Dave Marx

I just got a new 36-inch Sony HDTV, the KV36HS20. I connected the Hi-def component inputs from my X-Box to the tv. The picture does not look as good as the old S-Video connection on my old 36-inch tube Toshiba. For example, I was playing HALO and the gun meter on the upper left looked fuzzy and I could barely read the indicator. I also had to turn the brightness ALL the way up, just to make the game look decent. Otherwise, it looks way too dark. There seems to be more aliasing and more rough edges around objects with this new setting (yes, I do have my XBOX settings at 480p). I tried to move it back to normal resolution, but it looks pretty much the same.

Any ideas of how to improve these settings for XBOX? Thanks...

57U

It may be that you are sending non-High Definition signals via the component video cables. Component cables do a good job of sending high definition signals and DVD signals, however, when sending standard definition signals, use the composite or S-video connection. This is a known issue with many set-top boxes, games, etc. The quality of DVDs viewed on game machines is also not as good as on a dedicated DVD player.

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57U - Toronto, Rogers Cable, SA8300HD, 500GB HDD & Hitachi 61UWX10B HDTV, Yamaha RX-V1 A/V Receiver, Martin Logan Speakers. Photos --> 57U's HT

SA8300HD, 250GB HDD & KDL40W3000 (Upstairs)

Please don't PM me with questions that can (and should) be asked in the forum, thanks. Personal Question? Fire away.

Dave Marx

That's a good point, but I know for a fact that XBOX supports resolution up to 480p for most of their games. I bought their official HDTV connection set at Best Buy and connected them into the component cables. I was sure this would guarantee an even BETTER picture, not a poorer one!

Oh well....maybe I'll try going back to S-Video. Thanks.

57U

There's no reason you can't have both connections hooked up, just don't put both connections to the same "video input" and you can then switch between them depending on the nature of your source material. (As long as your X-box has both types of connections available at the same time and you have the inputs available and not used by other components) (You don't put them both to the same input, because that has the potential to damage the TV set) (The difference in picture quality is negligible between S-Video and Component Video, unless component Video is feeding a 1080i signal. At 480P there will be no appreciable difference)

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57U - Toronto, Rogers Cable, SA8300HD, 500GB HDD & Hitachi 61UWX10B HDTV, Yamaha RX-V1 A/V Receiver, Martin Logan Speakers. Photos --> 57U's HT

SA8300HD, 250GB HDD & KDL40W3000 (Upstairs)

Please don't PM me with questions that can (and should) be asked in the forum, thanks. Personal Question? Fire away.

Dave Marx

Well, looks like I MAY have jumped the gun. My tv reception on the SONY was horrible as well, but there are four different modes: VIVID, MOVIE, and 2 others I can't remember. The VIVID mode was grainy as hell. I then went in to the MOVIE mode and already the picture from cable looks much better. I didn't have time today to fool around with the different settings for XBOX, but I am hoping that will improve as well.

57U

Many people find that they get the best picture when all of the "automatic settings" are turned off and the set is properly calibrated for colour, contrast, brightness, etc.

You can do much of this using a setup disk like AVIA, Video Essentials or Sound & Vision Home Theatre Tuneup. "Vivid" and other "line enhancements, contrast enhancements, etc". really don't have any place on an HDTV. The HDTV should be fed the purest signal possible and it will then provide you with the best picture quality possible.

The only setting that should remain "on" is the 3/2 movie pulldown setting which only works on movies anyway and corrects for the different number of frames/sec on movies and TV. This is usually "on" on the "movies" setting, so you should watch the "movies" setting for all movies (DVD and otherwise). You can watch the "movies" setting for all of your viewing because the 3/2 pulldown detection is automatic and won't affect regular programming. So if you only want to "calibrate" one of your settings, do the movie one.

The reason that the "movies" setting usually looks best on these TVs is because it has the fewest number of these "automatic enhancements" turned on. The other settings are typically almost unwatchable. Look in this forum for discussions on set-calibration and get your HDTV properly callibrated. You won't believe the difference. These TVs do not come from the factory with the proper settings for home use. Once you read more about this in these forums, you'll understand.

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57U - Toronto, Rogers Cable, SA8300HD, 500GB HDD & Hitachi 61UWX10B HDTV, Yamaha RX-V1 A/V Receiver, Martin Logan Speakers. Photos --> 57U's HT

SA8300HD, 250GB HDD & KDL40W3000 (Upstairs)

Please don't PM me with questions that can (and should) be asked in the forum, thanks. Personal Question? Fire away.

Dave Marx

Do you recommend having someone come out and professionally calibrate the tv, or should I do it with one of those DVD's you were telling me about? Having someone come out is extremely expensive. Coupla hundred dollars, if I am right.