What exactly does a calibration dvd do?

Question

I have a Toshiba 62 mx195.The darks are just to d**n dark.Now I relize Toshiba is not top of the line but did I $%^# up that bad buy buying this tv?Does a calibration dvd adjust things on the tv that Im not aware via laptop or is it just telling you whats the best levels for contrast and brights?I understand all the geometry of the settings in that aspect but is there more I dont know about or was this tv just a bad choice and I must watch a dark screen forever?And it is a new bulb so thats not the issue.And yes Ive tried the high bright.Please help!

Answer 1

A calibration DVD has test patterns that help you adjust brightness and contrast.

Brightness adjust black level; too low and you crash all blacks and you lose details. To high and all blacks look washed out.

Contrast adjusts white level.

Check also your DVD player. It may be set to "blacks on" or something similar that crashes blacks.

Answer 2

The display optimization and set-up discs, aka “calibration” discs, from Video Essentials, Ovation Multimedia, and DisplayMate Technologies will help owners to optimize the Brightness, Contrast, Color, Sharpness, and Geometry settings, etc., of a display.



Aside from a “calibration” disc any display owner should be able to easily adjust their display to produce undesirably bright and washed-out video images at the extreme ends of both the Contrast (peak white level) and Brightness (black level) ranges, respectively. If you are unable to do so then a “calibration” disc may be of little help and you should contact an authorized Toshiba service center as there may be a problem with the light engine in your display. I have also seen single-chip DLP RPTVs where—given enough time relative to various levels of airborne contaminants and particulates present in most viewing environments—the color wheel (aka spinning dichroic prism) developed a thin layer of dust and particulates resulting in reduced light output. Unless your Toshiba RPTV is out of warranty (and/or you’re the adventurous type adept at DIY repair) then cleaning the color wheel is also best left to an authorized Toshiba service center.



There have been several reports of problems with the light engine in Toshiba’s HM195 and MX195 series DLP RPTVs in addition to a known problem, acknowledged by Toshiba, involving the lamp reliability.



The OFFICIAL Toshiba 56MX195-62MX195-72MX195 Owner’s Thread

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthrea...

Toshiba 1080p DLPs

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthrea...

The Toshiba DLP (HM/HMX) Owners Thread

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthrea...

The Official Toshiba 56/62/72 MX195/HM195 HTPC FAQ Thread

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthrea...



Importantant Information for 2005 Toshiba Owners [sic]

http://www.highdefforum.com/showthread.p...



Information for Owners of 2005 [Toshiba] DLP® Televisions

http://www.tacp.toshiba.com/tacpassets-i...



Toshiba DLP Television Lamp Notice

http://home.wi.rr.com/ragtop262/Toshiba%...



Before you proceed with a service call you should make sure that you’re using the latest firmware update for your display, if you haven’t already done so.

________________________



How to calibrate an HDTV?

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?...

Is it really important to have calibration on an LCD television?

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?...



Digital Video Essentials: HD Basics (Blu-ray or HD DVD)

Digital Video Essentials Pro (DVD)

http://www.videoessentials.com



Ovation Multimedia Avia II (DVD)

http://www.ovationmultimedia.com/product...



DisplayMate (Multimedia Edition or Windows Video Edition)

http://www.displaymate.com/complete.html



(Note: Currently “Digital Video Essentials: HD Basics” would be the best choice if you had to pick only one disc.)