You can usually tell if the two items are vastly different by looking at the colours and the black levels. You can usually tell if a device has too much colour saturation (colour) and whether the image is too green or too red (tint/hue). The black level (brightness should be as dark as you can make it to get the blackest blacks, however, you should be able to see the details in the shadows. Various programmes and DVDs will be different, so it's always a bit of a compromise.
You can connect the DVD player by the same type of cable used by the (other) device, to that input and do a calibration. Then connect the device via that cable and tweak the settings by eye. Or copy the settings from your first calibration to the other input and tweak. If your Sony remembers the custom mode for each input, it should be easy to start with the first custom settings, copy those to another input and then tweak. It's obviously very important to get the first custom (picture mode) setting "correct" in terms of colour temperature first, then contrast, then brightness, then colour, then tint, etc.
If you're using the same input for various devices (going through the AVR) this is accomplished by using different picture modes on the same input if necessary. Sometimes this is not necessary. Sometimes it is.
Some people who have an upconverting player can use it to calibrate HDMI, component video, S-video, composite video (all if available), however, even after doing that, the STB or other device can still be different and require tweaking by eye.
Then there are all the advanced settings and whether you leave the contrast on dynamic or not - this is not easy...
But it can be fun.
I like doing the new Sonys because the custom settings are remembered for each input. Some other TVs require you to use a different picture mode on the other input if you want different settings.
You can connect the DVD player by the same type of cable used by the (other) device, to that input and do a calibration. Then connect the device via that cable and tweak the settings by eye. Or copy the settings from your first calibration to the other input and tweak. If your Sony remembers the custom mode for each input, it should be easy to start with the first custom settings, copy those to another input and then tweak. It's obviously very important to get the first custom (picture mode) setting "correct" in terms of colour temperature first, then contrast, then brightness, then colour, then tint, etc.
If you're using the same input for various devices (going through the AVR) this is accomplished by using different picture modes on the same input if necessary. Sometimes this is not necessary. Sometimes it is.
Some people who have an upconverting player can use it to calibrate HDMI, component video, S-video, composite video (all if available), however, even after doing that, the STB or other device can still be different and require tweaking by eye.
Then there are all the advanced settings and whether you leave the contrast on dynamic or not - this is not easy...
But it can be fun.I like doing the new Sonys because the custom settings are remembered for each input. Some other TVs require you to use a different picture mode on the other input if you want different settings.
