Bestbuy salesman.

dontknowjack

Two days ago I was at bestbuy asking them about calibration. The salesman there who claimed to be a certified tech/salesman tried to convince me that calibration is more than just tweaking a few PQ setting. In-fact, he said that true TV calibration can't be done externally but has to be done internally through specialized equipment that lowers the temperture setting that manufacturers set too high to make their HDTVs more brighter. He said by lowering that setting it not only improves the PQ a lot but also increases the life of the TV. He also said that after 100 hours of TV viewing YOU NEED TO CALIBRATE THE TV. He compared it to tuning a car. After you drive a car to certain milage you need to tune the car. He also claimed that one guy that his store uses to calibrate the TV (who they share among 4 local Bestbuy store) is the BEST in the whole San Gabriel Valley, CA area. I don't care much about his claim concerning their calibration guy, but is he acurate about the whole calibration thing? Does Calibration have to do with resetting an INTERNAL SETTING and has nothing to do with external things like Brightness, Color, and Sharpness settings? Is he right on or full of it?

Lee Stewart

Calibration by a professional is done using the Service Menu (STAY OUT OF), special analyzer equipment (costs about $20,000) and the experience and training to understand how everything works.

When he talks about the "temperature" he means the color temp - the Gray Scale of the display.

Notice on your dsiplay you have warm and cool settings? Warm adds red while Cool adds blue. The idea is to get a true B & W image with no tinting whatsoever. This will give maximum Contrast Ratio when the black level and white levels are properly set. CR gives the "3D" affect to a 2D display - it fools the eye/brain into seeing depth.

The Service Menu has something like 200 adjustments as opposed to the 5 that you can adjust.

One of the devices they use to properly set the Gray Scale and Color Saturation is called a Colorimeter - it is 200X more sensitive to change than the human eye is.

I have strongly believed in pro cal's because there is a vast difference between what you cna achieve with a test disc and 5 adjustments versus what a pro can do with 200 and special equipment.

dontknowjack

So the salesguy was right?

Lee Stewart

Yes he was. If you are considering a Pro. Cal you can go to the following site:

http://www.isfforum.com/

rudyusmc1980

He was right, but he was also trying to sell you something. so shop around.

I've had both of my tvs cal'd by a member on this forum, D6500K. he did a great job and I would do it again for any new tv I get. here's his website: 6500kcalibrations.com

you'll be provided with a printout or file showing before and after measurements. the biggest thing I notice everyday, and don't laugh, is the Universal Studios intro with the globe. You've never seen that thing look so good. The Fifth Element superbit is awesome now, the best I've ever seen that movie. He also showed before and after of several scenes in Underworld and Van Helsing. Details in shadows and mountains appear that just were not there before the cal.

rbinck

He is correct and that is something for a BB guy!

Doug (D6500K) help write a pretty good explanation of what's involved here: A Discussion on ISF Calibration

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BobY

He's right if he understands that color "temperature" has nothing to do with how many degrees Farenheit (or Centigrade) the internal temperature of the display is.

If he thinks that he is adjusting the amount of heat inside the display, stay far away from him.

dontknowjack

So how much is the price range for your typical calibration? I don't want to be ripped off or underpay for some yokel.

Lee Stewart

Use that ISF link I gave you if you can't do business with Doug. Expect to pay about $350 for a Pro. Cal. Well worth the money if you really want to see what your display is really capable of.