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Q I have a Panasonic Plasma HDTV with a resolution of 720p, and I
also have purchased a Denon Progressive Scan DVD Player model DVD-900. I
have noticed while watching certain movies w/ darker scenes that there is a
slight flickering or sandiness associated with the picture. I am wondering the
reason and if there is anything I can do to fix this? Is it the DVD player, or
perhaps something I can adjust?
A I suspect this is a combination of Plasma TV limitations in dark
areas, and the fact that the DVD video is up-converted to 720p. It may also be a
result of boosting the black levels in both the DVD player and the TV. Check to
make sure you only change the black level setting in one or the other component. We will be
testing some Plasma TVs shortly and will check out all the possible combinations
of input resolutions and resulting picture qualities.
T
Q I now have two source units with DVI Output, a
Denon 5900 and Sony SAT200. My projector only has one DVI input. Can you
recommend a specific model switcher that can be controlled via remote and has
the proper bandwidth and is HDCP compliant?
A We are getting ready to
test DVI switchers at the end of November. They are just now starting to appear
on the consumer market.
T
Q Are you planning any HDTV
Benchmarks?
A The problem with reviewing
TVs is that they are very difficult to ship due to their size. So, we may
develop Benchmark Specifications, but we can't do numerous tests all in one
weekend like we did with DVD players. The reviews will come one at a time.
T
Q I noticed in you latest DVD
shootout you reviewed the Bravo D1 and did not particularly care for it. I have
been looking for a DVD player with DVI out for some time now. I have been
thinking of the Samsung DVD-HD931. I was wondering if you could recommend a
player with DVI out.
A The Bravo and Samsung
are about the only choices right now. They do a satisfactory job, but just
don't pass all of our Benchmark specifications. I am almost finished with
the Samsung DVD-HD931 review. It is a pretty decent player, but like all new
technologies (DVI output), it has a few problems that I will discuss in the
review. They are not insurmountable though.
T
Q When will you have a Receiver Benchmark?
A We thought we could do one
in November, but it turns out the new 2004 receivers are not all ready for
release yet. So, that will come in March, 2004, we hope. A Benchmark
Specification for Surround Sound Processors (SSP) will be published in the next
week, which will list the specifications that we will be using in testing
receivers and processors.
T
Q Have you seen any problems
with DVI output to your projector, like framing , lost control of adjustments for
video picture, greenish or reddish colors? I use the DVI output from my DVD
player to my DVI projector input, and this happens on some movies but not all.
A We have seen framing problems with some DVD
movies, particularly 4:3 (old movies on DVD), where it will be stretched instead
of shown in 4:3. I have been able to correct it by setting the DVI output of the DVD
player to 480p, instead of 720p or 1080i. The color changes you are referring to
are probably a result of not adhering to the DVI output specifications.
T
Q Some manufacturers specifically recommend
connecting their powered subwoofers to the speaker terminals (instead of the low
level RCA outputs) of receivers. What does this type of parallel connection of
the subwoofer do to the impedance load as seen by the amplifier?
A The output impedance of a pre-out is somewhere
around 300 Ohms, while the output impedance of speaker terminals is around 0.01
Ohm. The subwoofer speaker-level input takes this into account.
T
Q In one of your Q&As, you say, "Although
1080i has a slightly sharper picture, 720p is the more demanding scanning
frequency. Plasma flat panel TVs, LCD flat panel TVs, and most RPTVs will show
programs at a maximum of 1366x768 pixels" You make the word maximum here sound
like a bad thing. Isn't 768 pixels enough to give you both 1080i and 720p? I
mean 1080i is only 540 lines at any one time and the 720 in 720p is less than
768.
A Some panels are 1366x768 and others are 1280x720.
1080i is 1920x1080, so none of the current panel TVs will show 1080i. They will
show 720p. Even though 1080i only shows 540 lines at any one instant, they have
to fit into a 1080i line space, and the current panels can only fit 720 (or
768).
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