Looking for the best PQ possible

[reyz]

okay, i figured this would be the best section to ask a question like this...

pardon me if it sounds stupid.


if i own a BD player that supports Deep Color via HDMI 1.3 and ALSO have a Plasma TV that supports Deep Color via HDMI 1.3, technically if I use a a/v receiver in between, does that player need to be Deep Color via HDMI 1.3 also? It doesn't matter whether its 24bit, 30bit or 36bit Deep Color right...

Let's say if it is Deep Color-compatible, has HDMI inputs and outputs but nowhere in sight does it say anything about HDMI 1.3 compatible then is it still compatible? (this is the case for the 2 receivers below that i'm looking to get)

also, even if a blu-ray player like the LG BD370 doesnt have x.v.Color for example but your a/v receiver has; then will whatever processing applied in the player and the receiver make it all the way to your HDTV so long as you have HDMI 1.3 cables plugged in (from your player to receiver to HDTV)?

Basically, to sum it up, what I want is, besides getting my lossless HD audio via a receiver/5.1 speaker setup,

also to maintain a full HD picture quality complete with Deep Color, x.v.Color and 1080p/24fps video processing quality standards that are applied (whether constantly throughout the components or merely just onboard either the player or the receiver) in the player->receiver->hdtv process regardless of whether you bitstream or decode onboard your HD audio formats to the receiver. as both audio and video are transmitted in a single HDMI cable, i'm worried as to whether any processing done by the receiver would affect the PQ. and if so, would it be better or worse.

besides the best SQ, i also want the best PQ possible, you see.

i've read somewhere that people have to get an additional hdmi 1.3a cable to plug in from their player to the hdtv because somehow or other their video quality is poorer when they send it through the receiver first via HDMI. problem is that most bd players only have 1 hdmi out so i certainly dont want to run into a similar problem!

potential bd players
LG BD370
-review says 1080p/24fps only possible if connected via HDMI to a 1080p/24fps compliant HDTV
-says it has Deep Color via HDMI 1.3 but only 12-bit BUT no x.v.Color
Sony BDP-S350
-says it has 1080p/24fps true cinema mode
-mentions x.v.Color processing but not Deep Color

potential a/v receivers
Yammy RX-V663
- says it has Deep Color (30/36 bit), the x.v.Color standard and 1080p/24Hz support
Pioneer VSX-919AH-K
- also says it has Deep Color and x.v.Color signal transfer, digital transfer of uncompressed video (contents protected by HDCP (1080p/24,
1080p/60, etc.))

with all the different processing standards, am really confused!

[joker552]

Originally Posted by reyz

okay, i figured this would be the best section to ask a question like this...

pardon me if it sounds stupid.


if i own a BD player that supports Deep Color via HDMI 1.3 and ALSO have a Plasma TV that supports Deep Color via HDMI 1.3, technically if I use a a/v receiver in between, does that player need to be Deep Color via HDMI 1.3 also? It doesn't matter whether its 24bit, 30bit or 36bit Deep Color right...

Let's say if it is Deep Color-compatible, has HDMI inputs and outputs but nowhere in sight does it say anything about HDMI 1.3 compatible then is it still compatible? (this is the case for the 2 receivers below that i'm looking to get)

also, even if a blu-ray player like the LG BD370 doesnt have x.v.Color for example but your a/v receiver has; then will whatever processing applied in the player and the receiver make it all the way to your HDTV so long as you have HDMI 1.3 cables plugged in (from your player to receiver to HDTV)?

Basically, to sum it up, what I want is, besides getting my lossless HD audio via a receiver/5.1 speaker setup,

also to maintain a full HD picture quality complete with Deep Color, x.v.Color and 1080p/24fps video processing quality standards that are applied (whether constantly throughout the components or merely just onboard either the player or the receiver) in the player->receiver->hdtv process regardless of whether you bitstream or decode onboard your HD audio formats to the receiver. as both audio and video are transmitted in a single HDMI cable, i'm worried as to whether any processing done by the receiver would affect the PQ. and if so, would it be better or worse.

besides the best SQ, i also want the best PQ possible, you see.

i've read somewhere that people have to get an additional hdmi 1.3a cable to plug in from their player to the hdtv because somehow or other their video quality is poorer when they send it through the receiver first via HDMI. problem is that most bd players only have 1 hdmi out so i certainly dont want to run into a similar problem!

potential bd players
LG BD370
-review says 1080p/24fps only possible if connected via HDMI to a 1080p/24fps compliant HDTV
-says it has Deep Color via HDMI 1.3 but only 12-bit BUT no x.v.Color
Sony BDP-S350
-says it has 1080p/24fps true cinema mode
-mentions x.v.Color processing but not Deep Color

potential a/v receivers
Yammy RX-V663
- says it has Deep Color (30/36 bit), the x.v.Color standard and 1080p/24Hz support
Pioneer VSX-919AH-K
- also says it has Deep Color and x.v.Color signal transfer, digital transfer of uncompressed video (contents protected by HDCP (1080p/24,
1080p/60, etc.))

with all the different processing standards, am really confused!

