Help a newb out with his new TV

[nate_0022]

Hey guys, I'm still fairly new to the whole HD scene. I read it's important to get your TV calibrated for the best picture, and helping your TV last a lot longer. I went out and bought the 52" Samsung LN52A750, I wont be recieving it until next Tuesday but I want to get a jump start on getting things for the TV. Is their any certain discs you recommend for getting the TV set calibrated, or is their a service I can call to have them do it, or is this something that doesn't even has to be professionally done? Also a good source to find HDMI cables? I know that I don't need to buy the $100+ ones, I made that mistake with my first TV. Lastly how about a good surge protector? Anything else I may need let me know. I'm also buying a PS3 the following weekend, already have a wish list going for my BD's at Amazon . Thank for any help, this is a good site to learn from.

[My_Two_Cents]

You can start by "fine tuning" the set yourself with the following disc:

http://www.amazon.com/Digital-Video-...2623680&sr=8-1

You can also go here for settings and tips. It also has advice for getting true ISF calibrations done.

http://www.tweaktv.com/

Buy your cables from Monoprice.

Go with Panamax for a surge protector. They are good quality and affordable.

Originally Posted by nate_0022

I'm also buying a PS3 the following weekend, already have a wish list going for my Blu Ray DVD's at Amazon .

DVD's are DVD's

Blu-Rays are BD's

[nate_0022]

Originally Posted by Ricshoe

You can start by "fine tuning" the set yourself with the following disc:

http://www.amazon.com/Digital-Video-...2623680&sr=8-1

You can also go here for settings and tips. It also has advice for getting true ISF calibrations done.

http://www.tweaktv.com/

Buy your cables from Monoprice.

Go with Panamax for a surge protector. They are good quality and affordable.



DVD's are DVD's

Blu-Rays are BD's

Oops sorry for the newb mistake lol. Thanks for all the info, I'll do some more reading. The only thing is for the ISF calibration, I have no one really close to me that offeres the services, the closest I think Is 120 miles away. BB offered me "Optimization" basically they said they go through and set the color, tint and whatever else, just not a true calibration. Is that worth it or is that basically what the DVD you recommended above for?

[My_Two_Cents]

Originally Posted by nate_0022

BB offered me "Optimization" basically they said they go through and set the color, tint and whatever else, just not a true calibration. Is that worth it or is that basically what the DVD you recommended above for?

I do not personally have any experience with BB "calibrations", but I would not spend the money to have them do anything for me. I doubt very highly that they do any more than adjust standard menu settings that you can do (if there are any BB service folks out there that know differently, please correct me ). Buy the Avia disc and tweak the set yourself. You'll get a much improved picture if you follow the step-by-step directions. It won't be ISF calibrated, but most people won't need that in order to enjoy their sets. I've yet to have one done because I'm cheap and would rather spend the money on something else, especially since I'm very happy with the picture on my set. Once I eventually upgrade to a true HT with a projector, I may bite the bullet for an ISF calibration.

[crackinhedz]

Originally Posted by Ricshoe

You can start by "fine tuning" the set yourself with the following disc:

http://www.amazon.com/Digital-Video-...2623680&sr=8-1

You can also go here for settings and tips. It also has advice for getting true ISF calibrations done.

http://www.tweaktv.com/

Buy your cables from Monoprice.

Go with Panamax for a surge protector. They are good quality and affordable.

well said.

[Blu_Ray_Fan]

I had BB do my A3000 SXRD and was happy with what they did for the $$. Maybe it could be bettter, but people are AMAZED when they watch a BD or HD-DVD. And they do go into the settings and change the menu crap. They hooked something to the front of the screen, a laptop, and plugged into the HDMI. It only took a little over an hour and cost $300, but I don't feel screwed.

I prefer Blue Jeans Cables. They have really fast shipment, GREAT build quality, and come HIGHLY recommended by HT experts.
http://www.bluejeanscable.com/

Panamax or MonsterPower make very nice protection.

Ps3 is a very good choice for a BD player (at the current moment). I will be upgrading this fall because my 60gb takes a lot of electricity and is noisy. On the othere hand though, my 40gb is silent for movie watching in the bedroom.

Hope I helped! Good luck, have fun, welcome to the forum!

ps. If you are ever in the Minneapolis area, hit me up! (from MN also)

[caliblue15]

Best Buy has ISF professionals do their calibrations, and it costs $300. That is the best calibration you will ever get, they actually go into the motherboard of your TV.

[nate_0022]

Originally Posted by Ricshoe

I do not personally have any experience with BB "calibrations", but I would not spend the money to have them do anything for me. I doubt very highly that they do any more than adjust standard menu settings that you can do (if there are any BB service folks out there that know differently, please correct me ). Buy the Avia disc and tweak the set yourself. You'll get a much improved picture if you follow the step-by-step directions. It won't be ISF calibrated, but most people won't need that in order to enjoy their sets. I've yet to have one done because I'm cheap and would rather spend the money on something else, especially since I'm very happy with the picture on my set. Once I eventually upgrade to a true HT with a projector, I may bite the bullet for an ISF calibration.

So just buying the Calibration disc and use the Tweaking website, I should be just fine?

