Samsung SP-A600 Projector Calibration and Settings Posted on October 17, 2013 By Art Feierman 1. Samsung SP-A600 Projector Review - SP-A600 Projector Highlights - Samsung SP-A600 Projector Overview - Samsung SP-A600 Special Features - Samsung SP-A600 Color Wheel2. Samsung SP-A600 – Physical Tour - Samsung SP-A600 Physical Appearance - SP-A600 Projector - Control Panel - Samsung SP-A600 Inputs and Outputs - Samsung SP-A600 Menus - Samsung SP-A600 Remote Control3. Samsung SP-A600 – Physical Tour - SP-A600 Lens Throw - SP-A600 Lens Shift - SP-A600 Anamorphic Lens4. Samsung SP-A600 Projector – Image Quality - SP-A600 Out of the Box Picture Quality - Samsung SP-A600 Projector - Flesh Tones5. SP-A600 Black Levels & Shadow Detail - Black Level Performance:6. Shadow Detail Performance7. Samsung SP-A600 Projector – Image Quality28. Samsung SP-A600 Projector – Image Quality3 - SP-A600 - Overall Color & Picture Quality9. Samsung SP-A600 Projector – Image Quality4 - Samsung SP-A600 Projector: Performance, HDTV and Sports10. Samsung SP-A600 Projector – Performance - Samsung SP-A600 Projector Brightness - Samsung SP-A600 Sharpness11. Samsung SP-A600 Projector – Performance - Samsung SP-A600: Bottom Line Sharpness - Light Leakage - Image Noise - Audible Noise12. Samsung SP-A600 Projector Calibration and Settings - Samsung SP-A600 Color Temperature - Samsung SP-A600 Basic Settings - Samsung SP-A600 Post Calibration Grayscale: Movie 1 (User 1) mode13. Samsung SP-A600 Projector Calibration and Settings1 - RGB Settings - Brightest Modes:14. Samsung SP-A600 – Projector Screens - Samsung SP-A600 Projector Screen Recommendations - Samsung SP-A600 - Competitors - SP-A600 vs. Epson Home Cinema 6100 - Samsung SP-A600 vs. Mitsubishi HC5500 - Samsung SP-A600 vs. Sanyo PLV-Z700 - Samsung SP-A600 vs. InFocus X10, Sharp XV-Z1500015. Samsung SP-A600 – Projector Screens - Samsung SP-A600 vs. BenQ W5000 - Samsung SP-A600 - Warranty - Samsung SP-A600 - Review Summary - Samsung SP-A600 Projector - The Bottom Line16. Samsung SP-A600 – Review Summary1 - Samsung SP-A600 Projector: Pros, Cons, and Typical Capabilities - Samsung SP-A600 Projector: Pros - Samsung SP-A600 Projector: Cons - Samsung SP-A600 Projector: Typical Capabilities SP-A600 Calibration notes: We calibrate each home theater that is reviewed. It is a pretty standard calibration – there’s always more that can be done by some of the “hi-end” calibrators. Our calibrations, including the SP-A600, are normally limited to a grayscale calibration, along with brightness, contrast, color saturation, etc. Samsung SP-A600 Color TemperatureWe used Movie 1 mode as the basis for calibration. Results were then saved in User 1, which was used for all photo sessions unless otherwise noted. We refer to User 1 as Movie 1).Pre-calibration, the color temperature measurements came out like this: Movie 1 30 IRE 6415K 50 IRE 6339K 80 IRE 6216K 100 IRE 6155K As you can see, all readings are below the ideal 6500K, and therefore warm – shifted to red. The Samsung isn’t off a great deal, but enough to affect skin tones and many scenes with just a tad too much red. Samsung SP-A600 Basic SettingsIn addition to calibrating Red Green and Blue for a correct grayscale balance (6500K), there are a number of other settings that come into play. Typically Contrast and Brightness (white balance and black balance), need to be done first. Color saturation and gamma also need adjustment. Settings for measurements (default values are in parenthesis): Vivid Dynamic Standard Movie 1 Movie 2 User 1 Contrast = (50) 45 50 54 54 54 53 Brightness= (50) 56 48 49 50 50 53 Color= (50 for all) 46* Tint= (50 for all) Color Temp 9300 9300 8000 6500 5500 6500 Gamma (Graphic) (Graphic) (Video) (Film) (Film) (Film) Lamp Mode Bright All other settings untouched * After significant viewing, Art recommends a color saturation setting of 44 if you use Film gamma and 44 if Video gamma is selected. Samsung SP-A600 Post Calibration Grayscale: Movie 1 (User 1) modePost calibration, we ended up with excellent grayscale balance which was evident, when watching the SP-A600. 