PS3 Blu-ray playback not too great

[EQ3282]

Hello. Any and all feedback welcomed.

I am watching BDs on a PS3 connected to a 37' Sharp Aquos 1080p HDTV using this HDMI cable.

To put it simply: the picture isn't all that great. I have seem the 1080p displays in stores, and my set-up doesn't hold a candle to them. For instance, viewing Fantastic 4: ROTSS in Best Buy, I can count the pores on Jessica Alba's face. In my home...not so much.
I have also compared the one movie I own on BD and DVD: Superman Returns (both viewed on PS3). If there is a difference, it was barely noticeable.

Does anyone have any feedback about this? I am not sure what the issue could be. I know there is a BD that can actually 'check' the set-up and grade the output on a few levels (basically tells you if the player and TV are working as they should), but I was looking for help before putting down $20 for the disc.

Thanks in advance.

[donniedarko]

maybe it's your tv set's fault...
I watch bd's with a 720p Mitsubishi projector (and with the PS3 of course) and the picture qualitiy is amazing!!

try to change some settings from your tv and let us know

[bhampton]

All the Blu Ray displays at my best buy are run by ..... PS3's.

Perhaps your TV needs calibration?

-Brian

[syncguy]

PS3 picture quality is topnotch. I am confused. HDMI cable should be fine. Problem is most likely in the TV set.

Check whether you could display the HDMI mode on the TV set to verify whether it is on 1080p.

[EQ3282]

Thanks for the suggestions. And my local Best Buy uses mainly Sony BD players (not PS3), but also have one or two other brands playing as well. All look better than my set.

I just checked my TV settings, and there's nothing really 'out of the ordinary' that I think would cause the 'dumbing down' of the 1080p picture. I do have 'custom' settings for contrast (in the 30's on a 40point scale) and sharpness (a 6 on a 10 point scale), but otherwise everything else was very close to 'balanced'. Would those two setting have anything to do with it?

The TV does show what input is being fed, and at what resolution. While watching SD channels it shows 480i, it shows 1080i or 720p for HDTV, and for the BDs it does say 1080p, so I am not convinced that its something on the TV's side. HDTV does look good as well.

I just used the 'auto' settings on my PS3, so I am wondering if the issue could be on the playback settings there? Or maybe I didn't see a head-to-head difference with Supes Returns due to the PS3 upconvert that I've read PS3 has? But, then again, if I had to compare, I'd say it looked more like the DVD version than a blu-ray version.

Does anyone have any input as to how the PS3 playback settings should be tweeked for the best picture?

Thanks again.

[Poonking]

Your tv has to be over 50" to see a difference in 1080p.

[EQ3282]

Initially, I thought that too. But, one TV in the store that has a crisp picture is only 37', and another is 40' inches. I even asked one of the techs about the crispness, and he said if my picture doesn't look sharp, its most likely the settings, because even on a 37', I should be able to clearly tell the difference between a regular DVD and 1080p BD.

I just did a quick search for the ideal PS3 settings. I found this:

"Set YbCr...to on
Set RGB to full only if you know your display can use it (mostly newer displays)
Set upscale to "normal"
Tick all resolutions available on your TV under HDMI video output or use auto.
Set audio output to LPCM if you never want to fiddle with it....otherwise use bitstream and just switch to LPCM when you have a TrueHD track to listen to (thus allowing the decoding in your receiver for DD and DTS/DTScores). Also tick all the audio outputs your receiver can handle."

Not much on the picture there. Anything to add to this list?

[Aaron]

Originally Posted by Poonking

Your tv has to be over 50" to see a difference in 1080p.

False!

I can easily tell the difference on a 42", or even 37".

[DutchBoy]

Originally Posted by Poonking

Your tv has to be over 50" to see a difference in 1080p.

Nonsense. Even on that size, the difference between SDVD and BD is quite noticeable.

As for the OP, I have no idea what it might be. I have a 32" 1080p and love my PS3 as a BD player. It's not to say that certain discs don't have areas in them that make me wonder what's going on with the picture, but there ARE those moments when I just shake my head at what I'm seeing.

I couldn't believe how good 'The Warriors' looked the other night... but I digress.

[EQ3282]

I do admit that some discs do look better than others.

