With all of the discussion surrounding the proper set-up of HTPCs, and the confusion surrounding PC versus Video levels, Datacolor, under its Colorvision brand, has finally released its SpyderTV product that was first shown at CES in January (2005). The goal of this product is to automate the set-up of Home Theater components using the Colorvision Spyder2 sensor. As a beta tester, I felt fortunate to be allowed to have early access to the product and to some of the people who were bringing the product to market.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
The SpyderTV package comes with the Spyder2 sensor, a universal mount for both tripods and display faces, a CD with the software and a DVD with test patterns on it. Once installed on a PC that can be put relatively near the display to be calibrated, the software walks the user through setting up the display. First comes color temperature, then contrast, then brightness and finally the various color controls, should your unit have them available (e.g., most displays being fed digitally disable many of their color controls like saturation and hue).
The process goes by relatively quickly (expect about a half hour or so), and the results can be merely good to dramatic (my CRT was set pretty closely to the final values the SpyderTV had me set, my LCD was nowhere close). The results of using the SpyderTV software as it is currently shipping with my H77 DLP front projector was not sufficient to overcome the poor factory calibration on this unit. More work is definitely needed on the H77 than just adjusting the simple, user-available controls, and Colorvision indicates that actual support for FP will be released later.
At the end of the calibration, the SpyderTV will print a report (see attached) that gives you details of what changed and how your display improved.
NET-NET
Is it better than DVE or Avia? It is certainly faster in my experience. The DVD does also include additional test patterns to set Contrast and Brightness visually before starting the calibration procedure, so you definitely do not need either of those discs if you are going to be SpyderTV-centric. However, the price differential between DVE ($20), AVIA (~$40) and the SpyderTV (MSRP: $269, about $240 on the street) is significant.
So, who is this for? People who want a rock-solid basic set-up, but who do not want to spend the time and hassle dealing with DVE (bad menu structures) and Avia (color errors in some patterns, no BTB/WTW).
The real question you are wanting answered, though, is will it do grayscale? After all, at $250, this is competitive with having an ISF tech come calibrate your display. Well, hang on for part 2 for that answer...
SpyderTV Report - Sony.pdf 279.3671875k . file
SpyderTV Report.pdf 134.6982421875k . file
HOW DOES IT WORK?
The SpyderTV package comes with the Spyder2 sensor, a universal mount for both tripods and display faces, a CD with the software and a DVD with test patterns on it. Once installed on a PC that can be put relatively near the display to be calibrated, the software walks the user through setting up the display. First comes color temperature, then contrast, then brightness and finally the various color controls, should your unit have them available (e.g., most displays being fed digitally disable many of their color controls like saturation and hue).
The process goes by relatively quickly (expect about a half hour or so), and the results can be merely good to dramatic (my CRT was set pretty closely to the final values the SpyderTV had me set, my LCD was nowhere close). The results of using the SpyderTV software as it is currently shipping with my H77 DLP front projector was not sufficient to overcome the poor factory calibration on this unit. More work is definitely needed on the H77 than just adjusting the simple, user-available controls, and Colorvision indicates that actual support for FP will be released later.
At the end of the calibration, the SpyderTV will print a report (see attached) that gives you details of what changed and how your display improved.
NET-NET
Is it better than DVE or Avia? It is certainly faster in my experience. The DVD does also include additional test patterns to set Contrast and Brightness visually before starting the calibration procedure, so you definitely do not need either of those discs if you are going to be SpyderTV-centric. However, the price differential between DVE ($20), AVIA (~$40) and the SpyderTV (MSRP: $269, about $240 on the street) is significant.
So, who is this for? People who want a rock-solid basic set-up, but who do not want to spend the time and hassle dealing with DVE (bad menu structures) and Avia (color errors in some patterns, no BTB/WTW).
The real question you are wanting answered, though, is will it do grayscale? After all, at $250, this is competitive with having an ISF tech come calibrate your display. Well, hang on for part 2 for that answer...
SpyderTV Report - Sony.pdf 279.3671875k . file
SpyderTV Report.pdf 134.6982421875k . file