Will a blu-ray player make picture quality better for my Samsung 50"?

[chatima]

First off, let me tell you I know nothing about setting up TV's etc..

Ok, so all we have is an HDMI cable connected to the cox cable receiver and back to the Samsung and the TV doesn't look as good as it did in the store when we bought it. Would a blu-ray player make picture quality better on normal television? Like ESPN, CBS, etc.

Btw, this is what we have right now: http://www.cisco.com/web/consumer/images/explorer_42400HDC.jpg

[warton26]

Well... your TV should look great from your High Def cable box as long as you are using a high-def cable (and HDMI is high def) and watching the HD version of a channel.

ESPN often broadcasts shows in standard-def. It will have side-logos for this. This always looks horrible.

Try going to a major network channel like ABC, CBS, NBC and make sure you have selected the HD version. (Cable box's often offer BOTH and it is easy to select the standard def version).

You need to also make sure the show you are watching is a recent show shot with HD cameras. Old re-runs of Jerry Springer and other shows were recorded in standard def and while they are up-converted - they dont look good on a HD display.

You may also have to go into the cable box setup menu and tell it to output 1080 video. The box could be down-converting the video because it does not know you have an HD set.

Some cable companies give you the major networks (ABC, CBS, NBC, PBS) in high def for free. Others require you to subscribe to a package that gives you HD channels. Call the cable company to see how to get a real HD feed.

You should also know that store displays are turned up to nearly 100% brightness and contrast in the store to be 'eye-catching'. While it does work - there is a loss of detail, colors bloom rather than staying solid, etc. So - dont try to match the store display. But it should look very good.

No - a blu ray player will not make your cable box video look any better. They are separate things and one does not affect the other.

Hope this helps.

[philibert63]

Keep in mind that your tv will only display what it is being feed. All tv program in HD are only in the 720P, but some cable or disc network will up convert the signal to 1080P. The blu ray disc player can not make any program look any better. The only source for 1080P is the blu ray disc movies and some video games. Most store display are adjusted so that it can maximize the quality of picture on the tv that is displayed and use demo disc for this. They also calibrate the tv on display. Keep in mind that your home is not the same as it is on the store showroom floor. There are more lights in the showroom than your home. To get 1080P you need to use HDMI cable. Hope this will help you out.