HDTV Advice/Help

[johnny whiplash]

Just stepped up to HD and throw myself on the mercy of better informed opinions. I've read that anyone who doesn't get a calibration DVD is a moron, and then I've read that anyone who spends money on a DVD to set up the TV is a bigger moron. Any strong opinions on this?

And then there's peripheral setup. The TV has: 2 HDMI, VGA, 2 component, 2 composite, 1 S Video. I have: DVD player (HDMI capable), XBOX 360, Wii, and PS2, regular (non-digital) cable. So the DVD player can go to the HDMI, the 360 into one of the component slots, but what to do with the other two systems?

And the guy at the store says no one should have one of these without a home theater audio setup. So I'm thinking that this is obviously his job to say, "you want to buy more stuff," but should I be saving for that next?

Advice?

[En Sabah Poo]

Well. You can use your own DVD that has a calibration setup, such as Finding Nemo.

That being said, a calibration DVD isn't a terrible idea either. If you can find one at not too terrible a cost, I'd go for it. You invested a lot in your tv, why not make it the best picture possible.

THAT being said, the best picture possible would be by professional calibration. Which I think is going over the top a little too much unless you spent like ten grand on your tv.

[Garth]

I keep meaning to pick one of those calibration dvds up. I just want to get the best out of my tv.

[DaGetHighKnight]

Dont buy Monster cables.. Goto www.monoprice.com for you HDMI needs.

[Happy Time Harry]

And then there's peripheral setup. The TV has: 2 HDMI, VGA, 2 component, 2 composite, 1 S Video. I have: DVD player (HDMI capable), XBOX 360, Wii, and PS2, regular (non-digital) cable. So the DVD player can go to the HDMI, the 360 into one of the component slots, but what to do with the other two systems?


Hook the Wii into the component, if you have the cables & run the PS2 into the S-Video. The picture will be much better than you expect for both of those, even if you can't use HDMI.

As far as the calibration, don't waste your money on a disc. As previously mentioned, use the calibration found on a Pixar or Lucasfilm disc. UNLESS you have a projection TV. Then have it professionally calibrated once a year. It's a real pain in the ass to do it yourself

[Dan]

The Wii isn't HD, so don't bother using an HDMI or component slot for it. S-video is fine.

Also, like it was said above, any Pixar movie has a perfectly good calibration option.

[Garth]

The Wii isn't HD, so don't bother using an HDMI or component slot for it. S-video is fine.

Also, like it was said above, any Pixar movie has a perfectly good calibration option.

Componenet DOES improve the picture of the Wii considerably though. Zelda looks great.

[Dan]

Mine seemed pretty similar.

[Garth]

Mine seemed pretty similar.

Really? I noticed a vast improvement.

[johnny whiplash]

Hey this is great. Thank you all for all the information. I have most of the Pixar DVDs, so I'm set there. Had no idea.

I just set up the 360, and put in 3 games to see how they looked: Gears of War, Rainbow Six: Vegas, and NCAA 08, and I always said, "Well, I know the picture's better, but come on, it's not going to be that much better. So today, I'm humbled to learn I'm an idiot, because the 360 is like a completely different machine. I actually called my wife in to look at how good the menu blades looked.

What about getting a component selector box? Does the signal degrade too much? I've used a composite selector box forever, but since it was composite on Standard TV, I didn't see any big loss. I'm guessing I would here?

And will the Wii actually look worse in HD? Sorry to be such a noob, but I really do appreciate the input.

[Rush2112]

Step 1) Get rid of your DVD player and either get the HD DVD XBox360 add-on or the Toshiba 279.99 HD DVD (plus 5 free HD DVD) at vanns.com. Even if HD DVD ends up losing the war, at least you'll have a really nice up-converting DVD player and at least you'll be able to experience true HD content.

Step 2) Xbox 360 hooks up through component cable because it is capable of displaying HD resolution.

Step 3) Wii hooks up through component. Even though the Wii does not display HD resolution, it can still display 480P which is only capable using component.

Step 4) PS2 uses composite or s-video since the majority of PS2 games can only display 480i.

You don't need a calibration DVD unless you are unhappy with your picture quality. Even then, I wouldn't bother with them. I just simply calibrate using my eye.

The black level (brightness) varies through the day. I usually bump it up to 55% on a sunny day where there is a lot of glare on the TV. At night, I turn to a channel with is airing content that has black bars and I turn down the brightness till the bars are black and to the point where I don't loose detail.

White level (contrast), usually stays at about 75% for me. Just put in a DVD that has a bright scene and play with the contrast until the whites are bright, but not so bright that it bleeds.

Sharpness: do not go overboard with this. I keep mine at about 35%. If you put too much artificial sharpness in the picture, you will notice halos--a white boarder that outlines each object on the screen. Basically, start your sharpness at 100% and go down till you see the halos disappear.

