How to calibrate your TV quickly and easily

One of the biggest concerns that you usually get just as you bought a brand new TV, is whether you are viewing it with the maximum capacity that is provided by this new TV. Needless to say, that just out of the box, a television (whether plasma, LCD or LED) are often not optimized for the best picture possible (unless you have THX mode). So chances are you’re wondering if your TV can do better.

The way to find out for sure is to calibrate the equipment, which is nothing more than going through a series of tests, that “balance” and optimize the different “presets” of your TV so it can provide the best picture quality for your particular configuration, room and room lighting. And that is because no two panels are alike, as there are no two rooms alike with identical viewing angles.

As for passing a series of tests, there are several disks that allow for a full range of tests on your TV so that it will yield a 100%. They are discs like DVE HD Basics or the Spears & Munsil HD Benchmark, but are often very complicated to use for the average user. So if you just want to calibrate your TV quickly and easily, all you have to do is get the Disney World of Wonder.

Yes, it may seem incredible, but the best calibration disc in relation to its price / performance is without a doubt this wonder of Disney that sells for about $25. Composed of two Blu-ray (one for testing and another for demonstration of images in HD) is the ideal companion for those new in the world of hi-fi, because it will explain it in an easily understandable matter with everything related to the HD image world: from the difference between 720p and 1080p to what is the best interlaced mode or each of the test image that will come up. Also you can use a visual manual for free (pdf)

A small blue filter, accompanies the set which will ask you to perform some equipment calibration tests. The whole process is very simple, very practical and at the end, you have your TV calibrated almost equally with the other discs (much more complicated to understand for ordinary mortals). And thanks to the inclusion of the second disc of sample images, you can check it yourself, all what your TV can provide today in terms of image quality is concerned.

If you are not yet very determined to get it, I’ll leave here a little video that says all it can do for you this little wonder of technology: