TEST BENCH

Color temperature (Custom mode/Warm2 color temperature before/after calibration): 20-IRE: 8,042 K/7,042 K 30-IRE: 7,516 K/6,475 K 40-IRE: 7,176 K/6,345 K 50-IRE: 7,078 K/6,342 K 60-IRE: 7,000 K/6,387 K 70-IRE: 7,151 K/6,329 K 80-IRE: 7,261 K/6,525 K 90-IRE: 7,459 K/6,757 K 100-IRE: 7,534 K/6,579 K

Brightness (100-IRE window): 19.5/39.8 ftL

Primary Color Point Accuracy vs. SMPTE HD Standard

The JVC LT-47X899's Custom picture preset delivered the most accurate color when also in Theater mode with Low color temperature selected. With those settings active, grayscale tracking ended up being +/- 1,034 degrees K of the 6,500 K standard from 30 to 100 IRE, which is pretty far off the mark. Manual white balance adjustments made in the set's Theater Pro II submenu improved grayscale tracking to +/-257 degrees K from 30 to 100 IRE. The Theater preset's peak brightness was a relatively dim 19.5 ftL. Fortunately, since this preset's individual settings can be adjusted, I was able to boost light output to roughly twice that level during calibration.

Color decoder tests revealed only a minimal -5 percent green error on both the HDMI and component-video inputs in Theater mode. As compared to the SMPTE HD specification, the set's red, green, and blue color points all showed high levels of oversaturation.

Overscan - the amount of picture area hidden behind the edges of the TV's screen - measured 0% for 1080i/p-format high-definition signals with Full Native Aspect mode selected and 5% in Full mode. The set fully resolved 1080i and 720p test patterns via its HDMI inputs, although the same patterns looked both softer and noisier with a component-video connection. Screen uniformity was excellent for an LCD display, with gray full-field patterns showing no sign of tinting or uneven brightness. Off-axis viewing was also excellent for an LCD, with picture contrast remaining solid and uniform over a 90-degree window.

Tests of the JVC's video processing delivered mixed results. The set passed all of the tests contained on the Silicon Optix HQV high-def test disc (a bit of flicker could be seen in vertical lines from the film resolution pattern, most likely caused by the set's 120-Hz upconversion) but it failed several tests on the DVD version of the same disc. It did pass the important film frame (2:3) pulldown test, although the processing was slow to kick in - something I also observed when watching movies. The set's Auto Digital Noise reduction setting worked well; you could leave this switched on permanently and not have to worry about picture detail loss. The MPEG noise reduction adjustment also proved effective at cleaning up pictures without significant detail loss at the mid and low settings.