Professional TV calibration

Shadowknight

Diamond Member
May 4, 2001
3,959
3
81
I've been looking around on avsforums and seen some people raving about the benefits of paying $300 to get their TV properly calibrated for gray scale, color, geometry, etc. Anyone here on ATOT had it done, and did you think it was worth the$$$?
 
Oct 19, 2000
17,860
4
81
I've not had it done, but I think it's worth the money as long as your TV is worth spending the $300 on. By that, I mean you wouldn't want to buy a $1000 HDTV, then spend the money to get it calibrated. But something higher end, like a nice $2500 LCD or plasma, would benefit from it. The best professionals out there will adjust calibration in the service menu of the TV (much more involved that the simple automated one in most TVs), adjust color, brightness, contrast, etc etc etc for the best picture.
 

lokiju

Lifer
May 29, 2003
18,526
5
0
Sounds like a waste to me.

I'd just do it myself with one of the DVD ones out there.
 

spidey07

No Lifer
Aug 4, 2000
65,469
5
76
I had my 65" done. Night and day. Whole different TV.

It's almost 5 years old and to this day everbody that comes for a game are awestruck asking "how come my HDTV doesn't look near this 'real'"

It's worth every single penny and all HDTV owners should have the set calibrated.
 

d3n

Golden Member
Mar 13, 2004
1,597
0
0
Originally posted by: spidey07
I had my 65" done. Night and day. Whole different TV.

It's almost 5 years old and to this day everbody that comes for a game are awestruck asking "how come my HDTV doesn't look near this 'real'"

It's worth every single penny and all HDTV owners should have the set calibrated.

For something this size (I am guessing it is plazma) I would say heck yeah.

For a set that is used for general viewing I might put the money into other aspects, light /reflection control, audio. If you put enough time in to care about calibration you might be able to research and get a good approximation of the settings you need on your own.
 

SoulAssassin

Diamond Member
Feb 1, 2001
6,135
2
0
I used Digital Video Essentials and I can't say a pro wouldn't get it looking any better but I don't think the difference would justify the price.
 

purbeast0

No Lifer
Sep 13, 2001
53,376
6,199
126
Originally posted by: spidey07
I had my 65" done. Night and day. Whole different TV.

It's almost 5 years old and to this day everbody that comes for a game are awestruck asking "how come my HDTV doesn't look near this 'real'"

It's worth every single penny and all HDTV owners should have the set calibrated.

What kind of TV do you have though? CRT, LCD, DLP? 5 years ago makes me think it is a CRT.

Most of the newer technologies won't benefit nearly as much as older CRT projection TV's did from this calibration. I used the Avia DVD to configure my TV, and honestly, I probably made like 2 changes to my TV using the DVD.
 

spidey07

No Lifer
Aug 4, 2000
65,469
5
76
Originally posted by: purbeast0
Most of the newer technologies won't benefit nearly as much as older CRT projection TV's did from this calibration. I used the Avia DVD to configure my TV, and honestly, I probably made like 2 changes to my TV using the DVD.

AFAIK all TVs need greyscale, sharpness and color adjustments. If you poke around the service menu you can normally correct sharpness/processing and color.

Greyscale needs a special tool
 

spidey07

No Lifer
Aug 4, 2000
65,469
5
76
Originally posted by: Old Hippie
If you poke around the service menu
I had to have one professionally calibrated after I did that. :eek:

DOH!

Yeah, be careful and know exactly what you are doing.

On my mits before it got calibrated I had to hook up a hand made MOLEX connector to the main board of the TV, read and then re-write the main EEPROM after I changed some values. That was a little spooky.:Q
 

darrontrask

Senior member
Nov 23, 2004
529
0
76
INHD has a 1/2 hour show on a couple early mornings a week that is just like those calibration discs. walks you right through every thing even surround sound. I do this twice a year.


Darron
 

MaverickBP

Golden Member
Nov 18, 2004
1,414
0
0
Originally posted by: d3n
Originally posted by: spidey07
I had my 65" done. Night and day. Whole different TV.

It's almost 5 years old and to this day everbody that comes for a game are awestruck asking "how come my HDTV doesn't look near this 'real'"

It's worth every single penny and all HDTV owners should have the set calibrated.

For something this size (I am guessing it is plazma) I would say heck yeah.

For a set that is used for general viewing I might put the money into other aspects, light /reflection control, audio. If you put enough time in to care about calibration you might be able to research and get a good approximation of the settings you need on your own.

