ISF calibration. Is it worth it?

[gblaue]

If you want the best, you want CraigR.


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

[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

[hasaanchop]

Originally Posted by gblaue

If you want the best, you want CraigR.


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

Damn straight!! He did my Mitsubishi a couple months ago, and I am absolutely floored by the results. In fact, he said my Mits tied another model for the best looking Mits CRT he's ever calibrated. It's too bad that Mitsubishi has stopped making CRTs. I dread the future.

Spent about 10+ hours on mine (8am-ish to 5:30-6-ish if I remember right). We modded mine with the CRT Quad-Field Focus, which wasn't standard on mine, but went a long way to fixing my astigmatism problem. My grayscale values are sick, and no more freakin red push for me. He said my CRTs were a 9/10, and I've had the set for three years already. Since I kept my levels on spec (using Avia) and my grids tweaked every 3-6 months, he said (many, many times) that my CRTs looked brand-spankin' new. Said I have probably 10-12 more years on my set, and I should NOT sell it. Ever. I can't remember which specific chassis I have, but he said that the Gold series, now with the QFF mod added, is overall one of the two best chassis that Mits ever produced because of the CRT quality (even though not the largest guns), and boards and overall build quality was superior to most others. He said I also must have had someone who actually knew what he was doing on the production line when they were putting mine together.

Anyway, as for his skills, they are phat and mean. He definitely knows his shit. I mean, anyone who can remove my CRTs and whip out a solder gun knows a hell of a lot more than me. The room was a complete mess during the cal. I had Duvetyne hanging on virtually every doorway and window, but ultimately helped get the room to a near-black environment, which helped the grayscale calibration. I am now glad that my old calibrator, also Craig, retired, cause I would have never gotten Craig Rounds to do my set, and I gotta tell you he's the best.

My setup is pretty extensive, even though it's still short compared to some theaters, epecially dedicated ones with the curtains and levelled seating. Basically the environment is good, and I have put some time and money into the equipment the most. You can see pics here: 1, 2, 3.

We also added a Lumagen package, I chose the middle of the road, the VisionHDP with SDI input, which accepts an SDI signal from my modded Denon DVD-1600 (SDI out, Region Free, Coaxial Digital output), which looks insane, almost HD quality. My Toshiba HD-XA1 HD-DVD player looks even more insane, just plain incredible! Finally I plan to get the new 2nd-generation Panasonic $600 Blu-ray player, which sounds like it's gonna kick ass over first generation players, with improved audio support (TrueHD and DTS-HD) and HDMI 1.3. Don't forget the five bundled films.

Anwyay, the bottom line is that Craig is the best in the business, will dedicate himself solely to your system while he's there, and will not leave until you're happy. Worth every penny, and I would do it all again, even at $2200 for the calibration and Lumagen, which some might think is nuts, considering I paid $2001 for the set itself.

I look forward to adding Blu-ray into my setup, and am happy just having both formats to choose from. I am not limited or biased by one format or the other, and honestly think that most of the arguing about which format is better is fairly childish, especially in most of the posts I read, from both sides. I think competition is always healthy, and when/if the war is ever over, it will be because healthy competition forced the best possible HD-generation optical-based format to prevail, and we will all have better choices and quality because of it.

[Ascended_Saiyan]

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.

[hasaanchop]

Very nice. First post is deleted by the mods. This is going to be a fun forum to visit.

Is this not a forum that respects open-ended commentary and debate on Blu-ray vs. HD-DVD issues, or is it a soapbox for only those religiously dedicated to BD?

See a repost of my original comments below.

[hasaanchop]

Originally Posted by gblaue

If you want the best, you want CraigR.


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

Let's go for attempt #2, shall we?

Damn straight!! He did my Mitsubishi a couple months ago, and I am absolutely floored by the results. In fact, he said my Mits tied another model for the best looking Mits CRT he's ever calibrated. It's too bad that Mitsubishi has stopped making CRTs. I dread the future.

Spent about 10+ hours on mine (8am-ish to 5:30-6-ish if I remember right). We modded mine with the CRT Quad-Field Focus, which wasn't standard on mine, but went a long way to fixing my astigmatism problem. My grayscale values are sick, and no more freakin red push for me. He said my CRTs were a 9/10, and I've had the set for three years already. Since I kept my levels on spec (using Avia) and my grids tweaked every 3-6 months, he said (many, many times) that my CRTs looked brand-spankin' new. Said I have probably 10-12 more years on my set, and I should NOT sell it. Ever. I can't remember which specific chassis I have, but he said that the Gold series, now with the QFF mod added, is overall one of the two best chassis that Mits ever produced because of the CRT quality (even though not the largest guns), and boards and overall build quality was superior to most others. He said I also must have had someone who actually knew what he was doing on the production line when they were putting mine together.

Anyway, as for his skills, they are phat and mean. He definitely knows his shit. I mean, anyone who can remove my CRTs and whip out a solder gun knows a hell of a lot more than me. The room was a complete mess during the cal. I had Duvetyne hanging on virtually every doorway and window, but ultimately helped get the room to a near-black environment, which helped the grayscale calibration. I am now glad that my old calibrator, also Craig, retired, cause I would have never gotten Craig Rounds to do my set, and I gotta tell you he's the best.

My setup is pretty extensive, even though it's still short compared to some theaters, epecially dedicated ones with the curtains and levelled seating. Basically the environment is good, and I have put some time and money into the equipment the most. You can see pics here: 1, 2, 3.

We also added a Lumagen package, I chose the middle of the road, the VisionHDP with SDI input, which accepts an SDI signal from my modded Denon DVD-1600 (SDI out, Region Free, Coaxial Digital output), which looks insane, almost HD quality. My Toshiba HD-XA1 HD-DVD player looks even more insane, just plain incredible! Finally I plan to get the new 2nd-generation Panasonic $600 Blu-ray player, which sounds like it's gonna kick butt over first generation players, with improved audio support (TrueHD and DTS-HD) and HDMI 1.3. Don't forget the five bundled films.

Anwyay, the bottom line is that Craig is the best in the business, will dedicate himself solely to your system while he's there, and will not leave until you're happy. Worth every penny, and I would do it all again, even at $2200 for the calibration and Lumagen, which some might think is nuts, considering I paid $2001 for the set itself.

I look forward to adding Blu-ray into my setup, and am happy just having both formats to choose from. I am not limited or biased by one format or the other, and honestly think that most of the arguing about which format is better is fairly childish, especially in most of the posts I read, from both sides. I think competition is always healthy, and when/if the war is ever over, it will be because healthy competition forced the best possible HD-generation optical-based format to prevail, and we will all have better choices and quality because of it.

[Deciazulado]

Originally Posted by hasaanchop

Very nice. First post is deleted by the mods. This is going to be a fun forum to visit.

Is this not a forum that respects open-ended commentary and debate on Blu-ray vs. HD-DVD issues, or is it a soapbox for only those religiously dedicated to BD?

See a repost of my original comments below.

Jumping to conclusions are we? Your post was waiting to be seen by a mod to be approved, I just saw it and there it is. I also liberated the others that had fallen in automatic stasis

Hoping you're enjoying your calibrated Mits,
Deci

[hasaanchop]

Well that was real weird then, cause it posted after I submitted it, then about 15 minutes later was gone. Why would it do that?