another HDTV question

[seigezunt]

Thanks for all the advice here. I recently bought my new HDTV, a Samsung that I am so far very happy with.

I'm planning to get a blu-ray play, but in the meantime I'm watching dvds with my old players.

Question: it seems like the picture is better, or at least the picture size less distorted, when I hook it up to my newer (three years old) cheapie portable dvd player, than my older unit (maybe 6-7?) that isn't portable.

I cycle through the picture sizes (I'm watching a new DVD of series 2 of Mad Men) and it never looks quite right with the "big" dvd player, but the picture looks just right with my $50 Wal-Mart jobbie.

What's up with that?

 

[Alpha_Geek]

How are you connecting the player to the TV?

 

[FrankR]

Some older dvd players need you to tell them the aspect ratio of the television. Is there a setting for that on your older DVD player?

-frank

 

[Marc]

it's possible the older player has always had the poorer image but without your old tv you never really noticed it.

now you've got the nice new HDTV (btw which model Samsung did oyu get?) it's showing up the imperfections big time.

 

[Alpha_Geek]

OP, this is like asking "My life sux. Why?"

We need more data to help you. See my previous post.

 

[Bob The Skutter]

Could be the screen settings on the DVD player, there's usually an aspect ratio setting on DVD players, usually along the lines of 16:9, 4:3 P&S, 4:3 Letterbox. If it's set to either of the 4:3 options it will look distorted on a HD screen which is 16:9.

 

[Saturn0660]

What Sammy did you get.. Not that it matters I think you made a fine choice.. I own one after all

 

[tehfunz0rz]

Thanks for all the advice here. I recently bought my new HDTV, a Samsung that I am so far very happy with.

I'm planning to get a blu-ray play, but in the meantime I'm watching dvds with my old players.

Question: it seems like the picture is better, or at least the picture size less distorted, when I hook it up to my newer (three years old) cheapie portable dvd player, than my older unit (maybe 6-7?) that isn't portable.

I cycle through the picture sizes (I'm watching a new DVD of series 2 of Mad Men) and it never looks quite right with the "big" dvd player, but the picture looks just right with my $50 Wal-Mart jobbie.

What's up with that?

Distortion is definitely an indication of improper picture aspect ratio settings; however, without further info, I cannot tell you more than that.

 

[seigezunt]

I wouldn't be able to tell you if I can even set the picture ratio settings on the old one. The closest thing it seems to have is zoom control.

It was connected with the standard red/white/yellow cables, same thing I attached the portable with, and that had a better picture.

The point is moot, because I just got a blueray, a sony bdp-s360, which was on sale at Walmart. Oh, and the TV I got was a Samsung LN46B610, at Costco.

I don't have any bluray disks, but we just watched TOS tonight on DVD, and WOW!!!! It was like Shatner was in the room. TNG, not as spectacular, but then it never is. :-)

 

[Asbo Zaprudder]

It was connected with the standard red/white/yellow cables, same thing I attached the portable with, and that had a better picture.

I think your answer is there -- a composite video connection. The old DVD player probably just badly summed the components.

The point is moot, because I just got a blueray, a sony bdp-s360, which was on sale at Walmart. Oh, and the TV I got was a Samsung LN46B610, at Costco.

Nice -- I hope you're using an HDMI cable to connect them.

 

[seigezunt]

It was connected with the standard red/white/yellow cables, same thing I attached the portable with, and that had a better picture.

I think your answer is there -- a composite video connection. The old DVD player probably just badly summed the components.

Does that count as component? It's just one video channel, and left and right audio. I thought blue/red/green were the component ones.

The point is moot, because I just got a blueray, a sony bdp-s360, which was on sale at Walmart. Oh, and the TV I got was a Samsung LN46B610, at Costco.

Nice -- I hope you're using an HDMI cable to connect them.[/QUOTE]

Yes. Though it took me 20 minutes of gawking in horror at the price tag to buy it. I had to get a 20-foot cable because of the layout of my living room, and baby-proofing issues. The only one I could find was at Radio Shack, for $100!!!! Do the effers HAVE to be gold-plated??

