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LCD HD TV Picture Quality Lacking

My Dad recently purchased a Sony Bravia LCD and my father-in -law just bought a Magnavox LCD. These are the 1st HD tv's I've had a chance to spend time viewing. Compared to standard televisions I find the color on both TV's to be unnatural (even after adjustments) and the pictures often lack clarity, and definition. They are fuzzy (cloudy looking). My Dad's Sony is connected to a digital HD cable box from the cable company. My father-in laws' LCD is still connected to a standard digital cable box. In the stores when I've seen true High Definition demos, like the NFL it is awesome. Are there any LCD televisions out there with natural looking color? (especially skin tones) Is this cloudy affect, lack of clarity and definition present on all these HD TV's or are there exceptions? Are there HD TV's that are clear in Non HD broadcasts? I do realize the source of the signal matters greatly, but why would my old JVC look clearer, more focused, and have more natural colors than these LCD tv's? Frankly before I shell out the cash, I want to see better performance than I saw from their TVs? Is this a question of something I heard about called "calibration."
Adjustments have been made to my Dad's TV by me and it still looks subpar unless it's an HD broadcast and some of those look unnatural too. Thanks for your thoughts.
foster_9
swampwalker's avatar
swampwalker
5,138 posts
 
Non-HD channels generally tend to be only fair at best on large screen, HD or ED sets. If you do not have an HD cable box, (or if you are not paying extra for the HD package even if you have the HD box), you cannot display HD. They both are an extra charge option, at least on my cable service (comcast). If either of the sets has a built in HD tuner, you may be able to receive HD via antenna, just like the old days (called OTA, over the air).
gmood1
1,251 posts
 
I like both Plasma and LCD. Both work well depending on the environment they are in. For a well lighted room the LCD is the better choice. They are much brighter by comparison. Mine a (Sharp) has a light sensing mechanism. The more light that enters the room the brighter it becomes.The screen also absorbs light.Plasmas have a glass/glossy screen. They look great in a dark room, but have glare in a sun filled room.

LCD is lees likely to have burn in, plasma will eventual have burn in. If you use your display as a computer monitor, the Lcd is the better choice.

So all this must be taken in to account when choosing between the two.
jsd52756
433 posts
 
Swampwalker I believe has the answer. But here is a twist;
When I bought my HDTV I had no idea that most channels broadcast two types of signals. For instance there is NBC for std broadcasts, and KNBC for the digital type. The std channels are blury. The other is fine, even if it is not a HD program
I watched supercross for two weeks before I fugured out it was being sent out on two channels. Call me slow, but don't call me stupid...
Good luck, John
reubent
6,996 posts
 
You likely are either watching the Standard Def. broadcast or the TVs are hooked up using a low-resolution analog connection. Verify the the TV is connected using either HDMI or DVI first, then verify that you are watching a high-def channel.

TIC
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dbphd
1,628 posts
 
You need to use good quality HDMI or component (3) cables between the receiver and the monitor/TV. We have two Sony XBR LCDs and a 36 XBR that we use with DirecTV HD/DVRs and an HD TiVo. The picture quality is excellent in each case. I highly recommend DirecTV as an HD source.

db
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