WHY CALIBRATE?

[deacongreg]

LCOs, D - ILA, LCD, DLP, PLASMA, SXRD, the technologies of High Definition TV. All claiming their`s is the best, and will deliver the best picture for your satelite, cable, HD DVD, Blu - Ray or DVD player. After you research, and finally choose and figure out, which one will best suit your tastes, room, and budget, spend $1500.00 to 2000.00 or upwards, now I must consider calibration. From either a ISF trained and certified specialist, or a special calibration dvd to help you.
While I believe without a shadow of a doubt, that calibration is viable, and a must to get the MOST out of your HDTV screen, I want to know from all of you out there, what you feel about calibrating your sets.

To calibrate, or not to calibrate, that is the..............

[kennyt]

Absolutely!

Do run the set for a few hundred hours before hiring someone to adjust it though to let it burn in a bit. Test discs get you most of the way there, but the ISF guys are far more proficient at set up than I can ever be and know how to tweak setting I am unaware of, and my TV maker has made it that way likely for a reason... Sort of like screwing with your BIOS on a PC.

[JerryDelColliano]

To calibrate, or not to calibrate, that is the..............[/QUOTE]

Are you KIDDING?

TVs are designed to look good in retail showrooms with TONS of ambient light UNLIKE your home where you likely watch in a more dark environment.

TVs are tuned to look good relative to the way your eye sees things (more blue). Its like McDonald's adding a dusting of sugar to the fries just to make you like them even more. It doesn't mean its right - it just tastes good.

A properly calibrated HDTV will look better, have more REAL contrast, the colors will be more true to the ANSI standards and will be ready to accpet the broadcasts that it receives from the HD providers. Another KEY reason to calibrate is to get more life out of your investment. Running your set to bright can cut its life.

Personally, I recomend you hire a pro from the ISF to come out and do your sets. If not - there are MANY DVDs you can use to get the most from your HDTV on a DIY basis.

[MoosePond]

and it's a question that I hope owners of HD screens answer with a resounding YES! Of course, I might be prejudiced as I'm headed to Boca tomorrow to become isf certified. The cost of the course should pay for itself in calibrating my own 3 HD sets and those of our immediate family.

Plus I just might set myself up as a freelancer as most of the guys around here (Westchester County, NY) are affiliated with a particular retailer and/or installer and there's only 6 isf certified guys in the entire state of VT (none within 30 miles of Manchester or Stratton) and only 3 with equipment.

[deacongreg]

Originally Posted by MoosePond

and it's a question that I hope owners of HD screens answer with a resounding YES! Of course, I might be prejudiced as I'm headed to Boca tomorrow to become isf certified. The cost of the course should pay for itself in calibrating my own 3 HD sets and those of our immediate family.

Plus I just might set myself up as a freelancer as most of the guys around here (Westchester County, NY) are affiliated with a particular retailer and/or installer and there's only 6 isf certified guys in the entire state of VT (none within 30 miles of Manchester or Stratton) and only 3 with equipment.

Enjoy yourself. When you get back, please let me know what you thought of the course. Since I`ll be going in 2008. Have a safe trip there and back. Interesting you mentioned Westchester County. I live in White plains.

[MoosePond]

Originally Posted by deacongreg

Enjoy yourself. When you get back, please let me know what you thought of the course. Since I`ll be going in 2008. Have a safe trip there and back. Interesting you mentioned Westchester County. I live in White plains.

Yeah, I know, I live just a few miles from you in Croton-on-Hudson. Talk to you when I get back.