I got some wonderful advice on optimizing the image on my Sony TV from this DVD. It also has a strategy for setting up your surround speaker outputs properly, but really needs a sound meter to be precise.

Anyone else with an opinion on this DVD?

Dave

Yes do use one if you want to be exact. I have lent both my DVD and Sound meter to many of friends who did it by ear and where really surprised by how far off they were. How ever I don't believe in keeping my bass correct on my action movies I usually run upto 12dbs louder.

I have heard many good things about this dvd as well as the avia , but video essentials did more harm then good on my 1989 panasonic 27". :(

Eric,
You obviously did not set up your video source properly. Ive been optimising home systems for part of my liveing for the past 6 years and never seen any degration in performance by use of this disk. Sometimes the problem is your tv`s manufactures technicans settings that are way out of wack. Hire a pro to recalibrate those. Have them stop at that point and I bet you can get a picture yourself that you never thought was possible. Make sure that the tech at least uses a light meter to properly set the kelvin scale. Then you will be home free. If in the milwaukee area I could help. I own all equipment needed!!

I used it to calibrate my oldish Hitachi TV and, while it looked good using DVDs through SVideo, cable TV became unwatchable. I could either come up with a compromise between the two, or figure out how to have dual profiles (not an option on that set). End solution was to have the Pronto automate the required menu steps to calibrate the set.

Now that set has been retired to another room which only has a VCR hooked up -- and oddly enough, the manufacturer's default settings are almost bang-on.

A proper ISF calibration will certainly help troublesome sets -- if they are capable of doing better -- however at times compromises must be made.

Where can I rent the Video Essential or the Avia Guide to Home Theater? Also, Where can I buy the neccessary meter and/or any other equip. for the calibration and how much?

Thanks,

TJ

You cant rent it online at NetFlix.com. Its a really simple sytem to rent and return them.

radio shack for the meter, dpl

netflix for the dvd

**
__

Took the advice of this thread and rented from netflix. Thought I'd watch the entire disc first (you guys know that is something we can't do with appliances, etc. for the house, kids......) Well anyway, about ten minutes into the disc....it reverts back to the beginning. After figuring out how to get by that glitch, I'm moving along when, bang, it goes back another five minutes or so...
Tried to run a few more times and no difference. E-mailed customer service, however I think that I somehow DID'NT e-mail them. Did red flag the disc in the mailer though. Hope it was'nt supposed to do that!!!!!

Any one know where I can rent the Avia Guide to Home Theater DVD instead of the Video essential?

Thanks,

TJ

TJ:
reel.com

Harry,

Thanks for the reply. Reel.com does not carry the Avia Guide To Home Theater.

TJ

Actually they do, but not for rent:

[Link: reel.com]