High Definition TV Thread: 1080p/1080i/720p: Tips, Tweaks, New Products and Reviews

• riderkick on November 20, 2009 09:54 PM

  LF20 or LH70 namimili ako dito sa dalwang ito! same ba picture quality over 1080p?

• lynkchiz on November 20, 2009 10:35 PM

  LH70 na bro.. habang effective ang price drop :) malay natin baka bumalik sa dating price :(

• agentdaper on November 20, 2009 10:43 PM

  LF20 na lang. sayang yung 5k diff. ibili mo na lang ng ibang item hehehe

• Focus06 on November 20, 2009 10:59 PM

  i too have a series 5 and i prefer using vga over hdmi when watching videos and using the pc... it's true that hdmi images are sharper but it's because of the enhancements that the tv applies by default in hdmi sources - this is only best when used with hd-dvd and bluray but not with pc imho.
  
  pc + videos + vga + mpc w/ enhancements is better than pc + videos + hdmi

  
  
  Sorry, have to disagree with you here (in General, not in your particular case with the 5 series). It is exactly the opposite. Most VGA inputs on LCD TVs dont let you use the LCD's native resolution (since most manufacturers do not include this in the EDID of their TV's VGA input) and that is where the problems start when the TV's internal processor scales the original signal.
  
  Using HDMI lets you use the LCD panel's native resolution (1:1 pixel mapping) especially at 1920x1080 + at the same time still gives you access to other features of the TV's processing (which you can still turn off if you want.)
  
  VGA is actually analog component RGBHV (red - green - blue - horizontal sync - vertical sync)
  
  I think you should try again using HDMI on your 5 series, I can assure you that when you get the settings right the picture quality from the PC will be superior to the results you get over VGA.
  
  -- edited by Focus06 on Nov 20 2009, 11:07 PM
  
  -- edited by Focus06 on Nov 20 2009, 11:08 PM
  
  -- edited by Focus06 on Nov 20 2009, 11:21 PM

• dm1179 on November 20, 2009 11:12 PM

  @Focus06: it also depends on a particular TV model.
  
  for example in my Panasonic Viera LX80, using VGA connection results in better picture quality. when i use HDMI or DVI-to-HDMI, the picture is grainy or pixelated.
  
  i had tried so many settings already, emailed Panasonic, and researched in various AV forums. but i could not get the HDMI to provide the result that i want.
  
  bottom line: use what works for your TV. if HDMI gives you better picture quality, then use HDMI. if VGA gives you better quality, then use VGA.

• theDUD3 on November 20, 2009 11:20 PM

  @focus
  
  i've tried all available hdmi inputs and the results are all the same - grainy, pixelated and too dark in some areas like dm said, when using my for movies but not when i tried a bd movie on my cousin's ps3.
  
  ;D

• theDUD3 on November 20, 2009 11:23 PM

  i would like to add that i'm using windows 7 and it detects my lcd's native resolution flawlessly.

• Focus06 on November 20, 2009 11:30 PM

  @dm1179
  
  Well, hmmmm.... I have an 32LX700, a Philips 32PF9531, and recently a 32LF20 and I don't experience this. Out of curiosity, what is your video card? Have you adjusted for panel scaling if you have a recent NVIDIA or ATI card? Important for a sharp picture of course is sending the panel it's native resolution and making sure that the TV's internal processor is not doing any scaling (usually causes fuzzy text).
  
  On the LX80 which is a 1366x768 panel, what resolution do you use via VGA?
  
  When I use my panny as a regular monitor (for text), i send it a 1366x768 signal or a 720p signal. For video, I dont even bother, I just send it a 1080p signal.

• baroki on November 20, 2009 11:31 PM

  nakakpagdisplay ba ang VGA ng 1920x1080?.. nagbablackout kase yun laptop ko dun.. hanggang 1366x768 lang kaya via vga although full hd naman yun tv.. next suspect ko eh yun drivers..
  
  

  TRY Mo SABRE brand boss.. sa Sights and sounds merun nyan baka mas mura pang 40incher din.

  
  
  sayang wala na Sabre sa SnS.. wala pala sila tilt and swivel.. fixed or tilt or swivel lang meron.. yun Barkan na lang siguro mabili..

• Focus06 on November 20, 2009 11:41 PM

  @theDUD3
  
  too dark in certain areas... when, on the desktop? or during video playback?
  Could it be that there is a sharpness setting that is dialed up too high?
  Have you already done any initial calibration even on simple web based calibration sites?
  
  This is what i'm thinking... a PS3's or Xbox 360's output isnt any different from a PC's via HDMI.... It is just a video signal.
  
  Is it a LA32A550?
  
  Anyway, this is why I always bring at least a laptop along when I test tv's and send it both 720p and 1080p signals. I used to even bring my desktop armed with Powerstrip to check various timings and resolutions back in the CRT and early LCD days when they didn't have HDMI yet. You know what, just for kicks, i'll take my laptop to one of the stores in town center and try out the Samsungs and see what kind of results I get. Still in the market for a 42-46 incher so i'll let you know what happens.
  
