New Calibration Gear Upgrade: Advice

**HonestLoki** · 06-09-2012, 11:05 PM

Hey All,

Lately, I've been contemplating upgrading my gear. While my Display LT and HCFR have been great; lately, they've left me wanting.

The dilemma is of course, what to get: Chromapure or Calman DIY, and what new meter (Display 3, Display 3 Pro, C6, i1Pro Spectro, etc.)

As far as Calibration Software, I have to admit, Calman looks pretty slick, but Chromapure seems more to the point/straightforward. I've also been flirting with the idea of doing this for a living one day, and that's been weighing in on my decision as well.

Concerning meters, I've thought about rectifying my LT and buying an i1Pro to go with it, but rectifying costs about as much as that meter is worth and the i1Pro is a bit more than I want to spend.

The same gos for the C6, and which I've yet to see any conclusive evidence that it's head and shoulders above a regular D3.

This leaves the D3 or D3 Pro and Chromapure. One question/concern I have about that, is it's my understanding that the difference between the two, is the Pro version has correction tables applied to improve accuracy. These tables are achieved by taking measurements with a reference spectrometer on different display types.

The concern I have with this (assuming I have it correct) is how do these tables account for panel to panel variance? Are these tables only truly accurate on the display they were measured from? or is there something I'm missing?

I'm leaning toward getting Chromapure and the D3, but would appreciate any and all input. Should I get the pro version, or should I reconsider the other options I mentioned?

Thanks in advance

-HonestLoki

**ev666il** · 06-10-2012, 04:17 AM

My personal experience with CalMAN has been of a drastic reduction of flexibility and available features in the DIY version, which are unlocked only with the significantly more expensive Expert license. CalMAN Home used to be a lot more flexibile and rich in features back in v. 3.x. Now, I've found CalMAN's autocal to work better than ChormaPure's, although both work pretty good. If you have to calibrate a projector and own an external video processor (e.g. Lumagen Radiance), or plan to buy one in the near future, then I strongly suggest you buy CalMAN Expert with Autocal and the C6 meter. It's easy to use, lightning fast and very precise. In the long run, it will probably end up being a good investment if you want to be a professional calibrator.

However, if you only plan on calibrating your own gear, I would get Chromapure: its basic license gets you more bang for the buck.

**gadgtfreek** · 06-10-2012, 07:09 AM

I'll just give you my history.

I decided to get into calibration over 2 years ago, for my own gear. Bought Calman and a Chroma 5 enhanced from Spectracal. After some comparisons, and even after sending the meter back in once, I never could get it to be accurate enough. Calman then went to version 4, which I felt sucked at the time.

In comes Chromapure, which was recommended to me by a calibrator I use. Even though I had already spent a lot, I decided to swap and bought an I1 Pro. I was immediately impressed by the ease of the software, and the I1 was a very nice meter. My only complaints are low light handling and the damned dark readings. It is however, the minimum meter THX allows IIRC, because its a tank and reliable as hell.

At this point, I like CP, I love the I1, I just have issued with 30% stimulus and below and cannot get my C5 to profile worth a crap. This is the meter Spectracal told me was fine... Now, in comes the D3/C6. After the rave reviews, I picked up a D3 Pro from Tom Huffman at CP, sold the I1 pro, and have been happy as hell since. IMO, the D3 performs very well for someone in my situation, who is calibrating his display 7-10 times a year on avg, as well as friends and family. Now if your plans are to be a pro, you may need to look into something more, but there are a lot of guys making money doing calibrations using an I1 Pro, and/or a meter profiled off one.

A final note, communication. Every, and I mean EVERY pain in the ass email Ive sent Tom in the time Ive been his customer, has been answered. Several of my emails to Spectracal have never been answered...

For auto cal, I do know CP is improving, and I think their DVDO Duo and Accupel (the generator of choice for someone of our level) integration is supposed to be pretty good. Buzzard767 can prob answer that better. Also be sure to check out the quick guide I just wrote, has some helpful hints about choices for pattern generation on a budget.

**buzzard767** · 06-10-2012, 07:43 AM

Originally Posted by Jason Whiddon

For auto cal, I do know CP is improving, and I think their DVDO Duo and Accupel (the generator of choice for someone of our level) integration is supposed to be pretty good. Buzzard767 can prob answer that better. Also be sure to check out the quick guide I just wrote, has some helpful hints about choices for pattern generation on a budget.

How did I get drawn into this?

For the OP, don't let any discussion of auto calibration influence your decision one way or another. That function in both CalMAN and ChromaPure will be improved as time goes by but it will be a long time before no tweaking will be required after the fact with both programs.

I have both CM Expert and CP Pro, and if I was just starting out in this hobby I'd get the CP/D3Pro combination. At $595 a newcomer might balk but in the long run you will happy you spent the money in the first place. CP is clean and intelligently organized. It is possible to do 2p GS, 10p GS, and Gamma all within the Gamma module. The new Advanced Color Management module combined with the ability to calibrate both 100% and 75% saturation levels in the Color Management module recently enabled me to get a much better calibration on a Panasonic 65VT50 than would otherwise be possible, and this is the "new big thing" since the discovery of the Sharp Elite's color deficiencies at the Value Electronics 2011 flat panel Shootout.

You can start with a free program and an inexpensive, not so accurate meter, but if you decide to continue the hobby you will wind up spending the extra money anyway. Why not just start out with convenience and fairly good accuracy?

**gadgtfreek** · 06-10-2012, 07:47 AM

Lol. I just knew you had a buncha toys.

The $595 package is what I have now, and I do like it.

**HonestLoki** · 06-10-2012, 12:13 PM

Thanks everyone for your answers.

