More HD TV - Sony SXRD - Page 2

Chris F. · #11 10-25-2005, 08:06 AM

Fortunately Sony was somewhat smart and it has 2 HDMIs....so far the reports have been very positive from owners at the AVS Forum. Myself, I'm waiting for 1080p input so that years down the road I can hook up a external processor/scaler... it's always something

MD, you should definitely check out those SXRDs....they should be hitting Best Buys and Circuit Citys in your area any day now. Make sure you ask the silly salesguy to reset the picture and put it in PRO mode before you compare.

Chris

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motordavid · #12 10-25-2005, 08:37 AM

JCL: I hear you on the "near annual income price point" for most developed countries, on the 70inch!

CF: We were in both BBuys &CCity a weekish ago in FLA...neither had the newer 50/60 SXRDs, but I will check them out before I drop the wad...we have some time on our side as I don't "need/require" it until the first weekish of Dec. down below.

Here's the current viewing box in the new joint: a 20 incher,

that will be used for the spare bedroom or lil'den..but, that's the TV wall we will be filling up.

BR,md

Chris F. · #13 10-25-2005, 09:22 AM

MD, very cool! I'm thinking a 60" would look very nice right there

I've got a Circuit City up here that will do 20% off list price, so let me know if you can't get anyone to haggle down there (maybe you could order it up here and pick it up down there!)

rayxi · #14 10-25-2005, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JCL

I don't see anything to improve with the picture at the moment, but it can't hurt to go learn about what may be possible.

Thanks again.

Actually, there is something you can do to improve the picture yourself. Buy/borrow a copy of the Digital Video Essentials or Avia DVD and perform a calibration yourself. Instructions are on the DVD. I have Avia but the DVE DVD is very good as well. Adjusting for the correct brightness, contrast and saturation only takes 20 minutes and makes a world of difference, especially on skin tones.

rayxi · #15 10-25-2005, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JCX5

How many HDMI inputs does it have? Just curious - ultimately, when/if I make the purchase, I would like to use the HDMI interface for both the DVD player and Cable Box. But the sets that I have looked at only have one HDMI input. How would one go about wiring multiple hook-ups?

Some higher end home theatre pre/pro's and receivers have multiple HDMI/DVI inputs that are switchable. Another option is to get a scaler like the DVDO that can switch HDMI/DVI as well. Neither option is cheap though.

JCL · #16 10-25-2005, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rayxi

Actually, there is something you can do to improve the picture yourself. Buy/borrow a copy of the Digital Video Essentials or Avia DVD and perform a calibration yourself. Instructions are on the DVD. I have Avia but the DVE DVD is very good as well. Adjusting for the correct brightness, contrast and saturation only takes 20 minutes and makes a world of difference, especially on skin tones.

Thanks

Bavarian · #17 10-25-2005, 06:04 PM

JCL, I think your DVDs look worse than the HD channels because of three possible reasons:

1) The DVD player doesn't put out 1080 horizontal lines.
2) The DVD player isn't connected via HDMI or component HD.
3) You're watching an older DVD, which is 720 or 480 horizontal lines.

At first I was running my usual $120 Samsung DVD player with the HDTV through stock composite connectors. That looked no more impressive than on the Sony tube I had.

Then I installed a $300 Samsung DVD player which was HD, and put out 1080 lines. But even with this player, through composites it looked no better.

Now I'm running that DVD player with 5 HD composites (red, green, blue, audio left and right). Now it's nearly on par with the HD channels themselves.

I wish we could get some 1080-line DVDs, cuz as per your observation, the HD channels still look better.

rayxi · #18 10-25-2005, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bavarian

JCL, I think your DVDs look worse than the HD channels because of three possible reasons:

1) The DVD player doesn't put out 1080 horizontal lines.
2) The DVD player isn't connected via HDMI or component HD.
3) You're watching an older DVD, which is 720 or 480 horizontal lines.

At first I was running my usual $120 Samsung DVD player with the HDTV through stock composite connectors. That looked no more impressive than on the Sony tube I had.

Then I installed a $300 Samsung DVD player which was HD, and put out 1080 lines. But even with this player, through composites it looked no better.

There are no true HD DVD players on the market right now because there are no HD DVD's available. The ones that are marketed as having HD output are just scaling standard definition 480p to either 720p or 1080i. Your TV will also do similar scaling (upconversion). It boils down to whether your TV or your DVD player has the better scaler. But in the end HD output doesn't equate to HD quality. You can't create detail that wasn't originally there at the source.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bavarian

Now I'm running that DVD player with 5 HD composites (red, green, blue, audio left and right). Now it's nearly on par with the HD channels themselves.

That would be component inputs that you are using and they are typically labeled Y, Cb and Cr. You are right, it's a big improvement over composite.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bavarian

I wish we could get some 1080-line DVDs, cuz as per your observation, the HD channels still look better.

If Blue-Ray and HD-DVD would stop fighting and agree on a common HD format we might actually see HD players and titles in the near future. I'm not holding my breath. Until then we are stuck with what the networks decide to show us for HD viewing.

JCL · #19 10-26-2005, 02:15 AM

Rayxi: That summed it up pretty well.

Bavarian: My DVD is like all others, no HD yet. Connections, yes. Real HD, no.

I am using component outputs with good quality Monster cables.

I think (suspect) that the scaler in the TV is better than the one in the DVD recorder.

And I share the dismay that the manufacturers need to fight over standards instead of just getting on with it.

Chris F. · #20 10-26-2005, 08:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rayxi

If Blue-Ray and HD-DVD would stop fighting and agree on a common HD format we might actually see HD players and titles in the near future. I'm not holding my breath. Until then we are stuck with what the networks decide to show us for HD viewing.

I agree, we can only hope! Ray, you sound like you are a frequency AVS forum member, what TV do you have? I wish we would see some 1080p plasmas some time soon!

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