Tv calibration tips

tecmo04
tecmo04 Posts: 421
edited July 2009 in Electronics
Anyone have some good calibration tips? I'm not very happy with my best effort using the thx set up. The picture still feels a little grainy and not crisp.

Do you start everyhing at 50% and the calibrate?
Do you get close to the settings and the calibrate?
How do you set the sharpness?

I don't really want to buy avia because he pioneer comes with a microphone and sets itsself up automaticly.

Thanks!
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Post edited by tecmo04 on
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  • Conradicles
    Conradicles Posts: 6,174
    edited July 2009
    DVE (Digital Video Essentials) is the best disk I have tried. Got my Pioneer looking fantastic.
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  • Willow
    Willow Posts: 11,105
    edited July 2009
    I used Avia, DVE and PixelProtector https://www.pixelprotector.com/index.php
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  • nooshinjohn
    nooshinjohn Posts: 25,550
    edited July 2009
    You can really mess up a tv if you don't know what you are doing, to the point that it will become unwatchable. I would recommend a professional.


    John
    The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2300 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon 680d DSD

    “When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson
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  • Conradicles
    Conradicles Posts: 6,174
    edited July 2009
    tecmo04 wrote: »
    How do you set the sharpness?

    As a rule of thumb, sharpness should usually be at the lowest setting.
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  • tecmo04
    tecmo04 Posts: 421
    edited July 2009
    I dont want to pay someone to set it up, that's why I'm here :)
    I want to learn!
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  • tcrossma
    tcrossma Posts: 1,301
    edited July 2009
    nooshinjohn wrote: »
    You can really mess up a tv if you don't know what you are doing, to the point that it will become unwatchable. I would recommend a professional.


    John

    If you are just using the standard menu options for calibration there's no harm (i.e. color, brightness, sharpness, tint, etc).

    If you get yourself into the technical service menus, all bets are off.
    Speakers: Polk LSi15
    Pre: Adcom GFP-750 with HT Bypass
    Amp: Pass Labs X-150
    CD/DVD Player: Classe CDP-10
    Interconnects: MIT Shortgun S3 Pro XLR
    Speaker cables: MIT MH-750 bi-wire
    TT:Micro Seiki DD-35
    Cartridge:Denon DL-160
    Phono Pre:PS Audio GCPH
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  • devani
    devani Posts: 1,497
    edited July 2009
    use standard colors as your guide.....for my LCD samsung, I use/create a picture file with colors gray, yellow, red, black, blue, white and green. I used adobe photoshop. Then using that picture file, I then make the LCD adjustment....
    OR you can have one file for (white, gray, black) adjustment and one file for colors.....

    you know what the colors are and how they are supposed to look...it's better to have more than two people who regularly watch TV....
    Video: LG 55LN5100/Samsung LNT4065F
    Receiver: HK AVR445
    Source: OPPO BDP-93
    HT: POLK SPEAKERS RTi6, FXi3, CSi5, VTF-3 MK2
    2Ch system: MC2105, AR-XA, AR-2A, AR9, BX-300, OPPO BDP-83
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  • billbillw
    billbillw Posts: 7,061
    edited July 2009
    Get out of sports or vivid mode first. Start with standard or cinema mode. Turn off all the bells and whistles features (dynamic contrast, edge enhancement, noise reduction, etc), then adjust color temp to warm (usually the most accurate), then adjust black levels, white levels, sharpness, and color saturation.

    You might find some post calibration settings at AVSforum for your particular TV. They are often good starting points.

    I was very lucky in the fact that my Sony SXRD is very close to perfect right out of the box once you make a few basic settings changes and disable all the bells and whistles. I knew this because of what the professional calibrators were writing on AVSforum.
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  • BlueFox
    BlueFox Posts: 15,251
    edited July 2009
    tecmo04 wrote: »
    I dont want to pay someone to set it up, that's why I'm here :)
    I want to learn!

    If you do not have the proper tools and training then you will only be able to do so much. Which might be all you need or want. But if you want the best picture the TV can provide then you need to do a professional setup.