I haven't really considered any auto-cal features for that exact reason, buzzard767; that, and at this point, I'd much prefer to go the difficult route, and calibrate without the assistance of such a feature, in order to gain a better understanding of the behavior of different display types, brands, etc.

Thanks guys for sharing your personal experience with each product; comparison tables are only helpful to a point. Thanks ev666il. Your comment about Calman DIY was exactly what I was looking for, and worried about. Thanks Jason, I now feel comfortable with getting the D3 Pro, over say, a combination of meters.

Couple more questions:

how necessary is having an external video processor like the Lumagen Radiance? I recall reading (although, I can't remember where) that they've become less needed as video processing has gotten better in Displays.

I've decided on getting CP with the D3 Pro; I've noticed that the site CurtPalme has that package on special right now for $499. This seems like a legit site (I've seen nothing to suggest otherwise), but does anybody have any experiences with them? Should I not buy through them, and but directly through the Chromapure website instead?

Thanks again, everyone.

-HonestLoki

**buzzard767** · 06-10-2012, 12:19 PM

CurtPalme is legitimate. You don't need a video processor to calibrate unless your TV doesn't have 10p and CMS and you want that ability.

**gadgtfreek** · 06-10-2012, 12:29 PM

Ive ordered from CurtPalme as well, its a stand up site.

External VP's are pricey, and really depend on the display. Id add, even if your display does not have 10pt adjustment/Full CMS control, many end up fine using the 2pt adjustments/Color and Tint, therefore you still dont need a VP (justification of price vs result)

Id get the software and meter, burn a test disc, and see what you think.

**HonestLoki** · 06-10-2012, 01:13 PM

Thanks again,

It's been my (limited) experience that an external video processor hasn't been needed (so far). I've mostly done plasmas, and found them to be fairly easy to calibrate, with the exception of a friends cheap 3D LG; I hated that display. LCD and my parents' Sony A3000 have been more temperamental, though that could be due to the limits of my LT.

Jason, I've been using the DVE and Spears & Munsil discs, though, I wish they had windowed 75% color patterns, and not just the SMPTE color bars. Though I believe you mentioned in your beginner guide, that Chromapure has a download with those on it.

Thanks again for all the help. I'm going for the D3 Pro w/CP from CurtPalme.

-HonestLoki

**gadgtfreek** · 06-10-2012, 01:15 PM

Yepp, the GCD disc and the AVS709 disc are both nice. For plasma, the GCD has 10% windows which are smaller and better for plasma IMO, and GCD has a TON of color patterns.

**HonestLoki** · 06-10-2012, 03:27 PM

Originally Posted by Jason Whiddon

Yepp, the GCD disc and the AVS709 disc are both nice. For plasma, the GCD has 10% windows which are smaller and better for plasma IMO, and GCD has a TON of color patterns.

Stupid question time: Do either of these need to be burned onto a Blu-Ray disc, or will burning onto a DVD work just fine. I assume there shouldn't be an issue, but figure I'd ask.

-HonestLoki

**gadgtfreek** · 06-10-2012, 03:30 PM

DVD-R is fine.

**Captain Trips** · 06-10-2012, 03:59 PM

I have a question that follows the same vein regarding video processors. I have a late model 65VT30. I've gotten a low panel brightness calibration that I'm pretty happy with, though it is not totally accurate. The calibration I ended up settling on basically left gamma controls untouched, as getting them in line left me with banding in some gradients (especially clouds, skies). The grayscale is okay. Whenever I tried to bring these things into perfect measurement, getting them to measure well was not a problem, but the end result was rough around the edges (banding, etc). Mid panel brightness on this set is a whole other monster.

This is with CP and the D3 Pro, using mostly AVSHD (tried virtually every combination of patterns); I did find the GCD disc on avsforum, and it was helpful as well. But the 65VT30 seems to have some issues that can't easily be worked around, such as incorrect decoding and wonky 10-point gamma/grayscale controls. D-Nice mentioned that the late-model VT30s he worked with had the same between-points issue as the VT50, and that's been my experience as well.

Given all that, would something like a RadianceMini 3D be helpful in getting things dialed in better? I know they're a bit pricey, but it is cheaper than, say, buying a VT50.

And it would be effective on the next display as well. I'm more concerned with the results than the cost. Do these work properly with ChromaPure, and do they have internal patterns that play well with the VT30? Would I still be able to do something like day/night settings banks? Thanks.

**buzzard767** · 06-10-2012, 05:16 PM

Originally Posted by Captain Trips

I have a question that follows the same vein regarding video processors. I have a late model 65VT30. I've gotten a low panel brightness calibration that I'm pretty happy with, though it is not totally accurate. The calibration I ended up settling on basically left gamma controls untouched, as getting them in line left me with banding in some gradients (especially clouds, skies). The grayscale is okay. Whenever I tried to bring these things into perfect measurement, getting them to measure well was not a problem, but the end result was rough around the edges (banding, etc). Mid panel brightness on this set is a whole other monster.

This is with CP and the D3 Pro, using mostly AVSHD (tried virtually every combination of patterns); I did find the GCD disc on avsforum, and it was helpful as well. But the 65VT30 seems to have some issues that can't easily be worked around, such as incorrect decoding and wonky 10-point gamma/grayscale controls. D-Nice mentioned that the late-model VT30s he worked with had the same between-points issue as the VT50, and that's been my experience as well.

Given all that, would something like a RadianceMini 3D be helpful in getting things dialed in better? I know they're a bit pricey, but it is cheaper than, say, buying a VT50.

And it would be effective on the next display as well. I'm more concerned with the results than the cost. Do these work properly with ChromaPure, and do they have internal patterns that play well with the VT30? Would I still be able to do something like day/night settings banks? Thanks.

A VP will not get you to the VT30 10p Gamma controls which are more effective than varying the Grayscale points. Get ControlCal and make it easy on yourself.