Official SHARP 37D90U thread! - Page 13

Not to change the subject, but there will always be improvements. Higher rez TVs I am sure will be produced sometime in the future. For someone with a 37" set it will not matter much but for anyone using a projector with a 120 something inch screen the higher rez makes all the difference in the world.

I don't know what you are talking about the with xbox 360, you are comparing first gen games with 3rd-4th gen games on the xbox. Let the developers get there feet a little wet with the programing before making a judgement. Look at gears of war, mass effect, alan wake, etc. These 2nd gen titles blow away anything the first xbox could do. Just wait till the 3rd/4th gen. Things will improve as they always do .

As far as HD-DVD goes I think it is def an improvement over upconverted DVDs, espcially if you are sitting close to your TV. Have you ever gotten a few feet from an upconverted DVD as it was playing? Looks horrid unless you have some really good scaling equipment. Even if you do it won't produce the detail that HD would. Does it matter? To some it does, it's just not an important factor to you.

Besides I am sitting back and waiting to see what happens with this whole HD-DVD/Blu-ray thing.

Oh and back to the 37D90U


Please let us know when and if you hear anything from sharp about this issue. I def want to hook my PC in the future.

mikecoscia: I agreed with you 100% until you said this:

"HD-DVD video PQ is def better then Blu-ray"

Blu-ray and HD-DVD are simply disc formats ... assuming they have the same transfer rates (I assume they do) and reasonably similar storage capacity (I know blu-ray is bigger, but at ~1GB/10mins, both have enough), and both support the same formats (mpeg-4), then the quality is a factor of the compression, not the disc format.

Can somebody correct me here? Sorry ... we're getting off track, which is a bad thing since we've all apparently found a defect in out sets!!!

I was not talking about the discs, but how the data is stored on them. HD-DVD uses a better compression codec opposed to Blu-ray which users an older format and produces more artifacts. At least this is what I remember reading about the difference in PQ, awhile ago.

mikecoscia: This might explain what you saw:

"Initial versions of Sony's Blu-ray authoring software only included support for MPEG-2 video, so the initial Blu-ray discs were forced to use MPEG-2 rather than the newer codecs, VC-1 and H.264."

But here's the truth:

" For video, all standalone BD-ROM players must be able to decode three codec formats: MPEG-2 (the video codec also used for DVDs), H.264/AVC (a newer codec developed jointly by ISO/IEC's MPEG and ITU-T's VCEG), and VC-1 (a codec based on Microsoft's Windows Media 9 and standardized by SMPTE).


As you can see, same for HD-DVD: AVC MPEG-4/VC-1/MPEG-2

Got from wikipedia. Not to be nasty here, but better to look into things before spreading FUD.

Not nasty at all, thank you for the info. Glad I did not go out and pick a player yet otherwise I would have been pissed if I bought one based on misinformed info. I'll go back and edit my post. This makes the war more intresting now, who really is going to win. Just wish they could have all gotten alone and accepted one format.

Wow, i wasn't expecting it to be that good! I've heard, i think on CNet, that sharp doesn't display SD good at all, actually i think they said terrible, but really glad to see this. Now how come i can't find this unit on BB.com or CC.com?

longhorns - from what I've read/heard the 1080p 37d90u apparently shows SD better than Sharp's previous 768p LCD tv's. Not sure why but it seems to be the case. Just to be balanced I will say that the Dell 37 does a good job with SD picture quality, but of course limits the ability to stretch it if desired.

You are correct. As I said "to the best of my knowledge", guess that was remembering from the old manual for my previous one. The manual says it will only let you select "dot by dot" on a 1080p/i signal. However, when I set the computer to put out 640x480, with the dvi->hdmi connected, it still gave me all 4 options, and let me select the "dot by dot" mode. The display claims that it is recieving a 1080i signal. It most definitly is not 1080i. Back on 1080P I just noticed, that now when I bring up the menu, it vibrates. The image from the computer, is rock solid in the background, but the menus are vibrating up and down one pixel or so. I am really tired of finding more and more issues. I am sure they are all related. I will see if vandl gets a better response from Sharp than I did when I put in a problem report. If not, I think I am going to ask for a refund, and go buy a different TV, from a different company.

After posting that comment to sharp, I was asked to call their 800 number. After I navigated that voicemail maze, i was given a case #, and an emaila ddress to send my test images to. I have not heard back yet, but have confidence I will get someone to at least consider this. I told them to read this thread, so try to be nice.

