blu ray and tv not speaking

[emme9]

Hi,
I have a 42" plasma pioneer purchased 3 years ago. This weekend i bought a sony blu ray 360. After 30 minutes talking to Sony, it seems they are not compatible. Pioneer says i must get an HDMI upgrade to the tune of $275! Yikes! Can this be true? I cannot use a new blu ray on my 3 year old tv because the HDMI 1 doesn't talk to the HDMI 1.3? Is there a converter or any brands of blu ray players that will be compatible? Any info or suggestions will be appreciated.

Thaks, emme9:

 

[JerryLove]

Cheapest / simplist option: Run component video instead. All you loose is 1080p (you still get 1080i), and on some units the color rendition is better with component.

 

[markw]

I could be wrong bit I don't think component passes anything except 480.

 

[JerryLove]

Nope, in fact there's now a standard for 1080p on component.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Component_video

There is equipment that *deliberatly* sends bad video through any non HDCP output: but that's not somthing I've yet much run into.

 

[TLS Guy]

Nope, in fact there's now a standard for 1080p on component.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Component_video

There is equipment that *deliberatly* sends bad video through any non HDCP output: but that's not somthing I've yet much run into.

The problem is the new HDCP codes require all new HD devices to downgrade all analog outputs including component to 480i.

Because of the avaricious scoundrels and sewers who populate Hollywood, he will have to upgrade his HDMI to 1.3 or buy a new TV. There is no converter and if there were it would be illegal. So he like a lot of others gets the shaft.

I have long maintained there should be a Federal ban on DRM. If Hollywood picked up their marbles and went home over it, I personally would shed not a tear.

 

[JerryLove]

The problem is the new HDCP codes require all new HD devices to downgrade all analog outputs including component to 480i.

Close: it requires any device with HDMI to downgrade *if* the source material asks.

I don't think most media has this feature on at present: but I've not researched. The stuff I've run does not appear to.

 

[TLS Guy]

Close: it requires any device with HDMI to downgrade *if* the source material asks.

I don't think most media has this feature on at present: but I've not researched. The stuff I've run does not appear to.

You can bet the latest stuff does or soon will.

 

[Adam]

You can bet the latest stuff does or soon will.

Still well worth giving it a try before dropping $275 on the off chance that component won't be good enough.

 

[AVRat]

What is the model number of the TV? What is it's native resolution, input capability? Try setting the Sony to output a 720p signal.

 

[emme9]

What is the model number of the TV? What is it's native resolution, input capability? Try setting the Sony to output a 720p signal.

I did try that but the screen continued to flash despite the new setting.

 

[emme9]

I did try that but the screen continued to flash despite the new setting.

sorry. forgot to answer all your question

Model is Pioneer PDP42a3hd, native resolution is 1080i

Thanks

 

[AVRat]

Are you using an older HDMI cable? Perhaps a newer HDMI 1.3 compliant cable would work. Just looking at different options. Maybe the HDCP issues are the real culprit.

 

[pzaur]

sorry. forgot to answer all your question

Model is Pioneer PDP42a3hd, native resolution is 1080i

Thanks

Your TV was already downconverting the signal to 1080i from 1080p. You never had a 1080p picture. Run component cables from your blu-ray player to the set and you'll never have any issues. The picture should look identical to what you had. An optical or coaxial connection will have to be made for the audio.
Using the component connection will also eliminate any HDCP issues, forever.

Monoprice component cable

-pat

 

[JerryLove]

Using the component connection will also eliminate any HDCP issues, forever.

Until the Blu-Rays start telling the player to not provide HD anyway... but since a $4 cable gets you from now till then, I'd call it a good choice.

 

[BMXTRIX]

How about some different ideas?

1. Your TV is 1024x768 NATIVE resolution - it is not 1080i nor 720p, but it uses rectangular pixels in a XGA native format, so you get no benefit whatsoever from 1080p.

2. But, you might get better color with HDMI vs. component. You can try component and Blu-ray at this time most definitely supports 1080i and 720p output on all titles released to date over component.

3. You may want to try a different Blu-ray player (Panasonic?) and see if that works. There's no obvious requirement which would definitely prohibit video from going to your display.

Manual for your TV:
http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/pio/pe/images/portal/cit_11221/299258405PDP42A3HDOperatingInstructions.pdf

 

[AVRat]

Well, according to the Sony 360 manual, pg. 43, it will send 720p/1080i signals via the component connections. There have been BD players that will downscale to 480 when using component connections.

 

[BMXTRIX]

Well, according to the Sony 360 manual, pg. 43, it will send 720p/1080i signals via the component connections. There have been BD players that will downscale to 480 when using component connections.

Are you sure? I'm not aware of any player on the market which does this when playing back Blu-ray Discs.

Not to be confused with DVDs.

DVDs may not be upconverted over component video and people who have bought 'upconverting' DVD players, only to connect them via component video and then complain because the player doesn't upconvert are correct. Blu-ray players, and NO legal DVD player which upconverts will do so over component video connections.

But, every Blu-ray player on the market which I am aware of including Panasonic, PS3, Oppo, Denon, Sony, Samsung, etc. to date follows ATSC required protocols which means they will output up to 1080i video over component as long as the Image Constraint Token (ICT) flag is not raised on the disc itself.

Since, there is not disc on the market yet which has used the ICT, there is no player (that I'm aware of) which has any issues with BD playback over component at up to 1080i.

I would be very interested in hearing about any specific players which do not output HD resolutions over component so can warn people to steer clear from that manufacturer.

 

[AVRat]

Unfortunately, I don't recall the model number(s), but it was awhile back when TLS Guy had brought up the issue, and to verify, I dug further into the manual and indeed I found the info I think in an obscure note.

 

[emme9]

ok, Let me see if i understand. You are suggesting that i connect the blu ray to the TV via AV cables. This will play blu ray discs and i will not be able to tell the difference between an hdmi connecton and the av connection.
However, the av connection will not up convert my current VAST dvd collection to any degree. Therefore, i would only be using my blu ray player to play blu ray discs but i would not get any of the extras that the hdmi connection would provide. Is this correct?:

If so, then the blu ray player is an expense not worth the effort unless i want to pay the $275 to upgrade the TV. Then i would be in close to $500.
(275 repair, 160 for sony blu ray player and 50 for an hdmi cable abd optical cable to run through my bose home theater system.

Am i understanding what all of you are saying? Thanks by the way for all your expertise.

 

[pzaur]

ok, Let me see if i understand. You are suggesting that i connect the blu ray to the TV via AV cables. This will play blu ray discs and i will not be able to tell the difference between an hdmi connecton and the av connection.
However, the av connection will not up convert my current VAST dvd collection to any degree. Therefore, i would only be using my blu ray player to play blu ray discs but i would not get any of the extras that the hdmi connection would provide. Is this correct?:

If so, then the blu ray player is an expense not worth the effort unless i want to pay the $275 to upgrade the TV. Then i would be in close to $500.
(275 repair, 160 for sony blu ray player and 50 for an hdmi cable abd optical cable to run through my bose home theater system.

Am i understanding what all of you are saying? Thanks by the way for all your expertise.

Couple quick things -
1) HDMI is an A/V connection. It only combines video and audio over one cable.
2) Your TV is going to change any picture format you send to it no matter what. It does not display 1080p, 1080i, or 720p. It displays something similar to all those. The original image format is changed to the TV's native image format.
3) Go to monoprice.com for your cables. An HDMI and optical cable will run you $10-$15 with shipping included in that price. Pay anymore and you are getting worked over by someone.
4) Your TV is already doing a de-facto upconvert since it does not display 480i or 480p as it's native picture.

-pat