All i hear about 'Deep Color" is that it is useless. Professionals (like the crew at cnet.com) usually turn off that function. However, 1080/24p is still the best way to go if you truly want to experience the way movies were shot. I own the Sony 350, but my T.V is 720p/1080i so I can't tell you SPECIFIC differences. Since I am watching my movies in 1080i at 60 fps (which still looks great depending on the movie being played) I can't comment any further on the 1080p at 24 fps dilemma.
As far as the receiver goes, I highly recommend looking at the new Pioneer VSX-1019AH-K if all you care about is audio quality, fair enough it does support all the features you demand in VIDEO quality also.
Hope this helps. See ya. (http://reviews.cnet.com/av-receivers...rColumnArea1.0)

[Beta Man]

If you want the best possible PQ, just have your set professionally calibrated, and watch it on those settings.

You won't get visible improvements from the different players greater than you can achieve by a proper calibration.

Even after a proper calibration, you'd be hard pressed to see improved PQ from one player to another..... and I have a DVD player that costs 3 times the amount of my Blu-ray player because I chased the dragon for years, trying to maximize my PQ..... Calibration is very noticeable though.

[Hammie]

Originally Posted by Beta Man

If you want the best possible PQ, just have your set professionally calibrated, and watch it on those settings.

You won't get visible improvements from the different players greater than you can achieve by a proper calibration.

Even after a proper calibration, you'd be hard pressed to see improved PQ from one player to another..... and I have a DVD player that costs 3 times the amount of my Blu-ray player because I chased the dragon for years, trying to maximize my PQ..... Calibration is very noticeable though.

+1

Considering the current Blu-ray standard doesn't support deep color (or at least there are no discs that support it), it's sort of a silly feature. I think the only thing that supports deep color are some HD camcorders.

[wafi]

Originally Posted by louhamilton

+1

Considering the current Blu-ray standard doesn't support deep color (or at least there are no discs that support it), it's sort of a silly feature. I think the only thing that supports deep color are some HD camcorders.

Yeah no flicks in Deep Color so no point!

[bigred7078]

to andwer your question though, YES every component in the chain needs to be deep color certified. But like everyone has already said there is no deep color content available on Blu-ray...

[Rob J in WNY]

Reyz,

Gotta go with the above comments.

There are no Deep Color specified Blu-ray releases, and calibration is the best way to improve your PQ.

If you watch your BDs with "Dynamic" or "Vivid" factory picture settings, then although you will see bolder colors, the TV is likely "crushing" black detail as well as white detail. Dialing back the contrast (as well as brightness) is a good way to begin improving your PQ on your own. Also, reducing sharpness is another good way to improve PQ. Oversharpened video will bring out "ringing" visual artifacts, which lower overall image quality. Turn your sharpness down considerably (say, 15 to 30 on a 100 scale), and you will see natural transitions between image colors and details.

Turn off all video noise reduction as well. Although it can clean up a picture, it sometimes adds artifacts and/or can create an unnatural look.

I know you have a plasma, but for LCD TV owners:

If you are an LCD TV owner with a 120Hz refresh rate TV, turn off the "frame interpolation" feature off for maximum PQ. The interpolated frames, though sweet for motion-smoothing, often cause visible motion artifacting, additional moire, degradation of image detail (interpolated frames are not as faithful as the surrounding native frames), and the (loved and hated) "soap opera effect" (movies like "live video"). 120Hz LCD owners searching for the best PQ will find it using settings to ensure 5:5 pulldown for 24p Blu-ray movies (more accurate motion than a "doubled" 3:2 pulldown scheme). The improvement in PQ may make you forget about motion-smoothing all together!

Other controls, such as the 6 white balance settings, and "service menu" tweaks, should be left to someone with experience, especially thte latter. If you wish to try suggested picture settings for your model that sites like tweakmytv.com offer, make sure you can revert to factory picture settings, or at least write all your factory picture settings down first. Keep in mind that accessing your TV's embedded service menu settings is risky for the unexperienced in that you may not be able to undo any changes made.

Professional video calibration, though a bit costly (around $300) will offer you the most accurate color reproduction and maximum image detail.

Just so you know, most receivers will pass HDMI-carried 1080p video through untouched to the TV. Current Pioneer receivers, all the way through the Elite line, do this - a fact I like very much.

For what it's worth, I have a Sony BDP-S350 player, Sony KDL-40XBR4 TV (personally adjusted and calibrated), Pioneer Elite SC-05 receiver, and Polk Audio speakers all the way around (see my home theater gallery for all the details). All HDMI interconnected. I'm thrilled with the picture and sound that my system produces - absolutely happy with everything, except that I would like to upgrade to a larger TV and center channel speaker sometime. Not chomping at the bit to do it now, though.