Is is possible that my hdtv is calibrated right out of the box??

Question

I recently purchased a Toshiba Regza (42RV530U). Knowing I had to calibrate it but not wanting to dish out $300 to best buy, I bought the "DVE HD Basics" on blu-ray (basically an in depth step by step how-to for calibrating ones hdtv). Besides it being the most confusing directions I have ever had to listen to...after doing all the test it asks you...the settings were exactly the same. In other words I didn't change a thing. Not the contrast, brightness, color etc...Has anyone tried to calibrate this tv or had this problem?? or lack of a problem i guess.

Answer 1

It's possible, but most likely not.  Manufacturer's want to sell TVs and a lot of TVs are sold by big box stores under lots of flourescent lighting next to many other TVs.  For one thing, the brightness is probably kicked up a notch .

I gave up on the DVE HD disk.  It was useful, but took too long.  At the end of the day, you just mostly need the contrast, brightness, and color correct.

Basically, the only thing the advanced disk taught me was that sharpness is useless for digital sets and should be turned off or set to minimum - it's a carryover from the analog world of CRT sets and broadcast transmission (still found but not mainstream for the majority of HDTV flat panel displays).

You can get a basic calibration done for brightness, contrast, and color from any DVD that has a THX logo.  You probably already have a few.  I found a set of test patterns in the setup menu on "Toy Story" and "Ice Age 2".

Note that on most TVs, each video input has a separate set of calibration parameters (meaning you have to set up each one)...

See the link below, but here's the steps I'd take...

1.)  Turn off sharpness.  This is noise added to an analog signal.  Some digital sets using the digital input won't allow you to make this adjustment.

2.)  Set the color temperature to 6500K.  If the color temperature isn't referenced by the film standard number, set it to "Normal", "Pro", "Advanced", or contact the manufacturer (manual).  Settings like "Vivid" or other bright settings are the opposite of what you want.  If the color temperature isn't right, it is possible that one of the color signals can saturate and you won't see the color as it was meant to be seen (e.g. shifted blue, etc.).

3.)  Use the contrast and brightness test patterns in the lighting conditions you will watch the set in.  These adjustments are iterative.  If you change one, it will affect the other.  Keep changing them until you don't have to change the other one - then you're done.  In the "THX Optimizer", the contrast is set by looking at the setting where you just barely can start to discern the difference between 8 shades of white and the brightness is when you can just barely start to discern the 7th of 10 black boxes of different darkness in the pattern.  The screen has instructions while you do this.

Think of contrast and brightness on a number line (from 1 to 10).  Each number is part of the video signal.  The contrast sets the width/lenght/size/magnitude of the possible signal on your TV (it's like gain).  The brightness moves the center left and right (it's like offset).  Your ideal setting is to center the signal on 5 and have it go up and down +/- 5 (for a total of 10).  If you have the contrast too high, you'll overextend past 10 and below 1 (and your TV can only display from 1 to 10 so you can't tell the difference between an 11 or 10).  If the center is moved, you'll be either too bright or too dark (meaning you might not get the full function - the TV will never display bright signals at 10 or the dark signals won't show up at 1).

Answer 2

no.  like the previous answer, your TV is factory optimized but is by no means calibrated for your individual viewing experience.  using a disc based calibrater does not do your TV much justice but it's better than using the factory settings.  TVs off the floor are completely maxed out in brightness and contrast, based on the display environment, which generally is a brightly lit showroom.  ISF calibration is the only way to fly as they will completely go through every setting and maximize it for your room.  remember though, every room is different, depending on the lighting and viewing angle and distances.  leave to the pros for the best possible picture... will be costly, but worth it.

Answer 3

Your television is not calibrated out of the box.  Every manufacturer ships all of their tvs with mechanical show room settings.  They ony way to properly calibrate a tv is to plug an isf computer into the service port.