Dummy guide to colour calibration-JVC DLA-X500R

[LunA]

Just brought JVC DLA X500 and now playing around with the colour settings. I wonder if someone has DIY colour calibrated their projectors? please tell me where to find some good guides?

cheers

[ArthurDent]

A good place to start...

 

http://www.curtpalme.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=10457

 

Free software here...

 

http://www.homecinema-fr.com/colorimetre-hcfr/hcfr-colormeter/

 

Test pattern disk ISO here...

 

http://www.avsforum.com/forum/139-display-calibration/948496-avs-hd-709-blu-ray-mp4-calibration.html

 

No idea where to get a meter at a decent price in Australia

 

I buy gear from these guys and they have meters. The ColorMunki or Spyder 4 should do the job, but ask if they're suitable and check that HCFR works with them.

Edited April 13, 2015 by KenTripp

[LunA]

WOW, Thanks Ken, this is a great start!

[Tweaky]

I use the free disc Ken linked to above to get brightness correct.... you do that by eye, as it varies with ambient light.

I've been doing this stuff for years now [ Hell, I was one of the many at the AVS forum that helped Curt write that original guide back when I was running a old 3 lens CRT PJ's ]

Like most I first used set up Test discs and colour filters before meters and HCFR.....the problem with HCFR is it's clunky, and finding a meter to work with it correctly can be frustrating [That more due to the meter manufactures crippling their meters unless used with their software] and HCFR being Freeware.

 

I bit the bullet and bought a Xrite i1 Display Pro when they first came out thinking I could use the included software....to cut a long story short...it didn't work for HT...so basically I ended up just using it to calibrate my PC monitors.

http://www.imagescience.com.au/products/X%252dRite-i1Display-Pro.html

 

Then I bought ChromaPure Standard calibration software US$175 a few months back, which works with the Xrite i1 Display Pro, YAY!! [after buying the software, you have to send ChromaPure the serial number of you i1 Display Pro, they then send you a unlock key that registers your meter with the software]

This is the easiest software to use, it's also the best for those that want great results, but don't want to pay out the multi thousands for Pro level calibration gear, who does?

The software has all the needed test pattens built in [so you don't need a test disc, apart from doing a basic brightness adjustment which you can use the downloadable test disc for], so you just hook up your PC to your TV or PJ, run the test pattens with your meter pointing at the screen, then read the results and make the changes recommended, re run the test to check results, done!

 

You can buy ChromaPure Standard [ you don't want the lite version as it doesn't read Gamma, all the other versions are overkill ] from the Curt Palme site slightly cheaper than if you bought it directly from ChromaPure [just click on the links in the guide below, best to enter your i1 display Pro's serial number at purchase -this wasn't available to me when I got mine, so I had to wait several days before I got my registration key]

Curt has also updated the calibration for dummies guide for Chroma Pure Pro use.

http://www.curtpalme.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=35322

 

I installed ChromaPure on a i5 Laptop, I can take it and the meter anywhere and calibrate all my and relatives/friends TV's and PJ's, then if I want to calibrate my PC monitors I just plug the meter into my PC's USB socket and use the Xrite software to do that....the best of both worlds.

 

Sure it's not as cheap as I would have liked [all up around AUS$550 now] but believe me, after doing calibration a lot of different other ways, using HCFR for example, the ease of use makes it well worth it ....plus you'll probabley get that back in bottles of wine etc when you calibrate other peoples gear

 

OH, by the way, here's a link to the AVS forum JVC DLA X500 owners thread .....it's long, but the good thing about that is that it means a lot of people would have tested this PJ out before you have, and you could get a ballpark "Best Setting's" from a post where somebody has calibrated it ....sure not ideal, but if you are finding the picture wanting, at least you have a list of possible settings to try out before you get a meter and software to calibrate.

http://www.avsforum.com/forum/24-digital-hi-end-projectors-3-000-usd-msrp/1505192-official-jvc-dila-x500r-rs49u-rs4910u-owners-thread.html

Edited April 13, 2015 by Tweaky

[LunA]

Great help! Thanks so much Tweaky! 

