Why should I calibrate my plasma or LCD TV?

Why should I calibrate my plasma or LCD TV

Plasma and LCD TVs are supposed to work straight out of the box, using default settings. However, these settings are optimized so that a TV can be viewed to maximum effect on the floor of a bright showroom, now than in your living room. High brightness and image enhancement are almost always inappropriate for the home and allot of calibration is usually required to get the best picture. Calibration can seriously improve picture quality, and can reduce energy consumption by up to 50%.

There are three options for calibrating a flat screen television. You can calibrate manually by accessing the configuration menu and adjusting the brightness, contrast, sharpness, etc. to your tastes.

Alternatively, you could invest in a calibration DVD, which includes tools and test patterns that lead you through the selection of appropriate levels for all the common settings. The advantages of this approach is the cost,around £20, ease of use and repeatability. Your TV should be calibrated every 6-9 months as you TV output changes as the phosphors (esp plasma) change. If you go for option 3 you have to pay again each time.

The last option is to have your flat screen television calibrated professionally. An inexpensive calibration DVD can provide good results, but a trained professional calibrator is likely to have thousands of pounds worth of hardware and software at his, disposal and can custom tune your television to near perfection. A good quality calibration service might cost around £200 a visit.

Find out more about the PixelProtector calibration DVD. Laviva Online Store

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