I'm new... Can someone explain receivers for me?

[paul_66]

Please, I'm new to this. I use my PS3 for blu-rays and gaming via one single HDMI cable hooked into the back of my '32 inch Samsung. I'm totally new to this, but I realize that when I first turn on my PS3 in a single day, I don't really feel the say "HD quality" until later in the day. Would a receiver change that to where I'm getting the best HD quality from the get go? Please explain to me how I can get HD quality from the get go. Sometimes my blu-rays feel like upconverted DVDs and I can't stand it. Explain to me what a receiver actually does, because I have no clue. I feel real behind and can't seem to find a way to catch up. I'll greatly appreciate it.

[brett_day]

a receiver will not improve picture quality.

A receiver would be used to receive and decode Audio from your components.

You would run your blu ray player through the receiver. the receiver connects to your tv.

The blu ray player sends audio and video to the receiver via HDMI or component cables, the sound from the receiver is then played through speakers connected to the receiver and the video is passed through to the tv. Hope that makes sense

but now on to why you are not liking what you see! What is it about the picture quality you do not like? Not all blu ray transfers are equal. Some blu ray transfers are not very good, can look very grainy or washed out, others are absolutely mind blowing.

What movie are you watching that you are not happy with?

What settings are you using on your ps3?

[paul_66]

I already said. It's like the HD quality doesn't kick in until after a long time of using the PS3. I understand different movies have different transfers. Like for example, I watched my North by Northwest the other day and stuck it back in later and it blew me away! I saw more HD quality than I did on my first viewing including a bunch of other movies. And when HD kicks it, you can tell 'cause the picture pops out almost like it's 3D. Even the audio quality seem to have gotten better. I know it's not my eyes or ears. It seems like to me that my HDMI cable is not sending or my TV is not receiving information fast enough or something. I have no clue. Could a receiver make it send/receive faster? I know it wouldn't improve picture quality, I'm not that stupid.

[citizen]

ive never heard of anything like what you're describing, but a receiver is not going to solve whatever it is, perhaps it is some kind of problem with your playstation

[progers13]

Time of day and viewing conditions can have a big impact. I know in my situation, my TV looks brilliant during the day. However, during nighttime viewing, I have to change to a different setting or it won't look nearly as good.

[paul_66]

I don't know what it could be. Does anybody have a recommenation for PS3 settings? My PS3 is currently in use, so I'll have to post my settings a little later.

Edit for last reply: I understand that. I try to keep the lighting in my room the same all time, I don't think that's my issue. I mean one momment I feel like I'm watching an unconverted DVD and later it feels like a mini-theater to me. I know people say it doesn't matter what HDMI cable you have, but the one I'm using now is a lot better then the one I used before.

[progers13]

Originally Posted by paul_66

I don't know what it could be. Does anybody have a recommenation for PS3 settings? My PS3 is currently in use, so I'll have to post my settings a little later.

Yes, post them and I can walk you through any changes you should make. Off the top of my head, one of the most noticeable has to do with full range or limited (it's one of the last ones in the video settings section). You want to make sure it is set to Limited or else you will lose all shadow detail and causes severe black crush.

Post them here when you get a chance, or PM me, and I will help you with them.

[paul_66]

This is the fat PS3 hooked up to a 720p LCD with one Mediabridge HDMI cable.

Game Settings (might as well):
PS Upscaler - Normal
PS Smoothing - Off

Video Settings:
BD/DVD Cinema Conversion - Automatic
DVD Wide Display - Pan and Scan
BD/DVD Upscaler - Normal
BD/DVD Video Output Format (HDMI) Y Pb/Cb Pr/Cr
BD 1080p 24 Hz Output (HDMI) - Off
BD/DVD Dynamic Range Control - Off
BD/DVD Audio Output Format (HDMI) - Linear PCM
BD Audio Output Format (Optical Digital) - Bitstream
Sequential Playback - On

Display Settings:
Video Output Settings - 720p
Cross Color Reduction Filter - Off
RGB Full Range (HDMI) - Limited
Y Pb/Cb Pr/Cr Super-White (HDMI) - On

Sound Settings:
Audio Output Settings - Automatic
Output Format - Linear PCM 2 Ch 44.1 kHz and Linear PCM 2 Ch. 48 kHz
Audio Multi-Output - Off

If anybody has any input on these settings, I would greatly appreciate them.

