Home Theater Geek 552 Transcript
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Scott Wilkinson [00:00:00]:
In this episode of Home Theater Geeks, I answer a question about new lamps in projectors and whether or not to get them calibrated. So stay tuned.
Scott Wilkinson [00:00:29]:
Hey there, Scott Wilkinson here, Home Theater Geek. In this episode, I answer a question from Jeremy Mills of Waupaca, Wisconsin, who was a previous Home Theater of the Month honoree in episode 538. Now Jeremy writes, I have an Epson Pro Cinema 6050UB projector with probably 2,000 hours of time on the lamp. I recently installed a new lamp, which got me thinking about having the projector professionally calibrated. I have the Spears and Munsil calibration disc, which is handy for a novice like myself to do some basic calibrating with pluge patterns and color filters, but I'm considering going that extra step and paying a professional to really dial it in. So here are my questions. With my projector being a mid-level to lower cost model, do you think the improvement would be worth the investment? When one changes the lamp on a projector, does that affect the calibration? What factors impact the cost of a projector calibration? Things like traveling distance for the calibrator, type of projector, Etc. Are there levels of calibration and thus different tiers of price? And finally, do you recommend anybody for calibration that lives in Wisconsin? Well, these are all great questions, Jeremy. Thanks for sending them.
Scott Wilkinson [00:02:11]:
First of all, let me say, nice projector. The Epson Pro Cinema, uh, 6050UB was discontinued in 2022, and it had an MSRP of $4,000. at that time, or before it was discontinued. I would definitely call it mid-level, not lower cost, and it definitely punches above its class if you ask me. Epson makes great projectors and really value-oriented models that, that perform very, very well. So adjusting the user controls using the Spears and Munsil calibration disc gets you, I would say, at least 70 to 80% of the way toward the best possible image. Is it worth investing in a professional calibration to get the rest of the way? It depends on how critical your eyes are and how picky you are. Most folks, even enthusiasts, probably won't see a noticeable difference, especially on real-world content.
Scott Wilkinson [00:03:26]:
Sure, you might see a difference on test patterns and the measurements might be a bit better, but who watches test patterns? I mean, as a geek I do, but only when I'm calibrating. Most of the time I, and even geeks like me, are watching real-world content, TV shows and movies, and I don't think you're going to see a big difference between doing it yourself with Spears and Munsell And hiring a calibrator. So I would say at this level and lower, it's probably not worth it. Um, a professional calibration can easily cost hundreds of dollars. Um, it's more worthwhile if you're spending near or above 5 figures for the projector. In that case, yeah, I would spend the money on a professional calibration. Now, installing a new lamp definitely affects the calibration, and here's a picture of the lamp that you would install for the Epson 6050. Um, in fact, the calibration of your projector probably drifted pretty significantly as the old lamp aged.
Scott Wilkinson [00:04:47]:
Its light output decreased. The color balance shifted. There are a number of things that happen as a lamp ages, which is why it's a good idea to run the Spears and Munsell routines a few times over the life of the lamp to compensate for these changes. Uh, when you install a new lamp after 2,000 hours on the previous one, you definitely need to run through the Spears and Munsell routines. with the new lamp, no question about it. Okay, so factors affecting the price of calibration. The things you list are probably warranted and valuable to think about— traveling distance, type of projector. They do affect the price along with the experience and certifications of the calibrator.
Scott Wilkinson [00:05:42]:
Also, it does cost more if you ask the calibrator to do an HDR calibration, high dynamic range, as well as SDR, standard dynamic range. Some calibrators charge a flat rate while others will charge by the hour, so you want to be conscious of that. If a calibrator is not familiar with the particular model that he's— he or she is calibrating, um, or if the projector has a wonky set of, of Calibration controls, which some of them do, they're pretty weird in their design, uh, that could cost more. So try to get someone who has calibrated your model before. The Epson 6050UB is fairly common, so, uh, and I, as I recall, they don't have really weird calibration controls, so it shouldn't be a problem. Most calibrators should have worked with it before. So the best way to find a calibrator in your area is to go to the Imaging Science Foundation website. It's at imagingscience.com, and in particular the section of the website that lists dealers.
Scott Wilkinson [00:07:04]:
So it would be imagingscience.com/dealers. We'll put a link In the show notes. Calibrators with ISF certification have successfully completed a rigorous course of training, so they're much more likely to know what they're doing. Now, in your case, I entered— I went to that website, that page on the website, and I entered your town, Waupaca, Wisconsin. And I found 2 calibrators listed within 30 miles. You are kind of not near a major metropolitan center, but here are 2 that are about 30 miles away, which isn't too bad. Precision Audio Video Experts in Stevens Point, they are Level 3 certified as, as shown on this website, and Van Vredes Service Center in Appleton. Which is on the other side of Wapaka.
Scott Wilkinson [00:08:09]:
They have no level certification listed. And ISF certification, you know, you can get level 1, level 2, level 3, depending on how much of their training you take. So I don't know about Van Vredes Service Center because they don't have a level specified. They probably have some level, but it just didn't make it on that website. Um, then there's Cody Hein, an individual probably in Green Bay. That's more like 50 miles away, so would cost you more to pay for his travel to get to you. Um, but he's a Level 2 certified calibrator. Um, so, you know, there's 3 options for you right there.
Scott Wilkinson [00:08:55]:
But as I said at the beginning, in, in this case, I would just go with Spears and Munsell. And save yourself the hundreds of dollars, uh, and the 70 or 80% of the way to the most perfected picture you can get out of that thing, uh, you can do yourself with the calibration disc. And I bet it will look great. I love Epson projectors, and so I think you would, you would be fine with that. Yeah, you know, if you really want to Spend the money and get that extra 10 or 20% or 30%, uh, improvement in the picture. Yeah, go for it. Why not? If you have the money, that's the key right there, is, uh, your budget and the expense. If you can do it and you're into it, go for it.
Scott Wilkinson [00:09:51]:
If not, you will not be unhappy, I'm sure. So thanks for the question. Now, if you have a question for me, send it along to HTG@twit.tv, and I'll answer as many as I can right here on the show. And if you have a home theater you're proud of, like Jeremy is justifiably proud of his, uh, send me some pics. I'd love to see them, and maybe we'll get you on the show to talk about Until next time... Geek out!
