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Reference Home Theater

Reference Home Theater

Home Theater Reviews

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ZToxLjNlbTttYXJnaW4tYm90dG9tOjAuNzZlbTtwYWRkaW5nOjAuNTVlbSAxLjVlbSAwLjU1ZW19IH0g

Update: I’m no longer living in the Portland, OR area and no longer doing calibrations. If you need a calibration, I’d recommend Kris Deering from Deep Dive AV.

Calibration Services

I am an ISF Level II Certified Calibration, capable of bringing out the best in all the displays and projectors that come in for review, as well as bringing out the best in your system. For more information on ISF Calibrations and what they entail, you can the ISF Calibrations Overview at the bottom of this page.

I calibrate flat panels (LCD, LED LCD, Plasma, OLED) and digital projectors (DLP, LCOS, SXRD, LCD) and do not handle CRT projectors or displays, or DLP rear projectors. I work out of the Portland, OR area and work locally, though if you are reasonably close please feel free to contact me and I will see if a time and date can be worked out. I also can calibrate HDR and 3D modes if desired. Dolby Vision is currently a bit different and depends on the set, so please contact me and I can let you know the details about your particular TV.

E-MAIL TO SCHEDULE CALIBRATION

My Experience

ISF Level II Certified

I’ve been ISF Level II Certified since 2012 and have been calibrating displays for people since then. Evaluating displays is my full time job and I keep up-to-date with training and equipment.

Display Reviewer

I’m the Senior Staff Writer for TVs and Projectors at Wirecutter, constantly testing and evaluating the newest technology and evaluating it’s performance. Previously I’ve written for HD Guru, Secrets of Home Theater, AnandTech, Residential Systems, and more.

Industry Contacts

Contacts with Hardware and Software manufacturers allow me to be sure I have the most up-to-date information on your TV or Projector and any special requirements needed to accurately calibrate it.

Pricing and Gear

Full ISF Calibration
$400

  • SDR and HDR Calibration
  • Equipment Verification
  • Dolby Vision if available
  • +$100 for Day/Night Modes
  • $1/Mile outside Portland
  • Usually 2.5-4 Hours

Current Gear

  • Calman Software
  • Klein K-10A Colorimeter
  • Xrite i1Pro2 Spectrometer
  • Murideo SixG Pattern Gen
  • Portrait Displays C6 HDR Colorimeter

If you are interested in calibration or have more questions about the process, please contact me via email or by Twitter DM and I will get back to you as quickly as possible.

E-MAIL TO SCHEDULE CALIBRATION

ISF CALIBRATION OVERVIEW

The goal of an ISF Calibration is to render the image as originally intended, utilizing the full abilities of your display. This will maximize the dynamic range of your picture, as well as presenting more accurate colors and revealing all the detail that is available.

IMPROVED CONTRAST

Correctly setting the brightness and contrast of the display reveals more shadow and highlight details and provides more visual pop.

VERIFY EQUIPMENT SETTINGS

Make sure the TV or Projector and all source devices are setup correctly for ideal image quality.

CORRECTED COLORS

Colors are often pushed to make a display stand out but also causing people to often look sunburned.

PROJECTOR SCREEN MATCHING

Projectors need to be calibrated to match the screen and the room they are in to provide an accurate image.

NEUTRAL WHITES

The Grayscale is what the image is built on, and by removing the tint that is usually present, everything is more accurate.

HDR ACCURACY

Adjusting settings for HDR to provide the most visual pop, as well as accurate colors, including adjusting tone curves if possible.

Reference Home Theater is Edited and Maintained by Stephen Hornbrook.