ISF calibration. Is it worth it? - Blu-ray Forum

Blu Tiger · 03-29-2007, 01:33 AM

I have an appointment with a Best Buy technician to come and calibrate my Pioneer Elite Plasma for $300. Is it worth it? Will I be able to tell the difference? Would his calibration be preferable to buying a do-it-yourself disc that kind of does the same thing? Thanks.

Heresy · 03-29-2007, 01:44 AM

Not sure how much of a difference it is on a plasma but it was a big difference on my DLP and well worth it for me.

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=6172

nhaase · 03-29-2007, 01:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kiddtigger

I have an appointment with a Best Buy technician to come and calibrate my Pioneer Elite Plasma for $300. Is it worth it? Will I be able to tell the difference? Would his calibration be preferable to buying a do-it-yourself disc that kind of does the same thing? Thanks.

Hey, after you've had it done, please let me know how it went for you. I want to get mine calibrated, and want to know if Best Buy is a good place to have do this.

Deciazulado · 03-29-2007, 01:58 AM

If the ISF tech knows his stuff he can know service codes for the TV and do tweaks that you can't regulary do like reducing overscan, 1:1, color space mods, etc if the TV permits.

On the other hand, if you know your video stuff, you can use the test disc/patterns to get a good picture.

Spankey · 03-29-2007, 02:01 AM

An "ISF" calibration, absolutely, positively, YES. Calibration by a Best Buy tech? I wouldn't throw my money away. Find a calibrator with references. Hate to say this but check out AVS *cough*, or Home Theater Spot. I use Eliab at Avical.

Blu Tiger · 03-29-2007, 02:08 AM

Well the guy is contracted by Best Buy. He is ISF certified though.

ascian · 03-29-2007, 05:44 AM

best buy isf technicians are not the same as their in-home installers. there should be no reason to shirk them just because of the best buy reference.

SVTCobra_71 · 04-06-2007, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kiddtigger

I have an appointment with a Best Buy technician to come and calibrate my Pioneer Elite Plasma for $300. Is it worth it? Will I be able to tell the difference? Would his calibration be preferable to buying a do-it-yourself disc that kind of does the same thing? Thanks.

Congrats Kidd,

I have the PRO-FHD1 and saw a huge gain after having my TV ISF Calibrated. Pioneer Elite in general is known for there black level, however, after having my Elite ISF Calibrated there was around a 30% gain in the black level but more noticable was the contrast and detail gained in darker scenes, whether it be on gaming or on Blu-Ray movies. Enjoy the new gain in picture quality.

AustinSTI · 04-06-2007, 07:22 PM

Hmmm I have the PRO-FHD1 as well and though I don't see HOW the picture could get ANY better your comments got me thinking maybe I should have it Calibrated...Care to share any PRO-FHD1 calibration thoughts/notes?

i want HD movies · 04-07-2007, 05:49 AM

actually Best Buy does not have ISF guys. Magnolia Home Theater does. You hjave to go to a store with a Magnolia Department to arrange for a calibration service.

We sent our regional ISF calibrator to all the schooling any independent contractor goes to. Do not underestimate a major company doing things right. The cost is 300. The Specialist comes out to calibrate 2 sources (or 2 inputs depending), with each receiving its own day/night setting.

I have had many clients that say it was well worth it, with only one client, who owned a Fujitsu I sold him, who said they did not notice a "big difference." But even he said the deail was a little better and the colors were more lifelike. Funny enough he said he liked the colors richer than more lifelike anyway!!! lol

Some clients are actually buying down, maybe a lower model Samsung or the Sharp LCD instead of the Sony and getting a calibration done. They seem to feel the difference becomes even less and it costs them 300 instead of a grand or more.

SVTCobra_71 · 04-07-2007, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AustinSTI

Hmmm I have the PRO-FHD1 as well and though I don't see HOW the picture could get ANY better your comments got me thinking maybe I should have it Calibrated...Care to share any PRO-FHD1 calibration thoughts/notes?

