Hello all,

This is my first post...I've been doing some reading and I'm really interested in calibrating my new Sony Bravia KDL40S3000 LCD (720p/1080i).

1. I don't have any calibration equipment and cannot afford to purchase a colorimeter or anything like that.

2. I have DVDs with the THQ Optimizer but don't have the "blue glasses", it seems difficult to go through the test accurately. For example, the first test with the white squares, it seems I can turn the color all the way to max and I can still differentiate between squares. Also, should I have a color chart to put up against the TV to match the red, cyan, and magenta...again it doesn't seem to accurate when it says adjust hue/tint to make cyan and magenta look like their true colors :confused:

3. Would getting Avia, Digital Video Essentials, or GetGray give me better results than the THQ Optimizer...WITHOUT any other calibration equipment?

4. If getting a calibration disk would be beneficial, which would be better for my LCD...I read someone's reply saying that DVE would be better for them. Are certain disks more geared towards LCDs vs plasmas? Again, only the disk and the included color filters would be used.

5. I'm using an HDMI upconverting SD DVD player, should I set to SD, 720p, or 1080i when doing calibration? And keep it connected with HDMI or use component?


I know its a lot of questions but I'm a newb at this stuff :)

Thank you all for you time.

You need to read the descriptions in the THX optimizer more clearly. That first pattern is for setting contrast/picture; it has nothing to do with the "color" setting. Go to the THX website to read more detailed descriptions of the patterns.

Yeah, I think you should by a calibration disc like DVE or Avia. The settings won't be vastly different from the THX optimizer in my experience, but it certainly won't hurt. You also get the color filters when you buy them and it's pretty hard to get the color and tint settings right without them, especially if you've never done it before.

You should always set your DVD player to your panels native resolution when calibrating (or anytime you can control it for that matter)

Thanks for the info...I ordered AVIA 2 and for the meantime I'll use the THX optimizer.

All your really going to be able to set correctly with a test disc , is black point (brightness) , white point ( contrast :although you'll need to watch for a colour running running out rather than a clip with most digital panels), saturation ( color) and hue ( tint if relevant to your input signal).

And you'll have good reference for things like aspect ratio and geometry ( not really an issue on most digital panels).

Audio test tones may also prove useful.

What you won't be able to adjust is colorimetry and grayscale which is really the mystified bit of calibration.

What you won't be able to adjust is colorimetry and grayscale which is really the mystified bit of calibration.

That's true, but you need to get into the service menu and and use fancy tools to do that properly. It's probably not worth it for most people, especially when starting out.

That's true, but you need to get into the service menu and and use fancy tools to do that properly. It's probably not worth it for most people, especially when starting out.

Actually comparatively its a piece of cake if you spend the time learning how to do it and you can buy equipment for less than $200 that will do it just fine...I rest my case.....


What you won't be able to adjust is colorimetry and grayscale which is really the mystified bit of calibration

Actually comparatively its a piece of cake if you spend the time learning how to do it and you can buy equipment for less than $200 that will do it just fine...I rest my case.....

I think we'll have to agree to disagree.
I have a $700 TV and spending $200 for equipment to set it up is just too much to me. And if I was going to spend that much I'd probably get it ISF'd for probably a hundred dollars or so more.