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7
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06/02/12
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Re: Best TV for watching classic movies?
Posted: Jun 7, 2012 11:47 AM
in response to: willbefree25
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May I suggest something? If you want to see how a DVD would look, as opposed to a TV broadcast, take along a DVD to the store and ask them to play it over the TV. Usually they have some Blu player connected in a chain.
Another thing to do - and this is super important - write down the model numbers of all the ones you see that you are interested in. Take that list home and research every one on the internet to see what people say...professional reviewers and owners. Personally, I recommend Sony as the best quality. Samsung is also good.
Also, another possibility...and something you might really think about strongly. Join Costco if you are not already a member. It costs $50 for a year, but you will probably save more than that on a purchase of a TV as compared to other stores. One good reason to get it from Costco is if you find you don't like the TV you get, you will have no problem in returning it for a full refund, no questions asked. They also usually double a 1-year warranty that comes with a TV to 2 years. They also have a great selection of brands.
Thank you, filmlover, for all the suggestions. Will do.
Thank you, JonasEB, for your help identifying the source of the "soap opera effect."
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Posts:
2,194
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03/02/11
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Re: Best TV for watching classic movies?
Posted: Jun 7, 2012 9:59 AM
in response to: JonasEB
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Jonas, I've seen that S/O 'look' occasionally. I don't like it, but as yet can't find where to turn it off.
I was happier to find how to turn off the 'room light brightness', since I returned the first flat screen I bought - a Vizio - because the room was very bright and the tv screen was utterly dark. Live and learn. At any rate, I like Samsung better.
They DO make it easy for idiots (as do computers nowadays) like me to set up these televisions. Press the auto button and the tv is off. Thing is, it does automatically set up the 'room brightness' thingy and no doubt the S/O look thingy is a default too.
I know, I know, better than the vertical/horizontal knobs! 
ETA: got it, thanks. Bless Google's little heart. If anyone else needs help with Samsung:
http://tinyurl.com/cm56b6g
auto motion plus
http://tinyurl.com/ctklou6
room light brightness
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Posts:
764
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10/03/09
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Re: Best TV for watching classic movies?
Posted: Jun 7, 2012 7:25 AM
in response to: willbefree25
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If you want a film to look like something shot on video - a soap opera - keep Auto Motion Plus on. If not, turn it off immediately. It's all fake and unnatural. As far as the various settings go, I either notice no difference or I get the "soap opera" effect, I don't see anything inbetween the two.
I don't know anyone who likes the feature.
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Posts:
2,194
Registered:
03/02/11
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Re: Best TV for watching classic movies?
Posted: Jun 7, 2012 6:57 AM
in response to: filmlover
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Wait, so Auto Motion Plus is good? I'm confused.
Yes, in the old days we had to bang on the television to get the vertical and horizontal to work or (horrors) walk UP to the television to change the channel (well, at least until my brother came along), but we did NOT need to have advanced knowledge in electronics.
At least Samsung has an online troubleshooting manual, so I found how to turn off the room light brightness baloney.
filmlover, I should ignore changing the AMP setting?
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Posts:
4,839
Registered:
11/06/06
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Re: Best TV for watching classic movies?
Posted: Jun 7, 2012 12:23 AM
in response to: kriegerg69
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That sounds more like some setting that's not quite right on your tv, and they don't "add" anything to upscale the image....the entire signal itself they transmit is upconverted to 1080.
I may not have phrased it properly, but there's something that appears to happen in the upconversion process that adds the tint.
This only happens on TCM, I've got 7 broadcast channels in dual form and goodness knows how many cable channels in both HD and SD. TCM is the only one affected in this way, not any of the six HBO channels or TMC or Reelz - you name it.
On the matter of the gray bars, I've been through the manual for the TV and the DVD player forward and backward. The player is set at 16:9 and there is no setting to adjust the color of the bars on the TV either. This is the second player hooked up to the machine and both had the same issue.
I've even checked reviews of the current player (an upscaling Panasonic), and while they did tip me off to settings not or poorly described in the manual, they didn't cover this particular issue.
I'll live with it for the time being, I've got my eyes on a new set when I get the unspent portion of a attorney's large retainer fee back soon. I'll put this set in the bedroom which presently houses a 15 year-old glass tube set.
