Tips for setting up your new HDTV
Fri Dec 19, 2008 3:51PM EST
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Not happy with the picture on your new HDTV? Don't panic—maybe you're just missing the right cables, or your video settings need some tweaks. Help is here.
Nothing pains me more than checking out a friend's gorgeous new HDTV, only to see that they've connected it to the cable box with composite or S-Video cables—neither of which supports HD.
For our purposes, only two kinds of video cables will deliver HD: HDMI, which has thin, rectangular connectors at each end, and component, a bundle of three RCA cables. There's also the DVI inputs on older HDTVs, but let's leave that aside for now. (For more on the various kinds of video inputs, including HDMI and component, check out my Beginner's Guide to Video Connections).
So, which kind should you get: HDMI or component? Well, HDMI delivers a pure digital HD signal to your HDTV, whereas component is still stuck in the world of analog (although my older-model Xbox 360 looks superb over component, if you ask me.) So go with HDMI first, if your various boxes support it; otherwise, get component cables.
Finally, please—unless you're stringing 30 yards+ of cable in your house, you DON'T need to spend up $100 for an HDMI cable, no matter what the clerks at the store tell you (same goes for component). About $10 for a six-foot HDMI or component cable is more like it. Check out these shopping tips (and these too) before you go shopping.
Get an HD box from your cable/satellite carrier
No HDMI or component outputs on your cable/satellite set-top box? You might still be using a standard-def receiver, in which case you'll have to order an HD box from your carrier. If you're a satellite subscriber, you may need a new dish, too. (Click here for more details.)
Also, keep in mind that most carriers have various HD pricing tiers; typically, local HD stations are free, but you may have to pay extra for Discovery HD, HDNet, and the like. For premium networks such as HBO and Showtime, you should get the respective HD feeds free with your subscription.
Check your video settings
Another familiar tale: Friends with new HDTVs who hooked up everything just right, using HDMI cables and everything, but were still stuck watching in SD.
Why? Because they didn't have the right video settings on their cable box (or DVR, or gaming console ... take your pick).
Here's what you do: Find up the Settings menu on your (fill in the blank) and look for "video" or "display" preferences, and make sure they're set to 720p, 1080i, or 1080p (if you have a 1080p-capable HDTV).
Watch the right channel
If you're an HD beginner, here's another tip: Local stations and cable networks have separate channels for their standard-definition and HD feeds. Here in New York, the standard-def version of NBC is on channel 4; for NBC HD, it's channel 704. Check your programming guide to see where the HD channels are in your area (they're usually all clumped together in, say, the 700's or something).
Calibrate your set
"Out-of-the-box" video settings for most HDTVs are usually atrocious, producing a picture that looks great in a showroom but awful in your den.
The quick fix? Change your video input presets from "Sports" or "Vivid" to "Standard" (for your cable/satellite/DVR or gaming console) or "Cinema" (for your DVD/Blu-ray player). Both the "Sports" and "Vivid" presets are way too bright and harsh (thanks to artificial edge enhancement), and the "Sports" setting often "pushes" the color green to make grass playing fields look more eye-popping.
If you're feeling more ambitious, try a calibration DVD; I swear by Bob Kane's "Digital Video Essentials" (DVD and Blu-ray versions are available, each for less than $20 online). The instructions and test patterns on the disc will help you correctly tweak the Brightness, Contrast (or Picture), Sharpness, Color, and Tint settings for each of your video inputs (and you should calibrate your DVD, Blu-ray, and gaming consoles separately). You can't use the DVE disc for calibrating your cable/satellite/OTA HD input, but at least you can use the calibrated settings from your other inputs as a starting point.
Finally, you can always hire an expert, but be careful—as Chris has blogged about in the past, some services are better than others (and indeed, a few are out-and-out ripoffs. My suggestion: Only hire an ISF-certified home installer to calibrate your TV—and be prepared to cough up a couple hundred in the process.
