If you are having doubts about: choosing a 600M, whether to calibrate or upgrade, here is my experience.
I've had my KRP-600M now for about a month, now. For the eight years prior, I had tweaked on my old 55" Mitsubishi RPTV. I had performed manual focus, e-focus, convergence, gray scale, etc. It was an ongoing process, but I enjoyed the tinkering. When I bought my 600M, I thought I might do the same. I also knew I wanted to add the ISF-ccc profiles. So, I considered the option of installing the "patch" myself and copying settings from another calibrated 600. This would be a lower cost option and allow me to tweak a little at a time. The more I thought about it, the more I realized I had the good fortune of having, one the most knowledgeable and skilled Calibrators in the country, in my back yard. A calibrator that knows the Pioneer Kuro's as good as or better than just about anyone. That calibrator would be the good "Doctor" D-Nice
. I asked myself, could I achieve the kind of results he could, considering his extensive experience?
No. But, would my results be the same if I copied settings from another patched 600M? Perhaps. Well, as it turns out, I was wrong with that assumption.
The night before my calibration Turbe went out of his way to assist me and D-Nice and get us setup for the ISF upgrade.
On the day of the calibration, I got a call from D-nice letting me know his ETA. Upon his arrival, he got setup and went right to work. He first did an evaluation of my set in Pure Mode, pre-calibration. I was using Elite-Homes posted settings for Pure Mode. For my 600, they were not working well. Below is a calibration report that details the specifics.
However, the color points looked great, to which D-nice commented, "This confirms these KRP panels really are like Signature Elites." For the next four and a half hours he never got out of his chair (perhaps, he could have finished earlier, if it wasn't for my incessant yapping). First installing the upgrade and then calibrating the modes, he Intently worked, alternately gazing at the screen of his computer and the screen of the 600. Displaying patterns and taking readings, he attached and detach the colorimeter from the screen of my display. Meticulously he addressed and REaddressed all variables in each mode, until he got them as good as they could possibly get. During the process he said, "Your settings are turning out to be a lot different than many 600's I have seen." I think this is a good example of how copying settings from another set is truly a "shot in the dark".
And now the process was complete. It was time to SEE what this time intensive service and upgrade would yield. We put on "The Dark Knight". Immediately as the image of the bat emerges form the flames I could see something had really changed. Then the opening scenes unfolded; The skyscrapers burst onto the screen. "WOW! look at that!", I said. D-Nice replied, "Now that's a picture". We watched as I commented on the pristine images of the movie. I thanked D-Nice for a job well done."Wait till you see the display at night...", he said and off he went.
Later that night, I lowered the lights and turned the set on. With input set to cable box, Peter Jackson's "King Kong" in HD was the first thing that popped up on the screen. "MAN O MAN!!!!!! I have NEVER seen anything like this before, ANYWHERE, ANYTIME!"
Though I expected to see a marginal improvement, this was
DRAMATIC! This was altogether another level of awesome! The image was nothing short of
PERFECTION. Jaw-dropping detail, depth and dimension, like I have NEVER experienced. I put on several Blu-rays and I was literally taken back. I called my wife into the room and I said "You gotta SEE this!!" I put on "Pirates of the Caribbean" and the intro has a promo for Disney Blu-ray titles. "WOW! AMAZING!" Even my wife, that questioned the whole exercise of replacing the old TV and having this new TV calibrated, ...was in awe. Any question in my mind about my decision to calibrate and upgrade, was gone.
Before the ISF upgrade and calibration, I wondered how much this process could possibly improve an already excellent picture. Well the answer is
exponentially. The ISF upgrade in conjunction with the calibration, completely changed "the look" of this display.
COMPLETELY. How did it change? I'll try and describe the things that I see visually. POP: First of all, there is very obvious pop to the image. There is an extreme degree of sharpness with absolutely no edge enhancement or ringing. DEPTH: There is a nearly 3-D nature to the picture that simply WAS NOT THERE before. COLOR: Color is
incredibly rich. GRAY SCALE & BLACK: Though I know the black is not blacker, it certainly LOOKS like it is, because the striking contrast between the bottom and the top of the scale. Every level of TRUE gray in between reveals exceptional detail. BRIGHTNESS: The ISF modes added more FL output for a brighter more jazzed up picture.
The bottom line is, if you're thinking about a professional calibration, and the addition of the ISF patch,
DO IT. Bite the bullet and do it. It was worth
every penny. The best way I can describe the look of the picture now is, perfection. "Real" is another word that comes to mind. There is not an ounce of digital look to this image. It is quite simply precise, not a pumped up, edge enhanced 2-dimensional cartoon, but a precisely revealed representation the captured image. I never knew movies could look so good. I'm a happy boy
. Thank you, D-Nice and Turbe.
You da' MEN!
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Pioneer KRP-600M Pre-Calibration Report (Pure).pdf 203.1689453125k . file
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Pioneer KRP-600M Post-Calibration Report (Pure).pdf 196.4677734375k . file
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Pioneer KRP-600M Post-Calibration Report (ISF-Day).pdf 197.1328125k . file
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Pioneer KRP-600M Post-Calibration Report (ISF-Night).pdf 197.2060546875k . file
