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Video Asylum TVs, VCRs, DVD players, Home Theater systems and more. |
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One of the things I dont like about the inputs on the new sets is that generally they have only one set of terminals that are set up for component OR composite video input, and, of course, S video inputs have disappeared entirely.I have two toshiba combo VHS and DVD players and one is a combo VHS player/recorder and DVD player/recorder (the so called 680 model that also includes analog and digital tuners). The old way of connecting the VHS and DVD was to use the component video outputs on these for the DVD to the TV and the composite or S-video output to connect the VHS side. The problem is, with the new TVs, its impossible to do that as once you connect the DVD side through the component video input, there is no S video or composite video input. The green component video input is yellow AND green, meaning it COULD be used to connect the unit via composite but not the component video at the same time then I would lose the better component video from the DVD.
So, quite a dilemma. But, hey wait, the 680 Toshiba is way interesting because it has an HDMI out on the back. On my old TV, a Sony with only a DVI digital connector, I used the HDMI out to send a Hi def signal to the TV from the Toshiba 680 digital tuner, and that worked pretty well, given that the Sony was a digital ready projection TV that lacked an internal digital tuner. I had a cord that was HDMI on one end and DVI on the other.
But wait.now with all the spare HDMI inputs on the new Samsung JU6500 4K UHD, I'm connecting the 680 via the HDMI out as HDMI 2 (the cable box is HDMI 1). In my initial setup, I checked the DVD record and playback and the 680 worked fine on both with the new set.
But I have all these movies on VHS, and I thought I was dead in the water in terms of being able to watch those without somehow connecting the composite video output on the 680 to the Samsung. But, I stick a VHS tape into the 680 with the only connection to the TV being the HDMI and lo and behold, there is the VHS movie playing fine thru HDMI 2.
So, For now at least, it really makes no difference that the VHS side of the other non recording Toshiba does not work because its not connected . I can use the DVD side and simply select the component video source on the TV. Or I can play the DVD on the 680 through HDMI 2 Or I can record to either VHS or DVD using the composite video connections I have from the cable box.
I gather the Samsung is doing the best it can upscaling the clunky analog VHS signal to present on a UHD panel. The default fills the entire screen and is stretched a bit. The picture is softer than from even a standard DVD, but quite watchable. The most noticable difference I see is that the blacks are much darker with a DVD or cable signal. But the VHS is quite watchable on a 55" UHD panel.
I have been scrounging around and have learned that it is now all but impossible to find a VHS recorder/player that outputs to HDMI. The 680 was discontinued several years ago but there are still a few to be had. There are $25 boxes that purport to convert a composite video and analog audio signal to HDMI. I am curious if anyone here has played around with one of these. I'm thinking instead of a Blu ray player connected thru HDMI 3 as the DVD player. (I have steered clear of this because I have a big library of standard DVD but no Blu Ray disks). Then I could hook the other VHS/DVD player as as a composite video and abandon the component video entirely.
Edits: 05/02/16
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Topic - I was checking functions on my new Samsung and - DavidLD 05:49:57 05/02/16 (0)
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