LCD Calibration - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

cKy · 04-13-2010, 04:27 PM

Hey Guys,

I just bought a new Samsung 52' LCD. The Future Shop guy (a friend of a friend) gave me a deal for a calibration at my home on the TV. They are 249.99 regular and I got it for 125.99.

After a quick search @ avsforums, I found some settings that other people used and it looks ok to me (from what I have used it on, like Bell HD and the 360). My question is this, does anyone know what they come and do exactly? FS dude said it would take around 2.5 hours to complete which makes me think it is a little more extensive then me pulling some settings down from a tech forum.

I am very techy, and have no problems dinking around with the settings, but if they actually do a stellar job, i'm willing to keep my appointment.

Thoughts?

photon · 04-13-2010, 04:49 PM

If he just comes over and uses this:

http://www.amazon.com/Digital-Video-.../dp/B000V6LST0

I'd be quite upset.

cKy · 04-13-2010, 05:00 PM

Hah, I know AVS Forums has downloadable files that I could use. I have the feeling this is going to be a huge waste of money, especially since I wont be using Blu-ray, but HD MKVs.

silentsim · 04-13-2010, 05:04 PM

http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/c...ip-off-795723/

The people who seem to know what they are talking about in that thread indicate they come with necessary hardware for the calibration, so it will lead to better results then just a software based calibration.

photon · 04-13-2010, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cKy

Hah, I know AVS Forums has downloadable files that I could use. I have the feeling this is going to be a huge waste of money, especially since I wont be using Blu-ray, but HD MKVs.

It's just on Blu-ray to display the necessary images to do the calibration, you can get it on DVD too if you want.

It comes with the disc, and some coloured transparent cells and stuff to look through when doing colour adjustments and stuff.

The DVD takes you through a TON of images and you adjust as you go. You can get good results with that.

If the guy from FS comes with just that then it's a waste, you can do that yourself in a couple of hours.

If the guy comes with a real calibration sensor and software and stuff then it would be better, as silentsim says they can really make it look better.

LockedOut · 04-13-2010, 05:10 PM

My calibration of my Sony LCD consisted of not changing anything OOTB other than turning down the backlight. By my eyes it looked pretty good OOTB. Cost me nothing.

photon · 04-13-2010, 05:11 PM

In the thread they say the guy they send out is ISF certified, if that's true then it's probably worth it if you have a decent setup in an appropriate environment. If it's just a TV in a bright living room then I don't know how much better it would be than just using a calibration DVD.

DownhillGoat · 04-13-2010, 05:41 PM

As photon pointed out, f you're using it in an actual theatre room, maybe. Otherwise I can't see it being worth it. The calibration dvds are quite good. Between that and some research I'm sure you can get it close.

After dealing with FS for stereo installs, I can't imagine this would be worth $250. Or your reduced rate.

Vulcan · 04-13-2010, 08:39 PM

This guy has a good reputation in Canada and he lives in Calgary.
Not exactly cheap but if you are a videophile, you may appreciate him. He often posts on Digital Home Canada.

http://www.lionav.com/mmichaelchen.php

Buzzard · 04-13-2010, 11:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vulcan

This guy has a good reputation in Canada and he lives in Calgary.
Not exactly cheap but if you are a videophile, you may appreciate him. He often posts on Digital Home Canada.

http://www.lionav.com/mmichaelchen.php

I had Michael Chen come calibrate my plasma a couple years ago. I think he came around noon and left about 5 o' clock. Needless to say, he takes his time and does a very thorough job. He explains everything he does, how he does it, etc. If I remember correctly, he kind of insists you be there for it so he can explain it all. It's kind of like home entertainment 101. Pretty cool and interesting. He gives you pdf files of before and after settings showing the differences on scales and graphs. He doesn't just tweak your menu settings, but actually goes into the internal settings of the TV, as well as your cable box, and BluRay. Something the average joe can't (or shouldn't) do. He'll individually adjust settings so that picture is optimum for each picture source. (SD, HD, standard DVD and BluRay)

I think it cost around $300.00, maybea little more I don't remember, so kind of pricey, but definitely made a difference. If you've got a quality set that you've already sunk a large percentage of a pay cheque or more into, he's worth the extra few hun to squeeze out the maximum visual detail it will allow.

