New LCD TV - why is picture so bad?

[Ray Singh]

Finally bought a LCD TV to replace the ageing Goliath in my living room.
We went to Richer sounds and got a good deal on a LG 32" with 1080p and 100Hz.

I have set this up with a Sky box that i am using to get free sky channels (£150 one off fee).

On some channels the pictures seems pixleated, almsost like when wathching you tube on a PC monitor. Why is this?
The Sky box has only Scart outputs so i cant change to HDMI. But when i use my new LG blue ray player with my TV via HDMI cable - this picture is superb.

What options have i got with the Sky box if this is the problem?

[Plotloss]

Ensure the SCART output is RGB rather than Composite (Video)

[sherman]

The sky dish has not moved recently has it?

[RobDickinson]

Pixalation is most likely caused by low bitrate sky chanels and/or fast movement of subjects.

You can(and should) switch off as much of the tv's own processing on the sky input and see if that helps (any pixture sharpening, digitial manipulation etc).

[Nicholas Blair]

I get this too on a Panasonic linked to Sky + box. Will check it out.

Thanks

[cjs]

LCD TVs do not like standard definition pictures which is what you are watching from your Sky Box. As already said, make sure the Sky box is outputting RGB rather than composite AV, it's in the set-up menu somewhere.

What is the picture like using the inbuilt tuner? Freeview?

[Deva Link]

cjs said:

LCD TVs do not like standard definition pictures which is what you are watching from your Sky Box.

Somewhere (in the telly, presumeably) it must be upscaling from 720p. Surely that just has to be blurry?

Saw an LG full HD LCD in an elederly persons house (been chosen by a relative hoping to get their hands on it soon!) and it looked terrible on Freeview.

[PJ S]

1) It's LG - marginally better than Samsung, but that's not saying much
2) It's 32" Full HD - marketing over substance. You'd have been better with an HD Ready one at that size.
3) It's processing (poor/low?) bitrate transmissions from 576i to display on 1080p vertical pixels. You can bet the deinterlacing is merely passable, and the upscaling algorithm is just alright.

4) You should've went for the 37" Panasonic Plasma, which would be more sympathetic with the feed being given to it.

[headcase]

In short... its normal.

[mackie1]

Also check it's not in some garish "dynamic" mode by default and switch to "cinema" mode if you can. Wind the contrast and sharpness down a bit too and the low bitrate stuff should look a bit better. As others have said, make sure the Sky box is outputting in RGB format as that will sharpen things up a lot.

[hornetrider]

Are you using a cheapy SCART? Get one of the £20 quid cambridge ones from Richers, or another better quality make. That will help.

However your first problem was buying LCD and your 2nd LG

[mammamia]

I,ve got an LG 42HL3000 does fine for me, lovely picture with Freeview, Blue Ray dvd fantastic, to my eyes, I like to buy for value for money, not because I think iv,e got the best of everything and spend silly money on a name.

[Ray Singh]

mammamia said:

I,ve got an LG 42HL3000 does fine for me, lovely picture with Freeview, Blue Ray dvd fantastic, to my eyes, I like to buy for value for money, not because I think iv,e got the best of everything and spend silly money on a name.

Thank you my freind! My sentiments exactly.

[telecat]

mammamia said:

I,ve got an LG 42HL3000 does fine for me, lovely picture with Freeview, Blue Ray dvd fantastic, to my eyes, I like to buy for value for money, not because I think iv,e got the best of everything and spend silly money on a name.

I'll buy the best at what they do. If I can get a deal fine, if not I'll either wait or go to the place where I get good service.

After seeing LCD I bought a Plasma.

[bonsai]

mammamia said:

I,ve got an LG 42HL3000 does fine for me, lovely picture with Freeview, Blue Ray dvd fantastic, to my eyes, I like to buy for value for money, not because I think iv,e got the best of everything and spend silly money on a name.

Yeh, that's swell 'n all, but I wouldn't call it value for money if you have to make a topic on an internet forum asking why the standard definition picture quality is ste.

[mammamia]

bonsai said:

mammamia said:

I,ve got an LG 42HL3000 does fine for me, lovely picture with Freeview, Blue Ray dvd fantastic, to my eyes, I like to buy for value for money, not because I think iv,e got the best of everything and spend silly money on a name.

Yeh, that's swell 'n all, but I wouldn't call it value for money if you have to make a topic on an internet forum asking why the standard definition picture quality is ste.

yes, I agree, but why do some start slagging off a TV make on the pretence that the ste picture quality is the fault of the TV make and not some other external influence ?

[PJ S]

Because a lot of us have seen the state of LCD playback of various mediums, and in all but the exceptional cases, they've looked merely so-so.
Plasma on the other hand, has consistently shown LCD a clean pair of heels for the past 4 years, with Fujitsu, then Pioneer, and now Panasonic (although they were doing the business at the semi-budget end for the past 3 years, very well).

It's doubtful ancillaries are having the impact on the OP's PQ, but not entirely impossible, so whilst all the other info on cables, settings, etc are valid and worthwhile, there's an overriding suspicion he's seeing the result of the type and brand of TV he's bought, unfortunately.

[mrmr96]

Ray Singh said:

Finally bought a LCD TV to replace the ageing Goliath in my living room.<>I have set this up with a Sky box <>On some channels the pictures seems pixleated,

Here's my thoughts, without the brand snobery of some of the other posters:

The digital signal being recived by the sky box is going to be low bit rate, this means that it IS just like you tube. Your old CRT with it's fuzzy picture hides a multitude of sins which are laid bare on a HD LCD.

The solution is to use a higher quality source, or see if there's some options on the screen which can be used to compensate.

The seccond issue is the upscaling. The TV has more pixles than the incoming signal. The TV takes the top line and puts it at the top, and the bottom line at the bottom and spreads the others out, so the TV has to 'invent' some more to fill the gaps. The quality of the invented pixles (i.e. how well they fit with the rest of the picture) depends on the quality of the software which is controlling it - which is where the brand snobs come in.

Maybe some other people can suggest a viable way to improve the display of a low bitrate image on a HD LCD panel, but other than seeing if there's some built in compensation my only suggestion is to use a different input. (i.e. a console, a blue ray, sky hd or at the very least switch to a higher bit rate SD broadcast.)

[PJ S]

That's about the height of it.

[CO2000]

I doubt it (with a 32) but your not too close to the screen are you ?

I had (until it broke) a 52" full hd Samsung LCD & from 10/11 ft on sd the picture was really good - so much so I didn't bother with Sky HD.

Have a play about with your settings or have a look on AVforums.com for more info.

I'm looking at LCD v Plasma just now for the replacement of said 52" but whats putting me off the most with Plasma is Screen burn/IR, reflections on the screen & heavier weight.

Edited by CO2000 on Friday 16th April 17:08