Callibration Disc Recommendation

Soundman

Soundman

Audioholic Field Marshall
I thought I'd post this here since someone was asking about callibration disc options. I'm really not sure since I haven't purchased one in a while. I know Video Essentials and Avia are a couple that come to mind. But with Blu-Ray and the new hi-res audio formats now being somewhat more widely supported, maybe there are a couple new discs that would be a better option. Also, I'm wondering if these new discs also cover the basics from the older discs as well. I assume they would. The audio portion is the main concern, but a good disc that would cover everything would be ideal. If not then maybe picking up a couple of them would be necessary. Recommendations? OK, start firing! :)
 
GlocksRock

GlocksRock

Audioholic Spartan
I believe both avia and dve make a blu ray version of their calibration discs.
 
Soundman

Soundman

Audioholic Field Marshall
I believe both avia and dve make a blu ray version of their calibration discs.
OK, do you have a preference? Also, is the DVD version necessary as well? This setup will mostly be used for CD/DVD playback, but the occasional BR disc will be used as well. The library for that format will probably grow down the road, but not right now.
 
R

rnatalli

Audioholic Ninja
I use the one from Sound and Vision magazine. Pretty simple and inexpensive.
 
M

murl

Full Audioholic
I used an old one on DVE last night and it wasn't too bad.
 
MR.MAGOO

MR.MAGOO

Audioholic Field Marshall
Has anyone used the Spears & Munsil HD Benchmark 2nd Edition blu-ray 2D/3D calibration disc? I've read good and bad reviews about it. I suppose $30 isn't too much a risk.
 
Johnny2Bad

Johnny2Bad

Audioholic Chief
Firstly, I would suggest you keep a lid on your calibration disc budget; buy too many discs and you will find yourself approaching or even exceeding the cost of a calibration meter and disc, which are excellent but relatively expensive (eg: SpectraCal, DataColor Spyder, etc ).

An option worth considering, though, is if you have buddies who are into AV, maybe you can get together and split the cost of a meter/calibration tool combo. And if so, now you are really coming up against the cost of a calibration disc or three.

Having said the above, suggested discs, about $30 each, are:
Disney WOW
Spears & Munsil HD Benchmark
JKP Digital Video Essentials: HD Basics

You say that "the audio portion is the main concern" but don't specify if you want to prioritize Multichannel Audio or 2-Channel Audio, or both. My personal opinion is you need a dedicated CD to properly setup and optimize 2-Channel Audio in contrast to a Multichannel A/V calibration disc only.

I use the following:
XLO Reference Recordings Test and Burn-In CD
Stereophile Test CD
The Sheffield Test Disc A2TB

There are others I could recommend (post back if needed) but since I feel I have enough with the above, I probably won't be using them myself. That doesn't mean there are not good options out there, though. In particular there are websites dedicated to Car Audio that offer a large number of useful audio test files to make your own Test Disc, do a little Googling and you will be rewarded.

I hope it doesn't need to be said, but I'm going to say it anyway ... no mp3's. You want at least 16 bit 44.1 Khz (same as uncompressed CD audio) files for any test or calibration files, and if your digital audio train can handle higher resolution files, well, regardless of your opinion of the value of HiRez Digital, if there was any reason to go there, calibration is that reason.

Finally, there are files you can download and use to make your own Test Disc, with the always valuable attribute of the cost being no more than one blank disk and access to an appropriate disc burner.

AVS (another audio/video website) has a free set of calibration tools:
http://www.avsforum.com/forum/139-display-calibration/948496-avs-hd-709-blu-ray-mp4-calibration.html

A list of downloadable Open Source Audio/Video and Audio Only applications (MacOS):
http://sourceforge.net/directory/science-engineering/testmeasure/os:mac/

A list of downloadable Open Source Audio/Video and Audio Only applications (WinOS):
http://sourceforge.net/directory/science-engineering/testmeasure/os:windows/

CalMAN Color Match SW (free)
http://calman.spectracal.com/calman-colormatch.html

*SpectraCAL has a number of commercial (available for purchase) A/V software tools you could consider*

Lastly, but definitely not least, by a long shot, is the venerable Room EQ Wizard software (MacOS, WinOS), which is not only excellent and well proven (its been in development for ages) but absolutely free, for the price of registering at the Home Theatre Shack (HTS) website and forum:

http://www.roomeqwizard.com

HTS Homepage:

http://www.hometheatershack.com
 
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H

herbu

Audioholic Samurai
First let me say I know absolutely nothing about TV calibrations. I play w/ the built-in tools on my TV every once in a while, and this thread prompted me to do it again.

The thing that strikes me is that so many adjustments seem to be subjective. "Adjust this up/down until it looks best to you."

So I wonder if TV calibration is akin to Audyssey. It will give you a base starting point, but then you fiddle with it until it seems most pleasing to you. Wadda you think? Are there particular settings one should leave alone, and some that are OK to play with?
 
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