just bought VIZIO, have questions

by jmackinjersey May 31, 2009 11:35AM PDT

Well, we finaly decided to get rid of out ProView, 42" Plasma abecause it made an annoying humming noise as well as the speakers stopped working for some reason.

Any way, I went out and bought a Vizio, 42" LCD.
It looked great in the store, but when I got it home, I was a little dissapointed.

But the main question I have, (and think it might be the problem) is I don't have HDTV. I have Direct TV, Satelite w/ a regular receiver, and a regular DVD player. I am using RCA cables for the Sat box, and Components for the DVD.

But the picture is not as clear and crisp as it was at the store. And, honestly, not as clear as my Plasma.

What to do?

Do I return it and get a 720P?
I'm not in the mood to upgrade to a HD Receiver for a few channels, and everyone else's HDTV I have watched "the sound it always off from the picture/movement," and that really bothers the heck out of me.

Discussion is locked

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Vizio picture

by Dan Filice Jun 1, 2009 3:15AM PDT

The Vizio's you saw in the store (as with most if not all display TVs) was probably hooked to HD. Anything you do, short of getting HD, will look compromised. Does your current satellite box have component output? If so, use component connections. Even though you don't have HD, component will look better than the one yellow RCA video connection. Getting a 720p TV won't do anything to help get a better picture. As to why the Vizio look worse than the Plasma on SD, it just may be the video processor that each TV has. Not sure. Was your Plasma connected to the RCA video plug too?

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by jmackinjersey Jun 1, 2009 6:00AM PDT

Yeah, I figured the display is/was hooked up to HD. But that shouldn't make mine be as blury, soft around the edges as it is. Unfortunately, there is only the RCA or coax and S-Video outputs. I have the S-video hooked up to it now, and it is 1/10th of one percent better.

But let me clarify one thing, the LCD has a better picture than the Plasma, but it's just not as crisp. I'm thinking because it is not an HD tuner/receiver unit.

I'll try to call Vizio and see what they have to say about the whole thing.

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What about DVD picture

by Dan Filice Jun 1, 2009 6:19AM PDT

You mentioned that your DVD player is connected via component. How does that look? Even though it's not HD, it should look much better than SD satellite connected by either RCA or S-Video.

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yes

by jmackinjersey Jun 2, 2009 7:35AM PDT

I don't have the component outputs on the sat box. But there is a little difference between the two anyway. But it's so minute.

I think I'll just go back to a regular 32" CRT. They're much better quality picture in comparison. But everyone wants the WOW factor of having a flat screen, so CRT technology has slowed down too much.

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upgrade

by bearvp Jun 2, 2009 7:04AM PDT

I really think it is time to upgrade to a HD sat receiver. Most flat panel HDTVs have poor to mediocre standard definition picture quality and you won't really get everything out of your new HDTV till you actually watch HD content on it.

You could also always but an antenna and pick up the FREE HD channels that your local broadcasters output and keep the satellite receiver for watching the other channels.

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hey

by jmackinjersey Jun 2, 2009 7:30AM PDT

The digital proadcast is just that, digital. Not HD.

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digital

by bearvp Jun 2, 2009 7:49AM PDT

I don't know where you live but in most places close to bigger cities they offer digital HD over-the-air broadcasts of their channels and a digital standard def version too. Say NBC is channel 2...they will have a channel 2.0 (standard def) and 2.1 (HD) that can be picked up by an antenna.

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I'm in the biz.

by jmackinjersey Jun 2, 2009 11:04AM PDT

I'm in the telecom business. I know that there are not any regular broadcast channels that are in HD. Only pay channels are.

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clarify

by jmackinjersey Jun 2, 2009 11:32AM PDT

Let me clarify, they are supposed to be capable of HD broadcast, but are not giving it away for free...

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Incorrect

by Pepe7 Jun 2, 2009 1:55PM PDT

Whoops. You sir are not completely informed. Ask your more technically inclined co-workers if you are still confused. In a very heavily populated place like NJ/NY, there is extremely heavy demand for free HD. Many folks are already taking advantage of the free OTA HDTV (DTV). You can do a little reading here-

http://www.myfreehdtv.org/body.html

http://www.engadgethd.com/2006/01/30/ota-hd-demystified/

http://bbauer.gomen.org/ota.htm

http://www.titantv.com/

http://antennaweb.org/aw/welcome.aspx

Informative video about the changeover to DTV (ATSC)-
http://www.ce.org/global_include/asp/streamingmedia.asp?url=http://content.ce.org/dtv/DTV%20101_stream.mov

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Vizio question

by breakdancefight Jun 7, 2009 12:52AM PDT

This is the main issue consumers are having with LCD tv's. They see them in a store running off HD cable or Blu-Player and get them home and try and run them through coaxial(RCA). I have many friends that have done the same and complained about picture quality not looking as good as they remembered in the store or my living room. Often times not wanting to make the upgrade. I tell them you wouldn't put a ford pinto engine in a porche. It is as simple as getting a new cable or satellite box, both companies are willing to do for little to no cost. I think our HD box cost about 3-5 dollars extra a month. With most channel available in HD at no cost, this includes HD and DVR capability. You can't tow the water jump in.

just bought VIZIO, have questions

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