Sharp Adds Aquos 4K Ultra HD TVs with THX Certification

[dfergie]

Sharp Electronics is helping the category gain momentum with its new Aquos 4K Ultra HD Series that includes a 60-inch and a 70-inch model. Sharp differentiates its 4K products through participation in the THX certification program, saying the products had to pass more than 30 test categories with as many as 400 bench tests, and more than 1,000 data points.

cepro.com

 

[mike123abc]

THX is usually nice for TVs since it means they have an THX mode that tends to be more accurately calibrated. It would be nice if they did like Apple and calibrate each set before shipping (iPad and iPhone).

 

[teachsac]

If they're like Panasonic, they'll come with preloaded settings from a calibrated set for the THX mode. Only problem is every set and panel acts a little differently. Still should be a better picture than most of the other modes.

S~

 

[gadgtfreek]

THX modes do not do much for grayscale, or proper brightness/contrast calibration, you still need to get those done. What THX mode does do is make certain menu items blanked that they feel you should not use (certain pq "enhancements") on some displays, and an actual engineer does the math on the color look up tables (LUTs) to ensure the display color decoding is working. For example, my GT30 had a problem with the LUT's in custom where you could not calibrate mid panel brightness and get accurate color, because the decoding was fracked. In the THX mode, which was locked on Mid panel brightness, the color performance was spectacular. Also had a flat 2.2 gamma.

That came from a good discussion with Gregg Loewen on THX modes and what they actually do. Often he uses that mode for his pro calibration, because he knows he should be starting with a accurate color decoding.

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

Maybe we should have Gregg chime in here since he is the lead calibrator / trainer for THX.

It would be good to know what THX mode really means.


Posted Via The FREE SatelliteGuys Reader App!

 

[gadgtfreek]

A good example of the color performance in THX mode are the VT50, VT60 and ZT60.

Gregg uses THX mode instead of the ISF modes, and simply calibrates 2pt grayscale in the service menu instead of all the 10 point and CMS control in the Custom menu. Charts from THX mode vs the expanded menu are beyond the human eye to see a difference. They apply a custom LUT to ensure color accuracy, its pretty neat. You also cannot enable frame interpolation on the plasmas in THX mode, as well as other menu items that should not be turned on anyways.

Ive got a chart he sent me from a ZT60 post calibration with THX compared to the ISF modes which have expanded calibration controls. They are VERY close, but like I said THX mode still needs a grayscale calibration.

Some tv's have a color decoder that is flawed, and even though they have full CMS control and you calibrate it to reference, it actually does not look correct with actual content. You know the color decoder should be right on if THX worked on the LUTs.

 

[gadgtfreek]

Here is my VT50 in THX mode, as you can see, spot on:

GT30 in Custom (other than 100 saturation, not so hot)

GT30 in THX mode

These charts were produced by Gregg.