ok heres what i do, I watch DVD's and thought a 42 inch diplay would make my experience SOOO MUCH NICER than my old 36 inch analog tv.
Well to say the truth it isnt. It is all pixelated... its horrible... im confused.
this is an EDTV display, i will appreciate any help on this possible. heres what i typed in another post on another site.
hi guys, i just bought a SamSung SP-p4251
p4251
yea thats it... umm the picture looks like crap 6-14 feet away... could someone please help me?
i dont have high definition wiring or something like that. i have regular wiring. the good ole yellow, white, red.
my first problem is this
#1 even 14 feet away the plasma screens picture is bad looking.. its blocky seeming...
this is a 42 inch screen is that the reason? or is it because the screen is displaying at a very low resolution which it should be doing much higher...
#2 Do i need to get HIGH DEFINITION SATTELITE to get my TV look better? or is it as good as its going to get??
#3 MONSTER CABLES ARE EXPENSIVE I DONT UNDERSTAND WHY... please help
#4 i thought i got a good deal on this TV (paid 2200 dollars from Best Buy, and i think it looked really good in store but now it looks bad
#5 Could someone please post a guide on how to get the most out of your TV's picture?
#6 The picture on this Plasma TV Blurr's even at 12 feet away it blurrs when something moves fast across the screen... im really mad about this..
#7 Playstation 2 looks horrible on it. I know im really REALLY BIATCHIN and Moaning here but im serious about how blotchy and... really pixelated this TV looks.. it looks very bad.
Please dont get mad at me and say im trying to ruin Samsungs Reputation here, but i bought this TV expecting a huge difference from my basic (Analog?) TV that was 36 inches wide. My 36 inch TV blew this out of the water....
Please Please Please could someone give me information on how to "tune" this tv to look the best?
Are HD TV wiring required for this EDTV?
thank you guys so much for any information you can give me, you all seem like you know what the hell your talking about.
First off, dont worry to much about the initial shock, most likely it can be adjsuted as needed. But first a question or two:
When playing DVD's are you using the PLaystation or a dedicated DVD player? Does the picture look the same or better than the broadcast signal?
And are you using a digital cable feed (Set Top Box) from you cable company? If so, what service and model?
Most likely your TV is still in "torch" mode (Used in most stores to showcase the TV picture). But these setting may look good in a brightly lit showroom, but at home it falls well short of expectations.
I would first try some basic setting changes through the user menu on the set:
Contrast - Try setting this to around 42 to 44. Brightness - Try setting this around 55 to 65. Color - Try this one at maybe 45 to 50. Tint- Maybe around the same as color, between 45 to 50.
This should show a marked difference than the default settings. Plus, with the contrast and brightness turned way up, it can shorten the life span of the set dramatically, as well as causing possible "burn-in" effects much more readily.
When viewing standard braodcast signals on the set you may find that it shows the glaring flaws that were always hidden prior to the new set, but it can still be cleaned up a bit too. Try using the "Zoom" feature in Picture Mode to lose the bars on the bottom and top, or just view it in 4:3 mode.
When connecting the STB try using component inputs if possible. Same with either the Playstation or DVD player. A much nicer picture than RF, S-Video or Composite.
Make sure that the outputs of the Playstation are set correctly. (I have an XBox and set mine to 16:9 where applicable).
Search through you menus on the DVD player and check for output mode as well, and the STB too.
HD TV signals and service are by far superior to watch on these sets. My local service (Cox) Using the Motorola DTC-6200 outputs to 1080i, and the picture is incrediable. I do have to admit that after seeing the HD signal, regular signals are so lame. I watch them in either "Zoom" mode which can add some unwanted distortion or 4:3 mode.
Be sure to regulate your use of video games with static scenes or items such as HUD's in first person games, or with LetterBoxing the view. It can cause burn in after prolonged use, but it would take several hours on wither "pause" or several all night sessions of Seals or Rainbow with the HUD display sitting on the screen in the same place for hours on end.
About cables... a lot of debate. Nice cables can set you back a $100.00 or mre for each set. Nice to have but most likely you will never see the difference between them and other at a lower price. I use Monster THX for audio and video. But, the DVI cable was $100.00 USD for a 1 meter length, so I got one from NewEgg for $15.00. As long as the cables are good quality, there should be no issues.
Wow you were right about the settings being all messed up!
that helped alot.
but the picture does look blotchy still
I have been looking at EBAY and the pricing so much much... user friendly than the store!
I dont have any component cables and the S Video i have doesnt make the picture any nicer that good old y/w/r.
so... i guess i need to go buy some component cables.
