Circuit City now using Spyder TV to Calibrate

[annunaki]

I stopped in at my local Circuit City yesterday and found out that their Fire Dog service is now using Spyder TV to calibrate their displays. I thought this was a step in the right direction for them. Since ISF technicians are not easy to come by, and their (Fire Dog tech's) training seems to be somewhat minimal this allows them to actually set up televisions properly.

They have a few sets on their floor done and it does make a big difference that even the average Joe can see.

 

[Audioholics]

Good for them. That's a step in the right direction.

 

[TomBBY]

So?

Best Buy uses only ISF certified techs to perform calibrations.

Just felt that needed to be said.

 

[gus6464]

Can't you just buy a SpiderTV and calibrate it yourself for cheaper than what CC charges for calibration?

 

[annunaki]

Can't you just buy a SpiderTV and calibrate it yourself for cheaper than what CC charges for calibration?

Not that I am aware of. The Spyder is around $200.00. I think CC charges around $90-$120 for calibration.

 

[annunaki]

Best Buy uses only ISF certified techs to perform calibrations.

Just felt that needed to be said.

I also believe they charge in upwards of $200-$300 for a full ISF calibration. Many of the newer high quality sets released are very much near NTSC standards already. Tweaking them with the spider or Avia is usually enough for most people. Is a full ISF calibration better, of course. Is the difference worth the extra cost, that is up for discussion.

Sets featuring THX certification will only need an Avia or Spyder to make sure they are perfect, since the grayscale and such will be set from the factory and not require calibration.

 

[TomBBY]

The cost of an ISF certification at Best Buy is $300; but, they discount the TV by $100, if the service is purchased along with it.*

This service also includes a Home Theater calibration if being used in the same room as the calibrated TV.

There are certain brands of TVs (ie; Sharp and Dell) that cannot be ISF calibrated, and might benefit from the Spyder service.

To my knowledge, the only thing you get with a FireDog calibration, is a guy in a green shirt who will do the same thing you can for $125 more.

* based upon a TV costing $999 or more.

 

[gus6464]

I know BB's calibration people are subcontrated ISF professionals that have nothing to do with the company. And also in my area it's $400 and not $300 to have your TV calibrated. My local BB has two Panasonic plasmas side by side and one is ISF calibrated. Needless to say the difference is huge.

 

[TomBBY]

I don't know where you're at, Gus. But, stores in my area have Geek Squad personnel that are ISF certified, and they always have been; since we began to offer this service.

One thing for sure; you can tell a difference between a TV that's been properly calibrated, and one that has not.

 

[Adam]

Here's my silly question for the day - why don't TVs come calibrated from the factory?

 

[annunaki]

Here's my silly question for the day - why don't TVs come calibrated from the factory?

That is a great question. It is not unlike the question of how many licks it takes to get to the center of a tootsie pop...

...the world may never know.

 

[annunaki]

The cost of an ISF certification at Best Buy is $300; but, they discount the TV by $100, if the service is purchased along with it.*

This service also includes a Home Theater calibration if being used in the same room as the calibrated TV.

There are certain brands of TVs (ie; Sharp and Dell) that cannot be ISF calibrated, and might benefit from the Spyder service.

To my knowledge, the only thing you get with a FireDog calibration, is a guy in a green shirt who will do the same thing you can for $125 more.

* based upon a TV costing $999 or more.

While I am not arguing the fact that a person can set up their own television properly for relatively cheap, nor am I arguing the benefits of an ISF calibration. However, not many will pay and additional $100-$150 (over what CC charges) just to have it ISF calibrated when a quality disc or Spyder setup gets one about 90% there anyway.

Based upon your screen name, and the fact that your only posts on this board are in this very thread, I would venture to guess you are a Best Buy employee. The point of this post was not to pit one bix box against another, simply stating a step in the right direction for CC.

 

[allargon]

Here's my silly question for the day - why don't TVs come calibrated from the factory?

