New Samsung, looks like poo - Blu-ray Forum

bsbfan95 · 09-24-2008, 04:06 AM

OK.
I bought a Samsung LN37A550 (37" 1080p) HDTV last night.
Needless to say, I just don't get HDTVs. It looks like poo. Pixellated and blurry around text letters, I'm just frustrated with messing with the settings.
How does everyone else get their TVs to look great?!? Even at 4:3, its not wonderful and I want my old tube TV back.

Best Buy said Geek squad could have it calibrated, but I believe that's just for color. I refused because I felt like they were trying to scare me into spending $300 for a warranty plan.....do I need it?

arush5268d · 09-24-2008, 04:09 AM

Don't let them do it!

Get a calibration disk on your own and do it yourself. You will probably see a great improvement just from that.

Also, make sure that what you are viewing is a HD source. Standard definition on your HDTV will look like junk. That's not the TV doing anything bad - just showing you how bad it looks.

BStecke · 09-24-2008, 04:11 AM

How do you have it hooked up? Is this your first HDTV? What sources does it look bad on, or are all of them bad?

bsbfan95 · 09-24-2008, 04:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arush5268d

Don't let them do it!

Get a calibration disk on your own and do it yourself. You will probably see a great improvement just from that.

Also, make sure that what you are viewing is a HD source. Standard definition on your HDTV will look like junk. That's not the TV doing anything bad - just showing you how bad it looks.

Yeah, I'm not viewing HD channels, I just thought at 4:3, it would look good!
Where might I get one of these disks?
Thanks.

darkpoet25 · 09-24-2008, 04:12 AM

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/movies.php?id=551

Here you go.

bsbfan95 · 09-24-2008, 04:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BStecke

How do you have it hooked up? Is this your first HDTV?

Yes, my first HDTV, I have it hooked up to the cable

Can you believe I work in IT? lol.

BStecke · 09-24-2008, 04:13 AM

How is the cable actually hooked into the TV?

bsbfan95 · 09-24-2008, 04:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BStecke

How is the cable actually hooked into the TV?

Comcast Cable box (not HD box yet) to TV...

BStecke · 09-24-2008, 04:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bsbfan95

Comcast Cable box (not HD box yet) to TV...

You're killin' me Smalls

How is it hooked up to the TV? What kind of cable?

bsbfan95 · 09-24-2008, 04:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BStecke

You're killin' me Smalls

How is it hooked up to the TV? What kind of cable?

It came with the TV, looks like a plain cable but it says on it:
PCT-DRS-6

BStecke · 09-24-2008, 04:24 AM

If it's a coax cable, one that you have to screw onto the metal peg (some of them you don't have to screw in . . . if it's got a VERY thin, like the size of a small paper clip, piece of metal in the middle, it's coax), that's the worst possible way it can be hooked up. The next step up from that is composite video, typically a yellow RCA type connector. After that is S-Video, which can look alright, followed by component, followed by HDMI. Component is three video cables, Red, Green, and Blue. If you don't have an HD box, you MAY have component outputs, depending on the age of the box.

cartman781 · 09-24-2008, 04:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bsbfan95

It came with the TV, looks like a plain cable but it says on it:
PCT-DRS-6

Googled it- looks like it may be RG-6. You want HDMI or a component cable

bsbfan95 · 09-24-2008, 04:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BStecke

If it's a coax cable, one that you have to screw onto the metal peg (some of them you don't have to screw in . . . if it's got a VERY thin, like the size of a small paper clip, piece of metal in the middle, it's coax), that's the worst possible way it can be hooked up. The next step up from that is composite video, typically a yellow RCA type connector. After that is S-Video, which can look alright, followed by component, followed by HDMI. Component is three video cables, Red, Green, and Blue. If you don't have an HD box, you MAY have component outputs, depending on the age of the box.

Yeah, it's coaxial. How would I get a composite video cable from the cable box to the TV?
I assume once I get the HD box, the HDMI connector will come with it.
Can't I just go buy the yellow RCA connector by itself?

PS I'm really not stupid - I can fix a PC and make you a film, but when it comes to HDTVs - I'm retarded!

brett_day · 09-24-2008, 04:41 AM

standard def channels never look good on hdtv's, especially not when connected via coax. HDMI is the way to go, the sooner you can get a set top box that has an hdmi out the better, then you will bask in the glory that is hd

BStecke · 09-24-2008, 04:43 AM

I would really recommend S video over composite, unless you're getting the HD box very shortly, or you have a composite cable lying around and you just don't care. With S video you'd have the S video cable for (you guessed it) video, coupled with the red and white RCA's for sound, assuming that your sound is going through the TV.

It's not going to look stellar, or anything like what it looks like in the store, but S video is generally passable for SD.

jabolino · 09-24-2008, 04:53 AM

Do yourself a favor and get the HD box from Comcast, with a proper HDMI output. Otherwise your new TV will look crappier than your old tube.

phastm3 · 09-24-2008, 04:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bsbfan95

Yeah, it's coaxial. How would I get a composite video cable from the cable box to the TV?
I assume once I get the HD box, the HDMI connector will come with it.
Can't I just go buy the yellow RCA connector by itself?

PS I'm really not stupid - I can fix a PC and make you a film, but when it comes to HDTVs - I'm retarded!

You get composite by plugging composite cables from the box to the composite sections on the back of your tv. Don't even bother with s-video, especially if you plan to get an hd box. Just go to comcast tomorrow and get an HD box and go get an hdmi cable from Wally World (no, an hdmi cable won't come with the box). I would normally suggest getting your cables from monoprice.com, but it seems you are in a hurry. Just plug the hdmi cable into your tv from your cable box and 'voila' there you go my friend.

