Will Sky HD box make all my channels better quality?

[Davro83]

Hi, i only have standard freeview thats in my tv and im not happy with the picture. If i decide to get sky, i will get the HD box. Will this make average channels like E4 etc look better? Im after getting the best SD picture i can.

 

[ianandyr]

No, not really - fundamentally you are limited by the amount of information in the original signal which the HD box can do nothing to improve. The HD channels are a big improvement over their SD equivalents though.

However, you may be suffering from poor signal quality in which case Sky, Freesat or a new aerial could all help.ÿ

 

[Clare Newsome]

I'd disagree - slightly!

The step up on the Sky+ HD box to using an HDMI connection makes an improvement to all SD channels over a lesser connection. But even that upgrade can't do much to the poorer-quality SD channels - you can't polish a....

 

[ianandyr]

We are talking minor improvement here though, if indeed you see can any. The limiting factor is the original signal

 

[Gerrardasnails]

ianandyr:We are talking minor improvement here though, if indeed you see can any. The limiting factor is the original signal

I disagree. HDMI to screen from HD box gives a decent improvement over scart to a standard Sky box.

 

[drummerman]

I find the built in freeview of my tv superior in pq to SD from Sky HD Samsung box which is to soft, lacks contrast and is even darker. Substituting the supplied, cheap HDMI lead with a good quality one certainly makes a difference and brings the two closer together. I can't comment on the sound as I have'nt finished my system build yet. HD is good.

regards

 

[Anonymous]

I think the SKY HD box for standard def (via HDMI) is greatly improved. I can definitely tell the difference if i am running my standard SKY+ box via Scart to when I'm running my SKY+ HD box via HDMI. It upscales to 1080i via HDMI.

 

[bretty]

I found that my HD box isn't as good at displaying sd channels as my old SKY+ was, especially when the HD box's scaler is on. I feel this is a trade-off that's bearable because of how great the images on the HD channels are.

 

[ianandyr]

Still with us OP ?

 

[drummerman]

Probably not as I don't think anyone answered his question

It was not whether hdmi scores over a scart connection with the Sky box or whether the HD version is better than the +. If I understud correctly he wants to know if normal SD channels look better when viewed through a SKY HD box than freeview by means of a tuner of that ilch.

Like I said, in my case no but not all sets have the same quality tuner/upscaling capabilities and if you happen to be in a bad terrestrial signal area then freeview will be compromised, certain channels anyway so satellite may be the solution though it's certainly no guarantee for better SD picture.

regards

 

[Davro83]

Ok thanks drummerman. Yeah my freeview i think looks rubbish. Girlfriend said yesterday she wants sky for her birthday! Who am i to complain! Guess i will find out shortly if il get a better picture or not.

 

[Alec]

strange one this. some rekon there's definitely a difference, and if enough people agreed id get HD. But when there's so much disagreement i tend to assume its inconclusive, to say the least.