Video Asylum

• Re: Cablevision HDTV - classicalguss 13:25:02 09/12/06 (0)
  In Reply to: Cablevision HDTV posted by SalD on August 13, 2006 at 23:45:28:

  I bought the Sony 50 inch SXRD and then switched to Cablevision from Directv (in NJ), taking advantage of the phone-cable-HDTV deal. I did get the HD DVR. For the most part, I'm pretty happy. HiDef simply looks great on this setup and I find myself watching very little SD. I've had some issues with the DVR freezing up (unplug and wait) and some pixelization, but nothing compared to Directv in the rain. That really started to get to me. My only real complaint? ESPN2 only in SD. I'm not going to be a happy camper when the baseball playoffs start and I have to watch some of them in crappy SD.
  Hope this helps.

  Roy
  
  

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• Re: Cablevision HDTV - DWPC 15:39:42 08/14/06 (0)
  In Reply to: Cablevision HDTV posted by SalD on August 13, 2006 at 23:45:28:

  Most cable providers still carry Channels 2-99 in SD with analog signal. If yours does, you can dramatically improve your "regular" (SD) channels by putting a splitter on the coax and feeding one side directly to the TV's antenna input. Only use the box for digital channels where its necessary. Bypassing the box bypasses one, sometimes two, layers of video filters. Some boxes have an RF Bypass feature that amounts to the same thing.

  We're stuck in what seems like a perpetual transition for broadcasters, cable/sat providers, and mfrs; all trying to make the most profit from the least product. Its cable vs. sat vs. OTA vs. SD vs. HD, and soon vs. internet download movies. Television would never have made it if the industry had this attitude in 1950.

  When I consider the quality of content vs. the cost of cable, I can see why a lot of people today only use their TV for movies.
  
  

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• Re: Cablevision HDTV - David Aiken 14:19:14 08/14/06 (0)
  In Reply to: Cablevision HDTV posted by SalD on August 13, 2006 at 23:45:28:

  There's a hell of a lot you don't say, like size of screen, screen resolution, and so on.

  I live in Australia so I can't comment on Cablevision.

  What I can comment on is that I recently did things in the opposite order to you. I bought a 32" high def LCD TV, and then bought a much better progressive scan DVD player to replace the low price one I'd been using with my 26" CRT. I use a high def set-top box for free to air high def broadcasts.

  First, on standard def tv, the picture quality I get on the LCD TV (a Loewe) is better than I got on the CRT. On high def TV, it's way better than standard def and, as I said, standard def is better than I got with the CRT. Part of that improvement will simply be that I can now use component connections rather than S-video, but the improvements are there.

  With standard DVD from my original player, the picture was better with the LCD than it was with the CRT but I started to wonder how much difference a reasonable DVD player would make. I auditioned a Denon 2910 at the dealer I bought the LCD TV from and it followed me home. Picture quality from standard DVD can be surprisingly good from a decent player.

  The LCD TV started me watching much more TV/DVDs than I had previously watched, just because the picture quality was so much better than what I had been previously getting and I had regarded that as good. The Denon player has me watching even more movies.

  So I think you may be surprised when you actually get the TV. I think it will make a noticeable difference even on standard def for you. One thing I would recommend, however, is that you get a calibration disc of some kind—the THX Optimiser tests on some THX mastered DVDs is fine but you'll need to get a blue filter from THX.com for a dollar or two plus postage—and adjust the picture settings for best performance. That usually makes a noticeable improvement over factory settings.

  David Aiken

  
  
  

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• Re: Cablevision HDTV - GTF 12:15:57 08/14/06 (0)
  In Reply to: Cablevision HDTV posted by SalD on August 13, 2006 at 23:45:28:

  I was a Cablevision HD customer for a few years before moving to
  Florida. Now I'm a Dullhouse customer.
  HD isn't fully ready yet. The digital breakups, the voice to picture timing problems, the black picture.
  HD isn't ready for prime time.
  We're all getting screwed.
  The cable companies don't make the STB's another company that
  can't seem to make a quality product does.
  Now as for the SD picture.
  That's why I purchased a DV instead of a LCD, DLP, Plasma set.
  The other's have a great picture with HD feeds, but when you
  feed them SD. Not so good.
  When I was deciding what to buy a DV or the others, I had the PC Richard salesman feed the sets with the same standard off the cable feed instead of the special HD feed. The failing's of the other sets became painfullty obvious.
  I know this is no help except that you know it's not just with Cablevision.
  Oh I can't beleive I'm sticking up for the Dolan's.
  The Wiz dump. ZOOM money pit.
  Until the cable industry is heavly regulated and they can also stop
  transmitting dozens, and dozens of useless, worthless bandwidth
  wasting channels we're all stuck with Mediocrity.
  But then again. BOSE is a very popular stereo. LOL
  MP3. Boom, boom thud. Boom, boom thud.

  
  
  

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