sonyhdguy
12-03-2004, 10:25 AM
For reference, my only comparison was an xbox with monster video cables and optical audio out. I found that to look great on my Sony 42" rear projection LCD, with some minor flicker.
I first had it connected with the HDMI to DVI adaptor and an optical cable to my receiver. I always try The Matrix Revolutions and Return of the King, as I find both to be pretty good looking disc. On the Matrix, plus Harry Potter: Prisoner... I found the black levels to be so dark that some scenes were unwatchable. Same thing with the ninja scene on The Last Samurai. Night scenes were all black, with no definition on black clothing, everyone looked light faces on black blobs. On the plus side, everything was very crisp, and most other colors looked great. Turning up my TV's picture and brightness did nothing. Upon speaking with a "level 2" Samsung rep, he told me that the digital output isn't converted by the TV or the player, and that some DTVs do not process all blacks/dark levels when not run through their video hardware. I did notice a difference between 480p and 720p, but not between 720p and 1080i, although both looked (what I thought) significantly crisper and a bit brighter.
Much to my chagrin, I was told the black level was unfixable b/c it was a TV problem, which I understood. Upon messing around with the component output, I connected some monster cables, while leaving the DVI cable plugged into a different input. Accidentally, I was changing the resolution on the remote while comparing the two inputs thinking the TV was set to DVI. It was on the component input, and the resolutions were changing! The picture was less bright and crisp, but still looked better than what I was used to on my xbox. So technically, I found a way to output 720p-1080i through component, but you have to have the HDMI or DVI cable also running to a different input on the TV. Because the player defaults to the HDMI output, it lets you change the resolution, which it normally wouldn't if just component outs were being used.
Bottom line: at first I was really upset with the player, but now I'm estatic because of this little trick I learned. Also, quickly, the optical audio sounds better as I had to adjust my volume levels, more dynamic and louder than xbox.
As a previous poster noted, the remote is just not well thought out, buttons everyone with no logic applied and using it in the dark is really a PITA.
Overall, I'd recommend it!
I first had it connected with the HDMI to DVI adaptor and an optical cable to my receiver. I always try The Matrix Revolutions and Return of the King, as I find both to be pretty good looking disc. On the Matrix, plus Harry Potter: Prisoner... I found the black levels to be so dark that some scenes were unwatchable. Same thing with the ninja scene on The Last Samurai. Night scenes were all black, with no definition on black clothing, everyone looked light faces on black blobs. On the plus side, everything was very crisp, and most other colors looked great. Turning up my TV's picture and brightness did nothing. Upon speaking with a "level 2" Samsung rep, he told me that the digital output isn't converted by the TV or the player, and that some DTVs do not process all blacks/dark levels when not run through their video hardware. I did notice a difference between 480p and 720p, but not between 720p and 1080i, although both looked (what I thought) significantly crisper and a bit brighter.
Much to my chagrin, I was told the black level was unfixable b/c it was a TV problem, which I understood. Upon messing around with the component output, I connected some monster cables, while leaving the DVI cable plugged into a different input. Accidentally, I was changing the resolution on the remote while comparing the two inputs thinking the TV was set to DVI. It was on the component input, and the resolutions were changing! The picture was less bright and crisp, but still looked better than what I was used to on my xbox. So technically, I found a way to output 720p-1080i through component, but you have to have the HDMI or DVI cable also running to a different input on the TV. Because the player defaults to the HDMI output, it lets you change the resolution, which it normally wouldn't if just component outs were being used.
Bottom line: at first I was really upset with the player, but now I'm estatic because of this little trick I learned. Also, quickly, the optical audio sounds better as I had to adjust my volume levels, more dynamic and louder than xbox.
As a previous poster noted, the remote is just not well thought out, buttons everyone with no logic applied and using it in the dark is really a PITA.
Overall, I'd recommend it!
