Hi-Def That Ain't Really Hi-Def

[Xander]

So today I bought a 51 inch HD TV and you know, I was exited about it and couldent wait to see how DVD's would look. I got home and poped in The Incredibles just to test it out and got a surprise. This **** looks worse than on the mediocre TV I had before. It looks AWFUl. I tried Aladdin and it was just...ugly. I'm wondering if I did something wrong or if maybe I need special cables? I used the cable that came with the DVD player. I pluged in my PS2 and laughed at how Burnout 3 looked, you could barely tell a thing. Maybe i'm being too picky, or expected too much, but I think DVD's and PS2 games should look better than this. I know normal TV is different because you need special signal from the service provider, but I saw DVD's at my uncle's house who has a similar TV and it looks amazing there. Have I done something wrong or is my TV just crappy? This is the model TV that I got. (http://www.magnavox.com/index.cfm?event=main&cat_id=1&subcat_id=4&product=64) Did anyone have a similar issue? I'm hoping for a miracle. :waa:

[iv3rdawG]

you should take it back, or if you bought it from a website, ask customer service.

[Nimrandir]

Ok, don't panic. The tv you bought is projection. It is the stoneage version. The picture quality is not very good on some models. You are not getting HD quality picture by connecting it with a PS2, and the DVD looks bad because a crt directview is much better than this projection. It is not doing anything different. And the quality is less, so it won't look as good. You cannot get near HD quality from a DVD player on it because you do not have an upconversion progressive scan to 720p on the TV that converts all incoming signals to HD. You can get an Upconversion DVD player and that will vastly increase the quality. But, really the only way in which you will have real HD is when you hook it up to an HD sourch such as cable or satalite. What you really want is a LCD or DLP projection TV, they are much more expensive, but they give you everything. You paid for what you get here, basically a large version of a TV that ios capable of HD when it is properly hooked up. If you can afford a LCD or DLP I would return this tv. Projection to me is awful.

If you need more info or clarification just ask.

[Drizzt240]

Yay for Nimrandir!

[iv3rdawG]

Hoorah! for Nimrandir

[equipe]

Have you hooked up the DVD player video with Component(3 cables RED, BLUE, GREEN) or Composite (1 YELLOW cable) cables. It will make a significant difference in the picture quality if you use component cables. They don't usually come with a DVD player though. All the better if you have a progressive scan dvd player and take to time to adjust the picture a little.

[eclipsedman]

get a progressive scan dvd player and use the component cables and it should look real good.

[Xander]

Thanks guys for all your help, especially you Nimrandir. I'm going to contact Circuit City because the ****head that sold me the TV told me it was all HDTV.

[ip_guru]

Thanks guys for all your help, especially you Nimrandir. I'm going to contact Circuit City because the ****head that sold me the TV told me it was all HDTV.

It is HDTV-able, meaning with HDTV sources it will do HD. I'm going to respectfully disagree with Nim, projection isn't evil. There are some great projection HDTV sets, that produce fine pictures. I've personally seen that model, and the picture it produces is very nice for that budget. It can produce direct 1080i and 480p.

So if you get a progressive scan dvd player, hook it up with the component cables and the picture should be what you are looking for. If you have any 'normal' video source, like VHS or standard cable, those will look bad.

I use xbox with HD, but I'd guess that PS2 has an HD cable set. If so, buy that and use that, it will be a superior pic to non-HD.

Lasty, be sure that in your tv menu options that you are selecting the correct type of input, meaning 480p to the progressive scan DVD player, etc...

In general, the new projections tvs, like what you bought, do very well for their price point. If you want to move up some, then go to DLP, and if you wish to move up even higher, then go to Plasma... in between you might find some good deals here and there on LCD flat screens.

If you really decide to upgrade, but your budget isn't enough for HD-plasma level, then you can consider a sort of hybrid, called EDTV. EDTV is Enhanced Definition Television, and it can do things like 480p, so your progressive scan dvds will look good.

EDTV cannot do the native super high res widescreen images of HDTV, but that is the thing you are giving up to have great dvd playback and save a few bucks in the process. For most people, the images of 480p are so good they will think it is high end HDTV equipment.

But, back to your specific tv. If the image is awful, then there are other problems at play, not the fact that it is projection. 10, 15 years ago projection was bad, hot spots in the middle, shading on the edges, unable to see the picture from more than 10% off center, etc... But, these days, projection is an excellent alternative for budgets.

[Kable24]

I have a Mitsubishi 55 HDTV and the only time picture looks fuzzy on mine is when I watch analog signals. HD signals look absolutely amazing, Playstation 2 games look great and DVD's if they are created right look great. ( most dvd's are produced at 480p, but every once in a while they sneak 480i which is an analog signal). I use a progressive scan Pioneer dvd player and have it hooked up through the 3 component cables. Read your manual and work with the picture. Mine was blurry at the bottom right due to transport, that could be fixed the the on screen menu and remote control.

