SD Pic Quality from HR10-250?

[GrumpyGuy]

I just reactivated my Directv account to re-test the waters. On my Sony KDSR60XBR1, the picture on the Standard Definition channels appears to have a haze. It's blurry sort of like when you crankup the persistence. The receiver is a Directv Tivo Philips DSR708 and I'm using the S video connection.

Will the picture quality improve if I get the HR10-250 and use the component or HDMI connection?

I've tried to check it out at Sound Advice and Circuit City since they both have my tv set and Directv but the sales guys will not switch to SD channels.

Thanks!

[litzdog911]

Maybe. There's only so much you can do with DirecTV's standard definition (480i) MPEG2 compressed video. One thing that can make a dramatic improvement is proper adjustment of your TV's video settings using a good video calibration DVD, like AVIA or Digital Video Essential.

And it's no surprise that the dealer doesn't want to display DirecTV's SD channels in the showroom .... they know how bad it will look, especially with the way the crank up the video settings on those demonstration TVs.

[coachO]

I dont think the SD picture is any better using my HD10, it might even be worse. However, on my DLP TV I get a better SD picture than on my LCD ( my lcd seems too soft), HD looks the same on both. Remember, better picture is in the eye of the beholder.

[newsposter]

This applies to me and 'may' apply to others with my types of equipment. But I do know that SD looks better thru the HDtivo vs my old T60. However I could never tell someone it will have the same results for their setup with 100 % certainty. I have no clue if it's because the hdtivo makes it look better or if the analog crt rptv loves the sd at 1080. (scalers and such techo stuff)

I should also note i haven't compared anything other than 480i and 1080i. But i can attest to the same exact pic on the T60 looks worse than through the Hdtivo using my hdmi.

[darthrsg]

Pretty much the SD on D* sucks no matter which box you use, the display will make a difference however.

[TyroneShoes]

I agree. The HR10, just like any DTivo, is a bit bucket recorder, meaning it can't contribute to PQ degradation in any real way. The quality of any image is dependent on the original image and the process used to port it to you. Bottom line, all else being equal, a SD DBS channel will look the same recorded on pretty much any DTivo, HD-capable or not.

The HR10 has a couple of additional connection choices that might give a slightly different result than composite or S-video, and most HD displays contribute to a perception of just how "bad" DBS SD video is in the first place. Older, smaller, CRT-based sets actually are better suited to reproduce SD video than newer, larger, non-CRT displays.

[Sir_winealot]

This applies to me and 'may' apply to others with my types of equipment. But I do know that SD looks better thru the HDtivo vs my old T60. However I could never tell someone it will have the same results for their setup with 100 % certainty. I have no clue if it's because the hdtivo makes it look better or if the analog crt rptv loves the sd at 1080. (scalers and such techo stuff)

I should also note i haven't compared anything other than 480i and 1080i. But i can attest to the same exact pic on the T60 looks worse than through the Hdtivo using my hdmi.


Same here vs T60...

[ayrton911]

Just got my HR10-250. SD looks a *lot* better on my DLP now than when I had R10 connected via s-video.

The combination of upscaling and the better connection really made a difference. This is the same thing as to why upscaling DVD players often look better, on a HD set.

I'm quite happier with SD content now, but your results will vary.

[ebonovic]

Ayrton911

Are you sure it is the HR10-250 that is doing the "improvements" and not your DLP?

[newsposter]

someday I really have to post screenshots so someone can see my results...the way i can best describe my difference is that the hdtivo at 1080 'smooths' the blockiness on SD channels you normally can see via the T60 on just 480i. And since the 480i pic is the same either hdtivo vs t60, i can only assume scaling up helps with SD, at least on crt rptv.

[ayrton911]

Ayrton911

Are you sure it is the HR10-250 that is doing the "improvements" and not your DLP?

Well I don't know. SD S-Video from my R10 to DLP looks argh, and the SD via component or HDMI from my HR10-250 to the DLP looks "ok."

I think the upscaling of the HR10-250 combined with the better connection makes the difference. Perhaps there are some TVs that would do a better job upscaling itself, but with mine, it seems to really like getting the pre-upscaled via the better connections.

Granted maybe the TV works with the upscale better, but I still put it down to the box giving me a better way to output SD.

[GrumpyGuy]

I took a plunge and got the HR10-250. It's taking me some time to get used to the slow menus but overall I'm happy with it. It greatly improved the overall picture quality of the standard definition channels. It looks a lot better than the DSR708.

I was also able to get DTV to list it as owned!

Rico