I dont have HDTV ready cable.. i was told i can cancel out my cable account and start a new one with a different phone number and they will give the HDTV stuff to me for free, instead of paying 200 dollars for it!
I have to buy a PS2 component set up also :/
PS2 does look raggidy on this screen though, the pixels are noticeable from 13 feet away.
I have Direct TV sattellite system, so i guess i can do that.'
also, i tried putting my Plasma screen into 4/3 or zoom mode and it still looked just as bad... i mean it became a smaller screen but the same pixellation was evident, just in a smaller area..
I appreciate any extra help you can give and thank you for the help you already gave me!
also, will the Blurring i have when an object goes fast past my screen go away if i upgrade to component video? is that the reason for it or is it because its a plasma tv.
ALSO, forgot to say i have a pretty nice progressive Scan DVD player made by toshiba that is really high quality.
it has the P setting on the back but alas i dont have component cables to make it work like that
I just use my PS2 for gaming and thats it. Such as Grand theft auto-san andreas, foot ball games, flight games etc. I dont play much often so i dont think the burn in will effect me.
ON THE UPSIDE THIS TV's SOUND OUTPUT BY ITSELF IS AMAZING, THE TV IS INCREDIBLE SOUND WISE!
for example i woke up in the middle of the night hearing thunder and lightning shaking my walls
I jumped up and was like what the hell? and saw my tv playing "The Storm" or whatever. It was great!!
For cables, I actually saw some nice cables at K-Mart. $20.00 for both component and / or Optical cables. Nice price for a decent set.
You mentioned your using Direct TV? They have a lot of HD content with their system. You may want to consider calling them or looking on the Net to see what the cost difference may be. I think the service is $10.00 or $12.00, but I am not sure about the equipment.
As for the blury scenes.... hmmm... I to see that sometimes in really dark sequences, but finally tuning should lessen it quite a bit. You may want to check your cable feed and connections. But again, the regular (analog) signal will show it's a$$ when hooked up to a better display.
Still, you may have to fiddle with the settings I suggested earlier. They are dependant upon the room lighting, the individual tv and your preferences.
Hooking up the PS2 to component inputs will make a big improvement as will using the component inputs for the DVD too. If you have only a single input for component on the set, then you may have to buy a component switch or use an AV receiver to supply the switching capabilities.
I use the DVI connection for the HD signal and the XBox and DVD are using the AV receiver for switching into a single input on the tv.
well hmm but they try to get you for another 100 and something dollars to upgrade to the HD TV system though. the HDTV receiver
I hear they only have 10-15 channels with HDTV capability though... so i dont know i dont think i want this tv, The way it looked in store it looked so good i loved it... but now after reading all the posts on this board recently and about how this technology is still becoming for the masses maybe i made a mistake...
I bought this TV thinking it would look great no matter what it showed and im really let down by this.
OK i have 1 thing left to ask you KIRK (btw thanks for the continued help)
For example, the coloring on the TV for... gah its hard to describe.
Ok have you ever seen DAS BOOT, its a submarine movie from the 80's, about a German sub and its crew blah blah blah.
Ok well moving on past that, when the red lights pop on in the submarine, the lighting doesnt.. blend into anything well at all?
do you understand what im trying to say? its very ugly, and im watching the TV right now in 4:3 mode from 6 feet away and its not right looking.
if im sitting 13 or 14 feet away in 4:3 mode i guess its ok, maybe the same as my old tv was at 6 feet away...
But my main problem is the blending of things and the pixelation.
for the 2500 or whatever retail price at all the major stores i see, i cant believe the TV doesnt show the picture better...
Will this change in the next few years? will the technology become better at adapting to analog television and ... upgrading it possible? maybe ill wait for another year before buying a plasma and take this one back.
Your picture with analog should be atleast as good as it was with the previous tv in 4:3 mode. If not, I might suspect that either the signal has changed due to a cable issue... loose connection, bad cable, crimp gone bad. If not, I would suspect that there is something in the set itself.
By no means is my signal bad on the analog channels, but it is nowhere near the HD signal. If the cables are good, then I might either have the retailer come out and inspect the tv or return it for another of the same or a different model. Let me know what happens.
for example a bright light (aka the sun in a movie)will show as a rainbow of different colors as it shines out instead of... blending together and looking like a slowly thinning shade.
i have a question along the same lines, sorry to jump on your post but the answer may help us both, i used monster cables for audio (3 i think) and video (2 i belive) should i also hoook my s-video line or does that matter if i used the above? should i use it with them or will it even be recignized?? I have to admit this is my first time getting a real quality reciever/dvd player and plasma tv so I am unfamiliar with the needs or uses of s-video.