20 IRE (very dark gray) 6340K 30 IRE 6422K 40 IRE 6365K 50 IRE 6514K 60 IRE 6536K 70 IRE 6528K 80 IRE 6526K 90 IRE 6594K 100 IRE (white) 6467K There is still a small dip in color temperature below 50K (to 20K), which would tend to account for the slightly extra red in skin tones, especially those where the skin tones are not brightly lit. Overall, this is an excellent grayscale result. Gamma: The film gamma setting is the one that should be ideal, but it is not. It measures an unusually high 2.56 (optimum is 2.2). As such, using the film gamma setting will tend to make mid brightness objects a too dark. Sunny scenes just lack that feeling of a bright sunny day. Switching to the Video gamma drops the gamma to 2.04, which means it’s a bit too bright in the mid-range instead. I’ve watched with both, and with a number of movies I just couldn’t handle the Film. Overall, I preferred the Video setting, although neither is ideal. 1. Samsung SP-A600 Projector Review - SP-A600 Projector Highlights - Samsung SP-A600 Projector Overview - Samsung SP-A600 Special Features - Samsung SP-A600 Color Wheel2. Samsung SP-A600 – Physical Tour - Samsung SP-A600 Physical Appearance - SP-A600 Projector - Control Panel - Samsung SP-A600 Inputs and Outputs - Samsung SP-A600 Menus - Samsung SP-A600 Remote Control3. Samsung SP-A600 – Physical Tour - SP-A600 Lens Throw - SP-A600 Lens Shift - SP-A600 Anamorphic Lens4. Samsung SP-A600 Projector – Image Quality - SP-A600 Out of the Box Picture Quality - Samsung SP-A600 Projector - Flesh Tones5. SP-A600 Black Levels & Shadow Detail - Black Level Performance:6. Shadow Detail Performance7. Samsung SP-A600 Projector – Image Quality28. Samsung SP-A600 Projector – Image Quality3 - SP-A600 - Overall Color & Picture Quality9. Samsung SP-A600 Projector – Image Quality4 - Samsung SP-A600 Projector: Performance, HDTV and Sports10. Samsung SP-A600 Projector – Performance - Samsung SP-A600 Projector Brightness - Samsung SP-A600 Sharpness11. Samsung SP-A600 Projector – Performance - Samsung SP-A600: Bottom Line Sharpness - Light Leakage - Image Noise - Audible Noise12. Samsung SP-A600 Projector Calibration and Settings - Samsung SP-A600 Color Temperature - Samsung SP-A600 Basic Settings - Samsung SP-A600 Post Calibration Grayscale: Movie 1 (User 1) mode13. Samsung SP-A600 Projector Calibration and Settings1 - RGB Settings - Brightest Modes:14. Samsung SP-A600 – Projector Screens - Samsung SP-A600 Projector Screen Recommendations - Samsung SP-A600 - Competitors - SP-A600 vs. Epson Home Cinema 6100 - Samsung SP-A600 vs. Mitsubishi HC5500 - Samsung SP-A600 vs. Sanyo PLV-Z700 - Samsung SP-A600 vs. InFocus X10, Sharp XV-Z1500015. Samsung SP-A600 – Projector Screens - Samsung SP-A600 vs. BenQ W5000 - Samsung SP-A600 - Warranty - Samsung SP-A600 - Review Summary - Samsung SP-A600 Projector - The Bottom Line16. Samsung SP-A600 – Review Summary1 - Samsung SP-A600 Projector: Pros, Cons, and Typical Capabilities - Samsung SP-A600 Projector: Pros - Samsung SP-A600 Projector: Cons - Samsung SP-A600 Projector: Typical Capabilities Samsung SP-A600 Projector – Performance Samsung SP-A600 Projector Calibration and Settings1