Basically, I'm just not that uptight about settings.

I want to get a good image on my new LCD. For games and movies. I don't watch any TV of any kind. None. Period.

I'm not overly concerned with audio calibration. I'm a very visually oriented person as my vision is fantastic (20 /10) and my hearing is uncultured and indifferent.

Right now the set seems like it could give me a dramatically better picture if I just had the right tools.

Since my PS3 is my Blu Ray and DVD player of choice at the moment, I was planning on calibrating my set with it.

Now, I'm not the sort of person who worries that CDs aren't the same as the live show. However, neither am I someone who overly values the 'warmth' of Vinyl.

Having hopefully caused the (audio / video / car manufacturer / toaster brand) -philes to seize up in seizures, my question is:

Will there be a significant difference in the Blu Ray version of DVE for someone who wants a 'good' image, but isn't going to obsess about photorealism? If so, do you feel in your opinion, that I should wait on it?

I know it's all opinion, but I like hearing those of others who are probably more knowledgeable about such things. It does sincerely help me.

Thanks for your time.

Wait until the end of October for the Bluray release. Joe Kane says he has simplified the tutorials for basic adjustments and ease of navigation. There will also be more advanced and detailed test patterns with text guides for the day when you might want to do more with the disc.

Best regards and beautiful pictures,
G. Alan Brown, President
CinemaQuest, Inc.

"Advancing the art and science of electronic imaging"

Thanks. I guess I'll just wait it out.

For basic calibration of user controls:

Brightness
Contrast
Tint
Color
Sharpness

standard DVD test discs such as Avia are fine.

In fact, the only value of having HD DVD or Blu-ray test discs that I can think of is:

a) The color definitions of SD and HD are slightly different (but that doesn't affect Color and Tint adjustments). This is really only relevant if you have a colorimeter and calibration software, and then only if your display has color decoding and/or color management adjustments (most don't).
b) Resolution tests. You really can't do anything about this, but it nice to know. The only calibration you could perform is to adjust the amount of noise reduction (if your display has this) based on how individual settings affect 1080i resolution.
c) It is always better to run test patterns from the hardware you will use with program material because it may have a peculiar black level, to name one example.

Joe Kane says he has simplified the tutorials for basic adjustments and ease of navigation.


This is what sold me on waiting for the Blu Ray disc, to be honest. I can wait a little longer for that. I've read reviews commenting on how DVE was hard to navigate.

I use regular Avia to calibrate my HDTV playing from the PS3.
Does a fine job. I'm in the same boat. I don't watch regular TV. Maybe some football with over the air HD but that's it. I despise regular programing on TV currently.

If you can wait, get the BD version but the SD version works just fine. Maybe find one for rent in the meantime?

NETFLIX. Why didn't I think of that?

I'll just rent AVIA and DVE there for now and compare them. Thanks everyone. I'll close this thread if I can find a way to do that.