Calibration input, please. Best Buy or not?

[JimShaw]

Today I stopped by Ken Cramer which is a large TV retailer, with many stores around So. Calif., to take a look at Pioneers and get information.

I was told they calibrate for $600-$700. I mentioned to them that Best Buy does a calibration for $250. They laughed and told be that what Best Buys does really isn’t a full calibration.

I stopped by Best Buy and was assured that they do a full and complete calibration.

Any one on the forum know the truth? Is Best Buy’s cr-p or is $600-$700 a rip off?



.

[Blu-Dog]

Originally Posted by JimShaw

Today I stopped by Ken Cramer which is a large TV retailer, with many stores around So. Calif., to take a look at Pioneers and get information.

I was told they calibrate for $600-$700. I mentioned to them that Best Buy does a calibration for $250. They laughed and told be that what Best Buys does really isn’t a full calibration.

I stopped by Best Buy and was assured that they do a full and complete calibration.

Any one on the forum know the truth? Is Best Buy’s cr-p or is $600-$700 a rip off?

.

Save your money, and calibrate your set with a calibration disk. You can do the THX calibration from any THX film, there are several.

Things to remember:

1. Your set, out of the box will be in "torch mode" with excessive brightness and contrast. You can defeat these settings and take every setting back to midline, in a matter of seconds.
2. Your set was adjusted at the factory. Once you have your settings back to midline, use a simple calibration disk to get it close to what would be considered perfect.
3. Any calibration that is done by anyone, no matter who does it, is subject to "drift" over time. Not once - I'm telling you, NOT ONCE has any of these calibration aficiandos figured out how frequently recalibration would be required.

Anyone who says "your picture will look like crap if you don't get it calibrated" knows little or nothing about electronics, if they don't tell you how often you need to calibrate it. And at $250 to $700 a pop, this hustle needs to stop.

The prices are insane, the task unnecessary and overrated, and the hype comes from people who paid the money and won't admit they don't know why they did.

[dadkins]

Originally Posted by Blu-Dog

Save your money, and calibrate your set with a calibration disk. You can do the THX calibration from any THX film, there are several.

Things to remember:

1. Your set, out of the box will be in "torch mode" with excessive brightness and contrast. You can defeat these settings and take every setting back to midline, in a matter of seconds.
2. Your set was adjusted at the factory. Once you have your settings back to midline, use a simple calibration disk to get it close to what would be considered perfect.
3. Any calibration that is done by anyone, no matter who does it, is subject to "drift" over time. Not once - I'm telling you, NOT ONCE has any of these calibration aficiandos figured out how frequently recalibration would be required.

Anyone who says "your picture will look like crap if you don't get it calibrated" knows little or nothing about electronics, if they don't tell you how often you need to calibrate it. And at $250 to $700 a pop, this hustle needs to stop.

The prices are insane, the task unnecessary and overrated, and the hype comes from people who paid the money and won't admit they don't know why they did.

Truth!

[SellmeyourDVD]

i just found dark room settings off cnet and called it a day


If you asked BB if they could make you an elixar for eternal life, they'd say yes, but you'd also need a monster cable to go with it

[Clark Kent]

Avoid any service Best Buy offers. I would use this link if you feel the need to get an I.S.F. calibration. Some Best Buy calibrators are I.S.F. trained but I have met too many incompetent employees there to fully trust anything they offer. It is worth it if you want to squeeze the best possible picture quality from your display.

http://www.imagingscience.com/isf-trained.cfm

[SellmeyourDVD]

the avsforums are also a good place to find calibrators. I think they have a GIGANTIC thread that has just calibrators stating where they are from and what cities/areas they will do work in.

[GGX]

Ya I definitely recommend a full ISF calibration from a reputable ISF calibrator. Not the cheapo BB calibration.