[Mad Monk]

Hi All

I have a recently purchased Sharp XV-12000 MKII projector. I will be setting this up in the next few weeks and was wondering if I should invest a some time and a small amount of money in calibrating this beast. If I need to buy some basic equipment I will, but my calibration budget will be a maximum of £200. I'm fairly technical so dont mind spending some time in setting this up right if I can within my budget.

So far I have managed to get my hands on a DVE disc. I have also managed to download a copy of HCFR probe but it is in French. Is there an English copy available if I need to use this software? I presume I will need some hardware? I have tried my best to keep up some of the technical posts here and over at AVS and they all lead to the following hardware:

Colorvision Spyder2
Monaco Optix
Gretag Macbeth/Xrite/Pantone Eye-One Display2/LT

If somebody could advise me which direction to take with my budget I would really appreciate it......or do I really need calibration lol?

Thanks

[Timbo21]

Originally Posted by monkeykong

If somebody could advise me which direction to take with my budget I would really appreciate it......or do I really need calibration lol?

I don't think you will get an ISF calibration for £200. Perhaps if you hunted around and offered cash

I don't know how good the DIY kits like Spyder are, or what learning curve there is on them.

You definately need your pj calibrating to some degree, even if it's just brightness & contrast. I personally got an ISF because I had too much green, and just couldn't arrive at a setting I felt was right. I also needed my video processor setting up at the same time.

T.

[Mad Monk]

Thanks for the advice T.

I have no idea about ISF calibration and how much it costs but if theres an ISF'er on the board near Ilford Essex that can do it for £200 please contact me

I've just been reading up on calibration and according to some people it should be carried out after the projector has 100 hours on the bulb. Can somebody please confirm this for me?

I've stumbled across GaryLightfoots calibration thread. Its going to be a late night tonight, I aim to try and absorb as much of that thread as possible

[Avi]

Originally Posted by monkeykong

Hi All

I have a recently purchased Sharp XV-12000 MKII projector. I will be setting this up in the next few weeks and was wondering if I should invest a some time and a small amount of money in calibrating this beast. If I need to buy some basic equipment I will, but my calibration budget will be a maximum of £200. I'm fairly technical so dont mind spending some time in setting this up right if I can within my budget.

So far I have managed to get my hands on a DVE disc. I have also managed to download a copy of HCFR probe but it is in French. Is there an English copy available if I need to use this software? I presume I will need some hardware? I have tried my best to keep up some of the technical posts here and over at AVS and they all lead to the following hardware:

Colorvision Spyder2
Monaco Optix
Gretag Macbeth/Xrite/Pantone Eye-One Display2/LT

If somebody could advise me which direction to take with my budget I would really appreciate it......or do I really need calibration lol?

Thanks

The version of the HCFR software I use has an English language option. I use the DTP94 probe (X-Rite/Monaco Optix) and it cost about £100. It is more accurate that the Spyder from what I've read and the pref option of the HCFR guys.

Before investing in a probe why not use your copy of DVE and just set the basics and then go from there.

AVI

[Gary Lightfoot]

The HCFR software can be downloaded in English here:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=737550

It should work fine with the Spyder, but sometimes you can get a rogue one that is not calibrated correctly. If you calibrate your greyscale and find that it is obviously pink or green for example, trust your eyes and ignore what the software is telling you.

It can be quite a learning curve, but I found it to be a lot of fun and very rewarding. The tricky bit can be how to fix things that aren't quite right, and that's also part of what you are paying for when you get in an ISFer like Gordon. He not only knows the subject inside out, he also has the important experience that allows him to know how to get the results he's being paid for.

I'll try and help here if I can (I'm in the middle of moving house so have limited time unfortuantley), so let me know how you get on. I don't have the Spyder so I can't help with direct answers on the HCFR functionality but the thread above and others like it can be found over on AVS, and I'd think a lot of others there could help you out.

Gary

[Mad Monk]

Thank you for the advice Avi. I'll have a go with the DVE disc tomorrow, the only thing is I have a really bad case of tinkeritis and ever since I've learnt that the projector has a vast menu for adjusting colours I cant stop playing around with it. Every adjustment I make seems to make the picture look better lol and I dont even know what I'm doing.

That calibration thread has surely got to be worth a sticky There is a mountain of info in there. Great work Gary in putting it all together and thanks for the link. I'm looking forward to attacking it now and hopefully I'll be somewhat partially schooled by 3am... Thanks for your offer of help, and good luck with the house move.

Its great to know that there are professional calibrators out there can step in if this all gets too much. I tend to skim read content from sites such as cine4home so I'm guessing its going to be a tad harder than I'd like it to be.

