Spears & Munsil Blu-ray Test Disc

[killermike2178]

Originally Posted by Stacey Spears

This might apply to a lot of people. The "correct" image is not always pleasing to some that have gotten use to the sizzle of torch mode.

No kidding. Thankfully, after doing lots of research on the web, I found out why the factory settings on my contrast looked so dull. My Sony LED had a very low default factory setting for its white balance, setting all of the values from their default 128 to 235, and I used the Disney WOW disc to slide the contrast down from there, and I also set the color temperature from neutral to Warm 2. Now, I get very lifelike skintones, and a very vivid looking picture with the current settings. However, I still think the contrast seems a tad overblown, which is why I have decided to order the S&M 2nd Edition. I placed my order on Amazon on Tuesday, although it has yet to ship.

Note that if you are still using the Disney WOW disc, you'll get a slightly more accurate contrast/brightness calibration using the basic video tests as opposed to using the advanced video tests with the flickering stars. I'm sure those people meant well, but they just wanted the image to pop like other calibration noobs. The blue filter included with the WOW disc isn't strong enough to pass with the WOW Disc on it on my panel, but hopefully, the S&M blue filter will pass with the S&M disc on my monitor. If it doesn't, can I combine the WOW filter with the S&M filter for better results?

[Stacey Spears]

can I combine the WOW filter with the S&M filter for better results?

Our filter gives you three different strengths. 1x, 2x, and 3x. We made our color/tint pattern brighter than the traditional 75% color bars to help with 2 and 3x. Our new color/tint pattern also make it easier to tell if the filter will work with your display. 3x is pretty dark.

The THX glasses use one layer of Tokyo blue filter gel. (our 1x) JKP uses two layers of Tokyo blue filter gel. (our 2x) If the WOW filter is also Tokyo blue, you can could combine with ours for 4x, but it might just look black at that point.

Now, I get very lifelike skintones

There is no such thing as lifelike skintones in a movie. Its all artistic intent these days.

[killermike2178]

There is no such thing as lifelike skintones in a movie. Its all artistic intent these days.

Well, touché. At least they look more like the screencaps on these review sites. For the most part, *my*Blu-rays have skin tones that have some color to them as opposed to looking flat and drab. I did see the first three Underworld movies the other day, so I know what you mean by "artistic intent".

[tommyboy81]

Finally ordered it and it's on its way here.

Originally Posted by ZoetMB

Yes. You really can't calibrate a set using someone else's settings because every panel is different and you're also viewing the panel in different lighting conditions. D-Nice's settings are probably a good starting point, but if you really want to get it right, you still need the calibration disc. If you still want to get it perfect, you need a professional calibrator and the equipment that they carry. One of the reasons that D-Nice gives out these settings is because he feels that it doesn't negatively impact his calibration business (although other calibrators aren't happy that he does so.)

But having said all that, be aware that your parents might not even like a calibrated set. The look of a calibrated set is very subtle and tends to be much darker than most people are used to. Most people think a TV should be very bright and have very high contrast levels. A calibrated set will look just the opposite.

Originally Posted by Stacey Spears

This might apply to a lot of people. The "correct" image is not always pleasing to some that have gotten use to the sizzle of torch mode.

Years ago I used the DVE bluray disc I had and used on there tv. I think things changed of the years and I could tell the their tv was too dark. Harry Potter: Deathly Hollows pt.2 was unwatchable.

The scene where Voldemort and hiw army were on top of the hill looking at the school all you can see is him and Bellatrix. You couldnt see all the people behind him. lol

I finally got to raise the brighness up some on there tv. Also tone down the reds. It was pushing reds out like crazy. Had enough of it after I watched Wreck-It Ralph. lol

[ZoetMB]

Originally Posted by tommyboy81

Finally ordered it and it's on its way here.






Years ago I used the DVE bluray disc I had and used on there tv. I think things changed of the years and I could tell the their tv was too dark. Harry Potter: Deathly Hollows pt.2 was unwatchable.

The scene where Voldemort and hiw army were on top of the hill looking at the school all you can see is him and Bellatrix. You couldnt see all the people behind him. lol

I finally got to raise the brighness up some on there tv. Also tone down the reds. It was pushing reds out like crazy. Had enough of it after I watched Wreck-It Ralph. lol

Doesn't sound to me like the set was properly calibrated unless the blacks sucked on that set. Sounds to me like you got black crush. The calibration discs have test patterns with various shades of grey to white and beyond and to black and beyond and you're supposed to calibrate so that you still see distinctions up to a certain point.

[tommyboy81]

Originally Posted by ZoetMB

Doesn't sound to me like the set was properly calibrated unless the blacks sucked on that set. Sounds to me like you got black crush. The calibration discs have test patterns with various shades of grey to white and beyond and to black and beyond and you're supposed to calibrate so that you still see distinctions up to a certain point.

think it was 4 or 5 years ago. Its an 60in LG Plasma. Can't hink if the model number off th top of my head. Cnet gave it a pretty good review, even in the black catagory.

If I remember right (trying to remember. lol) there was a test of two with the blacks where I couldn't get it just right, but you can tell the brightness was too high. Since it looked like it wasnt making a difference I turned he brighness back down.

