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Who has had this done to their HDTV? Can you really see a difference?
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Just running the Avia I calibration disc results in a noticeable improvement.
Yes, it's worth it, and more so the better your set is. The difference isn't subtle. Colors, brightness and contrast are either right or they aren't, and if they aren't, it can drive you just as crazy as a colored midrange. What's more, regular people will notice, too. Almost all my guests comment on the "beautiful picture" I get, but to this day only one person has mentioned that my stereo sounds unusually good.
As for not liking a calibrated picture, it is possible that you prefer a "vibrant" picture instead, with the brightness and colors jacked up like a stereo with its treble and bass turned all the way up. If that's the case, you don't have to worry about calibration. Just keep watching Sport mode. You won't need Blu-ray, either.
A calibration may need tuning up after a while, if you've still got an older set. You need to wait at least 150 hours before getting one on a new plasma, for instance, because the phosphors darken at a much faster rate when new. They will darken even more, although slightly, over years, and you may find you need a tweak. Mine got the slightest bit darker. If you have a relationship with a calibrator already, he will probably give you a discount on a re-calibration (mine did). Or you can just turn the brightness up a click.
An Avia disc (or the Spears & Munsil, or the Video Essentials discs) will get you on the right track as far as the basic adjustments go. The gray scale, however, can only be adjusted by a calibrator (and that's only if your set has an adjustable gray scale). The only caveat (and it's a big one) is that there are huge differences between calibrators--not only in the quality of their equipment, but in experience, and in specific experience on your particular model. You don't want a rookie with an expensive meter "practicing" on your TV.
Like all differences, it may not be one you particularly like. And almost certainly will take a little time to get used to. Visitors will probably hate it LOL, and laugh at you behind your back for the lousy TV you bought. I'm just speculating at that last part. But if you have a fancy audio system, you already know the drill. It is a good education at the least to know how things (movies at least) are supposed to look.
I heard that a ISF Calibration only last for about 2 years then you have to get another one. Is this true ?
I don't know, myself. I have not even had a calibrated display for 6 months yet.You may have more available calibrators in your area. Otherwise they tend to do "tours" within a certain large area, and you are partly paying for their time and travel expenses etc. It may not cost much less for a "touch-up" because of that: still the same travel etc. that sucks up the time. Perhaps if coming to the area already for a full cal they will drop by and do a touch-up for cheaper.
I hope I didn't sound discouraging about the way the piccy looks. I just meant that it's really different from what you'll typically see in homes/bars etc. It is almost the antithesis of why many people like plasma/LCD displays, and the way they're advertised (vibrant colors, bright, sharp). If you've done your own "cal" before using a test BD/DVD, then you won't be so surprised by the look. What I really meant is the display is calibrated to a standard, and the standard may not be to your preference. Similarly, you may not happen to like the sound of a "flat" room (or a system calibrated to be flat in the room), even though most would say that is at least theoretically a good thing. But you get used to them in a short time, and it's the visitors who'll think it looks (sounds) weird.
Edits: 11/27/09
After a display is about a year old, it is advisable to get a recalibration about once a year. Usually this is considered a "touch up" and the charge is much less than a full calibration because the tech is ajusting for drift and won't be spending hours in the Service Menu (like the initial calibration) to get things right because the preliminary work has already been done.
However, it is entirely up to you as it's your money. Some people may go 2, 3 or 5 years before they're willing to have an ISF tech come out again, some people see greater/lesser value in an ISF calibration, some displays have a greater/lesser drift than others and some people spend a greater/lesser amount of time in front of their display.
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