Need Video Quality Help

[trekdude]

I need some help with my new Pioneer vsx-919 receiver. After getting the receiver about one month ago I have noticed the video quality of the comcast HD is better when the cable box is connected directly to the TV. The HD picture looks slightly less clear when connected via HDMI through the receiver.

At first I thought it was just me, but my wife said something about decreased video quality over the weekend. I never mentioned my concern to her before.

The VSX-919 does not upconvert, but I'm sending a HD signal so don't need it.

I'm using bluejean hdmi cables for all connections.

The TV input settings are the same for receiving video directly from the cable box or through the pioneer receiver.

I expected the video quality to be the same regardless of whether the video is going through the receiver.

By the way, my Sony TV only has stereo outputs. I though about outputting the Comcast audio from the TV to the receiver, but guess that won't wonk.

Any thoughts or suggestions? Buying a more expensive receiver isn't really an option in my situation.

All suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

[callas01]

Originally Posted by trekdude

I need some help with my new Pioneer vsx-919 receiver. After getting the receiver about one month ago I have noticed the video quality of the comcast HD is better when the cable box is connected directly to the TV. The HD picture looks slightly less clear when connected via HDMI through the receiver.

At first I thought it was just me, but my wife said something about decreased video quality over the weekend. I never mentioned my concern to her before.

The VSX-919 does not upconvert, but I'm sending a HD signal so don't need it.

I'm using bluejean hdmi cables for all connections.

The TV input settings are the same for receiving video directly from the cable box or through the pioneer receiver.

I expected the video quality to be the same regardless of whether the video is going through the receiver.

By the way, my Sony TV only has stereo outputs. I though about outputting the Comcast audio from the TV to the receiver, but guess that won't wonk.

Any thoughts or suggestions? Buying a more expensive receiver isn't really an option in my situation.

All suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

depending on the setup capabilities you could go HDMI/component cable from Comcast output to TV input for Video, and then run Analog cables from Comcast to Pio receiver for audio.

I don't have Comcast so I don't know exactly how their receivers work or what inputs/outputs they have on the back of their units, so I don't know for sure if this would work or not, but it is the only I can think you can get the PQ you want and still run the Audio through the receiver.

[trekdude]

That is a very good idea. I going to check my comcast box tonight to see if that is possible.
Thanks.

I wish I understood why the video quality seemed to decrease when it was routed through the receiver.

[Fors*]

Originally Posted by trekdude

That is a very good idea. I going to check my comcast box tonight to see if that is possible.
Thanks.

I wish I understood why the video quality seemed to decrease when it was routed through the receiver.

That could possibly be a default setting in your receiver causing this or possibly you changed something from a default setting when you first set it up a month ago. You just never know....

[aramis109]

I run audio from my TV to my receiver for the Wii- I don't want it to do the 1080i/1080p double-upconvert so I run it directly to the set and the connected cables aren't long enough to run back down. I then run an optical cable down to the receiver.

Point being, you CAN output the sound from one source, to the TV and back to the receiver if you want. I also used to do the same thing when I didn't have a cable box.

[trekdude]

Thanks for the suggestion.

I do have a question - and don't laugh at this one - what is an optical cable? Will it give me 5.1 audio to the receiver?

I'm still learning.

Thanks.

[Yeha-Noha]

Originally Posted by aramis109

I run audio from my TV to my receiver for the Wii- I don't want it to do the 1080i/1080p double-upconvert so I run it directly to the set and the connected cables aren't long enough to run back down. I then run an optical cable down to the receiver.

Point being, you CAN output the sound from one source, to the TV and back to the receiver if you want. I also used to do the same thing when I didn't have a cable box.

I suppose for BD movies having lossless AQ that works fine for those using PS3s like yours to decode dts:HD MA and DD TruHD lossless audio to PCM. However, in my case my receiver has to do it since my player cannot. Sending the dts:HD MA and DD TruHD to the TV will mean getting only the lossy core from optical or coaxial digit outputs sent to my receiver.

My Yamaha AVR like other Yamaha AVRs clips the digital video signal on the blackest blacks and whitest whites. I don't like that and doing it your way is an option to overcome that through bypassing the AVR altogether. But I don't like loosing lossless audio either. AQ wins in this case.

[trekdude]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I'm going to try them and hope one works.

Any idea if the decrease in video quality is a sign of a problem with HDMI cables or the receiver?

I thought it was just me until my wife - who never notices video quality - said something about the video looking less clear when the surround sound was one. That confirmed my suspicisions.