Video quality issue through my Panny DMR ES40V

[HIPCHECK]

I recently hooked up my new recorder and noticed that when watching TV with the recorder on the picture quality decreases. When I go back and forth between the two displays using the DVD/TV button on the remote, there is a very noticeable difference between the two pictures.

I have my output cable from my Directv DVR going to my recorder input. I then have a cable going from the output on the recorder to the TV. I'm using an S-Video cable from the DVR to the recorder and RCA cables going from the recorder to the TV.

Is the quality issue with the unit itself, or is there a better way of connecting everything together to get a better quality picture?

Any tips would be appreciated.

[HIPCHECK]

OK then....

[trhouse]

It sounds like you are feeding the TV with s-video from the DVR and composite from the ES40V. I thought the ES40V has composite, s-video, and component outputs for the TV. That is the generally the direction of improved signal purity as well. Why not use component out to the TV?

[HIPCHECK]

I have to say I 've never heard of component connections until I bought this recorder. And I still wasn't sure if they're used for connecting to a TV or a DVR. I set it up the way I did because I lacked the proper cables. If I connect the DVR to the recorder using RCA cables or Audio cables and S- Video, and then connect the recorder to the TV using component cables, do you think the quality issue will be corrected ?

Thank you for the response.

[lordsmurf]

the picture quality decreases..

This doesn't say very much. Give details on the exact problems you are seeing.

[trhouse]

I do not have a DVR so I assume s-video is the highest quality output. I would feed that to the ES40V and use component out of the recorder to the TV. I did tests last year with an ES10 and found that composite did not give as good a picture as s-video, and s-video was not as good as component out.

We cannot see what you are seeing so it is possible that you have a recorder setting wrong also. The ES40V has a myriad of internal settings that will make the image look different. Here are a few examples, press "display" and you will get a screen with one option being "video". Scroll to that and it will give you choices for the image like "normal", "fine", "cinema", etc. Press "functions" , "other functions", "setup" and you will see "black level control". This can make images look darker or lighter depending on whether your source is IRE=0 or 7.5. It can also alter whether the ES40V creates an IRE=0 or 7.5 signal for your TV.

IRE adjustments have to do with what your source ( the DVR ) and your TV thinks is black. Some sources represent black with 0 and others with 7.5. If you set the ES40V for a 7.5 source and it is a 0 source, the images will look too dark. If your TV wants 7.5 and you tell the ES40V to give it 0, it will look too dark. The manuals for your TV and DVR should give you an idea of which to use.

I suppose it is also possilble that the IRE settings between the DVR and TV are incorrect which is why you see a difference.

[HIPCHECK]

Picture quality is now perfect. Thank you.

My issue now is I can't watch tv without the recorder being on. This brings me to the question of whether or not I need to have the DVR connected to the recorder at all. Can I connect the DVR to the TV and and then connect the recorder to the TV without linking the recorder and the DVR together, will I still be able to record whatever is playing on the TV ?

[trhouse]

What model DVR do you have?

[HIPCHECK]

Panasonic DMR ES40V

Sorry, misread it.

Phillips Directivo. Not sure of the model number.