Blu-Ray Help and Understanding

[The Ringer]

Ok guys help me out. I have a 47 inch LG television and bought a sony BD player a couple months ago. I returned it because honestly it really did not impress me that much. I have decided to get a 52 inch Samsung within the next couple months and want to buy another BD player just to see if it was my setup. I figured I was possibly setting it up the wrong way because at the store the image quality of Blu-ray looks phenominal but at home doesn't look anything like it.Please help me.

 

[LOTRFan]

Did you hook it up via HDMI?

 

[The Ringer]

Did you hook it up via HDMI?

Yes, granted not one of theose $100 monster cables but I found one for $20 at radio shack.

 

[dr_teng]

Hook it up via component/HDMI. Rent a blu-ray calibration disc and take the 20 minutes to properly set up your display. Sit a proper distance away from the display (if your seating areas are too far from your TV, you won't be able to tell, there's calculators available online). Make sure to rent or buy a quality Blu-ray as well, since some aren't that hot.

Edit : Don't worry about those crap Monster cables or anything, they're a marketing scam.

 

[Jen]

Paying $100 for HDMI/Monster cables is a scam!!!

I bought mine online for about $7 a piece.

 

[Kabukiman]

I'm really not trying to be insulting, so please don't take it a such. If BD didn't impress you at 47" then either it wasn't set up correctly or perhaps you need glasses.

I'm serious. My set is a piddly 37" and I was poo poo-ing BD like a troll when I got my PS3. A couple weeks later, I got my eyes checked and found I needed glasses. Now I'm a BD snob.



btw - Monster HDMI is an enormous waste of money. monoprice.com is your friend.

 

[Natrix]

Yep, if it didn't look good then double check your set up.

Hook it up then make sure the Blu Ray player is set to output the highest resolution possible that your TV accepts (most will probably be set up out of box to lowest resolution for initial hookup since not everyone has a 1080P set) and then calibrate your set with a calibration disk or even the THX calibration from one of the Star Wars DVD will help. Usually, you need to lower your TV's sharpness (higher settings increase pixelization and noise), and adjust the brightness and contrast settings, possibly color settings.

Also, not every Blu Ray movie picture quality will blow you away. Look in threads here, there is one for Blu Ray picture quality if I remember right or search the web for some reviews to find some good Blu Ray eye candy.

 

[Vader AL]

https://www.tweaktv.com/tweak-my-tv/calibration-guide/samsung-ln52a630-2.html

https://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1100599

 

[Natrix]

Good links Al.

Here is another calibration link:

https://www.hometheatermag.com/advicefromtheexperts/407cali/

Lots of good information to be found on AVSforums if you look for your next TV model and do a little research ahead of time.

Here is another one there for user voted Blu Ray PQ, which is pretty subjective and not necessarily accurate but a good starting point.

https://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=858316

Also, consider looking at a PS3 as a blu ray player. I love mine since it is extremely easy to update and it also can be used as a media center.

 

[The Ringer]

Thanks for the links guys.

Now hopefully I can experiece what everyone is experincing it a couple weeks. I am seriously considering the PS3 for the player although Samsung just released a new player that does not look bad.

 

[Natrix]

What ever player you get, remember that these players are basically mini computers that will need to be regularly updated with newest firmware for not only best performance but to also play newer disks as the copy protection changes to try prevent pirating.

 

[The ill Jedi]

I'm happy that so many are seeing the light when it comes to Blu-Ray, it made me sad to think so many were missing out on it, the picture and sound quality is fantastic.

Paying $100 for HDMI/Monster cables is a scam!!!

I bought mine online for about $7 a piece.

I did the same, got mine from ebay.

I'm really not trying to be insulting, so please don't take it a such. If BD didn't impress you at 47" then either it wasn't set up correctly or perhaps you need glasses.

I'm serious. My set is a piddly 37" and I was poo poo-ing BD like a troll when I got my PS3. A couple weeks later, I got my eyes checked and found I needed glasses. Now I'm a BD snob.



btw - Monster HDMI is an enormous waste of money. monoprice.com is your friend.

Nice!

Monster is a monumental waste of money, only for 'Name Brand Snobs' who must have everything hooked up to their system with a name attached.

 

[J-Wild]

Seriously, the AV forums are awesome for getting the calibration on a newer TV model. The custom picture I made for my 46" Sony Bravia looks worlds better than the picture I had from the factory start. That's what I would check into before replacing a TV.

 

[Vader AL]

i've tried the settings mentioned on AVS, etc. but none have worked for my Samsung. I've played around with the settings and am happy with the PQ but still feel the need to make it perfect, if that is possible. BR is amazing though.

 

[ripper_joe77]

I would definitly go with a Samsung or Sony if your going to replace your tv. I have a Sony Bravia and BD looks awesome!

 

[Mesa]

Monster is a monumental waste of money, only for 'Name Brand Snobs' who must have everything hooked up to their system with a name attached.

Me, I like the Monster cables. I have a crap load. All of them were obtained in some sort of sale where they were anywhere from 75-90% off, most recently from Circuit City when they were going out of business on the last Sunday they were open. No way would I pay retail, but when you can get them for about what you'd pay normally, they do have a nice weight and feel to them.



I need to get one of those calibration CD's for my setup. I just hooked it up, set it to the highest resolution and it looked great, but I guess I'll try and tweak it some.

What sort of settings do you adjust during the calibration routine?

 

[Natrix]

What sort of settings do you adjust during the calibration routine?

All you have to do is read the thread a little...look up in the thread post 7.

https://www.sideshowcollectors.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1523256&postcount=7