i want to calibrate my new tv, what should i buy?

[admin_exported]

im picking up my new lg50pk350 tmw, and as it has no thx mode, which i found to be very good on the v20's i had, id like to buy some kind of calibration tool and give it a shot, im not thinking about calibration discs, more like a spyder, or eye1 etc..

any reccomendations? cheers..

 

[sonycentre]

Use your eyes maxflinn,using a dvd/blu-ray that you know how it should look.

 

[Anonymous]

sonycentre:Use your eyes maxflinn,using a dvd/blu-ray that you know how it should look.

, eyes are no substitute for a proper calibration grant..

 

[AEJim]

Eye One is probably best - I have a site that tells you how to do it all and has free software, when I fire the laptop up I'll link it (tomorrow!)

 

[Anonymous]

perfect james, ta

 

[Dave_]

Pretty sure it's been covered in depth several times by DJK and aliEnRIK...seek and you shall find

 

[Anonymous]

i was kinda hoping dj and rik would pick this up

 

[Hoof Hearted]

I calibrate my TVs with the THX Calibrator software that came on my copy of the Monsters Inc. DVD.

 

[AEJim]

Removed by mods - please read the House Rules

 

[Cookie Monster]

Hi Maxflinn,

Glad you want to calibrate your kit properly, seems many spend thousands but not a few quid getting 100% from it.

I use Digital Video Essentials BD disc ( Paid £13 from Amazon), language is tough going at first. Glasses are included for setting the colours correctly and theres lots of demo material and greyscale slides. Great for speakers too. Thorough disc and an absolute bargain at £13.

 

[Anonymous]

Another vote for the THX optimizer. If you already have a DVD with this (e.g. Star Wars), I would try that before spending any money.

 

[AEJim]

Cookie Monster:
Hi Maxflinn,

Glad you want to calibrate your kit properly, seems many spend thousands but not a few quid getting 100% from it.

I use Digital Video Essentials BD disc ( Paid £13 from Amazon), language is tough going at first. Glasses are included for setting the colours correctly and theres lots of demo material and greyscale slides. Great for speakers too. Thorough disc and an absolute bargain at £13.

Don't need the glasses with an LG - built-in colour filters

. Ok, I am starting to sound like I work for them now

 

[aliEnRIK]

Its actually pretty simple to do
Setup as you normally would with a setup disc (All processing modes witched off etc)

Then use the sensor to calibrate greyscale (One click, to start, then cycle through the greyscale images when it asks)

Then use the tvs ISF menu to change the settings until you get as close to 2.2 gamma and a true greyscale as you can (If the tv has the setting, you may also be able to set the intensity)

Usually I set around 80% grey first using RGB HIGH then around 30% RGB LOW (The high changes the most, which also effects the LOW) .Then check greyscale again and continue until you get it as good as you can.

This assume you only have HIGH and LOW settings. Your tv may have full ISF control on every gradient In which case start on 80%

Then try and get all the ones done 50% and over, then onto the 0-40% ones

If the tvs a plasma, warm it up for at least a couple of hours first as plasmas drift all over the place with heat. LCDs need to be on half hour or so. (Also have the dvd player in use that your going to use to warm that up)

Plasmas tend to change over time, my sony tv has been pretty much rock solid since I set it. Recheck calibration every month until its settled.

 

[AEJim]

The set Max is getting has full 20-point calibration but as you (Rik) said 2-point calibration is usually a good place to start, and I'd say the LG's settle most in the first 100 hours or so, so I wouldn't bother doing it before then.

Sorry for my links above Mods, just trying to help, can't mail direct - nevermind.

 

[Anonymous]

thanks for all the replies guys

, im off to pick up the tv now

, as has been said i do need to leave it for a week or two before attempting to calibrate, so ill take my time and follow up any suggestions, ill do a bit of reading up online too, just to try and familiarise myself with things, later..

 

[AEJim]

maxflinn:thanks for all the replies guys

, im off to pick up the tv now

, as has been said i do need to leave it for a week or two before attempting to calibrate, so ill take my time and follow up any suggestions, ill do a bit of reading up online too, just to try and familiarise myself with things, later..

Good luck!

 

[D.J.KRIME]

sonycentre:Use your eyes maxflinn,using a dvd/blu-ray that you know how it should look.

Personally for advise coming from someone who sells TVs for a living this is possibly some of the worst advise I have ever heard, the only way anyone could ever know just how a film should look by eye alone is the Director of the movie and I doubt Max has directed many movies lately!

Max, I've had this discussion with you many times before and once again will point you HERE where you will find all the advice and steps to take to calibrate your TV

 

[Anonymous]

D.J.KRIME:
sonycentre:Use your eyes maxflinn,using a dvd/blu-ray that you know how it should look.

Personally for advise coming from someone who sells TVs for a living this is possibly some of the worst advise I have ever heard, the only way anyone could ever know just how a film should look by eye alone is the Director of the movie and I doubt Max has directed many movies lately!

Max, I've had this discussion with you many times before and once again will point you HERE where you will find all the advice and steps to take to calibrate your TV

 

[Anonymous]

AEJim:
maxflinn:thanks for all the replies guys

, im off to pick up the tv now

, as has been said i do need to leave it for a week or two before attempting to calibrate, so ill take my time and follow up any suggestions, ill do a bit of reading up online too, just to try and familiarise myself with things, later..

Good luck!

i went and got a friends van, drove out to the store, and was told theres been a mistake, that it may not be on site till after 3pm

..

 

[Anonymous]

Did ya have to go far Max ?

 

[Anonymous]

stu31:Did ya have to go far Max ?only about 3 miles, but it felt like longer..

 

[sonycentre]

Personally for advise coming from someone who sells TVs for a living this is possibly some of the worst advise I have ever heard......Ok then d.j krime.As i have sold tv's for years.i think i know how certain tv's look.but each to their own i guess.i myself have never got on witht the thx discs,i have the hd-dvd hd essentails disc.used it one and was not happy with the picture at all.thats why i say use your eyes.

 

[AEJim]

sonycentre:Personally for advise coming from someone who sells TVs for a living this is possibly some of the worst advise I have ever heard......Ok then d.j krime.As i have sold tv's for years.i think i know how certain tv's look.but each to their own i guess.i myself have never got on witht the thx discs,i have the hd-dvd hd essentails disc.used it one and was not happy with the picture at all.thats why i say use your eyes.

I think part of the problem is attempts to calibrate without a meter. It's something you either have to do right or not at all - I tried with the Essentials disk by eye and it didn't work. My Eye One meter is on its way...

There's nothing wrong with setting up the picture how you like at all, but if trying to use advanced calibration options by eye alone you're only going to mess things up. Every testimonial I've heard from someone who's had a screen calibrated professionally to industry standards (so you're seeing pretty much what the director does - for good or bad) has been very positive about its benefits.

 

[tvspecv]

agreed but max why not try the 3d pannys instead of the lg the vt20 you had wasnt the 3d one was it?

 

[Anonymous]

tvspecv:agreed but max why not try the 3d pannys instead of the lg the vt20 you had wasnt the 3d one was it?i had the non 3d v20, brilliant tv but it had a fault, i just decided to buy the lg as its got great reviews, is very cheap and i can sell it next year presumably for a small loss, and buy a top tv, maybe even something 3d. i dont think this is the right year to spend big on a 3dtv..