    I had my TV done by an ISF technician,and it looks stunning. He easily spent 3 hours tweaking the TV from its service menu, while using a device attached to the screen, and software on a laptop. There is no way anyone just using a calibration DVD could even come close to the end result of a proper setup.
    Lumin X1 file player, Westminster Labs interconnect cable
    Sony XA-5400ES SACD; Pass XP-22 pre; X600.5 amps
    Magico S5 MKII Mcast Rose speakers; SPOD spikes

    Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR on source, Denali 2000 (2) on amps
    Shunyata Sigma XLR analog ICs, Sigma speaker cables
    Shunyata Sigma HC (2), Sigma Analog, Sigma Digital, Z Anaconda (3) power cables

    Mapleshade Samson V.3 four shelf solid maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
    Three 20 amp circuits.
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  • tecmo04
    tecmo04 Posts: 421
    edited July 2009
    How much did the service cost? Was it worth it?
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  • billbillw
    billbillw Posts: 7,061
    edited July 2009
    tecmo04 wrote: »
    How much did the service cost? Was it worth it?

    Service prices usually depend on the type of TV and how many individual inputs you want calibrated. Average is probably $350. Some people swear its worth every penny, but it really depends how picky you are. Many TVs can be adjusted to a very pleasing picture with accurate colors, etc with simple user menu adjustments and basic calibration patterns.

    I really urge you to look at some of the pro reviews for your TV and also look at AVSforum for the thread on your particular TV series. The pro reviews will usually tell you how accurate the colors, etc. are and also how close they can be adjusted with user menus. In many cases, they also give their post calibration settings that can be helpful in adjusting your set.

    You will read many people saying that every individual set is different and needs to be calibrated by an ISF, but my experience is that the variance between set to set of the same model will be slight and not noticeable to the normal user. Therefore, if you copy one individual's post calibration settings, it will probably be pretty darn close on your set.

    AVSforum is often has user settings plus simple service menu tweaks (if needed) and many times you will find ISF calibrators offering their opinion on a particular model. ie: if it can easily be adjusted or not and if ISF calibration is worth it for that model.
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  • BlueFox
    BlueFox Posts: 15,251
    edited July 2009
    tecmo04 wrote: »
    How much did the service cost? Was it worth it?


    I had it done 2 years ago, and it was around $450. It was worth every penny. Just the other night while watching a DVD I commented at how realistic skin tones still look two years later. I love it.

    I thought I had the TV adjusted okay with the user accessible controls, but during the calibration I was able to see the values were way out of spec. Once he finished I was amazed at how good it looked. Of course, I have a Hitachi 57" RPTV so that helps a lot for getting a good picture.

    If I get a BluRay player I probably will have him come back for a tune-up.
    Lumin X1 file player, Westminster Labs interconnect cable
    Sony XA-5400ES SACD; Pass XP-22 pre; X600.5 amps
    Magico S5 MKII Mcast Rose speakers; SPOD spikes

    Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR on source, Denali 2000 (2) on amps
    Shunyata Sigma XLR analog ICs, Sigma speaker cables
    Shunyata Sigma HC (2), Sigma Analog, Sigma Digital, Z Anaconda (3) power cables

    Mapleshade Samson V.3 four shelf solid maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
    Three 20 amp circuits.
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  • kuntasensei
    kuntasensei Posts: 3,263
    edited July 2009
    I had my RPTV ISF calibrated by Gregg Loewen of Lion AV like 5 years ago. It still looks amazing. However, after watching what he did and doing a ton of reading, I ended up investing in an EyeOne Display LT and using ColorHCFR to do my own grayscale and color adjustments for my Sanyo PLV-Z2000 projector. The end result was fantastic!

    As far as calibration discs go for basic adjustments, DVE is the better disc available to the mass market for digital displays. Avia is a little better at walking you through the adjustments and has a better menu structure, but DVE has better patterns for digital sets. Another great option is GetGray, which is a disc of test patterns available for download and burning to DVD for a small donation. You can find that at http://www.calibrate.tv/

    If you have a PS3 or Xbox 360 (or the ability to burn and play HD-DVD or Blu-Ray discs) and need some free calibration videos and patterns, check out the AVS HD 709 download over at AVSforum. You can find it here: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=948496
    Equipment list:
    Onkyo TX-NR3010 9.2 AVR
    Emotiva XPA-3 amp
    Polk RTi70 mains, CSi40 center, RTi38 surrounds, RTi28 rears and heights
    SVS 20-39CS+ subwoofer powered by Crown XLS1500
    Oppo BDP-93 Blu-ray player
    DarbeeVision DVP5000 video processor
    Epson 8500UB 1080p projector
    Elite Screens Sable 120" CineWhite screen
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