Have an HDTV? Use this neat trick to unlock better picture quality

Komando.com ^ | November 19, 2014 | Kim Komando

[EveningStar]

... Calibrating your HDTV doesn't have to cost as much as the TV itself. A calibration disc is a thrifty way to get professional-grade results for less.

What's a calibration disc? It's a disc that holds information for tweaking your HDTV's color and brightness levels.

You don't have to buy a calibration disc, though - you can make your own with a free download from AVS. Not only is it free, it comes with a support staff in AVS's knowledgeable forum ...

[nascarnation]

Has anybody actually done this?

Results?

Bookmark for later.

[EveningStar]

I never heard of this until just now.

[lysie]

For later.

[GMMC0987]

Most Disney DVD’s include a calibration routine in their setup.

[Alex Murphy]

I have a disc that I acquired from Best Buy years ago. It was produced by Monster Cable, and displayed a series of high contrast pictures with narration, that you follow along and adjust your color settings to, to produce recommended results. I would imagine this resource will contain something similar.

[nascarnation]

Thanks.

[DAC21]

There are a few stand alone calibration disc systems out there. I have one, standard DVD player disc, that even has some color film samples that you hold up to your eye while watching the screen. Couldn't really figure it out. Often on AVS you can run a search for your TV and find threads where knowledgeable folks run these programs and publish the various settings. Of course they cant be exact for every user as lighting conditions slight variation from TV to TV will be different. But they represent a real good starting point to fine tune your set.

[Dacula]

I’m hooked. Looking for response.

[FreedomPoster]

I’ve done it with projectors. Worthwhile. I’m sure TVs are set up from the factory to be overbright.

[gymbeau]

I review TV’s and video and do this with every TV I try. The good ones now, however, are excellent out of the box. Just set it for home use (as opposed to store demo) and in the menus set it to “professional,” THX, “cinema” or whatever comparable setting they offer. Some offer ISF setting, which is the setting the test disc would be going for anyway.

More important, turn off all the nannies, like noise reduction. Edge enhancement, 120/240 or whatever Hz. The pic might look a tad flat at first but it’s the way to go - getting the original signal from source to destination as unchanged as possible.

Cheers,
Jim

[EveningStar]

Most Disney DVD’s include a calibration routine in their setup.

I hope it's not a Mickey Mouse deal. :)

[nascarnation]

I’d rate my Sony as awesome
my two Vizios as pretty good
and my (China) iSymphony as you get what you pay for

[Inyo-Mono]

Bttt.

[bigbob]

Sure as hell, someone is going to put one out that bricks your TV.

[jy8z]

So they have improved on this?



I guess I have some catching up to do.

[Drango]

The good ones now, however, are excellent out of the box.

Yeah, it was my understanding that today's TVs had calibration built in and that they didn't need this. That said I'm a beginner and still learning.

[5thGenTexan]

They decreed that one is racist.

[RedMDer]

Hey everybody! How about we get this FReepathon done before Thanksgiving to let Jim and all of the FReepers have time to enjoy Thanksgiving and the rest of the Holiday Season without seeing a Freepathon for the remainder of the quarter. Every donation counts no matter how big or small. If you can donate $5, $10, $20 or $25 or more, please help keep freedom alive!! We can do this! Thank you all very much!! God bless. Woo hoo!! And now less than $17.5k to go!! We can do this. Thank you all very much!!

Hey everybody! How about we get this FReepathon done before Thanksgiving to let Jim and all of the FReepers have time to enjoy Thanksgiving and the rest of the Holiday Season without seeing a Freepathon for the remainder of the quarter. Every donation counts no matter how big or small. If you can donate $5, $10, $20 or $25 or more, please help keep freedom alive!! We can do this! Thank you all very much!! God bless. Woo hoo!! And now less than $17.5k to go!! We can do this. Thank you all very much!!

[Mastador1]

So they have improved on this?

I had a serious problem with that one, every time it was on the tube I ended up having to buy a new TV. Who the heck thought it was a good idea to put a target on a TV?