I think the OP is referring to something like this
http://www.curtpalme.com/ChromaPure_EyeOneDisplay3.shtmAny measuring instrument, whether it's a colorimeter, CCD sensor, or the science instruments on the Mars rover, needs to be calibrated to be of any use. X-Rite obviously does a good job of QC'ing their i1DP's. Yet, some vendors think they can improve on that.
Check how?
By measuring the characteristics of the probe in a known-good, calibrated chain and adding a meter correction matrix to the user's calibration/profiling software.
Against what reference?
Expected CIE and XYZ values, test charts... besides, they calibrate the probe, they don't profile it.
With what instrument?
That web page mentions a 5nm reference spectroradiometer. They don't say which one. Hopefully something like a Photo Research PR-730, but might just be an X-Rite Hubble.
How do you know they actually did this?
I suppose you get tangible matrix correction files with the product. Otherwise you rely on Curtpalme's word and reputation, of which I'm neutral.
I have no connection to Curtpalme and never bought or used any of their products, I just found out about them in my extensive research of CMS's. Personally, I ended up buying a retail i1 Display Pro because I didn't know if I might use X-Rite's own i1Profiler software or something else. i1Profiler only comes and only works with the retail version, and not Curtpalme or other companies' OEM variant. (I ended choosing dispcalGUI as my computer monitor software so I could've gone either way.)
Frankly it sounds like BS to me.
Andrew, I owe much of my knowledge about color management to experts like you, which is why your response baffles me. Am I missing something major?