LCD TV calibration?
 

I’m trying out a Sony 23 inch LCD TV and am having problems calibrating it using Avia. I’ve used Avia many times on CRTs with good results; LCDs, however, are a different beast.

Black level is easy; my question pertains to the contrast setting. Even at max contrast, neither of the moving white bands (the bars used for LCD displays) disappears. Thus, I’m at a loss to figure out how/where to set contrast. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Digital Video Essentials may be a better choice for setting contrast on that device.

I assume you're talking about the bars used for black level adjustment? I don't think you're really supposed to do anything special with the bars shown in the contrast adjustment.

No, I'm talking about the moving white bars in the lower portion of the contrast test. Since LCDs don't bloom or suffer power supply problems with high white levels, the white bars are supposed to assist in setting contrast on LCD displays. The idea is that if the contrast is set too high, one or both of the bars will disappear into the white background.

Oh, ok. What are you supposed to do with them? I can make mine disappear, have both of them visible, or only have the left one visible.

Although setting the contrast such that each grey scale is twice/half as bright as the adjacent one does seem to wash out the bars. They both disappear at about 50% brightness for me.

Have you tried turning down the brightness on your LCD and adjusting it from your DVD player? Are you using a software player?

I'm using a hardware player, which has picture, brightness, color, and tint controls---handy as the Sony TV disables color and tint in 480p mode.

I have the black level set (at least as well as I can given the unit's modest ability to produce black). Perhaps I s/d reverse the normal process and set black level 1st, then white level.

I might also try adjusting the white level to produce the best spread on the step pattern in the contrast test and ignore the moving white bars since I can't get them to fade away.

This is my first experience calibrating a LCD; it's more challenging than I anticipated.

Does anyone have any personal experience calibrating a LCD w/ DVE they can share? I don't want to buy another tool if it isn't going to yield better results than what I have now.