Foo - Just bought a new 57" TV. Dissapointed in picture quality.

EDIT** Sorry for the double post

Hey guys I just bought a new TV. Im not to good with all the technologies out there but can someone please help me out.

The TV is a Mitsubishi 57" 1080p DLP® HDTV. The model number is WD-57731.

Here is the their website with information and a user manual

http://www.mitsubishi-tv.com/j/i/18326/TelevisionDetails/WD57731.html?cid=381

Now heres my problem. The picture does not look like it did in the store. I am actually a little dissapointed. I spent a little more and got the 1080p over 720p because I wanted a good picture. I have everything hooked up. When I go to scroll through the modes like widescreen, zoom, ect it always says 480i. How do I get it to 1080p? I was reading the manual and I think it says from the cable you can only get 480i and the higher ones are from DVD players. Is that true? What is the point of 1080p if I cant get it on the damn screen.

My cable provider is Cablevision (Optimum iO) which is digital cable.

Maybe my house isn't set up for this? Do I have to buy new wires or something?

Any help would be great. Thanks.

right now its regular coax cable. Is there anyway to get something higher then 480i by switching cables?

It's not the coaxial cable,Turbo, it's the inbound signal quality. The only way to upgrade is to go to an HD signal. The biggest drawback to the current HD TV's is they often have a lower quality picture on standard definition signals. Once you switch to HD though, you'll notice a dramatic difference. Look at direct TV's HD service as well as the other satellite carriers.

right now its regular coax cable. Is there anyway to get something higher then 480i by switching cables?

Doesn't your current cable provider offer HD channels as an option to the regular broadcast? For example our cable provider has a package that costs X amount of $ for the regular Channel 2 thru 99 in a HD format on channels 660- 740. I am sure they do in your area as well but best to call and see. like the other posters said, regular TV on an HD set looks like shisitt.

I know what you mean. since we got HD channels, we hardly ever watch the standard quality channels any more - they just look grainy.

Your cable company provides signals in multiple formats. The lowest being standard cable analog at 480i, then they can send out the signal in digital and finally you can HD which is anything higher than 720p. Your TV will take the signal it gets and change the resolution to 1080p, however, if the signal coming in is just 480i it ends up just blowing up the noise and the picture looks worse than on your old 32" CRT. The digital channels will look much better but still will not be HD resolution.

To get HD you can either:

1. Get an HD antenna and receive the signal Over The Air (OTA), your TV has a ATSC tuner for this and you will need to scan for the channels once you have an antenna. This is probably the best signal you can get but will limit you to just the major networks.

2. If your TV has a cable (QAM) tuner, some do especially if it supports cable card, then you can scan and find the network HD channels on cable. Cable companies have to broadcast these in the clear. The premium HD channels will be scrambled

3. Gte your cables HD package which will probably require a cable box. Hook this up using component cables or HDMI. This will allow you to get all of the HD channels and any premium channels that you pay for in HD.

More info can be found at www.avsforum.com

Stone's advice is good, but the cable company isn't required to carry network HD yet, even if the networks are broadcasting HD over the air. :( Some do, and some don't. We only get CBS, NBC, and PBS so far. Fox and ABC aren't available via cable yet but they are broadcasting HD over the air locally.

OTA HD picture quality blows away analog over cable. It's amazing the first time you see it.

DLP is good technology, but it's "garbage in, garbage out" as far as the picture goes.

Stone's advice is good, but the cable company isn't required to carry network HD yet, even if the networks are broadcasting HD over the air. :( Some do, and some don't. We only get CBS, NBC, and PBS so far. Fox and ABC aren't available via cable yet but they are broadcasting HD over the air locally.

OTA HD picture quality blows away analog over cable. It's amazing the first time you see it.

DLP is good technology, but it's "garbage in, garbage out" as far as the picture goes.

This is true, my intent was to convey that IF they offer the network feed in HD they cannot scramble it. Even with this being the case many companies like Comcast constantly change the frequency that they provide the channel so that you have to either find out from a forum like AVS which channel the station is on or do rescans. Some think they do this to force people to take the HD package option.

I have a 67" Samsung and HD is spectacular. I use cable because I rent the HD DVR and record the majority of my programming to watch later. OTA is better than cable and generally cable is better than satellite right now. DirecTV is on a path to improve their quality but they are not there yet.

BTW - one of the worst feeds is VS, the TdF is really pretty bad on my cable. I understand there is a VS-HD but my cable does not carry it and I have also heard that the TdF is not being shot in HD.

57" Lawl.

