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When to calibrate and how frequently repeated?

#1
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1/22/09 at 5:54am
  • Joined: March 2001
  • Location: Rochester, NY
  • Post Count: 6,324
I'm getting a new 50" set and am contemplating calibration. I'm adrift on this issue and looking for help.

* When is the right time to calibrate? Does a plasma TV need to "break in" for a few days, weeks, months before it's time to calibrate?

* What's the recommended re-cal schedule? Do TVs drift much, requring periodic re-calibration?

* How do I find a good calibrator? I've got a referral from Gregg Loewen here on the forum, which is great. What are good questions to ask a calibrator to make sure I'm getting the best service?

Thanks!
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#2
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1/22/09 at 7:09am
  • Joined: March 2000
  • Location: THX/ISF'er By Night - Calgary
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Re: When to calibrate and how frequently repeated?

Greetings

If you do it with a test disc ... forget about break in periods ... do it right away. Then repeat a month later ... then about every 4 to 6 months after. Always do it after you change out gear ... like DVD players.

Disc don't have timers built in so they do not self destruct after a set number of uses. Or do they ...?

You find a good calibrator by asking around forums like this or you takes your chances by going to the ISF forum and figuring out which of the 5000 companies are right for you. Sort of like picking a good doctor or a car mechanic. Figure out who has a great reputation.

The THX site also has calibrators listed and those people are listed by name so you know exactly who you are talking to and who should be coming to your home to do the work. Via the THX site, there are fewer unknowns about the calibrators versus the ISF site.

You know the person will have the right gear for the job. You know that they have practical experience since the class actually teaches people to calibrate ... in addition to the theory. You also know that they maintain their gear and the person coming actually is the person that took the course.

Go with Gregg ... he's a freaking THX Video instructor and an ISF instructor. You may as well get the teacher to do the job ... versus one of his students. All things being equal. It doesn't cost anymore.

Regards

Michael @ The Laser Video Experience
THX Video Systems Instructor
ISF Calibration Instructor
Lion A/V Consultants Network
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#3
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1/22/09 at 12:28pm
  • Joined: March 2001
  • Location: Rochester, NY
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Re: When to calibrate and how frequently repeated?

Thanks Michael for the tips. RE: Gregg: he referred me to a Lion A/V member who works my region. I don't know if Gregg comes to upstate NY himself.

For pro calibrations, by someone like yourself, how often are the sets themselves recalibrated, if ever? In the engineering world, equipment can and will drift out of calibration and must be re-cal'd periodically. You may recalibrate your own equipment annually. Obviously my TV is not mission critical hardware but it would certainly drift over some time -- maybe years. And people who care about having calibration would care about maintaining calibration. But this is academic, really. If I get a cal done, I doubt I'd redo it again for a year or longer.
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#4
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1/22/09 at 1:01pm
  • Joined: March 2000
  • Location: THX/ISF'er By Night - Calgary
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Re: When to calibrate and how frequently repeated?

Greetings

Gregg does come to NY ... so insist on him. It's within his sphere of influence.

As for pro calibration time tables ... 15 to 18 months is usually a good idea to get a re-tweak.

Drift ... of the TV ...
A chance to update DVD players

The cost of a revisit by most pro guys never costs as much as the first time. Usually 50% to 67% of the initial charge.

For my local guys for instance ... I charge them $100 for any type of revisit as long as it is still for the same TV. If they upgrade ... then the pricing changes to some repeat customer rate (20% discount).

regards

Michael @ The Laser Video Experience
THX Video Systems Instructor
ISF Calibration Instructor
Lion A/V Consultants Network
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#5
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1/22/09 at 3:57pm
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  • Location: Rochester, NY
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Re: When to calibrate and how frequently repeated?

Have you had potential clients ask if you use certain tools for your work? Specifically, I've read elsewhere to only have a calibrator who uses ControlCAL for adjusting a non-elite Pioneer Kuro, as this gives access to full grayscale control; otherwise the TV's normal controls have limited adjustability.
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#6
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1/22/09 at 5:16pm
  • Joined: March 2000
  • Location: THX/ISF'er By Night - Calgary
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Re: When to calibrate and how frequently repeated?

Greetings

Some ask and the answer is yes ...

Control cal is one answer ... a service remote is another.

Right tool for the right job ...

regards

Michael @ The Laser Video Experience
THX Video Systems Instructor
ISF Calibration Instructor
Lion A/V Consultants Network
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#7
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1/23/09 at 7:01pm
  • Joined: March 2001
  • Location: Rochester, NY
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Re: When to calibrate and how frequently repeated?

Thanks for the info
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#8
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1/31/09 at 11:42pm
  • Joined: November 2004
  • Location: Southern California
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Re: When to calibrate and how frequently repeated?

You may recalibrate your own equipment annually.

Once a year is really all you need. You are only doing it for home use, so just put a day on your calendar for next year and you're in good shape. When I was projecting films for Hollywood stars like Michael Douglas, Keanu Reeves, Prince and Val Kilmer and others (and keep in mind, this was for professional use) calibration was done once a year.
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