First time I have calibrated using a colorimeter. Been reading this site for days and gave it a first shot. Huge improvement, but need some help with two problems.

Setup info:
I am calibrating a Sony KDL-40XBR2 with an Integra DPS 6.5 DVD player, using a DTP-94 sensor, Video Essentials DVD and the excellent HCFR software. I have the sensor hanging about 1" from the screen in a completely darkened room. So far, I have calibrated using only the user menu settings, not the service menus.

Issue 1: I am getting an Average Gamma of 2.30 (844:1 contrast). The middle of the curve is flat, but the ends flare up:

10IRE 2.66
20IRE 2.55
30IRE 2.24
40IRE 2.23
50IRE 2.19
60IRE 2.19
70IRE 2.20
80IRE 2.18
90IRE 2.30

I have endlessly tweaked the brightness, picture and backlight levels. I can move the curve up and down, but can't seem to get it any flatter. The RGB levels are pretty good -- all have a dE of around 2, except for 20IRE and 50IRE which have a dE of about 5. I am at Backlight 7, Picture 93, Brightness 49, Gamma Off, Power Saving Low.

Second issue:
On the CIE diagram, here are my primary color results:
Green dE 1.8
Blue dE 13.4
Red dE 39.5

So, blue and green are pretty far off. Given that my greyscale RGB results are not terrible, I'm not sure what I do to adjust these? Hue/Color or White Balance or something in the service menu?

Any help with these two problems much appreciated.

Thanks!

You shouldn't need to kee the dtp94 off of the screen. up against the screen is correct.

With the sony's isn't picture equivalent to contrast? is the max 100? That is VERY high for contrast, if so. A more usual number is 60% of whatever max is (assuming a default setting for contrast in the SM).

What is your Y value for 100IRE?

Best,
jeff

Thanks for your help.

Just realized that my 100IRE value is literally 'off-the-scale'. I saw this high Picture (i.e. contrast) setting reccomended in another posting, so I tried it. I will bring it down to 60 and see what I get.

I'll also put the DTP right on the screen.

Jeff --

Brought the picture value way down and am getting much, much better results -- thanks. I am at Backlight 7, Picture 50, Brightness 51, Gamma Off, Power Saving Low. I now have an Average Gamma of 2.25 (345:1 contrast). I see much more detail in the picture, esp. in low grays. Very nice. Here are the luminance histogram values:

10IRE 2.35
20IRE 2.47
30IRE 2.19
40IRE 2.21
50IRE 2.24
60IRE 2.21
70IRE 2.23
80IRE 2.13
90IRE 2.25

My Y value for 100IRE is 68.930.

The RGB levels histogram is also much flatter. I was max'ing out the blue bias setting in the white balance settings, so I went into the Sony service mode and lowered the OFFB setting from 510 to 505.

So, I am happy enough with gamma & grayscale settings. Unfortunately, the color balance is still pretty bad (very noticeable -- Nemo the clownfish is reddish-pink, not orangey-red). The CIE diagram confirms this. I was trying to correct using Color/Hue, but it takes big changes in this setting to move the red value, and then, of course, all the other primary/secondary colors get messed up. I'm guessing that I will have to go into the Sony KDL-40XBR2 service menu settings, but I don't even know what I am looking for. Any ideas?

Thanks for your help.

(P.S. I am now measuring with the DTP94 right on the screen)

You're right things are much better. your 100% Y value is also better as is gamma.

to align the decoder, do you know how to isolate the colors, or is that possible on this set?

I've got to go now, but will post back after I poke around a bit on what you might do.

Best,
jeff

OK, thanks. I'm kind of stuck at this point...

pm me muski.