD's on average display 800:1 compared to Plasmas at 5000 or even 10,000 :1. Sony LCD's in my opinion are like most of there products : overpriced for what you get, and aren't that good- i cant seem to find the contrast ratio for that particular model on any website specs. which is strange.

The best LCD's for a reasonable price i have seen so far are the Samsung R7 range. With a contrast of 5000:1 the screen looks quite impressive with a larger than average colour range.

Have you tried better cables and messed around with the picture settings?

Jarrak · 04-06-2006, 11:59

The R74 is the most upto date model in terms of LCD technology so I would consider it if it's a straight swap for the Sony which is an older model from that company.

As late8 says the quality of the blacks on LCD's is the main weakness of the technology now refresh rates are well into the single figures and alas it's taking some time for the problem to be solved and I expect it will be but perhaps on the next gen LCD panels particularly the Clear LCD tech from Philips.

late8 · 04-06-2006, 12:30

Yes, One thing i will say about sony is there phenomenally good X-Black Computer LCD screens. The Clarity and Balck levels are awesome even blacker blacks than a CRT, just a shame that the technology must be expensive as the 17" pc screens are nearly £400. Why can they start using it on bigger TV's ?

04-06-2006, 10:07	#1
webmuppet Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: UK Posts: 223	Sony Picture Quality / Black Quality I bought an S32A12U and am really unhappy with it. The picture quality from digi cable / internal freeview is pretty grainy but more annoyingly its a really dark picture. When I set it up next to a crappy CRT there was stuff in the background that I couldnt even see on the LCD but that was clearly present on the CRT. Like shades of dark grey had merged together into pure black. I know that LCDs have issues with black but I assumed that a Sony would be fine. The shop I bought it from will allow me to swap it but all they have in my budget is a JVC 32A61 or a Samsung 32R74. I don't know very much about LCD technology so any help would be appreciated.

04-06-2006, 11:13	#2
late8 Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 7,052	Unfortunately that is common with some LCD displays, Its all to do with the contrast ratio. LCD's on average display 800:1 compared to Plasmas at 5000 or even 10,000 :1. Sony LCD's in my opinion are like most of there products : overpriced for what you get, and aren't that good- i cant seem to find the contrast ratio for that particular model on any website specs. which is strange. The best LCD's for a reasonable price i have seen so far are the Samsung R7 range. With a contrast of 5000:1 the screen looks quite impressive with a larger than average colour range. Have you tried better cables and messed around with the picture settings?

04-06-2006, 11:59	#3
Jarrak Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Ilkeston Posts: 18,075	The R74 is the most upto date model in terms of LCD technology so I would consider it if it's a straight swap for the Sony which is an older model from that company. As late8 says the quality of the blacks on LCD's is the main weakness of the technology now refresh rates are well into the single figures and alas it's taking some time for the problem to be solved and I expect it will be but perhaps on the next gen LCD panels particularly the Clear LCD tech from Philips.

04-06-2006, 12:30	#4
late8 Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 7,052	Yes, One thing i will say about sony is there phenomenally good X-Black Computer LCD screens. The Clarity and Balck levels are awesome even blacker blacks than a CRT, just a shame that the technology must be expensive as the 17" pc screens are nearly £400. Why can they start using it on bigger TV's ?

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Sony Picture Quality / Black Quality