Toshiba MD30H82--DVD player, picture quality questions

[faceless007]

There isn't much on the forums yet about the MD30H82 (30-inch HDTV flat widescreen CRT, includes built-in DVD player), and I'm pretty much an A/V newbie, so hopefully I can learn a little more about it.

First, this is probably a pretty dumb question, but I can't tell if the built-in DVD player is progressive scan or not. It's an HDTV that supports 540p, and the TV upconverts 480p to 540p or 1080i, so it would seem stupid for the DVD player not to be, but the manual and Toshiba's site doesn't actually say it is (unless I'm stupid and it's hidden in a marketing word).

Second, and related to that, should I use that built-in player or would I get better quality by using a standalone DVD player w/component out? I guess this depends on how the inbuilt player sends the signal to the tube, and I have no idea how that works.

The set's a few weeks old, and I've noticed two problems with the picture. One is that the tube doesn't seem properly aligned on some parts of the screen; I can see a little red outline next to white text, for example. Even though this is a single-tube set, is there anything that can be done to fix that?

The secone is some horizontal "wobbling" or "wavering" of the picture, mostly on the left and right sides of the screen. It's especially noticable on DVDs (because the cable signal here is crap), and there will be noticable shaking of the picture, even if the DVD is paused. It looks to me like the kind of interference that nearby electric devices might have on it, but there aren't any such devices near the set (within five feet or so). I'm considering calling Toshiba about this.

Thanks to anyone who can help me out on this set.

[terrancenphilip]

I just bought this TV a few days ago and I'm looking for more info about this set as well. Im wondering if I should have my xbox 360 set to 720p(xbox native res. which i would perfer to have it set to) or 1080i. When I set it to 720p I notice wavy dark lines in the picture(similiar to the interference you discribe) only when the picture is darkened and on stationary things, like the xbox dashboard when the screen saver clicks on and darkens the tube.

[InYourEyes]

Originally Posted by faceless007

First, this is probably a pretty dumb question, but I can't tell if the built-in DVD player is progressive scan or not. It's an HDTV that supports 540p, and the TV upconverts 480p to 540p or 1080i, so it would seem stupid for the DVD player not to be, but the manual and Toshiba's site doesn't actually say it is (unless I'm stupid and it's hidden in a marketing word).

Second, and related to that, should I use that built-in player or would I get better quality by using a standalone DVD player w/component out? I guess this depends on how the inbuilt player sends the signal to the tube, and I have no idea how that works.

This TV comes with a built-in progressive scan DVD player and is in "on" mode all the time. It is possible that the picture quality in the built-in DVD player may not look as good as the standalone ones. Orion uses the cheapest DVD video chip they can find, and it is a Zoran Vaddis 887 in it. This is the same video chip found in CyberHome DVD players. You decide what is best.

Originally Posted by faceless007

The second is some horizontal "wobbling" or "wavering" of the picture, mostly on the left and right sides of the screen. It's especially noticable on DVDs (because the cable signal here is crap), and there will be noticable shaking of the picture, even if the DVD is paused. It looks to me like the kind of interference that nearby electric devices might have on it, but there aren't any such devices near the set (within five feet or so). I'm considering calling Toshiba about this.

Unfortunately, this is normal for this kind of TV. It's a design flaw by Orion. Every Toshiba HDTV CRT combos I saw at Best Buy (including the Toshiba MW26G71 I owned before) have the annoying lines on the screen moving invisibly from up to down or down to up on the screen. The wire that connects from the DVD to the picture tube was not shielded enough. I was annoyed by that, which lead me to returning this set back to Costco.

[TrungGap]

FYI

This unit will play movies encoded in Xvid (and of course DivX) and support srt subtitle. However, the quality isn't that great, as it doesn't seem to smooth out the macro blocks (due to high compression). A modded xbox with Xbox Media Center will blow the quality of the md30h82 out of the water. However, it's nice to have it built-in and not requiring a modded xbox.

Once, you selected your divx movies from the DVD disk, it will scan the disk for subtitle files. At this point, you're given a chance to select a subtitle file. The response time between selection of the movie and the subtitle is pretty quick. However, when it plays back the movie, the load time is about a 3 seconds. At first, I thought it choked on the movie, but it's just slow. A quick note, the subtitle is displayed using a large white font. It's tacky and hard to read with a lot of white background.