Computer monitors at 24" could do 1080p resolution. Think about it.

I just went through this. Got a 40" Samsung LCD HDTV with the 1080i & it looks great - had to get a new box & HD subscription from Direct TV. Still, there aren't all that many HD channels out there right now; DirectTV says there will be a new satellite coming on line this fall with a bunch of HDTV stuff.

right now its regular coax cable. Is there anyway to get something higher then 480i by switching cables?You can force higher-resolution modes, but it won't do squat for the picture-quality. It'll just up-sample the original image, but it'll look the same because the signal is not HD. It's like taking a 640x480 image and up-sampling it to 1280x1024 in photoshop, it'll still look the same in terms of detail. You need an HD signal from BluRay DVD or cable/satellite.

Adding to the already mentioned advice... in order to get 1080p, you'll need to get a device with an HDMI connector. Blu-Ray DVD players can do this. A Playstation 3 is a cheap but good Blu-Ray DVD player. HD-DVD players can do this as well. Generally speaking, to get High Definition Quality (720p/1080i) and progressive scan (480p), you'll at least need component video cables. All the other standard definition quality signals you can get through the composite or s-video cables. Now you've just gotta get the appropriate signals (DVD Player, Satellite Receiver, Video Game Console, etc...).

This post is a great example of the ignorance that exists relating to HDTV, digital television etc. It is beyond the grasp of those who aren't willing to do the research on the internet. That TV had to be VERY expensive, one would think that you would educate yourself prior to purchasing.

Regardless, as has been noted, you are putting watered down gas in your new race car and it isn't going very fast. Your only solution is to feed it racing fuel if you want it to go fast. Translation...you need a high definition signal. This usually means you need to spend significantly more money with your cable or satellite company and/or on more equipment like a high def DVD player and high def discs.

Even then you will have a limited selection of high definition sources. Most of the stuff you watch will be standard definition. Also i might notice that a lot of current analog sources (non digital cable for example) are broadcast in 4:3 aspect ratio. What this means, is that it will look better on a regular 4:3 TV than it will on any new TV that is not set to 4:3 aspect ratio.

A lot of this explains why i am sitting with a houseful of old TV's. The only modern TV i own is HDTV ready but I just found out it is not ATSC ready, which means i will still need an adapter when digital signals begin being broadcast via standard cable.

I believe the new XBOX Elite has an HDMI port and displays in 1080p. This will give you games in HD but you can opt to purchase the HD-DVD module to have an HD-DVD player as well.

As mentioned earlier the Sony PS3 is another option as you get a Blu-Ray DVD player along with it.

So even if you don't get a HD signal in, you can start pumping in HD content through a stand-alone device.

So even if you don't get a HD signal in, you can start pumping in HD content through a stand-alone device.

Which is great if you want to play a limited number of video games and/or movies.

....Comcast constantly change the frequency that they provide the channel so that you have to either find out from a forum like AVS which channel the station is on or do rescans. Some think they do this to force people to take the HD package option.

I got into it with Comcast a while back because they were insisting I couldn't get local network HD without the HD package and a set-top box. Meanwhile I was watching the 3 networks they send out in HD -- Without a box or an HD package. Sometimes the representatives aren't that knowledgable. :p

I read the AVS forum as well. It's pretty good.

I could give you grief for dropping all that cash without doing any research, but I'm not mean like that.

There are very few devices that even output a true 1080p signal. You sure as heck aren't going to get that over coax. The only way to get a 1080p signal is using a DVI-I connection from your computer, an HDMI cable from something such as an upscaling DVD player, a HD-DVD or Blu-Ray player, Digital Cable box or one of the HD game consoles. You can also use component cables, such as the ones pictured above, but many TVs limit those to a 720p or 1080i signal.

The analogy about watered down gas for your car is applicable. Remember the basic rule of signal quality: Garbage in = Garbage out.

You need to upgrade your signal. Since you already spent probably 2 grand on the TV you might as well go the extra mile and buy a Blu-Ray player so you can actually experience HD content. The fact of the matter is that very few signal sources support the increased resolution you just paid out your teeth to attain, so that kind of sucks.

Also, you bought a DLP. Make sure you buy a replacement bulb (or three) while they're still available. In a few years time you can bet your butt that they'll be more expensive than the already exorbitant prices they cost already. Just a warning!

Also, you bought a DLP. Make sure you buy a replacement bulb (or three) while they're still available. In a few years time you can bet your butt that they'll be more expensive than the already exorbitant prices they cost already. Just a warning!