 

The main problem with the DLA X500 is it's black/contrast level. On my darkened room, all of the modes are set too bright to begin with! I found even setting gamma down low doesn't help too much. I found of 10 years old Sharp Z10000 was better factory calibration! I can actually live with the colours but I need to found a way to tweet the gamma settings.

[LunA]

I also find something interesting on the JVC website! They have an auto calibration program:

 

Projectors that support calibration Models supported: DLA-X900R, DLA-X700R, DLA-X500R, DLA-X95R, DLA-X75R

â— PC (computer)

â— LAN cable

â— Optical sensor Models supported: Spyder4ELITE/PRO by Datacolor * Spyder4ELITE and Spyder4PRO are registered trademarks of Datacolor in the United States and other countries.

 

link: http://www3.jvckenwood.com/english/download/dla-x900r_x700r_xc7880_xc5880_rs67_rs57_rs49_calibrationsoft.html

 

Will ingestive!! 

[betty boop]

No sure how successful that is vs a pro calibration. Suggest talk to @@Kaynin with some suggested settings you might get close to calibration.

I never in the end bothered with a full calibration in my x35 apart from a few tweaks gamma etc. Looks fantastic. With brightness suggested above need to make sure your iris is set. A simple light meter will get that spot on so you aren't blowing your contrast away

Can post some info on that if of help

[betty boop]

http://www.stereo.net.au/forums/index.php?/topic/54020-jvc-long-weekend-with-some-comparisons-back-to-the-epson-9000w/

Some mentions re settings in my x35 thread that might help. Out of box the jvc aren't great but with not much you should be pretty thrilled. The old sharps were beauties a cousin of mine still has their old 720p dlp flagship which is still a standout

http://www.stereo.net.au/forums/index.php?/topic/76909-jvc-dla-x700/#entry1301991

I posted re the light meter in thread above

[hochopeper]

I followed this guide for setting up my TV - http://lifehacker.com/5858625/how-to-calibrate-your-hdtv-and-boost-your-video-quality-in-30-minutes-or-less - it uses the same free AVS disc linked earlier.

[Tweaky]

Great help! Thanks so much Tweaky! 

 

The main problem with the DLA X500 is it's black/contrast level. On my darkened room, all of the modes are set too bright to begin with! I found even setting gamma down low doesn't help too much. I found of 10 years old Sharp Z10000 was better factory calibration! I can actually live with the colours but I need to found a way to tweet the gamma settings.

Black level. Contrast/brightness are all interlinked, adjust one, it alters the other....it depends on ambient light....if you are making adjustments in a different lighting environment than the one you will ultimately be viewing in, then this will account for the discrepancies.

Only adjust Brightness/Contrast under your intended Viewing conditions....doing otherwise is a waste of time.

 

What are your sources, and what gamma output level are they set at? [This is where ChromaPure is worth it's weight in Gold, and exactly why I bought it - the difference is staggering once calibrated ]

 

Black or Blacker than Black? .....you can get messed up having the settings correct, but playing back program material that isn't mastered at a particular black level ...suggest you select known test movies at known black level, then adjust to suit.

[if ???] Get any Bluray disc Movie made by SONY, at the menu type in 7669, this will bring up a Test Patten Screen, use that to adjust brightness/ contrast in HD

 

Also if you Video signal is traveling through a HT Amp ...check the video settings on that...basically you want it set to 3D pass through, as that's basically the highest signal level.

 

I don't have the manual for your PJ so I can't say for sure, but usually stuff like this can be adjusted in the "Service Menu" that is usually not available to the average Joe ....If that is the case, I strongly recommend you go through the AVS owners thread link I posted earlier, as somebody at that forum would have almost certainly given instructions on how to open the service menu - BEWARE - Always write down your setting BEFORE changing ANYTHING - Then start adjustments - THIS IS PARTICULARLY TRUE ONCE IN A SERVICE MENU- AGAIN BEWARE - screw it up and your stuffed with no comeback as warranty ... if you record ALL settings beforehand at least it gives you a default setting to come back to, so you should be good.... it's also a reference to a Before/ After calibration.