[progers13]

Originally Posted by paul_66

This is the fat PS3 hooked up to a 720p LCD with one Mediabridge HDMI cable.

Game Settings (might as well):
PS Upscaler - Normal
PS Smoothing - Off

Video Settings:
BD/DVD Cinema Conversion - Automatic
DVD Wide Display - Pan and Scan
BD/DVD Upscaler - Normal
BD/DVD Video Output Format (HDMI) Y Pb/Cb Pr/Cr
BD 1080p 24 Hz Output (HDMI) - Off
BD/DVD Dynamic Range Control - Off
BD/DVD Audio Output Format (HDMI) - Linear PCM
BD Audio Output Format (Optical Digital) - Bitstream
Sequential Playback - On

Display Settings:
Video Output Settings - 720p
Cross Color Reduction Filter - Off
RGB Full Range (HDMI) - Limited
Y Pb/Cb Pr/Cr Super-White (HDMI) - On

Sound Settings:
Audio Output Settings - Automatic
Output Format - Linear PCM 2 Ch 44.1 kHz and Linear PCM 2 Ch. 48 kHz
Audio Multi-Output - Off

If anybody has any input on these settings, I would greatly appreciate them.

Well...those settings look right. That's exactly how I have my PS3 setup. Which leads me back to thinking it has something to do with the TV. You said it doesn't look so good in the morning, but much better later in the day. Is there an overabundance of light in the room in the morning and the room gets darker as the day goes on?

Edit: Actually I have 24p set to On, but I don't know that your TV supports it, and I can't imagine that being the problem anyway.

[paul_66]

I don't think it is. 'Cause when I turn it on and put in a blu-ray movie the TV seems to automatically display it as 1080p, when it's a 720p TV. Also, I notice lip-sync when I do that.

I'm wondering if it's the HDMI cable. The performance of it that is. I mean, I'm simply talking HD quality, not necessarily picture quality, but they're basically the same thing. And I don't think it has anything to do with the lighting. It can be already dark and I don't feel the HD quality until later on that night near midnight or later actually, then it kicks in and it's awesome. I don't know why I can't get this all day long. People say there isn't any difference in HDMI cables, but I almost beg to differ, unless a receiver would be the solution. Is there anybody who knows what they're talking about in these boards?

[progers13]

Originally Posted by paul_66

I don't think it is. 'Cause when I turn it on and put in a blu-ray movie the TV seems to automatically display it as 1080p, when it's a 720p TV. Also, I notice lip-sync when I do that.

I'm wondering if it's the HDMI cable. The performance of it that is. I mean, I'm simply talking HD quality, not necessarily picture quality, but they're basically the same thing. And I don't think it has anything to do with the lighting. It can be already dark and I don't feel the HD quality until later on that night near midnight or later actually, then it kicks in and it's awesome. I don't know why I can't get this all day long. People say there isn't any difference in HDMI cables, but I almost beg to differ, unless a receiver would be the solution. Is there anybody who knows what they're talking about in these boards?

No, receiver won't make a difference with what you're experiencing. It's possible something is going on between the TV and / or the HDMI cable. Do you have the PS3's component cables? Can you plug that up and give it a shot, see if it looks right to you? If it does, maybe you could try getting a different HDMI cable and see if that solves it. At this point it is process of elimination.

[paul_66]

Actually I tried that one time, but I'll have to do it again because I don't remember. Also, my brother is using our PS3 and playing GTA IV and HD quality seems to have kicked in and it looks awesome. Maybe it is the cable. But we just bought this one, though it is better than our old one.

