ISF Calibration Confusion?!?!?!

[backtothecanvas]

So i always hear how ISF calibration is done in the service menu of the television. Yet when people share their ISF calibrated settings they simply show what all people can achieve by changing the settings under the menu of the remote. So herein lies the confusion, what am i missing? What are people not posting or not knowing? Did the guy from Best Buy shove blueberry pop tarts into the back of the television?

[BStecke]

There are a lot of adjustments that can be made in the service menu that are not accessible via the consumer menus. Grayscale, for one, which is one of the most important factors in calibrating a set. The consumer settings are then adjusted based on those service menu parameters, rather than those that are available out of the box. So, while someone may take those settings and apply them to the same set, they could produce a very different result.

[Kinslayer]

I don't quite understand how it can show a different result if everything on both TV is the same on the Service Menu and Normal Menu. If its the same TV, shouldn't it be the same PQ?

[Bruvydsb]

I've hear if you access the service menu it voids the warranty, is this true?

[TheJesus]

If you change something in the service menu, it becomes factory default for the set.

[Kinslayer]

So even if you update the firmware or reset all the settings, once someone calibrates it in the Service Menu, it will default back to what the settings are after Its been calibrated in the Service Menu?

[bassbone57]

Originally Posted by Kinslayer

I don't quite understand how it can show a different result if everything on both TV is the same on the Service Menu and Normal Menu. If its the same TV, shouldn't it be the same PQ?

No. As a calibrator I've done many of the exact same TV's and they NEVER come out the same. Also to a certain degree, some TV's settings in the service menu are different from another TV of the exact same model to obtain a similar picture out of the box. Every TV is different and needs to be calibrated individually because of the difference. Also TV's have a big color shift in the first 100-200 hours, so the set shouldn't be calibrated until after about 200 hours.

Originally Posted by perjim1957

By the tone of that last post, it seem's to me there is no ''perfect'' calibration.? more, in the eye of the beholder, I'm at the crossroads, half of me wants to have it done, the other half say's to leave well enough alone...My pq is, by most standards as much as I could want.

No calibration will ever be perfect. We try our best to get your set as close to perfect as possible, but it never can be done.

And as far as your current PQ. I don't know what TV you have, but pretty much all of them screw up the PQ so badly to make them look "good" and bright on a sales floor. But all of the "enhancements" and PQ "improvments" they do just do nothing but screw the picture up more. Don't settle for a TV out of the box.

Good luck, and I would recommend you look into it. I cannot watch a TV anymore that is not ISF calibrated. It makes a huge difference.

And to some points about not letting some people touch your TV. I have seen some calibrations (at training classes) that are way off. BB guys are told how to calibrate by a trained calibrator, so they usually aren't trained and certified themselves. Try a local dealer for a good shot at a good calibrator. If you want proof that he/she is a certified ISF calibrator, they can provide that proof for you in many ways.

-K

[TheJesus]

Originally Posted by backtothecanvas

Did the guy from Best Buy shove blueberry pop tarts into the back of the television?

Probably. A friend of mine is a color calibration specialist for Best Buy Magnolia, and I've seen his work. I'd never let him near my set.

[perjim1957]

By the tone of that last post, it seem's to me there is no ''perfect'' calibration.? more, in the eye of the beholder, I'm at the crossroads, half of me wants to have it done, the other half say's to leave well enough alone...My pq is, by most standards as much as I could want.

[Kinslayer]

Originally Posted by perjim1957

By the tone of that last post, it seem's to me there is no ''perfect'' calibration.? more, in the eye of the beholder, I'm at the crossroads, half of me wants to have it done, the other half say's to leave well enough alone...My pq is, by most standards as much as I could want.

Ya I am in the same boat as you on that one. I wanted a 52 inch first but decided to go for a 46 cus of the quality so why not just make it as best as it can be for an extra few hundred.

[perjim1957]

Assuming it WILL be better, read Jesus prior post, not every tech is a surgeon.

[TheJesus]

Originally Posted by perjim1957

By the tone of that last post, it seem's to me there is no ''perfect'' calibration.? more, in the eye of the beholder, I'm at the crossroads, half of me wants to have it done, the other half say's to leave well enough alone...My pq is, by most standards as much as I could want.

Get it done, just get it done by someone who is qualified and has a good reputation. I personally recommend going to www.hometheaterspot.com, there are many qualified calibration experts who frequent the forums there.

I can vouch for Chuck Williams, look for him on those forums, there are many people who will vouch for him. And he does travel.

[Kinslayer]

Ya for sure, no way I am going with GeekSquad from Best Buy. Heard several people say it isn't worth it.

[perjim1957]

J, in your opinion there is a marked difference in PQ after a proffesional calibration.???

[TheJesus]

Best Buy, Magnolia, Geek Squad calibration is not worth it at all. They sent my friend to a 3 day course in new york to learn how to calibrate. You cannot learn what you need to know to be a calibrator in 3 days.

Check out this site to see what you should expect from a real ISF calibration:

http://www.cir-engineering.com/index.php