Standard signal on Plasma TV????

[dirchm0628]

Just curious to find out how a standard signal will look on a Plasma (HD capable) TV. I'm considering upgrading my tv to a plasma and Iam curious to see what other users think of the picture quality is on a plasma. I currently have Direct TV connected Svideo to a Sony Trintron 32 inch Tv. If I buy a plasma do I continue to connect S video? Do I connect DVI to Component. My setup makes a DVI to DVI connection impossible. All my equipment, 2X DTV receivers, VCR ( yes I still use a VCR, I have small children),receiver, and DVD player are all in a rack in the corner of my living room. All components are connected to the receiver and the receiver is connected to the TV with a 50 foot Svideo cable. I can make my own component cables to make the long run to the new TV if needed. I can't make a 50 foot DVI cable. Another option would be vga to the plasma if the plasma I buy supports it. I know its a lot of if's and buts, but I know someone on this forum will have good info for me to use in my buying decision. Thanks

[not_Shorty]

well, aren't most/all plasma sets only 852x480 right now? Better off going with something actually capable of HDTV signals if you're planning on watching HDTV. CRT rear projection sets are still your best bet, unless you really don't mind the smearing of LCD sets or the rainbow effect of TI's wheel of wonder...

[MJC]

A related issue, although it's slightly off the track:

I'm forever amazed that the image from BTV is better and clearer than the one straight from the cable box on the plasma screen! The signal that goes through to the BTV capture cards and bypass the cable box.

Thus, the signal is clearer after it has been captured, saved as a MPEG file, then played in Live TV a moment later than a direct comparison with a signal through the cable box to the plasma screen.

The cable box is a high end Motorola DVR. Even so, the treatment of analog signals are fair at best.

MJC

[not_Shorty]

well, if you're using a PVR150/250/500 capture card then you're getting a temporal filter thrown into the mix. This cleans up a lot of the noise in a typical analog cable signal, so in one regard it will indeed look 'cleaner' than the direct signal will.

Originally Posted by MJC

A related issue, although it's slightly off the track:

I'm forever amazed that the image from BTV is better and clearer than the one straight from the cable box on the plasma screen! The signal that goes through to the BTV capture cards and bypass the cable box.

Thus, the signal is clearer after it has been captured, saved as a MPEG file, then played in Live TV a moment later than a direct comparison with a signal through the cable box to the plasma screen.

The cable box is a high end Motorola DVR. Even so, the treatment of analog signals are fair at best.

MJC

[dirchm0628]

The Tv needs to be thin which leads me down the road of a plasma. I know I could also go with an LCD but I haven't seen any LCD at 50 inches. The Tv is going to be wall mounted above the fire place mantle which is only seven inches thick. Th house was built in 1963 so it doesn't have the open floor plans of newer house and it also has built in book shelves next to the fireplace and the opposite wall has two windows on it. I plan on hooking up everything to my receiver and then having one hookup to the TV. The Pioneer receiver I have says it will do component up conversion, so I should be able to hook up the receiver to the tv with component cables. Then when I watch a dvd through my dvd player I will get a great picture. I'm more interested to know if my direct tv standard signal will look grainy or stretched and if it's beneficial to hook up my pvr with an Svideo cable or if I should get the DVI to component adapter for my video card. I understand that if I'm inputing Svideo from DTV that the DVI-component adapter won't create a better signal but the BTV inteface may look better or more importantly BM will look better for it's interface and DVD library plugin. Thanks.

Also When I say plasma, I mean a plasma capable of receiving HD. I just don't plan on connecting an HD signal until there are more channels available in HD. So in the future it will be connected to an HD signal just not now.

[merrypig]

Typical plasma screens are built with widescreen aspect ratios. So if you want to display 4:3 ntsc on them you have a choice; stretch them horizontally to fill the whole display and make everyone look fat or have vertical borders on the sides.

If you always watch 4:3 video, and you opt for the correct aspect ratio with the vertical strips missing remember that some displays suffer from 'burn in'. Some mitigate it by displaying a grey instead of black as the border stripe. But that can make the contrast of your video appear poor.

You might want to decide how you'd want to view standard ntsc pictures and look at how wide that picture will be on your plasma display. You might be able to get a 4:3 lcd with the same width /height for less than the plasma.

Mind you; since you have window behind you - you'll most likely need to draw the curtains to avoid the reflection off the display. So if you're doing this, why not get a cheap front projector?

For ~1k you can get a 8x6 projector that will look awesome and if you're fortunate enough to have a white wall over the mantel, you can possibly even do without a screen. I project mine onto a white washed dry wall and can watch it perfectly even in quite good ambient light. (Dell MP2100 projector here).

But if you perceive watching more and more widescreen video formats, or even hdtv some day, then just get the plasma and enjoy it That'd be my bet. You could always go into best buy and ask if they'd show you the different video sources/modes so you can see for yourself?

[dirchm0628]

I'd like to go with a projector however the walls in my living room are pine boards. I already have nice thick curtains for the windows to cut down on the glare. I'm in the process of renivating the room over the garage. It's 28 X 25. I may buy a projetor for that room a few years from now.

[not_Shorty]

of course, the day after I post this I thumb through the latest Future Shop flier and see a ton of 1366x768 plasma sets, hehe

Originally Posted by not_Shorty

well, aren't most/all plasma sets only 852x480 right now? Better off going with something actually capable of HDTV signals if you're planning on watching HDTV. CRT rear projection sets are still your best bet, unless you really don't mind the smearing of LCD sets or the rainbow effect of TI's wheel of wonder...

[waz67]

Couple other points... I would definitely go for the DVI -> component adapter. Regular TV may not look much different, but for watching ripped DVDs or Divx movies from your computer, you'll really see a difference. As for stretched picture, you'll be able to choose from various zoom modes on the TV, as well as setting the aspect ratio in BTV while watching a show. Biggest problem is the clarity of the display can make any flaws such as MPEG compression artififacts that much more noticable. I went from an older 27" CRT to a 32" widescreen LCD, and while the picture is not that much different in size, I have to make sure I sit far enough back or the picture quality with regular TV starts to bug me.

[torpdude]

Originally Posted by not_Shorty

well, aren't most/all plasma sets only 852x480 right now? Better off going with something actually capable of HDTV signals if you're planning on watching HDTV. CRT rear projection sets are still your best bet, unless you really don't mind the smearing of LCD sets or the rainbow effect of TI's wheel of wonder...

I'll take my Plasma EDTV any day over a CRT projection. Resolution isn't everything.

[not_Shorty]

then why does HDTV exist?

[merrypig]

To boost the economy and consumer spending.

[nanook105]

And the politicians think that it is cool and a good idea. Besides, I believe that they think that they can/will have more control over what we can watch/do.

[torpdude]

Originally Posted by not_Shorty

then why does HDTV exist?

Go stand and look at a standard definition plasma beside a projection HDTV CRT (both being fed by an HDTV signal). The plasma will look better. Not to mention it will hang on your wall as opposed to taking up half your livingroom.