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Quality of 'Live TV'

299 Views 8 Replies 7 Participants Last post by toots, Oct 23, 2000

DeadEd

Discussion Starter · Oct 21, 2000

I'm really not too happy with the quality of live TV. I'm wondering if, when we are watching it, are we automatically getting the 'high quality' compression or are we watching live at our default compression? I tried changing mine and don't notice difference, but I would have figured that the quality of 'live' would have been better than this. Then again, I guess I'm spoiled by digital cable that gives me a pristine picture on my Sony Wega XBR.

Don't get me wrong, I love the ReplayTV and it blows my VCR out of the water, I just wish I got the quality of direct cable when I was watching live. I understand why I don't though. Maybe in a few years when drives are bigger and hardware is faster.

Any comments would be welcome.

Ed Leiken

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Ryan

· #2 · Oct 21, 2000

'Live' TV (when no recording is taking place) is buffered at the highest quality of the unit.

I've read the many people are not happy with PVRs and Sony WEGAs, but I don't know the exact complaints.

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Ryan

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Amazingly Smooth

· #3 · Oct 21, 2000

Well, I bet this is in the FAQ, but when you are watching a show that is being recorded, you are watching the quality level of the recording. This is regardless of whether or not you are watching it live or after it was recorded.

Cheers

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ReplayTV -- The only one that had firewire...

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DeadEd

Discussion Starter · #4 · Oct 21, 2000

Thanks for the replies.

I'm using the RCA input from the cable box to the Replay (no S-video out on my DCT-2000) and S-video output from the ReplayTV unit (3060) so I don't 'think' the tuner is the issue, but I may be wrong again. I switched to RCA plugs and didn't notice a difference. I'm speaking of shows that I'm not currently recording, so I guess it *is* the highest level of recording. It does kind of look like snow or noise but when I look closely at things like the scoreboard (I watch a lot of NFL, doest everyone?) I do notice the mpeg artifact, so I guess that's all there is to it. I'll try buying some expensive RCA cables for the box/replay connection, but I guess the WEGA is just too sharp for the Replay unit to look good. I should have thought of that before I went and bought an expensive new TV http://www.avsforum.com/ubb/frown.gif

Oh well. It *IS* better than VHS, so I guess I'll get used to it. I'm probably just too picky.

Ryan, if you could remember where you saw those WEGA complaints I'd love to check them out. I searched and didn't find anything, but I'm new and may be doing it wrong.

Smooth, you are right, it is in the FAQ but I was wondering about shows I'm not recording. Ryan answered that though.

Thanks again,

Ed Leiken

[This message has been edited by DeadEd (edited 10-21-2000).]

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DeadEd

Discussion Starter · #5 · Oct 23, 2000

Left,

Yeah, I think I'm a lot like you. I spend way too much time examining the techincal aspects of my equipment and not enough time enjoying what it actually DOES. But I'm a gadget junkie and if I did not have a wife and kids I'd have a totally killer home theatre with sattelite and digital cable and LD. Oh well, I guess it's good that my wife keeps me on a leash. I can't wait for that system you describe http://www.avsforum.com/ubb/smile.gif . Personally, I expect that within that time frame most digital cable boxes and sattelite boxes will have DVR built in. In fact I'll bet that many TV's have them in a couple years. This stuff is in it's infancy and our REPLAY units will be obsolete before the hard drives crash.

Ed Leiken

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dmaneyapanda

· #6 · Oct 23, 2000

Quote:

Originally posted by DeadEd:
Ryan, if you could remember where you saw those WEGA complaints I'd love to check them out. I searched and didn't find anything, but I'm new and may be doing it wrong.

Typically, the complaints I remember hearing about were caused by having the sharpness set way too high. If you haven't already, get a copy of a TV test setup DVD (assuming you have a DVD player) and set up your TV appropriately.

dinesh

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Minnesotan

· #7 · Oct 23, 2000

My experience is quite different:

- Early 10-hour RTV2000 is worse than watching cable signal directly.

- New 60-hour RTV3060 actually enhances crispness of text and linear shapes. (Contrast boost? Possible lessening of "depth" however?)

I have a Non-WEGA 27" Sony Trinitron, with analog cable signal passed directly into ReplayTV.

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Scyber

· #8 · Oct 23, 2000

Quote:

Originally posted by dmaneyapanda:
Typically, the complaints I remember hearing about were caused by having the sharpness set way too high. If you haven't already, get a copy of a TV test setup DVD (assuming you have a DVD player) and set up your TV appropriately.

Does anybody know where to get a hold of one of these DVDs?

Scyber

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toots

· #9 · Oct 23, 2000

Quote:

Originally posted by Scyber:
Does anybody know where to get a hold of one of these DVDs?

Scyber

Here , if you'll excuse my rather personalized url.

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