Hi, I don't know if there is something wrong with my brand new 55 KDS-A2000. I'm watching HDTV (1080i) when the picture starts distorting whenever there is running water (i.e. river) or a bunch of leaves blowing in the wind. The whole screen does not become distorted, but only the runnnning water or the leaves that are blowing in the wind. Instead of a crisp picture, there is a bunch of little boxes. Is my TV lagging? Is this normal? Do I have a defected TV that needs returning? Maybe there is some settings that can fix this? Thanks in advance for your help! :)

Let me guess, it only happens watching Cable or satellite, right? If so, don't worry. That's just macroblocking, an artifact that occurs when the signal is overcompressed by the cable/sat company. Usually happens when there is fast/lots of movement/action going on. It's not your tv. Can't really do anything about it, except maybe complain to your HD provider.


Some poorly mastered DVDs will occasionally have this too.

Hi: Thanks for the response. I'm actually watching over the air HDTV when this happens. Does that make a difference? Thanks.

Hi: Thanks for the response. I'm actually watching over the air HDTV when this happens. Does that make a difference? Thanks.

You can get artifacts over the air too. I've been seeing some from my CBS affiliate while watching the NCAAs.

so, is it okay to have "artifacts"? Thanks.

so, is it okay to have "artifacts"? Thanks.

Well, macroblocking sucks but it's not the fault of your TV. It comes from a lack of bandwidth while the video is being compressed. If that's what's going on, there's nothing wrong with your TV.

Well, macroblocking sucks but it's not the fault of your TV. It comes from a lack of bandwidth while the video is being compressed. If that's what's going on, there's nothing wrong with your TV.I am trying to find the name of the problem I'm having (once I find the name, I can then find the cause). In certain scenes in DVD only, even if there is no movement in the scene, natural gradients are blocky, of one color, rather than of many many shades. It looks artificial, like CGI. Depending on the scene, one can see concentric circles emanating from one focal point, when a dark scene has a bright(er) spot. Is this macroblocking, or I've seen another term to describe it - banding. ??