The qaulity of the video / audio is somewhat limited by the type of connection. For video your order of preference would be ... DVI (Digital if your TV and DVD player have the ability), then Component Video (Red/Green/Blue RCA), then Composite Video (Yellow RCA), S-Video and RF. Audio would be similiar. First Optical (Digital), then Coax (Digital)and lastly Analog input for audio.
What Make and Model TV and dvd player are you using? I can give you a better idea with the additional info.
i used the monster video of red green blue and adio was blue and red i believe. my tuner is 1000 watt pioneer something something and my tv is 42 lg $4200'sh model from bestbuy, dont have exact models on me i can get them for you if it helps just wont be till after work.
Sounds as if you are using the component video outputs from your DVD to the TV? If so, that would be best. As for the audio from the DVD, if you have optical or Coax (Single Orange RCA) outputs on the DVD and the appropriate inputs on your receiver, it may help with the sound quality.
Another thing to look at is the default settings on your plasma. When in the showroom and sometimes from the factory, the default settings may be at the top of the scale inorder to make the picture look good or stand out in the showroom. However, these settings can decrease the lifespan of the tube and cause other issues as well. You may try backing everything down to the halfway mark in your basic menu on the tv and then play with a little lower settings on both the contrast and brightness.
It is all subject to your personal preferences, the TV, the input and the room lighting.
Mine is set to about 42 on the contrast and just above 50 on the brightness. If you can either rent or purchase the DVE (Digital Video Essentials) DVD or the Avia DVD in order to assist in calibrating the set. Money and location permitting, you can even hire an ISF certified calibration specialist to set the plasma as best as possible.
It sounds as if you are using the standard analog audio outputs from the DD to the Pioneer receiver.
Well, I'm having exact same problems as al Gordon. I have the exact same Samsung with DirecTV and it sucks, plain and simple. My 27 inch Sony tube TV has a better all-around picture quality. Both in TV and (!) DVD mode.
Needless, to say, when you spend that much money you expect improvement on a 60-year-od way of showing TV images.
So now I'm debating whether to splurge on an ISF technician who may or may not make a difference, or cut my losses and get something else. (BTW, I am using component cables, have tinkered endlessly with my settings etc. but to nop avail.)
joe landry
Unregistered guest
Posted on
I have two Samsung DLP TVs and have similar problems as Al Gordon and Andrei. Cablevision blamed Samsung, Samsung blamed Cablevision. I'm actually leaning more toward believing Samsung because the Samsung tech who came to my house said that the quality of the HD cable transmission varies throughout the day. Sure enough, sometimes it's perfect and other times not. Likewise, Cablevision's pay-per-movie IO service is crystal clear. If the problem was the TV, I doubt this would happen. Also, the reception on both televisions was much better when I first got them and then it degraded significantly. What are the odds that two similar Sammy TVs would develop the same problem at the same time? The only lingering doubt I have is that DVD reception doesn't look that hot. The Samsung tech said that DVDs are not HD and that large screens will show their flaws, particularly in older movies that have been converted. Thoughts anyone?
I originally purchased that same Samsung EDTV p4251 from Best Buy thinking that this plasma would be awesome. Boy, was I ever wrong! I did a lot of research before hand too, and many of the reviews said that this was a good TV. However, I returned the TV (within 30 days), and contiuned my research. I then stumbled across the Panasonic 42" plasma. This TV is the best! It has a built-in tuner and QAM which enables it to receive HD broadcasts (eventhough it is an EDTV). I have the standard analog cable, and S-Video wiring from my DVD player, and the picture is great. Samsung is awful for TVs, plain and simple. Get a Panny.
yellwaznboy
Unregistered guest
Posted on
I have the exact same TV, at first I had the same impressions as the other ppl. HOwever, after I got the Monster 3 component cables for DVD and a Monster DVI 500 cable for my DirecTV HD receiver, the pictures are AWESOME. The reason why TV's at stores look so good is because they are all running either component cables or DVI cables from a HD tuner to the TVs
plain and simple if you are going to spend that much money on a tv, don't be cheap and get the proper cables, surge ( line conditioner/surge protector ) and pay the money to calibrate, I came to the conclusion that analog signal is not going to look as good as what we saw at the stores, they are running DVD's and HD signals, I just recently bought a toshiba plasma, and I too experience some jaggies on certain channels sometimes, but my HD looks awesome and a lot of other channels look amazing, don't give up on it too easily play with it, tune it, a bigger display will of course show how old analog technology is. I compared it to my 34 sony 34hs420 tv and it looks the same, the sony isn't as noticeable because it's smaller.
