Spears & Munsil Bluray disc calibration for Sony Bravia 46XBR9

[PearlcorderS701]

-Black Corrector - Off
-Clear White - Off
-Live Color - Off
-Edge Enhancer - Off
-Detail Enhancer - Off

But what about DETAIL ENHANCER...you wouldn't recommend using any of this, even on MEDIUM, perhaps? I've been told this brings out the real "snap" on Blu-rays...

-White Balance - Leave at default. This is what a pro calibrator will adjust. You can use the color temp setting in the user menu to adjust. In that case, look at the 11-step grayscale and select the mode that produces the most neutral gray. ie not tinted red or blue.

But I actually have played with this myself, and found that I could dial back the blue/cool push this set exhibits on a lot of material; can I experiment with tweaking the BLUE BIAS/GAIN here for that?

As for USER MENU COLOR TEMP, there are four selections available in CUSTOM: Cool, Neutral, Warm 1 and Warm 2...the default in CUSTOM mode is WARM 2 -- should I use Warm 2?

-Gamma - Try the Image Cropping pattern. Stand back as far as possible and select the mode that makes the center blend in with the background. There might not be any mode, in which case, turn it off.

I'll try this, but should this setting go anything beyond LOW?

 

[jostenmeat]

Brightnes is not a great name either since it changes the black level, not really the brightness. On many computer LCDs, the brightness only changes the backlight. I have one display that treats brightness as backlight on the DVI input and as a real brightness control on the HDMI input.

I would recommend you calibrate in the following order.

1. Set picture mode (Usually movie, cinema, or custom)
2. Set brightness -> PLUGE Low pattern
3. Set contrast -> Contrast pattern
4. Set color -> Color Bars pattern
5. Set tint -> Color Bars pattern
6. Set sharpness -> Sharpness pattern
7. Color Temp -> 11-step gray scale pattern (This is the user mode option, not the RGB bias/gain controls)
8. Gamma -> Use Image Cropping pattern. You want the mode where the center blends into the background. At least the gamma that gets you the closest. Stand back as far as possible on this one.

If you want to compare different color space output options (422, 444, or RGB), you may need to re-adjust all of the above for each color space.

Thanks a lot, Stacey Spears! I just copy/pasted/printed this, and calibrated my JVC RS1 (been about 200 hours since last time). I had to get to it tonight, as I am cooking the next two nights in a row (ratatouille, then coq au vin), for a weekend Red Cliff dinner 'n showing! And I've already got a full house for April 7/9/11 for the LOTR trilogy!

Perfect timing. I did manage to miss out on the tint part, I don't have greyscale adjustments really, most gamma settings are very similar (except for "C") with your instructions, but then I used the demo material to decide on "normal". (I swear, I've used at least three different gamma settings during the last two years . . .). Thanks again for your support here!

I don't know anything about display calibration, but I did find previously that it seemed best to do gamma last (though it seemed strange to me). I'm glad that your instructions might confirm my experiences.

Tonight will either be Fantastic Mr. Fox or The Blindside. Cheers.

 

[Stacey Spears]

But what about DETAIL ENHANCER...you wouldn't recommend using any of this, even on MEDIUM, perhaps? I've been told this brings out the real "snap" on Blu-rays...

Its a subjective thing. The professional displays used to master movies do not have controls like this. I want to view it like they did.

If you like the result of turning on the enhancer, there is nothing wrong with that.

I'll try this, but should this setting go anything beyond LOW?

We don't really know what gamma "off" means. It is not actually turning off the gamma curve, just their special adjustment.

But I actually have played with this myself, and found that I could dial back the blue/cool push this set exhibits on a lot of material; can I experiment with tweaking the BLUE BIAS/GAIN here for that?

As for USER MENU COLOR TEMP, there are four selections available in CUSTOM: Cool, Neutral, Warm 1 and Warm 2...the default in CUSTOM mode is WARM 2 -- should I use Warm 2?

I would start with Neutral. You really need a reference to compare with. Some people have picked up an 18% grey card and shined a D65 light on it. This is where a calibrator comes in with special gear and goes through a bunch of window patterns and really dials it in.

 

[Stacey Spears]

We have finally published our article on how to choose a color space. I hope you find it helpful. http://www.spearsandmunsil.com/articles/choosingacolorspace.html

 

[jostenmeat]

We have finally published our article on how to choose a color space. I hope you find it helpful. http://www.spearsandmunsil.com/articles/choosingacolorspace.html

I'm going to read more of that when I have more time, thanks!

I just calibrated again with your disc, again per your instructions. For some reason, it felt* tougher to me this time, as I thought I was having a hard time discerning changes/tweaks, but sure enough when I threw my hands up and put on some blurays, it looked amazing . . .

Sometimes just putting the effort in is good enough to make a big difference. If you're curious why I'm running the disc so soon after my last run, it's because I cleaned the prism in my PJ, and it was way too bright.

Cheers.

 

[PearlcorderS701]

Its a subjective thing. The professional displays used to master movies do not have controls like this. I want to view it like they did.

If you like the result of turning on the enhancer, there is nothing wrong with that.



We don't really know what gamma "off" means. It is not actually turning off the gamma curve, just their special adjustment.



I would start with Neutral. You really need a reference to compare with. Some people have picked up an 18% grey card and shined a D65 light on it. This is where a calibrator comes in with special gear and goes through a bunch of window patterns and really dials it in.

I have finally just decided to stick with my "Standard" mode, adjusted via three calibration discs (including the Spears & Munsil Blu-ray for confirming Brightness and setting Sharpness), as it was a heck of a lot less daunting than dealing with Custom...it seems my image looks fine for 99.9-percent of material.

 

[Stacey Spears]

as it was a heck of a lot less daunting than dealing with Custom

What was it about the custom mode that made it so daunting? Just curious.

 

[PearlcorderS701]

What was it about the custom mode that made it so daunting? Just curious.

Perhaps "daunting" was the wrong term to describe it; it just seems that putting the set in "Standard" which doesn't allow any picking or adjusting of the Advanced Settings was simply easier than trying to figure out which one of the "enhancements" I either wanted to leave on, off or adjust with certain levels of effect -- when putting the display in "Standard" or "Vivid," some of these advanced settings are kind of "made for you," with "Standard" of course having a good deal less of any of them as compared to "Vivid."

This way, I needed to simply adjust the main user controls while in "Standard" -- that is, Contrast, Color, Sharpness, etc.

 

[Stacey Spears]

I understand your reasons.

 

[PearlcorderS701]

I understand your reasons.

Happy Memorial Day, Stacey!

You really do understand this train of thought? Most people hear this and say "you gotta be nuts to stick to Standard..."