Finally calibrated my TV

[Krudy]

I got some display settings from AVS forums for my Samsung LNA550. Wow. It's night and day. The blacks look a thousand times better, they don't get crushed at all. Colors all around just look so much cleaner.

If theres anyone out there running with the factory settings, I highly, highly suggest you get it calibrated on some level. Whether that is finding settings online, or paying someone to calibrate.

[SS316SRV]

You should look into ISF calibrations, those make the TV even more efficient.

[CanadianKrazyMods]

what is the cost?

[Fors*]

It is usually around $250-$300. It does depend. However, if you are impressed now, you should see the set after it's been professionally calibrated....wow!

[tilapiah6]

Originally Posted by forsberg21

It is usually around $250-$300. It does depend. However, if you are impressed now, you should see the set after it's been professionally calibrated....wow!

Is that what you did?

[Fors*]

Originally Posted by tilapiah6

Is that what you did?

I had it calibrated on my old W3000 and was impressive to say the least. But I have not gotten it done on my new Sammy yet....I've only had her for 2 months and I've been too darn busy since then buying new speakers, lighting and my buttkicker! And yet my wife just continues to just shake her head at me with each purchase. But I do gotta get this thing calibrated soon!

[liquidice]

forsberg, I just looked at your pics. Not to get off subject, but you've got to lower your center channel! I'm sure with most movies it doesn't matter that it's blocking the tv, but just think about the IMAX scenes in Dark Knight! Sorry, totally off subject. Maybe you could mount to wall above tv?

[slee915]

How often do you need to re-calibrate the TV ? Monthly, yearly, never ?

[Penitus]

Originally Posted by Krudy

I got some display settings from AVS forums for my Samsung LNA550. Wow. It's night and day. The blacks look a thousand times better, they don't get crushed at all. Colors all around just look so much cleaner.

If theres anyone out there running with the factory settings, I highly, highly suggest you get it calibrated on some level. Whether that is finding settings online, or paying someone to calibrate.

Yeah, I like the results I got from the AVS forums too (with a slightly smaller TV). It looks a TON better and unless I suddenly gain a fortune, I'm not going to pay 300 bucks to have my TV professionally calibrated anytime soon. I likes what I gots!

[SierraMikeBravo]

Calibration is absolutely necessary if you want accurate images. If you don't want accuracy, then don't have it calibrated. I always ask anyone who is on the fence about a calibration this, "Why did you buy the display in the first place if not for stunning images?". I have yet to run into a client who has not been WOW'ed with the end result. Many who have never seen a calibrated image feel it is a waste of money or are unsure if it will yield any benefit for them. Again, I have yet to run into a client who has not become a believer after the calibration is completed. However, I would absolutely NOT use display settings provided by someone else. It is likely you will end up with a worse image than you had before. I recently calibrated a gentleman's television where he had gotten the settings for grayscale off of a popular A/V website. I took readings of the display in the state I found it in, and the result was shockingly horrible! Blue was so far off the chart compared to red and green, it wasn't funny. The bottom line is, the client had screwed up his TV more from using others "calibration" info (calibration results I later found out were completely wrong after reviewing where he got it from) than if he would have just left it alone. I would never, never use another person's settings for my display. It is 99% likely it will be wrong...and at least 50% likely it will be very wrong. Every display is unique as they are not built to military specs. Just my $.02

[Ozz]

Calibration is absolutely necessary if you want accurate images. If you don't want accuracy, then don't have it calibrated. I always ask anyone who is on the fence about a calibration this, "Why did you buy the display in the first place if not for stunning images?". I have yet to run into a client who has not been WOW'ed with the end result. Many who have never seen a calibrated image feel it is a waste of money or are unsure if it will yield any benefit for them. Again, I have yet to run into a client who has not become a believer after the calibration is completed. However, I would absolutely NOT use display settings provided by someone else. It is likely you will end up with a worse image than you had before. I recently calibrated a gentleman's television where he had gotten the settings for grayscale off of a popular A/V website. I took readings of the display in the state I found it in, and the result was shockingly horrible! Blue was so far off the chart compared to red and green, it wasn't funny. The bottom line is, the client had screwed up his TV more from using others "calibration" info (calibration results I later found out were completely wrong after reviewing where he got it from) than if he would have just left it alone. I would never, never use another person's settings for my display. It is 99% likely it will be wrong...and at least 50% likely it will be very wrong. Every display is unique as they are not built to military specs. Just my $.02

I agree with you on this one...
Something i can't figure out is why someone will spend anywhere between $1000.00 and $2500.00 for a monitor but will be too cheap to spend atleast $20.00 for a DVE or AVIA setup disc to get some sort of proper calibration.(And it can be used more than once..)

I myself use a spyder3 sensor(cheap but works for now) with calman software and calibrate every couple months or so(depending on bulb hrs used) and find the settings have changed alittle each time it's recalibrated.

