Smart Calibration

info@smartcalibration.com

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Smart Calibration provides home theater display calibration (ISF calibration) services in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area.

ISF Trained

LION AV Affiliate

ISF Forum Member

NEW! Now offering Pioneer C3 calibration for Pioneer Elite Pro-910HD and Pioneer Elite Pro-1110HD.

ALERT! If you have used HDNet's test patterns to set the overscan on your display you need to read this analysis. Also, here are some instructions on how to adjust your display with HDNet's test patterns.

Training and experience

Steve Martin received his ISF training in May of 2000 and has been calibrating professionally since July 2001. Steve has a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from MIT. After a successful career as a software developer at Texas Instruments and i2 Technologies, he is enthusiastically pursuing his interest in home theater and video calibration. Driven by a personal desire to get the best possible picture out of his own Sony 32" XBR, Toshiba TW65H80 and Mitsubishi WS-73907 he has quickly achieved a national reputation doing the same for others. Steve still owns the WS-73907 and now has a Samsung HL-P5063 DLP set.

Calibration training

May 22-23, 2000 - ISF Seminar, Dallas, TX
Jan 24-15, 2002 - SIGNAL PATH CALIBRATION in Video Display Systems given by Joe Kane Productions
Feb 11-12, 2006 - ISF Seminar, Mesquite, TX

What to Expect

Here are a several articles that explain calibration, what you can do yourself, and why you should consider hiring a professional.

An excellent article from Sound & Vision magazine explaining what ISF calibration is all about.: TV Tweaks - Part One: House Calls
An article from Milori (a calibration equiptment dealer) on some of the problems common to video displays that a calibration can correct.: Eliminating Image Quality Issues: Assisting The Willing Suspension of Disbelief
An ESPN Article comments on the benefits of having your display calibrated: ESPN.com - Calibrating Your TV
A CNET guide to TV Calibration: CNET's Quick Guide to TV Calibration

Reviews of Steve Martin's calibrations

Here are some public testimonials to Steve's work.

August 2001 Houston Tour
08/16/01 Toshiba 40H80
11/17/01 Mitsubishi WS-55807
12/09/01 Mitsubishi WS-55908
12/17/01 Mitsubishi WS-65907
02/27/02 Pioneer Elite Pro-610
05/12/02 Pioneer SD-532HD5
June 2002 Minneapolis Tour II
07/20/02 Mitsubishi WS-65907
02/22/03 Toshiba 56HX81
03/12/03 Mitsubishi WS-55711
04/14/03 Toshiba 57H81
11/11/03 Mitsubishi WS-55511
11/13/03 Mitsubishi WS-65869 Touch Up
12/12/03 Mitsubishi WS-A65
Writing reviews doesn't seem to be as popular these days, but I'm still busy calibrating. If you post comments on one of my calibrations online, let me know and I'll add a link to it here.

Fees and Services Detailed

Pricing varies with the model of television and services required. Please contact us at 972-473-9044 or info@smartcalibration.com for specific information.

Fees for a basic calibration of up to 3 scan rates (typically NTSC, progressive scan DVD, and HDTV) are:

Direct View CRT	$275
Plasma/LCD/DLP flat panel or RPTV	$300
CRT Rear Projection Television	$325
DLP/LCD Front Projector	$350
CRT Front Projector	$375

Which includes:

Setting of proper black level (brightness) and white level (contrast/picture).
Electrostatic focus.
Set overscan to 4-5%, correct minor geometry issues.
Convergence beyond what is generally available in user controls.
Calibration of grayscale to NTSC standard of 6500K (or "D65").
Proper setting of color, tint, and sharpness (including edge enhancement reduction when possible).
*Adjustment of color decoder. This fixes "red push".
*Physical or electronic disabling of Scan Velocity Modulation.

*When possible.

Add $25 each for picture adjustment of additional scan rates.
Add $25 each for geometry and convergence of additonal screen modes (HD, TheaterWide, CinemaWide, etc.)

Additional fees apply for extensive geometry/convergence, mechanical focus, and RPTV protective screen removal, etc.:

Extensive Geometry - $75 per scan rate. I have all widescreen Mitsubishi templates, for other brands contact me for info.
Mechanical Focus - $25-$50.
Protective Screen Removal (varies).
Mitsubishi color decoder correction - $25 (only applies to year 2000 or later models) Also includes reduction/elimination of edge enhancement.
Duvatyne - $100 (lining interior of RPTV cabinet with dark cloth to cut down on interior reflections). Includes material.
Optics cleaning - included in any procedure that involves removing the screen. A charge may apply for mirror cleaning.

A travel charge of ~$1/mile (one way mileage, as computed by maps.yahoo.com from the intersection of Parker & Tollway in Plano) may apply for distances over 20 miles.

If you are on this map, there is likely no travel charge.

Fee Ranges For Some Typical Models

(Basic calibration + per scan rate charges -> add focus and extensive geometry for up to 3 screen modes)

Mitsubishi Widescreen RPTV: $350-$550
Toshiba Widescreen RPTV (current models): $325-$450
Toshiba Widescreen RPTV (TW-prefix models): $375-$600*
Pioneer Elite RPTV: $375-$600*
Samsung DLP RPTV: $300

* Additional screen modes exist but are not usually calibrated.

Calibration Equipment

Milori Colorfacts CF-6000 Spectrophotometer
Milori Pioneer C3 Remote
AV Standards TVS Pro color temperature reference (optical comparator)
Accupel HDG-3000 HDTV calibration generator
i2c Interface for correction of red push and edge enhancement on Mitsubishi RPTVs