Blu-ray / DVD Picture Quality

[admin_exported]

Hello Everyone,

I am sending DVD / Blu-ray signal via Panny BD35 / Onkyo 606 onto Pioneer LX508.

This has been installed by the company I bought all the kit from, and have to say that I'm ecstatic regards the picture quality when playing Blu-ray, its a joy to watch. BUT...... when playing 'normal' DVD's I find the picture quality quite poor.

My inital question is that I know the Onkyo can upscale as well as the BD35 but how do I know which piece of kit is doing the work, and will it effect the picture quality. I will go as far to say that I recorded Private Ryan on HD off Sky+ and compared it too the DVd of the same film and would have expected the 'upscaled' DVD picture quality to be better but wasn't. Can anyone advise please.

 

[Anonymous]

My DVD's don't look so great too on my Panasonic BD35. My previous system, a Pioneer DCS363 was superior in terms of upscaling regular DVD's.

Blu-Ray pictures however, are pristine!

 

[Sorreltiger]

I would actually expect your Pioneer to be the best upscaler in your kit. ÿThat's certainly true of the 4280XD in my system. ÿI'd try setting the Blu-ray player to output the at native resolution of whatever it's playing ÿ- that's 'Auto' on my Sony. ÿThe Onkyo then needs to be set to pass through that signal.

ÿ

I would also expect the PQ of a movie on Sky+HD to be better than upscaled DVD.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the reply. This shows my knowledge is quite poor on the matter. I didn't know that the screen could do this, so its worth a try.

Therefore can anyone advise how to pass the signal through the Panny BD35 as native, set the Onkyo to pass through and set my screen to do the upscaling. I know I should read the manuals but they are just as confusing. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Anonymous]

I have the Panny BD30 with the Onkyo 606 now I have played a few DVDs with mixed results on upscale the Latest Indiana Jones being one which was rubbish. But Sunday I put on Gladiator I was amazed it was nearly Blu ray quality it was that good. I have not messed with any settings nor will I. My TV is the Panny TH50PZ80 which as a good name for PQ in Blu ray and HD

 

[beater]

I agree with you hilly10, i have watched some films that have not been very good on dvd and some that look as you say very close to blu-ray quality.

panasonic 50px70 / panasonic bd30 / panasonic ex87 / onkyo 606 / kef iQ5se's / kef iQ2c / kef iQ1's on atacama nexus stands / kef 1005's for back surrounds / kef 1000.2 sub.

 

[drummerman]

Get yourself a Toshiba XD-E500 scaling player. It really is very good at up-scaling even without Toshibas XDE circuit switched in but turn it on and its a different story altogether. The picture is comparable to good SKY HD material with sharp definition but without artefacts.

Comets or Curry's (sorry I can't remember) sold it for £60 a couple of months back and may still do.

 

[Rorschach]

Hi drummerman, i've been so close to getting the Toshiba player but there's always been one or two drawbacks, especially from the likes of users/reviewers on Amazon. Have you had any problems with it? Could you recommend any other upscaling Dvd players? I've looked at the Onkyo but i don't know what to think. Here's the Amazon reviews, you encountered anything like these people have?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/review/product/B001ELK374/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt/278-7530653-2738649?%5Fencoding=UTF8&showViewpoints=1

 

[drummerman]

Rorschach:
Hi drummerman, i've been so close to getting the Toshiba player but there's always been one or two drawbacks, especially from the likes of users/reviewers on Amazon. Have you had any problems with it? Could you recommend any other upscaling Dvd players? I've looked at the Onkyo but i don't know what to think. Here's the Amazon reviews, you encountered anything like these people have?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/review/product/B001ELK374/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt/278-7530653-2738649?%5Fencoding=UTF8&showViewpoints=1

No problems whatsoever but then I normally watch a dvd without switching the thing off and resume the next day so I can't comment on that particular 'problem'. The display is basic, the remote is ok, the picture is very nice indeed. Even a £800 Denon B/R player did'nt upscale 'I am legend' nearly as impressive. Sorry, I can't suggest any alternatives but at under a hundred pounds it makes glorious dvd pictures.

 

[Rorschach]

Cool, still clueless, God knows which one i'll get. Is the aspect ratio 4:3 used commonly today in dvds? A person was having a rant on Amazon how it didn't do the 4:3 aspect ratio, i've never noticed any of my dvds with a 4:3 aspect ratio but who knows their could be one lurking about.

Thanks, Rorschach.

 

[Andy Clough]

Rorschach:
Cool, still clueless, God knows which one i'll get. Is the aspect ratio 4:3 used commonly today in dvds? A person was having a rant on Amazon how it didn't do the 4:3 aspect ratio, i've never noticed any of my dvds with a 4:3 aspect ratio but who knows their could be one lurking about.

Thanks, Rorschach.

In a word, no. Vast majority of DVD movies are in widescreen, either 16:9 ratio or Cinemascope. You might get the odd older TV programme on DVD in 4:3, but it's not something I'd worry about.

 

[Rorschach]

Thanks Andy, a little more research to go but i'm nearly there.

Thanks, Rorschach.

 

[Anonymous]

I have the Panasonic BD35 connected via HDMI into a Sony 40w4500 and have to say that I've been astounded so far at the quality of the upscaling that I've seen from DVD. I think I must have the TV doing the upscaling but I'll check.

Just out of interest, how are you connecting your BluRay player and TV?

 

[Anonymous]

Thats a good question. Both the Panasonic BD35 and the Pioneer LX508 are connected to the Onkyo using QED Performance HDMI cables. Although due to all the kit being hidden in on the other side of the wall (in a cupboard out the way due to wanting a 'cable free' look) the cable between Amp and Pioneer is 5m long, but I'm assuming this shouldn't effect picture quality that much.

I would like to throw the question open is what should provide the best upscaling. Panasonic BD35 or Onkyo 606 or Pioneer LX508. I'll the get some advice from the shop where I bought all the kit, as thats the least they can do considering my purchase, unless you guys out there can advise. As stated before I would have thought the Pansonic but you never know ???

Also it seems from some of the other posts / replies that picture quality varies on different DVD's so it might be worth trying a different disk.