Mitsubishi LT-46144; HD Picture Looks "Soft"

[jadirtguy]

I'm confused! I've had a Mitsubishi 46" 120Hz LCD for two years and, no matter what type of picture adjustments I make, the HD picture looks "softer" than I think it should. If I increase the sharpness control above "0", images develop a white outline and look even worse. I also notice that anything with stripes, like a referee's shirt or an empty grandstand, sees to "throb". I'm using a DirecTV HR-20 DVR connected directly to the TV with a Monster M850HD 10.2 Gbps HDMI cable; several of my friends have similar equipment, and their pictures look considerably "chrisper" than my Mitsubishi seems capable of. I've tried setting the DVR resolution at "Native", 720P and 1080I, and nothing seems to help. About the only thing I haven't tried is using a component video cord in place of the HDMI cord for comparison. I'm also using a Sony BDP-S350 Blu-ray player, and that picture also looks somewhat less than stelar. I've considered having a pro calibration done by a tech, but I'm not convinced that the problem I'm having with sharpness and picture noise can be improved by accessing the "secret" service menu.

Is this the best my Mitsubishi LT-46144 can do, or am I missing something? Any comments or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

JA
Hammond, IN

[Richard]

What you may be missing is 1:1 pixel mapping which requires you select the Full Native aspect/format.

From a Mits review
http://www.hdtvmagazine.com/reviews/200 ... _bench.php

1:1 Pixel Mapping (Definition)

The display has an aspect called Full Native for any 1920x1080 video signal, 1080i and 1080p 24, 30 or 60 frame and passed luminance correctly.

STANDARD aspect ratio (which corrupts 1:1 pixel mapping by introducing slight over scan) and any SD content whether native SD or SD converted by the broadcaster for their native HD broadcast. The STANDARD aspect ratio provided is required due to the common VIR signal used with NTSC, standard definition broadcast, that appears as white dashes across the very top of SD content that 0 over scan allows you to see when using the NATIVE aspect ratio. Within 1-2 days my wife complained about these dashes!

[jadirtguy]

Richard...thanks very much for your reply. I changed the name of the HDMI imput I use for the DVR from "DVR" to "Game", and I did notice a immediate improvement in the picture! However, you mention changing the aspect ratio to "Full Native", and I can't figure out how to do that. I also can't see any way to turn on/off the 120 Hz processing; all I'm able to do his turn on/off the "Smooth 120 Hz demo". Are these controls located in the service menue and, if so, would you recommend hiring a video tech to make those adjustments?

Thanks again...

[Dave3putt]

You wouldn't be using a zoom or stretch mode? Native aspect would mean that, for instance, a Blu-ray film shot in 2.35:1 would have black bars above and below the picture on your TV.

[Richard]

I changed the name of the HDMI imput I use for the DVR from "DVR" to "Game", and I did notice a immediate improvement in the picture!

Good Job finding that! Indeed, on this model that is the only way you will get 1:1 pixel mapping. Did you lose the Wide Expand aspect by choosing this option?

Typically Game Mode introduces other artifacts. I have not reviewed or calibrated this model so I don't know. Note in this mode you may get white dashes/noise on the top of the picture with some SD content.

Looking at the manual the Game setting may be blocking the following settings...

From the review

The display offers three factory presets that change overall response, BRILLIANT, BRIGHT and NATURAL along with two color temperature settings of HIGH and LOW. The good news is selecting NATURAL and LOW yields some very good results. While not accurate these settings provide a decent response envelope as you will see. BRILLIANT, as with all displays, represents the out of box sales mode settings from the manufacturer to compete against others and induce your purchase. This is the setting you will likely encounter at the retailer when shopping.

BRILLIANT pumps up the gamma and expands the color space to its maximum. BRIGHT pumps up the gamma providing correct color space. Only NATURAL provides nearly correct gamma and color

Without calibrating one I can't take you any further on basic settings.

Native aspect would mean that, for instance, a Blu-ray film shot in 2.35:1 would have black bars above and below the picture on your TV.

All flat panels provide two 16:9 aspect options. One will support 1:1 pixel mapping because it has 0 over scan and the other will introduce slight over scan to cover things up like those white dashes/noise on the top of the picture with some SD content. As this exchange shows, figuring that out is not always intuitive.

I would suspect that like the model I reviewed, this one also performs best in PC mode but selecting that option introduces trouble without a work around.

from the review

While you get the best results using the PC setting, 720p will be pixel mapped to the center which most users will not want. It won't accept 1080i in this mode either and while 1080p60 would work fine that won't do a thing for broadcast content from cable or satellite sources which are limited to 1080i output. 1080p24 doesn't pixel map so you lose out on the purist approach as well in this mode. On the surface it would appear one answer is to simply change the input label to take it out of PC mode for 1080p24 and deal with the color response loss along with the luminance and chroma errors but that trade off comes with a nasty catch 22. When you change labels the controls are all reset so using that approach comes with realignment of the controls every time you change the label.

Those quirks may not be yours, and...

An external scaler set for 1080p could be added, with the display input set for PC mode to improve performance and correct the errors that remain in which case a full blown ISF calibration would be performed/required.

[jadirtguy]

Richard...using my new "Game" HDMI input as your article suggested, I can still scroll the aspect between "Standard" & Wide Expand", but they look the same to me. I've just left it on "Standard". Again...am I missing something?

But, no matter. By simply re-labeling one imput, it's like I have a new TV. Again...I can't thank you enough for your help.

Just one more comment: I've been playing around with the video settings for 2 years, trying every possible combo to see true HD. But, unless other Mitsubishi owners get lucky or talk to you, I guess they are out of luck. I assure you...there's NOTHING in the Owner's Manual about using the GAME lable on your HDMI imput to see true HD.

I kinda feel like I wasted two Video Years...<sigh>

Thanks again for getting me in the game.

JA

[Richard]

Glad to hear we were able to help you.

I can still scroll the aspect between "Standard" & Wide Expand", but they look the same to me.

Hmm... They shouldn't. The wide expand would take an HD channel with 4:3 content with black side bars and stretch the 4:3 to fill out the image. Seems this is an operational quirk where you may have the option but it isn't active in game mode.

Page 32, right column under Game Note - all pixels are displayed

So the info is there if you knew anything about 1:1 pixel mapping. The manufacturer is not going to suggest this for everyday viewing because that would lead to lots of complaints about those white dashes/noise on the top of the picture with some SD content.

No manufacturer will help you get the best performance out of your display but they will do the opposite providing a sales mode for the sales floor.

If performance is your bag you are on your own to figure it out and educate yourself with calibration discs and/or hiring an ISF calibrator.