standfas,

Discs like Avia have patterns to adjust the geometry, but you have to get into the service menu to do it (don't even attempt doing this yourself). A tv can get really screwed up if you go in and do something wrong.
If its really messed up, call your local tech to come out and make some adjustments for you.

Matt

Setting the contrast low improves geometry. But as said going into the service menu is the only real way of truly sorting it.

If you havent got a set up disc turn the contrast down to a third and see if it straightens it, probably only be a bit but hey a bit is better than none

I was afraid I would have to call a tech to get this straightened out. Any general consensus on the cost for something like this? The thing that really irks me is having to pay to make a $2500 TV work the way it should.

I no longer consider anything that can't do reasonable SPL at 25Hz or below a sub. I used to have one that could pull off 35Hz. My current fronts do that and my old Wharfedales could do lower, more like 30Hz. My current sub does 16Hz and my other speakers can't even compare at all.

OK..so get the dvd..and i try to calibrate my plasma..whats going to prevent me from just putting it back to original settings if i screw it up?

rich - write down the starting numbers BEFORE you make any changes.

standfas - do you think performance car owners get irked after buying hi performance tires and have them balanced AND pay to have the front end aligned AND have the pressure set properly? Hmmmm...

Plasmas, projectors, subwoofers seem a little more complex than tires. Makes me wonder

Also, just use the basic settings at first. Color, Sharpness, Contrast, Tint, etc. Sometimes they have different names, but these are always in the user menus, easy to get at. And, other than Contrast being too high, they really can't damage your TV no matter what setting you choose. These basic settings are really what Avia and Video Essentials are aimed at.

If you get more interested in really tweaking, there is usually a hidden service menu that has more controls. This service menu is where you could potentially get into trouble and mess up a TV. So that is for pros or those willing to risk it and learn something a little deeper.

Right..i have fooled around with the obvious stuff..contrast,tint etc..there is a advanced settings option which has Blackext.
Input level
W/B High R
W/B HIGH B
W/B LOW R
W/B LOW B
GAMMA
AGC

Now those are greek to me..what gets me is in the owners manual is nothing about them..not much anyway..as far as their effect good or bad..the settings are numbered and can be adjusted back and forth with them currently being set at 0..so i assume i can just set it back at 0 if things dont look right..i didnt want to touch it until i got expert feedback from you guys..my dad always said dont monkey with it if it aint broken!..lol

True, but most TVs ship broken.

SO..if i do change the advanced settings..useing the calibration dvd..can i accually do something i cant fix?..assuming i write down the current settings..

Anything with Gain (High), Cut (Low), or Gamma in it really needs special tools to adjust the levels (an optical comparator, or color analyzer), if you don't have these tools you will have no idea what you're looking at and no idea what way to adjust the levels.

You can always adjust the levels back to where you started, but randomly moving the settings will probably give you worse results than not moving them at all.

Matt

Thanks Matt..just what i wanted to hear..quite frankly im happy with the picture and anyone who sees the picture is blown away..i wouldnt mind tweaking it a bit but dont want to waste my time either..thanks to all who have left a opinion..Rich