Thanks for trying to help though.
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Posts:
2,453
Registered:
12/27/02
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Re: Best TV for watching classic movies?
Posted: Jun 6, 2012 11:45 PM
in response to: clore
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Assuming you have a 16x9 HDTV, there HAS to be a way to change the size/aspect ratio of the tv's display, and in an easy manner. My Panasonic has a single button on the remote for TV Aspect, and each time you push it, the display ratio setting changes and goes from one to the next without having to "go through the menus".
And assuming your dvd player's tv type setting is correct (for 16x9), then there has to be another setting on your tv itself. There is no reason you should be seeing gray bars instead of black, unless there's some setting on your tv to allow for a change of the color of those bars.
I suggest you check your owner's manuals for the player and the tv again, and carefully.
"I have an HD cable box, and I set it for 16:9 picture. When I'm watching some 1940 movie shot in 4:3, I get black bars on the side. That's fine."
That's also more than likely because the 16x9 signal for the 4x3 movie is being broadcast that way...to keep the original 4x3 ratio, they'd fill in the sides with black area to make it fit a 16x9 screen.
"Whatever they add to the signal to upscale the image, it adds a green tint, sometimes a lot worse than others."
That sounds more like some setting that's not quite right on your tv, and they don't "add" anything to upscale the image....the entire signal itself they transmit is upconverted to 1080.
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Posts:
4,839
Registered:
11/06/06
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Re: Best TV for watching classic movies?
Posted: Jun 6, 2012 10:05 PM
in response to: darkblue
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I have an HD cable box, and I set it for 16:9 picture. When I'm watching some 1940 movie shot in 4:3, I get black bars on the side. That's fine.
But if I'm watching a DVD of the same movie, I get gray bars on the side and it is annoying. Even with the 16:9 setting on the DVD player, I still get gray bars. There is no setting on the TV itself to alter that.
That's a shame that you have to go through the menus to make simple picture size changes. I have to do that to change brightness or tint. Only on TCM HD does it seem that I have to change the tint. Whatever they add to the signal to upscale the image, it adds a green tint, sometimes a lot worse than others. It's easier just to change the channel to the TCM SD and watch it that way.
Color films aren't affected like that, but black-and-white on TCM HD causes problems.
Maybe if I got one of those protective screens, it would improve the reception.
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Posts:
9,158
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02/01/06
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Re: Best TV for watching classic movies?
Posted: Jun 6, 2012 9:59 PM
in response to: darkblue
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The trouble is that most are dumb when they go in, and salespeople know it. I'm not one of those people. When I go in to look at a particular model, I have done a ton of internet research on it. Usually, I know more about the TV than the salesperson, and when they say something that is not right, I will correct them.
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Posts:
2,713
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10/24/07
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Re: Best TV for watching classic movies?
Posted: Jun 6, 2012 9:35 PM
in response to: clore
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"It improves the reception" he claimed
lmao. They must really get some dumb customers in to think they can get away with that kind of malarky. I'm practically a luddite when it comes to modern technology - I'm really very uninformed and slow on the uptake - but even I would be looking at him as if he had two heads if he'd dared to try that on me. Probably would've insulted him with rigour as well.
I found, with minimal experimentation, that Panorama was the least visually offensive setting, which is why I use it. The 4x3 actually sets up ugly greenish-brown side borders (ughh - why not black?) that make viewing intolerable. I think, though, that Panorama, while filling the screen, loses a little of the picture around the edges.
To change with my TV, I have to actually go into the menu and sub-menu's to change these settings - that's why I just leave it on Panorama even though something like 16x9 or Cinema might be better for some types of viewing.
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Posts:
4,839
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11/06/06
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Re: Best TV for watching classic movies?
Posted: Jun 6, 2012 9:21 PM
in response to: darkblue
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On my Samsung set, Panorama takes a 4:3 picture and stretches it to fill the screen. The closer to the side edges, the more the image is distorted. Sinatra looks like Sinatra in the center, but as he walks off-stage, he turns into something looking more like Pavarotti.
Years ago I bought a projection set and the salesman tried to sell me the protective screen. I knew what it was, but I decided to ask the benefits of the extra screen.
"It improves the reception" he claimed.
"I get cable, how can a piece of plastic improve the reception?"
