Is there something I can buy that will test for and find possible picture defects so that I can test if the artifacts that I'm getting on my TV is from the source and not the TV? So far all I can go by is guesswork on if its my TV or my Source creating the issues in my movies that i've been noticing, but if there was a DVD I could buy that could pinpoint this exactly and eliminate the TV as the issue than that'd be great.

The only "torture test" DVD that I'm aware of is the HQV Benchmark DVD (sold by Silicon Optix). Unfortunately, you can't really separate performance of your DVD player from the performance of your display. The only thing you can do is to try the various combinations of player and display setings (480p, progressive, vs. 480i, interlaced, etc.). It also depends on whether or not you have an up-converting DVD player, or not (if you do, then you have more options to test out).

BTW, you did not tell us what DVD player and what display you have. Without that information, we are (as I am) just guessing at what your problems might be. This is also an important tip for future questions you may have (always state the equipment that is associated with your question).

Your "artifacts" may be associated with the connections you are using. The composite (simple RCA, Y/R/W = video & L/R audio - the worst connection), S-Video & L/R audio (next best), component (Y/Cb/Cr video cables + L/R audio - a whole lot better), or the HDMI/DVI digital connection (theoretically the best). On my displays, I find little, if any, difference between component and HDMI (depends on the display and seating distance from it).

You also need to buy (if you haven't already) a calibration DVD, such as the AVIA "Guide to Home Theater". You do need to calibrate your display, at least Brightness, Contrast, Color & Tint. Otherwise, some of your "artifacts" may just be due to incorrect settings of your display (unusual, but possible).

The only other choice is to try a different, progressive scan, DVD player (different brand) - borrowed from a friend (or buy a cheap one from Wal-Mart, Costco, or other store, that you can return in a week, without a restocking fee). You do need to try a progressive scan player (480p), otherwise you won't have the necessary choices to check with. If you don't have a progressive scan DVD player, then just go out and buy one (your existing player is too old).

Sorry for the lack of info, i'm running a TC-32LX60 tv with a Sony DVP-NS75H upconvert DVD player

my Calibration settings on my set were taken from something I saw on this forum:

Settings: Standard
Picture: +14
Backlight: -14
Brightness: -16
Color: -6
Tint: -3
Sharp: -30
AI Picture: Off
Video NR: On
Color Temp: Warm

My source is a Comcast DVR Digital Cable box.

The problem was noticed on: StarZ HD (Narnia parts inside of witch's Castle with the mist on the ground, Chicken Little the gradiants in the sky and the areas on the wall where light would cast a spotlight effect on the wall) Discovery HD, Upconvert DvD player

To explain what I mean best if I can, its almost like setting your color on your monitor down to 16 colors where the colors don't smooth together seemlessly. This is ONLY with certain things and i've only noticed it on those two channels but it might be because I only noticed it really bad with very dim blues to darker blues and certain reds, so its not easy to reproduce

The problem was noticed on: StarZ HD (Narnia parts inside of witch's Castle with the mist on the ground, Chicken Little the gradiants in the sky and the areas on the wall where light would cast a spotlight effect on the wall) Discovery HD, Upconvert DvD player

To explain what I mean best if I can, its almost like setting your color on your monitor down to 16 colors where the colors don't smooth together seemlessly. This is ONLY with certain things and i've only noticed it on those two channels but it might be because I only noticed it really bad with very dim blues to darker blues and certain reds, so its not easy to reproduce

That is called banding/contouring. This is a bit-depth problem. This may or may not be source related.

In order to test this you need a banding-free ramp. These are available on Avia PRO. Ramps on DVE or Avia suffice for basic needs, but have inherently some slight banding in them, but they should be good at revealing "average" banding issues. A lot of systems have banding problems, unfortuantely, but a lot of content may also have banding issues, especially broadcast content. Recorded media (DVD, HD-DVD, BRD etc) are less likely to have banding problems but they certainly can and do as well, so it can sometimes be difficult to ascertain what's the culprit. Test with some ramps or content that you know for a fact doesn't have banding going on and see what it looks like in your system.

