ISF Calibration Worth The Money?

[EQ3282]

I've noticed a couple of threads about this topic, and was wondering myself.

It seems that the argument for the pro calibration is getting the best possible picture out of whichever set you purchase. Kind of like purchasing a house and renovating the kitchen for ideal usage.

The main argument against has been is it worth it to spend between 10% to 50% of the purchase price of a set to have it calibrated when a "by your eyes" adjustment or purchasing a calibration disc can produce an acceptable/good picture. This side of the argument can be summed up as buying a brand new car, but having to put thousands of dollars into it for it to drive with optimal performance.

Have at it folks, but keep it clean and civil.

[FlipperWasIrish]

Not again, as you said, there are already threads on this issue. Just read them.

[kareface]

If you're getting a TV that costs more then 1000$ then it should be done w/o question. I'd take a TV a few hundred dollars cheaper that was calibrated over an uncalibrated one that cost a few hundred more.

[ryan4blu]

1000% yes.

[crackinhedz]

Originally Posted by kareface

If you're getting a TV that costs more then 1000$ then it should be done w/o question

I kind of agree...but...

Some TV's do not have the necessary adjustments in the service menu to be very beneficial via professional calibration. In which case it would almost be a waste of money.

[Johnny Vinyl]

This whole calibration thing is kind of ridiculous in one sense. I mean, not until Hi-Def TV's came on the market did anyone ever have to spend money on a calibration...whether that be with a disc or through the service menu. You bought a TV, plugged it in, connected your cable and your audio and wham....A PICTURE! My Sony was the same as your Sony!

Now, all of a sudden, we have to spend additonal funds on calibrating our TV's...why? I'll tell you this, I won't be spending $300 on a Pro-Cal for a TV I spent $1,000 of my hard earned money. It should be ready to connect like my old CRT!

John

PS~ I know the technologies are different...I'm just saying....why does it need to be.

[crackinhedz]

Originally Posted by John72953

not until Hi-Def TV's came on the market did anyone ever have to spend money on a calibration...whether that be with a disc or through the service menu. You bought a TV, plugged it in, connected your cable and your audio and wham....A PICTURE! My Sony was the same as your Sony!

Your old CRT still had picture adjustment settings! But it did not have access to motherboards and microchips etc that allowed for a more precise user adjustment.

Sure, we all loved anything and everything on TV...heck even VHS was acceptable at one point in time.

...But as you said, technology is different and the option to tweak is simply a benefit.


You can:

A. choose to enjoy what you have, care not for calibration.

B. tweak your TV a little bit more for the pure satisfaction of knowing you can!



In the end its all personal preference.

[crazyBLUE]

Originally Posted by John72953

This whole calibration thing is kind of ridiculous in one sense. I mean, not until Hi-Def TV's came on the market did anyone ever have to spend money on a calibration...whether that be with a disc or through the service menu. You bought a TV, plugged it in, connected your cable and your audio and wham....A PICTURE! My Sony was the same as your Sony!

Now, all of a sudden, we have to spend additonal funds on calibrating our TV's...why? I'll tell you this, I won't be spending $300 on a Pro-Cal for a TV I spent $1,000 of my hard earned money. It should be ready to connect like my old CRT!

John

PS~ I know the technologies are different...I'm just saying....why does it need to be.

I kinda agree with you john . I personally would not pay to have it done . I bought A calibration disc 20 Bucks , And was able to achieve A wonderful picture from the disc .

Sure I spent 3,000 dollars on my TV , But that Just does not mean that I should do it because it cost so much .

20 bucks is way better than several hundred bucks .

[42041]

Originally Posted by John72953

This whole calibration thing is kind of ridiculous in one sense. I mean, not until Hi-Def TV's came on the market did anyone ever have to spend money on a calibration...whether that be with a disc or through the service menu. You bought a TV, plugged it in, connected your cable and your audio and wham....A PICTURE! My Sony was the same as your Sony!

Now, all of a sudden, we have to spend additonal funds on calibrating our TV's...why? I'll tell you this, I won't be spending $300 on a Pro-Cal for a TV I spent $1,000 of my hard earned money. It should be ready to connect like my old CRT!

John

PS~ I know the technologies are different...I'm just saying....why does it need to be.

With digital signal processing, it becomes a lot easier for bad engineers (and consumer electronics is ridden with terrible engineering) to muck up the picture with various "enhancements" and plain stupidity. You don't need to be a calibrator to turn all that crap off though, but you do need a calibrator with expensive instruments if you need a reference picture... IE, you work in photography or film post-production.