While, the movie is playing, you can pause, slow motion, fast forward and skip to the next movie. Pause and slow motion work pretty well. Fast forward on the other hand is like watching a slide show. I noticed that when switching between natural aspect ratio and full view, the picture quality changed a bit. In natural view, the image looks bright and you can see all the details. When switching to Full or any of the other wide screen format, the image looks smoother probably due to the sizing. However the image is darker. Dark enough that some details in dark areas are lost. I haven't tried to adjust the brightness to see if the details are lost.

[terrancenphilip]

I noticed that I have some overscan issues . Does anyone know how to get into the service menu on this set?

[faceless007]

Thanks for the replies; I'm kinda disappointed the problem is because of crappy manufacturing, but I'll just live with it. But I've got another question: is there any way to output the audio from the TV tuner (we get basic cable, no HD) through the digital out to a receiver? I can play DVDs through the optical out just fine, but there doesn't seem to be a menu option that will output the TV's audio as well, which seems to me entirely stupid: who wants a TV/DVD player where only the DVD player can use external speakers? I'd really like to use Dolby Pro Logic II on TV shows, especially because the built-in speakers are so muddy.

[4dakota4]

From reading these forums, it's my understanding that this particular model is actually manufactured by Toshiba in Thailand. I have owned this set for several weeks now, and perhaps I don't have a very discerning eye, but I find DVDs look very much like HD programming they play so perfectly. Animation appears 3D it is so good. I have noticed a left, vertical geometry problem which is only noticeable if viewing a vertical line, like a graphic of some sort near the left of the screen, they slightly bow inward. Our cable company doesn't offer HD yet so I'll deal with any and all issues after it is available.

[InYourEyes]

Originally Posted by terrancenphilip

I noticed that I have some overscan issues . Does anyone know how to get into the service menu on this set?

Turn volume all the way down to 0. Go to the front of the TV, and while holding the volume down button, press 9 on the remote for about two seconds.

Originally Posted by 4dakota4

From reading these forums, it's my understanding that this particular model is actually manufactured by Toshiba in Thailand.

It's made by Orion, actually. Toshiba does not have a TV factory in Thailand.

[faceless007]

So no one knows if it's possible to output the audio from the cable signal to Digital Out?

[garrett6]

I am also having problems making the set to work with an external (and simple) audio amplifier for the TV (DVD OK). What am I doing wrong?

[gus738]

does anyone know if costco still sells this tv ? i'v used to see it under 500 dollar range but i dont see them on my local costco's with the exception of the 24'' model

[InYourEyes]

Originally Posted by gus738

does anyone know if costco still sells this tv ? i'v used to see it under 500 dollar range but i dont see them on my local costco's with the exception of the 24'' model

Probably they are sold-out now.

[gus738]

anyone else ideals????

[guitarman]

I had to chime in on this older thread. I picked up this TV this week and now that we have great test dics like HQV I was able to put the DVD player thru the tests. Much to my surprise it passed just about all the tuff tests with flying colors. Jaggies tests 1 and 2, detail, film detail, motion artifacts, it only showed 1 very slight jag on the flag test. It's best to set to 1080i which gave better detail in the wall next to the moving flag, plus set to film mode instead of video. Yes the Toshiba stand alone player I have with the Zoran fails the tests, but not the player in this tv.

Oh if anyone needs the correct proceedure for using the service menu on this one.
You enter the same way, volume lowered to zero directly on the TV hold it down and press 9 on the remote, menu on the remote will exit.
Move thru the choices and change things with the cross arrow keys. Now that I know how to function the service area I'll breakout my Colorfacts system and use the eyeone beamer directly on the tube surface to adjust the grayscales and runs some tests. I'll post up some findings when done.

Grayscale tuning the Toshiba brought out a beautiful picture quality, OTB was pretty far off the mark. Pushed Blue mostly, blue for in store sales brighter pictures most likely.

First when you enter the service mode the TV reverts to the Sports choice and stock Sporst settings every time. Doesn't really matter you just tune what they throw at you.

Here's what I got with colorfacts for a 1080i HDMI signal. I used the Tosh HD-DVD player. The tuning did an
incredible job on Cable 1080i HDTV also, on HD-DVD forget about it! Before nothing looked right.
Service menu -
24. R.bias 73
25. G.bias 64
26. B.bias 64
27. R.drive 73
28. B.drive 60

User contrast to 30
User brightness 27