[mythtv-users] Big Myth system (2-3 satellite receivers + capture devices, 5 tvs, Samsung DLNA) ?

[Andre]

On 28 Jul 2011, at 15:42, Eric Sharkey wrote:

> On Thu, Jul 28, 2011 at 10:13 AM, Andre <mythtv-list at dinkum.org.uk> wrote:
>> DLNA can give much better picture quality than any Myth frontend, direct access to the TV's integrated decoder has benefits
> 
> I have my doubts about that.  You're basically saying that your TV
> will have a much better picture when decoding compressed video
> internally than any possible signal delivered via HDMI.  If that's the
> case, then I'd say your TV has a broken HDMI input implementation.

Not at all, modern Plasma & LCD sets have very close integration between the decoder and the display, the decoder "knows" the limitations of the display and has optimisations to minimise visible artefacts. This is over and above but part of the motion enhancements which are usually better disabled or at least used very sparingly.

If you actually like the motion enhancement modes then these are usually not available (or work less effectively) when input comes from HDMI rather than an encoded  transport stream.

IF the display was able to update 1080p at 50/60hz without issue/artefacts then yes there would be no difference but nothing currently on sale can do that. Ok perhaps a 3 chip DLP display but certainly no LCD or Plasma I'm aware of and I follow the market very closely for a living.

Perhaps if you were being cruel you could say that they all have a broken HDMI implementation. :-P

I've being doing a bluesky project with Samsung for a client, the project was halted for the 60hz 50fps problem I mentioned.

There are papers on this from an EBU conference on display tech last year and it's impact on TV production but they are not publicly available. All of this is very evident within 10s of switching on any modern flat panel TV to anyone trained and experienced in Broadcast TV Engineering. 

Does mean we have to spend a great deal to be able to watch TV without being constantly irritated ;-)

Andre