dual monitor contrast and brightness settings

To me, setting the brightness and contrast of the monitor is the hardest part of calibration. I've had several of those images that say something like, "set the contrast so square x is as close as possible to square y, and set the brightness so square a is as close as possible to square b". and I use them. But even when they look perfect (as possible) on both monitors, the monitors don't look anything like each other. I'm not talking about color; even when the color seems to match on the monitors, the contrast and brightness never look really close.
Since the brightness and contrast seem to affect the calibration, I'd like to know how other people decide on how to set them before calibrating.
I'm using an Asus PB238q and a Viewsonic VP2365WB.
Thanks

I've had a similar situation with a pair of Dell UltraSharp monitors,
so I'll be interested to find out what turns up with this.
I can't even seem to get the color temperature quite the same.

ncjohn wrote in post #18661428
I'm using an Asus PB238q and a Viewsonic VP2365WB.
Thanks

My Viewsonic had an "Eco" mode enabled out of the box that I had to disable to get repeatable results. Go to http://www.tftcentral.​co.uk …ws/viewsonic_vp​2365wb.htm and scroll down for some related input.

John from PA wrote in post #18661479
My Viewsonic had an "Eco" mode enabled out of the box that I had to disable to get repeatable results. Go to http://www.tftcentral.​co.uk …ws/viewsonic_vp​2365wb.htm and scroll down for some related input.

No, not doing eco mode. But thanks. (Eco mode is kind of like "Just how bad do you want your monitor to look?")

Two different panels, from two different manufacturers, each with different back light technologies, dynamic contrast and refresh rates.
It doesn't matter what you do, they will never match.

You might get them close with a calibration device that supports multiple monitors, but not even that will be able to make them match.

I think you will need two separate video cards, which you would then connect each monitor to a separate one before you can calibrate each monitor differently with software. Otherwise, with a calibration tool, the tool sets a profile and both monitors are affected.

Are there calibration devices that set brightness and contrast?
I use the puck from a Spyder 3 with DisplayCal. DisplayCal works with multiple monitors but I don't think it addresses brightness and contrast. (I have a hard time with the instructions so I could be wrong.)
The color is definitely close enough but I think the Viewsonic has less inherent contrast and it's frustrated me for a while now. So I just thought I'd see how other people set their brightness and contrast before calibrating.