VHS, anyone?

[LittleValley]

Hello

I have a Panasonic DMR-EX769EB DVD recorder/player/Freeview box/HD recorder combo and a good-quality Sharp VCR, both of which worked perfectly well with my old but perfectly serviceable CRT tv. However, this was a 4:3 aspect ratio set, and with the increasing amount of material broadcast in 16:9 we decided to replace the set with a Panasonic 26" LCD one; my wife was fed up with seeing on screen a dialogue between one and a half people.

Now, though the new set works perfectly with the Panasonic recorder (as you would expect), viewing VHS tapes played on the VCR via the new set is a very disappointing experience; the images have lost the detail and subtlety which they showed on the old CRT set. Panasonic tell me this is due to 'upscaling', whatever that might be, and that there is no adjustment that can be made to the display that will improve this. I asked them if there was any third-party gizmo that could be interposed between the VCR and the TV to improve things, but they said that they didn't know of one.

Does anyone know of a solution to this problem - preferably not too complicated nor expensive to implement?







I've just bought a Panasonic 26" LCD TV,

[DB83]

So you have actually got a HD tv ?

How is the tv connected to the VCR ?

And, finally, what Panny do you have ?

[lordsmurf]

Welcome to HD. Your old videos will look like crap on high res displays.
Only the very best TV sets from Sony can really fix this, due to MANY quality filters built into the sets.

Don't sit too close to the TV, either.

[victoriabears]

Yes I have a Sony LCD TV Bravia 46 inch and it deals very well with vhs recordings.

[TimA-C]

As LordSmurf said, "Welcome to HD".

Make sure that you've got your TV set up properly. Most of the plasma and LCD TVs (and LCD computer monitors) I've seen are usually way too bright by default. There are calibration videos knocking around the net and there's the simple THX set up guide on most LucasArts DVDs (usually in the Language menu) that can help to do basic calibration of your screen for a PC or DVD video input, but I have no idea how you'd go about setting up your screen for a VHS input other than by eye. Even if your screen is set up correctly then it almost certainly still won't look as good as it did on your old CRT TV, but it could look much better than it does now.

As always, try to use decent quality cables but don't pay the massively inflated high street prices for cables should you decide to buy new ones.

Good luck.

[jman98]

If you are watching your VCR in 16:9 mode, that will always look terrible. Switching the display to 4:3 when watching video tapes can help a lot.

[LittleValley]

Thanks for your comments.

DB83: It's a Panasonic TX-L26X20B, linked to the VCR by a Cambridge Audio scart cable.

TimA-C: Thanks for the tip about calibration. I've found the sort of video you mentioned, and I shall follow the suggestions in the near future.

jman98: Thanks for the tip about setting the display to 4:3. As you say, that does help, and though it's a pity not to see the extra picture area, I've been watching in 4:3 all my life to date so it's not too great a deprivation!

Going back to the question of an interposed gizmo, a Google search brought up a reference to a thing called a 'Sima GoDVD! video enhancer' which apparently did what I want; but also did something that I don't want (or need, anyway), namely overriding copy protection. This feature led to legal action and a court order requiring it to be taken off the market. Pity. Does anyone know of a similar product still available and compatible with PAL? I also found a reference to the Panasonic DMP-BD70V Blu-Ray/VHS player, which is reputed to cut the mustard, but it's not available in the UK and Panasonic aren't saying whether it ever will be.

[DB83]

Just a thought.

Have you tried the SD display mode ?

[jagabo]

TimA-C: Thanks for the tip about calibration. I've found the sort of video you mentioned, and I shall follow the suggestions in the near future.

One thing you should note: just because you calibrate your TV with a professionally made VHS recording doesn't mean those settings are right for any other tapes you have. Home made VHS recordings tend to be all over the place.

Going back to the question of an interposed gizmo, a Google search brought up a reference to a thing called a 'Sima GoDVD! video enhancer' which apparently did what I want; but also did something that I don't want (or need, anyway), namely overriding copy protection. This feature led to legal action and a court order requiring it to be taken off the market. Pity. Does anyone know of a similar product still available and compatible with PAL?

Search for video processing amps or video enhancers.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Processing_amplifier
http://www.amazon.com/Sima-CT-2-Digital-Enhancer-Duplicator/dp/B000AEFVVE

Many time base correctors include proc-amp functionality.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/276891-REG/AV_Toolbox_AVT_8710_AVT_8710_Multi_St...Time_Base.html

There are also stand alone high definition upscalers, or A/V receivers with built in upscalers, if your TV has a poor upscaler.
http://www.harmankardon.com/EN-US/Products/Pages/ProductDetails.aspx?PID=AVR%203600