STARSCREAM · 09-24-2008, 04:57 AM

^exactly. I tried and tried to get my parents to get HD cable box after getting their hdtv 3 years ago and they refused. They called me a few weeks ago and said they just got HD cable box and the picture was great. I was like, ummmm I have been telling you this for 3 years or more now why didn't you do it then! It just makes no sense. To the OP, you need HDMI.

blu-backer · 09-24-2008, 05:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bsbfan95

Yeah, it's coaxial. How would I get a composite video cable from the cable box to the TV?
I assume once I get the HD box, the HDMI connector will come with it.
Can't I just go buy the yellow RCA connector by itself?

PS I'm really not stupid - I can fix a PC and make you a film, but when it comes to HDTVs - I'm retarded!

Like others have suggested, get the HD box from your cable provider and connect it via HDMI to the HDTV. However, even with that, SD channels will never look that great on your HDTV. You'll get tired of watching it and find yourself only watching HD channels and Blu-Rays.

Lepidopterous · 09-24-2008, 05:07 AM

Yea it's not your TV, it's the connection. That's a great TV.

09-24-2008, 04:06 AM	#1
bsbfan95 Junior Member Member since:Sep 2008	New Samsung, looks like poo OK. I bought a Samsung LN37A550 (37" 1080p) HDTV last night. Needless to say, I just don't get HDTVs. It looks like poo. Pixellated and blurry around text letters, I'm just frustrated with messing with the settings. How does everyone else get their TVs to look great?!? Even at 4:3, its not wonderful and I want my old tube TV back. Best Buy said Geek squad could have it calibrated, but I believe that's just for color. I refused because I felt like they were trying to scare me into spending $300 for a warranty plan.....do I need it?

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09-24-2008, 04:09 AM	#2
arush5268d Banned Member since:Jan 2008 Location:Houston, TX Blu-ray collection:85	Don't let them do it! Get a calibration disk on your own and do it yourself. You will probably see a great improvement just from that. Also, make sure that what you are viewing is a HD source. Standard definition on your HDTV will look like junk. That's not the TV doing anything bad - just showing you how bad it looks.

09-24-2008, 04:11 AM	#3
BStecke Blu-ray Knight Member since:Jun 2007 4K collection:182 Blu-ray collection:567 DVD collection:1 Digital collection:1 iTunes collection:1 Blu-ray reviews: 1 Trading Score:6	How do you have it hooked up? Is this your first HDTV? What sources does it look bad on, or are all of them bad?

09-24-2008, 04:12 AM	#5
darkpoet25 Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Feb 2007 Location:Indianapolis, IN Home Theater Gallery:45 4K collection:50 Blu-ray collection:297 Blu-ray reviews: 4	https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/movies.php?id=551 Here you go.

09-24-2008, 04:13 AM	#7
BStecke Blu-ray Knight Member since:Jun 2007 4K collection:182 Blu-ray collection:567 DVD collection:1 Digital collection:1 iTunes collection:1 Blu-ray reviews: 1 Trading Score:6	How is the cable actually hooked into the TV?

09-24-2008, 04:24 AM	#11
BStecke Blu-ray Knight Member since:Jun 2007 4K collection:182 Blu-ray collection:567 DVD collection:1 Digital collection:1 iTunes collection:1 Blu-ray reviews: 1 Trading Score:6	If it's a coax cable, one that you have to screw onto the metal peg (some of them you don't have to screw in . . . if it's got a VERY thin, like the size of a small paper clip, piece of metal in the middle, it's coax), that's the worst possible way it can be hooked up. The next step up from that is composite video, typically a yellow RCA type connector. After that is S-Video, which can look alright, followed by component, followed by HDMI. Component is three video cables, Red, Green, and Blue. If you don't have an HD box, you MAY have component outputs, depending on the age of the box.

09-24-2008, 04:41 AM	#14
brett_day Blu-ray Guru Member since:Mar 2008 Location:Moore, Oklahoma Home Theater Gallery:18 Blu-ray collection:45 Blu-ray reviews:1 Trading Score:1	standard def channels never look good on hdtv's, especially not when connected via coax. HDMI is the way to go, the sooner you can get a set top box that has an hdmi out the better, then you will bask in the glory that is hd

09-24-2008, 04:43 AM	#15
BStecke Blu-ray Knight Member since:Jun 2007 4K collection:182 Blu-ray collection:567 DVD collection:1 Digital collection:1 iTunes collection:1 Blu-ray reviews: 1 Trading Score:6	I would really recommend S video over composite, unless you're getting the HD box very shortly, or you have a composite cable lying around and you just don't care. With S video you'd have the S video cable for (you guessed it) video, coupled with the red and white RCA's for sound, assuming that your sound is going through the TV. It's not going to look stellar, or anything like what it looks like in the store, but S video is generally passable for SD.

09-24-2008, 04:53 AM	#16
jabolino Junior Member Member since:Sep 2008	Do yourself a favor and get the HD box from Comcast, with a proper HDMI output. Otherwise your new TV will look crappier than your old tube.

09-24-2008, 04:57 AM	#18
STARSCREAM Blu-ray Ninja Member since:Feb 2008 Location:Dagobah Blu-ray collection:148 Trading Score:67	^exactly. I tried and tried to get my parents to get HD cable box after getting their hdtv 3 years ago and they refused. They called me a few weeks ago and said they just got HD cable box and the picture was great. I was like, ummmm I have been telling you this for 3 years or more now why didn't you do it then! It just makes no sense. To the OP, you need HDMI.

09-24-2008, 05:07 AM	#20
Lepidopterous Blu-ray Ninja Top contributor Member since:Feb 2008 Location:DjMethod was here Blu-ray collection:696 Trading Score:2	Yea it's not your TV, it's the connection. That's a great TV.

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