DIY, Home Theater Blog Review: Monster/ISF HDTV calibration disc
By Matt Burns 
posted Jun 14th 2006 11:29AM
posted Jun 14th 2006 11:29AM
Proper calibration of your HDTV will make sure that you get the best picture possible. There are some good do-it-yourself kits out there like AVIA and Digital Video Essentials, but Monster has one too. Home Theater Blog has a nice write-up about it and they found it rather nice for first timers. He points out that while the Digital Video Essentials disc offers more options and tests, the Monster disc was nice and easy. The disc is divided up into nine chapters - well, really one five of 'em are tests. Chapter one is the intro, chapter eight is a music video and chapter nine is a sales pitch for Monster Cable by Noel Lee himself. (didn't surprise us ether)
Calibration is very important if you want the best possible picture. Do yourself a favor and pick up one of these discs.
I'm assuming this would run in a DVD player right? Wouldnt it be better to calibrate your HDTV with a player that actually looks good on your TV?
Calibrating a HDTV with a true HDTV source woudl indeed be the best idea.
How about PC software for everyone with a Media PC?
Where are the DVD-HD and BluRay Calibration discs?
There must be many TRUE HD test discs /software out thetere already
-What do the companies that build DVD-HD players, BluRay playewrs and HDTV's use?
I bought this and it comes with 2 different ways to run through the tests. One is a std dvd programming and the other is WMV files which are 1280x720 so you can project it in HD.
I have to say though that the program was pretty useless and wouldnt recommend anyone but the most novice user to buy. The setup is pretty easy but the technical content is slim.
And why should I buy this instead of using the free one that came with Star Wars?
@#4. From what I understand, the free one that comes on THX DVDs is more optimized for the movie, rather than the display in general, although if it still looks fine to you for everything else, enjoy!
Calibrating a HDTV with a true HDTV source woudl indeed be the best idea.
Neal Saferstein
Without an ability to transport 1080i and 1080P test patterns using the full color resolution of the ATSC specification for those owning 1080i/P displays then its a worthless offering--like most of Monster products.