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How should an HDTV set look with standard digital signal?
by RebeltheHairyDog - 6/28/04 6:38 AMI have been looking at the Sony 50" LCD HD-ready set and the newest Samsung 50" HD-ready DLP set. They both looked pretty similar in the store (with a great picture for both) when they were showing the promotional DVD.
Right now, I have a standard DirectTV set up. I read about the HD package from DirectTV, and it seems there are still a lot of channels not broadcasting in HD yet, so I was planning on keeping the standard set up for at least the next year or so.
When I asked the salesperson to show me what the signal would look like from DirectTV, it looked terrible (blocky and fuzzy)! He said it was because the set was trying to compensate for the poorer signal (as compared to a HD or DVD signal). These stores (Best Buy, Circuit City) seem to have the signals split on all these TVs, so maybe that had something to do with it.
What kind of picture can I reasonably expect? I want the TV I purchase now to be ready when all the channels catch up in the next couple years, but not if it will look terrible in the meantime. This picture looked so bad, I can't believe anybody would put up with it. Thanks in advance to anybody who can offer some insight!
Re: How should an HDTV set look with standard digital signal
by R. Proffitt
- 6/28/04 8:09 AM
In reply to: How should an HDTV set look with standard digital signal? by RebeltheHairyDog
The short answer is that you can't add quality back in. Most video that is broadcast is still NTSC/PAL and the better sets seem to amplify or show just how ragged NTSC/PAL can be.
Bob
Re: How should an HDTV set look with standard digital signal
by Art - 6/28/04 8:31 AM In reply to: How should an HDTV set look with standard digital signal? by RebeltheHairyDogI think the salespersons misunderstood your question. There are many different connections on a HDTV; you should have no problem viewing directv on it right now.
Re: How should an HDTV set look with standard digital signal
by pridev - 7/7/04 7:16 AM In reply to: How should an HDTV set look with standard digital signal? by RebeltheHairyDogHello. I'm no expert but I might be able to help a little. The picture won't be perfect but it shouldn't be anywhere near terrible is my short answer. Read on if you please. I recently purchased a mitsubishi hdtv ready rear projection. I have Directv so I purchased a high definition satellite receiver($300.00) I am not currently subscribing to their high def package, not enogh channels for me to pay the extra money. Althogh since I have HBO and Showtime I receive one high def signal from each service. The high def picture is excellent. ALL the other 200+ channels which I guess are digital come in with very minor distortion of faces and objects depending on how close or far the object is from the camera. The best buy person tells me its "pixelation" I don't think that's a word, caused because the non high def signal doesn't contain all the information the receiver and television want to process in 1080i(high def). I have the receiver connected to the television using a DVI cable which I'm told is the highest connection availabe for my system. I compared the picture using all connections ranging from RCA jacks through component and I seem to get the better picture through the DVI cable. The distortion was noticeable to me but not my wife. Now I don't notice it unless I really look for it. Hope this helped.
Re: How should an HDTV set look with standard digital signal
by studranger - 7/11/04 5:20 PM In reply to: How should an HDTV set look with standard digital signal? by RebeltheHairyDogwell rebel ill tell you-in ONE word!!=same as usual==bad is bad-i have the sony lcd 42 inch gw111-and HDTV is superb-std stations are just as bad as were used too--although i got the monster hts2000 line conditioner and surge protector and connected the incoming cabe to it and the out to the splitter and my jaw dropped--couldnt be happier--really cleaned up the video noise on std stations--try it for yourself--im still amazed
Re: How should an HDTV set look with standard digital signal
by - 7/12/04 11:58 AM In reply to: Re: How should an HDTV set look with standard digital signal by studranger"Pixellation" is a commonly used word. I'm not sure if it's in any dictionery, though.
It refers to an image that looks "blocky," or mosaic-like because you can discern individual pixels in the image.
At least as good as regular TV, but it should look better
by steve packard - 1/7/05 3:26 PM In reply to: How should an HDTV set look with standard digital signal? by RebeltheHairyDogAt least as good or better than on a regular TV
This is a common problem with cheaper HDTV’s and older models. The truth is that a good HDTV will do a good job with standard resolution TV aswell as HDTV.
When the TV is displaying HDTV, of course it will look gorgeous because the picture is higher definition.
But when displaying regular TV, a good HDTV will “up-convert” the signal to HDTV-like standards. True, you cannot simply add detail to a low-definition picture, but you can do the next best thing. Many HDTV’s use methods like de-interlacing and line doubling. Essentially this involves using complicated mathematics and video processing to enhance the video picture and “guess” what data the extra lines of resolution should contain using data from the line above and the line below as well as the preceding frame and the geometry of objects on the screen.
Look for TV’s that feature advanced up-converting. Sony, I know, for example, has their own brand of up-converting that is touted as being very good. Other sets might feature advanced line-doubling, deinterlacing or picture enhancement.
If the picture looks awful when showing standard definition TV, there are some possibilities.
1. The TV is designed to be a HDTV with little consideration for SDTV or is just not a very high-quality set.
2. The HDTV receiver you have does not do a good job of receiving SDTV.
3. It’s not connected right.
4. It’s not set up right.
5. The TV signal is analog and has noise in it which is degrading the conversion
Here’s a common solution: Connect the set to the receiver using standard s-video or composite video as well as RGB, Component or DVI. Use the s-video input when watching standard tv and a digital/wideband connection for HDTV. Or use the internal tuner of your tv to watch regular tv. This forces your TV to up-convert the picture, instead of relying on the receiver to up-convert it. Be sure you switch the input when you want to see hdtv.
BUT: DO NOT ACCEPT CRAPPY LOOKING REGULAR TV ON YOUR HDTV
-Stephen Packard
I'm scared...
by dankelly613 - 11/28/08 2:35 PM In reply to: At least as good as regular TV, but it should look better by steve packardI have the exact same question, and it;s still not answered.
EVERY HD tv I've ever seen looks HORRIBLE at standard definition.
For the two I have personally examined, the connection is HDMI from DirecTV - one HD box and one standard definition box.
On the HD box, when you turn to a non-HD channel, it looks horrible.
On the standard box, EVERY channel looks bad. (A few look better than others, but all look worse than they do on my 12 year old 32" RCA piece of junk at home.)
The setup in HDMI.
What else can be done to make SD look good on an HD TV?
NOTE: I am *NOT* asking how to make it look better than a STD DEF TV. I don't care about 'up-converting' etc. I just want to look as good as my regular tv.
I can't buy an HD TV knowing that many of the channels I watch will be unwatchable.
(NT) stick with plasma for best chances
by jostenmeat - 11/28/08 2:39 PM In reply to: I'm scared... by dankelly613
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