"I don't know how it does, but it works."
The trouble with the additional screen was that it was highly reflective. Sure, it protects the screen that comes with the set, but the built-in screen is designed to minimize reflections.
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Posts:
2,713
Registered:
10/24/07
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Re: Best TV for watching classic movies?
Posted: Jun 6, 2012 9:12 PM
in response to: clore
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I agree. Unknowledgeable but adept at bullsh--ing salesman - very typical.
Re: Panorama setting - that's the one I use on the widescreen Akai projection television I have (I didn't buy it - it came into my possession from a friend, with its protective front screen marked up by, I guess, previous attempts to clean it incorrectly).
I'm curious about what the Panorama setting loses, though. Can you inform me?
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Posts:
9,158
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02/01/06
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Re: Best TV for watching classic movies?
Posted: Jun 6, 2012 9:05 PM
in response to: Anuska
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Thank you all for the comments, ideas, and humor!
The WOW disc sounds very interesting, filmlover.
I stopped by a Best Buy today to look at some TVs. The salesperson who helped me recognized my complaint about HDTV and called it "the soap opera effect." He said that it is related to the refresh rate and/or the Auto Motion Plus, which is what some of you have said.
Flat is nice, willbefree25! And the new movies looked great on some of the TVs. Of course, I asked to watch TCM. I think it was a first for the salesperson. When he found it, "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" was showing... all stretched out and he couldn't switch it to the 4:3 ratio. He claimed that the signal was not letting him switch. Is that possible?
The 4:3 problem is just the store, not the TV. If they are hooked up to a satellite, it could require modifying something. On the other hand, you could also have gotten ahold of someone not knowledgeable. BB clerks try to bluff when they don't know something.
May I suggest something? If you want to see how a DVD would look, as opposed to a TV broadcast, take along a DVD to the store and ask them to play it over the TV. Usually they have some Blu player connected in a chain.
Another thing to do - and this is super important - write down the model numbers of all the ones you see that you are interested in. Take that list home and research every one on the internet to see what people say...professional reviewers and owners. Personally, I recommend Sony as the best quality. Samsung is also good.
Also, another possibility...and something you might really think about strongly. Join Costco if you are not already a member. It costs $50 for a year, but you will probably save more than that on a purchase of a TV as compared to other stores. One good reason to get it from Costco is if you find you don't like the TV you get, you will have no problem in returning it for a full refund, no questions asked. They also usually double a 1-year warranty that comes with a TV to 2 years. They also have a great selection of brands.
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Posts:
4,839
Registered:
11/06/06
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Re: Best TV for watching classic movies?
Posted: Jun 6, 2012 8:56 PM
in response to: Anuska
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He claimed that the signal was not letting him switch. Is that possible?
That's BS. At the worst, he should have had the option of 4:3 or 16:9 on TCM HD. There would be even more options on TCM SD with usually a "panorama" and a couple of "zoom" settings.
All it takes is to push the "picture size" button on the remote.
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Posts:
7
Registered:
06/02/12
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Re: Best TV for watching classic movies?
Posted: Jun 6, 2012 8:21 PM
in response to: willbefree25
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Thank you all for the comments, ideas, and humor!
The WOW disc sounds very interesting, filmlover.
I stopped by a Best Buy today to look at some TVs. The salesperson who helped me recognized my complaint about HDTV and called it "the soap opera effect." He said that it is related to the refresh rate and/or the Auto Motion Plus, which is what some of you have said.
Flat is nice, willbefree25! And the new movies looked great on some of the TVs. Of course, I asked to watch TCM. I think it was a first for the salesperson. When he found it, "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" was showing... all stretched out and he couldn't switch it to the 4:3 ratio. He claimed that the signal was not letting him switch. Is that possible?
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Posts:
2,194
Registered:
03/02/11
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Re: Best TV for watching classic movies?
Posted: Jun 6, 2012 4:52 PM
in response to: ValentineXavier
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How soon I forget!
You're absolutely right, VX. Banging on the top of the set fixed a lot of problems. Imagine doing that now to one of these skinny divas?
One (okay me) even fears cleaning the screen, it requires a 'special' cloth.
Ah well, I have to hand it to whomever came up with these things - who did, by the way? - the picture is addicting. Once you go flat, you can't go back.
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