Ok, more HDTV/DVD questions for the guru's...

steveinaz

I've been combing the net for the last 3 weeks trying to sort out this confusing mess that TV's and DVD's have become. I want to see if I'm understanding what I'm reading:

1. Upscaling is 'enlarging" the picture from it's native size right?

2. Does upscaling make the picture look grainy? Lets say upscaling to 720p on a 50" DLP who's native format is 720p; would that look grainy?

3. When the hell did this stuff get so damn technical?

4. What is DVD's native format?

5. I'm I right about these?:

You need to use the component connections or HDMI/DVI to utilize progressive scanning, right?

Using the S-VHS connection would not be progressive scan mode?

6. If you connect your DVD to your HDTV using the component connections, then the TV's upscaling is doing the work, right?

Any help is greatly appreciated....

PolkThug

Originally posted by steveinaz

4. What is DVD's native format?

480

PolkThug

If your tv looks grainy, then your contrast is probably set too high. Upscaling, in itself, shouldn't cause graininess.

billbillw

Steve,
You are right on most of the points.
Upscaling is really just adding lines of resolution to make a standard definition (480i/p) signal fit the native resolution of an HDTV (1080i or 720p).

All of the newer TVs have built in scalers that will take non-native signal and upscale (or downscale) them to the TV's native resolution. If the TV is a 720p native, it will have to downscale a 1080i signal to fit. If the TV is good quality, I would say that the scaling doesn't make the picture grainy, but it does make signal flaws more noticeable. Most cable and satellite channels are overcompressed and they are filled with motion artifacts, mosquito noise, and other picture flaws. These really stand out on a 50" TV.

DVD is 480x720 in interlaced format. Progressive players will deinterlace.

Yes you need to use component or one of the digital (DVI/HDMI) to get the progressive signal.
You should also realize that all of the newer TVs have built in de-interlacers that do a pretty good job on 480i material.


#6 is right for the most part, but there is at least one DVD player that will upscale over component, but it requires using an old outdated firmware to enable it.

izafar

1. Upscaling is 'enlarging" the picture from it's native size right?

Right, more correctly, Upscaling is increasing the native resolution

2. Does upscaling make the picture look grainy? Lets say upscaling to 720p on a 50" DLP who's native format is 720p; would that look grainy?

Depends upon the quality of the upscaler.

If you connect your DVD to your HDTV using the component connections, then the TV's upscaling is doing the work, right

There are couple of things that need to happen before the image can displayed, De-interlacing and scalling. All progressive scan DVD players will do the de-interlacing and some can also do the scalling also. SVideo can only carry an interlaced signal at 480i.

Most CRT based HDTVs support native 480p support, things get hairy with fixed pixel displays, getting the best picture from normal DVDs gets tricky. You really need to read the fine print in specs to see how the TV will handle the incoming 480p signal from a progressive scan player.

steveinaz

Thanks, BIG TIME.

I'm looking at the Panasonic DLP 50" and the Denon 1910 or Panasonic S97; both DVD's have 720p capability.

The Panny is 720p native. Should I let the TV do the upscaling or (one of) the DVD's listed do it?

I would assume since the DVD's are 720p capable and the TV is native 720p, then 720p would probably render the best image?

gmorris

Originally posted by steveinaz
Thanks, BIG TIME.

I'm looking at the Panasonic DLP 50" and the Denon 1910 or Panasonic S97; both DVD's have 720p capability.

The Panny is 720p native. Should I let the TV do the upscaling or (one of) the DVD's listed do it?

I would assume since the DVD's are 720p capable and the TV is native 720p, then 720p would probably render the best image?

Doesn't matter. The scalers in either the TV or DVD player will be about the same. But look at the bigger picture. Either way, you are still scaling, which is manipulation of the digital signal. Any time you manipulate anything, you will be introducing some kind of potential problems.

Just get the best TV you can afford now, and in 6 months, HD DVD's will be here, which will be 720P NATIVE, no more scaling to worry about.

kberg

Originally posted by gmorris
Doesn't matter. The scalers in either the TV or DVD player will be about the same.

Is it not possible to have a "significant" difference in display quality if by chance the TV or DVD had "scaling features" of its own? Just wondering since it might be best to try each and see if there's a difference, and go with whichever "scaler" provides the best picture.

gmorris

Originally posted by kberg
Is it not possible to have a "significant" difference in display quality if by chance the TV or DVD had "scaling features" of its own? Just wondering since it might be best to try each and see if there's a difference, and go with whichever "scaler" provides the best picture.

Sure, of course. Experiment....

But we're talking about an entry level Denon DVD player and a Panasonic TV. Now, there's is nothing wrong with either of those, but they're not super high end. The quality of the scalers will be about the same. To improve upon the scalers in either unit, you'd have to buy a outboard video processor, probably starting around $3,000. NOT WORTH IT!! Especially not worth it when you consider the very near arrival of the High Definition DVD format.

steveinaz

Thanks fellas for the tips/info.

Toxis

Originally posted by gmorris
Just get the best TV you can afford now, and in 6 months, HD DVD's will be here, which will be 720P NATIVE, no more scaling to worry about.

I've heard a lot about them just going to 1080p, hence the new tv's resolutions...

gmorris

Originally posted by Toxis
I've heard a lot about them just going to 1080p, hence the new tv's resolutions...

That would be even better. I hope it happens, and I hope the greedy, money grubbing corporations avoid a Blue Ray vs. HD DVD format war.

Toxis

considering Sony has started to merge with Toshiba on the HD-DVD side, it should be better this way. Main reason, Blu-Ray can't play regular DVD's. Who wants multiple players???