Disappointed in picture quality on Sony 32" LCD

goofyham · 01-01-2007, 09:31 AM

I have had a Sony 32 inch LCD Bravia for 5 months now and I'm disappointed at the picture quality of standard definition programming on it. High Definition is acceptable but is there any current LCD TV's that can come close to my old Sony CRT TV? I have been told that my provider, Direct TV, compresses the signals but these same signals look fine on my CRT TV so I'd have to say it's the LCD TV that cannot re-produce an acceptable picture. It also looks bad on OTA signals???
Is there ANY LCD in the 32 to 43 inch TV I can buy that will produce a good SD picture?
Thanks.
George

iserum · 01-01-2007, 10:17 AM

i have 40 inch 1080P bravia and PQ looks very good on SD also, the main problem is perception once you start looking at HD channels and u change from an HD Channel to SD , SD looks terrible, there are settings in the Picture menu to make it better. 420 inch plasma do a better job on SD programs because plasma resolution is 1024x768 for 42 inch sets, this res. is close to 480p/i of SD channels.
in Picture setting u can try these settings, i am assuming you have same setting parameter as other sony tvs.
you might not have some setting available on you set ignore those.

Picture to 95
Brightness 55
sharpness less than 10
Color temp warm2
gamma 0 (mid level)
MPEG noise reduction off
color correction off
backlighting 5-6
Backlighting sensor off
energy saving low.

these settings will give very close to calibration by any disc.

s2mikey · 01-01-2007, 10:51 AM

SD viewing is always a little shakier on LCD....at least on my AQUOS. My plasma does a slightly better job, probably due to its native resolution and generally "softer" overall picture.

You can crank the sharpness down, make sure the contrast or "white" level is NOT too high. Those changes might help some. The next step would be to mess with the SD stretching.... try 4:3 with bars and/or other stretch options on your set. Soms of them look better than others.

BamaPanda · 01-01-2007, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goofyham

Is there ANY LCD in the 32 to 43 inch TV I can buy that will produce a good SD picture?
Thanks.
George

I think there are many good sets that will do good in this area. I will attest to one brand - LG. They use a series of filters and controls they label as the XD Engine - on all their models. It is designed to help with the SD signal, and from what I see on my 42" PDP - it works.
I have yet to confirm this completely, but my sense is that when the XD is on - there may be a slight compromise in HD PQ. I know on my set, the 42PC1DA, I can turn the XD off. I have to confirm that option on some other models. I also have yet to really test this, as I am still in the break in mode.
I equate it to a really good Canon DSLR that employs correction to get good results at high ISO's. The results are good, but the better result is without the correction shot at ISO 100 in good light.
Hope this info helps.

borromini · 01-01-2007, 11:51 PM

A Discussion On Poor SD On HDTVs

Espada · 01-02-2007, 11:40 AM

more pixels on the lcd will show more SD "noise or trash" so the lcd is doing its job.

01-01-2007, 09:31 AM	#1
goofyham How can anyone watch standard def? Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 20	Disappointed in picture quality on Sony 32" LCD I have had a Sony 32 inch LCD Bravia for 5 months now and I'm disappointed at the picture quality of standard definition programming on it. High Definition is acceptable but is there any current LCD TV's that can come close to my old Sony CRT TV? I have been told that my provider, Direct TV, compresses the signals but these same signals look fine on my CRT TV so I'd have to say it's the LCD TV that cannot re-produce an acceptable picture. It also looks bad on OTA signals??? Is there ANY LCD in the 32 to 43 inch TV I can buy that will produce a good SD picture? Thanks. George

01-01-2007, 10:17 AM	#2
iserum High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 1,957	i have 40 inch 1080P bravia and PQ looks very good on SD also, the main problem is perception once you start looking at HD channels and u change from an HD Channel to SD , SD looks terrible, there are settings in the Picture menu to make it better. 420 inch plasma do a better job on SD programs because plasma resolution is 1024x768 for 42 inch sets, this res. is close to 480p/i of SD channels. in Picture setting u can try these settings, i am assuming you have same setting parameter as other sony tvs. you might not have some setting available on you set ignore those. Picture to 95 Brightness 55 sharpness less than 10 Color temp warm2 gamma 0 (mid level) MPEG noise reduction off color correction off backlighting 5-6 Backlighting sensor off energy saving low. these settings will give very close to calibration by any disc. __________________ Panasonic 50PX80U/Pioneer BDP-51FD /Toshiba HD A1/Tivo HD SAMSUNG LNT-4661F/ Pioneer BDP-51FD/Dell XPS, Nvidia 9500 GT SONY BRAVIA 40V2500/40 GB PS3, WII, Intel Core 2 Duo with Nvidia 6800 Yamaha RXV1700 Def. Tech. Mythos III, V & Gems, Super Cube III Harmony Remote One Power Conditioner: Belkin PF40

01-01-2007, 10:51 AM	#3
s2mikey Flat Panel Luvr Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Upstate, NY Posts: 1,224	SD viewing is always a little shakier on LCD....at least on my AQUOS. My plasma does a slightly better job, probably due to its native resolution and generally "softer" overall picture. You can crank the sharpness down, make sure the contrast or "white" level is NOT too high. Those changes might help some. The next step would be to mess with the SD stretching.... try 4:3 with bars and/or other stretch options on your set. Soms of them look better than others. __________________ Pioneer KURO 5080HD Sharp LC32D4U Toshiba A30 & A2 Sony BDP-S360, PS3 80gb Sony STRDG810/All Polk Speakers Harmony 510 remote Antennas Direct DB4

01-01-2007, 11:51 PM	#5
borromini HT Frontiersman Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Northern California Posts: 9,925	A Discussion On Poor SD On HDTVs __________________ "I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy"

01-02-2007, 11:40 AM	#6
Espada How can anyone watch standard def? Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Davie FL Posts: 18	more pixels on the lcd will show more SD "noise or trash" so the lcd is doing its job. __________________ Jason TV: Sharp 42" LC-42D62U PC: Snapstream BTV 4.4 Asus A8N32 SLI w/ Athlon 64 4200 X2 evga 7600GT Hauppauge 350 SB Audigy 2 160GB Western Digital Sony DL DVD burner BT wiress keyboard w/ built in mouse stick Snapstream Firefly remote Coolermaster Cavalier HT case