TV quality - better or worse than "standard" TV? (1 Viewer)

[chili]

Now I'm using MPV codec and S-Video (better results then component cableing to the AVR)

Hmm, Whenever I try to use MPV for TV (instead of purevideo) I get a great looking grayscale picture

 

[CHli]

After a year of tweaking I've achieved at least the same quality as you can reach with a "standard" high quality DVB-S Receiver.

The thing where most HTPC fail is deinterlacing with fast movements. Especially the purevideo codec adds a lot of blur here.. (which people with bad signal like :roll: )

Now I'm using MPV codec and S-Video (better results then component cableing to the AVR)

Since my MP is now quite stable and pretty well configured I'm in the process of optimizing my image quality. Since you're seems to be quite advanced on this area some tips would be welcome

I'm using PureVideo for TV but planning to switch to another one.

I'm using DScaler for DVD with some FFSHOW fine tuning (lanczos resizing x2.0 with 2.0 taps + some denoise3d (0.0 luma, 1.0 chroma, 4.0 time, HQ) which give a quite good DVD Image.

So I try to achieve a good TV quality now Any tips ?

 

[Tazman]

Hi..

Are there a way to adjust the image settings in "real time"? Instaed of closing MP everytime?

/Brian

 

[LXB]

well, if you setup mp do uncheck the "start mp in fullscreen". so you can switch between ffdshow video setting for example. but making the settings effect i have to start and stop tv in mp everytime. kinda workaround ;-)

a few words 2 topic: i also am happy now with the stability of mp, but trying to optimize the picture of mytv.

i´m using mpv and ffdshow postprocessing.
since the std. settings for my hauppauge pvr500mce are quite "milky" i set luminance high and gamma low. but i cannot agree that on my 40" crt the svideo connection is better than scart/rgb in any way.

cheers, LX

 

[NLS]

Re: TV quality - better or worse than "standard" T

Usinng standard TV-card (Hauppauge PVR 150/250/300/500) and a typical TV-out from a DX9 GFX (like my 9600PRO or eq.), is the quality better or worse than using std. TV-tuner (in a CRT)?

Since we're talking about standard def TV, forget about component or RGB connections. S-video will give you the best quality signal, and using something like ffdshow to massage the video, (colour, brightness, sharpness, etc...) will provide you a slightly better picture.

Composite will provide you a worse picture than S-video, but of course, the term quality is a subjective statement. I wouldn't go so far as to say inferior.

Put it this way: when people come over and watch my TV, they dont even know they're watching through the HTPC until I press the "fullscreen" button on the remote to go back to the TV menu. Usually when they discover this, they too want a HTPC. My HTPC is connected by S-video to my TV.

How is it possible to achive HDTV when using MP?

Simple; purchase a a HDTV card for capturing or watching, or download HDTV content and connect to a HDTV through DVI or VGA.

I could have writen your post myself. Agree and repeat everything.

Yet (even though people here also don't understand I am using an HTPC until I show them), when I directly compare my TV internal tuner and the SDTV picture I get from my HTPC (PVR-350, using the s-video out of my ATI 9800XT/256), I DO feel that my HTPC is a bit behind.

More in the sense of being more sensitive to lower quality signal. More in the sense of not knowing how to improve picture unless I fine tune 1000 settings. Something like that.

My old WEGA 21" TV with its internal tuner, just "knows" what to do with PAL signal, better than my HTPC out of the box.

 

[Marcusb]

Since we're talking about standard def TV, forget about component or RGB connections. S-video will give you the best quality signal, and using something like ffdshow to massage the video, (colour, brightness, sharpness, etc...) will provide you a slightly better picture.

Sorry, but I really have to disagree with this bit. Even if you only have SD quality TV (Either Digital or very good analog reception) you should notice an improvement with component, VGA or DVI. Even if you don't, there is still nothing to suggest that using a lower quality connection method will ever give you better results, unless the lower quality is introducing some softness but even then it's not really better just less detailed.

Maybe the difference is not worth spending a fortune on a new TV, but if your existing TV has the ability to use a high quality conenction, then use it. You'll also notice a world of difference with the MP screens, movies and DVD's.

Back to the original question though, if you currently have your satelite box going to your PC via S-VHS then getting a HD TV card will not improve anything, since the original signal is still only S-VHS and the HD card won't be doing anything for the AUX inputs.

The other thing to be aware of is that there is a big difference in the output quality of GFX cards. Not as much nowadays, thankfully, because it's a much more popular feature but even still some can be better than others. Same goes for TV cards. Some are much better with weaker signals, ghosting, AUX inputs, etc.[/quote]

 

[Spragleknas]

The other thing to be aware of is that there is a big difference in the output quality of GFX cards.

I belive I've heard that ATi is a bit better than nVidia, when it comes to good TV-out quality.

anybody who can comment TV-out quality in different modern GFX-cards

 

[Efros]

The other thing to be aware of is that there is a big difference in the output quality of GFX cards.

I belive I've heard that ATi is a bit better than nVidia, when it comes to good TV-out quality.

anybody who can comment TV-out quality in different modern GFX-cards

opinions schmopinions, Nvidia v ATi is unlikely to get a unbiased opinion from anyone.

 

[roosterx]

Efros: this is true, but what is a fact is that only ati supports a VGA to RGB connection with a simple design(without any IC's).

With this you get a picture quality in which is so good, you never wanna return

 

[Marcusb]

Efros: this is true, but what is a fact is that only ati supports a VGA to RGB connection with a simple design(without any IC's).

Not too sure about that. My cheap 6600 came with a free cable the plugs into the VGA out and had RGB connector on the othjer end.

I prefer NVidia and from what I have seen they have specialised in HTPC cards lately with a lot of special innovations aimed especially at that. I haven't seen any reports of the same from Ati but then I may have missed something.