Tech Question W/ HDDVD HD Setup

[duckydan]

I have a question I really don't know where to post so I figured since I first noticed it with HD-DVD I'd start there. While watching a movie I noticed that on black screens such as title screens, credit screens, and dark scenes with little lighting that it is pixilated (it looks like invisible clouds appear on the screen with blocks) but that shouldn't be the case with an HD-DVD player or a Blu-Ray player should it? Is it a setup issue or is it just dvd compression?

 

[CochiseGuy]

I have a question I really don't know where to post so I figured since I first noticed it with HD-DVD I'd start there. While watching a movie I noticed that on black screens such as title screens, credit screens, and dark scenes with little lighting that it is pixilated (it looks like invisible clouds appear on the screen with blocks) but that shouldn't be the case with an HD-DVD player or a Blu-Ray player should it? Is it a setup issue or is it just dvd compression?

Well, OK a little more info - what players, what movies, what display?

 

[duckydan]

PS3 for blu-ray (noticed it a lot with finding neverland during the fades and hostel when the lights went out and during the opening and closing credits this evening

for HD-DVD with Matrix 1, Pulse, and constantine on the HD-A1. (Though I have not properly set up that as I just received it Friday and there is a lot of manual left to read... right now all I have done is upgraded the firmware and set it to HDMI output with optical output)

Both are hooked up via HDMI with the tv reading the inputs at 1080i (maximum supported resolution... native is 720p) to a Sony Grand Wega 55" model 55e2000. I had to set the PS3 to support 1080i because Night at the Museum downgraded 720p to 480p if 1080i is not an option.

I received the same results when the PS3 was set to 720p (tested because of previously reported 1080i problems.) I don't notice it while watching movies on television which is why I think it may either be a setup issue or the discs themselves.

I just used the display settings on PS3 and changed RGB to Full and Super-White to on. I read online that those settings should only be used on newer 1080p tv's but it seems to make the picture look clearer and also reduce some of what my problem is with the dvds.

On the TV my settings are icture - Vivid (Brightness and Picture set to Max, Sharpness set to 52 and Color Temp is Neutral) Wide-Mode set to Full. I do not see a setting for any other calibrations. Any other suggestions to make it better (or correct) are appreciated.

 

[Ilya]

Sounds like your TV set may need calibration. On a properly calibrated set these artifacts should not be visible (unless you sit too close). Perhaps the brightness is set too high, or something. For starters, get a calibration disc (e.g. Digital Video Essentials HD DVD), or if you have more money to spend, invite an ISF pro.

Also, VIVID is not the best mode for watching movies. I suggest you switch to Standard.

Good luck!

 

[dfergie]

Sounds like you have Brightness and Contrast maxed out, as Ilya say's get your set calibrated or get the Avia disc from Amazon through our Amazon portal on the left side of the page...

 

[duckydan]

Sounds like your TV set may need calibration. On a properly calibrated set these artifacts should not be visible (unless you sit too close). Perhaps the brightness is set too high, or something. For starters, get a calibration disc (e.g. Digital Video Essentials HD DVD), or if you have more money to spend, invite an ISF pro.

Also, VIVID is not the best mode for watching movies. I suggest you switch to Standard.

Good luck!

I've run a bunch of the calibrations and am watching punisher now with no visible problems... One other question and I quoted you because you seem to know about Sony's what should I set Advanced Iris to... I read online that high is best for movies with Low best for sports but high seems to increase the brightness back to where it was.

 

[Ilya]

One other question and I quoted you because you seem to know about Sony's what should I set Advanced Iris to...

I have an older Grand Wega, so I don't have the Advanced Iris feature and haven't seen how different settings of it work. I understand what it's doing in theory: it dynamically adjusts brightness and contrast depending on how bright the overall picture is. This may help in bright light conditions, for example, but then again Grand Wega's always look good in bright light!

In general, I am usually skeptical about any artificial image "enhancements". In most cases TV manufacturers are trying to "improve" the picture so, their TV set would standout on the show floor. But you can't mess with the image without losing something. Every "improvement" has a price: you lose something in return. You may get a more pleasing picture, but lose some detail. Take sharpness control for example. When set too high, it doesn't make the picture sharper: it makes it appear sharper by introducing some artificial edges and details that are not part of the original image.

When I am watching a movie at home (at night in dim light) I usually try to stay away from any artificial "improvements" to the picture, or sound for that matter. I suspect that this Advanced Iris feature is similar to "Night" (or "Compressed") mode in audio equipment: when the sound volume level is too high it is reduced; when the sound volume is too low, it is increased. This is good when you have a baby sleeping next door. But when you want to enjoy the sound experience in its full dynamic range: from whisper to thunder, you want to turn the Night Mode off!

Again, I haven't seen this particular feature in action, so I might be wrong on this. But since you asked for my opinion, here it is.