Pioneer 9G Owners Thread - Present & Future

[qwknuf6]

I have to stand behind my 101 with no sound on to hear any buzz

Try Jeff @ accucal for calibration , he travels to most parts

Mark

[jkcheng122]

Originally Posted by bacot11

We'll power save 2 effectively removed the buzz from my 101fd. I can still hear it on extremely low volume watching, but it is never loud enough to distract me now. Hopefully when I move to my new place having the couch lower than the screen will help, and I can return it to normal to get that little extra amount of brightness back. I have pretty much accepted that my buzz is normal as I have heard about some 101fd's that are UNWATCHABLE at any volume.

Other than that I am now looking for an isf certified tech to calibrate my display. I need help finding one and I have no idea where to start looking. I am located NW of Atlanta in Kennesaw. Any help would be appreciated.

Try here: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?f=139. Also try giving the poster D-Nice a pm. I believe he's in your area. I'd wait til after you move to your new place though, but schedule a time with the calibrator first and let him know you'll be moving to a new place. It'd be pointless to have it calibrated now if the display is not staying in that environment.

[Harry110]

I, too, am looking into finding someone qualified for calibration.

Can people who have gotten in done (and are pleased with the results) tell me what I should expect to pay? Not sure what is a fair price. I'm sure there are cheap (less qualified) and then others who are super over-priced.

I just don't want to get taken for a ride.

[oppopioneer]

Originally Posted by Harry110

I, too, am looking into finding someone qualified for calibration.

Can people who have gotten in done (and are pleased with the results) tell me what I should expect to pay? Not sure what is a fair price. I'm sure there are cheap (less qualified) and then others who are super over-priced.

I just don't want to get taken for a ride.

The real good ones like Kevin Miller, Jim Doolittle (JD Labs), Gregg Loewen (Lion AV calibrator) will charge around $300 to $600.

I'm very fortunate to be in the New England area where we have maybe the best ISF calibrators in the country with Kevin Miller, Jim Doolittle and Gregg Loewen.

Kevin Miller: http://www.brighthometheater.com/calibration.html

Contact Jim Doolittle: jim@jimdoo.com Phone: 781-891-7714

http://www.tweaktv.com/who-we-are/ji...r-blogger.html

http://www.isftv.com/ISFTV_Site_Map.html

Gregg Loewen:

http://www.lionav.com/

[jkcheng122]

Usually around $300 to $400 for just one display. $600 I believe includes audio system calibration.

[fuwa]

Originally Posted by jkcheng122

Usually around $300 to $400 for just one display. $600 I believe includes audio system calibration.

Just adjusted my Kuro using the special adjustment feature on the Toy Story blu-ray. Calibrated the Pioneer 23 audio receiver using the auto calibration feature on the receiver.

I am happy with the video and sound I get from the whole system doing the adjustments myself.

I wonder if TVs will get the calibration feature that the audio products feature? The Kuro does have an Optimum mode but I prefer the Pure mode - looks just like the DLP at my local theater.

I might spring for a pro-calibration if I can see some before and after pictures. I was very unimpressed with the BB before and after calibration demo at the store. It just looked like one TV was in the vivid mode (uncalibrated) and the other was set to the movie mode (calibrated). I can get the same results with the Kuro by switching from Sports to Pure mode.

[TheFactor]

Originally Posted by fuwa

Just adjusted my Kuro using the special adjustment feature on the Toy Story blu-ray. Calibrated the Pioneer 23 audio receiver using the auto calibration feature on the receiver.

I am happy with the video and sound I get from the whole system doing the adjustments myself.

I wonder if TVs will get the calibration feature that the audio products feature? The Kuro does have an Optimum mode but I prefer the Pure mode - looks just like the DLP at my local theater.

I might spring for a pro-calibration if I can see some before and after pictures. I was very unimpressed with the BB before and after calibration demo at the store. It just looked like one TV was in the vivid mode (uncalibrated) and the other was set to the movie mode (calibrated). I can get the same results with the Kuro by switching from Sports to Pure mode.