This is a silly statement. I owned a Samsung HLN for four years and it needed one replacement bulb and was on for probably 15 hours a day (kids plus stay at home wife) The bulb cost $200 and my picture was 100% as good as new. I have brand new 67" DLP, guess what, the bulb costs $200. DLP is the best bang for the buck out there, for the same size and resolution plasma or LCD I would have had to pay 2x-3x which is thousands of $. I can buy a lot of lamps for that. Also I don't have to deal with Plasma's half life or reflection issues. All of the technologies have + and -. Read up or the marketing guys will make sure you buy some thing more expensive and less satisfying than you need.

This post is a great example of the ignorance that exists relating to HDTV, digital television etc. It is beyond the grasp of those who aren't willing to do the research on the internet. That TV had to be VERY expensive, one would think that you would educate yourself prior to purchasing.


I could give you grief for dropping all that cash without doing any research, but I'm not mean like that.

You need to upgrade your signal. Since you already spent probably 2 grand on the TV you might as well go the extra mile and buy a Blu-Ray player so you can actually experience HD content. The fact of the matter is that very few signal sources support the increased resolution you just paid out your teeth to attain, so that kind of sucks.

Also, you bought a DLP. Make sure you buy a replacement bulb (or three) while they're still available. In a few years time you can bet your butt that they'll be more expensive than the already exorbitant prices they cost already. Just a warning!


First off thanks to everyone for the replies.

Now, as far as being ignorant and paying out the teeth you tell me how I did. I got the TV which is MSRP $1999.99 for $800.00 AFTER TAX. I was not planning on buying this TV. I went to the store TO BUY AND TAKE HOME THAT NIGHT so I asked what they had in stock. They told me. I decided on one for about $1000 and told them I would buy it. They came back and said it was out of stock. I kept looking and found pretty much the same TV from some other company that they said they had and went to buy that. They then said "oh sorry we actually dont have that one." After I tried to buy 4 TV's they said they had in stock I ended up with this one. Way bigger then I needed and not what I actually went in for but for the price I said Ill go for it. I got it for so cheap because its last years model so it was on clearance, it was missing the remote, and has a scratch on the speaker cover. Nevermind the fact they told me they had 4 other TV's that they didn't. I took the risk and bought this one knowing nothing about it.

Now for information relating to this topic. I called up my cable provider and asked what they have for HDTV. They said they have to send me a new HDTV box. I asked how much. They said FREE as long as I send back my box that has digital cable. Ok so thats a step in the right direction.

Now for some more ignorant questions from someone who knows nothing on TV's.

I know not all the channels are HDTV, but will the non HDTV channels look better with the HDTV box as opposed to the digital box?

Also I am willing to upgrade any cables needed for the TV. Obviously out of my wall there is a coax cable. Is it possible to use s-video, component cable, or HDMI for that? If so how?3

Right now I am not worried about DVD's, PS3's or anything like that. Just the cable channels.

Once again thanks for the help.

Sorry for giving you grief, I'm just jealous ;)

Even the non HD channels will look better with your new box, because instead of hooking it up to the TV via the coax cable, you will be hooking it up via the Component or HDMI cables which have inherently better signal quality. Depending on your TV it may make a huge difference, but the only way to tell is to try it.

As far as the cable arrangement goes, you'll plug the coax cable that comes out of your wall into the HD Cable box, then you can either use a component or an HDMI cable to connect the cable box to the TV. Note that the box may not necessarily support both cable types, so you should check with your cable company as to what type of cable you'll need. They might even be nice and throw one in for you. If not, you can find them online for a lot cheaper than retail gouging!

Enjoy that TV, it sounds sweet!

I have cablevision and they offer the hd channels for free if you buy the premium family package at about 40 bucks a month :D

you could try not sitting so close to it also ;)

For a 1080 display, you should use HDMI or component video...nothing less. This is if you have a good signal going in (hi-def cable/sat provider, or a DVD player that does a good job at upsampling to 1080...the upsampling is not the same, but it's a start)

S-Video is acceptable if that's the best you have....but Component video is easy enough, just take three 75-ohm video/digital coax cables, mark them for each color channel and use those. One neat thing is that video/digital coax/subwoofer can all utilize 75-ohm cable safely. Analog audio can as well (there is no spec for analog cable impedance, so don't try to use analog cables for the other three...more often than not analog audio cables are NOT 75-ohm).

