Connectivity and burn in questions...

[Nate8833]

Hello,

I just bought the whole nine...Panasonic 47WX53 HDTV, Onkyo HTS660 receiver / speaker package, and the Onkyo DVP-301 DVD player.

First of all, I was curious about burn in. I know not to watch 4:3...that has been well documented. I'm just more curious about personal experiences with burn in of station logos. I never watch 4:3...but there are a lot of station logos out there. Has anyone ever had a problem with burn in of these logos? A lot seem to be see-through anymore, like the WB logo. Passing by MTV, I noticed a horrible yellow spring break logo...which I'm sure isn't very good!

Also, I was wondering about connectivity with my particular package. The DVD player has component output...but the receiver does not. There are plenty of S-Video plugs, but no component RGB in and out. Should the quality of the S-Video be almost equal to that of the component RGB? I wouldn't want to sacrifice quality from the progressive scan DVD player. Thanks a lot for any answers...I'll be back on the boards on and off to respond.

Nate

[summerfun]

Originally posted by Nate8833
Should the quality of the S-Video be almost equal to that of the component RGB? I wouldn't want to sacrifice quality from the progressive scan DVD player.
The component should be better. Some people will say a lot better and others will same some better. On my TV, it is some better.

If you have a progressive scan DVD, you can only use the component cables in progressive mode. However, some people get a better PQ by letting their TV deinterlace the DVD signal rather than the DVD player. Again, it depends on your systems. Try all setups and decide for yourself what looks better for you.

I only use my receiver to switch between my DVD and X-box because I do not have enough inputs on the TV. If I did not have to, I would like to have everything going directly to the TV. I think one less device in the line will help with PQ. Others will disagree. But since DVD is only 480i/p, I figure it is the least effected. I still have my HD STB going straight to the TV.

In your case, using the receiver to switch means stepping down from component to S-Video. I think if you can go component directly to the TV, you will be better off.

[57U]

1. If your A/V recevier doesn't have component video switching, you should run the component cables from the DVD player directly to the TV for the video signal The digital audio goes to the receiver. You could try running S-Video and see if you notice a difference, but S-video is "inferior" to component video.

2. For an RPTV, you should not leave any static image on the screen for more than about 15% of the operating time. The static image can be a logo, black bar, video game, whatever. As long as you vary your viewing you should be OK. Read the FAQ on "Burn in", if you haven't done so already.

[keving]

My thoughts...

4:3 with bars is fine to watch in moderation. If you can stand it, stretch the picture to eliminate the bars and you can watch it 100% of the time if you like. Find the stretch mode that chops just a tad off the top and bottom and zooms/stretches to fill the sidebars (this provides a nice balance between stretch and zoom for minimal distortion). This may even eliminate the logos from the corners altogether, depending on how much of the top/bottom gets chopped.

Also, I use my receiver for audio only. That's what I bought it for. (:

[Nate8833]

I saw something that will help an awful lot.

First of all, I have to say that I must be a different breed. The black bars actually bother me more than a stretched screen. The Panny has a "just" mode that I really like. It just stretches the sides of the picture to fill the screen so that everything in the middle (usually the focus of the program) is in correct proportion. I guess I should have said that I watch a lot of 4:3 programming, just all in the "just" mode. The only thing I don't watch is HD programming that is broadcast in 4:3, since my aspect button doesn't stretch the screen. Is there any way to change the aspect of HD broadcasting?

What I saw from you guys that is going to help is running digital audio to the receiver, and the RGB directly to the TV. For some reason that never occured to me. Correct me if I'm wrong, because I'm not sure about this. I have two component RGB inputs in the back of my TV. I run my digital cable box through there, and the DVD player as well. Do I then run a separate digital audio cable from the TV to the receiver, or am I taking the audio cable from the component? Thanks again guys!

Nate

[57U]

1. Most TVs do not allow you to properly stretch HD inputs. Some STBs do have some stretch modes (for example, my SA3250HD cable STB has a stretch mode, but I don't like it because it's linear, unlike the "just" mode you mention (which most TVs also have in different variations)..

2. You run the digital audio connection from the component(s) to the A/V receiver.

[Nate8833]

I'm not sure what my STB offers as far as a stretch mode. It's just the Motorola that came with Comcast service...and I just got it. I'll have to look into it more.

Okay...so I actually run the digital audio from my STB and the DVD into the receiver? Thanks again, I know it's a pain dealing with a newb!

[summerfun]

Originally posted by Nate8833
Okay...so I actually run the digital audio from my STB and the DVD into the receiver? Thanks again, I know it's a pain dealing with a newb!
You got it, the video component cables run to the TV and the digital audio cables run to the receiver. Some people also run audio to the TV to use when they don't want to turn on the receiver. I don't do this however.