Is there a place in TO where properly adjusted TVs can be compared?

[Maty Grosman]

Hi there,

Frankly, I find it fraustrating that in all the stores (Future Shop, Best Buy, etc) none of the TVs are properly adjusted and therefore cannot be objectively compared... They all look as bad, and even if some look better than others you can't truly know if it's because the TV is actually better, or if it just happened to be better adjusted. This seems to leave one with only the following choices to go by:

a. Technical Specifications
b. Independent online reviews
c. User reviews
d. Sales person's opinion/recommendations

My concern is that, with the exception of technical specs, which still cannot replace the *experience* of what something would actually *look* like, one is only left with second-hand information to make a choice about something very personal that will stick with him for years (I can't imagine many of us can afford to spend a few thousand $ every year or so)

I don't see why there can't be a place (i.e. Electronics store) where several sets would be properly adjusted so that customers could see every set at it's best and make proper, first-hand distinctions...

Is/are there any place/s that offer this? If no, does anyone have any additional suggestions/recommendations as to how one can compare/evaluate different sets?

I just find it hard to believe one's only option is to buy first, and see what it would actually look like later...

Thanks!

[hugh]

I don't see why there can't be a place (i.e. Electronics store) where several sets would be properly adjusted so that customers could see every set at it's best and make proper, first-hand distinctions...

The truth is that sets are properly adjusted ..... to maximize sales. Most consumers want "bright" televisions hence why they come from the factory in torch mode. This has been a sore spot with home theater enthusiasts for years but the sad fact of life is that if you put a calibrated set beside one in torch mode then sales of the torch mode set will be higher.

This has been discussed many time here so search around.

My advice is to go to your local higher end electronics shop and ask what sets have been calibrated. They will let you know.

The reality is that even higher end shops will likely have not bothered calibrating their LCD sets for the same reason. One shop that I know typically does it for their higher end plasmas because plasma buyers tend to be more discerning. (their words not mine so don't flame me)

[Pradesian]

I share this frustration. I went inside this little electronics shop that I spotted by accident and was surprised by the inventory of high-end AV equipment. I was excited because they carried Kuros and I wanted to see one in action. They even had it set up for an A/B comparison with a Panny V10. Alas, I don't think the A/B comparison was fair at all because the Panny looked like the contrast was cranked too high. The Kuro, by comparison, looked fantastic with the black level blending seamlessly (to my eyes, at least) with the bezel. It would have been nice to see these two properly calibrated so that I could see for myself whether the $2K difference in price would be worth it for my purposes.

[Maty Grosman]

Thanks Hugh and Pradesian. Please let me know if you do come across a place that does offer this functionality. In all honesty, I would have been glad to pay a premium to have this option, as I'm currently debating between a few sets and feel that whatever my choice is going to be, it will mostly rely on secondary factors such as price.

[Pradesian]

For what it's worth, Trutone Electronics in the Toronto/Mississauga border have a very good set-up, in my opinion. They've got several dedicated rooms for various configurations. Though I'm not certain, I would think that the set-ups in the dedicated HTs would be calibrated given that they have ISF-certified techs on staff. Maybe they can even set up an A/B comparison on request.

[Michael TLV]

Greetings

The marketing of a TV set has nothing to do with presenting accurate images. So goes the industry mantra.

Calibrated sets cannot compete on the showroom floor against sports modes and vivid modes and so forth under the showroom lighting.

Only bet is to go to the smaller places ... and hope. But note that calibrating sets in the store can be counter productive since 99% of the buying public like the sets out of the box anyway.

With smaller stores ... there is also reluctance at times since they take the care to do stuff like this ... and people just go buy the thing from the big box stores anyway. So they get the short end of the stick no matter.

Too bad you are not in Calgary or Edmonton. I could actually point you to stores that have many calibrated units on display. (Calibrated within limits of course ... given the lighting in the store and the constant swap out of equipment.)

regards

[Michael TLV]

Greetings

From what I know of Trutone, their calibrator guy does not work on the sets in the store.

regards

[hawkwind]

You may want to try Bay/Bloor Radio. It has been a long time since I have been down there but they used to have seperate viewing rooms and the tv's calibrated for those rooms. Its been many years since I have been there though.

[hugh]

I think you will find that most stores (even Trutone and Bay/Bloor) have abandoned calibrating sets for reasons noted by Michael and myself.

[57]

From post 1, items b and c are probably your best options. One thing that you can to in a store is change the setting on the TV away from the Vivid mode. Most TVs have a "custom" or "user" mode that is not that bad. Remember also to set that mode to the factory default when you go to it because someone may have played with it.

Of course, once you've decided on a TV, the following post will be of interest.

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=76161

[Maty Grosman]

Hi everyone, thanks for your input! Bay Bloor Radio was actually on my list for tomorrow...but I guess Hugh has saved me the trip. Still, perhaps I'd go just to see what they have to offer. Thanks for the link, 57. Great article, and I'm sure it would come very handy.

[hugh]

I did not say Bay /Bloor doesn't calibrate any of sets. I just doubt they do. If you go, be sure to ask what sets are calibrated and report back.

[David Susilo]

If the TVs are all calibrated properly, then you'd hardly see any difference between them (for in-store experience, I mean). If you're looking for the absolute best... then why don't you just save the hassle and get the best brand in the industry?

[cfraser]

^ And what brand would that be?

I am the only person I know (in real life) who prefers a calibrated piccy. [It does take some getting used to. But when you do, everything else just looks so wrong.]

That is why they don't "calibrate" showroom models. Presuming everyone else I know is "normal".

[David Susilo]

well, for my preference (and virtually all A/V magazines around the world), it's Pioneer.

I'm another person who's crazy about calibrated anything. All my laptops, PC screens, all 3 TVs (2 Pioneer, 1 Toshiba CRT), front projector, all of them are calibrated at least once a year and for my laptops and PCs, at least once a month.