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Avia Home Theater DVD ----- Help

E

EyeOfThe

Senior member
I got the famous "Avia" DVD to calibrate my RPTV. The 6 or 7 basic video tests are great, but the advanced tests have almost no explanation.

Is there a website that will explain what to do for each of these advanced video tests?

My DVD player has it's own set of controls for Contrast, Sharpness, etc. Should these be set to 50% while I configure the TV's settings? (I want my TV settings to be valid even when I switch off the DVD and go to cable TV.

Any other advice is welcome.

(I have a Hitachi 65SWX20B and a Panasonic DVD-RP91K)
 
Sweetness, you have the RPTV I am planning to get. I got the AVIA disk too for my 36" Sony but I haven't cracked it open yet. Your best best is AVSForum. Good luck with it and let us know. I'm interested too.
 
Originally posted by: EyeOfThe
(I want my TV settings to be valid even when I switch off the DVD and go to cable TV.
Click to expand...

Doesn't work that way.

If you have a relatively high end TV it will allow you to calibrate each input separately. If you don't have that option, you can calibrate for one or the other but one will always be off.

Viper GTS
 
I have the 51SWX20B TV. What I did was put it on Movie mode then used the Avia DVD to calibrate that setting. I use that same setting for all of my inputs - DVD, Cable, Xbox. I just did the basic avia video setups... in the end none of your settings will be near 50%... all will be lower.
I've never seen a good indepth discussion on how to use the advanced settings. The basics should be fine, if you need to do more than that I'd save up and let an ISF calibrator do it. 😉
 
Originally posted by: Doggiedog
Sweetness, you have the RPTV I am planning to get. I got the AVIA disk too for my 36" Sony but I haven't cracked it open yet. Your best best is AVSForum. Good luck with it and let us know. I'm interested too.
Click to expand...

FYI - the best deal I've seen on this TV is 10% off + free delivery from Sears.
 
Originally posted by: Doggiedog
Sweetness, you have the RPTV I am planning to get. I got the AVIA disk too for my 36" Sony but I haven't cracked it open yet. Your best best is AVSForum. Good luck with it and let us know. I'm interested too.
Click to expand...


Agreed. AVSForum is a great resource to learn about all things home theater. HomeTheaterSpot is another good resource, AND it has a spcific forum dedicated to AVIA and Video Essentials. You could definitely ask this question there.

Good Luck!
🙂

(Toshiba 57HX81 + Denon 3802 + Panny RP56 + Rocket 750's/350's/150's/Bigfoot + SVS 16-46PC+)
 
Originally posted by: EyeOfThe
Originally posted by: Doggiedog
Sweetness, you have the RPTV I am planning to get. I got the AVIA disk too for my 36" Sony but I haven't cracked it open yet. Your best best is AVSForum. Good luck with it and let us know. I'm interested too.
Click to expand...

FYI - the best deal I've seen on this TV is 10% off + free delivery from Sears.
Click to expand...

How much? I was thinking of getting it from crazyeddie.com. I bought my Sony36XBR400 from them 2 years ago.
 
I strongly suggest you have an ISF calibrator come out and adjust the higher end settings on the TV. The difference is day and night!

Why anyone would spend 3000 some odd dollars on a TV and not spend a few hundred more to have it dialed in perfectly is beyond me. The red push in both color and grey scale on these TVs is horrble and can really only be fixed by a trained ISF calibrator.

While you're at it, you can write letters to the TV industry admonishing them for sending out TVs with out of whack color and gray scale balances not to mention overscan that crops the picture horribly. Convergence and focus I can understand getting hosed in transit.

Anyhow, get it done by a pro, and you'll be amazed at just how good the **SWX20B can look.

I have an **SWX20B and let me give you a hint. You'll not be able to adjust the white level high enough to get "blooming" or to warp the geometry in the Avia test. So you'll have to set it according to the lowest white level you can stand for your enjoyment. Mine is at 38 during the evening, and 48-50 if I watch it during the day. Doing so will make the risk of any burn in virtually non-existent.
 
Originally posted by: Amused
I strongly suggest you have an ISF calibrator come out and adjust the higher end settings on the TV. The difference is day and night!

Why anyone would spend 3000 some odd dollars on a TV and not spend a few hundred more to have it dialed in perfectly is beyond me. The red push in both color and grey scale on these TVs is horrble and can really only be fixed by a trained ISF calibrator.

While you're at it, you can write letters to the TV industry admonishing them for sending out TVs with out of whack color and gray scale balances not to mention overscan that crops the picture horribly. Convergence and focus I can understand getting hosed in transit.

Anyhow, get it done by a pro, and you'll be amazed at just how good the **SWX20B can look.

I have an **SWX20B and let me give you a hint. You'll not be able to adjust the white level high enough to get "blooming" or to warp the geometry in the Avia test. So you'll have to set it according to the lowest white level you can stand for your enjoyment. Mine is at 38 during the evening, and 48-50 if I watch it during the day. Doing so will make the risk of any burn in virtually non-existent.
Click to expand...

Amen to that! I can't wait to join the SWX20B club. The 65SWX20B I saw at CC was astonishing with an HDTV feed.
 
Originally posted by: Amused
I strongly suggest you have an ISF calibrator come out and adjust the higher end settings on the TV. The difference is day and night!

Why anyone would spend 3000 some odd dollars on a TV and not spend a few hundred more to have it dialed in perfectly is beyond me. The red push in both color and grey scale on these TVs is horrble and can really only be fixed by a trained ISF calibrator.