 

As for the Auto calibration software available for JVC, but using a Spyder pro meter [NOT the best meter out there] .......I wouldn't buy in to that, truth be known.

I suspect it will lead to pretty much the standard calibration your PJ has now, it seems just a mean for both companies to see how gullible you are and buy their produces .

Edited April 14, 2015 by Tweaky

[Kaynin]

...Always write down your setting BEFORE changing ANYTHING...

 

Gold.  I always take photos on my phone because it's easier, but serves the same purpose, it can really save you...

 

 

I just used this link -

 

http://www.projectorreviews.com/jvc/jvc-dla-rs4910-projector-review-calibration-and-settings/

 

 

But then returned to the Cinema setting and tweaked a few things in that.  For me, I'm absolutely rapt with the result...

[Tweaky]

Yeah Kayin....you can save yourself a heap of pain recording default settings.

Big Up's for recommending this. ........ You should have seen the needed procedures to calibrating a 3 lens CRT PJ[ Below]

 

 

You digital folk have it easy.

 

This is the Holy Grail for setting up 3 lens CRT PJ's manual ... not that anybody here would actually be running one / several [wink]

Read it to see what was involved in the pre digital screen days on setting these things up ....arguably ...still a better, more Film like picture than any Digital reproduction ...You would need a side by side comparison  ...there are old members here ...that can do that ...pretty much all Melbourne based ...sorry for the give up ....but if you want to see it done right.

http://www.avsforum.com/forum/16-crt-projectors/98042-yikes-holy-focus-guy-kuo.html#post728595

Edited April 14, 2015 by Tweaky

[Kaynin]

Yeah Kayin....you can save yourself a heap of pain recording default settings.

Big Up's for recommending this. ........ You should have seen the needed procedures to calibrating a 3 lens CRT PJ[ Below]

 

 

You digital folk have it easy.

 

This is the Holy Grail for setting up 3 lens CRT PJ's manual ... not that anybody here would actually be running one / several [wink]

Read it to see what was involved in the pre digital screen days on setting these things up ....arguably ...still a better, more Film like picture than any Digital reproduction ...You would need a side by side comparison  ...there are old members here ...that can do that ...pretty much all Melbourne based ...sorry for the give up ....but if you want to see it done right.

http://www.avsforum.com/forum/16-crt-projectors/98042-yikes-holy-focus-guy-kuo.html#post728595

 

 

Lol...binoculars, 3M tape, tape measures...yeah, I'll take easy any day!  The JVC X500 has a laser grid for screen adjustment - which is done by remote control - I'm never complaining about setting up again!  Along with the Peerless mount, my edges and focus are as clean as a whistle!

[Zammo]

Great help! Thanks so much Tweaky! 

 

The main problem with the DLA X500 is it's black/contrast level. On my darkened room, all of the modes are set too bright to begin with! I found even setting gamma down low doesn't help too much. I found of 10 years old Sharp Z10000 was better factory calibration! I can actually live with the colours but I need to found a way to tweet the gamma settings.

 

Had same issue out of box with my DLA X700 LunA. Dedicated dark room. Have been fiddling with settings for weeks using a light meter and Disney WOW bluray only. Getting pretty good results with my iris set to manual -10 now (then set at Auto 2), brightness at 4 and contrast 8. This gives me 15fl at screen centre ideal white. The test disc comes with a blue filter for calibrating colour/hue as well. All done by eye, but the results I'm happy with. Only thing I want to try now (before considering professional calibration) is to see if I can push the black level down using the gamma adjustments - some suggestions on AVS forum that this still maintains shadow detail. Will try this using the advanced test patterns on the WOW bluray.

 

As has been stated before, brightness/contrast/black level/white level all interrelated, so you need to go back and forth after adjusting any one to see how it effects the others. 

Edited April 17, 2015 by Zammo

[LunA]

Apparently, there is a mishap and the unit is back to Len Wallis. The image went soft and lost definition overnight! I guess it has to do with a bad lamp as my Sharp has the same problem before. I hope it will get fixed soon!