Originally Posted by caliblue15

Best Buy has ISF professionals do their calibrations, and it costs $300. That is the best calibration you will ever get, they actually go into the motherboard of your TV.

I've asked my local BB about ISF calibration and they said they don't offer this type of service. I live in Cloquet (Duluth) Minnesota, the closest people that do ISF calibration is 2 hours south in Minneapolis, their BB geeksquad does offer it according to the website. I'll see if they will possibly take the drive for me

Which model for the Panamax product is highly recommended?

Thanks everyone for being patient with me. I appreciate all the help i'm being given.

[caliblue15]

They would charge for mileage, so it would be more expensive than $300. especially at 2hrs away. I would first try getting settings from someone that got their TV calibrated that's what the TVtweaking website is for, they are ISF professionals and just list their settings after doing TV's.

[nate_0022]

Yep, they don't have my TV in their system. They said they should have it by the end of the month for the 650, but basically the 650 and 750 are the same, correct?

[nate_0022]

Originally Posted by Blu_Ray_Fan

ps. If you are ever in the Minneapolis area, hit me up! (from MN also)

I didn't notice this till now. I actually just came back from there today.


On another note I bought this calibration DVD http://www.amazon.com/Digital-Video-Essentials-Basics-Blu-ray/dp/B000V6LST0/ref=wl_it_dp?ie=UTF8&coliid=I3E7PK0LZHKXYU&colid=3 1A11OPLGITZT will this only calibrate my tv for Blu Ray, or will it calibrate my tv for everything?

[My_Two_Cents]

Originally Posted by nate_0022

On another note I bought this calibration DVD http://www.amazon.com/Digital-Video-Essentials-Basics-Blu-ray/dp/B000V6LST0/ref=wl_it_dp?ie=UTF8&coliid=I3E7PK0LZHKXYU&colid=3 1A11OPLGITZT will this only calibrate my tv for Blu Ray, or will it calibrate my tv for everything?

Good question. I've always calibrated the set based on the DVD or BD input being used to run the disk and then just cloned the settings to the other inputs being used (when I was using multiple inputs on the set). Others may say to hook your player to each input being used, and tune them all seperately. Since I have everything running HDMI through my AVR, I only have one input into the set making tuning/calibration simpler.

[nate_0022]

Are there any other goodies I should be looking into? I've read a little about "UPS" power conditioners, surge protectors. It's all confusing to me what I need what I don't need. Can someone shed some light on the subjects please. My TV comes tomorrow so I need to know what else to get. I'll also be putting together some sort of home theater sometime down the road.

[CptGreedle]

Since HDMI is digital, $100 HDMI cables are not needed. It might be hard to find, but you can get them for $20 or less and they still look and sound the same. I have had few issues with mine and they were not expensive at all.
Also, I highly recommend you have your TV professionally calibrated, they can do much more than anything you CAN do to calibrate your TV and do a better job than the discs. They will calibrate the colors more accurately, the sharpness, the brightness, etc, and even the sound. However the price is a bit high for most so at least use a BD calibrator.
You should also find a power regulator, not just a surge protector. I am looking for one too, but these will allow spikes and drops in power to not affect your system at all. I have had so many power outages this last week (little ones) that I just unplugged my TV for now till I can get one, and get my basement cleaned and new carpets (flood).
Good luck with whatever you get.

[PNF]

Originally Posted by CptGreedle

Since HDMI is digital, $100 HDMI cables are not needed. It might be hard to find, but you can get them for $20 or less and they still look and sound the same. I have had few issues with mine and they were not expensive at all.
Also, I highly recommend you have your TV professionally calibrated, they can do much more than anything you CAN do to calibrate your TV and do a better job than the discs. They will calibrate the colors more accurately, the sharpness, the brightness, etc, and even the sound. However the price is a bit high for most so at least use a BD calibrator.
You should also find a power regulator, not just a surge protector. I am looking for one too, but these will allow spikes and drops in power to not affect your system at all. I have had so many power outages this last week (little ones) that I just unplugged my TV for now till I can get one, and get my basement cleaned and new carpets (flood).
Good luck with whatever you get.

Monoprice.com

[GeneD5]

Originally Posted by caliblue15

They would charge for mileage, so it would be more expensive than $300. especially at 2hrs away. I would first try getting settings from someone that got their TV calibrated that's what the TVtweaking website is for, they are ISF professionals and just list their settings after doing TV's.

whats the tvtweaking website...I just tried it without luck...

[My_Two_Cents]

Originally Posted by GeneD5

whats the tvtweaking website...I just tried it without luck...

See post #2.

[nate_0022]

Another question. Is it worth getting my TV calibrated if I end up wanting to add in surround sounds surge protection and a condition stuff? Will that have any effect on the calibration if I wanted to add all this later?

[allstar780]

Originally Posted by nate_0022

Another question. Is it worth getting my TV calibrated if I end up wanting to add in surround sounds surge protection and a condition stuff? Will that have any effect on the calibration if I wanted to add all this later?

surge protection and power conditioning should have no effect on the TV picture (aside from cleaning up any possible static created by interference... think the blur you get when someone on the same floor of the house would use a hair dryer) but the surround sound can be calibrated/optimized to your room as well, so if you for sure plan on getting surround sound, you would be best to wait for the calibration, however, it will not change the picture either