Just because you like the looks of someone picture settings or eyeballing your own settings to something that looks good to you doesn't mean it's accurate.(and it can be pretty much 100% guaranteed that it isn't)..If it's wrong, it's wrong..

[Suntory_Times]

Originally Posted by slee915

How often do you need to re-calibrate the TV ? Monthly, yearly, never ?

It dpends, usually once will surfice, though re-calibrating the tv may need to be done mor ethen once due to such factors that I don't fully understand but I like to refer to as electrical drift (I think it goes something like the colours etc, that the tv diplay slowly change over time, therfore a calibration may be neaded at a later date).


By the way, who cares if it's wrong. If it looks better to you with you're calibration then one someon else has set it up, why would you not use your calibration. Afterall you are the one who is the one going to be enjoying you're display.

[SierraMikeBravo]

Originally Posted by Suntory_Times

It dpends, usually once will surfice, though re-calibrating the tv may need to be done mor ethen once due to such factors that I don't fully understand but I like to refer to as electrical drift (I think it goes something like the colours etc, that the tv diplay slowly change over time, therfore a calibration may be neaded at a later date).


By the way, who cares if it's wrong. If it looks better to you with you're calibration then one someon else has set it up, why would you not use your calibration. Afterall you are the one who is the one going to be enjoying you're display.

I recommend recalibration at least annually. The main reason, is either bulb or pixel aging. This will cause a shift in the grayscale and color. Therefore, you have to correct for it.

As for your other statement, sure, you can live with wrong television settings if you wish...but is that the reason you bought the TV? If I was a salesperson who came up to you as you were admiring a television and told you that image is completely wrong...would you buy it? More than likely not. People who state what you have are usually settling and usually have no reference for a calibrated image. If you did, you would likely not have said what you did. Seeing is believing I guess.

[Carlsberg19]

I wouldnt even know where to start calibrating my TV

[ludawg23]

Originally Posted by Krudy

I got some display settings from AVS forums for my Samsung LNA550. Wow. It's night and day. The blacks look a thousand times better, they don't get crushed at all. Colors all around just look so much cleaner.

If theres anyone out there running with the factory settings, I highly, highly suggest you get it calibrated on some level. Whether that is finding settings online, or paying someone to calibrate.

Are you using jcalabria's settings from the AVS forums? I definitely recommend his for the 550 model.

I used CNET's for a bit but found them too blurry. Clicq's were ok but too dark.

Jcalabria's settings are perfect. Black levels are beautiful, details are vivid and gives you that extra "pop" in picture.

[Krudy]

Originally Posted by ludawg23

Are you using jcalabria's settings from the AVS forums? I definitely recommend his for the 550 model.

I used CNET's for a bit but found them too blurry. Clicq's were ok but too dark.

Jcalabria's settings are perfect. Black levels are beautiful, details are vivid and gives you that extra "pop" in picture.

Do you have a link to Jcalabria's settings?

I'm using Clicq's and like them. I wont use them for sports or for video games, but for movies i think they look beautiful

[john_1958]

bought dve blu-ray http://www.amazon.com/Digital-Video-.../dp/B000V6LST0
wasn't worth the effort

to me a hdtv should self calibrated sort of like wizard program

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...H4CjCmmVCjCmmV

[ludawg23]

Originally Posted by Krudy

Do you have a link to Jcalabria's settings?

I'm using Clicq's and like them. I wont use them for sports or for video games, but for movies i think they look beautiful

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showp...postcount=2464

there you go...don't forget to adjust to Warm1 which is noted at the bottom. I use these settings for TV, games and movies.

Let me know what you think.

[connect42]

Originally Posted by SierraMikeBravo

I recommend recalibration at least annually. The main reason, is either bulb or pixel aging. This will cause a shift in the grayscale and color. Therefore, you have to correct for it.

As for your other statement, sure, you can live with wrong television settings if you wish...but is that the reason you bought the TV? If I was a salesperson who came up to you as you were admiring a television and told you that image is completely wrong...would you buy it? More than likely not. People who state what you have are usually settling and usually have no reference for a calibrated image. If you did, you would likely not have said what you did. Seeing is believing I guess.

I'd bet good money our new member offers calibration service.

[Riff Magnum]

Obviously, getting a pro calibration from someone who has experience with your particular set will yield the best results, but don't totally discount the idea of using settings on avs.com or other websites. I've achieved some amazing results using the latest service menu tweaks done by users who posses modest skills and calibration equipment. Even my wife says the picture looks better/more accurate. Of course a pro could walk in and tell me everything is way off, but for me i'd rather get as close as i can without spending that extra $300. I need to get a new AVR and a center channel and $300 would get me about half way there. Once i have 5.1 surround, then maybe i'll get bored and have one of the guys at avical.com do my set when they go "on tour."