SD programming and my Samsung 46" LCD

Nocaster · 02-05-2007, 09:47 AM

Do I really have to live with a picture this unwatchable?

Even HD programming in interlaced format looks pretty bad.

I'm connected via HDMI from my cable box to the TV. Wondering if I should have gone Plasma for a screen of this size.

WilliamHg · 02-05-2007, 03:15 PM

i'll take a shot in the dark at this even though i'm pretty sure this won't help but ya never know. speaking from experience here, make sure to check the correct av source with your remote like HDav1,HDav2, av3, like that. i had the wrong av source selected and after alot of wailing and knashing of teeth i figured it out.
i would think there's a wrong connection or something somewhere along those lines for you not to be getting a good picture, with everything that you mentioned it should be looking pretty nice. good luck. william

Joseph DeMartino · 02-05-2007, 06:49 PM

Have you done a consumer-level calibration with Avia Guide to Home Theater or Video Essentials (or Digital VE)? Because it is typical for SD cable and satellite to look like crap on HD sets that haven't been properly adjusted. The out-of-box "torch mode" brightness and contrast settings, and especially the 100% "sharpness" typica of factory level, all bring out the very worst in SD signals. (And don't do much for HD, either.) My JVC LCoS set horrified me when I first connected the HD cable box and fired it up - until I pulled out my calibration discs. Then it looked great.

Regards,

Joe

MACPUN · 02-05-2007, 11:19 PM

Where can I get this "calibration discs"?!?

Thanks

Nocaster · 02-06-2007, 08:34 AM

Unfortunately, I had to disconnect everything as we're having the house painted so I can't test any of the above selections yet.

I'm not convinced the calibration discs will held, but if you could point me to a source where I can score some, I'd appreciate it.

There are multiple issues with SD programming on this set. I'm not 100% sure they're fixable.

1. HEAVY pixillation. And I mean heavy. I can't even watch it. Even the display text from the cable box is heavily pixillated, almost to the point that I cannot read it.

Broadcast text is also pixillated and has what I can only describe as an "aura" around it.

2. Ghosting. I expected some with an LCD plat panel, but this just seems bad. Even HD broadcasts in 1080i have this issue.

3. I had an installer mount the TV and connect up my surround, Cable & PS3. I asked him about the grey pillarboxes and he made an adjustment in the cable box settings that stretched the image. That removed the pillarboxes, but now the image so stretched it's ridiculous. I'd rather look at pillarboxes to be honest.

Someone in CC told me that connecting the Cable box via S-Vid would alleviate the problem with pillarboxing without having to stretch the image. Does this sound right?

Thanks again for the input.

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Michael TLV · 02-06-2007, 08:52 AM

Greetings

History lesson.

In 1939, when the founding fathers of the NTSC tv system were developing the system ... they said that one day the NTSC tv system would be capable of displaying big screen images. Images as big as ... 19" ...

And there you have it. The NTSC system was never designed to go bigger than 19" and you are looking at it on 46" and asking why it looks like crap.

I bet your PIP looks okay does it not? Well under 19"

Only the infusion of more than a trillion dollars will fix this problem for you ... (pull out that checkbook

)

A test disc might fix a few of the basic things but the stuff you talk about will remain. (Part of that Trillion+ Dollar solution)

Regards

Nocaster · 02-06-2007, 10:00 AM

Thanks Michael.

So the S-Vid isn't going to help for SD channels? I just have to live with watching basically the 20 channels that are HD (actually much less, since the 1080i is pretty annoying to watch, as are HD broadcasts not originally shot in HD)?

Michael TLV · 02-06-2007, 11:39 AM

Greetings

Doing the stuff with a test disc can help to de-emphasize stuff that "can't" be fixed. High sharpness settings make the macroblocks more vivid and annoying to the eye ... for instance.

so basic user settings done correctly will make things more watchable.

Secondly ... as you mentioned ... S-video will often look better from the satellite and cable boxes for SD material than the converted component or HDMI output. One less processing step ... sends a cleaner signal to the TV ... and the processing in the cable boxes is never great to begin with.

Then it comes down to convenience versus quality ... will you be disciplined enough to always flip to SVID for SD material and keep the HD material separate?

Or will you say ... to hell with it ... since all the SD material is bad anyway and it really is what it is ...

Regards

Nocaster · 02-06-2007, 12:29 PM

If it's enough of an improvement, damn right I'll be disciplined enough to switch. I'm probably gonna pick up a Harmony remote anyway, so that'll offset the convenience factor a little.

What's your opinion on allowing the cable box to stretch the image to eliminate the pillarbox?

Joseph DeMartino · 02-06-2007, 12:51 PM

While some brick and mortar retailers don't carry calibration discs, you can get Avia Guide to Home Theater and Digital Video Essentials at pretty much any on-line DVD dealer. Either will do the job. They will both also let you adjust the sound on your audio system. Some people find Avia much easier to use than DVE. I've used both and have no strong preference.

[quote]What's your opinion on allowing the cable box to stretch the image to eliminate the pillarbox?[quote]

You can't "eliminate" the pillarbox columns for 4:3 material and keep the aspect ratio correct, anymore than you could eliminate the letterbox
bars on material wider than 1.78:1. Any material that isn't exactly the same shape as you screen is going to have to be adjusted. that means letterbox or pillarbox for material the deviates significantly, like 2.35:1 and greater or 1.37:1 and probably a sli