Any ISF calibrators in Indianapolis?

[Count Orlok]

I've been wanting to have my set calibrated since the day I bought it, but it seems that no isf calibrator lives anywhere near me. The isf website says they're on tour, but my budget can't handle the travel fees right now.

I live just south of downtown Indianapolis. I'm hoping to find someone that wouldn't mind doing it for about $300. I also would like to have the 3D mode tuned too.

[repete66211]

Originally Posted by Count Orlok

I've been wanting to have my set calibrated since the day I bought it, but it seems that no isf calibrator lives anywhere near me. The isf website says they're on tour, but my budget can't handle the travel fees right now.

I live just south of downtown Indianapolis. I'm hoping to find someone that wouldn't mind doing it for about $300. I also would like to have the 3D mode tuned too.

There really isn't enough business to justify full time ISF work unless you're willing to tour. As such, if you want an experienced calibrator you almost have to hire someone on tour. I heard recently that D-Nice has reduced his fee. Perhaps he could calibrate your TV the next time he's nearby. For a list of calibrators and calibrator reviews, look on AVS for a member named "htwaits". The lists are in his signature.

[evoll]

You can also check out ChadB,he travels around doing calibrations and is really good. I had him do my Samsung plasma last year and was really happy with how it turned out. It took him about 6 hours to do since he did the 3d also but go on his website and send him a message.

[Count Orlok]

Awesome! Thanks!

[Wingman1977]

Also check tweaktv.com

[Keoma]

(apologies for posting here even though the location is a different one... I am new to the board and am not yet allowed to start a new thread)

Could anybody recommend a calibrator in the South FL area? My set is a Panasonic 65VT60. About a year old by now.

I have to say that I have been disappointed at how seemingly complex it is to find/hire a calibrator that actually bothers to reply to an e-mail or return a call. My goal is not to sound rude nor name names, but so far I have been unsuccessful (twice!) to hire one of the top calibrators already mentioned in this thread. The first time I contacted him via a very popular message board. It took quite a while to hear back from him, but I attributed this to the fact that he is in high demand. After establishing a (brief) conversation we agreed on a time window, but I never heard back from him. Months went by and I decided to give him a second chance. Again, it took forever to simply get a reply. When we finally set a time and date, he e-mailed me that same morning with a cancellation notice. We re-scheduled for the following weekend, and, YET AGAIN, I never heard back from him. I sent numerous e-mails. I even cancelled some personal family matters in order to be home "just in case" he would decide to e-mail me back. He never provided a cell phone number, even though I asked. He doesn't even have a website (as unbelievable as that may be... it only says "coming soon"). And, remember, I am referring to one of the most respected names in the business here, one that actually travels all over the country and is a big part of the famous "HDTV shootout" event every year... Very, very disappointing.

In fact, a lack of a proper online / social media platform, not to mention simply common sense and professional etiquette, seems to be a common issue among these folks. The Tweak Tv site feels and looks extremely dated.

I had also hired another calibrator a few years ago. This one was a local gentleman and he did show up as arranged. He even offered a discount and, overall, I got the feeling he needed the business. Nice fellow, but a little on the "too much of a loony character" side (he reminded me of Doc Brown), and after a while he started talking to me as if I knew nothing about TV's. He even gave me a whole speech about how I was not "really watching 1080p" on my (then new) Panasonic 65V10. He then proceeded to give a fanfare-style explanation of... get this... overscan... and how it crops out a few extra lines of resolution around all four corners of the image. Problem is that I already knew this, of course, and my TV was in the proper setting (overscan OFF). His face when he realized that was priceless. Evidently, if you are willing to spend hundreds of dollars on calibrating a TV, you more than likely are a hobbyist or A/V enthusiasts, and one should not be talked down nor taken for an ignorant fool.

I actually gave him a second chance as well, after my 65V10 developed the dreaded "black level rise". This issue has been VERY well documented everywhere. It was a big problem on all the V10's. He knew nothing about it, though, and after I hired him again (with the hopes he could somehow make the issue more tolerable) he came back and told me that black levels were "fine" and he did not see any difference compared to the previous time. This from a guy who makes a living tweaking TV's and whose clientele is the type who obsess over 0.001 vs. 0.002 MLL differences! Trust me, the V10 black levels by then were HORRID, but apparently he did not mind... That was a waste of more $$$ on my end... He also had VERY outdated equipment and offered NO report at the end of the procedure. And this is somebody supposedly trained by Joel Silver. I got nothing to show for the calibration, other than an emptier pocket. Not even a proper bill.

This is by no means a criticism of ALL calibrators. It just seems that I have not been lucky in this respect so far, and I have yet to find the right person.

All in all, I am tempted to not even waste more energy on this, but since I paid a pretty penny for my TV I would like to optimize it as much as possible, and I am willing to give ANOTHER calibrator a chance. If anybody knows one in the South FL area, I would appreciate your personal feedback and first-hand experiences. Thanks in advance.

[jamesfrank]

I've been wanting to have my set calibrated since the day I bought it, but it seems that no isf calibrator lives anywhere near me. The isf website says they're on tour, but my budget can't handle the travel fees right now.

I live just south of downtown Indianapolis. I'm hoping to find someone that wouldn't mind doing it for about $300. I also would like to have the 3D mode tuned too.

[Naiera]

Originally Posted by Keoma

Evidently, if you are willing to spend hundreds of dollars on calibrating a TV, you more than likely are a hobbyist or A/V enthusiasts, and one should not be talked down nor taken for an ignorant fool.

My AV guy is of the exact opposite opinion. Most of those who have their sets or projectors calibrated professionally are those who realise that they're "amatuers" and then choose to have someone else do it. Enthusiasts, meanwhile, are more likely to think they can do it themselves. Consequently, it's the "amatuers" that end up with the best picture quality, since doing this ish properly takes hundreds of hours of experience.

I'm very lucky to live close to, and be on very good terms with, one of the very best in the country in the field. He works at my favourite hi-fi store because he couldn't make a living off just doing calibration.