How To Calibrate Your New HDTV (and Not Lose Your Mind)

Confession : Until a few days ago , I ’d never calibrated my TV . There are a duet reasons for this . First , and most simply , I ’m not down with buy a standardization magnetic disc that I will likely apply once then never have-to doe with again . And second , to me , HDTV calibration is the widget geek ’s equivalent to chasing the dragon . I ’ve figure endless A / cinque forum posts of raw TV owner begging and plead for that one true stage setting for their new eminent - definition slab — it ’s not pretty . There is an easy way , though , tucked inside hundred of THX - attest videodisk already out there , and it ’s quite possibly already in your movie collection .

The THX Optimizer is a ready and simple calibration tool that I have find gets the occupation done well enough for most of us non - fanatics . And it comes with a free motion picture ! ( OK , it comes free with a flick . ) What is it ? It ’s a hardening of six test practice that aid you choose the cardinal options for any high-definition television calibration : contrast , smartness , tone and pungency .

Where to get it : THX has been quietly embedding the Optimizer in just about every THX - certified DVD for years - so that ’s hundreds . There ’s acomplete leaning here , but it has n’t been update in a while , because THX is presently refreshing the Optimizer for high - def discs . The only Blu - ray disk currently hold it is Terminator 2 , but when the new version is done , THX will admit it on all THX - ceritified BDs , too . Point is , in all , there ’s probably at least one movie you ’d wish to own that befall to come with the Optimizer .

Last Of Us 7 Ellie Crash

One other matter you ’ll need : To take full advantage of the Optimizer for the tone options , you ’ll need some funky downhearted - filter glasses . THX will send you a pair for a duo of buckson their site , though there is an additional colouring material shape in the Optimizer that you could use to eyeball your preferences without the glasses — fundamentally , you just verify that cyan and magenta look as much like the cyan and magenta of your dreams . If you do n’t feel like you’re able to be trusted with that judgment , it ’s probably worth it to drop the $ 4 or so .

preferences you ’ll want to start with : The dependable intelligence is , the Optimizer works with jolly much every TV in the world , from your grandma ’s 19 - in Sony Trinitron to your brand - new 60 - inch Kuro . ( Yeah , you wish . ) I would reset your TV ’s configurations to the factory default before running the Optimizer , and I would also choose to calibrate your solidification ’s picture show / motion-picture show / cinema pre - set ( if possible ) , as it should be close to the ballpark range than the “ received ” modality . But if you prefer the usually cooler color temperature of the stock mode , running it through the Optimizer will at least see that its ferocious salesroom - floor demarcation and brightness will be tamed .

Be certain that any auto - contrast or auto - backlight setting — include any options with the word “ dynamical ” or “ ambient”—are turned off . In one test scenario , every adjustment we tried to make was immediately be countered by “ smart ” options — it was nearly impossible to calibrate the television receiver correctly . If your set comes with those options , shut ’em down . And leave ’em down .

Mission Impossible 8 Underwater

It also helps to try and execute the Optimizer in lighting circumstance that best match your usual TV - view country . Everyone watches TV both during the day and at Nox , so this wo n’t be perfect . But a happy medium of the shade drawn on a partly cloudy mean solar day seemed to mould nicely for me .

After you ’ve draw everything localise up , it ’s a pretty simple run - through - grow up direct contrast until just the point where can still see six white-hot - shaded blocks without them merging together , turn down light until the last dark block out of a dissimilar dustup of six disappears , etc . All of the tests are gentle enough to translate for the layperson .

But does it work ? My Samsung Series 4 LCD now looks a portion better in movie manner , without a doubt . Where it used to look flat and the colors marshy , now Joseph Black depend blacker and tinge more contrasty , but in a far more natural way than the “ dynamic ” preset .

Lesdilley

Note that this before and after of a still from T2 is not a scientific comparability by any agency : the camera ’s photo options are the same in each crude picture , so the screen image should be fair exact , but the elbow room ’s lighting had change a bit by the time I was done calibrating as you’re able to see . But on the screen you could still see the moody Shirley Temple and better color saturation and contrast that I noticed in someone .

So even if the departure is subtle , it ’s worth doing . Especially since you did n’t drop money on a standardization magnetic disc , you either bought a THX - certified movie , or dug one out of your existing piling group O ’ DVDs . ( Netflixing a knownOptimizer - laden titleis a cheap third alternative , of class . ) And those monster screaming at you about the huge potential you ’re overlook by not calibrating your set ? you may put those to rest . [ THX ]

More Advice for the Black Friday Fray :

Mission Impossible 8 Tom Cruise Hang