Color and tint are changed together until you et a desirable color. Here, I use flesh tones as a measure for my color. If you go overboard on the color, skin tones will look flushed, like the person is sunburnt. You balance out the color with tint. This might be one time where a calibration DVD comes in handy since they come equipped with color filters.

Don't get suckered into an ISF calibration. Those ISF guys think they are worth $150 an hour. I had one guy who said he can take the gloss screen of my TV for an addition $50 bucks; I was able to do it myself and it took me about 3 minutes. My TV basically looked like shit after the ISF guy was done with it.

[LowKey]

I've got a similar setup at home. Here's what I'd recommend:

1. Spend the extra money, and go for the High Def programming from your cable company. Trust me on this. I have Comcast in my area, and they gave me a DVR that has an HDMI out...as well as optical and coaxial digital audio. The HD shows look amazing, and the HDMI cleans up the SD pretty nicely,

2. If your DVD player supports upscaling, hook it up through your second HDMI (you can't upscale DVDs through component).

3. Xbox 360 goes into component#1.

4. WII GOES INTO COMPONENT #2. While the Wii doesn't support true high def, it DOES support progressive scan (480P) through component cables. It'll look MUCH better!!!

5. (This is where I'm going to get some crap) The PS2 ALSO goes into Component #2. I just bought three $4 "y adaptors" from radioshack for the R-G-B video cables. Despite what people might say, I noticed absolutely NO interference from having both systems plugged in. The only issue with this, is that the audio can't be combined the same way. I have the audio plugged directly into my amp, bypassing my TV...so this wasn't a problem.

Hope this helps.

[LowKey]

You can also try plugging your 360 through the VGA. Just make sure that your TV supports the right VGA resolution. When I tried it on mine, the best I could do on my TV was 1024 X 768. Looked great, but didn't fill up the screen.

[BGPu]

You can also try plugging your 360 through the VGA. Just make sure that your TV supports the right VGA resolution. When I tried it on mine, the best I could do on my TV was 1024 X 768. Looked great, but didn't fill up the screen.

VGA on the 360 has overscan issues. But it will allow you to get past the HDCP restrictions that Component has.

[Chinaski]

What about getting a component selector box? Does the signal degrade too much? I've used a composite selector box forever, but since it was composite on Standard TV, I didn't see any big loss. I'm guessing I would here?

.


I was curious about this also, I have a couple of things I want to hook into my set up and didnt know if there would be any loss on the screen

[johnny whiplash]

OK. So I calibrated with PIXAR DVD as many of you suggested and it worked really well. Of course the picture was already great, but I can see a difference. Upscaling DVD player is running into the HDMI and it looks great. 360 in component slot--looks flawless. Wii, also component, still looks a little like ass. Almost looked better when it wasn't in the HD setting. I bought a set of universal component cables made by Gameshark that works for PS2/PS3, 360, and Wii, thinking I could just alternate between the Wii and PS2. Could this be my problem? I like the idea of the Wii and PS2 running off the same connection, but have to confess I have no idea what a y adapter is. contextually, I'm thinking it's a splitter of some kind.

Sound system also has a tiny delay. Only notice it on Guitar Hero. I have solved this problem by, well, turning off the sound system for that game, but if anyone has a better idea, I'd love to hear.

Really sort of stupified at what a difference all this makes. Haven't had time to really watch or play anything all the way through. But I watched the beginning of Star Wars, the Free Running scene of Casino Royale, an episode of Samurai Jack...and I now feel like I need to go back and re-watch every DVD I have.

[En Sabah Poo]

OK. So I calibrated with PIXAR DVD as many of you suggested and it worked really well. Of course the picture was already great, but I can see a difference. Upscaling DVD player is running into the HDMI and it looks great. 360 in component slot--looks flawless. Wii, also component, still looks a little like ass. Almost looked better when it wasn't in the HD setting. I bought a set of universal component cables made by Gameshark that works for PS2/PS3, 360, and Wii, thinking I could just alternate between the Wii and PS2. Could this be my problem? I like the idea of the Wii and PS2 running off the same connection, but have to confess I have no idea what a y adapter is. contextually, I'm thinking it's a splitter of some kind.



Well, if you mean that you are unplugging one then the other, it can over time damage the connections. If you're taking it in and out of the actual tv inputs, I'd warn against that as you don't want to ruin the tv inputs.

[johnny whiplash]

OK. So pick a connection and leave it be is the best thing to do.

[LowKey]

Before I purchased my new TV, I had a similar problem. Too many components, too few inputs. I ended up using an automatic input selector that I purchased at Walmart to offset this.

Link. (http://reviews.cnet.com/home-theater-in-a/philips-usa-ph-61153/4505-6740_7-30901948.html)

Even though it only specifies s-video, the selector worked just fine with component video (since composite and component have the same basic connection). It'll automatically sense which input is active...then do the switching for you. No signal loss.