Could a Sony cable from Walmart be better than a Mediabridge from Amazon?

[progers13]

Originally Posted by paul_66

Actually I tried that one time, but I'll have to do it again because I don't remember. Also, my brother is using our PS3 and playing GTA IV and HD quality seems to have kicked in and it looks awesome. Maybe it is the cable. But we just bought this one, though it is better than our old one.

Could a Sony cable from Walmart be better than a Mediabridge from Amazon?

Um...I subscribe to the belief that any HDMI cable is the same for short runs...so I can only comment that you can try out a different one and see if it helps...

[paul_66]

I suppose. I'll see what I can do and find out and I'll get back to this.

[callas01]

Originally Posted by progers13

Time of day and viewing conditions can have a big impact. I know in my situation, my TV looks brilliant during the day. However, during nighttime viewing, I have to change to a different setting or it won't look nearly as good.

WHAT!?

I never have to do that...

[cns1113]

[QUOTE=paul_66;3021825]I suppose. I'll see what I can do and find out and I'll get back to this.[/QUOTE

There is almost no way that you have had 2 bad HDMI cables. It actually sounds like it might be a problem with the PS3. I have been installing equipment for a long time and have never heard of HD "kicking in" later in the movie. Can you get your hands on another PS3 and try it out? A receiver or another HDMI cable won't be the answer. A receiver will just improve your sound, and all your settings seem fine. It sounds like a strange problem.

[kareface]

It's an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible receivers, as are all players in the backfield. Since these two receivers begin play as the offensive players nearest the sidelines, they are referred to as "wide" receivers. At the start of play, one wide receiver may begin play in the backfield, at least a yard behind the line of scrimmage, as is shown in the diagram at the right. The wide receiver on the right begins play in the backfield. Such positioning allows another player, usually the tight end, to also become the eligible receiver on that side of the line. Such positioning defines the strong side of the field.

[quetzalcoatl]

I would say you have one of 2 problems and you will need help to test both it sounds like.
You have a PS3 that is acting up. That test would be to take it to someone elses house that has a HD tv and hook it up and watch. If you see a good pic from the start you can then narrow it down to the tv.
The second is the TV is acting up. And to test that you would need another blu-ray player to hook up to it. And if you get a good pic from the start then you can figure it is the PS3 that is having the problem.

Now if both these test show a good pic from the start then I cannot help.
But that is how I would start the troubleshooting.

[mywxrld]

Originally Posted by kareface

It's an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible receivers, as are all players in the backfield. Since these two receivers begin play as the offensive players nearest the sidelines, they are referred to as "wide" receivers. At the start of play, one wide receiver may begin play in the backfield, at least a yard behind the line of scrimmage, as is shown in the diagram at the right. The wide receiver on the right begins play in the backfield. Such positioning allows another player, usually the tight end, to also become the eligible receiver on that side of the line. Such positioning defines the strong side of the field.

[Driver_King]

Originally Posted by paul_66

I already said. It's like the HD quality doesn't kick in until after a long time of using the PS3. I understand different movies have different transfers. Like for example, I watched my North by Northwest the other day and stuck it back in later and it blew me away! I saw more HD quality than I did on my first viewing including a bunch of other movies. And when HD kicks it, you can tell 'cause the picture pops out almost like it's 3D. Even the audio quality seem to have gotten better. I know it's not my eyes or ears. It seems like to me that my HDMI cable is not sending or my TV is not receiving information fast enough or something. I have no clue. Could a receiver make it send/receive faster? I know it wouldn't improve picture quality, I'm not that stupid.

Forget the receiver for now. First of all, if your room is pouring in light, you'll notice a degradation in picture quality. You should be watching your TV in a dark environment. Calibration helps significantly as well. When the picture looks better, it's likely because the environment is darker and you are focusing less on the picture and are enjoying the movie. It could also be due to the fact that at different times of day, your senses are more alert and because you function differently at different times of day.