Consumer-Level TV Calibration? You Betcha! SpyderTV Reviewed!

[Audioholics]

<A href="http://www.audioholics.com/productreviews/avhardware/DatacolorSpyderTVreview.php"><IMG style="WIDTH: 125px; HEIGHT: 70px" alt=[SpyderTV2] hspace=10 src="http://www.audioholics.com/news/thumbs/SpyderTV2_th.jpg" align=left border=0></A>Everyone has probably walked into a mass-market consumer electronics store and been dazzled by the array of high definition television sets lined up like cattle. If you've kept a watchful eye open, you've probably also noticed that they all had differing color tones and varying levels of brightness. Many television units ship from the manufacture calibrated for one purpose: impress people walking around under florescent lighting and grab their attention.&nbsp;SpyderTV is the first consumer-targeted television calibration tool to hit the market that we are aware of designed to help the "Average Joe" make the most out of his home theater display purchase. Read the review as we put it through its paces.

[Read the Review]

 

[Tsunamii]

Pretty cool but I think I will wait for the next version.

 

[ned]

Clint,
Would you prefer this than calibration done by AVIA disc?

Ed

 

[agabriel]

That looks neat - whos going to sell it? Any word of what it will actually sell for?

 

[GB42]

It's already on the market & in several versions from the mid 100's to over 400 depending on what you get..

here's a quick link to several versions.

http://audioholics.pricegrabber.com/search_attrib.php/page_id=178/form_keyword=Spyder

 

[Audioholics]

Here are the places selling it:

http://audioholics.pricegrabber.com/search_getprod.php?masterid=10908281

And you can also get it directly from Datacolor's website.

 

[thescrub]

I have to say that I like the SypderTV. It does a good job getting the basic settings pretty close. I have used Avia, which I like, but being color blind I actually have trouble using some of the Avia tests. My main complaint, and it may be DVD player based (I'll have to try another one) but there are tests where you are switching between two tests. What I've run into is that you can skip forward but if you skip backwards you end up back at the sub-menu for picking the pattern. Sometime this weekend I hope to compare the two on a new tv that I still haven't setup.

 

[CooLJ92]

Clint,

Do you forsee Colorvision making some tweaks to the contrast/brightness part of the software and offering an update for current owners?

I myself have been very satisfied with how well the color and tint turned out. I was not too happy with the brightness on my set. Had to use Avia.

jj

 

[Audioholics]

Clint,
Would you prefer this than calibration done by AVIA disc?

Well, AVIA is a bit more comprehensive in that it addresses audio as well and has many more test patterns - but the real attraction for SpyderTV is that it is fully automated. You stick the Spyder on the set and run the software. It tells you what to do... your set looks better.

For people who can be happy using THX optimizer (free on most THX DVDs)and who may not care about the other test patterns - the SpyderTV is a great tweak to have on hand... especially if you have multiple sets.

As for updates - I know they are in the works. I have no idea what will be a paid upgrade and what they will do for free. I would hope that the upgrades are all free unless they add some significant features. Even if they do add features - it will be hard to charge anythinig until at least 6 months to a year has gone by. Within that it's more or less a "maintenance update" with potential for bonus features.

 

[videobruce]

I have both DVE and Avia and perfer DVE.
I wasn't impressed with those "flashing boxes". They are distracting.

As far as the SpyderTV, version 2 software is suppose to be out (or will be). There were early issues with the sensor that I beleive were corrected. FP's are another issue. Not sure about using those.

 

[coastaltony]

I recently sold my 8 year Hitachi Ultra-Vision 60 RPTV and picked up the sweet Sony KDSR60XBR1. Dig this, my local Sunday Newspaper had mis-printed the price of it at B@*$ B*y. They printed $3,000.00. I went very quickly to the store to get one. "No, said the MGR, we are not responsible for mis-prints in our ad's". Next stop Br$@#&Mart*$@. The MGR beat the ad's price by 10% and threw in a stand for $100.00.
Now the reason for my posting. I have VE, not DVE or AVIA.
What version of the Spyder is out, and has anyone got any views on it. This thread dropped out late last year.
I have my Sony looking VERY NICE, but I'm sure it can look better.