Question : Just purchased a Samsung LN-T4066F tv and wondering if anyone knows the ideal calibration settings for it?
I purchased the tv from Best Buy yesterday with the Blu-Ray player and they told me for the BestBuy tech team to calibrate it would cost me another $ 300! Wondering if anyone has the same tv who has had this calibrated by them or found the ideal calibration setting online?
tv calibration

Best answer:

Answer by Antiphon
Most of today’s better quality modern fixed-pixel displays, such as Samsung’s HD TVs, have specific modes and/or settings that provide (very) good gray-scale and CIE ‘D65’ color performance out of the box, better than the displays manufacturer’s offered to consumers not too long ago. The optimal settings will always vary from one display to another and will equally vary depending on your viewing environment; the best you will be able to do without using measurement equipment is to get your settings ‘into the ballpark.’

When it comes to normal color vision, unless you have some sort of side-by-side visual reference for color accuracy, such as a high quality, professionally calibrated display or a calibrated (color critical) ‘reference grade’ professional monitor, then, like the vast majority of people, it is very difficult for an average observer to tell if the color or white balance is incorrect. This is particularly true if you take a little time to optimize your display settings for your specific viewing conditions.

The ultimate solution would be a professional calibration of your display; however this is frequently beyond the need and/or budget of the substantial majority of consumers, particularly if one’s viewing habit is more casual than critical. (Should you ever decide that you need or want a “professional” calibration, rather than utilizing Best Buy’s Geek Squad service, I believe you would be better served by hiring a knowledgeable, independent, professional calibration expert that has abundant experience; I’ve provided a few links below.)

One cost-effective alternative to a professional calibration is to purchase your own colorimeter, such as the inexpensive models (often less than the cost of a typical professional calibration,) from GretagMacbeth, Datacolor, etc., and learn to calibrate your own display(s).

Regardless, you should rent or purchase one of the display optimization (aka “calibration”) DVDs such as “Avia” from Ovation Multimedia or “Digital Video Essentials” from Joe Kane Productions to properly optimize and maintain your display.
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Below I’ve provided the majority of the picture settings needed for the do-it-yourselfer to get the picture fidelity for Samsung’s 6xF Series of LCD HDTVs (including your Samsung LN-T4066F display) in the ballpark. These settings should be used for ALL viewing particularly if color accuracy is valued.

Using either HDMI or analog component video inputs…

First, in the Picture menu set your Samsung display to “Movie” mode. Again, you should use this “Automatic Picture Setting” for all viewing.

The backlight setting should be preferably set to 0…, and no higher than 4. This is essential if you wish to maximize the contrast ratio of your display.

Aside from using either of the recommended display optimization DVDs try the following picture settings.

   • Contrast: 85-95
   • Brightness: 45-55
   • Sharpness: 0-20
   • Color: 50-55
   • Tint: 0

Detailed Settings Menu
   • Black Adjust: Off
   • Dynamic Contrast: Off
   • Gamma: between 1 and -3 (Note: the MEASURED gamma value for a ‘Rec.709’ compliant HD display should be as close as possible to 2.5)
   • Color Space: Auto
   • White Balance: (It’s probably best if you leave these settings in their default, centered position unless you have access to a measurement instrument to assist you in setting the proper white balance.)
   • My Color Control: All should be set to the default of 15
   • Edge Enhancement: On (only if Sharpness is kept to an absolute minimum of 20 or less, otherwise set to Off)
   • xvYCC: Off
   • Film Mode: On (for 480i film-based sources only)
   • Game mode: Off
   • Energy Saving: Off

   • Color Tone should be set to “Warm2”
   • Digital NR should be set to “Off”

Active Color and DNIe are not available in Movie Mode.

