My systems + new HDTV = Ass...Help!

[LiquidPolicenaut]

Ok, I just bought a new Sony 32" LCD and I have a major problem..m games look like ass! Ive tried PS3, PS2, Xbox, 360, Wii and GC. I tried GTA:SA through my PS3 and many areas I used to be able to see are now too dark and no amount of changing the settings will get it the way its supposed to be. When I tried RE on my GC (through the Wii) again, some areas are too dark. When I tried Zelda on the Wii, at the settings screen before you start it asks you to make sure there are 3 squares and 4 distinct shades of black and gray...I only see 3! Help! Is there any way to fix my systems too look good again? All my systems are running through S-video right now so would component help the darkness? ANY and ALL help/info. would be greatly appreciated.

[Niku-Sama]

wow dude chill out.

adjust the contrast and/or brightness of the television

all televisions come adjusted way funky from the factory and theyre adjusted even funkyier as store displays becaus of the bright lighting in most stores

[Jasoco]

Component would not only help the darkness, but day-um, get it for any system you have that supports it. S-Video is nice and all, but only for older systems and CRT TV's. Component those suckers up for the love of Mike.

If you are on an HDTV and are not connecting your current generation (And even last generation) systems through Component, you are wasting your new TV.

Good luck.

[BloodshedPlague]

Component on all of those systems that support it will help. Also for the love of god put a HDMI cable on that PS3. Then you won’t have to deal with darkness on you PS2 games but with the high resolution of you TV you will notice a difference on the graphic quality of the games, assuming that it is 720p. It will seem like they look worse. This is inescapable, but it is due to your TV showing the true quality of the games that were designed for standard output televisions. Worse yet it is even more noticeable during cut scenes.

[agbulls]

Component on all of those systems that support it will help. Also for the love of god put a HDMI cable on that PS3. Then you won’t have to deal with darkness on you PS2 games but with the high resolution of you TV you will notice a difference on the graphic quality of the games, assuming that it is 720p. It will seem like they look worse. This is inescapable, but it is due to your TV showing the true quality of the games that were designed for standard output televisions. Worse yet it is even more noticeable during cut scenes.

This problem with the PS3 was totally eliminated in the last firmware update. I've got a PS3 and a 50" Sony HDTV and everything looks great.

You HAVE to get component cables or HDMI cables. See http://www.monoprice.com for good deals. Also, if you need s-video cables for your older systems I recommend http://www.electricquarter.com. I also really recommend hitting the avsforum and searching for your TV's thread (if your new tube is any good, it'll have its own thread). Once you find it take a look at other people's settings that they recommend for different viewing conditions (movies, tv, games) and play around until you find the one that suits you. Either that, or spend $300+ on a calibrating device.

Hope that helps!

[SaturnFan]

You shouldve bought a Samsung HDTV

[Half Japanese]

You shouldve bought a Samsung HDTV

Not necessarily. I bought one and promptly returned it. Biggest piece of shit TV I've ever bought. How they could let something with such terrible geometry and calibration issues leave the factory boggles the mind.

[Gamereviewgod]

Some systems need to be set in their menus to output in HD. The 360 needs to be set to whatever resolution your TV supports for example. It's still going to take some tweaking even then. Pick up a calibration disc like Avia too.

[skaar]

Component makes all the difference. I've got new cables for all of my systems once I got the SXRD, and it's a WORLD of difference.

Your older stuff well... yeah.

[jdc]

Yep, it can be a battle to get everything right. It takes a lot of patience to set each mode up for each individual console, but you have to do it. Keep at it. Component cables are the way to fly if you want to make your friends drool, although my Wii is still temporarily running on the stock cables and is passable on my Sharp Aquos. The only consoles that I can't seem to get satisfactory are the poor ol' Dreamcast and N64, since I can't find component for them yet. It's a laugh to see my PSX running on an LCD, using a spare set of S-vids that I had laying around. It's so good that I might eventually hook THAT up with component as well!!