The Thing about BB calibration is its kind of like getting your hair cut at supercuts you dont know who your going to get and if there any good lol . I had my 6020 kuro calibrated by BB only because it was included in a package deal with delivery / setup ,Black tie warranty and calibration so got a great deal and with that being said I must admit I was pretty nervous when he came out but fortunately I got someone that knew what he was doing and did a good job the detail now is much better and just all around looks much better and He did movie mode and standard mode calibrations . But I think after a few more 1000 hours I will have it done by a well known calibrater in my area just so I feel better about it but seriously he did do a good job

[sarge1976]

Originally Posted by TheFactor

The Thing about BB calibration is its kind of like getting your hair cut at supercuts you dont know who your going to get and if there any good lol . I had my 6020 kuro calibrated by BB only because it was included in a package deal with delivery / setup ,Black tie warranty and calibration so got a great deal and with that being said I must admit I was pretty nervous when he came out but fortunately I got someone that knew what he was doing and did a good job the detail now is much better and just all around looks much better and He did movie mode and standard mode calibrations . But I think after a few more 1000 hours I will have it done by a well known calibrater in my area just so I feel better about it but seriously he did do a good job

Very good comparison lol

[TheFactor]

Originally Posted by sarge1976

Very good comparison lol

LOL It was a easy comparison because thats exactly how I felt except a lot more nervous

[jkcheng122]

Originally Posted by TheFactor

The Thing about BB calibration is its kind of like getting your hair cut at supercuts you dont know who your going to get and if there any good lol . I had my 6020 kuro calibrated by BB only because it was included in a package deal with delivery / setup ,Black tie warranty and calibration so got a great deal and with that being said I must admit I was pretty nervous when he came out but fortunately I got someone that knew what he was doing and did a good job the detail now is much better and just all around looks much better and He did movie mode and standard mode calibrations . But I think after a few more 1000 hours I will have it done by a well known calibrater in my area just so I feel better about it but seriously he did do a good job

It sounds like BB didn't adjust grayscale which not only requires access to service menu, but also a software tool called ControlCAL that needed to be run on a computer/laptop to your TV via the serial port on the back. You definitely should do the pro calibration. After 200 hours should be more than enough, no need to wait til 1000.

[jkcheng122]

Originally Posted by fuwa

I might spring for a pro-calibration if I can see some before and after pictures.

Here's what I did with my Kuro non-Elite. Keep in mind I'm not a professional calibrator, just an enthusiast with a lot of time and money invested in the field. Also with the non-Elite I cannot tweak the colors, the results you see is just with grayscale dialed in to proper 6500K.

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[ajvdbg]

Originally Posted by jkcheng122

Here's what I did with my Kuro non-Elite. Keep in mind I'm not a professional calibrator, just an enthusiast with a lot of time and money invested in the field. Also with the non-Elite I cannot tweak the colors, the results you see is just with grayscale dialed in to proper 6500K.
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Based on your assessment do you see a better picture and/or are you more confident that it is more accurate? I have been contemplating a pro-cal but haven't been able to justify the expenditure...to be honest both pics pre and post look good on my monitor just look a bit different...

[ShockWave]

BB doesn't use controlcal, at least in FL they don't.

[TheFactor]

Originally Posted by jkcheng122

It sounds like BB didn't adjust grayscale which not only requires access to service menu, but also a software tool called ControlCAL that needed to be run on a computer/laptop to your TV via the serial port on the back. You definitely should do the pro calibration. After 200 hours should be more than enough, no need to wait til 1000.

Actualy he did adjust my grayscale and he was in my service menu he had it hooked up to his lap top and I beleive it was Contralcal that was being used. He had 2 or 3 different things hooked up to it. He really did do a good job but again I always want the best option so in the Future I will for sure get it calibrated again but after it gets some more hours and is needing a new calibration. But seriously im pretty happy with the detail its night and day compared to before calibration very similar to your before and after pics . Thanks again for your advice and your display is looking very good may I add !

[fuwa]

Originally Posted by jkcheng122

Here's what I did with my Kuro non-Elite. Keep in mind I'm not a professional calibrator, just an enthusiast with a lot of time and money invested in the field. Also with the non-Elite I cannot tweak the colors, the results you see is just with grayscale dialed in to proper 6500K.

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The bird pictures are good examples of before and after. If you look around the eye you can see the increased detail.

