Sony 32P3020 - Not as good as everyone says or faulty?

[admin_exported]

Hi everyone, sorry for my first post here to be asking for help but here it is anyway...

I recently got round to replacing my old Toshiba 21" CRT with a Sony 32P3020 after reading many rave reviews about the excellent picture quality. At first things seemed fine, the picture looked sharper than the old Tosh and didn't seem to have the problem it had with large areas of red.

After a while, however, I've started to notice some serious problems - especially with slightly darker scenes. Even the smallest movement produces a sort of trail of digital noise and a kind of smearing effect. The problem is especially noticeable with faces, the final straw came last night while watching "There's Something About Mary" - in the scenes with the 'stalkers' sat in their cars it looked like their faces were coming apart. It's almost as if areas of their faces were pausing and then catching up.

My first thought was maybe it was an issue with the DVD player (Toshiba SD-330E) but switching to Sky to watch Mission Impossible 2 and the problem remained. It doesn't seem as noticeable with live TV through the sky box. I can't try the built in Freeview as my aerial detached from the roof in some bad weather!

Changing settings on the TV doesn't seem to make a difference (noise reduction etc.)

So, what do you think? Is this a faulty set or just the limitations of a budget LCD TV? Also, would buying a new SCART lead help things? (although the DVD player one is decent quality)

Looking forward to any help you can give, as I'm about ready to send the TV back!!

Sorry if I've gone on for too long!

-major t-

 

[Andy Clough]

Hi Major T

Definitely sounds like you've got a problem there. Does your Toshiba DVD player have an HDMI output (I'm pretty sure the SD-330 did, from memory)? I'm thinking it would be better to connect the DVD to the TV via HDMI if you can. Of course, that won't solve the problem on Sky. Have you turned of all digital processing modes on the TV? We often find they hinder rather than help.

 

[Anonymous]

Hi Andy, thanks for the speedy response

The DVD player doesn't have HDMI, i think it pre-dates it a bit! I've turned off the noise reduction, sharpness and dynamic contrast adjustment (or whatever it's called!) but it's still the same.

Are we thinking faulty set then?

If I get a replacement and it's the same, would you suggest a different TV or am I better off sticking with this and getting HD?

 

[Anonymous]

Just been to try the same DVD on my brother's TV and there was no problem at all. The problems with mine could be seen on his but to a much, much lesser extent and you'd only notice when stood very close to the TV and if someone pointed it out.

Interestingly, he has a 32U3000 which according to Sony's specs is the same as the 32P3020 but doesn't have the Bravia picture engine. Could that be the cause of my problems?

 

[Anonymous]

Bought a new scart cable for the Sky box and component cable for the DVD player (both QED "one" series)

Looks about a million times better.

Really learned my lesson with using the freebie cables!!

 

[Clare Newsome]

majortarantino:
Bought a new scart cable for the Sky box and component cable for the DVD player (both QED "one" series)

Looks about a million times better.

Really learned my lesson with using the freebie cables!!

I have a feeling I may be linking to this thread many times in the future....

 

[Andy Clough]

Ah, so good cables do make a difference then!