I have a Blockbuster Online account, and have rented a few blu-ray films. Of all the ones we have rented (including but not limited to Superbad, Juno, No Country For Old Men, The Invasion, etc), the one movie that I though looked the best was 007: Casino Royale. It was really the one film that LOOKED like it was 1080p (even though it wasn't as crisp as I've seen elsewhere).

[chotabk]

some things to consider:

1. most BB/CC/retail stores TVs are way oversaturated. contrast is overblown, brightness overblown.

2. lighting in these retail stores make tvs look even better.

3. i would try messing with the tv settings. make it over contrasted and/or bright. see if that makes a difference. if it does then there is your problem. try a calibration disc.

4. compare apples to apples. try taking a look at the SAME tv in BB/CC and see if your tv just doesnt look the same. (although your tv IS rated very highly). ask the bb/cc guy to pull up the settings on their bd/ps3/tv and copy them down.

[Beta Man]

do you run your connections through a receiver?

[EQ3282]

Thanks for the suggestions chotabk...I'll give them a whirl.

Beta Man, no receiver here. I'd like to get a sound system set-up, but my GF is not very conducive to spending money on that at this point. haha.

[syncguy]

Try this to reset the PS3 display settings. Switch of the PS3 from the front right button. When it is off, hold down the front right on/off switch for about 6 seconds. PS3 should beep, reset and start.

[PNF]

I would 2nd chotabk's comment as thats exactly what I would say.

I have PS3 hooked up to my 52" and it looks great!!

some qualities arent as good as I thought it would be, but those are the fault of the BD itself. some does have bad transfers, but other than that. I love my home theater. It fills the current need.

PS3 is also a very good BD player for the cost and functions it offers.

I dont play games too, but I do have ONE game right now and I love it.

(Dynasty Warriors)

[Entertainment72]

PS3 playback is second to none! There is something wrong with your setup.

[aramis109]

I'm surprised no one's noticed yet- it's your TV settings. Turn down or off settings like "auto calibration", "sharpness" and the like. Your sharpness is very probably contributing to this- a high sharpness can add artifacts and noise that aren't there. On a lot of sets, it should be set to 0. On some sets (like mine) you have to set it up a bit or the picture looks too soft.

Also- if your contrast is cranked, it's going to bring in noise in the same way. I'd recommend starting off with checking out the calibration tools on any Sony Blu-Ray. I forget the code (can anyone help?) but I think it's 7669 and ENTER at the title menu. It can help you tweak your sharpness and contrast by eye.

Outside of that, get the TV calibrated. Either pay a pro to do it or look into options like Digital Video Essentials or other calibrating disks that can help you set it up.

Originally Posted by EQ3282

Thanks for the suggestions. And my local Best Buy uses mainly Sony BD players (not PS3), but also have one or two other brands playing as well. All look better than my set.

I just checked my TV settings, and there's nothing really 'out of the ordinary' that I think would cause the 'dumbing down' of the 1080p picture. I do have 'custom' settings for contrast (in the 30's on a 40point scale) and sharpness (a 6 on a 10 point scale), but otherwise everything else was very close to 'balanced'. Would those two setting have anything to do with it?

The TV does show what input is being fed, and at what resolution. While watching SD channels it shows 480i, it shows 1080i or 720p for HDTV, and for the BDs it does say 1080p, so I am not convinced that its something on the TV's side. HDTV does look good as well.

I just used the 'auto' settings on my PS3, so I am wondering if the issue could be on the playback settings there? Or maybe I didn't see a head-to-head difference with Supes Returns due to the PS3 upconvert that I've read PS3 has? But, then again, if I had to compare, I'd say it looked more like the DVD version than a blu-ray version.

Does anyone have any input as to how the PS3 playback settings should be tweeked for the best picture?

Thanks again.

...it's the TV my friend. It just needs tweaking. Good luck.

[cpgator]

Originally Posted by Aaron

False!

I can easily tell the difference on a 42", or even 37".

Then you must be sitting very close to your TV.

[jkwest]

Originally Posted by cpgator

Then you must be sitting very close to your TV.

Oh stop it...

[MacHaggis]

I'm also running a PS3 with a Sharp Aquos 37" and it looks stunning.

The TV is calibrated and pretty much anything I watch looks amazing. That includes computer displays, SD and BD media, and of course, the PS3 interface, and my photography.

- Bogdan