What are the names of the DVD's that help with HDTV settings?

[Brigadeer]

Reading the boards, I know there are several DVD's that one could use to help set the color's etc on their new HDTV's. I am going to Best Buy for lunch today to buy some component cables.

Can anyone be so kind as to let me know the names of these DVD's, and if they can be found at Best Buy?

Thanks everyone!

Brigadeer

[mikehbkwm]

The new T3 has the thx optimizer on it.... anything with THX is going to have the optimizer as far as i know..... it really lets you set your color, brightness, contrast pretty well............

[kevinw]

Ugh Best Buy carries a poor version of a Home Theater Setup Disk , Brand names to look for are Sound and Vision, Avia - http://www.ovationsw.com/
and the other Digital Video Essentials
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00005PJ70/ref=pd_sim_dv_4/002-8613459-5536805?v=glance&s=dvd&n=507846

I have used all 3 .. all work well DVE is the simplest While AVIA is the most detailed for those who have ISF aspirations.

[kevinw]

Originally posted by mikehbkwm
The new T3 has the thx optimizer on it.... anything with THX is going to have the optimizer as far as i know..... it really lets you set your color, brightness, contrast pretty well............

THX optimizer is film specific. Good for the Disk you are watching but pretty basic if you want beyond color and contrast.

[Brigadeer]

Thanks guys. The disk I am getting is for a Hitachi 55F500. I do NOT have any aspirations of opening up the TV to adjust anything, or to fool around with the dreaded service menu.

That said, all I really want to do is adjust the colors, brightness, contrast levels, etc, the best I can. If anything else besides that needs to be, ie- calibrations etc, I will get an ISF tech out from my service contract.

So, all that being said, does anyone have a specific DVD they would recommend for what I want to use it for?

[57U]

Originally posted by Brigadeer Does anyone have a specific DVD they would recommend for what I want to use it for? Sound & Vision Home Theater Tune-up.

It's available from Ovations for US$18, free shipping.

http://store.yahoo.com/ovation/

[Brigadeer]

Thanks both to 57u and kevinw. Kevin, I looked up the link you had on the Digital Video Essentials. Apparrently, they have a brand new one coming out the first of September, as you can only pre-order it now.

My question is, do you think it might be better to get the newest disk on the market with the DVE, or just go with the easy to use Sound and Vision Home Theatre Set Up?

Again, sorry for all the questions, and thanks for everyone's help!

[LeeS]

Here's the LINK (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00005PJ70/ref%3Dpe%5FsnpJ70/103-9283747-8555038) to Amazon.com and the new DVE.

Lee

[kevinw]

Go for the current S&V it will be fine....

[Brigadeer]

Thanks Gentleman. Just ordered it. Hopefully my picture won't be too bad out of the box as the DVD has an estimated shipping date of 9/8.

Thanks again!

[57U]

You can always turn off the automatic settings, SVM, auto colour, etc.

You can then lower the contrast some and decrease sharpness.

You can adjust the colour by eye if you wish.

The rest you can do with the disk.

[mikehbkwm]

Kevin thats what I was basically stating to him was use it for color, tint, contrast, brightness.... and its not movie specific because when i had the ISF tech out to check my tv and calibrate this month he said from just using it for your basic stuff you can get your color, contrast, brightness, tint, sharpness pretty darn close......... and like 57U has stated in the past.... your tv settings are in the eye of the beholder.. or are set to what you like..... and i totally agree what you may think is a correct setup might not be what i think is correct looking..............

[57U]

I think that what Kevin was trying to say, and what I've also noted is that the THX tests tend to vary from disc to disc and are perhaps "disc specific".

[kevinw]

Yes Mike I was refering to the fact that the THX settings vary from Movie to Movie and they are specific to that Movie.
Even after calibrating with a HT setup disk then using the THX optimizer it gives different settings. That is why they have an excerpt from the movie on the disk to make sure all looks good.

[mikehbkwm]

Right and I agree with you to a certain point but even by setting up your tv with say avia, VE, etc and then you put in a movie it might still not match with say any of those setup disks and thats why i stated its really user preference..... what might look good to you might not look good to me.... again everyone should really use a setup disk to get closer to what the PQ is supposed to be but what I see in the end result might not be what you like to see and you might want to tweak it a little different from mine....

[kevinw]

yep ok I have no idea where you are coming from with this but the original question was about disk for HT set up I gave the info for set up disks and added that THX optimzer is ok but is MOVIE specific set up. I said nothing about personel preferences. I will acknowledge that if you have none of the above mentioned DVD's anything with THX will be ok.. Would I use the Optimizer for setting up a TV. No because most time contrast is set to high for other viewing...I would use the optimizer for setting up a specific movie though...You do not need to be so sensitive. I am not insulting your knowldege I am adding to the info you gave..I still am not jumping on the cable bandwagon :p

[57U]

Moderator - definition - "To moderate".;)

[mikehbkwm]

alright im sorry guys i didnt make specific what i was trying to say...... I have used the VE disk and plan on getting the DVE disk..... but i have used the thx optimizer to setup every input just for the hell of it to compare to the VE disk.... just to compare color, contrast, brightness, sharpness, tint.... what i noticed is that the VE disk isnt far off from the THX optimizer compared to those settings... again im sorry wasnt trying to argue and wasnt trying to be rude..................

[kevinw]

RUDE -I'll show you rude:p

[LeeS]

No, he was arguing. Don't let him off so easy :)

Lee