Hello, all...I joined this forum years ago back when DVD was just busting into the mass consumer market. Looking through these posts I was reminded of how much knowledge there is among the forum "regulars". I'm hoping you can help me out.
I've not paid much attention to HD or Blu-Ray in recent years, because budget didn't allow. Well, I did some saving and some online research, and a few days ago I purchased a 46" Samsung LCD (LN46A650) and a Sony Blu-Ray player (BDP-S350).
I'm struggling a little bit with picture calibration. The Blu-Ray player is connected via HDMI, and the first thing I tested out was an old (non BD) disc of SW: The Phantom Menace. The image quality was so incredibly sharp (and possibly too bright?) that it detracted from the film. The movie had a quality that my wife described as looking like "a soap opera" and looking like "we're watching a behind the scenes feature". I googled and found others complaining with the exact same features.
I've done some random image calibration, but I feel a bit like I'm flailing...and don't have a solid approach. To increase the confusion, there are many calibrations to be made on the TV, and some on the Blu-Ray player as well.
Last night, I threw in another DVD (Lindsey Buckingham Soundstage) and noticed that the closeups were incredibly sharp but far away shots of the stage and audience were messy...not sure if those are technically called "artifacts"...but it's frustrating.
That was a much too long way to ask this: For someone like me who is comfortable with technology but not well-versed in the HD world, what are my simplest DIY steps to getting the best picture out of my television? Are calibration DVDs the way to go? Are there web sites that post other people's configuration numbers? Any old or "sticky" threads I should be reading?
Just interested in any sage advise that the HT gurus on this forum could offer.
Thanks,
Matt
I've not paid much attention to HD or Blu-Ray in recent years, because budget didn't allow. Well, I did some saving and some online research, and a few days ago I purchased a 46" Samsung LCD (LN46A650) and a Sony Blu-Ray player (BDP-S350).
I'm struggling a little bit with picture calibration. The Blu-Ray player is connected via HDMI, and the first thing I tested out was an old (non BD) disc of SW: The Phantom Menace. The image quality was so incredibly sharp (and possibly too bright?) that it detracted from the film. The movie had a quality that my wife described as looking like "a soap opera" and looking like "we're watching a behind the scenes feature". I googled and found others complaining with the exact same features.
I've done some random image calibration, but I feel a bit like I'm flailing...and don't have a solid approach. To increase the confusion, there are many calibrations to be made on the TV, and some on the Blu-Ray player as well.
Last night, I threw in another DVD (Lindsey Buckingham Soundstage) and noticed that the closeups were incredibly sharp but far away shots of the stage and audience were messy...not sure if those are technically called "artifacts"...but it's frustrating.
That was a much too long way to ask this: For someone like me who is comfortable with technology but not well-versed in the HD world, what are my simplest DIY steps to getting the best picture out of my television? Are calibration DVDs the way to go? Are there web sites that post other people's configuration numbers? Any old or "sticky" threads I should be reading?
Just interested in any sage advise that the HT gurus on this forum could offer.
Thanks,
Matt
MUST... HAVE... NEW... TECHNOLOGY!...". *buy*
).