  -- edited by Focus06 on Nov 20 2009, 11:53 PM

• theDUD3 on November 20, 2009 11:43 PM

  nakakpagdisplay ba ang VGA ng 1920x1080?

  
  yup, and my best guess is, is when you change your lcd's resolution to full-hd your refresh rate is locked at 60Hz, which some lcd's can't handle. try forcing the refresh rate to 59Hz, this will probably solve your problem.
  
  gl!

• dm1179 on November 20, 2009 11:44 PM

  @Focus06:
  
  as i said, i already did so many configurations and VGA gives the better result for my TV. here's my gadgets that i connected via HDMI. results remained the same.
  
  (1) HTPC with AMD Athlon 64 X2 5200 + 4GB DDR2 800 + ATI HD3200
  (2) ASUS Laptop with Core 2 Duo P8400 + 4GB DDR2 800 + ATI HD3470 (Dedicated)
  (3) NEC Laptop with Pentium Dual Core + 4GB DDR2 800 + Intel GMA 4500MHD
  
  my computer resolution is set to 1366x768.

• raymond21 on November 20, 2009 11:45 PM

  mga bro patulong naman
  
  nung XP ako nakukuha ko yung native resolution ng hitachi 42" HDTV ko
  
  pero nung lumipat ako sa Vista Ultimate 1024 x 768 ang native nya patulong po.....
  
  1920x1080 ang native nun 1080p
  
  using DVI -VGA cable po VGA input po ako dun sa HDTV
  
  already tested this
  
  

  
  yup, and my best guess is, is when you change your lcd's resolution to full-hd your refresh rate is locked at 60Hz, which some lcd's can't handle. try forcing the refresh rate to 59Hz, this will probably solve your problem.
  
  gl!

  
  
  -- edited by raymond21 on Nov 20 2009, 11:50 PM

• theDUD3 on November 21, 2009 12:00 AM

  too dark in certain areas... when, on the desktop? or during video playback?

  
  both on the desktop and while playing 1080p mkv's.
  
  
  

  Could it be that there is a sharpness setting that is dialed up too high?
  Have you already done any initial calibration even on simple web based calibration sites?

  
  i already tried that with no success...
  
  
  

  This is what i'm thinking... a PS3's or Xbox 360's output isnt any different from a PC's via HDMI.... It is just a video signal.

  
  this depends on the tv model.
  
  
  

  Is it a LA32A550?

  
  yes, here's how i see it = the Samsung LA32A550 detects the input source and automatically disables or enables enhancements and optimizations depending on the source, so when it detects input through hdmi sharpness, dark tones, etc. are enhanced which makes text too sharp and colors a bit too overwhelming for text, pictures, videos, etc. on the pc - some of this enhancements cannot be disabled or controlled manually (at least when i tried too).
  
  while on vga the Samsung LA32A550 automatically goes to pc mode and accepts input as it should be without any enhancement, unadulterated if i may say so - this is much welcome for graphic designers or web devs who use their lcd for editing pics and images, they get and see the same color even if they transfer their work to other pc's. the same goes with videos, software enhancement on the pc is way better than the lcd's built-in enhancements when it comes to ripped movies SD or HD (bluray and hd-dvd is another story).

• Focus06 on November 21, 2009 12:15 AM

  @theDUD3 and dm1179
  
  Out of curiosity, i checked your individual user manuals and in both your cases, your TVs both support your panel's native resolutions via VGA which is great!
  
  Unfortunately, it doesn't explain your unsatisfactory results over hdmi.
  
  

  yes, here's how i see it = the Samsung LA32A550 detects the input source and automatically disables or enables enhancements and optimizations depending on the source, so when it detects input through hdmi sharpness, dark tones, etc. are enhanced which makes text too sharp and colors a bit too overwhelming for text, pictures, videos, etc. on the pc - some of this enhancements cannot be disabled or controlled manually (at least when i tried too).

  
  
  That of course makes perfect sense and probably is the reason for what you experience.
  
  I'm still going to try this out myself so I can see this phenomenon first hand. If I can't figure it out either.... I guess it rules out Sammy's 40+ inchers for me.

• theDUD3 on November 21, 2009 12:31 AM

  If I can't figure it out either.... I guess it rules out Sammy's 40+ inchers for me.

  
  it's not a bad thing imo, it's great that the lcd at least has an option for unadulterated output the only downside is that when using vga you must have a different audio source unlike hdmi.
  
  ripped movies, surfing, computer use = i use vga
  for hd-dvd's & blu-ray = hdmi
  
  ^_^

• Focus06 on November 21, 2009 12:42 AM

  @theDUD3
  
  Yes, but I still think that HDMI is the superior signal carrier. So when possible I prefer to use it, especially over longer distances where VGA signals, being analog, degrade.
  
  Anyway, I studied the options off of your TV's manual and think that it is quite flexible so I think I'm sufficiently prepared for my experiment with the sammys.

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