“Techy” question here.
I’ve got a standard DVD player hooked up to my new Bravia HDTV. When I play a dvd I get really bad “checkerboarding.” I think that’s what it’s called.
I have the DVD hooked up with the basic cables that came with it – RCA connectors… Video, Left audio, Right audio.
I can’t really afford a new upscaling DVD or a Blu-Ray yet.
Will a different connection (Composite, etc.) between the units help me get a better picture?
The connection you describe is composite video (the yellow RCA connector). You would definitely get a better picture if you used component video (red, blue and green RCA cables) or (if your DVD supports it) an HDMI cable.
If you use component video, you will still need the red/white audio cables you are using now.
Between composite (yellow) and component (red-blue-green) in quality would be s-video, if your dvd player and tv both support that.
Cool.
Also, try just going through your TV’s setup menu and turning off everything that might be trying to “improve” your picture. It may be trying too hard.
Yikes… You’re using the worst possible quality signal out of your DVD player.
Some HDTVs do better than others at handling standard-def signals. It’s sounding like yours is not so great at it.
In order of quality:
RF (the old coax and channel 3)
Composite video - usually a yellow plug
S-video - that funny round plug that looks like a PS2 keyboard plug
Component video - three cables, color-coded red, blue and green (even though they do not carry an RGB signal)
HDMI
I don’t know what your primary TV source is, but for the DVD, you should be able to pick up an upconverting DVD player and HDMI cable for under $100.
As for HDMI cables, it’s a digital signal, so quality is almost completely irrelevant. If a 6-foot cable costs more than about ten bucks, you’re paying too much.