Sure,

While as I previously stated the Elite's are known for industry leading black levels, however, the ISF Calibration really brought out a deeper black i didnt think was possible on this set. The main area in which i noticed these changes was while playing PS3 and watching Blu-Ray movies on the Elite player. For example while watching X-Men III( which i have still found to be one of the best Blu-Ray movies on the market for showing lights and darks and from one color extreme to the other) there are scenes in which color and black level where remarkably different after being ISF Calibrated. Playing Oblivion on the PS3 also showed reamarkable detail(color wise) actually seeing the different hue's of yellow and green on the leaves as you rode by. I can't say as to whether or not the pricing that Magnolia offers is consistent or if they do a good job at all. If thinking of ISF Calibrating your TV id highly recommend trying a local High End (non big box/pallet slinger store)store it might run a little more but in the end you always get what you pay for.

JTK · 04-07-2007, 05:16 PM

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=561596

^^ My take on the ISF calibration subject. Totally worth it!

Ascended_Saiyan · 05-16-2007, 09:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jermwhl

Hey my buddy has a sony xbr 34" crt (HD 1080i) and wants to know if getting it ISF calibrated would be worth it. I was telling him about this forum post and plasma/lcd screens. He's pretty interested, but I don't know how it applies to crt's.

Thanks

I think it depends on how long he plans on keeping that TV.

03-29-2007, 01:33 AM	#1
Blu Tiger Special Member Member since:Mar 2007 Location:Denver, CO Blu-ray collection:725 Trading Score:27	ISF calibration. Is it worth it? I have an appointment with a Best Buy technician to come and calibrate my Pioneer Elite Plasma for $300. Is it worth it? Will I be able to tell the difference? Would his calibration be preferable to buying a do-it-yourself disc that kind of does the same thing? Thanks.

04-07-2007, 05:49 AM	#10
i want HD movies Member Member since:Dec 2006	why bash a company just because it is large? actually Best Buy does not have ISF guys. Magnolia Home Theater does. You hjave to go to a store with a Magnolia Department to arrange for a calibration service. We sent our regional ISF calibrator to all the schooling any independent contractor goes to. Do not underestimate a major company doing things right. The cost is 300. The Specialist comes out to calibrate 2 sources (or 2 inputs depending), with each receiving its own day/night setting. I have had many clients that say it was well worth it, with only one client, who owned a Fujitsu I sold him, who said they did not notice a "big difference." But even he said the deail was a little better and the colors were more lifelike. Funny enough he said he liked the colors richer than more lifelike anyway!!! lol Some clients are actually buying down, maybe a lower model Samsung or the Sharp LCD instead of the Sony and getting a calibration done. They seem to feel the difference becomes even less and it costs them 300 instead of a grand or more.

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03-29-2007, 01:44 AM	#2
Heresy Active Member Member since:Dec 2006 Location:Frisco, TX	Not sure how much of a difference it is on a plasma but it was a big difference on my DLP and well worth it for me. https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=6172

03-29-2007, 01:58 AM	#4
Deciazulado Site Manager Top contributor Member since:Aug 2006 Location:USiberia Home Theater Gallery:6 4K collection:1159 Blu-ray collection:7044 DVD collection:4040	If the ISF tech knows his stuff he can know service codes for the TV and do tweaks that you can't regulary do like reducing overscan, 1:1, color space mods, etc if the TV permits. On the other hand, if you know your video stuff, you can use the test disc/patterns to get a good picture.

03-29-2007, 02:01 AM	#5
Spankey Power Member Member since:Oct 2006	An "ISF" calibration, absolutely, positively, YES. Calibration by a Best Buy tech? I wouldn't throw my money away. Find a calibrator with references. Hate to say this but check out AVS cough, or Home Theater Spot. I use Eliab at Avical.

03-29-2007, 02:08 AM	#6
Blu Tiger Special Member Member since:Mar 2007 Location:Denver, CO Blu-ray collection:725 Trading Score:27	Well the guy is contracted by Best Buy. He is ISF certified though.

03-29-2007, 05:44 AM	#7
ascian Active Member Member since:Jan 2007 Location:Arkansas Blu-ray collection:1	best buy isf technicians are not the same as their in-home installers. there should be no reason to shirk them just because of the best buy reference.

04-06-2007, 07:22 PM	#9
AustinSTI Active Member Member since:Apr 2007	Hmmm I have the PRO-FHD1 as well and though I don't see HOW the picture could get ANY better your comments got me thinking maybe I should have it Calibrated...Care to share any PRO-FHD1 calibration thoughts/notes?

04-07-2007, 05:16 PM	#12
JTK Blu-ray Knight Member since:Jan 2006 Location:www.blurayoasis.com	http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=561596 ^^ My take on the ISF calibration subject. Totally worth it!

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