<br><tt><font size=2>> Are you seeing a lot of posterization from yours
in darker images,<br>
> especially on walls and faces? At first I thought it was just the<br>
> TV being larger than I was used to showing up poor sources, but<br>
> I'm seeing it in all sources. Also, if I pause and adjust the<br>
> brightness, the colour bands move, which also indicates that it's<br>
> the TV not the source. It's bad enough that I'm considering<br>
> returning it. Although maybe this is a problem with all modern<br>
> TVs.<br>
<br>
> Paul.</font></tt>
<br>
<br><tt><font size=2>Paul,</font></tt>
<br>
<br><tt><font size=2>I think this is normal. I am trying to remember
where I saw a really good discussion about this in the last few weeks.</font></tt>
<br>
<br><tt><font size=2>If you imagine the input is 256 levels, and your brightness
and contrast settings "crunch" these into 170 levels on the actual
display (say the bottom 40 levels of input all translate to output of 0
or dead black), then with a full range of input levels (say a blue sky
or the blue Mythtv theme!) you'll get adjacent input levels the picture
moving in between the 170 levels (1 level of input change "clicks
over" 2 or 3 levels of output), and you'll see the "bands"
move.</font></tt>
<br>
<br><tt><font size=2>Say</font></tt>
<br><tt><font size=2> input 50 = output 75 due to your brightness/contrast
settings</font></tt>
<br><tt><font size=2> and input 51 = output 78</font></tt>
<br><tt><font size=2>but if you change contrast/brightness a bit, </font></tt>
<br><tt><font size=2> input 50 might = 78</font></tt>
<br><tt><font size=2> and input 51 also = 78</font></tt>
<br><tt><font size=2>so the "bands" between the colours move
around. I have probably done a cr@p job of explaining this!</font></tt>
<br>
<br><tt><font size=2>You will find the high contrast "demo" or
"vivid" settings on a TV do a LOT of crunching of the video data
into a small subset of levels, so the quantisation becomes more apparent-
the banding is worse. You lose definition in shadows and fine detail
for the same reason.</font></tt>
<br>
<br><tt><font size=2>The best I can suggest, is to get a copy of the Digital
Video Essentials (DVE) DVD or Blueray. Use it to set up the right
brightness and contrast settings for your TV. If you have Terminator
2 on DVD, it and some others have a short version of the Digital Video
Essentials type of guided setup ("THX setup menu").</font></tt>
<br>
<br><tt><font size=2>Often video rental stores have a copy of DVE you can
rent for a day, but I think it is good to have one around all the time.</font></tt>
<br>
<br><tt><font size=2>You may also be seeing two different effects- one
is posterisation from lousy overcompressed sources, the other is the bands
moving when you adjust brightness.contrast, the two are not necessarily
related, so you can't draw the conclusion it is just the TV. Personally
I think you're seeing two different things.</font></tt>
<br>
<br><tt><font size=2>If you can find a very good video source (good progressive
scan DVD player- pioneer, Sony, Oppo, try looking at "secrets of home
theater" </font></tt><a href=http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/><tt><font size=2>http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/</font></tt></a><tt><font size=2>
which has a lost of good progressive scan DVD players.. and there is a
lot of difference even between a $80 and a $150 player with progressive
scan) and a good DVD disc (check avsforum for examples of good test discs,
some of the animation films from Pixar are v good, and if you can score
a "superbit" DVD on eBay, these were DVDs with no extras and
remastered for the maximum amount of just film video+audio data that could
squeeze onto a DVD).</font></tt>
<br>
<br><tt><font size=2>Once you've done the setup and view the picture and
you'll find it is pretty impressive (it was even on my old Pana 50"
from 4 years ago- I had a Sony prog scan DVD player about $200, but the
new Pioneers are also v good). And I am fussy when it comes to video
and audio quality. Good setup of the TV is key to a good image! I
think that there is a THX setting on the Pana TV you have? That is
supposed to be good (I was reading about it in the review). </font></tt>
<br>
<br><tt><font size=2>Use HDMI over component, and component over s-video,
and s-video over composite connections. DOn't bother with "m0nster
cable" HDMI or component, a waste of money! </font></tt>
<br>
<br><tt><font size=2>Finally, you could beg/borrow a Blueray player and
see how it goes attached to the set.</font></tt>
<br>
<br><tt><font size=2>Good luck!</font></tt>
<br>
<br><tt><font size=2>Indulis</font></tt>