If you see it on a DVD in your DVP-NS75H, try using the Component connection (instead of your implied use of the HDMI connection). If the problem goes away, it could be a problem in your Panasonic TC-32LX60 LCD display - it could be the HDMI input on the TV. I would expect to see the problem with some Comcast cable signals, but not with the NS75H.

Well I tried it with component and it is still there just a bit less noticable, maybe because the picture isn't as crisp as the HDMI but as for the settings on the TV calibration wise they're the same both in component and HDMI, though for some reason HDMI seems slightly a little bit brighter contrast wise. Maybe thats just my eyes playing tricks though.

edit: ok this is odd on my DVD player I noticed that in the scene where its very noticable if I turn the brightness from -10 to -16 on HDMI the problem seems less noticable, on Component if I turn the brightness from -10 to 0 the problem seems less noticable. Meaning on Component the brighter picture is less noticable and on HDMI the darker picture is less noticable. Does this make any sense?

as for avia pro, where can I find that? I looked and couldn't find it on best buy's site or amazon.

Greetings

Aside from AVIA Pro costing $400 ... you can find it at Ovation software.

Regards

Greetings

Aside from AVIA Pro costing $400 ... you can find it at Ovation software.

Regards

bah too expensive :(

that's why I suggested basic Avia or DVE which also have ramps, but they are not completely banding-free as authored. However, they are still useful.

Keep in mind it could be the broadcast - just because it is HD does not mean they are not compressing to squeeze in more channels.

Yes AVIA PRO is expensive for DIY - your money is better spent hiring an ISF tech who has AVIA PRO.

Rather than use someone elses settings for levels - eyeball your B&W levels using stations that you are sure have B&W in them - either early AM test patterns - or often blackout channels for black - snowscenes for whites. It is also possible your TV has only 8bit contrast adjustment - so it is what it is.

Well I get the same thing on both sources, Digital cable and an upconvert dvd player. On two different connections, HDMI and Component. Although the problem does not look as bad on component the problem is still noticable if you look hard enough. The problem seems less severe on my upconvert if i tweak the brightness a bit but it is still there and you can still see it so it doesn't disappear just gets less severe. As for the ISF tech, i dont know, I spent most of my available money on my TV so now I dont even think I can afford something like that, the one place says $250 which I know I definately don't have :(

Maybe someone can step me through adjusting the things that require an ISF tech for the people like myself who don't know how to do certain things. Like calibrating the grayscales and such in the service menu.

As for your thing about snowscenes and blackouts. I have seen a scene that was an all white snowscene and it looked perfectly fine (on a HD source channel), but i'm not sure exactly what I was supposed to be looking for so you could tell me it should look like anything and i'd believe you. As for the blackout thing, I have yet to see anything like this yet so i'm unsure. I know when a screen is all black it still isn't a really black black, it is still slightly contrasted, but it's an LCD tv so maybe this is normal.

As I said, just pick up Avia or DVE and use those ramps. They're not perfect, but they're good enough. GetGray disc also has ramps. I don't recall if they're banding free, but I assume not, similar to Avia/DVE. Any of those is good enough for govm't work.

Well I was looking at floor models for this same set in 3 different stores and the same problem was apparant, I think i'm just going to exchange this set for a samsung LN-S3251D, it had better PQ in all the stores I was in and it is piano black which matches my entertainment center and looks beautiful, plus it has 2 HDMI inputs which is great because the 1 HDMI on this panny isn't cutting the mustard. At least with this perticular increase in price I can use a payment plan at the store and therefore can afford the price increase of about 260$

As I said, just pick up Avia or DVE and use those ramps. They're not perfect, but they're good enough. GetGray disc also has ramps. I don't recall if they're banding free, but I assume not, similar to Avia/DVE. Any of those is good enough for govm't work.As far as I can tell, the GetGray test patterns are banding free. Scott took great pains to make his patterns absolutely accurate.

As far as I can tell, the GetGray test patterns are banding free. Scott took great pains to make his patterns absolutely accurate.

I don't recall, I'll have to look at them again, but I did not think they are. The dimensions of the ramp seems to indicate that they aren't.