Regular analog cable looks terrible on HDTV LCD

Dragnov

Diamond Member
Apr 24, 2001
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Old TV went kaput, so bought a new TV. Only watch regular analog cable and don't really care for/want to pay for Digital Cable. Problem is that the analog cable looks terrible on the HDTV LCD. Each channel comes differently so theres no good setting. Looked better on the old tube TV. Is this to be expected?
 

Eos

Diamond Member
Jun 14, 2000
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Normal. I've heard that standard def from sat tv looks better than SD from cable.
 

Schadenfroh

Elite Member
Mar 8, 2003
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So.... what you are saying is that my ancient Sony Wega FlatScreen Trinitron 27" might actually look better than some HDTVs of similar size when using my analog comcast cable?

:evil:
 

13Gigatons

Diamond Member
Apr 19, 2005
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LCD tv's pretty much suck when compared to good CRT tv's. The only good thing is that they are light.
 

Lurknomore

Golden Member
Jul 3, 2005
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Upscaled analog = :thumbsdown:
Digital cable on your all-digital tv will look better, though not as good as an hdtv signal.
 

StinkyPinky

Diamond Member
Jul 6, 2002
6,993
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If you ask me, crt tv's are still the best.

What I hate about analog tv is that it seems really affected by weather conditions...maybe its just me. But we just had a big rain storm and now I can't watch sh1t.
 

Shawn

Lifer
Apr 20, 2003
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Yep, it's normal. Sorry. If you have no plans to ever watch HDTV just return it and buy an SDTV.
 

happybelly

Senior member
Dec 4, 2004
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Yes, that's true with any LCD, CRT or Plasma HDTV. Most SDTV programs will look like either crap or at least not nearly as good as on a SDTV.
 

WhoBeDaPlaya

Diamond Member
Sep 15, 2000
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Originally posted by: Schadenfroh
So.... what you are saying is that my ancient Sony Wega FlatScreen Trinitron 27" might actually look better than some HDTVs of similar size when using my analog comcast cable? :evil:
Hey, talk about coincidences. I just switched from my 27" Wega to a 32" Olevia LCD. :p
Trying to sell the Wega for $200 (w/remote, like-new condition) - too much?

 
Feb 19, 2001
20,155
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That's the way it is. LCDs are pixellated. If you want to blow up 640x480 interlaced up that big, yea, you're gonna get crap quality. I would know on my 46" Bravia which seems to be one of the worst for PQ when it comes to SDTV
 

Liviathan

Platinum Member
Feb 21, 2001
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Usually. Before I was able to get my HD service, plasma looked like crap in some channels but descent in others.
 

Tom

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
13,293
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if you sit 6 inches away from a crt, the picture isn't any better than what you get on an lcd.

6 feet or more away, lcd looks just as good as crt, or better. in my experience, some sdtv, particularly digital channels, looks fantastic when viewed from a proper distance.

 

randomlinh

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
20,846
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linh.wordpress.com
Originally posted by: Tom
if you sit 6 inches away from a crt, the picture isn't any better than what you get on an lcd.

6 feet or more away, lcd looks just as good as crt, or better. in my experience, some sdtv, particularly digital channels, looks fantastic when viewed from a proper distance.

but he's asking about SD analog cable. it will look terrible on nearly any LCD IMO. Some people have more tolerance for crappy quality though, so it's subjective. I've been to places where people will ooooo and aaahhhh over the widescreen LCD on a crappy analog source.

This is one huge reason other than cost we haven't switched to LCD. great for games and movies, but the majority of the time we're still using analog cable. And it would cost way too much to go HD (we pay $18/mo for SD cable).

 

0roo0roo

No Lifer
Sep 21, 2002
64,795
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depends on the scaler i guess. probably harder to get right on a 720p screen. less pixels to work with.