For a 1080 display, you should use HDMI or component video...nothing less. This is if you have a good signal going in (hi-def cable/sat provider, or a DVD player that does a good job at upsampling to 1080...the upsampling is not the same, but it's a start)

S-Video is acceptable if that's the best you have....but Component video is easy enough, just take three 75-ohm video/digital coax cables, mark them for each color channel and use those. One neat thing is that video/digital coax/subwoofer can all utilize 75-ohm cable safely. Analog audio can as well (there is no spec for analog cable impedance, so don't try to use analog cables for the other three...more often than not analog audio cables are NOT 75-ohm).

listen to the man... :D

Now for some more ignorant questions from someone who knows nothing on TV's.

I know not all the channels are HDTV, but will the non HDTV channels look better with the HDTV box as opposed to the digital box?

No.

Also I am willing to upgrade any cables needed for the TV. Obviously out of my wall there is a coax cable. Is it possible to use s-video, component cable, or HDMI for that? If so how?

Your HDTV or digital box will have certain outputs. I don't own one, so I can only guess, but I will assume the box will have HDMI, and component probably some other less good connections as well.

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.....

Right now I am not worried about DVD's, PS3's or anything like that. Just the cable channels.

Once again thanks for the help.

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For the record I use Component to connect my DVD player to my TV for non-HD use (I really don't see the need for HD since I watch movies more on my PC than my TV, and only turn the TV on for South Park and Battlestar Galactica).

Honestly, I think more people need to learn to roll their own cables....you can make exceptional 75-ohm cables starting at $4 for a one-foot single cable, but each additional foot is about 20 cents. When making your own cables, it's usually the RCA plugs that are the most costly component (good plugs matter, they offer good contact without any risk of harming your equipment's jacks).

For HDMI, you are better off buying those...those are a real pain in the something to make within accepted specs.

Don't bother upgrading a hdmi cable, digital's digital, they'll all carry the signal a coupla feet.
Call up your provider, time warner upgraded me for free. HD on my 56" from 7 ft away still looks amazing.

Hi,
here's my 2 cents. I also have a Mitsu DLP and I like it a lot.
Digital is the native language of these TVs. So if you hook up a dvd player, it should have a digital out, which is component cables or HDMI. I had to buy a new dvd player.

It's basically the same with cable. Your box should have a component out or a HDMI out. Mitsu can have issues with HDMI, so go with component is there is a choice ( for now, you can fool around with HDMI later).

After you do that, your picture should improve.

Now, the next steps are tricky (joke)
I think one of your best 'upgrades' is Netflix.
You can get hi-def programming, I am thinking of dropping mine.
I never watch it. There is only a few channels and the programming usually stinks. So I forget to check to see if they have anything good so I miss it even when they do.

Yucch... I expect with time that will get better.

You can also try a hi-def dvd player. But personally I am waiting to see if either
hidef dvd format survives, I have my doubts.

Once you start watching HD you won't want to watch much else. It sounds like you got a great deal on the TV and you can never have a set that is too big. I am sure it looks huge right now but in a couple of weeks you'll want a 71". Also give it a few weeks and you will be shopping for a full surround system which will set you back a K or two. Once you get a nice system with a great Sub the whole experience of watching TV and movies changes. WARNING: home theater is like cycling, you never stop upgrading

As for DVD I really think the best thing going right now is the PS3, it is comparable in price to standalone HD players, provided gaming and does a great job of upconverting regular DVDs. My son has one and the games are spectacular and watching a movie like Black Hawk Down in HD is just incredible.

...
As for DVD I really think the best thing going right now is the PS3, it is comparable in price to standalone HD players, provided gaming and does a great job of upconverting regular DVDs. My son has one and the games are spectacular and watching a movie like Black Hawk Down in HD is just incredible.I had no idea that gaming systems could play DVDs. We only have handheld stuff in our house (DS and Gameboy) but now you've got me thinking I should go that route instead of getting a new DVD player.

Any drawbacks?

I had no idea that gaming systems could play DVDs. We only have handheld stuff in our house (DS and Gameboy) but now you've got me thinking I should go that route instead of getting a new DVD player.

Any drawbacks?

Unless you buy the separate remote for either ps3 or xbox360, you'll be controlling everything through the joystick which also happens to be wireless. I guess it's a personal preference but I got the remote. It just felt weird using the joystick to watch a movie.

HD rocks. I checked out all the stuff before we bought and the Sony had much better picture than the Mits but you'll still like it better than analog or digi. Right now most providers are just getting HDTV off the ground and looking for ways to shore up more bandwidth. Ditching analog all together will be a start.

