[Semper_Securus]

Yesterday, I just received a new Pioneer 5045HD. I think I need some help from the experts here.

Please keep in mind that I know very little about plasmas, home theatre, DVRs, etc.

I am learning a great deal from the fine folks here in the forum.


OK.. About the 5045HD..

I have to say that I am a bit disappointed in the picture quality. It looks very soft and a bit fuzzy. It lacks detail and definition.

Currently, I am using analog cable going direct to the media box. I am due to receive digital cable with HD next week.

I realize that SD especially over analog cable is a bad combination, but this really looks pretty weak.


I used the Avia DVD to calibrate the screen. Unfortunately my DVD only has S-Video right now. I set the Contrast to +9, Brightness to +11

Sharpness to +1. What really surprised me was that I needed to bring the Color saturation down to -20 !

Even the video sections of the Avia disk looked pretty weak.


What I found interesting was that if I switched to "spilt-screen", the picture taking up the left half of the screen looked a great deal better.

On other modes, including 4:3, the picture looked weak again.


All of my calibrations were done on Standard mode.


Do these issues seem like it is a problem with the screen?

Is there anything I can do to further determine if there is a problem or otherwise improve the image quality?

Does anyone else need to reduce their Color down to such a low level?


I am a bit concerned since I know that the Pio 5045HD has a good reputation for image quality.

However, right now I am discouraged with the set.


I truly appreciate any advice !

 

[jim_ma]

I think you've got a great display and need to give it some great material to see it.


* Wait until you've got the HD box -- the HD channels are nice. I've even see some very nice pics on digital cable channels.

* Get composite cables and use the composite connections (or HDMI/DVI -- your choice) -- these connections make a difference.


Finally, don't sit on top of the TV -- make sure you're back at an appropriate distance.


If you've still got problems after improving the source material, then check with your dealer.


Best of luck.


Jim

 

[TheSkeptiks]

I have the 4340.


My SD looks good to very good.


When I calibrated my DVD input connected via Component, the Calibration disc had me dial down my COLOR to -13. It also had me dial the HUE to +15 toward Green. I thought this was excessive for both Hue and Color, but the picture looks great so I guess it's correct. I used DVE Calibration disc. My Contrast is at 27 and my brightness is at 0.


Once you get digital cable I think your SD will look better. HD will look amazing. Also, if you connect your DVD player via Component you will get a much better picture. Make sure you recalibrate when you hook up the Component cable.

 

[Semper_Securus]

Here's a little update....


I purchased Component cables for my DVD and recalibrated with Avia.

Big..big difference....The picture definitely looks much better now.


I also read through Rich's articles and tweaked a bit more. I'm encouraged by what I've read.

I'm also encouraged in knowing that I will soon be rid of my 20 year old lousy analog cable.


Now to get to my video store and try a few good DVDs.


Thanks for your help and encouragement !

 

[Ross in Toronto]

Analog cable straight into Pio's media receiver (e.g., my 1110HD) is noticeably poor. The same image via a digital / HD set top box (STB) will look far, far better.


Depending on which STB you get, if it has a DVI our HDMI output, you'll be able to use the HDMI input on your 5045. I'm currently using HDMI for both HD / SD and DVD. Blows the doors off the analog cable straight into the media reciever!


Ross

 

[Semper_Securus]

Thanks Ross...I'm feeling better already


I'm getting iO Cablevision next week, so I understand that I'll be getting the SA8300HD. I already purchased the HDMI cable.

 

[Ross in Toronto]

HD-over-HDMI on the SA8300HD will be very, very nice.


Note that on Pio's you have to ENABLE the HDMI inputs (via the user menu). That's a bit of a "gotcha" when you first plug HDMI in and nothing happens. Perhaps on the latest displays HDMI is enabled by default, but it wasn't on mine.


Also note the 8300 is a relatively new STB (past year or so). Depending on your local cable service, it may or may not have the latest firmware installed. Once you have it hooked up, you might notice an improvement in PQ over the coming days as the latest firmware gets pushed on to it (this is done remotely and automatically by your cable provider).


Of course, the 8300 you get may already be fully up-to-date out-of-the box.


The only reason I mention this is some people (in the HD hardware forums) noticed that the PQ on the earlier 8300's, although excellent, could be a touch better. After the latest firmware was received, most 8300 users became very happy.


We have the 8300 available here in Ontario (I'm using the non-recordable 3250) and the feedback I've received from local 8300 users on the Rogers cable service has been very positive.


Ross

 

[chelentano]

Semper, have you got your box yet? What's the SD picture quality?

 

[Semper_Securus]

Yes, they connected my iO Digital cable late Wednesday.

The PQ on the digital channels was indeed much better.. As a matter of fact, I was watching a channel, thinking it was HD, when in fact it was just a movie on digital HBO.


The HD channels are quite nice. I still need to tweak and adjust a bit as the Avia DVD was calibrated using component to Input 3, while my 8300HD STB is connected via HDMI connector to Input 1.


The SD channels which are delivered analog are better than before, but still not that great. Some channels are better than others. I do see a slight "smudginess" or "dirty window" effect in the light areas of the picture on most channels.


I do notice one thing which is kind of interesting.....When the 5045 is on, no one in my house can listen to an AM radio within 30 ft. of the set.

Does anyone else notice that their plasma gives off such RF interference?


So all in all, I definitely see a huge improvement from my old analog cable.. HD and digital look very nice, but I still am concerned about the "smudginess" and overall SD quality.


I plan to watch "Ray" on DVD tonight, so I'll see how that goes.

I'll let you know

 

[chelentano]

Semper, thanks for your info. A couple of questions.


You say "HD and digital look very nice, but I still am concerned about the 'smudginess' and overall SD quality." Does it mean SD digital is very nice, but SD analog has smudginess. Or you are not completely satisfied with SD digital?


Also is there difference in quality when you use 4:3 vs. Wide stretch mode for SD digital signal? Someone said before that 4:3 has better picture but shows agly GRAY bars on sides.


Tnanks again. I also will look forward to hear you impressions on DVD picture.

 

[Semper_Securus]

The SD digital on many channels looks quite good. I do see some minor artifacting and pixelation, but I think I have some issues with my STB and the cable signal right now.


The smudginess just appears mostly on SD analog. I tweaked the Sharpness setting a bit and it helped the smudginess. Overall, I see that there are many more analog channels that look quite good than those that look bad. As my eye settles into the larger screen and tweaked settings, I see that the SD picture is pretty good.... much much better than my old analog cable.


Yes, the 4:3 looks quite a bit better, since I suppose you are scaling the picture the way it was constructed and the denser pixel layout of the smaller picture must help as well. For example, the PIP looks excellent I mostly use the Wide mode on the 5045 which scales nice and does give a good image. I won't watch 4:3 right now due to burn-in prevention


"Ray" on DVD last night was amazing... The colors, the vibrancy.. it looked fantastic. Now this is what DVDs should look like on a large screen.


Overall, I am really liking the 5045 more and more. I am starting to realize that the SD analog that the cable co's are putting out is definitely the weak spot.