DVE

Go to Amazon.com and get Digital Video Essentials now. Well, you probably will only use it once or any time you move or buy a new TV. The disc is used to calibrate your TV and home theater system. There is a 90 minute video on HD basics. It does a relly good job of explaining the standards along with why TV manufactures don't follow the standards. The disc comes with a red, green, and blue filter to adjust color.

I found out my TV doesn't follow the standard for green. I can't adjust it, even in the hidden serv ice menu. I also found out my TV has a 4% overscan. I am not surprised at that since it is projection. However, the overscan is stretching the pixels. One of the pixel tests is suppose to look like a checkerboard - one pixel on and one off. If it isn't right you will see interference lines, which I do. That explains some of the problems I was having in a game. I was playing Warhawk witha friend. We were across the map sniping each other. He said he had no problem seeing me but I was struggling to see him. At those distances I bet the pixel stretching is enough to blend shapes.

The disc does explain that for certain things to get video and sound perfect you need a professional that has the right equipment. Like a devise attaches to the front fo the TV and records brightness and contrast instead of doing it by eye.

I have always used the THX tests on DVDs to adjust my picture and audio. This got me close. My contrast was spot on, but my brightness was a little high.

I need to get a lcd ro plasma at some point. But seeing the news from CES some kick ass TVs are coming out. Super thin and incorporating new 3D technology.

The DVD version would probably work also, but obviously you wouldn't get the 720p and 1080p tests. Though after watching the HD Basics video it seems most modern TVs do a crappy job at adhering to the standard def standards anyway.