Screen calibration
Discussion
Firstly let me just comment that I've spent a fair bit of time and money buying equipment to perform DIY calibration and external video processors to get the nth degree of correction that my displays don't allow due to limited controls.
With that out of the way, IMHO just setting the display up so that all the un necessary processing is 'off' and chosing a suitable mode goes a long way to getting a good picture out of the display (I'm mostly aiming this at TVs since projectors have far more variables with the room and screen). Add to this using a good (but free) set up disc such as the AVS HD709 one and just using the basic patterns to correctly set the brightness and contrast will get you a huge way towards the best picture. If that's all you want then all good, just takes a little time, research (to find the more accurate mode(s) to use as a base) and effort.
http://www.avsforum.com/t/948496/avs-hd-709-blu-ra...
Beyond that, getting a Pro in is likely to cost £250+. If you think this is too expensive, then you need to consider just how long it can take to optimise a display. I've known it take 5-6 hours just getting the greyscale/gamma correct on my projector, plus further time to then correct the colour gamut. These days I have an automatic calibration software linked to my video processor (Lumagen) so it takes a fraction of the time, though I still double check and tweak the greyscale/gamma before letting it do the colour gamut for me. I can flick between pre and post calibration and IMHO there is a difference, but for some it might not be 'night and day'. Just subtle things like shadow details, a bit more depth to the image in brighter scenes and that the colours are more natural (unless it's meant to be un-natural like animation for example).
What it doesn't do is turn a basic LCD TV into a Kuro. You may already be seeing the best blacks the TV can provide, but perhaps the colour temperature is a bit off and gamma not giving you the shadow detail and depth in brighter scenes.
I know that Gordon Fraser travels all over the UK doing calibration (I know someone in Farnborough who had him to calibrate their projector) so he would be worthwhile contacting. I've no connection other than he runs the Lumagen forum that I've got lots of help over the years from.
http://www.convergent-av.co.uk/about.html
PS. I don't do calibrations for others before anyone sends me a PM.
With that out of the way, IMHO just setting the display up so that all the un necessary processing is 'off' and chosing a suitable mode goes a long way to getting a good picture out of the display (I'm mostly aiming this at TVs since projectors have far more variables with the room and screen). Add to this using a good (but free) set up disc such as the AVS HD709 one and just using the basic patterns to correctly set the brightness and contrast will get you a huge way towards the best picture. If that's all you want then all good, just takes a little time, research (to find the more accurate mode(s) to use as a base) and effort.
http://www.avsforum.com/t/948496/avs-hd-709-blu-ra...
Beyond that, getting a Pro in is likely to cost £250+. If you think this is too expensive, then you need to consider just how long it can take to optimise a display. I've known it take 5-6 hours just getting the greyscale/gamma correct on my projector, plus further time to then correct the colour gamut. These days I have an automatic calibration software linked to my video processor (Lumagen) so it takes a fraction of the time, though I still double check and tweak the greyscale/gamma before letting it do the colour gamut for me. I can flick between pre and post calibration and IMHO there is a difference, but for some it might not be 'night and day'. Just subtle things like shadow details, a bit more depth to the image in brighter scenes and that the colours are more natural (unless it's meant to be un-natural like animation for example).
What it doesn't do is turn a basic LCD TV into a Kuro. You may already be seeing the best blacks the TV can provide, but perhaps the colour temperature is a bit off and gamma not giving you the shadow detail and depth in brighter scenes.
I know that Gordon Fraser travels all over the UK doing calibration (I know someone in Farnborough who had him to calibrate their projector) so he would be worthwhile contacting. I've no connection other than he runs the Lumagen forum that I've got lots of help over the years from.
http://www.convergent-av.co.uk/about.html
PS. I don't do calibrations for others before anyone sends me a PM.
Edited by OldSkoolRS on Thursday 23 May 15:22
I burned a copy of the AVS HD709 disk and had a bit of a play. The picture was improved and is good enough for me.
At the end of the day a lot of what is transmitted isn't up to much though. Some of the programs in HD are pretty good. It really depends on how much you watch and how much you want to spend.
At the end of the day a lot of what is transmitted isn't up to much though. Some of the programs in HD are pretty good. It really depends on how much you watch and how much you want to spend.
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