The Proximus TECHBDTV High Definition TV and Audio Calibration Toolkit is a solid entry in the world of TV calibration discs. It’s mastered in high definition. We’d like to see more audio calibration tools, but its features are good enough to land among the top discs on our list.
While similar TV calibration discs provide an enormous amount of instruction, the Proximus TECHBDTV keeps it simple with just enough instruction to help you properly adjust the video and audio on your HDTV and multi-channel surround sound system, such as a 5.1 unit.
The disc will walk you through each video and audio calibration tool step by step while you adjust your HDTV. Included is a printed guide that ships with the Proximus TECHBDTV disc, which covers what each calibration tool does. Their goal is to instruct you to use the tools to get your image looking its best.
The video calibration tools found on the Proximus TECHBDTV disc include a set of test patterns, such as color bars, contrast and brightness, sharpness, screen geometry (so shapes look normal), the aspect ratio (such as 16 x 9 widescreen) and more.
There are a set of audio tools, though they’re limited compared to some of the other TV calibration discs on our list. These include tools for checking and calibrating 5.1 surround sound systems, speaker phase and the subwoofer. We’d like to see more audio tools added in, if Proximus plans on updating future versions.
As with most of the TV calibration discs we reviewed, the Proximus TECHBDTV ships with a special blue filter that you hold up to your eyes. This makes calibrating some of the video test patterns easier. Home theater installers use these blue filters, and even some Hollywood professionals use a special electronic blue filter found built into expensive video monitors.
The Proximus TECHBDTV Blu-ray Disc is mastered in high definition and ships on a Blu-ray Disc, making it perfect for calibrating your HDTV. They also have a standard definition (SD) version on DVD, ideal for non-HD television sets.
It is important you make sure you’re using the right TV calibration disc for the correct television or you won’t get a proper calibration. Sometimes you’ll find a DVD that’s in standard definition, claiming to be for HDTVs, but you’ll end up with a television that won’t look correct. Colors will more than likely be off, giving you orangish reds or bluish greens.
As we discussed earlier, there are tutorials and a printed guide to walk you through the calibration process. However, there aren’t many support options available. After you open the Proximus TECHBDTV Blu-ray Disc, you have 30 days to report if it’s not working correctly. They will replace the disc within that time period.
While a solid TV calibration disc, the Proximus TECHBDTV High Definition TV and Audio Calibration Toolkit could use a few more video and audio calibration tools. But overall they keep the instructions simple and walk you through the process, step-by-step.