He also does audio calibrations which I'd like to do one of these days.

3 Justin 3 · 04-13-2010, 11:36 PM

I wouldn't do it personally. I'd do it with a do-it-yourself kit or online info. Save you money, and unless your a complete videophile, I doubt you'd notice a difference between the FS guy doing it and yourself doing it.

Buzzard · 04-14-2010, 12:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3 Justin 3

I wouldn't do it personally. I'd do it with a do-it-yourself kit or online info. Save you money, and unless your a complete videophile, I doubt you'd notice a difference between the FS guy doing it and yourself doing it.

There's a definite difference. I've done both. The guy that came to my house had thousands of dollars worth of equipment and gadgets to help him, as opposed to my 80 dollar Avia DVD. Hopefully Future Shop guy has the same equipment.

Hack&Lube · 04-14-2010, 12:26 AM

Like everything with electronics, you can always do it yourself and save a lot of money or you can pay someone to do it. It's like paying futureshop a king's ransom for a teenager to install an antivirus or clean your computer or you can do it yourself.

I prefer to calibrate things to my own preferences, not to what someone else likes. It's not like they are actually doing anything with the hardware, they are just pushing buttons and adjusting the settings that come with the TV.

There's plenty of free LCD calibration software you can download, including high end, professional stuff. Plug your computer's DVI or HDMI into your TV.

LCD calibration falls into the same catagories as extra 3-year product replacement plans, monster cables, etc. These are the things the electronic stores make 50-500% profit margins on to squeeze the money out of you because the actual TV itself is a low margin product.

cmyden · 04-14-2010, 12:29 AM

I bet a copy of DVE or Avia and a few tutorials like this...

http://www.ramelectronics.net/html/V...libration.html

http://www.audioholics.com/techtips/...ntialsDVDr.php

Would give you the same results as FutureShop guy. And cheaper.

Or go for HCFr + Colormeter + AVS HD 709 files if you want to get pretty close to pro results.

Spyder: http://spyder.datacolor.com/product-ht.php

HCFr: http://www.homecinema-fr.com/colorimetre/index_en.php

AVS HD 709 Test Files: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=948496

silentsim · 04-14-2010, 12:33 AM

Well, software calibrations are there, but using professional hardware does have noticeable differences.

FanIn80 · 04-14-2010, 07:56 AM

The guy from Future Shop doesn't just roll up to your house with a DVD in his hand and charge you $250.

Hack&Lube · 04-14-2010, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FanIn80

The guy from Future Shop doesn't just roll up to your house with a DVD in his hand and charge you $250.

What does he do?

FanIn80 · 04-14-2010, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

What does he do?

Plug in a sarcasm detector?

Buzzard · 04-14-2010, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

What does he do?

From within the link Vulcan posted:

http://www.lionav.com/services.php

Lot's of good info on the surprisingly named info page as well.

I'm not sure why some of you are in such denial of this service? It exists for a reason. Like FanIn80 posted, they don't show up with what you already have and charge you for them to do it. They have their own equipment they bring, and are trained and certified to do what they do, at least Michael Chen was. They also take ongoing courses to keep up with the changing technologies.

Kind of like...if you're happy with the car you just bought and the k&n you just threw in, fine. Enjoy it. Nothing else matters. But if you're curious to see how much more you can get out of it for better performance, you start messin' with electronics, pulley sprockets, cams and exhausts, and maybe throw a turbo or supecharger in

and...and...yeahhh...thats the ticket!

But anyway, I digress. If you're content with your tube out of the box with a couple menu tweaks and a sound and vision dvd, calibration isn't for you.

cKy · 04-14-2010, 10:53 AM

All very good info. Thanks everyone. I decided to cancel the appointment. My setup is ok, but the lack of using Blu-Ray and just using a 360, WDTV HD player, and Bell HD, I just don't see the point of forking it out.

I'm not a picky guy, if I don't get the best shading possible, I am not going to complain.

Thanks everyone!