Progressive scan picture quality

[Buckle-meister]

Dear all, can anybody help me out here?

I have just upgraded my DVD player from a budget Sony to Yamaha's S2500. I use component leads directly between the DVD player and my ScreenPlay 5700 projector.

The thing is; when I play a DVD with the switch at the back of the S2500 set to Progressive scan output, my projected image is much much darker than when the same switch is set to interlaced. This phenomenon also occurred with the Sony, which to me indicates that either there is something not quite right with the projector, or that more than likely it is something that I am not doing right.

The picture is definitely 'correct' when I use interlace. It's definitely something up with the Progressive setting.

Thanks

 

[Duffinator]

The Infocus projectors do an excellent job of deinterlacing a DVD feed. So it's quite possible that feeding your projector an interlaced image will look better than feeding it a deinterlaced image. In other words the deinterlace chipset is better in the projector than either of the DVD players you have used.

 

[mardelgo]

I disagree. The Yamaha 2500 and the Infocus have the same chipset, but you will get a better image if you send the progresive signal from the DVD. The Yamaha 2500 is a excellent player, what you are experience is simple a calibration problem. Adjust the black level in the setup menu of the DVD (see manual) and then adjust the brightness and contrast with a calibration disc (a THX DVD disc, like starwars or nemo)

 

[Buckle-meister]

...what you are experience is simple a calibration problem. Adjust the black level in the setup menu of the DVD (see manual) and then adjust the brightness and contrast with a calibration disc (a THX DVD disc, like starwars or nemo)

Is this normal? Are you sure? It will mean that if I calibrate the projector to my Avia disc for progressive scan, that an interlaced signal will then be all wrong, and vice versa. That would surely be a nightmare for those folk who feed their projectors a mix of signals, i.e. progressive from a DVD player, but interlaced from say a PS2?

Cheers

 

[Duffinator]

I disagree. The Yamaha 2500 and the Infocus have the same chipset, but you will get a better image if you send the progresive signal from the DVD. The Yamaha 2500 is a excellent player, what you are experience is simple a calibration problem. Adjust the black level in the setup menu of the DVD (see manual) and then adjust the brightness and contrast with a calibration disc (a THX DVD disc, like starwars or nemo)

While you could be right just because two pieces of equipment have the same chipset does not mean they will look the same. There are plenty of DVD players with the same chipset and some look better than others. I've hookep up three different progressive scan DVD players (none were the Yamaha 2500) to an Infocus 7200 and they all looked better with an interlaced output.

 

[mardelgo]

Well I agree on that Duffinator, It’s better to try both ways to see which look better but at a level of a DVD player of a Yamaha 2500 or Denon 2910 or something equivalent you should get better picture from Progressive (DVD player processing the signal). And Buckle-Meister, your projector will remember the settings for interlaced and progressive, from different sources and even the same source, that’s why also you should calibrate the picture with the projector, so if you change between interlace and progressive it will be calibrated (and easier to compare between the two).

 

[Buckle-meister]

And Buckle-Meister, your projector will remember the settings for interlaced and progressive, from different sources and even the same source, that’s why also you should calibrate the picture with the projector, so if you change between interlace and progressive it will be calibrated (and easier to compare between the two).

Ah, I didn't know that was so. I'll give it a go and let you know how I got on.

Thanks very much.

 

[MDS]

While I'm not familiar with that project, I don't see how it can remember the settings for both interlaced and progressive from the same input. With TVs at least they can only store the setting per input. So if you need two separate calibrations - one for interlaced and one for progressive then you need to use two different inputs on the tv.

 

[Buckle-meister]

While I'm not familiar with that project, I don't see how it can remember the settings for both interlaced and progressive from the same input. With TVs at least they can only store the setting per input. So if you need two separate calibrations - one for interlaced and one for progressive then you need to use two different inputs on the tv.

Hmm, just as well I didn't get around to doing the adjustment tonight then eh?!

I have two sets of component inputs on the 5700, so I'll adjust one to interlaced and the other to progressive, then flip the DVD source between the two and hopefully see which one I prefer.

Thanks all; watch this space!

 

[mardelgo]

While I'm not familiar with that project, I don't see how it can remember the settings for both interlaced and progressive from the same input. With TVs at least they can only store the setting per input. So if you need two separate calibrations - one for interlaced and one for progressive then you need to use two different inputs on the tv.

Normally a TV won’t, but many "new" projectors do (like my SP4805), that’s how I compare my DVD in progressive and interlaced from the same input (I send all my video signals throw the component input (the receiver up converting all signals to component). In my case I also had to just the projector on each signal, with my DVD (Panasonic F87s) the picture was clearly better in interlaced, but when I tried a friend’s Yamaha 1500 DVD player the image was better in progressive (to my eyes) sharper and more detail, and brighter (normally a progressive signal it is at least 10% brighter) that’s why I really think that what Buckle-Meister is experience is a calibration problem.

 

[Buckle-meister]

Normally a TV won’t, but many "new" projectors do [remember the settings for interlaced and progressive from the same source].

...that’s why I really think that what Buckle-Meister is experience is a calibration problem.

mardelgo, you are spot-on on both counts.

The projector does indeed 'remember' the settings for interlaced and progressive from the same inputs (pretty clever). I have calibrated both to my Avia disc and although I'll need a bit more time to judge the differences, first impressions are that progressive is the more preferable option to me, though not by much.

Many thanks (to all) for your help; very much appreciated.