I did a few more tests, at their request, and the color smearing problem happens for me at all PC resolutions, even when stretching the image. Also, I noticed that if I have dot by dot selected, the lower resolutions will center themselves in the screen with black borders around them. I think someone earlier asked what happened if you sent it a signal smaller than 1920x1080p. At least for me, it just centers it. Also, choosing a resolution like 1600x1200 does what you might think - it crops the top and bottom off, and blackens the left and right sides.

Hmmm, you are getting different behavior there than I am. No matter what resolution I send, it always fills the screen. If I do dot by dot, it doesn't stretch past the screen, but I have never gotten sidebars with my set.

Edit: Now the on screen menu isn't vibrating. This model may have some issues, but my particular set is definitly having more issues than most. I am going to have to get Sharp and the repair folks to bring me a new TV.

Thank you for doing this. I look forward to hearing their response.

I'm feeling pretty stupid here, so please be kind...

Just got Sharp LC-37D90U today. Hooked it up to my Cable box and am getting a great picture. However, no sound at all. Cable company is baffled and won't be able to get a guy out until next Tuesday. So, I've been pouring over the manual and cable instructions all to no avail and am feeling very sad. I had to watch The Office with Closed Captioning....

I'm not interested at this point in hooking up a bunch of speakers for a home theater system, I'd just like the speaker on the bottom of the set to work.

According to cable company, for sound, all I need is the red/white cable to go from the out things (terminology escapes me) on the box to the input spot on the tv. Is there something else I need to do? There doesn't seem to be any more places to plug things into the cable box and everything else that's hooked up seems right since I'm getting a picture. Any thoughts?

bartsister - what type of connection are you using for video/picture from the cable box to the tv? What is the number of the input on the TV (ie: "input 4, input 3, etc) that you have the box plugged into?

Basically all you have to do for audio is plug the "audio out" red/white RCA plugs on the back of the cable box to the "audio in" red/white RCA plugs on the TV. (Remember, some cable boxes also have unused/irrelevant red/white audio IN plugs so make sure you didn't mistakingly use those). Now, the audio in plugs that you use must also be the set that corresponds to the same input that you connected the video to (input 4, input 3, etc). That's all. Should be extremely simple for basic analog sound.

It gets slightly more tricky if you are using HDMI connection from the cable box.

Also, are you sure you connected the speaker wires properly from the TV's bottom speaker to the TV?

Oh ... I got it changing from input 1 to input 2 (the only one I didn't try at first).

Thank you so much for your help. This is all very new to me. I really appreciate it

vandl: Thanks so much for doing the leg work on this ... feel free to PM me if you need me to send you any specific shots for more verification. They'll almost certainly blame your PC connection and I can demonstrate the same results with a Mac connection.

bartsister: Sounds like you got it fixed, but just in case, it sounds like you aren't putting the audio into the inputs as you're putting the video. Also, since you are new, why don't you tell us what type of video you're connecting (composite is yellow, s-video is round, etc). Chances are you can make your picture a lot better.

RJCarr316: I'm using composite cables that came from the cable co. I see all these other cables that are kind of expensive (for cables?) and I wasn't sure if it would really make all that big of a difference.

bartsister: Get us a picture of the back of your cable box or a model number and we'll tell you what your best options are. I wouldn't recommend going to a major retailer for cables ... there is HUGE mark-up for not much of a difference. If you get me your cable box I'll tell you what you should get and some good places to find them for a reasonable price. FWIW I just bought an HDMI cable and a toslink cable and I don't think I paid more than $25 total including shipping.

EDIT: Oh yeah, there is a HUGE difference in the type of cable (or connection), much more so than the quality within each cable brand.

RJCarr316: It's a Scientific Atlanta Explorer 3250HD. Here's a picture:

A link for a picture is coming soon. I need 5 posts first.

Thanks for taking the time with me.

One more post ....

RJCarr316: Here's the link for the cable box pic.

http://www.timewarnercable.com/nebra.../sa3250hd.html

This one's better -- that one from Nebraska that came up quick on Google says that there's slots that are inactive. This one's actually a users guide probably better

http://www.timewarnercable.com/Media...on%20Guide.pdf

bartsister: So I assume you're using the yellow connection right now? With that box it looks like your best bet is going to be using component video cables. I have a spare set I could sell you very cheaply (say $10 + shipping), I'm pretty sure they are even MONSTER brand, if you care, but I'm not really sure. PM me if you're interested, otherwise I'll help you to find some reasonably priced ones elsewhere.

WOW! REALLY? This is the first time I hear this behaviour reported.

Is it off DVI or HDMI? What video card? PC or Mac? How's the PQ? Text quality?

Oh boy, if it does that, it'd be absolutely awesome and I will BUY ONE TOMORROW!

Thanks dude!

