HELP!! Sony KD-34XS955 DVD quality/progressive scan questions!

[HPS2]

Hi there! I am new to all this HDTV stuff. I just purchased a Sony KD-34XS955 and I have a question regarding connecting it to my DVD player. I had been connecting my DVD player to my old TV using an S-Video cable. When I duplicated this hookup to my new TV I was not really impressed with the image on a $1,700 television. Also, when I activate progressive scan on my DVD player, nothing happens on the television. When I turn off progressive scan, everything returns to normal.

1. Doesn't this uber-expensive HD television support progressive scan?

2. If I switch to component video cables, which my player supports, will DVD image quality drastically improve AND will I be able to use progressive scan?

3. When I watch a widescreen 16x9 DVD movie, I STILL get black bars (albeit much thinner than on my old 4:3 tv). Is this normal? Why did I buy a widescreen tv if I still see these things??

Any help is MUCH appreciated.

[UMDMatt]

You need component video cables (or Dvi/hdmi) to display DVDs in progressive scan--the picture will improve significantly (moreso from the switch to S-video to component, than the interlaced to progressive).

You will still see black bars on dvds with aspect ratios of 2.35:1. Many movies are released in 1.85:1 which is very close to your TV's aspect ratio of 1.78:1, in this case the lines will be very very thin if they are visible at all (due to overscan).

[brokeniris]

1.) 480i, 480p, 1080i and maybe 960i. So yes, 480p.

2.)I am in the same situation as you. I got some component cables last night, which I will be testing later, and expect this to remedy the problem. Component cables should improve the picture (and hopefully allow for proper automatic anamorphic/progressive recognition), but a high quality s-video is as good as crappy components for analog signals.

You might also try setting the tv to "monitor" mode and adjusting DRC. Renting a calibration disc is a must.

3.) depends on source material.. 2.35:1 (lord of the rings for example) will still have black bars. Check your screen mode setting to make sure its appropriate for your source. Some content is actaully 4:3 with blacks bars in the 4:3 image. We are SOL in that case.

[HPS2]

WOW - thanks for the outstanding, detailed information! This is EXACTLY what I needed to know :))

[RobZ]

This set is best when running 480i (via component) and setting the DRC mode to upscate to 960i. The image will be better than even using 480p via the best Faroudja or SI chips. Definitely set it to monitor to drop the red push. Read the widescreen review article on the 34XBR960.

[Joxer]

Composite and s-video can only support interlaced 480i. Component video oR DVI interface is required for progressive video (480p) or the higher HD formats (720p and 1080i). Many DVDs movies have a wider aspect ratio than 16:9 (1.78:1) - many are 2.35:1 or higher so there will sometimes be black bars no matter what. But many movies are 1.85:1 and will fill the 16:9 screen.

[HPS2]

Originally posted by Joxer
Composite and s-video can only support interlaced 480i. Component video oR DVI interface is required for progressive video (480p) or the higher HD formats (720p and 1080i). Many DVDs movies have a wider aspect ratio than 16:9 (1.78:1) - many are 2.35:1 or higher so there will sometimes be black bars no matter what. But many movies are 1.85:1 and will fill the 16:9 screen.

So, do I need an HD DVD player to get 720p and 1080i output into my HDTV? I hope this is the case since my current Philips progressive scan player is only giving me 480p. Thanks so much for the help!

[The Yar]

Originally posted by UMDMatt
You need component video cables (or Dvi/hdmi) to display DVDs in progressive scan--the picture will improve significantly (moreso from the switch to S-video to component, than the interlaced to progressive).

You will still see black bars on dvds with aspect ratios of 2.35:1. Many movies are released in 1.85:1 which is very close to your TV's aspect ratio of 1.78:1, in this case the lines will be very very thin if they are visible at all (due to overscan).
Why don't more TVs have a vertical zoom to compensate for this? I just got my KV34HS420 and I am completely bummed that Titanic is both horizontally stretched and has huge black bars top and bottom. I thought that I could at least set the DVD to 4:3 and then zoom on the TV, but no luck, the TV forces it to widescreen. What the hell?

[brokeniris]

Well, I picked up a toshiba 3960 for $49.99 @ BB and a set of component cables, and the picture looks awesome. Saw some blocking on the LOTR:ROTK-EE, but that was the players fault. Also, this player has the default output not set component. Weird.

Watched The Last Samurai on HBO-HD (1080i) last night and the picture was stunning. though for some reason they aired it in 1.85:1 not it's original 2.35:1.

Watching sdtv, the cable channels below 100, still looked crappy with teh component cables. It's signal strength so nothing can really be done. Was I really watching a picture quality that bad for so long? :p

The tv was set to monitor, picture was movie, drc to cinemotion.

[Waterbug]

i prefer pro video setting over movie. Its have 0 edge enhancement. again, 0 edge enhancement while movie have a slight edge enhancement. So was Standard and Vivid which have more severe EE...

[brokeniris]

Originally posted by RobZ
This set is best when running 480i (via component) and setting the DRC mode to upscate to 960i. The image will be better than even using 480p via the best Faroudja or SI chips. Definitely set it to monitor to drop the red push. Read the widescreen review article on the 34XBR960.

Robz,

How do I know if the DRC is actually doing the upconvert to 960i? It still says 480i on the display in all DRC settings....

Thanks!

[Burkerg]

quote:
Originally posted by RobZ
This set is best when running 480i (via component) and setting the DRC mode to upscate to 960i. The image will be better than even using 480p via the best Faroudja or SI chips. Definitely set it to monitor to drop the red push. Read the widescreen review article on the 34XBR960.


Robz,

How do I know if the DRC is actually doing the upconvert to 960i? It still says 480i on the display in all DRC settings....

Thanks!

Sorry to revive such an old thread, but I was wondering if anyone could provide an answer to this. How do we set the DRC to upconvert to 960i? Thanks!

Rob (a different Rob)

[jaam]

Originally posted by Burkerg
[ How do we set the DRC to upconvert to 960i? Thanks!

Rob (a different Rob) [/B]

Just a guess,but on my XBR960.

Menu>Video>Advanced Video>Program>DRC Mode>Interlaced

[Burkerg]

Sorry, everyone, but I just keep coming up with problems. I bought component cables for my XBox and hooked it up to the TV. Jaggies, jaggies everywhere! Why do videogames look so awful on this TV? I set the XBox to output 480p and 720p. Still, it looks awful. Any suggestions or explanations? Thanks to everyone for all the help!

Rob