The Augustine Theater Experience
Sharp XV-Z9000U SMART Calibration

Step 7: Gain Improvement

Relevant SMART web page: http://home.pacbell.net/steve367/improve.html

Gain

Minimum: 50
Maximum: 150

Factory Defaults
R-GAIN: 92
G-GAIN: 95
B-GAIN: 99

Steps, Attempt 1

1. The SMART web site says, "Which ever color has the highest gain setting for the low color temperature is your weakest one." For me that would have been Blue. I turned all three gains to maximum and it was obvious that Red was lacking. Conventional wisdom would also dictate Red. The Sharp has an NSH bulb which is known, along with UHP bulbs, to be Blue/Green dominant.
    
2. Using the detector calibration run data, the SMART spreadsheet recommended I set R=255, G=263, B=274. I couldn't do that because the Sharp's gain settings only go up to 150. So I set all gains to 150.
    
3. Per the SMART web site instructions, I used the Avia DVD to set contrast (-18) and brightness (-1). Time Saver: Brightness didn't change from my previous setting. I assume this is due to the fact that I set all bias settings to factory default -- where they were before. (Bias effects Brightness, Gain effects Contrast.) Didn't bother checking brightness again.
    
4. Time Saver: Measured 80, 90, and 100 IRE for all colors first. These measurements determine if contrast is set too high or if a color is maxed out. Got a "Lower contrast, Red is maxed out" message. Continued to lower contrast and measure 80, 90, and 100 IRE until no error messages appeared. Contrast ended up at -22.
    
5. Did a complete run and got the following advice from the SMART spreadsheet: "Change Green gain by -9% to 135; Change Blue gain by -4% to 143."
    
6. Made the suggested changes, used Avia to set contrast again, and measured another series -- again, starting with 80, 90, and 100 IRE of every color to get any "lower contrast" warnings out of the way. Time Saver: After several iterations, I realized that the contrast setting should never change. Red is the color my projector lacks and it's gain is at maximum. If it isn't maxed out and demanding contrast be lowered, the other colors won't either. Left contrast at -22 for all future runs.
    
7. Got the following advice: "Change Green gain by 15% to 156; Change Blue gain by 3% to 148." Problem -- can't go above 150 for Green. Last setting was 135 (too low) and before that 150 (too high). How about splitting the difference? 143
    
8. Continued making changes based on SMART's suggestions and measuring. Time Saver: To save time, I started skipping red and copying previous red measurements into new data runs. Red gain never changes so, in theory, measurements should be exactly the same every time.
    
9. Got some advice from SMART to lower Green from 150 to 141, but 141 would be lower than the 143 it was the last time when I was told to raise it. Advice is based on the Sony LCD's 255 maximum gain. Lowered it to 147... splitting the difference.
    
10. Time Saver: Discovered that only IRE 50-100 for each color needs to be entered to get advice or determine if color balance is within acceptable limits. Measured only 50-100 now (takes only a few minutes) until I wanted SMART to report contrast ratio. For that, only IRE 0 and 100 need to be measured. So IRE 10-40 are only necessary to complete the graphs.
     
11. Eventually, I got the following message: "Congratulations, SMART has determined that the color balance is within acceptable limits!" My gain settings:

    R-GAIN 150
    G-GAIN 145
    B-GAIN 144

12. Did a final run measuring IRE 0-100 for all three colors. Same result -- acceptable color balance.
     
13. Used AVIA to check Color and Tint. They did not need to be adjusted.
     
14. Contrast ratios according to the SMART spreadsheet:

Green	533.20 : 1
Overall	528.53 : 1

Other Attempts

In Attempt 1, I didn't use the settings in the regular menu (Red, Blue, CLR Temp) to try and improve contrast ratio. I tried several combinations this time without success. Changes to Red, Blue, and CLR Temp never resulted in a contrast ratio better than the settings arrived at during Attempt 1.

I won't go into all of the details, but here are the settings and their results:

The Max All Attempt

Red +30 (max)
Blue +30 (max)
CLR Temp +3 (max)
R-GAIN 150 (max)
G-GAIN 128
B-GAIN 102

Green	496.10 : 1
Overall	486.72 : 1

The Max Red Attempt

Red +30 (max)
Blue -2 (my pre-SMART and Attempt 1 setting)
CLR Temp -2 (my pre-SMART and Attempt 1 setting)
R-GAIN 150 (max)
G-GAIN 145 (Attempt 1 setting)
B-GAIN 144 (Attempt 1 setting)

Green	523.50 : 1
Overall	517.72 : 1

The Max CLR Temp Attempt

Red +1 (my pre-SMART and Attempt 1 setting)
Blue -2 (my pre-SMART and Attempt 1 setting)
CLR Temp +3 (max)
R-GAIN 150 (max)
G-GAIN 130
B-GAIN 120

Green	515.60 : 1
Overall	505.85 : 1

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