Cheers guys

[Gary Lightfoot]

Hi MK,

The basic projector calibration was a sticky for a while, and it kind of still is, except it's within the main sticky at the top of this forum (which is where it started). There was a lot of input form various people that helped make it happen so I'm glad it's still helping people. I'd like to add a few other things but getting the time right now is difficult. Once I'm settled into my new place and things quieten down a bit, I'll try and add some more.

Good luck and let us know how you get on.

Gary

[Liam @ Prog AV]

Back on the subject of having a calibrator come over. IF you pay £200 quid, you will get a £200 quid job. Someone like Gordon @ Convergent is excellent at his job, and only charges around £300. For an extra ton is it worth the risk?

As for the merit, if you have a decent light controlled room and good quality sources then HELL YES. The Sharp is an excellent projector and has loads of calibration friendly adjustments in there to play with.

[Mad Monk]

Afternoon all.

After a nights heavy reading and dreaming of rainbows I dont feel much the wiser. As much as I would love to calibrate the grayscale on my projector, I dont think it is within my technical abilities; there is just too much to learn plus the additional expense of calibration equipment..

So after a morning of discussions with the wife I have decided to let the professionals take over. My whole house is being renovated during July and August and my house will finally become a home. I'm planing on a home theatre/office in the loft so I guess the additional expense is justified.

I've sent Gordon and email enquiring about the services that they offer. Hopefully he'll be ISF'ing my setup this summer. In the meantime some DVE tweaks will have to do.

Now that I'll be using Gordon's services do you guys recommend the use of a scaler? I've never owned or used one before and have limited knowledge of what they can do. My setup will be as follows

HTPC for majority of viewing DVD's and films of hard drive.
NTL box
Freeview box
Xbox 360 for games plus the add on HD DVD unit
PS3 for gaming and BluRay
Wii

I very much doubt that I would buy a new scaler, secondhand would be more adviseable due to budget limitations. If I do need one, some recommendations would be much appreciated Possibly the Sharps internal scaler is pretty good and the money could be spent on audio? This is going to be a long thread.....

Thanks for everyones advice

Indy

[Timbo21]

Originally Posted by monkeykong

the only thing is I have a really bad case of tinkeritis and ever since I've learnt that the projector has a vast menu for adjusting colours I cant stop playing around with it.

Getting an ISF properly cured me of 'tinkeritis'. I just put a film on and watch it

Yes, waiting at least 100 hours is preferable before an ISF, to let the lamp stabilise.

Scalers are good. I've only experience of Lumagen. If you are very lucky you might find a Lumagen HDP for £500 ish (if they are desperate to sell), but generally the 2nd hand price is £700 area. Particularly good for HD as it will take away the 60hz judder if your Sharp can accept 48hz refresh rate, and has some nice per input calibration thingy's for Gordon to fiddle with + you get the World renowned Gordon customer service & support, second to none

HTH,

T.

[sdb123]

Timbo21 makes a really good point there.

When I had a Lumagen VP with my plasma it completely stopped me 'fiddling' as I knew the picture performance was at its optimum level.

Well worth the money IMO.

[Mad Monk]

Originally Posted by Timbo21

Yes, waiting at least 100 hours is preferable before an ISF, to let the lamp stabilise.

Thats suit me as my HT will be ready in July.

Unfortunately there dont seem to be too many SH Lumagens around. I've had a reasonable search and most do start at that £700 figure. TBH I better reseach the whole video processor market as I dont have a clue about them.

Normally I do a load of reserch before I buy something and I'm pretty well versed in the technical capabilities of what I am buying but I bought this projector blind. I had a few hours to make up my mind and I decided to gamble on it. I am now becoming aware of the whole 1080/24 'thing'. I didn't think that this affected non 1080p projectors but judging by another thread on the forum I guess I was mistaken.

How do I find out if the projector can carry these signals? The manual doesnt seem too imformative. I've dropped Sharp and email. hopefully they can shed some light on the matter.

ATB

Indy

[sniffer66]

Originally Posted by Timbo21

Getting an ISF properly cured me of 'tinkeritis'. I just put a film on and watch it

Yes, waiting at least 100 hours is preferable before an ISF, to let the lamp stabilise.

Scalers are good. I've only experience of Lumagen. If you are very lucky you might find a Lumagen HDP for £500 ish (if they are desperate to sell), but generally the 2nd hand price is £700 area. Particularly good for HD as it will take away the 60hz judder if your Sharp can accept 48hz refresh rate, and has some nice per input calibration thingy's for Gordon to fiddle with + you get the World renowned Gordon customer service & support, second to none

HTH,

T.

