My Set Up - with questions (of course)

[relaxingjoe]

I have:

1) Sylvania 6842PF-M 42'' EDTV Plasma (with 2 HD component Hookups)

2) Sony STR-D715 Receiver (my roommates from 1995ish?) Do we need to update our reciever to get the most out of the Plasma?

3) Polaroid DVP-1000 (has digital/video output) I can't find if this has 1080i and progressive scan?

Thanks in advance!

 

[BMXTRIX]

With some of the least expensive equipment on the market you are going to get quality that is easily rivaled, but should work well for your budget.

The Sylvania actually produces one of the better images I have seen, but I believe it lacks a HDMI input which means you may never be able to upgrade to HD discs. If both component hook ups allow for HD, then the receiver has nothing to do with connecting video to the display.

Run component out of the DVD player and out of your HD cable box/sat box to the plasma.

It does not appear that the DVD player offers progressive scan, but even if it did, I would doubt it would be any better than what the plasma already does internally. Take a look at the (weak) owners manual if you haven't:
http://www.polaroid.com/service/userguides/ce/dvd_players/dvp1000_ug.pdf

Audio may suffer a bit due to the age of the receiver, but if connected to decent speakers it will sound okay. It does appear though that this is a stereo receiver, not a surround receiver, so no surround, probably no digital audio inputs, etc., etc.

Your Sylvania would benefit greatly by using a decent DVD player (think $200ish) and your audio experience will jump by many levels by going with a decent entry level surround system (think $700ish - maybe $400 if you go with an Onkyo HTIB setup).

 

[relaxingjoe]

BMXTRIX, great reply and I really appreciate you taking the time to do that.

The Reciever has "Dolby Prologic Surround Sound" - will this suffice or do you still suggest a Reciever upgrade?

Regarding the dvd player - I did buy at Target for $29.00 a player for my other tv in my bedroom and it actually says "progressive scan" on it...but I doubt it has 1080i capabilities.

 

[BMXTRIX]

You don't have a 1080i display, you have a 480p display. Progressive scan.

That means that if you get a DVD player with GOOD deinterlacing then you will see a benefit by using it. Upconversion to 720p or 1080i is wasted on your display and not necessary. But, a player that has good progressive scan output will give you a solid image that will definitely enhance the experience.

But, the TV already turns 480i into 480p, so unless you are going to spend 200 bucks on a decent player, don't buy anything. Do it right, or don't do it, because doing it halfway means that you aren't going to increase the quality at all compared to what the TV already does internally.

As for the receiver - I don't have a solid owners manual - the only thing I am reading is about a stereo model, which won't cut it. Without a good manual, I can't tell you enough about that receiver. If the speakers with it are good, then an inexpensive replacement receiver w/component switching may be worth getting. Like the Pioneer 815tx.

 

[relaxingjoe]

But in my Sylvania 6842PF Manual under Video Features it says "Component Input Format - 720p/1080i/480p/480i"

 

[BMXTRIX]

Yes, it supports that INPUT - but the display is 853x480 - which is 480p.

The day you bought the display it has 853x480 pixels, the day you get rid of it, it will STILL have 853x480 pixels. It can NEVER show more than 853x480 pixels!

This is a common misunderstanding. You are confusing the input resolutions accepted and the native output resolution.

Any resolution you send the display OTHER than 853x480 (progressive) must be converted to 853x480 to be shown on your display. So, 1080i, 720p, and 480i are all converted to 853x480 (or 640x480 in 4:3 mode) to fill the pixels available.

To go from 1080i (1920x1080) your display must process and throw out about 1.5 MILLION pixels of infomation! It still looks great, but it won't look as good as video that orinates with 480 lines of information.

Guess what originates as 480 lines of information?

That's right! DVD video.

Don't convert it up to 720p or 1080i as you are adding data that isn't there, then sending it to your display so that the display can just go ahead and remove that data that wasn't there in the first place. Very circular and not the best way of doing things.

Using a good progressive scan player you are doing the best job possible of delivering the 480 lines of resolution from the DVD directly to your display so that the display doesn't do any, or just does minimal processing as necessary to show the video. This is more important on less expensive displays like your compared to more expensive displays which may have very good processing built in.

 

[relaxingjoe]

well crap ...what the hell am I doing then. I just bought the TV so I can still return it to BJ's I guess.

Is it worth me paying an extra $8.00 a month to get HD on my cable box?

 

[BMXTRIX]

Is it worth me paying an extra $8.00 a month to get HD on my cable box?

Yes! Absolutely!

HD doesn't begin life as a 480i/p signal. It has much better color and much higher sharpness than DVD or regular TV. While your display may not be able to take full advantage of the extra resolution, it most definitely will be able to take advantage of the shaper image, better motion handling, and far superior color that the HDTV broadcasts have.

The single, and biggest, issue I have with the Sylvania plasma is the lack of a HDMI or DVI input. I was ready to buy it, then saw it did not have those inputs, so I put my wallet away. Got the Samsung 4232 instead.

 

[relaxingjoe]

Well I appreciate your comments - one final question. I will go out and buy component cables since I have none (only the old rca yellow, white, red ones). I will not get the Monster or any over-priced ones... just $20 ones at Target or something.

I guess I would need one pair for my Cable Box, a 2nd pair for my DVD. All the other cables will be RCA yellow white and red?

Thanks again,

 

[windowrattler]

I work for cable and we provide rgb cords. So if you wanted to be cheap you could see if the cable guy brings them for the HD upgrade. Just a thought.