Video Setting For Best Quality

1914 Views 10 Replies 9 Participants Last post by Joybob, Oct 16, 2007

Supermurph

Discussion Starter · Oct 15, 2007

Does anybody know if video quality suffers by setting the video settings on the Tivo to Fixed 1080i?

I've tried it that way and at Native. It seems that some HD channels are 1080i and some are 720p, and that all other channels are 480i. My TV supports all of the formats. They look fine, but I don't care for the flickering from the Tivo when I change between video formats. With the setting on 1080i Fixed there is no flickering and the picture looks good, but I don't know if I'm actually getting a worse picture by doing that because of any conversion that the Tivo has to do. I'm mainly concerned about this if it's converting 720p to 1080i.

Is anybody knowledgeable about this? Any advice?

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bicker

· #2 · Oct 15, 2007

You've covered all the bases. Leaving it Native, you might get some marginal amount of additional quality, but you have to live with the flickering. I now leave my TiVo at 1080i. The 720p channels look excellent, and no flicker.

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AbMagFab

· #3 · Oct 15, 2007

1) The flickering is from your TV, not the Tivo. Some TV's are better at switching resolutions than others.

2) You really need to post your TV make and model for an answer to this question, as some TV's do a better job at scaling than the Tivo.

3) Ultimately it's up to what you see.

For smaller sets, like <=40", 1080i fixed (or 720p fixed if you have a 720p set) is fine, as you won't be able to distinguish any differences anyway.

For sets >=60", and if you're sitting at the recommended distance (like a HT setup, ~8-feet from the TV), and if you have a high-quality 1080p TV, then Native makes more sense since the TV likely has a better scaler than the Tivo.

But this is all theory. Post your TV make/model/size, and you can get more info. Also check out avsforum for discussions on the scaler in your TV.

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dolfer

· #4 · Oct 15, 2007

I am doing the same thing as Supermurph. I also find myself turning off Dolby Digital (unless I am watching a movie or Heroes) so I can have my Tivo sound effects! (I happen to *like* them!

)

Are we really sure that flickering is the TV's fault? Or are people just repeating what Tivo customer service told them? (Not meant to sound snide...) It would be awesome if a software update could lessen the flickering on Hybrid and Native modes.

Sony / KDS60A2020 / 60"

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Supermurph

Discussion Starter · #5 · Oct 15, 2007

Thanks for the feedback! Knowing what others are doing is just what I needed. In case it helps somebody else, my TV is a Sony 42" LCD projection, model #KDF-42WE655.

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AbMagFab

· #6 · Oct 15, 2007

dolfer said:
Are we really sure that flickering is the TV's fault? Or are people just repeating what Tivo customer service told them? (Not meant to sound snide...) It would be awesome if a software update could lessen the flickering on Hybrid and Native modes.

Yes, we're sure it's the TV. Each TV handles resolution changes differently.

To test this, if you have an up-converting DVD player, just change the resolutions on your DVD player and watch your TV do the exact same thing as you switch resolutions the same way. Make sure to do the same switching (e.g. 720p to 480i; 480i to 1080i; etc.).

(And if this were from a CSR, I would have indicated that...)

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SCSIRAID

· #7 · Oct 15, 2007

Assuming your display has a good scaler, one of my biggest issues with using 1080i fixed instead of hybrid or native is that you give up the superior motion capability of 720p. I believe ESPN chose 720p for a reason. I live with the flicker.

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aaronwt

· #8 · Oct 15, 2007

The tiVo doesn't come close to what my VP50 does. the signal doesn't look as good whenthe tiVo is on a fixed output in the setup I have with my VP50. Although that would be expected since the VP50 is 10 times the cost of the TiVoHD.

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bguzik

· #9 · Oct 15, 2007

Running fixed 1080i here via HDMI on my S3 with Toshiba 62MX196 TV.

I don't like side letterboxed 480i channels. And I don't like having to switch any settings when simply changing channels... (Nor would wifey put up with having to do it

)

So I leave the TV set to Toshiba's "Full" setting, and leave the TiVo on 1080i fixed...

Barry

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net114

· #10 · Oct 16, 2007

1080i fixed after using Native for a while and my wife complaining about the flicker. 42" Phillips LCD HDTV. I have noticed no real big difference in any situation that would make me HAVE to go with native.

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Joybob

· #11 · Oct 16, 2007

net114 said:
1080i fixed after using Native for a while and my wife complaining about the flicker. 42" Phillips LCD HDTV. I have noticed no real big difference in any situation that would make me HAVE to go with native.

1. The channel guide looks ugly on 480i channels.
2. The flicker takes too long to go away and you can't see the channel banner.
3. As to the 720p thing; You could set it to 720p hybrid.
4. What in the heck does video smoothing do?

There doesn't seem to be a 'best' setting for video. With native you get flicker, with fixed you get that ugly line above 480i shows.

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