While you're at it, you can write letters to the TV industry admonishing them for sending out TVs with out of whack color and gray scale balances not to mention overscan that crops the picture horribly. Convergence and focus I can understand getting hosed in transit.

Anyhow, get it done by a pro, and you'll be amazed at just how good the **SWX20B can look.

I have an **SWX20B and let me give you a hint. You'll not be able to adjust the white level high enough to get "blooming" or to warp the geometry in the Avia test. So you'll have to set it according to the lowest white level you can stand for your enjoyment. Mine is at 38 during the evening, and 48-50 if I watch it during the day. Doing so will make the risk of any burn in virtually non-existent.
Click to expand...


How can I find an ISF calibrator in my area? How much do they cost? Would it wipe out my warranty? If I'm paying $500 to Circuit City for service - will they send me an ISF calibrator?
 
I doubt Circuit City has ISF calibrators... but they might. I got the ESP for my TV from them too. Guess you could call and ask em? If they do maybe I'll call them too... since it'd be free that way. 😉
Otherwise you're looking to spend $500+ for a good ISF calibration... the + is there because they can go as deep as you want them to into the sets settings.
It seems like most people just post on AVS or HTS and ask if there are ISF calibrators in their area and wait for responses. Others let the travelling ISF guys do it when they come to their town on tour.
 
Originally posted by: Antisocial-Virge
Most IFS tours I have seen talked over its $500 + a $100 or so towards his travel.
Click to expand...

That's a lot of money - especially when I don't really know what I'm getting.
 
Originally posted by: EyeOfThe
Originally posted by: Amused
I strongly suggest you have an ISF calibrator come out and adjust the higher end settings on the TV. The difference is day and night!

Why anyone would spend 3000 some odd dollars on a TV and not spend a few hundred more to have it dialed in perfectly is beyond me. The red push in both color and grey scale on these TVs is horrble and can really only be fixed by a trained ISF calibrator.

While you're at it, you can write letters to the TV industry admonishing them for sending out TVs with out of whack color and gray scale balances not to mention overscan that crops the picture horribly. Convergence and focus I can understand getting hosed in transit.

Anyhow, get it done by a pro, and you'll be amazed at just how good the **SWX20B can look.

I have an **SWX20B and let me give you a hint. You'll not be able to adjust the white level high enough to get "blooming" or to warp the geometry in the Avia test. So you'll have to set it according to the lowest white level you can stand for your enjoyment. Mine is at 38 during the evening, and 48-50 if I watch it during the day. Doing so will make the risk of any burn in virtually non-existent.
Click to expand...


How can I find an ISF calibrator in my area? How much do they cost? Would it wipe out my warranty? If I'm paying $500 to Circuit City for service - will they send me an ISF calibrator?
Click to expand...


Here is ISF's home page

They list ISF trained folks for every state. Because I live in bumfsck IL, I chose to have a touring tech come to my house.

You can find out much, much more by going to AVSforums.com

One of the most highly respected touring ISF calibrators can be found at http://www.greggloewen.com
 
Originally posted by: EyeOfThe
Originally posted by: Antisocial-Virge
Most IFS tours I have seen talked over its $500 + a $100 or so towards his travel.
Click to expand...

That's a lot of money - especially when I don't really know what I'm getting.
Click to expand...

It's a fair price considering a full calibration takes 6-7 hours and makes a night and day difference in picture quality on a RPTV.

Read up on the links I sent you.
 
Amused I guess I'm looking for ISF dealers w/calibration equipment? If so there's several around here... just need to save up the $$$. 😉
 
Originally posted by: Doggiedog
Originally posted by: EyeOfThe
Originally posted by: Doggiedog
Sweetness, you have the RPTV I am planning to get. I got the AVIA disk too for my 36" Sony but I haven't cracked it open yet. Your best best is AVSForum. Good luck with it and let us know. I'm interested too.
Click to expand...

FYI - the best deal I've seen on this TV is 10% off + free delivery from Sears.
Click to expand...

How much? I was thinking of getting it from crazyeddie.com. I bought my Sony36XBR400 from them 2 years ago.
Click to expand...

3499.99 - 10% + Tax. I actually got mine from CC, but I used this Sears price on a pricematch. Oh ya, you need a Sears Card for the deal. That shouldn't be a big deal. It's crazy fast. They took down my name, pressed a button, and boom 2-seconds later the thing comes out with the credit limit. Or if you like CC's deals of the week (no payments for a year, etc) then you can get it there and pricematch to Sears when the 10% off sale returns.

Crazy Eddie looks like a scam... The price is low so he gets on all the pricegrabbers, but then the shipping is sky-high.
 
Originally posted by: Mutilator
Amused I guess I'm looking for ISF dealers w/calibration equipment? If so there's several around here... just need to save up the $$$. 😉
Click to expand...

Yeah, you want one with equipment. It's impossible to adjust the gray scale by eye.
 
Crazy Eddie looks like a scam... The price is low so he gets on all the pricegrabbers, but then the shipping is sky-high.
Click to expand...

I don't know if it's a scam. I bought my Sony 36XBR400 from them and it cost me $100 to ship. It was a pain bc I had to go find him since he got lost plus the thing weighed 250lbs and I had to help him.

I'm thinking with a RPTV, I might want to get it from a chain store instead because I might not be happy with the picture.
 
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