Under Screen Size the ‘aspect ratio control’ should always be set to “Just Scan”
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Digital Video Essentials

http://www.videoessentials.com

Ovation Multimedia Avia II or Avia Pro

http://www.ovationmultimedia.com

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##### ADDITIONAL RESOURCES #####

CNET’s quick guide to TV calibration

http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-6463_7-5085739-1.html

Video: How to Calibrate Your TV

http://reviews.cnet.com/Calibrate_your_TV/4660-12443_7-6534987.html

Imaging Science Theatre 2000 Special Edition

http://www.widescreenreview.com/wsr_issue_ist.php

Calibrating your TV

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/print?id=1765771&type=story

Sound and Vision Magazine – TV Tweaks – Part One House Calls

http://www.soundandvisionmag.com/article.asp?section_id=82&article_id=233&page_number=1&print_page=y

AWH – How to Calibrate a Television FAQ

http://myweb.accessus.net/~090/how2adj.html

Grayscale Calibration of Home Theater Televisions

http://www.audioholics.com/tweaks/calibrate-your-system/grayscale-calibration-of-home-theater-televisions

Learn to Calibrate your LCD Television

http://www.lcdtvbuyingguide.com/lcdtv/lcd-tv-calibration.html

Calibration 101

http://www.proavmagazine.com/industry-news-print.asp?sectionID=0&articleID=599522

Hitting The Mark

http://www.proavmagazine.com/industry-news-print.asp?sectionID=0&articleID=601342

Running The Gamut(s)

http://www.proavmagazine.com/industry-news-print.asp?sectionID=0&articleID=599512

Selling Calibration Services

http://www.proavmagazine.com/industry-news-print.asp?sectionID=0&articleID=601343

Video Display Calibration

http://www.sencore.com/products/AVRFCalibration.htm

Adjusting Five User Controls on a Display to Maximize Performance – Flash

http://www.sencore.com/newsletter/VP300.html

Calibration – What Is Wrong with This Picture?

http://www.sencore.com/newsletter/July05/WhatIsWrong.htm

Index of Articles Related to Display Calibration

http://www.sencore.com/newsletter/archivedarticles.htm#colorprocolor

Imaging Science Theatre 2000 Special Edition

http://www.widescreenreview.com/wsr_issue_ist.php

Michael TLV Tips

http://www.keohi.com/keohihdtv/experttips/michaeltlv/michaeltlv_tips.html

Keohi HDTV – Expert Tips – Panel of Experts

http://www.keohi.com/keohihdtv/experttips/panelofexperts.html

Video Essentials FAQ – Video

http://www.videoessentials.com/ve_d_faqvideo.php

Digital Video Essentials Questions and Answers

http://www.videoessentials.com/DVEQ&A.php

Joe Kane Productions – Glossary

http://www.videoessentials.com/glossary.php

ISF Calibration Discussion and Information

http://www.avforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=311

Samsung LNTXX61-65-66 Calibration Settings – AVS Forum

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=828228&pp=60

(Beware recommended settings not obtained from colorimeter- or spectroradiometer-equipped sources)
Display Calibration – AVS Forum

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?f=139

Charles Poynton:
“Brightness” and “Contrast” Controls

http://www.poynton.com/notes/brightness_and_contrast/

Gamma FAQ

http://www.poynton.com/notes/colour_and_gamma/GammaFAQ.html

Color FAQ

http://www.poynton.com/notes/colour_and_gamma/ColorFAQ.html

http://www.poynton.com/ColorFAQ.html

Color Technology and Resources

http://www.poynton.com/Poynton-color.html

http://www.poynton.com/notes/links/color-links.html

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GretagMacbeth Eye-One Display 2 Colorimeter

http://usa.gretagmacbethstore.com/index.cfm/act/catalog.cfm/subcategory/Eye-One%20Solutions/category/Eye-One/browse/null/MenuGroup/__Menu%20USA%20New.htm

Datacolor Spyder3Elite™, Spyder3Pro™, or Spyder2PRO™ Colorimeters

http://www.colorvision.com/products.php

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Imaging Science Foundation

http://www.imagingscience.com

Though there may be many other qualified individuals, the following display calibration professionals are some of the best currently available if you want or need a calibration from a competent professional. Each service provider uses high performance calibration equipment accompanied by ample experience and an excellent reputation.

W. Jeff Meier – AccuCal

http://www.accucal.org

Lion Audio-Video Consultants

http://www.lionav.com

Kevin Miller

http://www.isftv.com

Busch Home Theater

http://www.buschhometheater.com/isf_calibration.htm