I dont have the DVE disc anymore and am now using the settings from Cnet and it doesnt look bad. Th blacks are still...ok to me. I haven't tried the Deathly Hollows 2 disc (specifically that one scene) yet to see if it needs adjusting. To me that movie is a really good movie to check for stuff like that.

[killermike2178]

For my Playstation 3, would you recommend I have Deep Color On or Off when calibrating with the 2nd Edition disc?

[tommyboy81]

Finally got the disc. I only know the basics on the disc so I used those and the setting I had on my ST50 were pretty much spot on. 2 numbers here and there.

Now, on to my parents LG Plasma. I got to turn down the brightness some but that contrast, OMG!

In the picture below you see the bars. When you see this on the LG there's nothing! No bars what so ever. And in the Clipping pattern test all the color boxes are solid



On the Color and Tint test I couldn't get the colors on the left side black on the LG or my TV.

On the color space test, the LG is clipping on all of them and the Chroma range is bad. On my tv, just the Red bar on the Chroma range is bad.

Now my parents have the Bluray going to the recieiver (Denon 2310) and then to the tv.

[Stacey Spears]

Try bypassing the receiver to see if it is the culprit. Also try outputting different colors spaces into the LG and see if it makes a difference.

Throw the LG away and buy your parents a new display.

[Stacey Spears]

On the Color and Tint test I couldn't get the colors on the left side black on the LG or my TV.

You tried 1x, 2x, and 3x? Just means that the filter is not reliable on your display. Does either TV have a blue only mode?

[tommyboy81]

Originally Posted by Stacey Spears

Try bypassing the receiver to see if it is the culprit. Also try outputting different colors spaces into the LG and see if it makes a difference.

Throw the LG away and buy your parents a new display.

I can try and see but the sad thing is my dad loves his HD sound.

You tried 1x, 2x, and 3x? Just means that the filter is not reliable on your display. Does either TV have a blue only mode?

I've tried all 3. on the 3x I can get the top box black (more on my ST50) I honestly have no idea and wouldnt know where to look. lol

[Stacey Spears]

I was suggesting you bypass the receiver as a test to find out if it is causing the issue. Not to permanently bypass it.

[Stacey Spears]

For my Playstation 3, would you recommend I have Deep Color On or Off when calibrating with the 2nd Edition disc?

Try both while look at the ramps and color eval pattern. I don't recall the setting on the PS3.

[tommyboy81]

Originally Posted by Stacey Spears

I was suggesting you bypass the receiver as a test to find out if it is causing the issue. Not to permanently bypass it.

yeah, because my jaw dropped when I saw nothing. lol So I left the contrast at 70 (1-100) The blacks, like the bars on a movie or just a black screen is not black. Its like a faded black like you would see if the brightness is up. Maybe the foot-lamberts is too high?

[Stacey Spears]

When we say it should look black, we mean that the color patches on the left should not leak color through. It should be colorless like the border around them.

If you still see colors leaking, even at 3x, then that is the best you can do. If you have DVE, the THX glasses, or WOW disc, you can combine those blue filters with ours for even more filtering. Assuming you can even seen an image at that point.

[tommyboy81]

Originally Posted by Stacey Spears

When we say it should look black, we mean that the color patches on the left should not leak color through. It should be colorless like the border around them.

If you still see colors leaking, even at 3x, then that is the best you can do. If you have DVE, the THX glasses, or WOW disc, you can combine those blue filters with ours for even more filtering. Assuming you can even seen an image at that point.

I got ya.

What I meant on my last post was when we watch a movie on the LG thats how the blacks are.

[tommyboy81]

Are there any test patterns on here I can use that doesnt require equipment or going into the service menu? Like any that helps with the 2-point and 10-point scales?

[Stacey Spears]

Contrast, brightness, color, tint, sharpness, user level gamma, user level color temp, color space output, and deinterlacing modes are all user adjustable.

Advanced gamma, gamut, and grayscale are the patterns that require special gear.

[tommyboy81]

Originally Posted by Stacey Spears

Contrast, brightness, color, tint, sharpness, user level gamma, user level color temp, color space output, and deinterlacing modes are all user adjustable.

Advanced gamma, gamut, and grayscale are the patterns that require special gear.

which ones are these and how do they work exactly?

[killermike2178]

Originally Posted by tommyboy81

which ones are these and how do they work exactly?

If you have to ask what those test patterns are and what they do, you can't do them by yourself, unless you are a certified ISF calibrator/specialist, which I am going to go out on a limb and say you are not, since you asked.

If you are going to attempt to do these tests yourself, keep in mind that the cheapest colorimeters, which are some of the equipment Stacey said are required to do some of them, will set you back at least $125. And the cheapest ones rarely tend to get you the best results. You could just end up wasting $125 on a colorimeter that doesn't get the job done right. Or worse: since some of these tests involve you having to go into your monitor/panel's factory service menu to accurately calibrate, you could screw up in this step and brick (break) your TV, and you'll have wasted around $1000 trying to get it calibrated.

If you are only talking about calibrating one monitor/panel in your house as opposed to several monitors/panels in one house, I would suggest saving yourself the time, money and hassle and just pay $250-$300 to have a certified ISF calibrator/specialist calibrate it for you, using their colorimeters and their knowledge on the matter. I would go for this option.