Upconvert on Toshiba 65HX81?
11-28-07 | 08:38 AM
#1
Upconvert on Toshiba 65HX81?
I have a Toshiba Cinema Series 65HX81; it's several years old but still going strong. My question is how compatible it will be if I decide to dip into the HD pool. The set is labeled as "HD ready" and from my research I've been able to glean that it has native resolutions of 540p and 1080i.
What I don't understand is what exactly that means. For instance, when I watch standard DVDs are they being upconverted by the set to 540p or are they 480p? I've looked all through the menus and never saw a setting for upcoversion, so whatever is happening is automatic. Regular TV broadcasts don't look like they're being upconverted, and one spec sheet I saw had a dash in the 480i Upconverter box.
If I get HD broadcasts, will the 720p shows be upconverted to 1080i? Will the 1080i shows come out right just because the signal is 1080i? Will HD signals from an HD DVD player, or an upconverting HD player? Details on the technical specs for this set seem hard to come by. My best guess at this point is that "HD ready" means that if it is fed an actual HD signal, it will display HD, but that it won't upconvert a non-HD signal. I'm just wondering if anyone can confirm or correct that notion. Thanks.
What I don't understand is what exactly that means. For instance, when I watch standard DVDs are they being upconverted by the set to 540p or are they 480p? I've looked all through the menus and never saw a setting for upcoversion, so whatever is happening is automatic. Regular TV broadcasts don't look like they're being upconverted, and one spec sheet I saw had a dash in the 480i Upconverter box.
If I get HD broadcasts, will the 720p shows be upconverted to 1080i? Will the 1080i shows come out right just because the signal is 1080i? Will HD signals from an HD DVD player, or an upconverting HD player? Details on the technical specs for this set seem hard to come by. My best guess at this point is that "HD ready" means that if it is fed an actual HD signal, it will display HD, but that it won't upconvert a non-HD signal. I'm just wondering if anyone can confirm or correct that notion. Thanks.
11-28-07 | 08:46 AM
#2
DVD Talk Legend
I have the 57HX81, and like you it's going strong six plus years into use. I think you're pretty much spot on with how it works. I've been using an HD feed from my cable company for about 5 years, and it shows most stuff in 1080i. It won't be able to display any 1080p content, but 1080i is pretty much the same, at least when your using Blu-Ray or HD DVD (both of which I have hooked up to the TV).
The TV does not upcovert. You need a specific player to do that. I know the Toshibas had something called "line doublers" to help with the pictures, but to my knowledge they're doing no upconverting. So whatever you put it to it, i.e. 480i signal, will come up on the TV at a 480i signal.
The one negative with the TV is no HDMI inputs. At least with mine. The component cable will support HD, but for upconversion of DVDs you need HDMI. I bought some gizmo off ebay that works pretty well to circumvent this. I'm pretty sure its not legal, and it doesn't work perfectly. But I've learned to live with it.
The TV does not upcovert. You need a specific player to do that. I know the Toshibas had something called "line doublers" to help with the pictures, but to my knowledge they're doing no upconverting. So whatever you put it to it, i.e. 480i signal, will come up on the TV at a 480i signal.
The one negative with the TV is no HDMI inputs. At least with mine. The component cable will support HD, but for upconversion of DVDs you need HDMI. I bought some gizmo off ebay that works pretty well to circumvent this. I'm pretty sure its not legal, and it doesn't work perfectly. But I've learned to live with it.
