Thankfully, with the right tools, calibrating an HDTV to your viewing style is easy, and you can do it in less than a half-hour.īlast from the past is a new weekly feature at Lifehacker, in which we revive old, but still relevant, posts for your reading and hacking pleasure. (Sept.Most HDTVs ship with default settings that are meant to look good in store showrooms, but they're not ideal in your home. "HDTV calibration on the cheap." engadgetHD. "This Is Not a Test: Calibrate Your HDTV." The New York Times. "How to Calibrate Your New HDTV (and Not Lose Your Mind)." Gizmodo. "Pro HDTV calibration: rip-off or money well spent?" CNET. Learn more about HDTVs through the links on the following page. Once your HDTV is calibrated, you're ready to enjoy high-definition content the way it was meant to be viewed. Or if that sounds too time-consuming, you can use the calibration disc once and then do your best to adjust the settings on each input to match. You can do this by connecting your DVD to each input and running through the calibration process. One thing to keep in mind is you may need to calibrate your television's settings for each input. Many will guide you along as you make adjustments to your television until the settings are just right. If you want to dig in a little deeper, you can buy a specialized calibration DVD.
If you don't have a pair - or you don't want to order one - you can choose an alternative test. These glasses are necessary to adjust color levels. To perform the complete test, you'll need a pair of blue filter glasses. The tests guide you through adjusting brightness, contrast, color saturation and sharpness.
Choosing this on your menu leads you to a series of calibration tests designed to help you get the best out of your television.
Several DVDs - including Pixar and Lucasfilm movies - include a THX optimization selection.
You probably won't be able to make adjustments as delicate as a professional, but the results may be good enough for you.īefore you rush out and buy a specialized DVD, take a look at your movie collection. With a calibration DVD and a little patience, you can tweak your HDTV's settings so that they complement your equipment and viewing environment. The other option is to use a calibration DVD. But that equipment tends to be expensive and you probably won't use it very often. One is to purchase some of the specialized equipment home theater installation professionals rely upon. If you decide to calibrate your set on your own, there are a couple of different methods you can use. But you should be able to tell the difference between the factory settings on the HDTV and the newly calibrated set.
Whether the difference in quality is worth the price is a matter of individual preference.
Most of the time, a qualified technician will be able to produce better results than you could on your own. A good technician can advise you on wall colors, light levels and other environmental factors that can affect your viewing experience, too. They may demonstrate the best viewing angle and distance to get the most out of your television. Technicians may also take the extra step to offer additional advice.