Why is the image on TVs so grainy at Best Buy?

The images on TVs at Best Buy and Future Shop are grainy because they use a single source (a DVD player or media streamer, not sure which) and split the signal off to all of the TVs. Even though they use what is likely an expensive and high-end signal splitter, the length of cable that has to be run from the source to each TV is VERY long, and far exceeds any recommended AV cable run. Also, since the number of TVs these stores sell has grown exponentially, their splitters aren't necessarily able to keep up. It looks to me like they are driving them past their limit.

If you want to get a better idea of what the TV can do, go to the store when it is not a peak period and ask them if they can connect a blu-ray player directly to the TV. I found that most of the salespeople are willing to do this, or at least to try, so long as you don't ask them to hook it up to every single set. You may also ask them for the remote control so you can adjust the picture settings and try different viewing modes for each television. TVs in stores will, by default, be set to a "torch mode" which will not give accurate picture or colour but which will present a picture that is designed to jump out and grab your attention. Changing the mode will give you a more realistic idea of what the TV can do.

Another option is to go to a specialist shop (of which there are many in TO) and look at the TVs that interest you there. They will have much better viewing environments, and will be able to show you higher-quality source material. You may find that they are able and willing to meet or beat the prices that Best Buy is selling the TVs for, and if you find a good shop you will be pleasantly surprised at the difference that buying from a specialist makes in terms of after-sales service.

Most blu-ray movies are grainy, it's just the way it was made. Some movies, like 300, have even more grain than the original film shown in theaters. I'm not exactly sure, but I think animated movies (WALL-E, Kung-Fu Panda etc) don't have any grain, and some live action movies don't have any grain either.

My nearby BestBuy uses coax cables to split the signal and obviously this imply in the use of the TV tuners to decode the signal. Can't be worse than that! All the sets ,even on the Magnolia area, look terrible. To add some "BestBuy Touch" to the problem, they also set everything to torch mode (vivid,game, etc..). On the big sets the picture is unwatchable, lots of artifacts and motion blurr. I am really missing Tweeter (Sound Advice) and even Circuit City.

They also jack up the sharpness.

Sometimes they do clean up the grain, but since it's in the original film... removing the grain also robs the movie of fine detail and leaves the people in the film waxy looking.

I'm relatively sure that when you see it really look bad they have amplified the film grain with additional image processing on the display.

it's like the other's have stated, bb sets the display on vivid and most of the tv's are getting the same feed split 10+ times. as far as blu-ray being grainy i don't agree with this statement, yes some have grain, but usually it depends on the scene and how it was filmed. like on some shots in the transformers movie it's smooth and in another scene it's pretty grainy. i think this has more to do with the light conditions and how it was filmed. like on one scene were the F-22 is flying with the sky in the background you can see alot of grain and as it comes in transforming onto the ground you see no grain at all. i have the TC-P42S1 and i don't see much grain at all, except on certain scenes (which is not very much) anyway once you set the correct setting on these new panasonic plasmas they will give you an excellent pic. here are a few pic's of my 42s1 of some blu-ray screen shot's to give you an idea what this display can do. (the pics are taken by a 5 mp camera so they are not the best lol) and one of NHL 09 fo ps3

nearly all best buys now use a media streaming device that provides an ATSC signal that is passed through the store over coaxial cable -- it's a digital signal, so it's either perfect or it drops out completely... so splitting it is NOT the issue

the first problem is that the media streaming device just isn't THAT good, it's okay, but it's not great -- i don't think that *horrible* is a fair description of it, especially considering what it's doing, and generally how robust it is overall

the second problem, the REAL problem, the problem several other people have stated, is that the TVs are all set on Vivid mode -- most of us know that this is a terrible way to watch television, but Best Buy wants to sell lots of TVs, not appeal to videophiles (i'm sorry, but we are the niche group here, all you have to do is ask nicely, and most sales associates will hand you a remote and allow you to go nuts)


the nice thing about their ATSC system, is that at many stores, ATSC broadcasts will piggyback on the system -- try changing the channel and look at some of the local HD OTA broadcast, then switch the TV to standard or cinema mode... and enjoy! (by the way, don't be rude to the sales staff when you're doing this, most of them will just leave you to your own devices if you seem like you know what you're doing!)

Take it from a BB employee, the reason for the grainy picture is in fact Torch mode (Vivid)..

Alot of stores are now running HD Loops that traval through Coax OTA... Yes the signal wont degrade as much as splitting up tons of Component Cables but it will still degrade some and running these tvs in Torch mode will magnify the artifacts...

Go to any BB and findy a "Grainy" tv set... Turn the TV off of Vivid and Dynamic and it will go away...

The signal is crap to begin with, and then it doesn't help that they have all of the settings cranked up all the way. When you amplify crap...you get more crap.

I went to an HHGregg store before I bought my Panny 46S1, and they offered to hook up a BD player directly to the set...but all they had was a Sony BD demo disc...better than nothing, and it did actually give me a chance to see what the set would look like.

But, I implore you all to understand that a set in your home will have a VASTLY different look than it does in a store! Stores have ghastly flourescent lighting, and just the nature of such a big open area as a store will make the TV and its image have a different appearance.

Yeah TV's always look awesome in the sote, then at home you think you've picked up the wrong telly lol
[IMG]http://www.**********/135l883.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://www.**********/135l1040.jpg[/IMG]

All TV's in Best Buy are run off a digital signal coming in over coax to every tv and then using the TV tuner to decode the signal.