Satellite TV -- Improving Image via AVR

[ahender]

Hi:

Every thread I have read on improving video using an AVR refers to improving the image of a standard DVD.

What about the standard definition signal received from a dish like DirecTV?

Is that signal also improved with the latest receiver technology?

I have a Westinghouse 1080i TV and DirecTV and some of the SD programming is barely watchable.

thanks...alan

 

[Chopin_Guy]

What AVR do you have or are considering purchasing??

AVRs will upscale any source you assign it to...be it on an HDMI input or S-video....

All you have to do is enable the scaling features of the receiver and you are done...

Not sure how much this might help though....from what I have seen of Westinghouse on SD....this might be more of a display issue. An upscaler will help only in the smallest way...a SD signal is SD no matter how you cut it...

 

[ahender]

I'll probably will be purchasing an Onkyo 705 or 805.

So standard definition TV will always be poor regardless of receiver, display, etc.?

alan

 

[Davemcc]

The usual problem with SD channels is signal compression that leaves mosquito noise and block artifacts in the decoded image. The easiest, cheapest and most effective solution is to change service providers to one that delivers a clean signal. Barring that, the next best but rather expensive solution is to buy a product that includes mosquito noise and block artifact reduction. You can get this by moving up from the Onkyo 805 to the 905, which also gives you the Reon HQV video chip among its other great assets.

My third option is no longer available. It seems that Algolith has given up the consumer market and has dedicated itself to commercial broadcasting.

 

[adk highlander]

I'll add to Dave's comments. We both use the REON HQV in our prepro's 885/9.8 and it does do a good job to clean up the image. The 875/876 from Onkyo will also have the REON and you will not need to go up to the 905/906 model to get that scaler.

I will say that you should not expect miracles. It will imporve the image quality of SD but it will not be as good as say an upscaled DVD. The REON will allow you to set an output resolution like 1080i so your TV will not have to do any scaling if it does a poor job. Does that TV have HDMI? All of this scaling done with the REON only works when ouputing via HDMI and the noise reduction and such only work with SD sources.

You may try and see if you can find a good deal on an 875 although Vanns has the 876 for only 1099.

 

[Davemcc]

I was really only suggesting the 905 for the MN/BAR processing. That seems to be the source of most broadcast video complaints.

 

[adk highlander]

Those adjustments are also on our REON's. I have both MN and macroblocking adjustments after the 1.4 firmware update. You have 1.8 so it will be there as well. The manual does not contain the information on how to access them but I thought they included it as a flyer in the box. If you don't have that info I can find it when I get home tonight and PM you.

If I'm confusing something here please correct me.

 

[Davemcc]

If I'm confusing something here please correct me.

I PM'd you.

I also think the OP would benefit from that processing as well. As far as I know, it is on the 905 but not the 875/876. To me, it's a worthwhile upgrade for somebody that's having video issues.