Customer Reports About Their Professional Calibrations - Page 2

If a calibrator is ISF Certified and has the latest and greatest equipment, does that mean that that person should be able to calibrate any rear projection set properly? Or should I look for an individual who has experience with my particular TV? (KDS-R60XBR2)

Definitely not.

ISF does not teach ANYTHING about the image structure requirements of CRT technology, whether it's DV or triple-gun projection, RPTV or FPTV/ceiling projector. Optics cleaning, focusing, geometry, convergence, astigmatism, sheimpflug...these are all things that COULD come into play in calibrating a CRT based projector, and many of them are absolute staples, that have to be performed EVERY time. This is in addition to everything they do teach in class, which is needed on all display units, be they CRT or fixed pixel.

They mention red push and color decoding, but did not teach that either.

When I did my first ISF course, I was the ONLY calibrator in the class! It was made up primarily of HT retailers who needed to know in depth knowledge of the home theater business to be able to pull in those major investments, plus their installers. There were 30 or so in the class, and this included about half a dozen guys who were simply enthusiasts and they wanted to know more.

Now, there is no better place to learn all the ins and outs of home theater than in Joel's ISF class. Joel can tell true stories that most could only hope to be privy to - they are immensely informative and educating, and keep you spellbound all thru the class. I loved it! But they only have time enough for what they do teach. Which simply is not anywhere near enough to handle CRT projection technology.

Even if someone does pay attention in class and has the best equipment, efficacy is in the hands of the practitioner.


I agree, reputation and word of mouth is the best indicator out there, for how good a calibrator is.


Mr Bob

Mr. Bob , Or anybody. Has anyone got a memo from Sony on what each of the DRC settings do ? Mode 1 (sugested most inputs), Mode 2 for DVD Players that up convert to 1080 I or 720 P, Mode off no adjustment. Some say DRC Mode off is better for sports , fast moving action.Here is two Places that a test was done, but not on the newer KDS-R 60XBR 2 . http://www.hometheatermag.com/hookmeup/1106hook/ & He also has a Web started.... http://hdguru.com/?page_id=2 I have looked at the Service Manual . I think Sony has a Teck. info if You have the password to get Manual & more sugestions on set up & what each mode does ? ...

This is somewhat a change of subject; but still related to ISF. Does anyone know if when the tech calibrates grayscale on warm setting (SXRD XBR1) the flat scale also applies to "natural" and "vivid"? I realize that the overall temp will not be 6500k; I just wonder if these other settings are "flattened".

I always with My XBR 950 with close UMR settings,& Now SXRD XBR 2 set the natural for the best B&W Picture. Then use the same settings on all other modes. I use custom switch from Cool to Natural set the Blue Drive for White not blue in natural. Then look for Green vs. Red Drive for a natural white. Bias is in the Dark areas of the Picture. If all Your dark areas show Blue,Red,Green this is what You set. In the old days We would always have more Red because you lose Red on analog signals for fringe area's. Ah ! Was also going to the 6500 k. Remember Vivid is to sell TV's at the TV Store with the brightest Picture. So that is why You only get Cool, natural settings in Vivid. Warm 2 as You can see in the reviews is the best setting for 6500k. Some watch a B&W movie & say that's to Red . So warm 1 or Natural may look better for You. Look at Your DVD cases... Some show You a proof picture true B & W & or one with a 6500k Picture. Remember a true Calibrater & good equipment is the only way for perfection. If You get the Best TV of any brand... You need perfection...

htwaits -

Here's a new one, from my WA DC, Atlanta, St. Louis tour that I just arrived back from last night. It's post 139.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...80#post9794280

Also post 901 here:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...r+510+problems


You can find more about that tour if you go to the thread, "Mr. Bob does Atlanta", here on the AVS.


http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...b+does+atlanta



Mr Bob

I'll be adding one for Eliab on Monday afternoon ...

I feel like a kid waiting for christmas morning right now ... hehe

Cool!

Mr Bob

Can a ISF calibrate your HDTV for video gaming? or is the only service they can do is for film material?

ISF calibration - or fullscale/fullservice CRT calibration, which includes the ISF aspects but is much more extensive than the standard ISF calibration - is there for you to create the most lifelike picture possible for you, and instill the most suspension of disbelief possible in your display system.

If that is what you are striving for in your video games, the same principles would apply.

In a word, yes.



Mr Bob

You got your finger DIRECTLY on the pulse...

hope it is ok to post my results here...

Just had my Samsung HLS 5687 calibrated by David Abrams of Avical, and I am very pleased with the results. Even my wife who was very skeptical noticed a great deal of improvement in both color, overall "brightness" and shadow detail in the set. David was very professional and easy to talk to, and he even took time to explain in detail (without going over my head) what he was doing. Being a new home theatre enthusiast this is the best investment I have made, and would highly recommend him to anyone looking to get the most out of their home theatre investment.

Anyone looking for more specific information is welcome to PM me.

In Feb. I had my HITACHI CRT ISF Calibrated by Kevin Miller. His website is: www.isftv.com

Info already posted in HITACHI RPTV THREAD.

Kevin did an excellent job & was very professional. TV is now running @ 6500K

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...page=350&pp=10

Just had my kds60xbr2 calibrated by Les Holt of Pleasanton, CA. You can find info by searching the calibrators thread.
Prior to calibration my reds and black/white levels were quite off and I was getting alot of SSE and fuzzy images from my D* HR20-700 over HDMI (especially on HD sports where there was quite a bit of moving images). Planet Earth is particulary amazing now.
My SD over componenet was also calibrated and is excellent now
I will post settings later.
For gaming, we also calibrated an Xbox360 for DVD and it seemed to work extremely well for gaming. In darker areas I can see details that were totally blacked out prior.

Overall very happy.
-Austin

I had my Samsung HLM507W calibrated earlier this month by Chuck Williams. He did a great job with my first generation DLP. Black levels are now spot on. Excellent picture quality after the calibration. Great guy and highly recommend him. Contact him through the Lion AV site.

Kenny

How about a
Toshiba 65H82 ?

There's a result for the Toshiba 57HM167 here. Calibrator unknown.

These are 2 very different machines. The first is triple-gun CRT, the second one a bulb driven device.


Mr Bob

Right...I didn't mean for my post to be a response to the previous post. Even if they were both DLP's, the calibration would most likely be different.

Here you go:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...page=350&pp=10