Comments on Tips for setting up your new HDTV
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2 Posted by acemtrx on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:44PM EDT Report Abuse
I agree with downwithvivid. a lot of "noveau riche" are just buying HDTVs and expecting everything to work out of the box. Only fraction of consumers do research and sales associates are mostly inept and learn from a computer about "closing the sale." Having a receiver may be a little confusing to set up, but it also keeps things organized and neat. Sony and Bose are top brands, hence Sony started as a audio oriented company, and Bose is just, Bose.
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3 Posted by bwgarriso on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:15PM EDT Report Abuse
Note: Bob Kane created DC Comics. Joe Kane created the Digital Video Essentials disc. This disc is worth anyone buying at your local Best Buy or electronics store and will certainly help your TV to look better (at least on the DVD input). Make sure to get the Blu-ray version if you have a Blu-ray player or PS3. jdcaddell-Check your Video Settings on your PS3. Specifically look for "BD 1080p 24 Hz Output (HDMI)" or similar and try disabling it. Your TV might not support the 24Hz output. If that doesn't help try the other video settings related to HDMI. Also check the video settings on your HD sat box just as described in the article.
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4 Posted by abc_def9765 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:44PM EDT Report Abuse
You can even rent the Calibrating DVD and Blu-ray from Netflix. Thanks Ben; I'm gonna calibrate my tv when the DVD comes in the mail :)
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5 Posted by jfrichardson1 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:34PM EDT Report Abuse
For sgipez: The conversion on February 17 is from analog to digital not HD. Some stations will go HD and some won't. Also, low power stations (and I don't know what constitutes low power) are not required to switch. If you live in a rural area it is likely that one or more stations are low power.
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6 Posted by yjax12 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:56PM EDT Report Abuse
Instead of paying for an HDTV set-up disk, or for an 'expert' to come to your home, first check your personal DVD video collection...or check any rental DVD's on hand for THX certification. Just look on the back jacket of the DVD for THX (or on the set-up screen for rental DVD's). Anyway, the set-up section of these DVD's have a program included for setting up your HDTV for optimal viewing. Why pay for something that you may already have available at your disposal.
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7 Posted by foleydagoalie on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:01PM EDT Report Abuse
Another step.......make sure your standard definition channels are on the "stretch to fit screen" setting. Your cable provider SHOULD do this for you, however, mine didn't and now I have screen burn on my plasma television.
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8 Posted by sgipez on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:14PM EDT Report Abuse
This just in, breaking news. You can watch HDTV by simply using the antenna on your roof and plugging it into your new HDTV. NO HDMI or component necessary. All Broadcast stations must provide Over The Air HDTV by Feb. 17 2009. This a free thing. The cable companies and dish providers do not want you to know this.
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9 Posted by jhiggins1119 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:34PM EDT Report Abuse
As some people have said, all the Video Essentials discs have been made by Joe Kane Productions. I suggest to Mr. Patterson that he makes the correction in his posting as I know that Joe wouldn't appreciate being named Bob. That being said, I agree that the disc is highly recommended. It's one of the staples used by anyone that tests and reviews displays. I find it to be more thorough than the THX testing material that can be found on some movies, especially the Blu-ray edition.
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10 Posted by janenruss on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:28PM EDT Report Abuse
I find the light sensors that dim or brighten the picture dependent on available light or not are almost always useless, and need to be turned off. The achilles heel ,if you well, of HDMI is that lots of folk's run things through stereo receivers that do not have HDMI plugs, so you have to split things up or use components
1 Posted by downwithvivid on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:47PM EDT Report Abuse
Do you see any advantage to consolidating video signals into 1 output via receiver for a single cable to the HDTV, or keep them separate as the TV inputs allow so you can take advantage of presets for each line? With regard to that question and providing, would you consider writing up a Buying Guide for modern receivers? The convenience of having multiple inputs go to a receiver rather than the TV in order to have a single line from receiver to TV cleans up cluttered lines; plus a receiver ensures optimal audio decoding if the starting device doesn't have it but the receiver does. I've been eying the Pioneer VSX-1018TXH and wonder if there isn't a more effective receiver out there with a god bang for my buck.