[Nimrandir]

It is HDTV-able, meaning with HDTV sources it will do HD. I'm going to respectfully disagree with Nim, projection isn't evil. There are some great projection HDTV sets, that produce fine pictures. I've personally seen that model, and the picture it produces is very nice for that budget. It can produce direct 1080i and 480p.

So if you get a progressive scan dvd player, hook it up with the component cables and the picture should be what you are looking for. If you have any 'normal' video source, like VHS or standard cable, those will look bad.

I use xbox with HD, but I'd guess that PS2 has an HD cable set. If so, buy that and use that, it will be a superior pic to non-HD.

Lasty, be sure that in your tv menu options that you are selecting the correct type of input, meaning 480p to the progressive scan DVD player, etc...

In general, the new projections tvs, like what you bought, do very well for their price point. If you want to move up some, then go to DLP, and if you wish to move up even higher, then go to Plasma... in between you might find some good deals here and there on LCD flat screens.

If you really decide to upgrade, but your budget isn't enough for HD-plasma level, then you can consider a sort of hybrid, called EDTV. EDTV is Enhanced Definition Television, and it can do things like 480p, so your progressive scan dvds will look good.

EDTV cannot do the native super high res widescreen images of HDTV, but that is the thing you are giving up to have great dvd playback and save a few bucks in the process. For most people, the images of 480p are so good they will think it is high end HDTV equipment.

But, back to your specific tv. If the image is awful, then there are other problems at play, not the fact that it is projection. 10, 15 years ago projection was bad, hot spots in the middle, shading on the edges, unable to see the picture from more than 10% off center, etc... But, these days, projection is an excellent alternative for budgets.Thats fine, but I didn't say all projection was bad, I have seen some very good ones, but most I have had experience with are not very good. I freuently go and review them at the stores. Now As you and myself said it will look better with 480P, but if he is usuing what came with it it was at least an S cable and that looks good also, not the best but good. CRT to me always produces better quality picture from the same setup than a projection. Like I said the TV will only produce HD from an HD source. Then it will be perfect for what you expected. But, you cannot get it from DVD unless you get a unconverter. 480P is along way from 1080i. The LCd or DLPs upconvert automatically all signals to 720p.

I hope it works out for you.

[Devin2005]

if u want a hi defintion tv u must buy a plasma because they say it is all hi def and if u buy a projection tv it will have acrt back but the real hi def tv will have a flat back and it must say Hi Defintion ready u brought a Dlp projection .

[ip_guru]

if u want a hi defintion tv u must buy a plasma because they say it is all hi def and if u buy a projection tv it will have acrt back but the real hi def tv will have a flat back and it must say Hi Defintion ready u brought a Dlp projection heres a link to hidef televisions http://www.plasmatv.com/homepage.html (http://http://www.plasmatv.com/homepage.html)

Plasma is only one type of unit that can produce hi-def. DLP can do hi-def, LCD can do hi-def, CRT can do hi-def. This quickly becomes a technical conversation, so let's be right from the start...

[Nimrandir]

Yes, but up until recently none of these could produce true HD at 1080P only i. sony now and also thers have sets that can.

[ip_guru]

Yes, but up until recently none of these could produce true HD at 1080P only i. sony now and also thers have sets that can.

I know what you're saying, but a pure 1080p system is pretty much a dream for most people - I'd love to have a pure 1080p system! For most folks, anything at or above 480p is going to look really good, unless they up to 60-70+ inches.

I love this stuff, been into home theater is a super geeky way for a long time. I've had CRT, LCD, and DLP projectors, plus the 'normal' big screen sets. Right now, I'm running a Sammy DLP projection tv plus a Sony CRT real projector. I'm looking forward to everything being in 1080p, as that is the 'looking through a window' type picture... Being a projector buff, I tend to push those on my friends, and have converted several of them to projectors.

[Nimrandir]

Yes, I am waiting for the day when i get one. The pest picture i have seen from a large micro display was the Samsung 56" 4th generation DLP. It was beautiful.

[ip_guru]

Yes, I am waiting for the day when i get one. The pest picture i have seen from a large micro display was the Samsung 56" 4th generation DLP. It was beautiful.

Right now my Sammy is a 50" (not 4th gen!) DLP, and it works very well. There are still some viewing angle issues with that model, most obvious on the vertical plane.

If you are really into this, you need to go here: http://www.tktheaters.com/gallery/ I've had the very distinct pleasure of being in one of his theaters; they are amazing. The pics, as great as they are, do not do the theaters justice....

[Forkem]

i have a 17 inch tv, my mom says i can have a larger one when i do better in school