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In Reply to: KV-34XBR910 Problems posted by jderdock on November 24, 2003 at 18:13:38:
I have the earlier model Sony 34XBR800 16:9 TV. The problem is probably not with your TV but with Comcast. I tried (non-HDTV) Comcast digital cable for two weeks and promptly returned the set-top-box and kept my regular analog Comcast cable service. My first observation was that Comcast digital cable was no sharper than their regular analog cable. The ONLY stations that were sharp and crisp were their premium channels (which I would have dropped anyway after the special promotional period). The set-top-box was a major drawback for me because 1)It took up valuable space in my equipment rack and 2)It is very slow when channel hopping compared to just using the TV with analog cable.That being said, I use a Samsung over-the-air HDTV tuner via the DVI port and the picture quality is incredible! As previously mentioned in another posting, many 'digital TV' broadcasts are in 'standard definition' so your 16:9 screen will be filled with a standard 4:3 picture with blank space on either side. This is normal. Still, the picture quality is very good. There are many prime time network TV programs broadcast in true HDTV 16:9 as well as NFL football. I also find that the local PBS stations are transmitting mostly in very high quality HDTV 16:9. Any poor picture quality is not likely to be the fault of your TV or wiring.... It's probably a deficiency with your cable provider. How do your best DVD's look thru your Sony TV? HDTV should look even better... I'm not kidding!
Follow Ups:
Abe - I can understand the two sides being black with a 16:9 screen when the broadcast is 4:3. I thought James said ALL FOUR sides were black, however. If so, I can't help but wonder if maybe he needs to do more set-up. No?
Good point but I've also noticed in *some* cases that when an HD broadcast switches to a commercial (that is not in HD format), it will sometimes show black on the top, bottom, and both sides. If this is the case on ALL of his HD programs, there may indeed be a setup problem somewhere.... possibly in the set-top-box or the Sony TV.I'd be real curious to know if he can get a very sharp picture on a progressive scan DVD movie using moderately decent component video cables since he also complained about the picture quality in general not being very good. I suspect this might have to do with the rather poor quality signal from Comcast.... At least this is the case where I live. Both digital and analog cable from Comcast are not especially clean here. A DVD picture, on the other hand, is very nice while HDTV is even sharper.
Here is the Sony with a normal/no-HD broadcast in normal 4:3 mode:http://derdock.com/aa/normal_ratio.jpg
Here is the Sony with a supposed HD program using the "normal" or auto wide-mode setting (the picture is very good here, but it doesn't fill the screen):
http://derdock.com/aa/hd_ratio.jpg
Here is the Comcast set-top box (please excuse the AIWA speaker, it's not mine!:
http://derdock.com/aa/stb_front.jpg
Here is the back:
http://derdock.com/aa/stb_back.jpg
I'll make an effort to watch an HD network broadcast like Monday Night Football.
Thanks again for the help !
Thanks for the reply, Abe.As not to take up too much of your time, could you tell me what I would search for if I want more information on the "over the air HDTV Samsung" that you mentioned?
DVD's don't look great yet. Some MIT component cables are on the way. Right now our DVD player is using some leftover garbage RCA's.
Go to http://google.com and in the search field enter:Samsung SIR T351
then hit the Google Search button. It will return several hits. Someone here mentioned they were having problems with their Samsung HDTV tuner but I've been totally satisfied with mine. Keep in mind that depending on where you live, you may not have much choice in HDTV channels. The major metro areas and their suburbs are pretty much alive with HDTV but rural areas may be lagging behind. And again, depending on your location, you might do OK with an indoor antenna but in most cases an outdoor UHF antenna will perform best. Here's the Samsung HDTV tuner in my system:
Another brand to consider might be Zenith and possibly a couple more. If you ever plan to get Satellite, some satellite set-top-boxes will not only decode HDTV satellite broadcasts but also integrate an off-the-air HDTV tuner.
Good luck, and hope you are able to clean up your picture. I don't think it's your TV.
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