[skaar]

Yep, it can be a battle to get everything right. It takes a lot of patience to set each mode up for each individual console, but you have to do it. Keep at it. Component cables are the way to fly if you want to make your friends drool, although my Wii is still temporarily running on the stock cables and is passable on my Sharp Aquos. The only consoles that I can't seem to get satisfactory are the poor ol' Dreamcast and N64, since I can't find component for them yet. It's a laugh to see my PSX running on an LCD, using a spare set of S-vids that I had laying around. It's so good that I might eventually hook THAT up with component as well!!

I haven't tried the DC on VGA yet, but I'm told that's the way to go.

And I don't think there's anything above SVIDEO for N64. Though you could go RGB?

[slip81]

there needs to be a audio/video forum, or at least a video one.

[cyberfluxor]

Not necessarily. I bought one and promptly returned it. Biggest piece of shit TV I've ever bought. How they could let something with such terrible geometry and calibration issues leave the factory boggles the mind.
Yeah.

At least you got it right: PS3 plays best on a Sony TV!

[SaturnFan]

How? Why would someone want to pay nearly double the price for a Sony HDTV, when you can get the same thing from Samsung. I like the PS3, but I think Sony's HDTV's are overpriced crap.

[Joker T]

How? Why would someone want to pay nearly double the price for a Sony HDTV, when you can get the same thing from Samsung. I like the PS3, but I think Sony's HDTV's are overpriced crap.

LiquidPolicenaut wanted help with his TV. I'm pretty sure he didn't want his choice of television critiqued.

That said, I got a Sony 42 inch LCD rear projection for $1100 on Amazon.com a few months ago, it does every resolution besides 1080p and the picture looks flawless. The similar 42 inch Samsung DLP that I was looking at suffered from severe video lag.

[Gamereviewgod]

The only consoles that I can't seem to get satisfactory are the poor ol' Dreamcast and N64, since I can't find component for them yet.

There are no component cables for either console. The best for the Dreamcast is VGA, which I definitely recommened.

[scorch56]

I have an S-Video cable for a N64.. they do exist. I've never used it on account of my crappy old TV was made even BEFORE S-Vid (no inputs) but I bought it long ago in anticipation of actually having a real TV someday. I believe it was made by Performance.

[staxx]

I had a post way back that delved into this matter. From what I found out, if you are using SVideo, Composite or RF on a LCD TV it will look like crap. Like everyone else that stated here if you use component then it would look good. Older consoles from the PS2, Gamecube (most games don't output 480p, they are mainly 480i) and older consoles will look much better on their native resolution 480i on a CRT. If you really want to use LCD technology with those then you will have to buy a expensive upscan converter (XRGB 3). The only problems I heard with the XRGB converters are on fast moving games, there maybe some delay i.e. throwing off a move in Street fighter 2.

[ProgrammingAce]

Here's the calibration tool microsoft used to use when setting up HDTVs.


http://gamerhistory.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=636

[cyberfluxor]

How? Why would someone want to pay nearly double the price for a Sony HDTV, when you can get the same thing from Samsung. I like the PS3, but I think Sony's HDTV's are overpriced crap.

I was just kidding around about a Sony brand TV makes the PS3 look best, I wouldn't even know that. Also, they're far from overpriced crap, overpriced maybe, but not crap.

LiquidPolicenaut:
You haven't posted back yet but let us know if you got it working.

[Cloud121]

older consoles will look much better on their native resolution 480i on a CRT.

Dumb question, but does this apply to CRT HDTVs?

[LiquidPolicenaut]

Oh man, I totally DID forget to post my update! Well, I DID finally get component cables and the PS3, 360 and Wii all look as beautiful as they should :) I also just got an HDMI cable for the PS3 but I really dont see any difference between it and component (other than I can now upscale copy-proteycted dvds). Oddly, however, when anything is hooked up either s-video or composite, or even the cable on an RF signal, look good, but the black levels are just...ick..sometimes. Instead of a shadowy area I see only a black botchy area. Not disgusting looking mind you, but not as great as it should be.

[Anthony1]

Also, make sure to find out the native resolution of your LCD display. Then set your resolution for your various systems accordingly.