Can't get HDMI or DVI to look as good as Analog.

[Vancouver]

I have tried many different combos to try and achieve a better picture with HDMI or DVI and in all tests I cant seem to get a better picture then that coming from a component or VGA connection. In a nut shell I find that HDMI and DVI infact produces a lesser quality picture becuase in ever test the picture looks "washed out".

Here is what I have done:

DVD player straight to plasma via dvi-hdmi cable

DVD player to external scaler/processor via component, then transcoded to digital output (HDMI) after the scaling and processing.

I talked to the sales guy at the local hi fi store and he too admits has never seen a "better" picture using hdmi or dvi, when comparing it to analog.

what has your experience shown you?

 

[moverton]

agreed

I also hooked up a DVI input to my plasma from my comcast DVR hidef receiver. I would agree that the display looked less vibrant and no clearer. I went back to the component inputs. I'll probably use the DVI to connect my pc later.

 

[Spiffyfast]

I also hooked up a DVI input to my plasma from my comcast DVR hidef receiver. I would agree that the display looked less vibrant and no clearer. I went back to the component inputs. I'll probably use the DVI to connect my pc later.

with the comcast, does it require to use the DVI input to actually output true hdtv? I know the new dvd players and some of the new HD receivers will output a 480p signal through component, but will only output 720p and 1080i through the digital connection with HDCP

 

[moverton]

no, you get 1080i through the component outputs. i have the motorola dvr box. Looks perfect to me.

 

[moverton]

with the comcast, does it require to use the DVI input to actually output true hdtv? I know the new dvd players and some of the new HD receivers will output a 480p signal through component, but will only output 720p and 1080i through the digital connection with HDCP

as for DVD, I think they are always 480p at best anyway. anything higher is being simulated by the player. I just let the TV scale it to it's native resolution. Maybe some players have better upscaling than the TV, not sure.

 

[Spiffyfast]

as for DVD, I think they are always 480p at best anyway. anything higher is being simulated by the player. I just let the TV scale it to it's native resolution. Maybe some players have better upscaling than the TV, not sure.

yeah exactly, but regardless, I thought some of the cable/sat boxes were adding the restriction that you have to use the digital video connection to receive the 720p or 1080i signals

 

[warhummer]

Motorola box

I'm assuming that the cable company did not give you an owner's manual (they didn't for me). You might want to try entering the setup of the HD box to change the output to 720p or 1080i. I haven't seriously compared the HDMI/DVI vs. component picture quality yet with my TV but here's what I'm running and the HD pictures are awesome.

Motorola DCT6200
DVI to HDMI cable
Samsung HLR 6167W (720p)

I set the HD box to output 720p; you can find the exact key sequence to access it via the Motorola website and download the appropriate owners manual. I hope this helps!

 

[warhummer]

one more thing...

Check your native resolution for your plasma...it might not be compatible with the HD resolutions (EDTV vs. HDTV)

 

[Tsunamii]

I also use DVI from my Comcast HD DVR box. The pic is much better with it. Check your settings.
There is also a hidden menu you can access for lots of info goodies, press the power button to shut down the box then press the select within 3 seconds and a sub menu will come up.

 

[djoxygen]

Check your native resolution for your plasma...it might not be compatible with the HD resolutions (EDTV vs. HDTV)

Yes. Since plasma is fixed resolution, anything that doesn't match that rez will be scaled either up or down with varying results depending on the quality of the scaler and the ratio of the source rez to the plasma rez. Doesn't explain color fidelity, but any pixelation or spatial artifacts could be from this.

For the "washed-out", if you have tuned your set (brightness, contrast, color, hue, etc...) to one source, it may not work well with another. If I had set up my TV to the S-video connection from my DirecTV box, DVDs would look like black mud. Since I care more about the fidelity of movies, I tuned to the DVD player and watch washed out satellite. Just a thought.