There are quite a few calibration tools available. The most common are DVD-based tools. While calibration tools appeal to various user levels, Monster's DVD is targeted to the average home theater enthusiasts. Overall, we like the Monster/ISF (Imaging Science Foundation) HDTV Calibration Wizard DVD, especially for novice users.

Read more for details.

When you buy an HDTV, it's often configured from the factory to look best in the store. Therefore, in your home theater environment, your display may not look as good as it could. Calibration allows you to make adjustments to your video monitor so that you can achieve the best results. 

The Monster/ISF HDTV Calibration Wizard DVD uses real video to let you calibrate your display instead of using technical charts, etc. This approach will tend to appeal to novice users and those who aren't into all the geeky charts seen in other tools. The only negative is that Monster's DVD also uses cheesy dialogue and delivery – especially from host and contemporary recording artist Jenna Drey. Whether you end up liking Jenna's music video in chapter 8 is subjective. The good news is that it's not a required part of the tool. Throughout the whole DVD however, the dialogue and delivery is a bit too sappy for my tastes.

The Monster/ISF HDTV Calibration Wizard DVD has 9 chapters. Bold chapters are the required tools. The others aren't necessary to calibrate. The list includes:

1. Introduction From The Head Monster 10th Anniversary ISF/Monster
   An introduction and just a bit of marketing hype.
2. How This DVD Will Make Every Other DVD Better!
   An explanation of the DVD.
3. How Black are Your Blacks?
   This is an important black levels test. Also known as brightness, correct black levels set your display as black as possible while maintaining definition.
4. How Bright are Your Whites?
   Get a nice bright picture, while retaining detail in the whites. Also known as contrast, getting whites nice and bright while not experiencing blowout makes a picture much better.
5. Are Your Pictures Colorful Enough or Way Too Colorful?
   Also known as color saturation, it assures your colors aren't too saturated. Monster differs from other tools in that they don't dive into tint control, only recommending normal color temperature and saturation adjustment. Advanced users will find themselves wanting.
6. Is Your TV Sharp?
   Making sure your picture isn't over-sharp is as important as not making it too soft. This tool does a good job.
7. Am I Too Fat?
   Also known as aspect ratio, I'm still surprised how many people watch their displays with the picture to wide or too narrow. This chapter helps you assure you're setup right.
   
   Image compressed - not correct

   
   
   
   Image not compressed - correct

   
   
   
8. Time to Enjoy Your TV
   An unnecessary music video.
9. Are You Well Connected and Properly Powered?
   Sixty seconds of Monster's CEO hocking Monster Cables.

Pros

• Easy to use
• Good results for novices

Cons

• Cheesy dialogue.
• Price a bit steep. Should be $15-$20, not $30.
• Geeks advanced users may want to choose tools that can refine results a bit more, especially tint tools.
• No audio calibration tools.
  

Summary

The Monster/ISF HDTV Calibration Wizard DVD provides good results for all levels of users. While there are tools that can tweak colors a bit more, it's questionable whether the average user benefits from those tweaks. Given that THX Optimizer is available free on a number of movie DVDs, we think Monster's $30 price tag is a bit steep. If the street price was $15, it would be a good bargain. At $30, users comfortable with home theater will find using the THX Optimizer on movies like Cars or The Incredibles provides more than adequate enough results. Even so, novices will probably be more comfortable with the Monster/ISF HDTV Calibration Wizard DVD. We recommend this the Monster/ISF HDTV Calibration Wizard DVD for novices.

Monster/ISF HDTV Calibration Wizard DVD

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