Professional Fine-Tuning of HDTV Set?

[OldMatador]

OK, I'm sick of tweaking my HDTV myself, so I want some professional help. Where can I find a guy to tune my Sony 34" KV-34XBR910 and how much will it run me, generally?

[Hankster]

I had my set calibrated by an ISF (Imaging Science Foundation) calibrater. The difference was huge, the prices usually range anywhere from $250-$800. Check these links out and start here,

Eliab at Avical is very good and does jobs up this way but I believe there could be a wait.

www.avical.com/

www.imagingscience.com/

[horrorfan2112]

Hey matador , both hank and I had our tv's calibrated by the same guy , he is no longer doing calibrations in our area but his partner was Eliab and from everything I have read on the various forums he is a very talented calibrator . Trust me once you have had your set ISF calibrated you won't beleive how much more awesome the picture is . I mean it's not just the tiny difference some people think it is it really wows you . When you have your color decoder properly adjusted you can FULLY saturate the color . I have never seen any tv that looks as good as a calibrated one out of the box espescially rptvs. These guys don't simply come in with a few test patterns and run out the door . My calibration took about 6 hours and it was a very interesting time watching this guy make my tv shine. You will be so happy you did it after the guy leaves . I watched about ten movies that weekend because I just couldn't get over the difference. Plus since you have a direct view crt the charge for calibration will not be nearly as much . I had a direct view calibrated and it was alot cheaper than my rptv.

[Skaggs]

Horrorfan:

You make it sound so good I want to get this guy to my house ASAP! How long does the calibration hold...or in other words...how often do you need to have him come back?

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Here's a price list from http://www.avical.com:

Entry-level rear-projection television calibration package - $400.00.

• Pre-calibration analysis of video imagery.
• Pre-calibration documentation of grayscale and display device user menu settings.]
• Proper set-up of DVD player parameters.
• Centering of user menu adjustments (where applicable).
• Electronic or mechanical SVM disablement.
• Neutralization of auto features (auto-color, iris, etc.).
• VR adjustments (if needed).
• Electrostatic and mechanical focus.
• Optics cleaning.
• Convergence adjustment for anamorphic viewing modes for DVD and HD.
• Overscan adjustment to minimize image cropping and to center image on screen.
• Grayscale calibration to the D6500 Kelvin color temperature reference standard for both DVD and HD.
• Color decoder correction including Mitsubishi I2C fix.
• Optimization of user menu controls for all inputs used.
• Front surface cleaning.
• Pre and post calibration report given to the customer.
• Post-calibration consultation on video imagery as it pertains to the display device and viewing environment in question.

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All inclusive DLP/LCD/Plasma calibration package - $375.00.

• Pre-calibration consultation on ambient lighting and viewing environment.
• Pre-calibration analysis of video imagery.
• Pre-calibration documentation of grayscale and display device user menu settings.
• Proper set-up of DVD player parameters.
• Centering of user menu adjustments (where applicable).
• Neutralization of auto features (auto-color, iris, etc.).
• Overscan adjustment to minimize image cropping and to center image on screen.
• Grayscale calibration to the D6500 Kelvin color temperature reference standard for both DVD and HD.
• Color decoder correction (where applicable).
• Optimization of user menu controls for all inputs used.
• Front surface cleaning.
• Pre and post calibration report given to the customer.
• Post-calibration consultation on video imagery as it pertains to the display device and viewing environment in question.

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All inclusive direct-view television calibration package - $350.00.

• Pre-calibration consultation on ambient lighting and viewing environment.
• Pre-calibration analysis of video imagery.
• Pre-calibration documentation of grayscale and display device user menu settings.
• Proper set-up of DVD player parameters.
• Centering of user menu adjustments (where applicable).
• Electronic SVM disablement (where applicable).
• Neutralization of auto features (auto-color, iris, etc.).
• Minor geometry correction.
• Overscan adjustment to minimize image cropping and to center image on screen.
• Grayscale calibration to the D6500 Kelvin color temperature reference standard for both DVD and HD.
• Color decoder correction (where applicable).
• Optimization of user menu controls for all inputs used.
• Front surface cleaning.
• Pre and post calibration report given to the customer.
• Post-calibration consultation on video imagery as it pertains to the display device and viewing environment in question.

[horrorfan2112]

calibration will hold indefinately . Unless you have a meltdown and the tv needs to be repaired which depending on what model tv you have can wipe out the calibration. Calibrators do have what they call touch up calibrations where they come back a couple of years later to check how well the tv has held its initial calibration. Only the super tweaky need apply for the touch up . I mean once the eprom in the tv has had its settings written to it you should be good forever. Except for touching up convergence here and there and maybe some electrical and mechanical focusing and lense cleaning. The touch up calibrations are very cheap compared to the initial calibration. I had my set done alittle over a year ago and the set still looks great I have only had to do convergence a couple of times since then and it was only minor touch ups. Don't be put off by the prices this guy drives form new jersey to do this and he is in your home for a VERY long time . It was kind of surreal to see a guy take my screen off and then go inside my tv to manually focus my guns and clean them etc..

[budgetguy]

This service sounds very good and if the website's correct may actually increase the life of the tv...so..when you consider, enhanced picture and increased life..the price becomes extremely reasonable...I'd like to get this guy to come up here...is anyone else interested...maybe we could offer this guy a "cluster" of folks that want calibration done....
Just a thought...one way or the other I'm gonna spring for it...
Happy New Year All!

[horrorfan2112]

I am already on eliab's list for a touch up whenever he comes up here maybe if you guys want we could make it a group thing.

[OldMatador]

I would definitely be interested in a calibration, but $350 is a little out of my range. If it was $200, I'd say maybe. Don't know how the fiancee would take $350.00... But I definitely need it for the TV.

[Skaggs]

budgetguy said:

I'd like to get this guy to come up here...is anyone else interested...maybe we could offer this guy a "cluster" of folks that want calibration done.

horrorfan2112 said:

I am already on eliab's list for a touch up whenever he comes up here maybe if you guys want we could make it a group thing.

I'm interested in having my RPTV done. Email or PM me if you are serious about having it done, too. I'll contact avical to see when they can come up here from NYC.

[Skaggs]

I spoke to Eliab from Avical yesterday afternoon. I will coordinating a calibration tour for the week of March 21-25, 2005.

Prices are listed on his website (I think they have gone up a little from what I have listed above), and an additional travel expense of $50-$75 will be added on to the prices listed.

A $50 deposit will secure your spot. There are 2 appointments per day, starting between 8-9AM and noon-2PM, depending on the type of HDTV's that are schedules. He can do 2 or more HDTV's in your home if you want them calibrated at the same time.

I will post a banner ad on the main page later in the week but I wanted to get an announcement out this morning.

Contact me at [e-mail] to arrange a time. They are booking quick.

m_jonis, mr. ed, and timick1 have expressed interest, and Old Matador has said so, too. If these 4 confirm with a deposit, there are 6 spots left.

I check my email late in the afternoon each day.