AV Calibration Options

[Soul Shinobi]

I'm curious what options there are for calibrating a home setup.

Now for me, I'll be doing it on the cheap, and I'd like your thoughts on these digital options:

THX calibration on any THX DVD, Free (how to use, this also requires THX blue glasses to do the complete calibration, they are about $12 shipped)
Digital Video Essentials, ~$35 ($17 shipped here)
Monster HDTV Calibration Wizard, ~$30 ($28 shipped here)
Avia II, ~$40 ($27 shipped here)

Now I don't know much about these, I do know some do audio too, and I'd like that. Which of these are you familiar with and what do you think of them?

Also, feel free to chime in with other calibration methods, I'm curious and others may be too.

Thanks!

 

[bandphan]

Video wise alot use DVE and Avia, depending on your display and level of need an ISF might be something to look into.
A good read-- http://www.curtpalme.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=10457

Audio wise:
An spl meter is a needed tool for everyone.
Some prefer to use their AVRs auto calibration
Stand alone units like Audyssey are nice but pricey.
Freeware like REW is a very good choice, but depending on your setup you might only use the low/mid bass features inconjuction with a unit like This

Room treatments are another way to tame your responses: a couple of articles

http://www.audioholics.com/education/acoustics-principles/listening-room-acoustics

http://www.audioholics.com/education/acoustics-principles/room-acoustics-acoustic-treatments

The never ending battle for better sound

 

[agarwalro]

I have been tooling around with REW and just dont like the RS Meter. Cannot seem to calibrate properly and so am getting (what I suspect) are inaccuracies in FR measurements. (tried the correction files and all)

I was thinking of picking up a Behringer ECM8000.

 

[j_garcia]

Ovation (Avia) makes Home Theater Tune Up which comes with the blue filter and has the majority of patterns you will need to calibrate your display. Unless you need something special, there's no reason to go all out on a cal disc. Also has audio tones for 6.1 and is one of the least expensive on the market.

 

[bandphan]

I have been tooling around with REW and just dont like the RS Meter. Cannot seem to calibrate properly and so am getting (what I suspect) are inaccuracies in FR measurements. (tried the correction files and all)

I was thinking of picking up a Behringer ECM8000.

I would the mics are the only way to go

 

[Soul Shinobi]

Ovation (Avia) makes Home Theater Tune Up which comes with the blue filter and has the majority of patterns you will need to calibrate your display. Unless you need something special, there's no reason to go all out on a cal disc. Also has audio tones for 6.1 and is one of the least expensive on the market.

How does Ovation Home Theater Tune Up differ from Avia II?

 

[agarwalro]

Ovation (Avia) makes Home Theater Tune Up which comes with the blue filter and has the majority of patterns you will need to calibrate your display. Unless you need something special, there's no reason to go all out on a cal disc. Also has audio tones for 6.1 and is one of the least expensive on the market.

Good advise.

The DVE disc also comes with Red, Blue, Green filter and audio setup too.

(I have been using the red, blue section for 3D pics/ movies . PITA holding it on the face the whole time )

 

[j_garcia]

How does Ovation Home Theater Tune Up differ from Avia II?

It is older and not as comprehensive as Avia, but for general calibration it has all that most people need. It came out about a year or so after Avia and is not intended to replace Avia, it is a sort of stripped down version of it. It was selling for around $12; likely less now because it is not as up to date as DVE or Avia II. Like I said though, it will get you calibrated well enough video and audio wise unless you REALLY want to tweak things to the "Nth" level.

 

[KASR]

If you are strapped for cash (or a major meiser like me!) the THX is a decent (read: FREE) calibration for basic calibrating. I was happy with the results, but undoubtedly will want to step up sooner or later.

 

[Soul Shinobi]

I just used the THX optimizer--Note: transparent blue Lego pieces are not a valid substiture for the blue THX galsses. I thought brightness adjustment was pretty clear, and easy to get accurate results, but everything else just seemed kind of vague to me. Maybe I don't have a great eye for this kind of thing, or maybe it's my old entry level Philips 26in CRT widescreen HDTV.

I'm considering getting Avia II, and, of course, considering upgrading my TV sometime I have money.