Anyone been to a BestBuy lately, my local one which is one of the largest in the Jersey area, has no sharp sets. All they had were two older models from last year they were selling at a discounted price.

My Best Buy charges about $1899 for this TV. I can get it on the web for $1400 brand new. I would never buy something like this from a major chain. They mark everything up just to stay above water.

The below linked article tests a bunch of TV's to see if they actually process broadcast HD properly. Although they didn't test the 37d90u, all of the Sharp's failed, including one 1080p model.

Does anyone know if the 37d90u is an exception and does in fact process and display HD content properly?

http://www.hometheatermag.com/hookmeup/0506halfrez/

Bartsister,

According to that first link your set top box's DVI port is there but disabled. As an employee of the parent company for your brand of set top box I would apologize for such a half-assed configuration, but I am fairly certain the cable company requested that configuration to save money figuring people like you would never know the difference.

Personally, I would ask the cable company for a unit that has a functioning DVI or HDMI output. If they gave me one with DVI, I would get a DVI-to-HDMI adapter cable (note that this configuration would require a separate audio connection). If they gave me one with HDMI, I would just get a HDMI cable. Alternatively, if they gave you one with DVI you could just get a DVI cable (this configuration would also require a separate audio connection), but I would leave the television's DVI port available for computer use. Personal preference.

Echoing others, DO NOT purchase cables at your local electronics retail outlet if you can avoid it. I worked for Best Buy in high school, and let me tell you... The managers were constantly on us to push accessories and extended warranties! This is how they make their money, selling you the $100 name brand equivalent of a $10 Radio Shack special. They'll tell you how important it is that your cable be shielded and have better conducting materials like oxygen-free copper, and while both of these things are true (though somewhat mitigated with DVI and HDMI since they are digital signals) you can get it for a lot less somewhere else.

I've had good experiences with Blue Jeans Cables. Others here probably have their own recommendations that are even cheaper, and there is probably a forum here at AVS just for cables (I only read the flat panel display forum). Your local Fry's Electronics has some pretty decent no-name brand cables in what I like to term "The Geek Department," but steer clear of their home theater department where they try to sell you the same high-dollar cables Best Buy and Circuit City push. The ones I am talking about will be back with the capacitors, relays, diodes, circuit boards and soldering supplies. They come in clear plastic bags stapled to white cardboard, and have thick blue exterior cladding.

Hi, did you try to calibrate you LC-37D90U? I am trying to find out perfect settings for LC-37D90U if you know them, thanks in advance.

Well, after 11 years with a clapped out 25" Magnavox, and two years of shopping, I finally purchased a 37D90U.

All I can say so far is fantastic.

Right now I have a Motorola 6200 Cable box. Using Component output into Input 1 on my new Sharp. Works great. Put the audio into input #2 by mistake first night, no sound, felt like a dummy when I figured it out.

Also have hooked up my XBOX360 via Component to Input #1, works great.

Tonight my DVI-HDMI cable arrives, I will use my DVI output from cable box into Input #4 HDMI along with the red/white component cables for audio into Input#4. I will hook my XBOX360 into Input #1 for good.

I will be moving my Dell XPS700 computer downstairs, and outputting the NVidia 7950GT DVI output to Input #5 DVI. I have a IR keyboard, so I hope to internet browse from my LazyBoy....

Will report on results.... Any tips appreciated.


Next step is to buy a nice newer receiver, and rig up my subwoofer/center speaker/L&R speakers and connect all the boxes together with digital audio. Optical where I can....

Any tips here appreciated, also.

I also need a new TV stand of some kind, right now the new Sharp is on top of my old entertainment center, up about 6' off the ground. Gonna relocate everything into a corner of my lving room...


Yawls posts have been great, I've been a lurker for about a year, following about 5 different threads on the Aquos TVs


So far, very pleased. My Cablevision has 4 HDTV channels, they are amazing, watched Star Trek Enterprise last night, am in heaven. That T'Pol sure looks great on my Sharp!

Interesting article... Now I, too, am interested in knowing which video processing chip and firmware this Sharp is using and whether or not it performs appropriately. Certainly others in this thread have found some video processing issues already. Maybe it's worth the few extra hundred to acquire the Mitsubishi version of this panel, provided that Mitsubishi is using better signal processors or better firmware in their signal processors.

I really want to like this panel. I refuse to pay Sony extra money for someone else's technology with their logo and ugly as sin cabinet design.

correct me if i'm wrong, but that mag says that the 45" Sharp LCD from 2005 is 1080p...I didn't realize they made any 1080p sets until this year. Seems that they have their specs a little backwards, but maybe that model really is 1080p and I'm mistaken.