Our Sony has every connector on the planet, now I'm hooking up the Tivo :D

I had no idea that gaming systems could play DVDs. We only have handheld stuff in our house (DS and Gameboy) but now you've got me thinking I should go that route instead of getting a new DVD player.

Any drawbacks?

Yeah. A big one! When your kid wants to play video games, he has to haul it into his room. Same applies if you want to watch DVD in family room, you gotta haul it from kid's room. Then there is the time when one wants to watch DVD and one wants to play video games.

Thanks, alainp... that's kind of exciting news, somehow!


HD rocks. I checked out all the stuff before we bought and the Sony had much better picture than the Mits but you'll still like it better than analog or digi. Right now most providers are just getting HDTV off the ground and looking for ways to shore up more bandwidth. Ditching analog all together will be a start.

Our Sony has every connector on the planet, now I'm hooking up the Tivo :D


Tell me when it's hooked up so I know it's possible... I'm about PISSED at my seeming inability to get the cable box and Tivo connected and functioning at the same time. (bangs head on wall) I only spent about an hour with it on Saturday...cable --> cable box --> Tivo --> TV ... it seems like it should be pretty straightforward but it wasn't. (feels dumb. :o)

Edited to say: Fixed! It makes no sense to me that different kinds of connections will work (but others won't) but apparently that's the case. Whew. ~returning you back to your regular programming~

Thanks, alainp... that's kind of exciting news, somehow!

Tell me when it's hooked up so I know it's possible... I'm about PISSED at my seeming inability to get the cable box and Tivo connected and functioning at the same time. (bangs head on wall) I only spent about an hour with it on Saturday...cable --> cable box --> Tivo --> TV ... it seems like it should be pretty straightforward but it wasn't. (feels dumb. :o)
I've chosen a satellite signal provider (DirecTV) for my HD signal source and bought and installed an HD-DVR Tivo unit a couple years back (they now offer a non-Tivo DVR with even better specs). No problems whatsoever on the the hookup and functionality. I used to wonder what would be better than HD. Now I wonder what could be better than HD and Tivo (or DVR)? :D

I've chosen a satellite signal provider (DirecTV) for my HD signal source and bought and installed an HD-DVR Tivo unit a couple years back (they now offer a non-Tivo DVR with even better specs). No problems whatsoever on the the hookup and functionality. I used to wonder what would be better than HD. Now I wonder would could be better than HD and Tivo (or DVR)? :D
Next generation will just be sent direct to the Optic nerves and ocular centers of the brain via Hi-res digital RF signal and generate a virtual matrix that appears to include the viewer!;) The generation after that will allow full virtual interaction including tactile interfacing.

Next generation will just be sent direct to the Optic nerves and ocular centers of the brain via Hi-res digital RF signal and generate a virtual matrix that appears to include the viewer!;) The generation after that will allow full virtual interaction including tactile interfacing.

You mean like the holodeck in Star Trek Next Gen?

Interesting.

Is the wireless control infrared, or RF?

I have one of these..

http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/3199/logitech6614fm4.jpg
Logitech Harmony 880 Programmable Remote.

It can learn any IR remote simply by firing the IR signal at it, and telling it what that does.

Unfortunately.. the model that does both IR, and RF, is like $200 more... :(

The ps3 remote I got works with bluetooth technology like the joysticks. It's the same one as this (http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Sony-Playstation-3-PS3-Blu-Ray-DVD-Remote-Control_W0QQitemZ320136043663QQihZ011QQcategoryZ147177QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem).

Any drawbacks?Other than the fact that the Playstation 3 costs $500, not really ...

<3 my PS3 :D

Next generation will just be sent direct to the Optic nerves and ocular centers of the brain via Hi-res digital RF signal and generate a virtual matrix that appears to include the viewer!;) The generation after that will allow full virtual interaction including tactile interfacing.
And 99.5% of the shows and movies will still suck. Somehow, having a "tactile interface" with Beavis and Butthead just seems . . . I dunno . . . wrong.

Other than the fact that the Playstation 3 costs $500, not really ...

<3 my PS3 :DYeah, for Christmas, that would be okay. And to whoever was talking about having to move it around... we're a pretty small family 'round here, it would just stay in the LR. :)

Yeah, for Christmas, that would be okay. And to whoever was talking about having to move it around... we're a pretty small family 'round here, it would just stay in the LR. :)
A price drop was just announced, too, so you have good timing.

And 99.5% of the shows and movies will still suck. Somehow, having a "tactile interface" with Beavis and Butthead just seems . . . I dunno . . . wrong.

huhuheheheh

"interface"

:D