I used the Toy Story blu-ray and adjusted the brightness and contrast very slightly. According to that test the set is now displaying proper contrast and detail.

Wouldn't you get the same or close to the same results with your bird pictures by simply adjusting the brightness and contrast levels?

[jkcheng122]

Originally Posted by ajvdbg

Based on your assessment do you see a better picture and/or are you more confident that it is more accurate? I have been contemplating a pro-cal but haven't been able to justify the expenditure...to be honest both pics pre and post look good on my monitor just look a bit different...

It's definitely more accurate, look at the color of the snow in the deer picture. That's what grayscale can do. The snow looks red in the first pic and is more white in the 2nd, but your monitor would need to be close to accurate as well to see that.

Originally Posted by fuwa

The bird pictures are good examples of before and after. If you look around the eye you can see the increased detail.

I used the Toy Story blu-ray and adjusted the brightness and contrast very slightly. According to that test the set is now displaying proper contrast and detail.

Wouldn't you get the same or close to the same results with your bird pictures by simply adjusting the brightness and contrast levels?

I'm not sure on this, b/c picture and brightness settings were the same when both shots were taken. I'm not exactly sure how calibrating grayscale effected the shadow detail above the bird's eye but it did. I think I'll ask one of the pros over at AVS about this, very curious myself.

Originally Posted by TheFactor

Actualy he did adjust my grayscale and he was in my service menu he had it hooked up to his lap top and I beleive it was Contralcal that was being used. He had 2 or 3 different things hooked up to it. He really did do a good job but again I always want the best option so in the Future I will for sure get it calibrated again but after it gets some more hours and is needing a new calibration. But seriously im pretty happy with the detail its night and day compared to before calibration very similar to your before and after pics . Thanks again for your advice and your display is looking very good may I add !

Looks like you got one of the good ones from Geek Squad. I'm guessing the 2 to 3 things are laptop with a usb to serial adapter that went to the TV and also another device (the calibration meter) connected to the laptop that drapes over the TV.

[TheFactor]

Originally Posted by jkcheng122

Looks like you got one of the good ones from Geek Squad. I'm guessing the 2 to 3 things are laptop with a usb to serial adapter that went to the TV and also another device (the calibration meter) connected to the laptop that drapes over the TV.

Yes I did get a good one and he also had this suction cup stuck to the center of the display screen and with a cable connected to some thing else dont know what that was but it must of worked lol . I really did get lucky the outcome was better then I expected but it actualy took me a few days to get use to it because I always ran it on the stock movie mode before with break in settings which as you know wasnt very bright and now its a lot brighter and crisp but took some getting use to it . Although it does seem bad hd channels look worse but good ones look 10 times better then before but its a good trade off and of course blurays are jaw dropping, detailed and colors look great a long with the blacks . I also told my salesman at BB Dont send me some rookie to calibrate my Kuro and he said he was going to send his best guy and he did .

[jkcheng122]

Originally Posted by TheFactor

Yes I did get a good one and he also had this suction cup stuck to the center of the display screen and with a cable connected to some thing else dont know what that was but it must of worked lol . I really did get lucky the outcome was better then I expected but it actualy took me a few days to get use to it because I always ran it on the stock movie mode before which as you know wasnt very bright and now its a lot brighter and crisp but took some getting use to it . Although it does seem bad hd channels look worse but good ones look 10 times better then before but its a good trade off and of course blurays are jaw dropping, detailed and colors look great a long with the blacks .

Yep, that's our Kuros, and it looked so good at default settings to begin we didn't think it could look much better.

[TheFactor]

Originally Posted by jkcheng122

Yep, that's our Kuros, and it looked so good at default settings to begin we didn't think it could look much better.

So true I was afraid to have it calibrated at first because it looked so good before and thought it couldnt get any better or that it needed it but I was wrong thats for sure .

[dsskid]

Originally Posted by jkcheng122

Here's what I did with my Kuro non-Elite. Keep in mind I'm not a professional calibrator, just an enthusiast with a lot of time and money invested in the field. Also with the non-Elite I cannot tweak the colors, the results you see is just with grayscale dialed in to proper 6500K.

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Nice job jkcheng122. It's very obvious that the factory presets favored red in the grayscale, and you successfullt removed it. In addition, you achieved better shadow detail.
-John