Blu-ray quality not exactly up to par...

[jali678]

Hello,

I recently purchased a PS3 and have it hooked up to a 40" Samsung LN40A550 (1080p & 30,000:1 contrast). I am using an HDMI cable that I purchased at Gamestop. Although I do notice a big difference between Blu Ray & regular DVDs; the picture quality I see at The Sony Store & even Costco I believe are much better & realistic. Watching Pirates of Car. 3 at Costco (on a Samsung) seemed more like classis Blu Ray style...where the people and scenes almost look "fake" at times. Where as watching the same movie on my set-up at home doesn't have that extra quality. Is this my TV? Or my HDMI cable? I am new to Blu Ray & any help would be very much appreciated. Thank You!!

[Kryptron]

I have that same tv and my picture looks phenominal on blurays. I think the tvs you were looking at in the store have the 120hz motion enhancer, which makes movement look more "lifelike" or "artificial" depending on your taste. The sony XBR4/5 and samsung 650/750 have that. If it's not the motion enhancer look that you are after try calibrating your set.

Here's a thread from avs with settings for the 550.
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1020612
Tweak your tv according to your room lighting. I would be glad to help you if you have any further questions.

[nbxfan]

One of the things to consider is that at the stores they have the TV set up differently than you would at home. They have it set up to be bright and colorful which is never recommended for home use. Also, though it doesn't really matter and won't make a difference, you don't need expensive HDMI cables. The one you got at gamestop you likely overpaid as www.monoprice.com, sells most HDMI cables at just a few dollars. Finally, you may need to go into the PS3 menu and make sure settings are properly set up. You may not be getting a 1080P picture if you haven't set up the PS3 for this. I guess the same could be said of how you set up your TV. I have a Sony TV and know that in the menu selections it has resolution settings.

[jimmymiro12]

Originally Posted by jali678

Hello,

I recently purchased a PS3 and have it hooked up to a 40" Samsung LN40A550 (1080p & 30,000:1 contrast). I am using an HDMI cable that I purchased at Gamestop. Although I do notice a big difference between Blu Ray & regular DVDs; the picture quality I see at The Sony Store & even Costco I believe are much better & realistic. Watching Pirates of Car. 3 at Costco (on a Samsung) seemed more like classis Blu Ray style...where the people and scenes almost look "fake" at times. Where as watching the same movie on my set-up at home doesn't have that extra quality. Is this my TV? Or my HDMI cable? I am new to Blu Ray & any help would be very much appreciated. Thank You!!

It probably isnt your tv because I have a 50" Samsung PN50A650 which is 1080p. what you must look at is the settings on your tv for contrast and stuff. Your hdmi cable may not be 1080p. If it doesnt say it is most likely it isnt. that could be the problem. when it goes to the ps3 and the movie goes in what does it say the ratio for the tv say there should be a ratio of

# x 1080

[jali678]

Ok great. I think the motion enhancer missing is the problem. Because other than that I have great color/clarity. I read more about it and most people say the motion enhancer becomes annoying after awhile anyways b/c things looks so "fake or cheap". Thank to both of you for your help.

[jali678]

It says 1920 x 1080. I didn't know HDMI cables came 1080p or not...

[Kryptron]

Your hdmi cable may not be 1080p

Sorry but you are wrong . All HDMI cables support 1080p. Most hdmi cables are tested upto 1440p theres plenty of bandwidth for 1080p and uncompressed sound even on a $4 cable.

[My_Two_Cents]

Originally Posted by jimmymiro12

Your hdmi cable may not be 1080p.

[jimmymiro12]

Originally Posted by Ricshoe

i thought because some only say 1080i thats why i figured that.

[Kryptron]

Originally Posted by jimmymiro12

i thought because some only say 1080i thats why i figured that.

It's all a marketing scheme. Companies want people to believe that they need the top end cable to get 1080p and the best picture and it's all B.S. With a digital signal you ethier get it all or you don't.

Some HDMI Faqs :http://www.hdmi.org/learningcenter/faq.aspx

[CasualKiller]

Originally Posted by Kryptron

Sorry but you are wrong . All HDMI cables support 1080p. Most hdmi cables are tested upto 1440p theres plenty of bandwidth for 1080p and uncompressed sound even on a $4 cable.

All HDMI cables DO NOT support 1080p, only Category 2 cables. Category 1 cables are only rated for 75mhz, the equivalent of a 1080i signal.

And if he bought his at a Gamestop that would be the first thing I would look into.

And here's the quote from the website you just linked him:

* Standard (or “category 1”) cables have been tested to perform at speeds of 75Mhz, which is the equivalent of a 1080i signal.
* High Speed (or “category 2”) cables have been tested to perform at speeds of 340Mhz, which is the highest bandwidth currently available over an HDMI cable and can successfully handle 1080p signals including those at increased color depths and/or increased refresh rates. High-Speed cables are also able to accommodate higher resolution displays, such as WQXGA cinema monitors (resolution of 2560 x 1600).

[jali678]

Ok, so hang on. When I watch a movie on my Ps3 the info is: 1920x1080 @ 24Hz. Is that no good then???

[Kryptron]

Originally Posted by CasualKiller

All HDMI cables DO NOT support 1080p, only Category 2 cables. Category 1 cables are only rated for 75mhz, the equivalent of a 1080i signal.

And if he bought his at a Gamestop that would be the first thing I would look into.

And here's the quote from the website you just linked him:

That doesn't mean a category 1 cable can't do 1080p. Here read this:http://www.abccables.com/info-hdmi-p.html

This does not mean that a Category 1 tested cable definitely will not support or pass a Category 2 test. A shorter HDMI cable, 3m or less in length, even if it does not have a specific 1080p marking, will probably pass the Category 2 test. The longer that the cable length is, the more demanding the 1080p signal is on the quality of the cable.

[jali678]

I'm officially confused. My 1920x1080 @ 24Hz while playing a movie, is that lousy? Can I improve it somehow? Is it a setting on my ps3 or TV (Samsung LN-40A550)? When I play a game on my PS3 it plays at 60Hz...why is that higher than watching a movie??? Someone please dumb it down for me & explain...thanks!!

[Kryptron]

Originally Posted by jali678

Ok, so hang on. When I watch a movie on my Ps3 the info is: 1920x1080 @ 24Hz. Is that no good then???

Yes it looks like your getting 1080p. Most movies are shot at 24hz, most games will show 60 your fine!

There are threads that explain this please use the search button.

[jali678]

Ok but should I be getting a faster Hz when playing movies?

[Kryptron]

Originally Posted by jali678

Ok but should I be getting a faster Hz when playing movies?

No. Most movies are shot in 24hz. Again your fine. IF your woried set the ps3 to automatic on the 24p setting and it should take care of it for you.

[jali678]

Oh ok cool. So what's the point of these "Category 2" Cables offering 300+Hz if movies aren't shot that way?

[Kryptron]

^ For future stuff, and using it for pc connections which run much higher resolutions then 1080p.

[jali678]

Ahhh, ok gotcha. I just read that my TV's refresh rate is 60Hz so I should be good to go if I get that playing ps3 games. Thanks again.