For the same reason your receiver isn't level matched and room corrected at the factory. Every room is different. I have a dark green accent wall in my living room. You better believe that makes a difference in the colors and calibration of my display. Of course, the real reason displays aren't calibrated in the factory is because they would look less than optimal at the big box stores. Most displays ship in "torch mode" designed to be bright and blue to withstand the harsh fluorescent lighting under which they are usually displayed at most big box stores. When Joe6Pack looks at a display at the store he will naturally gravitate to the brightest display there just like he will listen to speakers and pick the cleanest, brightest and loudest of the bunch.

Okay, I know this is Audioholics not videoholics, but celebrating the Spyder might be a bit premature. The Spyder2Express (not the Spyder3 TV mentioned in the article) is not really recommended due to possible issues with its accuracy. Hopefully, the Spyder3 is better.

http://www.curtpalme.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=10457

 

[mudrummer99]

Can't you just buy a SpiderTV and calibrate it yourself for cheaper than what CC charges for calibration?

Yeah, spyder tv can void your manufacturers warranty. That's not to mention what happens if you screw up the settings and accidentally make the screen go black with no picture. We actually had someone come in last week that bought one and did just that, he then had us come out and fix it.

Mike

 

[TomBBY]

For the same reason your receiver isn't level matched and room corrected at the factory. Every room is different.

I couldn't have said it better myself.

I have also read where it is/may be necessary to re-calibrate the TV every few years. While this may be true if you move the television from room to room (or wall to wall), you'd really have to be a videophile to the extreme to plunk down $300 every few years; especially at the rate TVs are improving from year to year. It is at this time I might consider the Spyder over recalibration of the torch settings.

 

[TomBBY]

While I am not arguing the fact that a person can set up their own television properly for relatively cheap, nor am I arguing the benefits of an ISF calibration. However, not many will pay and additional $100-$150 (over what CC charges) just to have it ISF calibrated when a quality disc or Spyder setup gets one about 90% there anyway.

Well, although I can't disclose actual numbers, let's just say that calibrations are sold at our store everyday...at least once a day...and 90% of the way does not get you to proper torch settings, or to getting the most out of your flat panel TV.

Based upon your screen name, and the fact that your only posts on this board are in this very thread, I would venture to guess you are a Best Buy employee.

You figured that out, eh? Guilty; as charged.

Obviously, I am only going to speak to what I know about. I've always found it's best that way. And I will also submit that the lion's share of my knowlesge on the subject has been accumulated though Best Buy trainings, as well.

The point of this post was not to pit one big box against another, simply stating a step in the right direction for CC.

If you'll forgive me this one; anything's a step in the right direction for CC, at this point in time. Not all CC stores are bad or poorly run; just the ones I have had dealings with here in Florida.

Most of my customers don't even know what a proper calibration consists of or even that it's available, until I tell them about it. Some of them find out the hard way after paying for a Firedog "calibration" service, and then they begin to understand why they got it so cheap.

 

[teamsol]

Some good info thanks

 

[aaronwt]

Not that I am aware of. The Spyder is around $200.00. I think CC charges around $90-$120 for calibration.

I would kick the calibrator out if they tried to calibrate my TV with the Spyder.

 

[annunaki]

I would kick the calibrator out if they tried to calibrate my TV with the Spyder.

Don't get a calibration from CC then.

 

[Soundman]

For the same reason your receiver isn't level matched and room corrected at the factory. Every room is different. I have a dark green accent wall in my living room. You better believe that makes a difference in the colors and calibration of my display. Of course, the real reason displays aren't calibrated in the factory is because they would look less than optimal at the big box stores. Most displays ship in "torch mode" designed to be bright and blue to withstand the harsh fluorescent lighting under which they are usually displayed at most big box stores. When Joe6Pack looks at a display at the store he will naturally gravitate to the brightest display there just like he will listen to speakers and pick the cleanest, brightest and loudest of the bunch.

Okay, I know this is Audioholics not videoholics, but celebrating the Spyder might be a bit premature. The Spyder2Express (not the Spyder3 TV mentioned in the article) is not really recommended due to possible issues with its accuracy. Hopefully, the Spyder3 is better.

http://www.curtpalme.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=10457

Yes, this is true for the most part. However, there are some tv's out now that have presets that are really close to the ATSC standard. For example, that new THX certified Panny, the PZ800U, is pretty darn close right out of the box.