Since the Sceptre thread gets sidetracked alot, I'll try asking this on a seperate thread. I have had D*TV for years. I presently watch SD broadcasts through a ’99+/- Sony XBR, HD ready 32” CRT. For various reasons, I may not sign up for D*TV HD right now. However, I am in the market for a flat panel set and of course these new 42” 1920 x 1080 LCDs are inviting. Since most of my D*TV viewing will be 4:3 SD, I am worried about a blurry or fuzzy picture. I will watch this new set at 10 plus feet so I am not worried about the pixilation that I can easily see when too close to the Sony. It is the blur and fuzz that concerns me. I’ve been to a brick & mortar store and saw a group of 42” plasmas and LCDs all running from a D*TV receiver. I was unable to find out what inputs the TVs were using (I think it was as crude as RF) but the concerning attribute was the picture fuzziness. My questions are: Is it a matter of using the right input to reduce the fuzz or is it “just the way it is”. In vertical height these 2 sets are about the same (the 42” sets are 1.4” taller) so in a 42” 4:3 setting (boarders on each side), I don’t get what the difference would be and why the fuzz. Can someone explain? What would be the best method to reduce this fuzz? I’ve read lots of stuff in the last couple weeks but nothing I can find directly talks to this. Help! BobCat
Great question! Its about three things. Connection Type, Source, and the quality of the Video proccessors (or how well the TV scales). #1 Source The source is whatever is sending audio/video info to the tv set. Examples are; Cable, Satalight, Antenna, DVD player, and VHS player. Each source has certain types of connections. Each connection varies in terms of Picture and Sound quality. #2 Connection Type The connction type defines what transmition technology (not medium) is being used to send information from the Source (DVD player, Cable box, ect...) to the tv set. They will be either Analog or Digital in nature. The best connctions to use with HDTVs are digtial connections. The digital connections available on HDTVs are Firewire/i.Link, DVI, and HDMI. HDMI is the most popular. #3 Video Proccessing The better your Fixed Panel Display (FPD) scales the better the picture will be when the souce isn't an HD source. Scaling is the most important function preformed by an HDTV. If the chips that do the scaling are crappy then the tv will look like crap un-less it is recieving a signal that matches its native resolution. The best scaler in the world: http://www.meridian-audio.com/faroudja/technology.html HDMI is superiour to Component Video because it is an all digital connection. When analog connections are used with digital equipment some quality is lost because the source must convert a digital signal to analog for transmition. Then the TV must change that analog signal back into digital data. After all of that it must also scale the image if it doesn't fit the native res requirements. All that proccessing is bad. With HDMI and DVI the video doesn't have to undergo any conversions (except maybe scaling). About Scaling: http://www.theprojectorpros.com/learn.php?p=theater_scalers ----- What is a FPD? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fixed_pixel_display AKA: Fixed Resolution Display (FRD) Basicly means that the tv only supports one resolution because of its fixed number of pixels. Everything must be scaled to fit that Fixed Resolution also know as its "Native Resolution." The only technology that isn't a fixed pixel display is the CRT! Ced
Also keep in mind that when u see a store with multiple monitors or tvs showing the same picture that they are usually using some kind of signal splitter that may or may not have an amplifier/stabilizer attached to it. The best way to see the true picture is to ask the salesperson to hook it direct to a primary signal. And then when you do that you can see what connection and type of connectors they are using. I would also suggest that if you can either find a store that will give you a cash back guarantee and try the unit in your own home or see if Costco has it, they will usually take anything back no questions asked.