Actually for something that size it's more likely that it is not plasma. Especially if we're talking 5 years ago. Besides if it was....he spent well over $20k for it back then.

Also dvds like essentials and avia are good do it yourself style calibrations. They can enhance a tv somewhat and you usually see some improvement. However they can't achieve what a service menu calibration done by a certified technician with the appropriate tools can.
 

Specop 007

Diamond Member
Jan 31, 2005
9,454
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Often times "correct" is not necesarily "pleasing". A good example is music. Many times "correct" frequency response is not the most pleasing. As such we have wonderful ways to tweak and manipulate the frequencies to boost those we feel are too low and lower those we feel are too high.

I would not pay someone else to do it for me. I would take the time to find some reference discs or some such and sit down and set it so it looks good to ME. I didnt buy the TV to brag, I didnt buy it so everyone else can come in and go "Thats a nice picture!". I bought it so I can enjoy it, so that I sit down and say "Thats a damn nice picture".
 

spidey07

No Lifer
Aug 4, 2000
65,469
5
76
Originally posted by: MaverickBP
Actually for something that size it's more likely that it is not plasma. Especially if we're talking 5 years ago. Besides if it was....he spent well over $20k for it back then.

Nah, It's a Mitsubishi Diamond 65" RP-CRT. Retail was around 5K I think I paid 4200 for it in 2001. Still looks incredible. Cool thing is it's a dual scan 480i/p and 1080i so DVDs aren't processed at all. Just pure goodness.
 

MaverickBP

Golden Member
Nov 18, 2004
1,414
0
0
Originally posted by: spidey07
Originally posted by: MaverickBP
Actually for something that size it's more likely that it is not plasma. Especially if we're talking 5 years ago. Besides if it was....he spent well over $20k for it back then.

Nah, It's a Mitsubishi Diamond 65" RP-CRT. Retail was around 5K I think I paid 4200 for it in 2001. Still looks incredible. Cool thing is it's a dual scan 480i/p and 1080i so DVDs aren't processed at all. Just pure goodness.

Yep I got the Hitachi S series which is a similar tv (Hitachi makes Mitsubishi) just with a few more bells and whistles. Definitely a nice tv. Only newer DLP's can compete.
 

FP

Diamond Member
Feb 24, 2005
4,568
0
0
Remember, some sets can't be fully ISF calibrated because they lack the required adjustment controls. If yours can't the $300 to get it calibrated might not be worth it.
 

MaverickBP

Golden Member
Nov 18, 2004
1,414
0
0
Originally posted by: Specop 007
Often times "correct" is not necesarily "pleasing". A good example is music. Many times "correct" frequency response is not the most pleasing. As such we have wonderful ways to tweak and manipulate the frequencies to boost those we feel are too low and lower those we feel are too high.

I would not pay someone else to do it for me. I would take the time to find some reference discs or some such and sit down and set it so it looks good to ME. I didnt buy the TV to brag, I didnt buy it so everyone else can come in and go "Thats a nice picture!". I bought it so I can enjoy it, so that I sit down and say "Thats a damn nice picture".

Exactly.
 

Kelemvor

Lifer
May 23, 2002
16,928
8
81
You can do it yourself with the tools included on a bunch of DVDs.

I know a lot of the Star Wars movies have a calibrator built in (tiny little icon on the main menu at the bottom). You run through like 10 steps to find tuner all the settings to whatever looks best to you.
 

Jeff7

Lifer
Jan 4, 2001
41,596
19
81
<uninformed opinion, said only for a few chuckles>

Yes, it is totally worth it to get the most out of your Sony equipment and Monster Cables.

</uninformed opinion...>
 

MaverickBP

Golden Member
Nov 18, 2004
1,414
0
0
Originally posted by: Jeff7
<uninformed opinion, said only for a few chuckles>

Yes, it is totally worth it to get the most out of your Sony equipment and Monster Cables.

</uninformed opinion...>

lol
 

MaverickBP

Golden Member
Nov 18, 2004
1,414
0
0
Originally posted by: Kelemvor
You can do it yourself with the tools included on a bunch of DVDs.

I know a lot of the Star Wars movies have a calibrator built in (tiny little icon on the main menu at the bottom). You run through like 10 steps to find tuner all the settings to whatever looks best to you.

As I said earlier though. That is just a surface calibration...not a thorough one.