Calibration / test DVD

[JiveMiguel]

I'm new to the whole home theater thing. I'm working on putting my own system together. In some posts on this forum, people are talking about calibration or test DVDs that help you set the color balance, tilt, keystoning, etc of your display. Where can I get such a thing? What about testing audio? I know such DVDs/CDs exist, I just don't know what to call them to search for them. Any help is appreciated!

Thanks!

 

[mfabien]

Here is a link to the right stuff:

http://www.svsubwoofers.com/parts_avia.htm

 

[Takeereasy]

Avia is a great setup DVD, but for myself I feel that the better starter DVD is Sound & Vision Home Theater Tune-up . It is cheaper to buy ($15) and is much more user friendly, although it is more basic as well. I would say it depends on your level of comfort with terminology, measuring equipment, and the technology you are using. I had to start with the S&V disc because I knew next to nothing. It was a great teaching tool. It turns out that the same software company (ovation) makes both DVDs. If you are fairly comfortable with your stereo equipment I'd say go Avia, it is the more professional of the two. If you are just starting out then I don't think you can beat the Sound & Vision disc. Both do the same job, they just get about it in different ways. Avia is easier to watch multiple times because no one is explaining the basics to you over and over.

 

[snakeyes]

if you have a netflix acc you can get digital video essentials from there.

 

[tbewick]

You can use the THX optimiser to perform some basic calibration of your display. It's on the Star Wars DVD's and I think is also included on other THX certified DVD's.

There are some articles about home cinema calibration on the main Audioholics web site.

 

[mtrycrafts]

Here is a link to the right stuff:

http://www.svsubwoofers.com/parts_avia.htm

Amazon may have one used for much less

 

[JiveMiguel]

Thanks to all who posted...

I just purchased purchased 'Sound and Vision Tune-Up' from a vendor on Ebay. I thought I'll start there and go to the Avia if/when I'm ready. I also found 'Digital Video Essentials' on amazon. It got overall good reviews, but sounds like it's more on the technical level as the Avia disc.

Thanks again!