 

[clint g]

Run out now and buy a PS3 for three hundred bucks. That will solve everything

 

[Arrqh]

Yes. Though it took me 20 minutes of gawking in horror at the price tag to buy it. I had to get a 20-foot cable because of the layout of my living room, and baby-proofing issues. The only one I could find was at Radio Shack, for $100!!!! Do the effers HAVE to be gold-plated??

Actually, no. Sorry to say this right after you already bought one... but the HDMI market in retail stores is a huge racket. Best thing to do is buy from a place like Monoprice... they've got 20-foot cables for $20 to $30. Quality is the same as anything you'd find in a retail store.

 

[Asbo Zaprudder]

Does that count as component? It's just one video channel, and left and right audio. I thought blue/red/green were the component ones.

I was referring to how the player generates a composite signal. Your two players are probably doing it in two different ways. The cheaper player probably does it better 'cause that's how they expect it's usually going to be connected. More expensive players would usually be connected by component or S-Video (or HDMI if they upscale) so they may cut corners with composite to save money. They don't really expect people to use it.

Yes. Though it took me 20 minutes of gawking in horror at the price tag to buy it. I had to get a 20-foot cable because of the layout of my living room, and baby-proofing issues. The only one I could find was at Radio Shack, for $100!!!! Do the effers HAVE to be gold-plated??

Oops, any chance of taking it back? Stores are really ripping people off with these cables.

 

[seigezunt]

Yes. Though it took me 20 minutes of gawking in horror at the price tag to buy it. I had to get a 20-foot cable because of the layout of my living room, and baby-proofing issues. The only one I could find was at Radio Shack, for $100!!!! Do the effers HAVE to be gold-plated??

Actually, no. Sorry to say this right after you already bought one... but the HDMI market in retail stores is a huge racket. Best thing to do is buy from a place like Monoprice... they've got 20-foot cables for $20 to $30. Quality is the same as anything you'd find in a retail store.

Hm. Maybe I'll return it. I was in a hurry to get the thing set up for a party last night.

 

[Alpha_Geek]

The Video Order of Presidence (High to low)

HDMI/DVI/digital component
Analog Component (VGA, RGB)
S-Video
Composite
RF (Channel 3/4)

For the best picture quality, pick the highest that all your components have connectors for.

 

[Saturn0660]

Yes. Though it took me 20 minutes of gawking in horror at the price tag to buy it. I had to get a 20-foot cable because of the layout of my living room, and baby-proofing issues. The only one I could find was at Radio Shack, for $100!!!! Do the effers HAVE to be gold-plated??

Actually, no. Sorry to say this right after you already bought one... but the HDMI market in retail stores is a huge racket. Best thing to do is buy from a place like Monoprice... they've got 20-foot cables for $20 to $30. Quality is the same as anything you'd find in a retail store.

This again??

 

[Arrqh]

Yes. Though it took me 20 minutes of gawking in horror at the price tag to buy it. I had to get a 20-foot cable because of the layout of my living room, and baby-proofing issues. The only one I could find was at Radio Shack, for $100!!!! Do the effers HAVE to be gold-plated??

Actually, no. Sorry to say this right after you already bought one... but the HDMI market in retail stores is a huge racket. Best thing to do is buy from a place like Monoprice... they've got 20-foot cables for $20 to $30. Quality is the same as anything you'd find in a retail store.

This again??

Do you have some sort of point you'd like to make?

 

[Bob The Skutter]

Actually, no. Sorry to say this right after you already bought one... but the HDMI market in retail stores is a huge racket. Best thing to do is buy from a place like Monoprice... they've got 20-foot cables for $20 to $30. Quality is the same as anything you'd find in a retail store.

This again??

Do you have some sort of point you'd like to make?

I think his point is he is one of the people ripping customers off with these cables, and wants to defend the practice, even though it's total bullshit.

 

[Saturn0660]

Actually, no. Sorry to say this right after you already bought one... but the HDMI market in retail stores is a huge racket. Best thing to do is buy from a place like Monoprice... they've got 20-foot cables for $20 to $30. Quality is the same as anything you'd find in a retail store.

This again??

Do you have some sort of point you'd like to make?

Saying all HDMI cables are the same is like saying all 1080p 120Hz HDTV's are the same.. After all it's digital right?