I'm completely in agreemment with Timbo and SDB. An ISF and a VP completely cured my own "tinkeritis" Now I just sit back and enjoy KNOWING the picture quality is the best there is. I bought a 2nd hand Lumagen HDP (after owning an Iscan HD+) for £700 odd. If you are obsessive about picture quality (and you should be watching a PJ 7 feet wide) then an ISF with a VP installed is the way to go
Also, highly recommend Gordon, he did my PJ, plasma, set up the Lumagen and ate my biscuits...all at the same time

[Mad Monk]

Originally Posted by sniffer66

Also, highly recommend Gordon, he did my PJ, plasma, set up the Lumagen and ate my biscuits...all at the same time

Seems like I'll have to break out the good biscuits for Gordon.......

[Mark_a]

I was sceptical of the likely end results, but was totally won over after Gordon calibrated my Lumagen feeding my projector and my rear projector TV. The thing I wasn't expecting was the very obvious increase in clarity of the whole picture on both displays. And on top of that he sorted out a defect in my TV via the engineer's menu. Top bloke, Gordon is.

Mind you, it'd be nice if the equipment you pay a lot of money could be as good as it can be out of the box rather than having to be post tweaked for extra money, but that's life, I guess.

Regards

Mark

[Timbo21]

Originally Posted by monkeykong

I am now becoming aware of the whole 1080/24 'thing'. I didn't think that this affected non 1080p projectors but judging by another thread on the forum I guess I was mistaken.

If you are going to get a Lumagen you don't need to worry about 1080p/24. The Lumagen can construct it from 1080i/60. Additionally, many 720p projectors won't accept 1080p/24.

[Timbo21]

Originally Posted by monkeykong

Unfortunately there dont seem to be too many SH Lumagens around. I've had a reasonable search and most do start at that £700 figure. TBH I better reseach the whole video processor market as I dont have a clue about them.

Yes, you just have to keep an eye out for SH Lumagens. I did see a couple of HDP's go for just over £500, but usually it is £700. The only thing which competes is something like the DVDO VP50, which will cost you much more, and competes more with Lumagen's HDQ, which is an HDP with more DVI inputs, an SDI input, BNC connectors, and better s-video/composite/scart performance (not sure if HDP does scart tho). The closest in price to the HDP is DVDO's VP30, and that really needs the ABT102 add on card, and it doesn't process HD properly like the Lumagen, so only really good for SD. The DVDO products also don't have all the gamma/colour adjustments the Lumagen has for using with ISF, or the support & firmware updates.

Basically, for £700 SH, or £975 new, Lumagen HDP is the best you'll get for SD & HD. You have to start spending somewhat more for the competition to increase.

T.

[sniffer66]

Agreed on the HDP, dont worry about the number of DVI/inputs outputs. A cheapish Octava\Gefen DVI/HDMI autoswitch and a little config setup on the Lumagen takes care of that

[Mad Monk]

Just a quick question

The following is the correect Lumagen processor right?

http://www.lumagen.com/testindex.php?module=hdp_details

I dont want to search for the wrong thing lol. I was expecting something bigger with more buttons and flashing lights.

The DVDVP50 is also on my search list also, it looks very sexy I must say

Thanks for your help guys

ATB

Indy

[sniffer66]

Yup, thats the kiddy I have (without the analogue BNC connectors, which are optional) Dont worry abou the looks, performance is everything if you want "bang for buck". The HDQ is a more familiar 1 or 2 u (?) depth and shape but most of the functionality is the same

[Timbo21]

Originally Posted by monkeykong

I dont want to search for the wrong thing lol. I was expecting something bigger with more buttons and flashing lights.

The DVDVP50 is also on my search list also, it looks very sexy I must say

A VP isn't something you tend to look at. Once set up it does it's thing, So don't let looks put you off. It's what's inside that counts, and their firmware.

The VP50 has it's fans, and the main reason to choose it over a Lumagen is it's video deinterlacing. For film based material, ie films and stuff like 24/Lost, which is shot on film, you might say Lumagen is king. However for video, ie football off Sky, concerts on DVD etc., VP50 will shine with it's superior video deinterlacing. Deinterlacing for film will be pretty much even, with many slightly favoring Lumagen. Lumagen has the better scaling tho, which is a very clean scaler and doesn't add any 'ringing' artefacts like the DVDO one does. Lumagen does have the best firmware updates and support from Gordon, whereas DVDO customers are often waiting months for firmware fixes and don't seem to have a 'Gordon' person easily on hand to answer questions.

If you are looking at the VP50, then the Lumagen HDQ here is the more direct rival.

HTH,

T.

[Mad Monk]

Thanks for the confirmation sniffer.

I'm off for a mini break today. I think I need it lol after reading up on VP's. At least theres two VP's to choose from. Choosing a projector was so much more difficult. Shame there aren't any other Sharp 12k owners out there.

I cant wait to get this baby setup now. The excitement factor is about an 8 on the rictor scale. Home Theatre rocks!